Exclusive: Hypocritical Death Panel Quote from Nebraska Rep. Lee Terry

By GottaLaff

David Williams, a freelance writer and regular contributor to the Omaha City Weekly, e-mailed me with an interesting back-and-forth he had with Republican Rep. Lee Terry at a "Recess Rally" yesterday, a "chock-full-of-nuts" Tea Party event in Omaha:

I recognize that Lee Terry is no Palin or Grassley, but [I] forced a House member to retract, or at least back-peddle, on the whole "death panel" lie, that most vile of fear mongering tactics. Lee Terry was for the death panels before he was against them. I was able to ask him only one question.

Before I share his experience with you, allow me to introduce Rep. Terry to those of you who don't know him. First, Lee the Jaywalker:

Terry was crossing a Washington street during a workweek when a local driver called him out for jaywalking.

"Can't you read the sign?" the driver shouted.

"[Expletive] you!" Terry retorted.

"Really?" the driver asked.

"Really," Terry confirmed.

Next, Lee the Hypocrite, who voted For the relief of the parents of Theresa Marie Schiavo:

Setting aside the inane idea that "death panels" are even what is being proposed, these Reps [Terry's on the list] are already on record voting for the most invasive government interference ever approved by congress...and on an issue of end of life care, to boot!

Finally, Lee the Laughable:

Looking to the 2010 election, 2nd District Republican Congressman Lee Terry is evidently hoping to portray himself as a constructive participant in the debate over health care reform rather than the back-benching flunky for the "Party of No" his actual record shows him to be. That's why Terry just released his very own "simple and affordable plan for healthcare reform" on his website...and it's just simple enough that every voter in his district should be able to see how laughably out-of-touch Terry really is.

Go here for the gory details.

And now ::drum roll:: David Williams' Excellent Lee Terry Adventure:

The following exchange took place at what was billed as a Health Care Reform Recess Rally in Omaha, Nebraska sponsored by the Nebraska Chapter of the 912 Project and Americans for Prosperity - Nebraska.

Omaha City Weekly: "Did you vote for the 2003 Medicare prescription drug plan (he had) that had language that looks an awful lot like section 1233 of the current HR 3200, the language that has been pointed to as being the equivalent of death panels and government enforced euthanasia?"

Terry: "There's a total difference between the two," he began before going on to do everything but answer the question.

Omaha City Weekly: "I'm looking specifically at the language that has become so controversial over the past couple weeks about death panels. Language that in the 2003 bill you voted for and..."

Terry (cutting off Williams): "You'd have to show me that language because I don't remember that language. The death panel bill in here, in this bill, is much more explicit. There's nothing in that bill (speaking obviously here about the 2003 bill) that reminds me of or even smacks of the Center for Comparative Health Effectiveness research which is going to be the heart of the panels that decide the proper and effective use of the dollars and protocols."

Yeah, I know...he's not the best on his feet...a not uncommon sentiment in his home state.

Later from the podium, Terry's main theme was, ironically, to "dispel Democrat myths" surrounding healthcare reform.

The crowd was sparse; no more than 400 at the same venue (the plaza of the Douglas County Courthouse and civic center) where they had at least twice that number on April 15th. There were (surprise!) no African Americans in attendance save for one of the scheduled speakers.

With all the high profile talk of death panels-- Sarah Palin using the term itself, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley from the neighboring state of Iowa speaking of "a government run plan to decide when to pull the plug on grandma"-- I was more than a little incredulous when Terry played dumb on what is perhaps the hottest political potato of recent weeks - the implications of previous GOP support for what are now called "death panels."

Thanks to David Williams, Lee Terry has attained a certain stature, but not the kind he might like.

So, allow me to offer congratulations to David for the gotcha...

....and congratulations Lee Terry. You're movin' on up the list of Hyp. O. Crites.