Obama Slams Health Care Critics For Spreading "Outlandish Rumors"

[Henry Hawk]

Health Care Reform: We're Being Fooled Again
By Sheldon Richman
View all 31 articles by Sheldon Richman
Published 03/24/10

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  The medical system does need reforming -- radical reforming. It's more expensive than it ought to be, and powerful interests prosper at the expense of the rest of us. The status quo has little about it to be admired, and we shouldn't tolerate it.

Thus, the American people should be fed up with Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid for insulting our intelligence with their so-called heath-care reform. It is nothing of the sort. What they call progressive reform is little more than reinforcement of the exploitative system we suffer today.

Whether intentionally or not, Obama & Co. have misdiagnosed the problem with the current system and therefore have issued a toxic prescription as an alleged cure. They essentially say that the problem is too free a market in medical care and insurance; thus for them the solution is a less-free market, that is, more government direction of our health-care-related activities.

Yet if the diagnosis is wrong -- which it is -- the prescription will also be wrong.

Note that the attention of nearly all the "reformers" is on the insurance industry. What ostensibly started out as "health-care reform" quickly became health-insurance regulation. A common theme of all of the leading proposals is that insurance companies have too few restrictions on them. So under Obamacare, government will issue more commands: preexisting conditions must be covered; policy renewal must be guaranteed; premiums may not reflect the health status or sex of policyholders; the difference between premiums charged young and old must be within government specs; lifetime caps on benefits are prohibited, et cetera.

In return for these new federal rules, insurance companies are to have a guaranteed market through a mandate that will require every person to have insurance. So what looks like onerous new regulations on the insurance companies turns out to be a bargain they are happy to accept. Instead of having to innovatively and competitively attract young healthy people to buy their products, the companies will count on the government to compel them to do so. Playing the populist role, Obama & Co. bash the insurance companies, but in fact the "reform" compels everyone to do business with them.
What about this would the insurance companies dislike? Health insurance is not the most profitable business you can be in; the profit margin is 3-4 cents on the dollar. So a guaranteed clientele is an attractive prospect. The people who will be forced to buy policies are the healthy, who will pay premiums and make few claims. The only thing the companies don't like is that that penalty for not complying with the mandate is too small. Many young people may choose to pay the penalty rather than buy the insurance because it will be cheaper. But that presents a problem: when the uninsured get sick and apply for coverage, they won't be turned down because that would be against the law. So look for harsher penalties in the future to prevent this gaming of the system. The insurance companies win again.

What's missed is that the "reformers" leave untouched every aspect of the uncompetitive medical and insurance cartels that exists entirely by virtue of government privilege. Most of this privilege is extended by state governments through monopolistic licensing, but Congress could repeal the prohibition on interstate insurance sales and the tax favoritism for employer-provided medical coverage. The ruling party has refused to consider those sensible moves.
The upshot is that this reform is a fraud. It leaves in place the government-created cartels and throws a few crumbs to people who are struggling -- but mostly by bolstering the insurance monopoly.

Two myths must be shattered. First, the choice is not between this phony reform and the status quo. The "reform" merely puts makeup on the status quo. The free market is the real alternative.

Second, the free market couldn't have created the medical mess because there has been no free market in medicine. For generations government has colluded with the medical profession and the insurance industry to force-feed us the system we have today.

The Who's prayers weren't answered: We are being fooled again.

[Palehorse]

SEIU people no doubt.    The "teabaggers" are not the ones doing it.  It is the extreme right just like the exteme left is always doing dumb stuff.  They can't miss a chance to blame it on the "teabaggers" though.

According to the reports I watched it was indeed teabaggers demonstrating on the eve of the passing of the health care reform package that initiated several of the incidents; which include racial slurs and threats of violence. . .  This came from the individuals that were subjected to the treatment in a live statement.

[me]

According to the reports I watched it was indeed teabaggers demonstrating on the eve of the passing of the health care reform package that initiated several of the incidents; which include racial slurs and threats of violence. . .  This came from the individuals that were subjected to the treatment in a live statement.

And they are 100% sure it was a "teabagger" and not just someone who happened to be in the crowd. Strange no film has shown up of those incidents, well, none that I've been able to find.  Do you have or have you seen any?

[Henry Hawk]

teabaggers maybe, but not the teaparty attendee's....say what you want, but these guys are your everyday, hard working, blue collar workers, businessmen, doctors, lawyers, farmers and military....

there are ALWAY's going to be assholes..........and it would NOT surprise me to find that these guys were planted there by democrat congress, because they are the most corrupt group of individuals that has ever been in washington...and you can take THAT to the bank...

[Palehorse]

Health Care Reform: We're Being Fooled Again
By Sheldon Richman
View all 31 articles by Sheldon Richman
Published 03/24/10

            Printer-friendly version

  The medical system does need reforming -- radical reforming. It's more expensive than it ought to be, and powerful interests prosper at the expense of the rest of us. The status quo has little about it to be admired, and we shouldn't tolerate it.

Thus, the American people should be fed up with Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid for insulting our intelligence with their so-called heath-care reform. It is nothing of the sort. What they call progressive reform is little more than reinforcement of the exploitative system we suffer today.

Whether intentionally or not, Obama & Co. have misdiagnosed the problem with the current system and therefore have issued a toxic prescription as an alleged cure. They essentially say that the problem is too free a market in medical care and insurance; thus for them the solution is a less-free market, that is, more government direction of our health-care-related activities.

Yet if the diagnosis is wrong -- which it is -- the prescription will also be wrong.

Note that the attention of nearly all the "reformers" is on the insurance industry. What ostensibly started out as "health-care reform" quickly became health-insurance regulation. A common theme of all of the leading proposals is that insurance companies have too few restrictions on them. So under Obamacare, government will issue more commands: preexisting conditions must be covered; policy renewal must be guaranteed; premiums may not reflect the health status or sex of policyholders; the difference between premiums charged young and old must be within government specs; lifetime caps on benefits are prohibited, et cetera.

In return for these new federal rules, insurance companies are to have a guaranteed market through a mandate that will require every person to have insurance. So what looks like onerous new regulations on the insurance companies turns out to be a bargain they are happy to accept. Instead of having to innovatively and competitively attract young healthy people to buy their products, the companies will count on the government to compel them to do so. Playing the populist role, Obama & Co. bash the insurance companies, but in fact the "reform" compels everyone to do business with them.
What about this would the insurance companies dislike? Health insurance is not the most profitable business you can be in; the profit margin is 3-4 cents on the dollar. So a guaranteed clientele is an attractive prospect. The people who will be forced to buy policies are the healthy, who will pay premiums and make few claims. The only thing the companies don't like is that that penalty for not complying with the mandate is too small. Many young people may choose to pay the penalty rather than buy the insurance because it will be cheaper. But that presents a problem: when the uninsured get sick and apply for coverage, they won't be turned down because that would be against the law. So look for harsher penalties in the future to prevent this gaming of the system. The insurance companies win again.

What's missed is that the "reformers" leave untouched every aspect of the uncompetitive medical and insurance cartels that exists entirely by virtue of government privilege. Most of this privilege is extended by state governments through monopolistic licensing, but Congress could repeal the prohibition on interstate insurance sales and the tax favoritism for employer-provided medical coverage. The ruling party has refused to consider those sensible moves.
The upshot is that this reform is a fraud. It leaves in place the government-created cartels and throws a few crumbs to people who are struggling -- but mostly by bolstering the insurance monopoly.

Two myths must be shattered. First, the choice is not between this phony reform and the status quo. The "reform" merely puts makeup on the status quo. The free market is the real alternative.

Second, the free market couldn't have created the medical mess because there has been no free market in medicine. For generations government has colluded with the medical profession and the insurance industry to force-feed us the system we have today.

The Who's prayers weren't answered: We are being fooled again.

Now who is trying to tell the future? Amazingly the bill has only been passed this very week and already this individual calls it a failure. . . No data, no histograms, nothing. Another say it and its so believer. . .

[Palehorse]

And they are 100% sure it was a "teabagger" and not just someone who happened to be in the crowd. Strange no film has shown up of those incidents, well, none that I've been able to find.  Do you have or have you seen any?

They were in the massive crowd outside of the capital during the vote; a self described group of teabaggers protesting the passage of the healthcare reform bill. They were chanting the "N" word and using profanity, and screaming threats against those individuals who were making public statements in favor of the bill. (Congressmen/women). Of the 10 threatened 9 were democrats and 1 was republican. (And no I have not seen film or anything other than the live statement speaking to the subject fro 2 members of congress that was carried live on CNN).

The point of this is these actions and statements by the opposition are doing nothing more than inciting people toward civil unrest. They are threatening the lives of congress and their families and we're so okay with that? How long before they threaten one of us or our family? How long before this propaganda effort incites someone to kill or carry out these threats? (As has been shown to happen with the abortion issue).

And why are so many so eager to endorse these actions / statements when part of a larger group, if what they are saying and doing is NOT a part of the intended message of the group? Silence is agreement. 

[Palehorse]

Hoyer Estimates Over 10 Lawmakers Have Been Threatened Since Health Care Vote (VIDEO)
Eric Lach | March 24, 2010, 3:49PM
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House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC)
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Health care, James Clyburn, Sarah Palin, Steny Hoyer
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House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told reporters he believed over 10 lawmakers have been threatened since they voted for the health care bill on Sunday.

Appearing before reporters alongside House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), Hoyer expressed concern about the recent spat of incidents targeting lawmakers, and blamed the violent rhetoric surrounding the health care debate for creating a potentially dangerous atmosphere.

"When people start talking in the rhetoric of putting people on firing lines, that if they don't do something they will have physical harm done to them... or they put a target on their faces, with cross-hairs -- that activity aught to be unacceptable in our democracy," Hoyer said, making reference to a Sarah Palin Facebook post that uses cross-hairs to identify members of Congress who voted for health care reform.

Hoyer said "enough" members had complained of incidents to raise concerns, and stated that "Democracy cannot survive unless we have a civil society."

When a reporter asked if Hoyer felt members were really at risk, he responded: "Yes. We've had very serious incidents that have occurred over the last 48-72 hours."

Clyburn, for his part, added: "Many of us have very vivid lessons of history... I think all of us learned some great lessons in the sixties and seventies, and they're lessons none of us want to repeat."

Watch:

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/hoyer-violent-rhetoric-surrounding-health-debate-is-unacceptable.php

[Palehorse]

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is warning that some of his Democratic colleagues are being threatened with violence when they go back to their districts — and he wants Republicans to stand up and condemn the threats.

The Maryland Democrat said more than 10 House Democrats have reported incidents of threats or other forms of harassment about their support of the highly divisive health insurance overhaul vote. Hoyer emphasized that he didn't have a specific number of threats and that was just an estimate.

TheFederal Bureau of Investigation, Capitol Police and sergeant at arms briefed Democrats behind closed doors today about the incidents of violence — the most high profile of which have been toward Democratic Reps. Thomas Perriello of Virginia, Steve Driehaus of Ohio and Louise Slaughter of New York.

Hoyer hinted that Republicans should do more to condemn these threats of violence.

"I would hope that we would join together jointly and make it very clear that none of us condone this kind of activity," Hoyer told reporters. "And when we see it, we speak out strongly in opposition to it. And I would hope that we would do that going forward."

Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the majority whip, said Democrats and Republicans should continue to speak out on these threats. "Silence gives consent," Clyburn said.

But Minority Leader John Boehner already has condemned threats of violence — and sought to explain why people are so angry.

"I know many Americans are angry over this health care bill, and that Washington Democrats just aren't listening," Boehner said. "But, as I've said, violence and threats are unacceptable. That's not the American way. We need to take that anger and channel it into positive change. Call your congressman, go out and register people to vote, go volunteer on a political campaign, make your voice heard — but let's do it the right way."

A Republican aide also pointed out that over the years Republican members of Congress received their fair share of death threats during volatile times. Newt Gingrich after the 1994 Republican revolution and the late Henry Hyde during the Clinton impeachment in 1998 both received numerous death threats. And just last month, Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) received death threats after his filibuster of unemployment benefits, according to a report in Roll Call.

Hoyer said steps are being taken to protect members of Congress. Most lawmakers do not have formal security protection, but if any member feels threatened, they will be getting "attention from the proper authorities."

On Wednesday, the FBI began a preliminary investigation into fuel lines cut at the Virginia home of Perriello's brother, whose address was posted online — the poster thought it was the lawmaker's address.

Driehaus said his address was posted Wednesday on a right-leaning blog.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34953.html

[The Troll]

Oh, Henry and "ME",  both of you have your hands wrapped around your throats and you're turning red.  Now, I wouldn't mine if both of you throttled yourselves.  But as the song goes "The Party Is Over."  The Healthcare Bill has been passed.  100% by the Democrats.  The Republicans walked in Nazi goose stepping, lockstep, 100% against it and they did it because they loved us and they really care.

   Now the the Republicans don't want the common people to be able to sue.  But "you guys" sue and  think your going to repeal this bill.  Ha, Ha, Ha.  Making everybody buy health insurance and stopping the deadbeats from getting healthcare free, is over. 

  Anyone who thinks making people buy insurance is unconstitutional is wrong.  Making them buy it, is a tax.  The government has the right to tax the people who live in this country.

Obama said what he meant and meant what he said, he passed the healthcare bill, 100%


The Troll       Henry, you last piece of information you put out, did it come from the Fox News Network.

  Saying:  Liars figure and figures lie.  I would believe any thing the Republicans say, even if they had their tongue notarizes.

[me]

Hoyer Estimates Over 10 Lawmakers Have Been Threatened Since Health Care Vote (VIDEO)
Eric Lach | March 24, 2010, 3:49PM
14
Share
 

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC)
Read More
Health care, James Clyburn, Sarah Palin, Steny Hoyer
Share
Digg This
       
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told reporters he believed over 10 lawmakers have been threatened since they voted for the health care bill on Sunday.

Appearing before reporters alongside House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), Hoyer expressed concern about the recent spat of incidents targeting lawmakers, and blamed the violent rhetoric surrounding the health care debate for creating a potentially dangerous atmosphere.

"When people start talking in the rhetoric of putting people on firing lines, that if they don't do something they will have physical harm done to them... or they put a target on their faces, with cross-hairs -- that activity aught to be unacceptable in our democracy," Hoyer said, making reference to a Sarah Palin Facebook post that uses cross-hairs to identify members of Congress who voted for health care reform.

Hoyer said "enough" members had complained of incidents to raise concerns, and stated that "Democracy cannot survive unless we have a civil society."

When a reporter asked if Hoyer felt members were really at risk, he responded: "Yes. We've had very serious incidents that have occurred over the last 48-72 hours."

Clyburn, for his part, added: "Many of us have very vivid lessons of history... I think all of us learned some great lessons in the sixties and seventies, and they're lessons none of us want to repeat."

Watch:

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/hoyer-violent-rhetoric-surrounding-health-debate-is-unacceptable.php

That is soooo funny.  Some of the very ones that were causing the unrest in the 60's and 70's are in the White House advising the president and were some of his roll models.  Isn't that just too strange?

[Palehorse]

Democrats express safety concerns after protests
By JIM ABRAMS, AP
1 hour ago
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. acknowledges applause from House member...
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WASHINGTON — House Democratic leaders on Wednesday said they are concerned about the personal safety of lawmakers because of threats linked to intense opposition to the health care overhaul law.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said the FBI and Capitol Police briefed Democrats on how to handle perceived security threats and that those who feel they are at risk will be "getting attention from the proper authorities."

Hoyer said more than 10 Democratic lawmakers have reported incidents, but he did not whether any are now receiving added security. Normally only those in leadership positions have personal security guards.

Protests swirled around the Capitol during debate on the health care overhaul last weekend. Protesters hurled racial slurs at several black lawmakers and one protester spat at a black lawmaker.

Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, the Democratic whip and a senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus, said he has vivid memories of history and that the scene on the street Saturday was "very reminiscent of our history."

Bricks were thrown through windows at two Democratic Party offices in western New York, including a district office of Rep. Louise Slaughter, who played a key role in getting the health care bill through the House.

The Tucson, Ariz., congressional office of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was also vandalized a few hours after the House vote.

Hoyer said there were incidents such as people yelling that Democratic lawmakers should be put on firing lines and posters with the faces of lawmakers in the crosshairs of a target.

While not directly criticizing Republicans, Hoyer said that "any show of appreciation for such actions encourages such action."

Several Republicans stood on the second-floor Speaker's Balcony overlooking the West Front of the Capitol cheering on the protesters and waving signs such as "Kill the bill."

Hoyer said Democrats were talking to the Republican leadership and hoped to come up with a united front on the security issue.

House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio said in a statement that while many Americans are angry over passage of the health care bill, "violence and threats are unacceptable.

"That's not the American way," Boehner said. "We need to take that anger and channel it into positive change."


http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20100324/US.Health.Overhaul.Threats/

[Palehorse]

Washington (CNN) - House Democrats are concerned about their security due to increased threats since Sunday's vote to pass the health care bill, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Wednesday.

Hoyer told a news conference that "a significant number, meaning over 10," had reported either threats, vandalism or other incidents.Capitol police officials have briefed House Democrats on reporting suspicious or threatening activity and taking precautions to avoid "subjecting themselves or their families to physical harm," said Hoyer, D-Maryland.

Earlier Wednesday, the Albemarle County Fire Marshal's Office in Virginia confirmed the FBI was investigating a suspicious incident at the home of Virginia Democratic Rep. Tom Perriello's brother, days after the brother's home address was posted online by a Tea Party activist.

An aide to Perriello told CNN that a line to the propane tank on his brother's gas grill had been severed.

"While officials are not willing to characterize the exact nature of the incident because of the ongoing investigation, it did not involve an immediate threat to occupants of the residence," said Lee Catlin, Community Relations Director for the Fire Marshal.

"However officials are taking the incident very seriously and conducting a vigorous investigation."

Catlin said the county joined the investigation late Tuesday after a request from the FBI.

In addition, Democratic offices in at least three states have reported instances of vandalism that party members say possibly were tied to Sunday's historic vote on health care reform.

Democracy "is not about violence," Hoyer said at the news conference joined by House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina. "It is about making sure everybody in America feels free to express their opinion and to take such actions as they deem to be necessary without subjecting themselves, their families or others to behavior, and frankly criminal behavior in some respect, that undermines democracy and undermines the safety of individuals."

Referring to Clyburn, Hoyer said "both us believe that to remain silent in the face of such activity gives the impression of either condoning or sanctioning such action."

The top Republican in the House, Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, said Wednesday that opponents of health care reform should protest legally.

" ... Violence and threats are unacceptable," Boehner said. "That's not the American way. We need to take that anger and channel it into positive change. Call your congressman, go out and register people to vote, go volunteer on a political campaign, make your voice heard - but let's do it the right way."

The Tea Party movement that has protested health care reform held demonstrations outside Congress last weekend as the House debated and voted on the health care measure. Three African American House Democrats, including civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, reported protesters shouted
racial slurs at them and spit at one of them, while Rep. Barney Frank, D-Massachusetts, an openly gay House member, had anti-gay slurs yelled at him.

During the demonstration, Republican House members encouraged protesters outside and inside the House gallery. On Tuesday, Hoyer said it was not fitting with regular order in the Capitol for members to cheer on protesters inside the House chamber or to hang signs from windows in the Capitol, or for Republican
members to stand on the balcony just outside the House floor waving signs to protesters below.

"We ought to all be careful as leaders in this country to conduct ourselves in a way that demonstrates to the public how we ought to act," Hoyer said.

An Alabama-based blog, called "Sipsey Street Irregulars," says it has launched a so-called "window war" against Democrats and has kept a tally of the recent incidents of damage, including ones in New York and Kansas.

Blogger Michael B. Vanderboegh of Pinson, Alabama, told CNN on Monday that in a Friday blog, he called for people to break windows at Democratic headquarters at the city and county level. He said he didn't call for the damages to congressional offices because, "I didn't want to be responsible for anybody breaking a federal law."

However, "I can understand how someone can be frustrated enough to throw a brick through a congresswoman's window," Vanderboegh said. He said he feels the health care bill is "unconstitutional and tyrannical."

"My answer is violence, by getting their attention," he said, adding, "If we can get across to the other side, that they are within inches of provoking a civil war in this country, then that's a good thing."

Updated: 5:17 p.m.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/03/24/house-members-report-increased-threats-since-health-care-vote/?hpt=T1&fbid=qWQuFzQ04-P

[me]

Democracy "is not about violence," Hoyer said at the news conference joined by House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina. "It is about making sure everybody in America feels free to express their opinion and to take such actions as they deem to be necessary without subjecting themselves, their families or others to behavior, and frankly criminal behavior in some respect, that undermines democracy and undermines the safety of individuals."

[/b] They didn't seem to have a problem with guy's from the SEIU beating the crap out of people or threatening those who didn't want to join unions.


 

[Palehorse]

[/b] They didn't seem to have a problem with guy's from the SEIU beating the crap out of people or threatening those who didn't want to join unions.

You are surprised at union members endorsing and undertaking violence? 

[me]

You are surprised at union members endorsing and undertaking violence? 

Not really just surprised at what little attention is given news wise when the violence comes from the other side is all.  Well, I guess I really can't say I'm surprised at that either. 

At any rate it is not the tea party people that are doing this it is the far right idiots which are just as bad as the far left loonies.