CNN Tees Up Comedian to Defend ObamaCare; 'Let's Give It a Chance'
Chris Cuomo isn't the only CNN anchor helping with ObamaCare's PR.
On CNN Sunday evening, anchor Martin Savidge teed up comedian George
Wallace to stand up for the law and plead with Americans to "give it a
chance. Let's get together instead of knocking it."
"I think everybody deserves great health care. And even prisoners get
great health care, free health care," Wallace insisted. Savidge had
noted that many "almost seem obsessed with" ObamaCare.
[Video below. Audio here.]
In the interview over Wallace's new book, the comedian added that Obama is "a good friend of mine, I love him." He also whipped Congress for obstructing the President's agenda:
"I would like all the congressmen to get together and say what can we do to make this work? What can we do for the people? We're not doing anything right now. Congress is just in total disarray right now. They're doing nothing."
Below is a transcript of the segment, which aired on CNN Newsroom on November 24 at 7:52 p.m. EST:
[7:52]
MARTIN SAVIDGE: Getting paid to be funny, it has to be one of the
hardest ways to earn a living in this world. A lot of comedians though
turn the day's headlines into their punch lines, like ObamaCare, the
weather, you name it. Comedian George Wallace has a new book and it's
called "Laff It Off," saying it's important to live your life looking
for the humor. And earlier, we talked about why he wrote it.
(Video Clip)
GEORGE WALLACE, comedian: Laughter is the best medicine in the world.
SAVIDGE: Okay. And now that you brought it up, that medicine is going
to be direly needed this week, of course, with the holiday travel mixing
with what is looking like a really nasty weather system. So what do you
think of all this?
WALLACE: Well, first of all, I'm in New York City and it's really cold
here. It's really cold. You know the kids that walk around with the
pants hanging off their butt? Well they got them up today. They got them
up today. It is cold here. They got this thing going around called
butt- monia. It's really cold. It's this time of the year and all the
people traveling. Now, you know, You know every Thanksgiving there's
going to be a snowstorm. Go ahead and leave early. So you got to be
thinking – say it here, I be thinking. Do that.
SAVIDGE: Pack plenty of patience and keep a sense of humor as you're standing there in, I don't know, three inches of ice.
WALLACE: Laughter is the greatest medicine in the world. You know
what's good about laughter? It's free medicine also. It's free. So I'm
teaching people how to keep it in the reach of children. You know,
exercise your funny bone. If you start laughing and you laugh over four
hours, call your doctor. And give your doctor the prescription so he can
laugh, too. It is so good to laugh. You need to get this book because
there's something here for everybody. I'm teaching, Martin, young people
how to travel to other countries while you're young.
SAVIDGE: And you're shamelessly also holding that book up. But you
brought up medicine. So this is a perfect segue to get into Obamacare.
What's your take on everything that people are talking about? They
almost seem obsessed with it.
WALLACE: Well, what we were talking about affordable care. And I think
everybody deserves it. I know it's good. You know why I know it's good?
Because who has the best health care in America? Congress. Congress.
Now, you work for me. I pay your benefits and you don't want me to have
what you have? I think everybody deserves great health care. And even
prisoners get great health care, free health care.
SAVIDGE: What do you think of all the criticism? President Obama
certainly has taken a ton of heat on what is a program – what was going
to be a showcase for his administration.
WALLACE: Martin, when they first started Social Security – you know, you
were living back then. It didn't work when that first started. Medicare
didn't work when that first started. Let's give it a chance. Let's get
together instead of knocking it. I would like all the congressmen to get
together and say what can we do to make this work? What can we do for
the people? We're not doing anything right now. Congress is just in
total disarray right now. They're doing nothing. I was talking to
President Barack Obama. He came to Las Vegas not too long ago. He's a
good friend of mine, I love him. He says to me "You look a lot younger
since the last time I saw you." And I wanted to say to him, "I wish I
could say the same thing about you."
(End Video Clip)
SAVIDGE: I don't know if you caught on, but he has a book out, just in
case you missed that. George Wallace, great to talk with him.
— Matt Hadro is a News Analyst at the Media Research Center. Follow Matt Hadro on Twitter.
