"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

[Sean 6399]

Here's a question for all of you commenters who are so enamored of government control of healthcare:

Why is it that plastic and other elective surgery like lasik, that is not covered by insurance or medicaid, is widely available, inexpensive, and safe?

I'll agree that the current U.S. healthcare system has problems. I just don't understand why so many people think the solution is to expand more government involvement in the delivery of healthcare. Pretty much everything that the government is in charge of providing, they mess up. Whether its security, or a sound currency, or a justice system, you name it, government knows how to under deliver.

Why can't the direction of healthcare reform be towards expanding freedom in the marketplace, and reforming the tax code so as not to tie most healthcare to employment?

It just seems that if you demand medical care as a right, you're going to end up with the medical equivalent of the public defender system for the courts. And besides that, where's the freakin money going to come from?

[Rogan]

You speak as if these problems haven't been addressed and solved in every other civilized country in the world, already. For instance, this "public" plan you're scared of, it's almost certain to be cheaper at the end of the day...

[Sean 6399]

You assume that all these other nation's health care systems are the ideal, and I do not concede that point.

Again, why can't you answer the very simple and direct question:

How come the free market works beautifully for elective medicine?

Isn't it possible that the problem with the US healthcare is not because of a free market (that does not in fact exist), but because of government interference in that market, through the tax code and other means?

[Skepticat]

40 countries have government healthcare and the per capita cost averages half of what Americans pay. Are you implying that Americans are so inept that they couldn't do the same thing.
Less Rush - more research

[NKR]

Virginians:

Ask Sen. Mark Warner to support a public option!

[politisophical]

people need to keep reposting Dr Dean's list of representatives who dont support reform

http://standwithdrdean.com/

just use the filter to find out if your representative does not support the public option

btw... if you live in California call or email Diane Feinstein and let her know that her opposition will not be tolerated.­.

[ladycubsfan]

Those spineless blue dogs can roam in the wilderness with the Repubs for all I care. What a bunch of wusses.

[impik]

Are these people so detached that they can't understand the consequences?? Man, i never saw so much spineless.

[zerotimes10]

The Dems better get their sh^t together like TOMORROW or you are gone.

[icenzi13]

So do you think if we replace them with Repubs we will get something better?
We already went that route. The only way to get what we want is for the masses to get mad and demand it.

[PhilipTaylor]

Nate Silver has modeled the right things again regarding the Buying of Politicians and shows there are not enough Senators to Win Healthcare and SADLY without tremendous Citizen Pressures we have been sold down the RIVER by the money flowing into people like Mark Warner's accounts!

This may take far more CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT to gain a Strong Public Option than we thought!

Are we prepared to go into the streets in mass or aren't we? That is the question!

[PhilipTaylor]

A comment from Tony C. on Silver's site:

The Bribery Model!

The bribery model for the technology-aware politician is more payoff based.

It works like this: Make a legal donation to my campaign, $2500 or $5000 or whatever. That proves you are a serious buyer; and I will sit with you and hear you out.

Never ever bring up your donation, or money, or any conditions on money, or anything even suggestive of a quid pro quo. It is my job to listen to your ideas and complaints, but you will just have to trust that I am intelligent enough to see how to help you.

So consider that initial contribution an earnest money payment, and when I do help you out, pay your bills by making more serious contributions, or my door will not be opened again.

Political influence is based on trust, people. You need to have some faith that the politician's greed and corruptibility will drive him to please you, and he needs to trust that you know how this game is played and will never do anything that impugns his facade of integrity. Even if you always assume at all times that your conversations are being recorded and videotaped and every note or email that passes between you is being read by a judge and jury, you can still accomplish what you want, 100% legally.

[PhilipTaylor]

The movie scenes of corruption are exp1icit for the benefit of movie viewers. In real life, the buyers are rich and can afford to b1ow a few thousand without a second thought. Payoffs are incremental; and if the votes are generally going your way you don't really care if it is ideology or bribery, either way you want that person re-elected.

But to be prudent, it is best to assume it is bribery and keep the payoffs coming!

End Tony C. Comment

[RobertFromMN]

We are going to bail out the big banks but not pass health care reform with a public option? Exactly how corrupt is our government? Most Americans want a government plan. It is one of the issues upon which Democratic candidates got elected to office. If health care reform with a public option does not pass, the conclusion to which one must come is obvious: Our representatives are not, in fact, OUR representatives.

[Lilith33]

pretty corrupt.Yo­ur just figuring this out?SEE clinton pallin with bush.

[fedupinfla]

Please sign these petitions!!

http://ga3.org/campaign/healthpetition?source=healthpetition

http://standwithdrdean.com/

http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/page/s/AMA

Let those in Washington know we DEMAND a public option!!!!!

[LemonMeringue]

Not good enough.

A public option, done right, might reduce costs and give us real choices, at least freeing us from insurance tied to employers.

I don't trust Congress on this one.

SINGLE PAYER NOW

[ncmom54]

Tell ABC to include SINGLE PAYER in Health Care Debate!
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3816

[Samalabear]

Done. This is really easy, folks. At the end of this article is the link to ABC's request page. Really simple form to fill out -- very fast. Let's pressure this network.

[TJCole]

Health Care in America is a racket, same as our Wars, and Wall St. and our elections.­..

[gro]

Good to see an Ed Show clip!
I think everyone can agree that US health care is too expensive.
When big money contributors to the legislative system determine the agenda, don't expect any substantive changes. The system is rotten with corruption.

[janpradder]

I say take away healthcare benefits from ALL senators and congressmen/women until a plan that is good for the American people (wth a strong public option) is passed.
These folks don't care because 1. They have great healthcare 2. They want to get re-elected and want lobby money.

[Freakpower]

Old- old- old!

Really, you got not business , playing with the future.!

[skymuffin]

Dems can't win with over 50 Senators or a popular vote, so what good are they?

[LemonMeringue]

Third parties.

This is the tipping point for them.

If Dems fail on this... they can join the Republicans in the land of irrelevance.

[walkhumbly]

I think it is the responsibility of the MSM to identify our elected officials and how much each is receiving in any kind of support from the lobbyists. Its time we "outed" these folks who are choosing to support something other than the people who elected them.

It is also not fair to blame Obama for not getting this done. He has managed to put this on the table before he has finished his first six months as President. I think he has done his share, now it is time for all those other fools that we elected to be held accountable.

[patrickgarret]

Reconciliation. DO IT.

[GolfingDevil05]

Amen to that.