Strong rhetoric last week on the House floor by a Vermont representative angered a fellow lawmaker, who felt compelled to fire back with an impassioned speech of his own Tuesday.
During a debate last week on the Health Care bill, Rep. Tom Burditt, a Republican from West Rutland, railed against the “socialized medicine” he believes the state is pursuing.
Some lawmakers felt he was calling them socialists and communists.
Here’s the controversial portion of Burditt’s floor speech:
“I find it very sad in a country where men and women have died fighting to preserve our freedom, and have died fighting off socialism, communism and most recently Radical Muslim beliefs, that some are now considering socialized medicine as a solution to improving access to health care.”
The speech continued (and this may have been the portion that really ticked off some lawmakers):
“Lenin once said, ‘Medicine is the keystone in the arch of socialism.’ I believe those who are promoting ‘universal coverage’ via government-run and government-controlled medicine know this. What they hope is that the public won’t find out the truth.”
This was too much for Rep. Michel Consejo, a Democrat from Sheldon Springs. Consejo thought he would let the comments go, but over the weekend, he said, they kept bothering him.
As lawmakers finished up business on the House floor Tuesday, Consejo rose and fired back at Burditt, saying those type of comments have no place on the House floor.
Consejo, a native of France who speaks with a French accent, said the comments related to socialism, communism and radical Islam were “insidious remarks” that are one step away from racism and “only predates the day when I am going to be asked to go back to my own country.”
Consejo pointed to the Vermont crest high on the wall of House that reads “Freedom and Unity.”
“Let it be known that without freedom and unity we can’t be Vermont,” Consejo said.
Consejo took particular umbrage with the fact that Burditt’s comments came on the House floor.
Consejo said he wasn’t trying to limit Burditt’s freedom to speak his mind.
“He’s free,” said Consejo. “I’m just saying I won’t take it laying down.”
Other lawmakers hugged Consejo after the speech, shook his hand and patted him on the back.
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