Is Government-run Health Care a Right?

This is a rush transcript from "Glenn Beck," December 14, 2009. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

GLENN BECK, HOST: Hello, America. May I ask if you can recite the oath of office for Congress? Some can't, but don't worry, because, apparently, many elected officials in Congress can't do it either. We will get back to that in a second.

But first I want to show you the latest video clip from Robert Creamer — thanks Kyle Olson and Andrew Breitbart from "BigGovernment.com." They sent this in to us. He is the unrepentant convicted felon wrote a book while in prison on how to achieve progressive goals. And the White House — David Axelrod says it is a blueprint for success and they're following it step by step. It's fantastic.

Aren't you glad that we can reach out to the convicted, unrepentant felons and they can help us redesign our country?

Well, here is what he said on August 11, 2008 about President Obama:

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

ROBERT CREAMER, AUTHOR, 'STAND UP STRAIGHT': If Barack Obama is elected president, then we have the opportunity to fundamentally transform American politics and the economy — progressives do — for the first time really in my lifetime.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BECK: Wow.

Let that marinate for a second here, America. An unrepentant convicted felon is trying to help out for the fundamental transformation that Obama will bring home. Fundamental transformation — I know I have heard that someplace before. Where, where?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THEN-PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE BARACK OBAMA: We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: That's right! That's where I heard that. I showed you last week on the talking points of health care are eerily similar to the talking points Creamer laid out in his book. You remember, Obama's top adviser — blueprint — blueprint for progressive victories.

And now, we can see him in 2008 talking about fundamentally transforming America — yet another unfortunate coincidence. That's all it is, I'm sure. I'm sure that what we're seeing is some big fundamental changes in America, you know, like the government takeovers of private industries, giant spending bills in the trillions of dollars, including one that just passed Congress that no one is really paying attention to. Isn't that neat?

Tomorrow is the new immigration bill, which will absolutely have nothing to do with amnesty, nothing at all. Massive redistribution of wealth programs, cap and trade, health care — oh, my gosh, it's just like the days of FDR. These are exciting times, aren't they? And like FDR and his times, unconstitutional times as well.

But because this bill is being pushed and I can't, for the life of me, find anywhere in the Constitution — can you hand me the Constitution over there? I can't find where it says that we can mandate and provide healthcare. I can't find a single place in here where, to be a citizen, a lawful citizen, the government mandates that you buy something.

I can't find it in this pesky document that originally was only four pages. But let's ask an expert, somebody who has sworn an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Yes, $300 million for her state, Sen. Mary Landrieu:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What part of the Constitution do you think gives Congress the authority to mandate individuals have to purchase health insurance?

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU, D-LA.: Well, we're very lucky as members of the Senate to have constitutional lawyers on our staff, so I'll let them answer that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: Well that wasn't condescending at all, was it? Mary, thank you very much for having those lawyers on your staff. Oh, I feel warm and fuzzy inside. Thank you for treating me like an adult.

If I recall and I know it's crazy to bring this up, don't senators take an oath of office? Yes, they do.

And Mary, I know you know this, but it goes a little something like this: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic."

Wow.

My question is, how could you possibly protect and defend the United States Constitution — the job you signed up to do — if you don't know what's in it? It should be easy to read. The whole thing now, after 230-some years, is only 17 pages — as opposed to your 2,500 or so that you're used to.

You might want to read it; do it yourself. It might clear up a few things for you, Mary.

One thing that you are clear on: You were against the government option until you found that $300 million in your state would be kind of a payback for supporting health care.

Oh, Mary. The Founders would have been so proud of you. You and Congressman Clyburn as well:

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

JUDGE ANDREW NAPOLITANO, FOX NEWS SENIOR JUDICIAL ANALYST: Where in the Constitution is the federal government charged with maintaining people's health?

REP. JAMES CLYBURN, D-S.C.: Well, it's not in the Constitution. There's nothing in the Constitution that says that the federal government has got anything to do with most of the stuff that we do.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BECK: OK. All right, Glenn Beck, if you just ask somebody of real power dissing the Constitution — oh, really? You mean, like this?

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Madam Speaker, where specifically does the Constitution grant Congress the authority to enact an individual health insurance mandate?

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NANCY PELOSI, D-CALIF.: Are you serious? Are you serious?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Yes. Yes, I am.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BECK: She doesn't even answer the question. She just moves on to the next one - "Are you serious?" That's crazy talk. Constitution. What? I don't even know what that is.

You know why she did that? Because the answer is government-provided healthcare can't be found in the Constitution. President Obama knows this, and he said this in 2001.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

OBAMA: The Constitution is a charter of negative liberties, says what the states can't do to you, says what the federal government can't do to you. But it doesn't say what the federal government or the state government must do on your behalf, and that hasn't shifted.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BECK: "That hasn't shifted." Then why are we pushing this, that evil charter of negative liberties? It is a setup. It's set up this way because our Founders understood the dangers of a big, powerful, out-of- control government and the danger that it presents to liberty.

James Madison said that if angels were to govern, then no limits on government would be necessary. News flash: The politicians we have aren't really angels. So for liberty to thrive, government needs to be limited.

But that's not what the progressives have wanted. Read history. Read history. They want control. They think you're stupid. Did you see how Mary Landrieu just treated you? We have people, so I'm going to let them tell us about it. OK? You go and have your little nappy-nap and I will get you some milk.

They need you to depend on them and to believe that all of your rights come from them. Well, they don't. Do not depend on your government.

If we can't depend on them to protect and defend the Constitution, which they took an oath to, how can we depend on them to protect us and our children's future?

They ignore questions on health care. They say they: Leave it to the constitutional scholars. Well, let me ask you this: Don't you think that would be kind of akin of you being arrested and asking the officer, "You're arresting me on what charge?" And him responding, I don't have a law degree. We have attorneys in the DA's office. I'll let them decide."

This is wrong, America and you know it. And until they can show you where it is in the Constitution, you must not allow it to pass, because it will fundamentally transform America.

Freedom lovers and Marxists, bring it on. Let's have the real debate.

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