‘Give it up, a**hole!’: Tennessee Republican shouts at health care protester

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

A Republican state senator from Tennessee got into a heated exchange with an irate protester at the state’s capitol on Tuesday, calling the constituent an “asshole” before stomping away.

According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the protester was a supporter of Gov. Bill Haslam (R)’s Insure Tennessee initiative, which would extend health insurance coverage to many of the state’s poor and uninsured.

State Sen. Todd Gardenhire was emerging from a legislative session when the protester addressed him. Half an hour before, Gardenhire and his Republican colleagues voted down Insure Tennessee, a program which would expand upon the ranks of people who are newly insured under the Affordable Care Act.

A supporter of the measure asked if Gardenhire would be willing to give up his own state-funded health insurance if he is so eager to deny coverage to others.

“Senator, are you willing to give up your health insurance?” the protester asked.

“Why don’t you give it up, asshole?” said Gardenhire as he walked away down the corridor.

East Ridge resident Trae Haggard filmed the video and said that he was shocked at the senator’s cavalier use of a vulgarity when dealing with a constituent.

“I was shocked he called a constituent that,” Haggard told the Times Free Press.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/04/give-it-up-ahole-tennessee-republican-shouts-at-health-care-protester/

[Jackpine Radical]

1. He doesn't seem to have answered the question, either.

[airplaneman]

2. “Senator, are you willing to give up your health insurance?” the protester asked.

I guess not.
-Airplane

[Ageless Democrat]

3. Gardenhire will be sacrificed for the betterment of Tennessee

it's time to purge the morons from the state Senates and state Houses.

It's time to rise up and throw out the morons.

[calimary]

6. Welcome to DU, Ageless Democrat!

Glad you're here! One would HOPE that this asshole would indeed be sacrificed for the betterment of Tennessee. But I'm not holding out much hope. Tennessee voters saw fit to vote him into office. So I put the onus on THEM as much as on him. And as long as they keep buying into people like him, there can be no such betterment for Tennessee. And it's sad. Those who saw fit to elevate shit-bags like him to public office would benefit by getting rid of his ilk. But they won't. They're captives. They hold themselves hostage in cases like this. They're their own worst enemies.

But believe me, I would love nothing more than to see them rise up and throw these schmucks out! Wish we could talk sense into them, but it's hard to outshout the WALL OF NOISE brought to you by Pox Noise and hate radio and the enemy sympathizers of the lazy media. It's kinda like the famous "Phil Spector Wall of Sound" back in the 50s and 60s - gone to Hell.

[LynneSin]

17. Not purging anyone if we don't show up and vote

60% of the eligible voters turned out for the 2012 elections yet only 36% came out for 2014. Sure we'd like to blame gerrymandering and those wretched voter id laws but in the end the progressives just didn't bother to show up.

A sure I can understand that DINOs like Mark Pryor might not inspire them but there were some great democrats that did lose.

And lees face it - has Tom Cotton been a better option than Mark Pryor?

[demwing]

22. "(H)as Tom Cotton been a better option than Mark Pryor?"

I'd have to say yes, he has. Cotton's stunt must have generated tens of thousands in contributions for the Dems, a boost in support for Obama, and amo to use against Repukes in 2016.

Pryor WISHES he had that great an impact.

[tk2kewl]

4. more projection from republicans

[raging moderate]

5. Thank you, Republicons, for illustrating our point about you.

And no, we will not give up.

[valerief]

7. What a charmer.

Blech!

[MrModerate]

8. These jerks are convinced . . .

They're answerable only to those who voted for them and not their constituents generally. "Why don't you give it up" translates as "you'll never vote for me, so fuck off."

[hopemountain]

14. more accurately, they are only answerable to

the corporate donors and corporate puppet masters.

[MrModerate]

15. Perhaps I should have said . . .

Only owe even lip service to those who voted for them . . .

[hopemountain]

21. "lip service" is accurate... nt

[SickOfTheOnePct]

19. That's pretty much how all elected officials think n/t

[lonestarnot]

9. I always enjoy watching them squirm, fuckwads.

[southerncrone]

10. Another jerk showing their ass from my hometown. Great.

VP for Morgan Stanley. Long history of Repub promotion.
Sadly, he replaced one of the few Dems in our state congress. That Dem is now the mayor of Chattanooga, however.

[Tanuki]

11. Here is his facebook page,

in case anyone would like to let him know what you think.
https://www.facebook.com/rtoddg48?fref=ts

[Quantess]

13. He has it set to private, I see.

[Zambero]

12. Gardenhire was asked the question first by a constituent

Would HE be willing to give up HIS health insurance? He the proceeded to behave as a rat would do when cornered.

[IronLionZion]

16. The GOP plan has always been "die quickly"

for the undeserving. It's unbelievable how some people have an unhealthy obsession over what other people get.

[Dont call me Shirley]

18. Gardenhire is taking the low road.

[redruddyred]

20. at least he was honest.

can't hide his contempt for the plebs forever.