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Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who voted against the House health care bill in November and has repeatedly attacked the Senate bill as a “giveaway to the insurance industry,” just held a press conference to announce he would support the final bill.

On Monday, Kucinich flew with President Obama on Air Force One when Obama made a speech in his district. The media will make a lot of noise about this because Kucinich is the first “no” vote to publicly switch to “yes,” but we shouldn’t be surprised that a single-payer advocate would support a bill that’s such a major step toward government-run health care.

As I’ve said all along, the question is not whether, with this one piece of legislation, liberals achieve their dream of a government-run health care system. The important point is that it moves the United States in that direction. The bill puts the infrastructure in place by providing government subsidies to individuals to purchase government-designed health insurance on government-run exchanges. It imposes a raft of new taxes and regulations, and mandates that individuals purchase government-approved insurance policies. Over time, the government can shift more people to the exchanges, tighten its control over insurance policies, impose more cost controls (i.e. rationing), and add a public option – all of which will keep moving us toward a system of total government control.

According to a report by Talking Points Memo, President Obama met with House liberals and “pledged to revisit the public option in the future.” Meanwhile, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said, “once we kick through this door, there’ll be more legislation to follow.”

So, there’s no shock that every single-payer advocate in Congress who talked tough for over a year will ultimately support the final bill. They can’t resist.

View all comments (62) |

Pingback| 3.17.10 @ 10:39AM

You don’t say: Kucinich to vote “Yes” | Bad Newz links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…news conference that he'll vote yes on the bill's latest draft... Full Story BadNewzEd: Way to stand up for your principles Denny. Update: Philip Klein at The American Spectator has some good analysis here. Tagged as: Democrats, Health Care Leave a comment Comments (0) Trackbacks (0) ( subscribe to comments on this post ) No comments yet. Leave a comment Name (required) Mail (will not be published)…

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.17.10 @ 10:39AM

They can pass it.

We won't obey it.

They will have torn up our contract with our government.
(The Declaration, and the constitution.)
Screw 'em.

Bill from WV| 3.17.10 @ 10:53AM

Makes you wonder what he "rolled over" for?
Probably an ambassadorship somewhere, for when he is removed from office.
I have never seen such blatant,coersion and misrepresentation of the American people!

Bill

John3| 3.17.10 @ 11:10AM

Let us storm (nonviolently) the phone and offices of our elected congressmen and women to vote NO to this atrocious health care bill which will inflict tyranny to ALL Americans and become a flashpoint for more government control of OUR lives.
We need to expose this administration for what they really are--tyrants.

COnservative Bob| 3.17.10 @ 12:37PM

Starve the Beast!
If laws and the constitution mean nothing to the political class why should they have any meaning to the population at large? Business owners have some control on when they actually render their tribute (taxes) to the Leviathan.
If the Dems cram this unconstitutional legislation through with outright bribes and in violation of the established rules and constitutional principles, consider the possible response of an outraged nation.
Imagine the message that a significant slowing of the flow of tribute (revenue) would send to the political class.
Small business owners could decide to express their discontent by slowing or completely suspending their payments.
Those who do not own their own business could increase the number of dependants on a W-4 form to reduce the amount of tax withheld all the way to zero if they chose.
Imagine the impact if millions of individuals adjusted their dependant at the same time, receipts to the government would drop precipitously. At the end of the tax year the individual may face a small penalty for underpayment however that would be long after the message was received by the ruling class.
Consider the additional possible benefit of people who now have their taxes withheld without seeing how much is taken from them actually writing checks, which undoubtedly would elevate their consciousness of their tax burden.
In the short term the leviathan would probably just borrow or print more to offset the reduction, a drop of 40-70% in daily tax receipts at every level of government would get their attention.
The mother’s milk of the burgeoning government is the fruits of our hard labor, an interruption in the flow of that milk would get their attention.
Just imagine the possibilities, if average citizens begin to honor and obey the laws and the constitution as selectively as our ruling elites.
Imagine starving the beast!

Pingback| 3.17.10 @ 12:56PM

Dennis Kucinich to Vote ‘Yes’ and Other Updates on Zombie Health Care Bill : The Oth links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…merely by proclaiming your belief that these things are a “civil right.” This is the basic problem with socialism: Eventually, you run out of other people’s money. UPDATE IV : The American Spectator ’s health-care ace Philip Klein: The media will make a lot of noise about this because Kucinich is the first “no” vote to publicly switch to “yes,” but we shouldn’t be surprised that a…

Pingback| 3.17.10 @ 2:22PM

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…Paperwork With The SEC For A … ETF DAILY NEWS » State Street Files Paperwork With The SEC For A … Organize Your Paperwork [Mission #36] | Get Organized Wizard The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Shock: Government- Run Health … O.C. Now » Blog Archive » stretch run Making our tests run thrice as fast at Spindrop Zynga recruits Electronic Arts veteran to run game studios … Something to…

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…Theft Law Hero: Episode 8 — Dramabeans Join us for the CrunchGear and Friends podcast Comedian Brown cleared of assault Lost Season 6: Recon ( Episode | The Disney Blog The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Shock: Government-Run Health … SMALL METAL SCULPTURE " noisy WILLOW" | Rare Antiques Punchline Magazine Blog » Comedian Carol Leifer fired from … LOST: Episode 6.08 Recap:…

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Sweden to help SA with clean energy · Staringfrog.com links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

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…On Penny Auctions | My Auction Info Related posts on Government Family Starts Scholarship to Spur Government Careers (Washington … Forced Government Ineptitudes The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Shock: Government-Run Health … Related posts on Japan InApp expands operations to Japan | Technopark Today – Technopark … Du Preez set for Japan move | Springbok Rugby Blog CHAdeMO: Japan…

Pingback| 3.17.10 @ 5:04PM

Monserrate Loses Bid to Win Back Seat links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…state senator Hiram Monserrate lost his bid to win back his seat in Queens in a special election Tuesday. Read more on The Advocate Related Blogs The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Shock: Government-Run Health Care Advocate to Vote “Yes” on Obamacare Disability advocate’s family sues after he dies during repairs to his wheelchair IP Osgoode » Advocate General Mengozzi releases…

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…Am Trying To Find Someone For Free By Telephone Number Related Blogs NFL.com Blogs » Blog Archive Redskins sign free-agent QB Grossman « The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Shock: Government-Run Health Care Advocate to Vote “Yes” on Obamacare The British National Party — Blog — Government Exposed Lying in "Man-Made" Global Warming Propaganda Government is reviewing…

Pingback| 3.17.10 @ 5:37PM

He Was Against It Before He Was For It « Around The Sphere links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…legislation is a necessary step on the road to any sort of broad reform. At the rally, someone in the crowd shouted, “Vote yes!” Obama asked Kucinich if he heard the call. Kucinich did. Philip Klein at The American Spectator: The media will make a lot of noise about this because Kucinich is the first “no” vote to publicly switch to “yes,” but we shouldn’t be surprised that a single-payer advocate…

Pingback| 3.17.10 @ 8:01PM

Wonk Room » Conservatives Use Kucinich’s Support To Argue Bill Will Lead To Single P links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Bill Will Lead To Single Payer Health Care Over at The American Spectator blog, Phillip Klein isn’t very surprised about Kucinich’s new-found support for the Senate legislation.” There’s no shock that every single-payer advocate in Congress would talked tough for over a year will ultimately support the final bill,” he writes. The legislation is a slippery slide towards single-payer…

Pingback| 3.17.10 @ 10:04PM

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…9001-quality Department Elimination | Defecational Debt Elimination Software « Debt Elimination Blog ACLU Sues Government Over Use Of Drones In War Zones : Stop The ACLU The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Shock: Government-Run Health … Posted in Uncategorized Leave a Reply Click here to cancel reply. Name (required) Mail (will not be published) (required) Website Contact Us | Terms of Use | Trademarks

Pingback| 3.18.10 @ 9:12AM

Now Peugeot and Citroen suffer Toyota recall | Automotive Reviews | Citroen Automotiv links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…suffer Toyota recall | Automotive Reviews Related Blogs on Government ACLU Sues Government Over Use Of Drones In War Zones : Stop The ACLU Naked Government | ChinaHush The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Shock: Government-Run Health … Related posts: Now Peugeot and Citroen suffer Toyota recall | Automotive Reviews Now Peugeot and Citroen suffer Toyota recall | Auto News Now Peugeot and Citroen suffer…

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U.S. Government Workers Go To Work For Automakers as Toyota Recall … · Staringfrog.c links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Abominable Charles Christopher – Target Locked Wonk Room » Global Boiling: Fargo Sees Fourth 'Ten- Year Flood' In … Domestic Automakers On The Ball The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Shock: Government-Run Health … The American Spectator : Who Throttled Toyota? Share and Enjoy: This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 at 8:09 pm and is filed under News. You can follow…

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norris hall| 3.28.10 @ 12:11PM

I am curious.
If government run health care is so bad, why do all the Republicans congressmen use it?
As federal workers they get 75% of their premiums paid for by the taxpayers.
If they really dislike taxpayer funded health insurance, why don't they just drop their government plan and sign up for a private plan like many of us self employed sole proprietors.
Sounds like a double standard.. Not good for you, but good for me. And I don't want you to have what I have.

At least Democrats legislators support government run health care and think we should all have the same type of plan.

But Republican congressmen denounce it in public and then....sign up for it !

Sounds like hypocrisy.. wouldn't you agree.

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Mark | 4.2.10 @ 8:45PM

Now that everything is water under the bridge, then maybe everyone should star t cooperating with what transpired over the days...even if there are still many people who is not really convinced about it really.

Mark | 4.2.10 @ 8:46PM

Now that everything is water under the bridge, then maybe everyone should star t cooperating with what transpired over the days...even if there are still many people who is not really convinced about it really.

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640-802 | 4.8.10 @ 5:41AM

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Blake Mycoskie created TOMS Shoes as a vehicle for giving away shoes to needy children. Should the Texas entrepreneur now be looking ahead to sell the company and use the money to pursue other philanthropic goals?

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Marin| 6.12.10 @ 9:17AM

At last, the failure of Congress to integrate their “doctor fix” into ObamaCare has created enough political pressure to get Barack Obama involved in another health-care fight — this one entirely predictable and avoidable.
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Anna | 2.2.12 @ 1:28PM

Chinese Takeaway

marry| 7.15.10 @ 8:30PM

Let us storm (nonviolently) the phone and offices of our elected congressmen and women to vote NO to this atrocious health care bill which will inflict tyranny to ALL Americans and become a flashpoint for more government control of OUR lives.

Henrik| 5.5.11 @ 9:38AM

Its kind og strange that its not possible to give some sort of health care to the general public. Hope that Obama will have succes in giving especially the poor people some basic healthcare that isnt to low quality.

Henrik
Umbraco CMS

Takeaway | 2.5.12 @ 4:31PM

Takeaway

More Blog Posts by Philip Klein

http://spectator.org/blog/2010/03/17/shock-government-run-health-ca

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