"Ed Show" Panel Discusses How Democrats Are Blocking Democrats On Health Care Reform (VIDEO)

Ryan Lizza of the New Yorker, A.B. Stoddard of The Hill, and Christina Ballantani of The Washington Times, appeared as panelists on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" tonight. One of the issues they addressed was the difficulty in passing health care reform, particularly one that includes a public option.

While Republicans are pretty much uniformly against a public option, despite a recent poll showing that a solid majority of Americans favor some kind of government-run plan, the panel honed in on two key problems for proponents of a public option.

The first is that the uninsured, who would benefit the most from a government-run plan, are not a very powerful and vocal constituency, and despite a majority of Americans favoring a public plan, they are also afraid of losing their coverage.

The second, and more important, problem is that the Democrats themselves are divided on the issue. If, Ballantani notes, they decided to really play hardball (and could keep all their members in line), they have the votes to do what the Republicans did during the Bush administration and push a plan through Congress without Republican support.

Watch the panel debate on health care reform below.

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Comments

[moneyman1]

I would rather spend $3 Trillion on health care over 10 years than to spend another dime on the war on terror ( so called by Bush and Obama). The war on terror is just like the war on drugs - no clear strategy or objectives - just an open checkbook for the Military/Industrial complex. Remember the warnings of Americans greatest 20th century Republican President ( no that is not Bongo Reagan)- that would be the greatest soldier/politician Dwight David Eisenhower. Remember the congress, both the house and senate, are either millionaires or well on their way to becoming millionaires - why ?- because they know in advance where federal dollars will be spent - this allows them to take front running positions ( please don't talk to me about blind trusts) in the K street lobbied Corperatocracy - in other words they are trading on inside information folks - wake up - half of the Pentagon budget goes for hardware - why do you think wounded soldiers are treated so poorly - there is no money in it for the Congress like there is in V22 Osprey "flying coffins" and every other boondoggle the generals can come up with to waste taxpayer dollars.

[shiningstar1]

I loved what Christina BELLANTONI said about how Prez Obama doesn't care what Senator McCain has to say! And it's so true. Why should he? That guy would have started World War III by the sixth month of his term, if he would have won the election. As a cancer survivor that had to fight like hell against Blue Cross (and won) when they tried to dump me as soon as I was diagnosed, I pray that the Democrats grow some for a change and pass REAL health care reform. Even though Blue Cross had to reinstate me after a year long legal battle while I was going through chemo, they have raised my premium over and over, but I'm stuck with them. Nobody else will take me. I really believe that they were hoping I would kick the bucket. We believed in you Democrats! Stop the corruption. Do NOT let us down now.

[Bush-Rolled]

Maybe it's time for President Obama to listen to his doctor:

From Forbes.com June 19, 2009:

David Scheiner, an internist based in the Chicago neighborhood of Hyde Park, and Barack Obama's doctor for 22 years, thinks that a good health reform would be "Medicare for all," a single-payer system where the government would cover everyone and pay for it by cutting out waste in the system.

[Sean 6399]

Found on the internet, I think this comment makes sense:

"Truly free-market medicine would lower the price of medical care immensely. Think about veterinary medicine, you can pay out of pocket for a heart transplant for a dog for $5000, and that surgery is not any different than the same surgery on a human. So why the price difference? Malpractice insurance, and health insurance. Or look at another example, LASIK. I just had both eyes done for $1500 total, and I have perfect 20/20 vision. LASIK is not covered by insurance. Thus the free market determines the price, keeping it in line of what the average person can afford. Now compare that to one other example. I had a kidney stone a couple years back, I had to go to the emergency room because I was in so much pain. They gave me a blood test, an MRI, and some pain pills, no surgery, no other medical care, I was there for a few hours tops. They sent me home and said it was small enough that I could pass it on my own by drinking plenty of fluids. The bill was $8000 I kid you not. Health insurance is the biggest fraud on the planet."

[ron ray]

If Democrats cave in, trade public care for some complicated Hillarycare sort of mess, and let this reform fall apart, they may very well lose congress.

Just as happened under clinton. and, once again, we'll get a reactionary right-wing corrupt GOP congress.

stand or fall, democrats.

[scorpioleidy]

I love Ed (not as much as Keith), but he's right. The poll last week showed 76% of Americans want a public healthcare option, and the new one yesterday showed 72% of ALL Americans - repugs, Dems and independents (repugs alone was more than 50%!) want a public healthcare option. Couple that with the fact that we have the numbers (votes) in Congress to pass this thing - but WE (Dems) keep obstructing our President's efforts. What gives?! Repugs are the MINORITY in Congress, yet it's a d@mned shame that Dems are allowing them and their obstructionist views to dictate what's passed in Congress!!! I say to he// with bipartisanship - the will of the people should dictate what gets passed in Congress - not the party of no!

[cornelison]

Let's find out who is bought and paid for by the insurance industry. Insurance companies have literally sucked the life out of Americans. The sooner we know which politicians (Republicans & Democrats) have been bribed the better.

[scorpioleidy]

I love Ed (not as much as Keith), but he's right. The poll last week showed 76% of Americans want a public healthcare option, and the new one yesterday showed 72% of ALL Americans - repugs, Dems and independents (repugs alone was more than 50%!) want a public healthcare option. Couple that with the fact that we have the numbers (votes) in Congress to pass this thing - but WE (Dems) keep obstructing our President's efforts. What gives?! Repugs are the MINORITY in Congress, yet it's a d@mned shame that Dems are allowing them and their obstructionist views to dictate what's passed in Congress!!! I say to he// with bipartisanship - the will of the people should dictate what gets passed in Congress - not the party of no!

[Zagostino]

Absolutely correct in underscoring the need for an organized Movement to dislodge the Monied Interest's hold/control over politicians and policy. But where are the leaders?

You would think that Obama would lead on this issue, but he hasn't thus far. If he asks me to march on Washington, I'll do so. You need leadership to take that inchoate, amorphous, diffuse general interest and transform it into a focused, sharp pike to drive through the heart of obstuctionist.

[Eriq]

This Senate IS indeed bought and paid for.

[Eriq]

Yeah, the Dems are soon becoming as crazy as the Rethuglicans, because American politics is F.CK.D

The American public was responsible for allowing GWBush to steal the election (no demonstrations in the street, no NUTHIN'), and was responsible for Bush's reelection in 2004. American politicians are responsible for most of the problems in the Middle East, and many, many other places in the world.

America is falling down fast, and all because we're a bunch of fools, blind leading the blind.

[Garybot]

This is a link to an article by David Catron
David Catron is a health care revenue cycle expert who has spent more than twenty years working for and consulting with hospitals and medical practices. He has an MBA from the University of Georgia and blogs at Health Care BS.

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/06/17/how-obamacare-will-change-your

At least you should know what you'll be getting.

[Coastalthinker2]

Another BE FEARFUL article written by conservative American Spectator.

[flapjack]

Did you bother to read it? I'm guessing no.

[Garybot]

I know - it would ruin everything if you actually had to look at the facts.

If you're going to read Michael Moore, you should read this one.

Do you care about the facts, or just getting what you think you want?

If you actually cared, you'd read everything you could get your hands on.

[zenlikejen]

There's 5 minutes I'll never get back. It's too bad he couldn't have spent the same amount of time on *facts* as he did making snarky remarks about the president's plan. It started putting me to sleep - was there a better option offered?

....after a quick scan, I'll have to say no - of COURSE not.

[lobear00]

Mark your a very troubled indivigual, with a heavy heart, you have no idea what you are doing. You are so upset that you cannot give all the money to your friends in the corporate structure. and Mark that is a very heavy load to have to deal with. Mark if you are not going to help the people in your state then you' mark must step down and resign from your position.

[Margary]

we knew there would be a lot of debates, reviews,changes an etc. before it went through! Surprise NO!

[Garybot]

I know, it's great isn't it. Why spend a lot of time on something that will ruin the lives of most people in this country, except for the very rich.


http://spectator.org/archives/2009/06/17/how-obamacare-will-change-your

[Aabby]

Stop the lies please. 72 % of us are not falling for it. Thanks.

[MJJM]

I will not be for a public option until the President passionately supports it!

He is not stating strong enough that he wants a public option. If he is incapable of stating that, then let his wife do it or some other strong vocal person.

Obama's leadership is coming into question now. It's not the experience that matters, Americans want strong Leadership.

[obama4america]

Obama's said over and over again that he wants a public option. What do you want him to do, set his hair on fire and run down the street screaming, "gimme a public option..."­?

[Garybot]

The running down the street thing wouldn't really help. He has lied constantly since he's been in office. People are wanting to believe what he says, but deep down everyone
knows that he can't be trusted.

People keep searching for a way to believe him, but there really is no way to believe a word he says.

[zull2]

He sorta did already. It's his plan, remember, the one from the election last year?

The public option was the core of his plan. The idea was, basically, that the government offers a public plan that is meant to be more affordable, in order to drive health care costs down.

What the health care industry is afraid of is that they have to cut costs, and most likely, even then people will be "satisfied enough" with their government plan that in several years, we'll have walked right into a single payer system and the only health care companies around would be small local ones offering affordable supplemental care. Oh no! And their CEOs can no longer grant themselves 1 billion dollar bonuses from money meant to take care of their customers.

[flapjack]

The public option will not be less expensive than private ones. In fact, it will cost more. The government has no incentive to provide a quality service at a reduced price. This has been proven over and over with out government. They overpay for everything.

So, what you want is to force others to pay for your healthcare.

Also, please tell me which CEO got a BILLION dollar bonus.

[Garybot]

Please read this article - it is based on fact, not dreaming.



http://spectator.org/archives/2009/06/17/how-obamacare-will-change-your