Limbaugh Vows to Leave US Over Health Care

[spookyturtle 9,466]

(March 9) -- Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has thrown down the gauntlet. If the U.S. Congress passes health care reform, Limbaugh will leave the country to receive his medical treatment.

Specifically, Limbaugh told a caller that he envisions traveling to Costa Rica should the government, through a federal program costing upwards of $1 trillion, expand health care coverage to approximately 30 million Americans who are currently uninsured.

Ironically, Costa Rica offers universal heath care to all of its residents.

The caller asked Limbaugh where he would go for health care if Congress were to enact reform.

"I don't know," Limbaugh responded. "I'll just tell you this, if this passes and it's five years from now and all that stuff gets implemented, I am leaving the country. I'll go to Costa Rica."

Limbaugh's guarantee is but the latest variation of what has come to be known as "Baldwin's wager," after actor Alec Baldwin was said to have threatened to expatriate himself should George W. Bush defeat Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election. Bush won, of course, and Baldwin did not end up relocating to foreign shores.

Other celebrities who have promised the equivalent of "going Galt" provided that political events did not turn out to their liking include director Robert Altman and actress Kim Basinger, who also threatened to pack up and go should Bush defeat Gore.

Poking fun at his own brother, in 2008, actor Stephen Baldwin said he'd leave the U.S. should Barack Obama be nominated to run for president for the Democrats. And, like his brother, he remains in the U.S.

Susan Sarandon, Heidi Klum and husband, Seal, meanwhile promised to join the ranks of ex-pats should John McCain best Obama.

Not to be outdone, however, actress Tina Fey raised the bar further still. Fed up with having to impersonate Sarah Palin, Fey shuddered at the thought a McCain/Palin future.

"If she wins, I'm done," Fey told TV Guide. "I can't do that for four years. And by 'I'm done,' I mean I'm leaving Earth."

Whether Limbaugh, who is 59, will actually follow through with his on-air promise to seek medical care in Costa Rica should health care reform be implemented in the U.S. over the next few years remains unclear. Anyone care for a wager?

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/rush...passed/19389808

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

He probably heard that Costa Rica has free drugs. Don't away angry Rush, just go away.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Well, there's one less person cramming up the system.... now if we could figure out how to get the rest of the 40 million who will be added on to do the same....

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Buh-by!

[Ali G. 37]

Where is he going to go? Only second and third world countries utilize the health care system he cheers for.

The sheer number of people in the US who assume the rest of the developed world is basically stupid, never seizes to amaze me..

Edited March 10, 2010 by Booyah

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Limbaugh Vows to Leave US Over Health Care

Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. And take Alec Baldwin with you. He has been looking for a ride to Canada since GWB became president.

[trillium13 84]

Buh bye now. Take all of those people who think you're the messiah with you, Rush.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has thrown down the gauntlet. If the U.S. Congress passes health care reform, Limbaugh will leave the country to receive his medical treatment.

[alienlovechild 75]

Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has thrown down the gauntlet. If the U.S. Congress passes health care reform, Limbaugh will leave the country to receive his medical treatment.

With the taxes he pays, there will be others who are wealthy who will follow him who don't want to pay for Obamacare and the rest of his programs. There are a lot of American expats there and in Panama. Rush can easily broadcast from Costa Rica but people will say he's even more out of touch.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

you still have to pay tax if you move abroad

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Rush knows that if health care reform passes, it will become popular and a lot of the Right Wing scare tactics will become even more silly and irrelevant. The political dialogue will then slowly become less polarized by the RWN's and the Republican Party will start to welcome more moderates. Rush in turn will become irrelevant.

[Dan J 277]

With the taxes he pays, there will be others who are wealthy who will follow him who don't want to pay for Obamacare and the rest of his programs. There are a lot of American expats there and in Panama. Rush can easily broadcast from Costa Rica but people will say he's even more out of touch.

A lot of people already do go overseas for medical care. But not to protested the american system, but because its the only care they can afford.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Rush knows that if health care reform passes, it will become popular and a lot of the Right Wing scare tactics will become even more silly and irrelevant. The political dialogue will then slowly become less polarized by the RWN's and the Republican Party will start to welcome more moderates. Rush in turn will become irrelevant.

might become popular (if it's not this current bill mind you) because morons are easily lured into the trap of 'freebies.'

I personally don't feel like sacrificing quality for quantity nor do I like the idea of being denied coverage for something I actually want/going through a government bureaucracy like medicare/medicaid....

[Dan J 277]

might become popular (if it's not this current bill mind you) because morons are easily lured into the trap of 'freebies.'

I personally don't feel like sacrificing quality for quantity nor do I like the idea of being denied coverage for something I actually want/going through a government bureaucracy like medicare/medicaid....

You would prefer to be denied coverage because you are not profitable

[Obama 2012 1,714]

You would prefer to be denied coverage because you are not profitable

Hey, I have a better shot of not being denied with a private carrier vs. the current government sham we have going today....