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| Failing to reform health care 'truly scary,' Obama says | |
| 2009-08-12 | |
| PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire (CNN) -- President Obama complained Tuesday about opposition scare tactics against a proposed health care overhaul, but said failing to fix problems in the current system would be the scariest outcome of all. Well, maybe more like the second scariest outcome. "What is really scary ... is to do nothing," President Obama says Tuesday. Funny thing is, I think I'd prefer you in particular to do nothing. Obama addressed a supportive town hall meeting in New Hampshire that contrasted with combative events held by Democratic Congress members that have generated heated and sometimes disruptive responses. Also Tuesday, hostile crowds shouted questions and made angry statements against proposed health care legislation at meetings in Pennsylvania and Missouri led by Democratic senators Arlen Specter and Claire McCaskill. Supportive? In NH?! What, did they hand pick the attendees or something?
In New Hampshire, Obama welcomed a "vigorous" debate as part of the democratic process, but said people should talk "with each other and not over each other." He criticized "wild misrepresentations" by special interests trying to undermine health care legislation before Congress. As long as at the end of the vigorous debate you get your way, right? In particular, Obama rejected rumors that a health care bill passed by a House committee included setting up so-called "death panels" to decide if senior citizens get treatment. He called spreading such rumors a long-standing practice by opponents of health care reform, such as "those who profit under the status quo." There is no death panel. Instead they just have a few clueless young guys I've hired to decide when you aren't financially worth treatment. It's ... different. Somehow. "What is truly scary, what is truly risky, is to do nothing," Obama said, noting that premiums paid for health care coverage were rising three times faster than wages and that the government-run Medicare program for senior citizens would run out of money within a decade. Instead, with your plan, we'll run out of seniors in less than a decade. Think of all the money we'll save! In a new twist at such forums, Obama specifically asked for questions from opponents of health care legislation to address issues of concern. He repeated past guarantees that a health care overhaul won't force anyone to give up health insurance they like and won't cut Medicare benefits, and he stood by his election pledge that he won't raise taxes on people making less than $250,000 a year. Soak the rich. After all, they're in the minority. Which makes me wonder if we shouldn't consider protected status for wealth. At the same time, Obama defended his call for a government-funded public health insurance option to compete against private insurers. He said such an option would hold down rates, rejecting accusations it amounted to a government takeover of health care because private companies can't compete with a government-funded plan. A government-funded plan that will turn into a cash cow for someone. Any ideas? Look, if the private market can't do it, how can the government? Get rid of all the stupid laws restricting consumer rights and watch what happens. The government couldn't even run the Mustang Ranch. "UPS and FedEx are doing just fine," Obama said, referring to private courier services that compete with the U.S. Postal Service. "It's the Post Office that's always having problems." Yet somehow they're still there. Ironic. The atmosphere was different at Specter's morning event in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where angry questioners made emotional statements against health care proposals that they likened to a socialist takeover of the country. One man who shouted an unsolicited comment was shoved by another, prompting Specter to intervene while warning that those disrupting the meeting would be thrown out. Like the goon squads? Specter also faced a noisy crowd at a second event later in the day in Lewisburg, while McCaskill heard similar conservative arguments at her meeting in Hillsboro, Missouri, outside St. Louis. McCaskill kept the meeting running despite frequent shouts and booing, though a short scuffle in the crowd interrupted her. Apparently she's deaf. "Take a deep breath and sit down," she told the crowd as security officers removed one woman. "I want everyone to remember we had prayers at the beginning." Like Obama, she rejected claims by audience members that health care legislation would force people into a government-run public health insurance option, saying: "We're not going to force anybody. It's called an option for a reason." As long as it isn't subsidized by the government, fine. McCaskill also noted that many of those opposing the public option like their coverage by Medicare, "a government-run program." Seniors. Fixed income. Paid their dues. Don't have enough money for some odd reason. At his town-hall events, Specter was accompanied by United States Capitol Hill Police officers. After his event at the campus of Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Specter defended his decision to have Congress' special police force travel with him. "I would say, that given the temper of the times, the fact that in some areas there have been fights breaking out and people hospitalized -- and one member's statue was hanged in effigy -- [safety] is a big challenge," said Specter. As is you getting a clue. In a room full of clues. Despite his expressed need for special security, Specter said heated confrontation is part of the job. "It's challenging. I've been part of some challenging situations and that's part of the pay grade," he said. I wonder what you'd have to say if you had no security around you. Adding that he thought the rhetoric was "within acceptable limits," Specter told reporters that economic and political anxieties have created a "level of anger in the country" that has not been seen since the Great Depression. Get a clue. Videos of other protests circulating on the Internet show raucous crowds heckling their representatives in Congress and carrying posters with devil horns drawn on lawmakers' heads, swastikas, or Obama with Adolf Hitler's mustache drawn on his face. Got one with him wearing a dunce cap yet? The White House has launched what it calls a Health Insurance Reform Was this discussion held in a vacuum? However, the Web site prompted Republican complaints that Obama's government would use it to compile a list of enemies. Obama rejected that accusation, too. He called a health care overhaul essential for ensuring long-term economic stability while ensuring that virtually all Americans have access to health insurance. "The status quo is not working for you," Obama said to applause. So we are obligated to eff it up even worse. Congressional action on a health care overhaul has slowed because of strong Republican opposition. Neither chamber met Obama's goal of passing a bill before their August recess. Hope. In particular, Republicans and some Democrats reject the proposed public option, which they believe will lead to a government takeover of the health care system and prove too costly. Like Social Security and Medicare? | |
| Posted by:gorb |
| #20 I've made a rule, I stop reading at "Obama Says". |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-08-12 23:54 |
| #19 The "Post Office" reference referes to the largest employer in the United States- the Unites States Postal Service, who employes 700,000 plus Americans, and for better or worse, is the "best practice" envy of of the world on a cost per delivered piece basis. It would be nice if POTUS could at least get the name straight...since it subsidizes all that political mail at least. Another "thrown under the bus" victim. |
| Posted by: Capsu78 2009-08-12 23:12 |
| #18 From the same government that wants to take over the country's health care, I bring you this: The Social Security Administration has agreed to pay more than $500 million in back benefits to more than 80,000 recipients whose benefits were unfairly denied after they were flagged by a federal computer program designed to catch serious criminals I must admit the program caught 'dozens' of criminals. By now many of those illegally denied benefits have died. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2009-08-12 18:34 |
| #17 Bobby, they are planing to nationalize your body. It does not matter what district they are from. Second point, did they accept money from outside their district to pay for their election? Third question, What do they care if they do not require Photo ID's to vote? Put these forward, and for some specification, a local here, John David Lewis picked through the plan. It may be interesting if you could take it to these tyrants from DC: http://www.classicalideals.com/HR3200.htm Do not let them get away with it, at all. Fake compassion is good for true tyrannies. |
| Posted by: newc 2009-08-12 18:16 |
| #16 30 or 40 new gummit agencies and 650,000 new |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-08-12 17:07 |
| #15 This is what's 'truly scary': the national & world economy has been collapsing for 2 years now. 3 questions need to be considered by our leadership: 1) What (if anything) was learned about root causes of the crisis? 2) What (if anything) was fixed in the way our economy is managed? 3) What (if anything) will be done to make sure we donÂ’t soon see a repeat of this situation in a slightly different form? They have given these scant consideration. Instead they are going off on this wild tangent. Further stages of the financial crisis may render the whole 'health reform' plan moot. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2009-08-12 17:03 |
| #14 the government-run Medicare program for senior citizens would run out of money within a decade. About which, Obama has done & intends to do nothing. Instead he is attempting to create an even larger government-run program to run out of even more money. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2009-08-12 16:54 |
| #13 Probably praying to get out of there ALIVE! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-08-12 16:51 |
| #12 Claire McCaskill started her town hall with prayer? Oh dear, what will the Noo Yawk Times say? |
| Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie 2009-08-12 16:26 |
| #11 Everyone has missed the bit where he said that the public/government program will not compete with the private sector because the p/g program will not use tax dollars to fund it. Happened right after his bit about the sweetie he was talking to (yeah right), the "Keep your hands off my medicare" ha ha true story. Let's be clear - this was a town hall set. Decorations, the 'faces in the crowd' effect at every camera angle. Hand picked, you betchya. But not an audience - props. Its Billy Zane with a million dollars to spend on the set. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2009-08-12 12:44 |
| #10 "UPS and FedEx are doing just fine," Obama said…"It's the Post Office that's always having problems." OK, the President is promoting the creation of another mammoth government entitlement program. We’re told that by keeping private business “honest” we can lower cost. Don’t worry, we’re assured, the government-funded plan won’t result in the ultimate demise of private business. But how can private companies compete against an entity with such an obvious advantage? Look at the Post Office, the President says, government struggles to do anything efficient. "Wild misrepresentations" – Indeed! |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2009-08-12 12:17 |
| #9 The argument for extortion funded treatment rationing seems to be this... People cannot afford their own treatment, therefore everyone will pay for everyone else's treatment. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2009-08-12 11:31 |
| #8 Nice one, Moose. |
| Posted by: ed 2009-08-12 09:55 |
| #7 "We must save the world with communism. God will not forgive us if we fail." -- Leonid Brezhnev |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2009-08-12 09:46 |
| #6 Mr Obama, the only major reform required is Tort Reform. All else can be done at leisure. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2009-08-12 09:34 |
| #5 "had received calls from outside their districts, wanting to know where the meetings were going to be held." Any different than Donk imports leading up to and on election day? How many crossed the Mass-NH border to vote in November? |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2009-08-12 09:09 |
| #4 Because the NHS is so good! /sarcasm. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2009-08-12 08:52 |
| #3 The guy I work for, a lifelong Democrat, almost went over the edge yesterday. He spent over a half hour on the phone with the IRS to get a copy of a tax notice sent to a client. For 'technical reasons', the IRS wank could not directly confirm that the notice was resent to him or the client. Finally, he gets off the phone and says "I can't even get a god-damned letter from the IRS, and we're supposed to expect them to run the entire US health care system? This is insane." One at a time... |
| Posted by: Raj 2009-08-12 08:40 |
| #2 Supportive? In NH?! What, did they hand pick the attendees or something? Yes, all of the tickets were given to Democrat bigwigs who then distributed the tickets to the loyal followers of King 0bama I. |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2009-08-12 08:15 |
| #1 The radio said this morning there'd be town hall meetings for two local Reps August 25, and that some of them "had received calls from outside their districts, wanting to know where the meetings were going to be held." Aha! The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy returns! But they were too busy with the 'news' that Karl Rove really was deeply involved in the Attorney Firings (four years ago?) to tell me where this alleged Town Hall Meeting which I might choose to go to was actually located. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2009-08-12 06:06 |