The White House has seized on a comment Jim DeMint made on a
conference call last week, which I
reported at the time: “If we are able to stop Obama on this,
it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.” I think that sort of
talk is unhelpful for Republicans, because killing Democratic
health care legislation isn't about damaging Obama politically,
it's about preventing the government takeover of one-sixth of our
economy, stopping job-killing tax increases on individuals and
small businesses, unsustainable deficits, and the deterioration
of the quality of health care in the U.S. It's about blocking
Democrats efforts now so that hopefully one day there will be an
opening to pass true health care reform. When Obama is
floundering on his own, there's no reason for DeMint to throw him
a life raft. Whenever Obama gets into political trouble, he
responds by misdirection. During the campaign, he'd point fingers
at Bush and McCain, and now it's Republicans who stand in the way
of change.
“This is all about politics,” Obama said
of the DeMint comment. “That describes exactly an attitude that
we’ve got to overcome, because what folks have in their minds is
that, somehow, this is about me."
Of course, this is silly, because Democrats have overwhelming
majorities in both chambers of Congress. If they want to pass
something, they can do it without a single Republican vote. To
block health care legislation, at least 40 House Democrats would
have to cross over to oppose it (even assuming uniform GOP
opposition), or at least one Senate Democrat would have to
support a Republican filibuster. Obama's health care push is
hitting a rough patch because moderates in his own party are
skittish about the price tag and tax increases. The Congressional
Budget Office
determined that none of the Democratic bills do anything to
rein in costs -- the primary rationale for his health care drive.
And the Mayo Clinic, which Obama has routinely praised as a model
for the health care system, has
blasted the House legislation. Yet Obama wants to rush
legislation through so he has a victory going into an election
year.
In fact, as CNN reported,
"The Senate Democratic leadership and the White House are putting
heavy pressure on the Finance Committee to adopt its health care
plan before the president speaks to the nation (on Wednesday)."
So in other words, Obama is trying to pressure the Finance
Committee not to write the best legislation its members can, not
to reach a bipartisan compromise, but to pass whatever bill they
can before he goes in front of the television cameras to give a
prime-time news conference.
Demint's comment was fine and he put Obama in his place yesterday
with his speech on the Senate floor. I'm so sick of Repubs who
don't want our politicians to fight back.
I just hope they can do this health care reform with imposing on
American's choices and liberties. On page 16 of the 1002 page
monstrosity there is a provision that would make individual
private medical insurance illegal. Hopefully that provision and
others like it won't see the light of day. But if Obama has his
way and this thing is pushed though legislation as fast as he
wants it, we are all in serious trouble.
Patriot| 7.21.09 @ 11:58AM
Klein's a squish--of course this is about damaging Obama
politically. Obama's a Marxist and I want to destroy him
politically. I detest what he's trying to do to our country.
Obama's rush is less about having a victory going into an
election than in getting another sixth of the economy under his
control. If he gets near 50%, he can use the myriad flocks of
regulators to gather enough for permanent and total control.
jacksmith| 7.21.09 @ 8:47PM
AMERICA’S NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY!
It’s official. America and the World are now in a GLOBAL
PANDEMIC. A World EPIDEMIC with potential catastrophic
consequences for ALL of the American people. The first PANDEMIC
in 41 years. And WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES will have to
face this PANDEMIC with the 37th worst quality of healthcare in
the developed World.
STAND READY AMERICA TO SEIZE CONTROL OF YOUR NATIONAL HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM.
We spend over twice as much of our GDP on healthcare as any other
country in the World. And Individual American spend about ten
times as much out of pocket on healthcare as any other people in
the World. All because of GREED! And the PRIVATE FOR PROFIT
healthcare system in America.
And while all this is going on, some members of congress seem
mostly concern about how to protect the corporate PROFITS! of our
GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT NATIONAL DISGRACE. A PRIVATE FOR
PROFIT DISGRACE that is in fact, totally valueless to the public
health. And a detriment to national security, public safety, and
the public health.
Progressive democrats the Tri-Caucus and others should stand firm
in their demand for a robust government-run public option for all
Americans, with all of the minimum requirements progressive
democrats demanded. If congress can not pass a robust public
option with at least 51 votes and all robust minimum
requirements, congress should immediately move to scrap
healthcare reform and request that President Obama declare a
state of NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY! Seizing and replacing all
PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance plans with the immediate
implementation of National Healthcare for all Americans under the
provisions of HR676 (A Single-payer National Healthcare Plan For
All).
Coverage can begin immediately through our current medicare
system. With immediate expansion through recruitment of displaced
workers from the canceled private sector insurance industry.
Funding can also begin immediately by substitution of payroll
deductions for private insurance plans with payroll deductions
for the national healthcare plan. This is what the vast majority
of the American people want. And this is what all objective
experts unanimously agree would be the best, and most cost
effective for the American people and our economy.
In Mexico on average people who received medical care for A-H1N1
(Swine Flu) with in 3 days survived. People who did not receive
medical care until 7 days or more died. This has been the same
results in the US. But 50 million Americans don’t even have any
healthcare coverage. And at least 200 million of you with
insurance could not get in to see your private insurance plans
doctors in 2 or 3 days, even if your life depended on it. WHICH
IT DOES!
If President Obama has to declare a NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY
to rescue the American people from our healthcare crisis, he will
need all the sustained support you can give him. STICK WITH HIM!
He’s doing a brilliant job.
THIS IS THE BIG ONE!
THE BATTLE OF GOOD Vs EVIL!
Join the fight.
Contact congress and your representatives NOW! AND SPREAD THE
WORD!
Kate| 7.21.09 @ 11:06AM
Demint's comment was fine and he put Obama in his place yesterday with his speech on the Senate floor. I'm so sick of Repubs who don't want our politicians to fight back.
Kenneth Murphy| 7.21.09 @ 11:47AM
I just hope they can do this health care reform with imposing on American's choices and liberties. On page 16 of the 1002 page monstrosity there is a provision that would make individual private medical insurance illegal. Hopefully that provision and others like it won't see the light of day. But if Obama has his way and this thing is pushed though legislation as fast as he wants it, we are all in serious trouble.
Patriot| 7.21.09 @ 11:58AM
Klein's a squish--of course this is about damaging Obama politically. Obama's a Marxist and I want to destroy him politically. I detest what he's trying to do to our country.
Tish| 7.21.09 @ 2:35PM
Obama's rush is less about having a victory going into an election than in getting another sixth of the economy under his control. If he gets near 50%, he can use the myriad flocks of regulators to gather enough for permanent and total control.
jacksmith| 7.21.09 @ 8:47PM
AMERICA’S NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY!
It’s official. America and the World are now in a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. A World EPIDEMIC with potential catastrophic consequences for ALL of the American people. The first PANDEMIC in 41 years. And WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES will have to face this PANDEMIC with the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed World.
STAND READY AMERICA TO SEIZE CONTROL OF YOUR NATIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
We spend over twice as much of our GDP on healthcare as any other country in the World. And Individual American spend about ten times as much out of pocket on healthcare as any other people in the World. All because of GREED! And the PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare system in America.
And while all this is going on, some members of congress seem mostly concern about how to protect the corporate PROFITS! of our GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT NATIONAL DISGRACE. A PRIVATE FOR PROFIT DISGRACE that is in fact, totally valueless to the public health. And a detriment to national security, public safety, and the public health.
Progressive democrats the Tri-Caucus and others should stand firm in their demand for a robust government-run public option for all Americans, with all of the minimum requirements progressive democrats demanded. If congress can not pass a robust public option with at least 51 votes and all robust minimum requirements, congress should immediately move to scrap healthcare reform and request that President Obama declare a state of NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY! Seizing and replacing all PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance plans with the immediate implementation of National Healthcare for all Americans under the provisions of HR676 (A Single-payer National Healthcare Plan For All).
Coverage can begin immediately through our current medicare system. With immediate expansion through recruitment of displaced workers from the canceled private sector insurance industry. Funding can also begin immediately by substitution of payroll deductions for private insurance plans with payroll deductions for the national healthcare plan. This is what the vast majority of the American people want. And this is what all objective experts unanimously agree would be the best, and most cost effective for the American people and our economy.
In Mexico on average people who received medical care for A-H1N1 (Swine Flu) with in 3 days survived. People who did not receive medical care until 7 days or more died. This has been the same results in the US. But 50 million Americans don’t even have any healthcare coverage. And at least 200 million of you with insurance could not get in to see your private insurance plans doctors in 2 or 3 days, even if your life depended on it. WHICH IT DOES!
If President Obama has to declare a NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY to rescue the American people from our healthcare crisis, he will need all the sustained support you can give him. STICK WITH HIM! He’s doing a brilliant job.
THIS IS THE BIG ONE!
THE BATTLE OF GOOD Vs EVIL!
Join the fight.
Contact congress and your representatives NOW! AND SPREAD THE WORD!
God Bless You
Jacksmith – WORKING CLASS
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-welsh/americans-lives-vs-insura_b_241703.html)
Patriot| 7.22.09 @ 3:13AM
Yeah, the great Obummer is doing a bang-up job--like his 11+% unemployment numbers that were supposed to stay under 8%.
Thanks, liberal fascist moron--but no thanks. Go back to your ACORN cave.
Patriot| 7.22.09 @ 3:16AM
Damned commies--try it! Obama hasn't consolidated enough power yet; you'll never pull it off. I double dog dare you, b@stards.