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  1. Politics
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14 September 2011

Should society let uninsured people die? “YEAH!“

Crowd at Monday night's Republican presidential debate cheer at suggestion that society should allow

By Samira Shackle

 

Once again, one of the most memorable moments in Monday’s CNN Republican presidential debate came from the audience. Hot on the heels of jubilant cheers at Rick Perry’s record number of executions as Texas governor in last week’s debate, some members of the audience cheered at the suggestion that society should allow uninsured Americans to die.

The host Wolf Blitzer was pushing candidate Ron Paul about a hypothetical man without insurance who goes into a coma. “That’s what’s freedom is all about,” replied Paul. “Are you saying society should just let him die?” asked Blizter — at which point several members of the Tea Part-heavy audience interrupted with “YEAH!”

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None of the candidates took issue with the cheers, although it has been reported that Perry said he was “taken aback” by the response, adding “we are the party of life”.

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