McLaughlin: Gov. Hair "is beyond bad;" he "is downright evil"

Blogger Ted McLaughlin wrote today about Gov. Hair's desire to make sure Texas continues to lead the nation in refusing to provide adequate health care to its citizens. To his credit, McLaughlin didn't mince words.

According to figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and other agencies, anywhere from 25 to 40 percent of Texans do not have any health insurance whatsoever. What's so shocking about that number is that 82 percent of them are employed. What's even more shocking is that Gov. Hair will make sure these people remain uninsured, even if Congress passes health reform legislation.

"Texas has a governor named Rick Perry (elected by only 39% of the vote in a sparse election turnout)," McLaughlin writes. "This Republican governor long ago sold out to his corporate masters and the lunatic right-wing fringe of his party. These elements don't want any health care reform. They have their insurance -- to hell with everyone else!"

During a conversation with conservative WBAP talk show Mark Davis, Gov. Hair said he would invoke the states rights protection of the 1oth amendment. "It really is a state issue, and if there was ever an argument for the 10th Amendment and for letting the states find a solution to their problems, this may be at the top of the class," Gov. Hair told Davis and his radio audience.

Perhaps it is a state issue, but, if it is, Gov. Hair isn't lifting a finger to do anything about it.

"The only thing he has done regarding health insurance is try to deny health insurance to many poor children through the CHIPS program," McLaughlin writes. "It was bad enough that the governor refused about 160 million in stimulus money to help the unemployed of Texas, but to deny health insurance and care to sick and dying people for a cause of 'states rights' is beyond bad -- it is downright evil. If this fool follows through on his awful promise, he will be denying preventive care to more than a quarter of Texas' population. They will only get care when they are seriously ill (and in many cases too late to be cured) and are willing to wait for 12 to 20 hours in a hospital emergency room. He is willing to let many die that could have been saved if they had health insurance. Perry simply doesn't care about the people of Texas."

Spot on, Mr. McLaughlin.