"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

[freddiefreeloader]

Would you donate to a organization that would refuse you their services if you ever needed those services? I don't think so. Tell your family that in the event of your untimely you know what, not to donate your organs until there is public healthcare and to a lessor degree don't donate blood except for a family member, sell it.

[Easyrollins]

I wonder what is the outcome of being ignore by our elected officials, to we make threats as what we are going to do, as they motivator to get something they know we want but are fully prepared to ignore us, do we wait 2,4,6 years to exact revenge, long after the deed is done and we still living with the health care we have today. do we wait another twenty years until another president arrives and tries again to get justice. This is perhaps our only chance, and it's much to important for us to fail our families and the future generations. We must not lose this battle and leave it to be ought again, when at this moment in time we have a political situation that we may not see for years to come. We must be ready to do the things that undeniablely get the attention of this congress that the American people want real Health Care Reform and now is the time. I call for a general strike that will bring this nation to a stand still as our statement to our government that this the time, this is the issue and nothing but what is best for the people will be tolerated.

[periscope]

The American people have to learn something from the Iranian people and stand up for ourselves. 72% of Americans want a public healthcare option. If the Congress doesn't give it to us, we should get rid of those members of Congress who block it.
It's long past time when "Democracy" actually should be: a government that is "of, for and by the people."

[CanadianBeef]

Yep, instead of elected representatives, you've got paid representatives, paid to work against your interests.

[mongoose63124]

ha ha and what is "the Ed show"?

are you telling me that msnbc is actually trying to put together a lineup? thats kind of cute....

[ItJustSux]

man, that was funny. I guess it's the humor of the conservatives. Was that taken from a book of the brilliant comedian Dennis Miller?

[mongoose63124]

i havent read any of them actually, although i know hes selling a ton of them

[Susan60]

Thank you for your input Fox Employee. Breaktime is over.

[mongoose63124]

If (on the poll) the question posed is EXACTLY like the one the people saw who took the poll, im not surprised with the results. The question basically asks, if you could pay the same amount of money for the level of care you receive now, and have everyone get care, would you? Of course many would say yes. What it implies is that the level or ease of care wont go down and the overall price tag to those who have health care wont go up.

[whiskeytangofoxtrot451]

As opposed to our current system where costs continue to rise disproportionate to inflation and quality of services continues to go down?

[mongoose63124]

im not trying to argue for or against universal health care, im against it fyi. What im saying is that people will agree to pay for others health care as long as costs dont go up, and level of care doesnt go down. In a hypothetical, this is possible. In the real world it is not.

[toochie]

Much like the cost of college. No one is up in arms about that one. Why?

[KHAAANNN]

But I thought the "Miracle of the Marketplace" means higher quality and lower prices when consumers have more choices?
Right? That is what I have been hearing for 35 years from the Republicans?
Why is this any different? One more player in the marketplace servicing a demographic that the current players can't or won't service. How is that bad?
People will speak with their wallets, and force lower costs on the current players.
If they can't cut it, they can get the hell out of the market and leave it to the Government to cover everybody, at significantly lower cost to the consumer and businesses.

[vkcarter65]

Yes, we must get healthcare public option passed. I worked in the healthcare for over 25 years and was just laid off with a child that's still in high school. I can;t understand our elected offical fighting a public plan when it clear it 's wanted and needed and they claim they are for the people. If they don't support the american people I will work my butt off to get them out of office.

[Montanagramma]

Ditto!

[zezel]

Ed is a hateausauras.

[whiskeytangofoxtrot451]

He's just taking the highly successful Fox model of bully opinion wh0ring (shout over your guests when they disagree with you, then cut the mic when they refuse to back down) and applying to the left.

[Susan60]

You are then a Foxausaras, a rare breed of people who don't lose all respect for themselves when drawing a paycheck from FOX. Good for you!

[garymc8]

He is just as fed up with the LIES AND DISTORTION as I am. I hate the greedy liars who have their sites on the middle class. They won't get a big dividend if we have to pay a worker a liveable wage.

[levibatgirl]

Yesterday I received an email from the AMA of all things and it was written in such a way that sounded like 'of course you support the AMA, blahblabah....'

I wrote back: 'I do NOT support the AMA lobbyist group!! Shove it and never contact me again!!!'

[jadeba]

Only 29% of MDs are members of the AMA - not ringing endorsement.

[garymc8]

I heard a lower % for Doctors, like 13%.

[awaitingmd]

let me re-echo bill maher, " democrats in congress have moved to the right and are now the new republicans....this is very appalling. does it mean that nobody actual cares for the American citizen? politicians will do whatever it takes to get our votes and then spit on us. I am calling for a boycott of the mid-term election if we don't get public health care in the infamous health care reform.

[Garybot]

Thus the drumbeat begins...

[Samalabear]

Is it my imagination or is Ed Schultz the only one taking on this issue for the people on MSNBC, or anywhere in the mainstream? I can tell you right now that NPR is still one-sided. NPR makes a big deal about how important the individual supporter, like me, is. You should read the comments from their supports on the web site at the end of the health care reform stories. With the exception of one or two comments the rest are scathing towards NPR for their lack of coverage on this issue from the people's standpoint.

[Exexecution]

"With the exception of one or two comments the rest are scathing towards NPR for their lack of coverage on this issue from the people's standpoint."

NPR was co-opted by the CIA in the Bush years, a program that continues today. They are about as liberal as SCOTUS.

Check out Glenn Greenwald's post from yesterday for an update on NPR's politics.

NPR's ombudsman: Why we bar the word "torture"
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/06/22/npr/index.html

[retiree]

I wrote my senator (R) who is against and said that the only people against the public option are the people who benefit financially. Then I asked "are you one of them?"

[FGDinVA]

Thank you.

[flapjack]

I am against the public option and I do not benefit financially.

[FGDinVA]

The people referred to are those in the Senate.

[Mixpixlix]

Many Americans who are "satisfied" with their health care insurance, haven't had to actually use it according to a health economist who appeared on Bill Moyers Journal two weeks ago. The polls should ask people who have actually had to use their coverage for a serious accident or illness if they're still satisfied. The answer will be NO. It's easy to be satisfied when you have no real world experience with denials, exclusions and exceptions.

If these democrats can't do the job we need to get new democrats. iI's been hard to distinguish between many GOP and Democrats in Congress. They're all in the pockets of the lobbyist and have been putting on a show for us for years.

As an Independent voter issues that matter to me. Congress just leaned about rescission:policies cancelled when underwriting done AFTER years of premium payments turn up something the subscriber forgot to mention or didn't know was in his/her medical file.

While I believe there is more postive action going on behind the scenes then the media plays out, we cannot be complacent. E-mail, call and write you elected officals to let them now that we want healthcare insurance reform and we want it this year.

It's time to pull back the curtain and expose them for what they are...FAKES. A public option is the only way to gurantee that health care coverage will begin to address the needs of Americans well and sick citizens.

[zlohcuc]

Americans must hold congress accountable.It is clear the vast majority is demanding a national plan. Start letting your feelings be known to your representatives and let them know you will suppport nothing less. Elect someone else if necessary. This is too big too accept a middling "comprimise"

[Easyrollins]

A nation way strike for real health care reform, cannot be marginalize in the media, It would have to be internet driven, cannot trust the powers in charge of the media to help in anyway. It could be done and it can work if all but essential people strike for a day. 50% of the work force should do it, but the more the better.

[flapjack]

Good luck with all that!!!

85% of Americans have full coverage now and are mostly satisfied with it. You will not see people going on strike for a public option.

[zlohcuc]

where is this info coming from? neary 50 million w/o coverage at all, are you thinking this is free for you and does not show up in our rates? people who care about the future of America should get behind this program. make a case for the status quo if you can, health care in america is a scandelous disgrace

[Pimpinnati]

Obama needs to show me he has the Mike and Ikes to take on the Repubs and the Dems in the pocket of the health care industry.