A lot of responses to the simple question I posed in my newsletter on Thursday: What do you think about Obama’s health care summit? There were way too many to post, but below is a representative smattering of the wide opinions I received. Thanks to everyone for chiming in, which I ask every month to let me know how you’re feeling and what you’re seeing. I read every comment sent to me, because I simply cannot do my job effectively if I don’t know what people are thinking, regardless of your political preference or party affiliation.
Before we begin, one aside. Sarah Palin posted the “top five falsehoods” on her Facebook page, which began with Sen. Harry Reid saying “no one has talked about reconciliation.” It was a huge whopper. Palin is exactly correct on this, which others have mentioned. Everyone has been talking about reconciliation. Point to Sarah.
Meanwhile, Ben Nelson suggests “comprehensive health care,” as he laughingly calls it, may have to be abandoned for the idea of — wait for it — “making a pie a piece at a time“ legislation. Holy Zeus! Now I know the true meaning of torture.
Now for some of the reviews I received, which I’ve offered verbatim, mostly in full, correcting only a smattering of spelling errors so it’s easier to read.
I watched the whole thing and got ever so tired of hearing one GOP (Gang of Plutocrats) after another claim that we needed to scrap the bill and start over with a blank sheet of paper … and I suppose they’d also want to use some disappearing ink! A year’s worth of work trying to get them to engage and it appears it was all for naught. Their answer: 2-tiered benefits plans and privatization. If they succeed, say goodbye to the Democracy we thought we had … and say hello to the GOP’s Plutocracy for the monied elite of this nation. – VickieR
I think you are being a little harsh on Obama. He ran on the premise that there are no red states and blue states, he won an amazing victory (Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, etc), but got to the White House facing the most vicious, petty politics I have ever seen. Way past what they did to Clinton. Obvious racism involved. The White House lost the debate in August, and it’s a shame. I hope he’s learned. But what he did at the “summit” was more than “moderate”–he kept leading the Repubs away from their talking points. You are correct–the dems represented were a weak field (Max Baucus???) and I don’t know who made those decisions. Too Bad. – RosemaryB
Suits, suits, suits. Talk, talk, talk. Who, in the place to do so, really cares about the American people? I am a woman who suffered a back injury and then a totally unrelated emergency surgery that has caused great suffering. I don’t know what I would do without Medicare. I really don’t think anyone in that room would give a damn if I wrote and asked for help for any of my health needs. Thanks Dana
Comprehensive health care reform was never the goal, it was to ethically and morally allow hospitals to absolve themselves from treating the underprivileged, and to enrich the insurance industry. Thirty to forty million people out of the emergency rooms, forced to purchase insurance with deductibles and co pays that will make medical care completely out of reach. This abominable solution was sold to a freshly minted President who because of pride his only recourse now is to brazen it out. His motives were good but he got snookered. The real solution would be single-payer. – jim
To tell you the truth, I’ve paid absolutely no attention to the health care summit. It strikes me as political theatre on a grand scale. I suppose I should amend that to say it’s Shakespearean theatre, since there weren’t any women. There weren’t a whole lot of progressives, either. Near as I can tell, the fix is already in on health care [1], and that fix is bad news for anyone who doesn’t own stock in drug or insurance companies.[2] – Cujo359
My reaction? I’m terminally depressed over the failures of Obama and the Democrats on health care. This meeting was a farce, changes nothing, just makes Obama look silly. Why anyone listens to John Boehner and the likes of him is beyond me. Our president should not be in that group. At least we can turn the tv sound off at will. – BeverlyS
My opinion of the summit was that it was theater, nothing more. There was nothing new, nothing substantive that came from it. More stalling by the Regressives and more “making nice/playing it safe” from Obama and most of the Dems. To my knowledge the issue of public option wasn’t even discussed. It was a waste of time, perhaps if it had not been televised and thus the actors would not have been playing to the TV cameras and voting public they maybe would have at least had a real dialogue, but even if that had happened nothing of any substance would have resulted from it. The Regressives aren’t going to vote for ANY semblance of health care reform. Ever. We need to pass health care reform, with a substantive public option, using the reconciliation process. – sl
I think both side were guilty of campaign mode and talking points, however the republicans were more egregious with it. I think Obama has everyone steamed at him, for his handling of the whole debacle. I don’t think it bothers him to much,as he stated we are going to push on that is what elections are for. Correct me if I am wrong, he has made the statement that he doesn’t care if he is not re-elected, obviously he doesn’t care if any of the democrates get reelected either. I think Axelgrease and Rummage have to go. I think in the very end Obama did kind of put it to the republicans regarding some of their misinformation. – BB
Although I thought it was better than I anticipated..and i watched in it’s entirety, I thought it was a waste of time. The Dems will push through this disaster no matter what we the people say and no matter what the opposition party says. I am a Lifelong democrat and have been an elected Dem in my state and I think this bill is horrible.Although I know single payer would be the best bill for this nations people, I was willing to accpet the Public Option. Now I know it was total hog wash , we have been had., And we have been played and sold out from the get go. The mandates and the Tax I now expect on my so called Cadillac Policy is an insult to me and all americans. I worked for my policy, I took early retirement and I paid for my policy with concession after concession in Union Contracts. I took less pay for a better insurance policy, one i had no choice over as a Flight Crew for the Biggest Airline in the USA it was mandatory because of the risk level of the job that i have that policy, now i will be punished with tax on what I have already paid for ..or I will have to be subject to piss poor coverage, how does this help the Working American? This whole bill has been a sell out of the American public with secret meetings by Obama with the health care industry big boys, and this I will tell you ..I will be sitting out the next 2 elections. Or I will vote against anyone in my state that pushes this through and is responsible for this bill! That they can count on. And as a former delegate who is very popular in my large Fla county , I will convince as many people as I can to do the same! This is unacceptable! And it will cost democrats dearly. Oh and I also run a nationwide internet group.over 1000 people..no one is happy with this! And the dems will never see another dime of my money ( and I gave in the high range of $$ as my husband was a former MLBaseball player) and not another day of my time! I am done with them. This is nothing but an Insurance Health industry give away and bali out program! Nothing more! Done I tell you..I am done! – R
I was able to watch the summit in bits and pieces today. In the parts I did see, I was impressed with our President’s grasp on this issue. He came out looking really good from this debate. He was respectful, listened and knew what he was talking about. I was really surprised that the republicans appeared very well prepared and some of them really stood out as impressive. In parts I saw, Paul Ryan and Tom Coburn were impressive. I thought Dick Durbin was also very eloquent. It was helpful to see both sides articulated so clearly. I wonder if the outcome would have been different if this process had happened a little earlier in the process, but hind sight is always 20/20. – S
Obama beats the Republicans. But the real left had no voice — no Anthony Weiner, no Bernie Sanders, no Franken or Grayson. When Obama pointed out that specific elements of the Senate bill polled well, no one mentioned that the most popular reforms were public option and/or Medicare expansion. Once more we’re told the choice is between center-right and far right. – SF
The “EPIC FAIL” of ”MEN MEN MEN” — campaigning for “change,” governing for and from the status quo. Actually, that sums up the whole “health care (quickly changed to insurance) reform” debacle. – Joyce Arnold
The next one is a long response, but I’m going to post it all because “StephenG” took the time to go all the way back to Nixon, providing evidence, but also a historical backdrop, which I simply loved.
Hmm. No single payer/Medicare-for-All advocates. But this was by design, folks (see my earlier comment today).
We are shoveling through this crapfest because of what was hatched in Nixon’s Oval Office 39 years ago this month. Just look at this Kaiser/Nixon transcript from back in the day. I refer everyone to White House Tapes
for the clearest possible presentation:
February 17, 1971
5:26 pm – 5:53 pm
Oval Office
Conversation 450-23
John D. Ehrlichman: On the—on the health business—
President Nixon: Yeah.
Ehrlichman: —we have now narrowed down the vice president’s problems on this thing to one issue and that is whether we should include these health maintenance organizations like Edgar Kaiser’s Permanente thing. The vice president just cannot see it. We tried 15 ways from Friday to explain it to him and then help him to understand it. He finally says, “Well, I don’t think they’ll work, but if the president thinks it’s a good idea, I’ll support him a hundred percent.”
President Nixon: Well, what’s—what’s the judgment?
Ehrlichman: Well, everybody else’s judgment very strongly is that we go with it.
President Nixon: All right.
Ehrlichman: And, uh, uh, he’s the one holdout that we have in the whole office.
President Nixon: Say that I—I—I’d tell him I have doubts about it, but I think that it’s, uh, now let me ask you, now you give me your judgment. You know I’m not to keen on any of these damn medical programs.
Ehrlichman: This, uh, let me, let me tell you how I am—
President Nixon: [Unclear.]
Ehrlichman: This—this is a—
President Nixon: I don’t [unclear]—
Ehrlichman: —private enterprise one.
President Nixon: Well, that appeals to me.
Ehrlichman: Edgar Kaiser is running his Permanente deal for profit. And the reason that he can—the reason he can do it—I had Edgar Kaiser come in—talk to me about this and I went into it in some depth. All the incentives are toward less medical care, because—
President Nixon: [Unclear.]
Ehrlichman: —the less care they give them, the more money they make.
President Nixon: Fine. [Unclear.]
Ehrlichman: [Unclear] and the incentives run the right way.
President Nixon: Not bad.
The next day (February 18, 1971) President Nixon spoke to Congress on proposing a National Health Strategy wherein he promptly pimped and pushed the HMO concept on behalf of Kaiser. The for-profit healthcare industry was born and the rest is history. Conservatism broke the system; conservative measures will not fix it!
Check out KaiserGate.
As I said before, anyone willing to run right-wing “Harry and Louise” ads against Dems can’t be counted on the fight for quality healthcare legislation. It’s why he is comfortable making bacroom deals with Pharma and the for-profit hospital lobby.
For me, I will focus on things that will help me maintain my rights as a disabled person. I don’t have the time, energy or money to support or advocate for folks who don’t support me. When I look at Archive ADA (http://www.law.georgetown.edu/archiveada/) I see the history of hard working folks working to ensure and expand the rights of the disabled. I can really appreciate that.
I do believe, however, that if Obama had some real, hardcore experience where he WORKED and SWEATED to really better peoples lives, in a situation where he had some of his own skin in the game, he would have the gravitas to lead us out of this mess. But all we get today is kabuki kooky. Grrr!
This one came complete with video link:
… .. The summit was a joke – President Platitude was reaching out to cowering blue dogs to get on board when they try and shove it threw – it was all to save himself, Nancy & Harry. The man was handed a golden opportunity – and he f—ed it up. He can blame the republicans all he wants, it’s his fault for dropping the ball – although it would have been nice had he picked it up first… on a lighter note – my mother solves the whole health care problem in 2 seconds or less.… anyway – I’m praying for a primary challenger for 2012 – my main reason for voting for Johnny Mack is that I didn’t think he’d be able to do much damage, but a President Platitude could destroy the Dems for a long time….so far I think I was right. I hate partisan politics, whichever side it’s played on - the aisle doesn’t decide who’s right and who’s wrong, it just decides which side the parties sit on. – e.
Thanks again to everyone who sent your thoughts my way. If you want to be included in my newsletter outreach, just send us an email.
sent in by EricC
“R” speaks to me because we’re in the same boat, or plane, so to speak. We’re waiting to see how much it will cost us for our “cadillac” plan–which is good, I must say, at least so far. We got it through the Teamsters, same as “R”, which is the union for most airline pilots. We’ll see.
Lots of good work gathering anecdotal opinion, Taylor, thanks.
Here’s something to consider for anyone insane enough to ever think about voting for this man if he runs for Prez:
Governor Gutshot to Impoverished ER Patients: Get the Hell out!:
Dog bites man. Sun rises in east. Tim Pawlenty plays “kick the starving poor person (who’s probably black anyway) to win the CPAC vote”.
[...]
As usual, my absentee governor, in his bid to win the votes of the evil heartless racist yahoos known as “Republican base voters”, goes the extra mile in terms in venality, stupidity, ignorance and inhumanity. Read on…
From The Hill — Pawlenty: Let ER’s turn away patients to cut costs:
Emergency rooms should be able to turn patients away to cut costs, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) said last night
Appearing on Fox News’s “On the Record with Greta Van Sustren” last night, Pawlenty said the federal law that mandates ER treatment should be repealed.
As they noted even Van Susteren was skeptical of Pawlenty’s proposal:
VAN SUSTEREN: OK. OK. But you come in with chest pains, and like, you get horrible chest pains. Now, it could be indigestion, which is minor, or it could be heart, which isn’t minor. So then…
PAWLENTY: You have to do a little triage. That’s for sure.
VAN SUSTEREN: Right. I mean, so the problem is, it’s got — I mean, there really is sort of — it’s not that easy.
You’ve got to love these “compassionate conservatives”. Alan Grayson was right about the Republicans’ health care plan. Don’t get sick and if you get sick, die quickly.
Video:
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/pawlenty-let-ers-turn-away-patients-cut-co
The “Cadillac tax” has bothered me from the start, which is why “R’s” email to be rang true. I hear a lot about this one.
The credit goes to people willing to email me their thoughts BUT ALSO THOSE WILLING TO BE PART OF MY NEWSLETTER. I need more people to sign on to the newsletter to continue to be able to get these opinions. So, thanks to the lurkers signing up!
I didnt reply sorry.
but I feel that whatever side someone was on was the side that they felt won the “media event”.
lately things have become so polarized that the other side wont even listen or consider the opposing view.
I think the only on who can fix this is Hillary.
“To all the little piggies or how much is enough,” as Lennon asked? When did this mindset of ‘entitlement’ overtake the Liberal side of the aisle? As in “I’m ‘entitled’ to a cadillac health care plan” or a multi-million dollar mansion or a $100 thousand car or a mink coat or an expensive and extended vacation in Palm Springs or a $1000 dinner for two? When millions of peole have no health care and no home and no decent car and not enough food to eat and no job? You ME, ME, ME, ME people should be taxed to within an inch of your lives. Because a hard rain is about to fall so get ready. Peace
These comments are very interesting. Thanks for posting, Taylor. I think a common thread is that people really wanted change, meaning action on this issue – action for Main Street. I don’t hear anyone putting all their eggs in the bipartisan basket. The corporations are pulling the strings and we have had almost no leadership to counteract. Although I am one who thinks President Obama did pretty well at the health summit, I realize he is salvaging what he can at this point.
Mark D says:
27 February 2010 at 11:49 am
Hey, no problem; it’s not always possible to reply. Another time, perhaps.
Imhotep, you need to re-read what “R” wrote. People many people GAVE AWAY raises and other things to get that “Cadillac” insurance. It’s not about “entitled,” but what is OWED through negotiating down, because you’ve got few other choices.
As for “salvaging what he can,” lynnette, THE PUBLIC OPTION IS STILL AVAILABLE if Dems had a collective spine. ..and who got O in this situation in the first place?
Also, thanks for new emails coming in.
Taylor Marsh says:
27 February 2010 at 1:03 pm As for “salvaging what he can,” lynnette, THE PUBLIC OPTION IS STILL AVAILABLE if Dems had a collective spine. ..and who got O in this situation in the first place?
I know, and we need a strong p.o. I really wish they would get their collective spine straightened out. Maybe they’re too far removed from Main Street to realize the sentiment out there. I don’t know, Taylor. I guess one has to believe in something to fight for it.
I guess it just seems incredible, even though I’ve said for a long time that the PO doesn’t have a chance, that people like yourself are willing to give Obama & Dems a pass on it. Saying Obama did a good job at the HCR summit in the face of this reality is stunning to me.
Hey, but I appreciate your sentiments and your opinion, which is shared by many others.
Well, I’ve always felt torn about the whole thing, even though I know what I would like to see in the bill. Some people say it’s a start. What’s the alternative, realistically??
Sen. Harry Reid saying “no one has talked about reconciliation.” It was a huge whopper. Palin is exactly correct on this, which others have mentioned. Everyone has been talking about reconciliation. Point to Sarah.
==================
I don’t remember ANY leading congress person, who can bring bills to the floor, hold a press conference specifically to discuss the possibility of using reconciliation …
IF some smart person deduced that it was a possibility or IF the media were speculating that it may be employed, THAT does NOT equal to ANYONE talking about reconciliation …
UNTIL Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi or the President specifically state that they are going to use reconciliation, it is ONLY SPECULATION !
Hola Marshans,
I’ve been lurking–although I did respond to the Newsletter. The fact is that I read all the posts and comments, but am too paralyzed by anger against Obama, the Democrats, the Republicans, the tea party people, the health insurers, our two immoral wars–to comment myself. Perhaps it’s just the snow, as my son has also quit setting everyone right on True-Slant and Huff Po. We’ve been snowbound all month.
My husband’s family were a contentious bunch of liberals (of course) who delighted in dinner table arguments. My father-in-law, late in his life, did not participate any longer but was known to say, “I like to listen to my children talk (argue).” So folks, think of me as an old grandma sitting at the dinner table, enjoying the conversation.
I wish you all Peace, the Peace that passeth understanding.
What an interesting look into the fall-out of “accelerated promotion.” You have a junior member of congress who catapults into the presidency after serving only 28 months in the body. The setting yesterday revealed Obama’s continued need to prove himself worthy of his title. What he lacks in experience and rapport with other members of congress is replaced with bravado-the only card he can play..as if his arrogance in some way makes up for his lack of qualifications in the eyes of the people in that room-most of whom, up until last year, vastly “out-ranked” him.
““““
This is what a commenter had to say over at Jake Tapper’s. Inexperience is the only thing I can think of that makes him think he will get any cooperation from the Repubs.Really it would be so much better if he was vice president and had the chance to learn a few things.It still amazes me that this country took leave of it’s senses and fell for very good marketing during the primary. I say country because many who were not Dems were brought into the mix.Remember all the primary voters who were encouraged to “be a Republican for a day,and smash Hillary.”
I just wached Hillary go before the Senate Foreign Relations committee on C-Span. Really there is no comparison.
Lake Lady says:
27 February 2010 at 2:39 pm
I wrote a comment a few weeks ago about how I thought Obama should have been Hillary’s V.P. and then go on to be President (he has youth on his side) – that way both of them could have been President. I thought that made sense, and like you, chose experience and policy over the marketing and excitement. I figured she knew the pitfalls and mistakes from the past and would be well prepared to deal with the opposition. I think she would have fought for the public option. What do you think? Having said that, I think President Obama was the smartest person in the room at that summit. I do see him as an intelligent thinker, although I am disappointed in the way he has handled health care. I listened quite intently to Tom Harkin at the summit, and I guess what he said rang true to me.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db23.pdf
Take a look at what the US Government says about infant mortality world wide – US ranks 30th.
Yeah, the baby born in France is luck, and the one born in Britain, and the one like my grandson born in Kuwait. Both parents are US citizens who received required parenting classes during the required 4 day hospital stay (to be certain the new parents had a head start on knowing how to care for their new son). US citizens paid a total of $60.00 for the entire medical care through pregnancy, delivery and hospitalization. No, they weren’t employed by a US entity – they were employed by a Kuwaiti owned for profit private school.
Hi djjl. 4 day hospital stay? They want to kick you out in 48 hours or sooner here. I like the idea of the required parenting classes, too.
Yep, lynnette. Required 4 days, it is believed that is the minimum time to assure the “family” leaves with the best start. Fathers have to attend baby care classes each day with the mom covering such things as bathing, burping, diapering, when to call the doctor.
Side note – the doctors in Kuwait wanted them to get his immunizations in the US because they were due at the time they were flying home. They were concerned he’d develop a fever and be quarantined. They also needed a check on his circumcision. They flew into Columbus Ohio. There my son-in-law spent approximately 3 hours trying to find a pediatric clinic that would see him. NOPE. They weren’t going to be residents of Columbus and even though they were ready to pay the full price sans insurance, the clinics weren’t interested in “one and done.”
She called me and we got him an appointment here. “One and done “apparently means – according to our pediatrician – that the clinic believes there is too much exposure (something could go wrong) seeing a patient that you don’t expect to continue deriving income from.
djjl, thank you for for your contribution to “Amen” in “Jim Bunning shows Democrats…..” I expanded on it at 7am this morning. I’d like to get your feedback on my comment if you care to do that. Thanks again. Peace
What if? What if someone offered you a good solution, but you refused to consider it, because it didn’t follow your own party’s dictates?
What if, you just had to choose, regardless of party partisanship. What if, you could get great insurance?
What if you had a choice? What would happen then? Would you just consider the idea? Or would you reject it, because it came from the “other side?”
Me? I’d just take whatever the best deal was; I don’t give a rat’s ass what side it comes from. What about you?
All civilian federal workers can select from a wide array of private plans — Kaiser, Aetna, Cigna, United and others.
Yet 60 percent of them choose a standard option from Blue Cross Blue Shield (“the Blues”) — a fact that disproves Democrats’ loud complaints about some companies’ high market share.
Consider: Forty “Blues” “control” more than half this market — yet federal employees plainly don’t lack sufficient choices.
If the Blues’ high market share meant “the price of insurance goes up and quality goes down,” as the president suggested to Congress last September, then federal employees would have switched to other plans.
The president especially complained about the high market share of Alabama’s nonprofit Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, which has about 75 percent of the state’s group market. He imagined that high market share demonstrated a shortage of insurance alternatives — when Alabama in fact has 39 licensed health insurers.
Has a high market share made it easier for that insurer to “treat their customers badly,” as Obama suggested?
On the contrary, ConsumerReportsHealth.org ranks the Alabama BCBS as one of the two best PPOs (preferred provider organizations) of 41 it examined nationwide, tied with a for-profit Anthem BCBS in Connecticut.
You might want to follow Consumer Reports’ advice and buy a policy in Alabama or Connecticut. Unfortunately, that’s illegal unless you live in those states.
Which brings us to the idea of letting consumers buy insurance across state lines — which a New York Times editorial sniffs at as one of the “small ideas the Republicans are championing.” In fact, it’s huge.
Why? Because the main barrier to choice and competition has nothing to do with “market dominance” or the health insurers’ anti-trust exemption that Congress is targeting as this week’s scapegoat.
Rather, much of the “national” access-to-insurance problem is that states like New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and West Virginia impose burdensome mandates and regulations that push premiums sky-high.
Healthy young people rightly regard such mandate-laden insurance as a bad deal — so many refuse to buy insurance in these states. Opening the market to interstate commerce gives them meaningful choice — so many would leave the ranks of the uninsured.
In a 2008 study for the Department of Health and Human Services, Stephen T. Parente and three other health economists from the University of Minnesota carefully estimated the “Consumer Response to a National Marketplace for Individual Insurance.”
If markets were just opened up to regional competition, they found, many folks would opt for the better value and move their individual policies to a nearby state. And, because of the savings, many consumers would select better, more comprehensive plans than they now have.
By region, the states with the least costly insurance mandates were New Hampshire in the Northeast, Nebraska in the Midwest, Arizona in the West and Alabama in the South.
If those looking for individual policies were allowed to shop in any state, the number of uninsured would drop by 11.1 million in the Parente study’s mid-range scenario, and possibly much more. Huge numbers would pick health insurance from Alabama, where minimal state interference means maximum consumer choice and low prices.
In other words, the state President Obama once singled out as least competitive turns out to be the most competitive of all.
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=11256