State House Leaders Trade Barbs Over Federal Health Care Bill

State legislative leaders have traded harsh words over the new federal health care plan this week.

As he was winding up a spur-of-the-moment news conference Monday, House Democratic Caucus Chair Mike Turner casually referred to “some people” who oppose the president’s health care plan as “racist.”

It kicked off a firestorm of criticism. House Republican Leader Jason Mumpower declared that Turner had insulted not only the GOP but millions of Tennesseans.

“We are here because we are offended on behalf of ourselves, we are offended on behalf of millions of Tennesseans who Democrat Caucus Chairman Mike Turner singled out as being racist yesterday, simply because they opposed a heavy-handed, government takeover of the best health care system in the world.”

Mumpower demanded an apology. Instead, Turner rejected the assertion.

“I never mentioned the people of Tennessee. I said some people are against Obama because he’s African-American. I didn’t say Republicans are against Obama, I did not say that anybody in this House was against Obama because of that. Now that’s what was said, that’s what was quoted in the paper. Now they’re trying to take something and make a political statement out of it.”

The personal attacks raise the question of how the two parties will face the real issues raised by the new federal law.

It makes basic changes in health insurance policy, but private health insurance has always been governed by the states. It’s unclear how many changes Tennessee will have to make to bring state regulations into compliance with the new federal blueprint.

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Turner not only shrugged off Mumpower’s demand for an apology, he also turned up the heat.

“I did not say what he’s accused me of saying, so what I’m saying is, if Mumpower says I said anything about Tennesseans or Republicans, Mumpower is lying, through his teeth.”

Turner made the original statements about some of President Obama’s opponents being racist at the end of a press conference Monday. By midday Tuesday he was trying to explain what he said, and what he didn’t say.

“I never mentioned the people of Tennessee. I said some people are against Obama because he’s African-American. I didn’t say Republicans are against Obama, I did not say that anybody in this House was against Obama because of that. Now that’s what was said, that’s what was quoted in the paper. Now they’re trying to take something and make a political statement out of it.”

That’s not how the Republican Leader heard it. Mumpower at a news conference Tuesday said of Turner:

“Because he doesn’t know how to respond, when someone opposes something on principle, he simply resorts to name-calling, in this case calling the people of Tennessee racist.”

Mumpower says he opposes the plan not because of Obama’s race but his politics.

“This is a president who Democrat Governor Phil Bredesen singled out as the most liberal in his lifetime. When someone disagrees with the president, all that Chairman Turner and Tennessee Democrats know to do is name-call, in this case, to call people racist.”

Turner responded, denying he had maligned the opposition party.

“Look, I didn’t make a statement about Republicans. I made a statement about some people are against Obama because of his race. I think that’s obvious. If anybody doesn’t see that, must be from Mars, or somewhere. Never mentioned Republicans. If they want to make it… I think they’re looking to make it a partisan fight. I think quite honestly they’re … a little embarrassed … that the Democrats have passed this bill.”

The argument quickly turned into a rehash of old, perceived sins. Turner:

“We had a disciplinary problem last year. We had two interns within a week, send racial e-mails out. One Democrat, one Republican. The Democrats immediately fired their staffer. The Republicans not only did not fire their staffer, she’s still on the payroll today, and would not send her to sensitivity training, which all the other …staffers had to go to. Mumpower has no room to talk on this issue.”

House Democratic Leader Gary Odom backed Turner, issuing a news release alleging “Republican political activities” which included racial attacks on former state Representative Nathan Vaughn of House District 2 in upper East Tennessee and a Christmas card sent out by Republican stalwart Chip Saltsman, which featured a satiric version of “Barack the Magic Negro.”