VA Tea Partier Tells Elderly Woman Asking Him To Back Medicaid Expansion: ‘YOU Are The Problem’

Tea Party Virginia Delegate Tag Greason cares about his constituents. In fact, when they say something with which he disagrees, like ‘As an elderly woman, I think you should support Medicaid expansion,’ he cares so much he feels the need to set them straight–as Loudoun County resident Susan Merk discovered when she e-mailed him on March 28 when he told her she is ‘the problem’ and called her ‘intellectually lazy’ for supporting something that would greatly benefit her.

Merk voiced her support for the Medicaid Expansion. “It’s imperative that federal Medicaid aid is passing the [Virginia] budget,” Merk wrote.

Greason respectfully disagreed…well, maybe not respectfully, but he did disagree. Her elected official mansplained to her that, “ObamaCare has already proven to be inefficient, costly, and an utter disaster,” and that “Medicaid is one of the largest and fastest-growing parts” of the budget even without expansion.

Merk shot back, telling him that, “This reply is pitiful – it’s nothing but partisan rhetoric, false accusations and invalid excuses.” She added, “I will be sure to vote you out the next time you’re up for election.”

This enraged the Tea Partier so much that he decided to truly exercise outreach to the elderly. He responded, Pitiful because I am willing to enter a dialogue with you? All you liberals are the same. As soon as someone doesn’t agree with you, you shut down communication, call the other side names, take your ball and go home. I understand and am saddened by this approach at the federal level … but your reaction below is THE problem. I did not have to write you back … but I did. I think discussing differences is the only way to solve problems … you would rather leap right to the insults. How intellectually lazy are you? You are the problem. Good luck to you. You can not insult your way to ‘victory.’ If you are not willing to have a civil discussion, please do not write me again. It is a waste of my time. Thanks, Tag.”

Merk, understandably, was offended by her elected official’s actions. “I shouldn’t write to him again because I am wasting his time?” Merk told the Loudoun Times. “How many emails do you think he gets per day from people who disagree with him just like I did? It’s his job to listen to the people he represents.” She called his conduct “unprofessional” and “almost unreal.”

He attempted to walk back his remarks on Monday, saying he “must have been having  a very bad day,” though one must wonder how “bad” his day must have been to assail an elderly woman as he did.

The number of deaths attributable to the lack of the Medicaid expansion is between 266 and 987. If Medicaid expansion were to pass, it would lead to an additional 291,325 insured people.

Greason barely held on to his seat for his third term, winning election by only 500 votes in 2013. We look forward to his forced retirement the next time voters hit the polls.