Carl M. Cannon

Senior Washington Correspondent

Obama on Health Care: A Civil Town Hall in New Hampshire

Posted:

08/11/09

Filed Under:Health Care

137 Comments +

Join the discussion »

TEXT SIZE:AAA
PRINT

OK, so it was more of a pro-President Obama rally than an actual "town hall" meeting, but it was a start. Perhaps now we can get back to discussing the actual merits (and possible flaws) of the legislation that would revamp much of the nation's health care delivery system instead of watching helplessly as Democrats and Republicans shout down each other, calling their opponents Nazis and what-not.

Speaking to a crowd comprised mostly of doting Democrats with a few skeptical Republicans and worried senior citizens sprinkled into the mix, Barack Obama showed why debate is not something he or other Democrats should shy away from. Tough questions were asked and, after a fashion, answered. This was democracy at work Tuesday at Portsmouth High School in that seaside New Hampshire city.

Get the new
PD toolbar!

Outside the school, the street theater was considerably more raw: There were bullhorns and shout-fests and placards – plenty of them – some funny, some scary, but all of them constitutional and very much in the spirit of Yankee skepticism that has been the rule in New Hampshire, where the official state motto is "Live Free or Die."

Not to be overly flip, but after today, I'm tempted to propose a new motto, "Speak Succinctly or Die," except that with all the threats being leveled at politicians these days, that quip might be misunderstood. Anyway, it's not the speaker who'd be likely to keel over from boredom; rather, it might be his listeners. But I digress.

At the beginning – in the rally portion of the event -- Obama thanked everybody for coming, gave a verbal shout-out to each and every Democratic Party official on the scene, and basked in the crowd's adoration. "We love you!" someone hollered, and the president replied, "I love you back." Then, before taking questions, Obama droned on for some 2,500 words. This was the opening recitation of the White House talking points we have heard so many times before.

Then, just in time, Obama went to the audience. The prez took nine questions in all (although if his answers were more concise he could have taken twice that many), starting with a local Democratic official who prefaced his query with a talking point about the "wonderful government-run health care plan called Medicare." The pol's question was why, since Republicans seemed reluctant to be "reasonable," Democrats in Congress shouldn't just pass the bill themselves and get it on the president's desk.

The real answer to this question comprises two parts: First, the practical part of the answer is that Democrats on Capitol Hill aren't unanimous, and White House strategists believe they may need a few Republican votes. Second, and more big-picture, Obama is on record as saying that he doesn't think revamping the nation's health care delivery system is something that ought to be done as a partisan exercise. And so Obama answered this question by singling out three Republican senators (Iowa's Chuck Grassley, Mike Enzi of Wyoming, and Olympia Snowe of neighboring Maine) as being quite reasonable. In so doing, Obama came off as reasonable himself.

The second question was asked by a girl too young to vote who wondered aloud about the "mean" signs she saw on the street outside the school. "How do kids know what is true?" she wanted to know.

That's a good question, and Obama used it to address the "rumor" that the House version of the bill contemplates end-of-life consultations and decisions that will turn into health care rationing and even "death panels." The president did not single out a certain former Alaska governor here. He just said – rather tepidly, I thought – "I am not in favor of that."

The third question was from a fellow on Medicaid, who had to go through bureaucratic hoops to get his Lipitor, which the president used as a segue to discuss the need for generic medicines to save money.

And so it went. Obama broke no new ground, but he more than held his own. He denied in response to a question from a Republican – and both the question and answer were offered up with civility and grace – that his health care plan is really a stalking horse for a single-payer system. He also flatly promised that Medicare benefits would not be cut, made the dubious claim that no one would ever wait in a line for medical care under his plan, championed a mental health component to his "public option," offered the opinion that the U.S. taxpayer can get more health care per dollar than now through government-imposed efficiencies, and denied that his administration's call for citizens to forward anti-Obama health care e-mails to the White House constituted "an enemies list."

All in all, the man made his case. His best response came in an answer to his last questioner, who wanted to know why members of Congress have a gold-plated, affordable plan while so many Americans have no coverage at all. The answer, the president said, was that the federal government has a lot of clout in negotiating with insurers – because of its size.

"So you've got millions of people who are part of the pool, which means they've got enormous leverage with the insurance companies, right? So they can negotiate the same way that a big Fortune 500 company can negotiate, and that drives down their costs -- they get a better deal," Obama said.

Then he added, "There are legitimate concerns about the public option -- the gentleman who raised his hand . . . I think it's a good idea, but I understand some people just philosophically think that if you set up a public option, that that will drive public insurance out -- or private insurers out. I think that's a legitimate concern. I disagree with it, but that's a legitimate debate to have."

So, yes, let's have that debate – and quit calling each other names.

Follow PoliticsDaily On Facebook and Twitter,
and download the new Politics Daily toolbar!

137 comments

+ add your own

Carl M. Cannon

Carl M. Cannon is the senior Washington correspondent for PoliticsDaily.com. Previously, Carl was the DC bureau chief for Reader's Digest... more

Contact Carl M. Cannon

subscribe to: RSS email: Carl M. Cannon

Obama Invites GOP to the Table on Health Care Reform Bill
1 day ago
President Obama said Sunday he wants to include Republicans as well as Democrats in meetings aimed at trying to salvage the health care reform package stalled in Congress. Obama told CBS News'...
Obama Debates House Republicans, Challenges Tone of GOP Attacks
11 days ago
President Obama engaged Friday in a rare face-to-face debate with GOP House members, sparring with them over which party is most responsible for the partisanship that grips Washington. The president...
Now What? Democrats Struggle to Make Sense of Losses
17 days ago
After a year of tightly scripted, largely predictable speeches, President Barack Obama went slightly, but tellingly, off script Friday afternoon during his town hall meeting in Lorain County, Ohio....

Comments (137)

- TURN COMMENTS OFF

ADD A COMMENT

Tina,Mike

10:26PM Aug 11th 2009

Ok, so monthes after he said he wanted a single payer system (its recorded on video) now he flatly denies it, he is just a slick talking politician w/charisma don't be fooled he is not looking out for our best interest. GOD look at his cabinet, look at his czars, listen to the pre-elected rhetoric verses the real things he's doing. Are you blind? Am I the only one who see's through this shame????!!!!! How can people forget so quickly what was said yesterday versus what is going on today? READ, LOOK & LISTEN.

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(4)

Jesse McEachran

10:51PM Aug 11th 2009

The Movie GI Joe rocked.

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(1)

park457799

1:30AM Aug 12th 2009

This Obama Civil Town Hall Meeting was nothing more than anoter planted liberal crowd! Good God, does this man and his administration really think people are that stupid? The corruption of the Obama Administration is absolutely ridiculous. I am actually receiving e-mails,from his assigned followers, in relation to his poll numbers stating that they are simply not true, that they are, in reality, extremely positive. These people are suffering from delusions of grandeur! I pray to God that they fumble (football season) and someone is right there to let the cat out of the bag and impeach these people! Why would anyone trust this guy to their healt care when he cannot even close Gitmo with a plan? Every single thing the Obama Administration touches/signs endangers are well being and the sad fact of the matter is, they know it, and this is exactly the effect they desire! We can only hope and pray, that the next honestly voted in administration, can reverse every single stupid thing this man had done! Gee Axelrod, thanks for creating this catastrophic administration.

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(7)

efu2obama

9:46AM Aug 12th 2009

You are right. First, the Portsmouth "Town Hall" was STAGED. (Like, by invitation only.) Second, his talk was nothing less than MO' shuckin 'n jivin'.

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(0)

Somber

12:00PM Aug 12th 2009

Did you read the article above? Mr. Cannon freely admits that the crowd was largely friendly... but that there were still valid questions asked of the President and he returned valid answers. The point that you are missing is that the discussion was not the screaming shoutfests that were going on outside. They were calm and concerned. I suspect that as Obama continues, the crowds will become more and more mixed but so long as everyone is rational and listens and is non-disruptive then discussion can continue.

And believe me, discussions should continue. I want to hear republican input. I want to hear republican ideas. What can they bring to the table? Thus far all I've seen and heard of is the roar of the red mob and inane blathering from conservative talking heads. I've been dying to see a concise article from Mr. Cannon or Mr. Lewis about their alternatives to getting health coverage to 40 million Americans. What would they rather do since Obama's first two choices were so unacceptable?

Did Obama want a single payer plan? Sure. So did I! I still think it's immenently more efficient and practical a solution. But I also recognize that if folks are going to get this hysterical over a public insurance option then single payer would be politically impossible. So no matter what Obama believes, this is what is on the table. This is what we have to deal with.

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(4)

cjjanis

9:21AM Aug 13th 2009

Oh my god they didn't let the Glenn Beck crowd in! They didn't allow the nut case with the gun strapped to his leg in. They let people that wanted to ask questions in, not the ones that screamed how no one lets them talk in. Nobody got to rant and rave about how this plan is going to kill old people and puppies! No elderly medicare folks got to scream "government hands off by my health care".

People got to ask questions and hear answers, what the hell is that! That's not Fox News America! Where were the birthers and their fearless leader Lou Loney Dobbs! What do these people think this is a civil society or this thing! My god send in Wade with his panties in a bind to sort out all the truth and inject some bs fast before somebody learns something!

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(-4)

tommytortugam

10:42PM Aug 11th 2009

Transforming America Through Eugenics: The Obama Healthcare Plan

You know, I don't know what the big deal is. Other nations have tried Eugenics programs. Others have paid for abortions with government funds....like Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, Communist China....See any similarities?

And now, you are going to be forced in THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA to pay for abortions....Isn't that nice? Don't think so? Try again:

An Obama administration official refused Sunday to rule out the possibility that federal tax money might be used to pay for abortions under proposed health care legislation.

Peter R. Orszag, the White House budget director, asked whether he was prepared to say that “no taxpayer money will go to pay for abortions,” answered: “I am not prepared to say explicitly that right now. It’s obviously a controversial issue, and it’s one of the questions that is playing out in this debate.”

Senator Judd Gregg, Republican of New Hampshire, who along with Mr. Orszag was asked about the issue on “Fox News Sunday,” said it had the potential to complicate the legislative battle over health care. “I would hate to see the health care debate go down over that issue,” Mr. Gregg said.

Abortion has been simmering behind the scenes as an issue in legislation to guarantee access to health insurance for all Americans. The debate affects not only the public health insurance plan that Democrats want to create, but also private insurers, who would receive tens of billions of dollars of federal subsidies to cover people with low and moderate incomes.

Under the House bill, for example, most insurers would have to provide an “essential benefits package” specified by the health and human services secretary, who would receive recommendations from a federal advisory committee. Opponents of abortion want Congress to prohibit inclusion of abortion in that benefits package, while advocates of abortion rights say the package should be left to medical professionals to determine.

In an analysis of the House bill, the National Right to Life Committee said that ordinary principles of administrative law could allow the Obama administration to determine what would be included in the benefits package.

“There is no doubt,” the group said, “that coverage of abortion will be mandated, unless Congress explicitly excludes abortion from the scope of federal authority to define ‘essential benefits.’ ”

Even if the health secretary did not require coverage of abortion, the group said, “federal courts would interpret the broadly worded mandatory categories of coverage to include abortion.”

And who doesn't want to eliminate some of the weak? I mean, they are just drags on the economy, right? I mean, so what if my friend John D. served his country nobly on Saipan, Iwo Jima, and throughout the Pacific as a Marine on the ground in those hellholes (for those of you who have gone through public schools in the past decade, these were battles in World War II); he has so many medications and procedures he needs done, why not let him die or make him pay it all himself? I mean, who cares that the government made a promise to help fund elderly care? Don't think it could happen? Who knows what is in the bill? Obama doesn't!!!!!:

BLOGGER: Investor's Business Daily, they're saying that H.R. 3200 will make individual private medical insurance illegal. Is this true? Will people be able to keep their insurance and will insurers be able to write new policies even though H.R. 3200 is passed?

OBAMA : You know, I have to say that I am not familiar with the provision you're talking about.

He wants healthcare reform, but yet he doesn't know about a key piece of the legislation that will affect hundreds of thousands of Americans?

So, Obamacare will destroy the lives of hundreds of thousands of elderly. They will no longer have unfettered access to care, but will have to have counselor tell them what they can and cannot get. Wow, that is really going to be helpful! Not! They will no longer be able to get what they need, but only what government says they need. And who will set the standards of who gets what?

And then there is Obama's czar of science John Holdren:
Forced abortions. Mass sterilization. A "Planetary Regime" with the power of life and death over American citizens.

The tyrannical fantasies of a madman? Or merely the opinions of the person now in control of science policy in the United States? Or both?

These ideas (among many other equally horrifying recommendations) were put forth by John Holdren, whom Barack Obama has recently appointed Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, and Co-Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology -- informally known as the United States' Science Czar. In a book Holdren co-authored in 1977, the man now firmly in control of science policy in this country wrote that:

• Women could be forced to abort their pregnancies, whether they wanted to or not;
• The population at large could be sterilized by infertility drugs intentionally put into the nation's drinking water or in food;
• Single mothers and teen mothers should have their babies seized from them against their will and given away to other couples to raise;
• People who "contribute to social deterioration" (i.e. undesirables) "can be required by law to exercise reproductive responsibility" -- in other words, be compelled to have abortions or be sterilized.
• A transnational "Planetary Regime" should assume control of the global economy and also dictate the most intimate details of Americans' lives -- using an armed international police force.

Impossible, you say? That must be an exaggeration or a hoax. No one in their right mind would say such things.

Well, I hate to break the news to you, but it is no hoax, no exaggeration. John Holdren really did say those things, and this report contains the proof. Below you will find photographs, scans, and transcriptions of pages in the book Ecoscience, co-authored in 1977 by John Holdren and his close colleagues Paul Ehrlich and Anne Ehrlich. The scans and photos are provided to supply conclusive evidence that the words attributed to Holdren are unaltered and accurately transcribed.

You know, maybe Holdren is merely picking up where Ernst Rubin left off....Who is Ernst Rudin? Just one of the heads of another "community organizer's" attempts at better living through Eugencis programs...he lived in Germany, in the 1930s...Gee, who could that other community organizer be? Liked to hang papers....It escapes me....H I T L E R
Reply

Previous 20 Comments
Add your comments
New Readers
Returning
AOL
First time? A confirmation email will be sent to you after submitting.
Name:
E-mail:

Your comments:
Remember me
E-Mail me when someone replies to this comment

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.
When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use or tags.

Tech media turns on Apple: Will iPhone, Mac suffer?
Media World: Is Keith Olbermann turning off viewers?
The negative home equity nightmare: Housing won't stabilize until 2011
Aug 11, 2009 10:38 PM

MARKETS

DJIA9,241.45-96.50(-1.03%)
NASDAQ1,969.73-22.51(-1.13%)
S&P 500994.35-12.75(-1.27%)
10yr Note95.531+0.8438(+0.89%)
FTSE 1004,671.34-50.86(-1.08%)
NIKKEI 22510,502.96-82.50(-0.78%)
HANG SENG21,074.210.00(0.00%)
EURO (in USD)1.415+0.0002(+0.01%)
YEN (per USD)95.63-0.31(-0.32%)
OIL69.49-1.11(-1.57%)
INTEREST RATES
5/1 ARM +4.59%
APR: +4.43%
30 Yr.
Fixed Mort. +5.50%
APR: +5.72%
$30K
HELOC +8.45%
APR: 0.00%
30 Mo
New Car Loan +7.24%
APR: 0.00%
1 Yr. CD +1.63%
APR: +1.64%
Market News
Most Actives
Bonds
Futures
Currency
International Markets
Business News
Earnings
Recalls
Recession Watch
Tech News
Financial Crisis
Madoff Scandal
BloggingStocks
Luxist
Money Videos
Money RSS Feeds

Nudgenomics: Why 'cash for clunkers' works
Is Cash for Clunkers an environmental coup or just another Detroit bailout?
Cadillac cologne, for the scent of . . . bankruptcy?
Four market rally explanations that make little sense, and one that might

LATEST MONEY NEWS
Stocks fall as traders await Fed's take on economy
Ex-Madoff CFO pleads guilty in court in NYC
GM says new Volt could get 230 mpg in city driving
Economy may be improving, but jobs slow to come
Productivity rises in 2Q while labor costs plunge
Studies: New osteoporosis drug cuts fracture risk
Wyeth: FDA delays ruling on sales of new Prevnar
Citigroup approves $6B in new lending initiatives
View More on AOL Money & Finance »
Recent Posts
Tech media turns on Apple: Will iPhone, Mac suffer?
(8/11/2009)
US fights Afghan drug biz with cash
(8/11/2009)
Media World: Is Keith Olbermann turning off viewers?
(8/11/2009)
Madoff employee Frank DiPascali pleads guilty, says it was 'all fake'
(8/11/2009)
Is it time for Congress to get back to work?
(8/11/2009)

MELLY ALAZRAKI
STOCK MARKET WRITER AND ANALYST

JEFF BERCOVICI
MEDIA COLUMNIST

JONATHAN BERR
FINANCIAL WRITER AND MEDIA COLUMNIST

TIM CATTS
FINANCIAL WRITER

PETER COHAN
AUTHOR, VENTURE CAPITALIST AND FINANCIAL WRITER

LITA EPSTEIN
FINANCIAL WRITER

NIKHIL HUTHEESING
TECH AND INVESTING EDITOR

JOSEPH LAZZARO
MARKETS AND ECONOMICS WRITER

LATIF LEWIS
BUSINESS NEWS EDITOR AND MANAGEMENT COLUMNIST

ANTHONY MASSUCCI
SENIOR WRITER AND TECH COLUMNIST

DOUG MCINTYRE
BUSINESS AND INVESTING NEWS WRITER AND EDITOR

TODD PRUZAN
FEATURES EDITOR

MICHAEL RAINEY
EDITOR AND ECONOMICS WRITER

MATTHEW SCOTT
INVESTING REPORTER AND EDITOR

DANIEL R. SOLIN
AUTHOR, INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND RETIREMENT EXPERT

AMEY STONE
MANAGING EDITOR AND INVESTING COLUMNIST

RUSSEL TURK, M.D.
HEALTHCARE POLICY COLUMNIST

BRUCE WATSON
FEATURES WRITER

Tell-tale stat: U.S. worker productivity soars 6.4% in Q2
Give Stanford the legal team he wants
Whirlpool knows emerging markets are appliances' new frontier
World Poker Tour -- the house loses
Closing Bell: Bulls on vacation (BAC, C, CIT, HLCS, MSFT, GOOG)
View More on BloggingStocks »

Find out why more people track their portfolios on AOL Money & Finance than anywhere else.

Create a New Portfolio My Portfolios

Microsoft (MSFT) Readies “Office” Launch With Nokia (NOK)
Applied Materials Skates Past Estimates (AMAT)
Chart Events Forming in Key Tech Stocks (MSFT, AMZN, RIMM, ORCL, QCOM)
Bove’s Sour Bank Call Cautions Recent Gains (BAC, C, FAS)
24/7 Wall St. TV: A Miserable Period For E-Commerce
View More on 24/7 Wall St. »

Stocks Continue Slump, Fed Report Looms
Anticipation of Fed Decision Keeps ETFs Mostly Flat
August 11, 2008 (Monday): Oil Skids; Bad News at Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan
3 Unloved Stocks Worth Investor Affection
Time to Get Rid of Some Overpriced Stocks
View More on SmartMoney »

Lawyer loses lawsuit over Costco shrimp, plans to appeal
How to land a job, even with bad credit
Target to Amazon: buh bye
Hand models: $1,200 worth of cocktail party jokes a day
Chevy Volt's 230 mpg may get Detroit out of recession
View More on WalletPop »
Most Commented On
Media World: CNN circles the wagons around Lou Dobbs (1122)
Republican leaders need more luxury jets for globe trotting vacations (645)
Michelle Obama's toxic veggie nightmare: White House organic garden polluted with sludge (564)
Rain or snow? No problem, but revenue shortfalls cripple the Postal Service (447)
Wal-Mart with a Latin touch (358)
After $182 billion taxpayer rescue, is AIG on the verge of collapse? (336)
Once again, speculators are blamed for high oil prices (292)
'Cash for clunkers' burns through a cool $1 billion in a week (291)
More than half of U.S. 'clunkers' traded in for foreign cars (244)
Bank of America to close 10 percent of branches (222)
Last 14 Days

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(0)

WADE....

5:58PM Aug 12th 2009

Thanks to kk,,,,, CNN video reporting this: oh, it's just another Banana Republic wannabe Dictator Lie....

Obama: Caught Lying Again-Making Back Room Deals with Pharmaceutical Lobbyist
http://wadesayswhat.wordpress.com/

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(1)

ROGER

10:42PM Aug 11th 2009

IT IS A SHAME TO WATCH THE DEMOCRATS FOLLOW LIKE SHEEP TO THE SLAUGHTER
THEN ONE DAY THEY WAKE UP AND WONDER WHAT WENT WRONG . WHERES MY AMERICA ?
AND PROMPTLY BLAME THE REPUBLICANS ,,

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(2)

bonbon

2:59AM Aug 12th 2009

by the time the jews realized this, they were being murdered, raped, and used for medical experiments.

they had given up their guns,

they were divided and conquered.

and we must never forget. never.

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(2)

dragonemisis

4:10PM Aug 12th 2009

So Roger, you want to let the insurance oligopoly continue to pick our pockets? Whats wrong with free trade & an open markt & choices in providers?
Health Insurance in the US is an Oligopoly, which is something that Adam Smith warned about in his book, "The Wealth of Nations". They charge you whatever outrageous sum they care to, and when you get sick they drop you. Our 2nd largest expense after taxes are paid every month is health insurance, not our mortgage. That’s right, your health insurer has a profit each year the size of the budget of a large country. And what do they use this money for? Why to lobby government to keep their oligopoly & prevent fair competition.
The health care Oligopoly is a big playground bully right now, taking our lunch money & promising protection. When you are down for the count and asking for some of your protection money to pay your medical expenses, your bully laughs & says "Pay it yourself."
If we have a cheap gov't plan as an alternative the bully will have to compete, something that hasn't happened ever! The universal health care system in Canada is so good that people in the US who can't afford health care go there to get it. It only takes 7% of their entire budget & yet they care for all their people & some of ours. This shows you our bully of a health insurance Oligopoly is screwing us badly. Just where is our insurance money going? Right now its going to incite riots & interrupt due process in our nation. Wake up & kill the bully.

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(-1)

mavxxv

11:04PM Aug 11th 2009

IF YOU THINK OBAMA IS THE REAL DEAL YOU JUST DON'T KNOW CHICAGO POLITIONS..LET ME SUM IT UP IN A FEW WORDS. CHEATS, DIRTY, MONEY STEALING, LOW LIFES.

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(2)

Carolyn

11:39PM Aug 11th 2009

I watched the Obama (snicker) town hall. Typical of him to load the seats and the questions. There were NO tough questions. It was pathetic. This has become really insulting to people who have real concerns about this President and his attempt to take over health care. He doesn't hesitate to accuse "talk show hosts" and cable news of inciting opposition to him. He is too arrogant to realize we are listening to him and watching him and we don't like what we hear and see. He must think that's impossible he's so narsisistic. Kill the Bill. This is not the change people voted for or expected.

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(6)

Tammy

11:47PM Aug 11th 2009

ROGER
10:42PM Aug 11th 2009

"...AND PROMPTLY BLAME THE REPUBLICANS."

****************************************************

That's an absolute certainty, Roger. I can hear them now crying, "Why didn't you STOP us???"

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(6)

bob

11:54PM Aug 11th 2009

Carl says:

"OK, so it was more of a pro-President Obama rally than an actual "town hall" meeting, but it was a start."

**************

Oy. How is that a "start"?

Every one of these "made for TV" events comes off as a stage-managed Obama rally. There's a reason for that. That's where he shines. That's what he does best.

It's just amazing the number of seasoned media professionals who should know better that fall for this crap, time and time again.

Screw the town hall meetings - they mean nothing. Thy ALWAYS mean nothing, regardless of the topic.

If you want to see what you're in for, visit your nearest VA hospital. Talk to someone who relies on Medicare. There's no reason to believe you're going to get anything better than that with any system that features increased government involvement.

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(4)

Tammy

12:04AM Aug 12th 2009

Carl, there are lots of other issues the liberal media would be scrutinizing with a fine-toothed comb if the situation were reversed. Why do even the most experienced, intelligent and respected among you refuse to acknowledge them? We're not only concerned about whether taxes will be used to fund abortions or bureaucratic end-of-life decision making. Why did you ignore these concerns?

1. Why has universal healthcare become widely accepted as the only solution?
2. Why is access to banking accounts necessary?
3. How will medical records be stored, used and guarded?
4. Who will have access to medical records?
5. Is total grave-to-death control over our personal information Constitutional?
6. Will the finished documents be publically accessible before the final votes are cast?

I'm sure given time I could think of a few more but those are major, legitimate concerns and I'd really like to know why so many liberals appear to lend support to this bill without demanding full disclosure. There's too many open-ended provisions to just haphazardly accept it.

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(5)

cjjanis001

4:11PM Aug 16th 2009

Gee Tammy seeing that you have no clue as to what is in these bills why should anyone care what you have to say?
For one there is no universal Health care in any of the bills
Second right now the Health insurance industry is allowed to share your info with very little rules, they are also allowed to collude with each other something no other US business is allowed to do.
No where in any of the bills dose it call for access to your bank accounts.

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(0)

J Mac

12:18AM Aug 12th 2009

Fox Nation will censor your post and comments

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(-6)

WADE....

3:51PM Aug 16th 2009

so does Daily Kos....eat dung moron!

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(0)

J Mac

12:23AM Aug 12th 2009

I attempted to post on the Fox Nation to gain some honest and logical answers and insight to some legitimate health care quesitons and they censor non-stop. I don't think it helped my screen name is I Love Faux News.

RATE THIS COMMENT:

(-6)

Most Recent | Next 20 »

Add your comments

Your comments:

Remember me

E-Mail me when someone replies to this comment

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.

Avoid hate speech, foul language or a disrespectful tone in your comments. Unwanted comments will be deleted at the discretion of the moderator.