MSNBC "Hardball With Chris Matthews" - Transcript
Interview
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U.S. Congressman Alan Grayson is a Florida Democrat. He's from Orlando.
Congressman, thank you for joining us. You are smiling. Maybe that is hopeful. Do you think there's a winning-is this the winning pill here, basically, to use a health care expression, having this set of plans, the federal employee plan, buy into Medicare at 55, and a trigger if doesn't work?
REP. ALAN GRAYSON (D), FLORIDA: These are all good ideas. The important thing is that these save lives and they will save money. And those are good things.
I would still like to see a robust public option, because it costs billions and billions of dollars to set up a provider network around the country. It is the hardest thing when you're setting up a health care plan. And we are wasting our Medicare provider network by making it available only to one out of eight people.
If the 55-and-over bill passes, then it will be one out of five people, but still four out of five people will not be eligible. And it is a waste. It is like saying that only people 65 and older can drive on the interstate highways. It just doesn't make any sense.
It's a public resource, the Medicare provider network. It used should
be used by everyone
MATTHEWS: So, you want Medicare for everybody?
GRAYSON: No. What I want is the Medicare provider network available for everybody. If we had Medicare for everybody, I would be fine with that. What I really want above all is health care for everybody.
MATTHEWS: OK. OK.
Well, let me ask you about the word progressive. Are you a progressive?
GRAYSON: Yes.
MATTHEWS: OK. Progressive means getting there one step at a time, doesn't it?
(LAUGHTER)
GRAYSON: Well, we are making progress. That's true.
MATTHEWS: A radical is someone who wants everything the way they want it now. That's what a radical is.
GRAYSON: Right. But what I understand is...
(CROSSTALK)
MATTHEWS: A progressive is somebody that moves along step by step, so that everybody can get aboard, so that we have a democratic process that gets aboard this new change that we're going to in to. But that is a thought. I'm not your teacher. I'm your student.
Here is President Obama today. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Senate made critical progress last night with a creative new framework that I believe will help pave the way for final passage and a historic achievement on behalf of the American people.
I support this effort, especially since it's aimed at increasing choice and competition and lowering costs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTHEWS: So, in or out brother Grayson, if you had to vote right now?
GRAYSON: Oh, I'm in.
MATTHEWS: OK.
(CROSSTALK)
MATTHEWS: OK.
GRAYSON: I'm definitely in. And I think that the president is right. The bill that we are about to vote on is not terribly different from the bill that the president asked for when he was campaigning and essentially the bill that the American people voted on when they voted for him as president and the Democrats for the House and for the Senate.
MATTHEWS: Well, now that we have gotten the business over, let's have some fun.
Have you been watching Dick Cheney lately? He was on FOX last night. And it's like he is a homing pigeon when it comes to going to FOX, I suppose. He was on last night accusing the president of the United States of giving aid and comfort to the enemy-I mean, that was the words he used-by having a trial in New York for KSM.
And I was thinking, why did he choose constitutional language that defines treason? And then he went further and dug his whole even deeper, burying Barack Obama, I should say, even deeper, by saying the guy doesn't believe in America, basically; he doesn't believe in American exceptionalism, doesn't really love this country.
How far is this guys going to go so he gets to speak at the next Republican Convention? Dick Cheney is unbelievable lately. Just a thought.
GRAYSON: I don't know.
You know, on the Internet, there is an acronym that is used to apply to situations like this. It's STFU. I don't think I can say that on the air, but I think you know what that means.
MATTHEWS: Well, give me the first part.
GRAYSON: Shut.
MATTHEWS: Oh, I got you, yes, stop talking in crude language. Well, I don't think you're going to get him to do that.
Let me ask you this about the first year of the Barack administration. Do you believe we are going to get back home for the holidays for Christmas and Hanukkah and the rest? Are we going to have a season where some things are going to have gotten done in this Congress? Will we have a health care bill on the road to signature by a couple days before Christmas?
GRAYSON: The answer is yes.
But, before we leave the subject, I want to talk about the fact that the right wing has been ranting about the fact that the president showed respect for the emperor of Japan.
MATTHEWS: Yes.
GRAYSON: I can't believe this is happening. I remember when, first of all, President Bush senior did something really awful to the prime minister of Japan at a state dinner. And I don't remember those kinds of complaints.
(CROSSTALK)
MATTHEWS: Come on.
(CROSSTALK)
MATTHEWS: He barfed, OK? You don't do that on purpose or on command, sir. I mean, he got sick.
GRAYSON: Well, what about Bush Jr.? What about Bush Jr.? I remember Bush Jr. kissing Prince Abdullah on the cheek...
MATTHEWS: Yes.
GRAYSON: ... and then holding his hand for an extended period of time. Maybe if he let him get to second base, then gasoline would be $1 a gallon.
(LAUGHTER)
MATTHEWS: You are unbelievable. All we did was play-the Jo Stafford song. We played "See The Pyramids Along The Nile" while they were walking along there. We never said they were kissing.
Let me ask you this. Do you think the president-or the vice president is wise in saying there is a connection between bowing to the emperor of Japan, which I didn't think was a great idea at all, and the fact that we might get hit again by a terrorist? He has drawn this connection. I find it elusive.
Your thoughts.
GRAYSON: It is just too bad that it is too late to impeach him.
That's all I can say.
MATTHEWS: OK. Thank you, Congressman Alan Grayson, running for reelection in the Orlando congressional district of Florida.
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