Breaking Ranks

Scarborough Scolds Republicans With Pearl Harbor Comparison

Ray Gustini 172 Views Dec 20, 2010

Voter outrage over federal spending propelled the GOP to big gains in the 2010 midterms. Does that anger extend to legislation providing health benefits to compromised 9/11 cops and firefighters? Minority Whip Jon Kyl's seems to think so. Hence his continued opposition to the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, a modified version of which is likely to win approval in the Senate later this week.

MSNBC host and former GOP congressman Joe Scarborough, for one, isn't sure denying sick firefighters health care is good for the party's image. He voiced his doubts regarding the GOP's newfound Jeffersonian tendencies on Monday edition of Morning Joe:

Why wouldn't we take care of their health care? It's like taking care of veteran's health care ... How did this becomes a New York issue? That's like Pearl Harbor becoming a Hawaii issue in 1951. That's ridiculous.

(H/T to Greg Sargent)

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Ray Gustini

Sources

Growing Discomfort, Greg Sargent, The Washington Post

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Topics: Republicans

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