Daschle At Odds With Obama On Health Care

The Daily Beast:

Tom Daschle, Obama's original pick to overhaul the health care system, is now floating a rival plan, to the administration's chagrin. The Daily Beast's Richard Wolffe asks the president's failed health nominee which side he's on.

Read the whole story: The Daily Beast

Comments

[Telemachus]

And Dubya said the presidency was "hard work."

In both cases, the solution was not to make the job easier, but to find someone qualified to do it.

[gmgl]

It's not difficult stuff. It is simply money and who gives it to politicians to get re-elected. Right now it is the insurance and corporate healthcare that politicians that buy our politicians.

We progressives need to stop giving money to candidates as "general" candidates and instead bond together to give them money as a lobbyist would to a candidate for a specific cause only, such as single payer health care. If the numbers then add up that the public gives more money than the lobbyists for a cause we will get that cause passed. We are perfectly capable of picking a few causes and outspending the lobbyists. We should end the practice where we give politicians money because we "believe" in them. They believe in getting re-elected and answer to their perceived corporate masters who demand specific action from them for their money, which we the public evidently are not perceived by the politicians to do.

[grazzt]

uh, why even bother voting then? We should just put out a list of candidates for elected office and whoever gets the most money gets the job.

[YewNeekId]

Daschle is paid by lobbyists. Obama is funded by lobbyists.

Do you really think the American people have a chance?

[PiscesPrincess]

Not unless they get out there and march on DC.. everyday all summer long in larger and larger numbers. Single Payer Health Care or Nothing. signs printed by hand.

[AurigaRa]

not any more

the dems don't even care about re election anymore
They've got lobby/consulting jobs that will pay milions - legally - waiting for them when
they finish trashing America

Dennis Kucinich was right

[MaryanneAZ]

President Obama is NOT funded by lobbyists. Have you seen the coverage of fundraising events and how their numbers are less than Repubs because they ban lobbyists from giving? It is not perfect yet, but the banning of lobbyists is coming along very well for Obama's Administration. WE should be the only lobbying that matters. What the Nation needs. What the Nation demands. What the Nation requires. We have to make our voices heard and step up accountability on the part of our elected officials. If the Iranians can hit the streets and make their voices heard, then 300m plus Americans certainly can rally in this democratic Republic in like fashion.

[Dots]

This is NOT difficult stuff Tom.
Difficult is watching your uninsured child die.
JUST DO IT.

[kgb999]

So his plan is to eliminate the public option and mandate everyone in the nation must purchase insurance from the corporations directly on an individual basis ... with no power to negotiate as a group.

Anyone else feel like we dodged a bullet with this guy?

[Telemachus]

Yup.

[PiscesPrincess]

and Obama wanted him for a Cabinet post . Health care post. boy did We dodge that bullet.
this man never did impress me.

[PiscesPrincess]

and Obama wanted him for a Cabinet post . Health care post. boy did We dodge that bullet.

[Paisano]

It's really not hard. The insurance companies bribe you and you do what they want! See... Simple!

[EmeraldWorld]

You're not relevant anymore, Daschle. Stop trying to involve yourself.

[murphy80]

glad he no longer holds a leadership position in the Senate.

[thebigbike]

Can you say "tool"?

[PiscesPrincess]

oh ho. we know what That is. lol

[LiberalBuzz]

Another paid hack for big Pharma and Big Med trying to claim his way is best. ANYTIME a lobbyist or one who works for a corporate firm says it's best you can bet the farm the reverse is true.

Tom's loyalties are obvious. NOT to the American public....that is a granted.

[debrief]

But there was a bigger picture, and the extraordinary willingness of Bob Dole and Howard Baker to agree to so many things that I wanted, led me to believe this was a fair compromise.”

And tell me again, just why we give a da mn what you, Dole and Baker think about healthcare anyway? What positons are the three of you elected to? You are too corrupt to even pass an 'appointment!'

[jmpurser]

The fact that the GOP was happy to accept your "compromise" was your first clue that you were giving the farm away!

We need Single Payer now.

[treetracker]

Yes, we do. Haven't seen any media attention on the Sanders plan. 2.2% across the board tax and everyone gets coverage. It's administered by the states and they get 3% to administer it. Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP are eliminated by folding them all into the plan. Includes a plan to speed up getting primary care providers into they system in the next 5 years.

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/healthreform_sbs_full.pdf

[Hank10303]

"He (Daschle) can, however, advise the firm's clients, which include several major health care companies and organizations..."

So now that he no long has elected office money talks, BS walks and integrity is loss. Daschle is now in it for the money and should not be given the time of day.

[kgb999]

Are you sure this is significantly different than when he was in elected office?

[getoffmedz]

Senility is a terrible thing.

[k6007]

So is greed..

[Hank10303]

4 Daschle is all about the bennies

[k6007]

The money started rolling in when he was tapped. He AND his wife are lobbyist.

http://sweetness-light.com/archive/daschle-got-220k-from-health-industry

He, dole and a few others have formed their own firm.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/18/daschles-firm-and-group-h_n_217594.html

[kjlowryTX]

The only way the American people will ever get justice, logical solutions and fairness in ANY public concerns - health care options, energy options, and education - is when the election system is overhauled to eliminate the lobbyists for business, banks, and insurance companies. They OWN Washington...even some (incredibly brave) congressman announced it was true this spring. We must either install term limits in congress or limit what campaigns can spend to what the public taxes will pay for...not allow ANY media advertising...only public debates and questionnaires on candidates' ideas and opinions. This may never happen because the ones to pass legislation about these changes and limits are the same ones that are already OWNED and OPERATED by Wall Street bankers, credit companies, corporate america, huge campaign donors, and insurance companies. What can a regular average citizen do?? Any ideas?

[Chernynkaya]

I asked basically the same question in a comment that is pending. We need a leader to emerge that we can rally around. A real firebrand who can organize us. I want to march, to protest. Look how Fox organized the teabaggers. Is there anyone on AirAmerica? Ed Shultz? Moses!?

[PiscesPrincess]

Ed Schultz yes. go Ed.

[Interested Party]

In Canada we have a limit on how much can be spent on a campaign and we also limit the time for campaigning. But then, we also have reforms which regulated our banks, so no bailouts needed, our healthcare system works for everyone (and no, no one dies or goes bankrupt) and as we have a Parliamentary system, elected officials must stand up and TALK (yes that includes the Prime Minister) so no hiding in the White House in the House of Commons. Banks are also defined as banks, not the loophole GE just found to fleece the taxpayers. Not perfect but a good base to improve on! And when you hear 'socialized medicine' with such a sneer, members of your government have it, WHY NOT YOU???

[PiscesPrincess]

thank you for the smack down.

[42skidoo]

Canada has a lot of positives. Rational thinking may be one of the best. Their health care system may not be perfect but it does seem to severe the citizens well which is more than our "exceptional" for profit insurance corporations deliver. SINGLE PAYER NOW

[jazzman]

"is when the election system is overhauled to eliminate the lobbyists for business, banks, and insurance companies."

How do you get that in a country where the corporate owned Supreme Court calls money free speech and the very people who would have to make those kind of reforms are the ones benefiting from the present system and beholden to the same corporations?

There is no way out. The U.S. is dysfunctional. It has painted itself into a corner with its political financing system. The party is over. It was a nice ride but now we will have to watch as the new empires emerge abroad in Asia as ours disintegrates into a kind of civil strife with gun toting militias recruiting unemployed disgruntled workers into its ranks foment racial and political violence, right wing politicians sweep back into power and put the hammer down and establishes a totalitarian authoritarian regime to keep a lid on the civil unrest. It would have happened in the 1930s if FDR hadn't appeared.

Alas, Obama's a great guy and tries hard but he is more like Hoover; an incrementalist who hopes to tinker and fix while leaving things the way they are. He just doesn't have the gumption FDR had to lead boldly and move us into the direction we must go. This time we aren't going to escape the collapse of our economy and the natural result of such a collapse.

[Chernynkaya]

Agreed, tragically.

[MaryanneAZ]

The sky is falling. The sky is falling. It is entirely too early to give up on our President and our majorities in the House and Senate (which have the opportunity to increase in 2010). I wonder if some posters are just working to undermine the President and do not really care about the issues at all. I think President Obama has a lot of gumption. After all, he did best HRC and her machine. He is a strategic leader and we have yet to see his whole game.

[rinpochet]

Nothing complicated here Daschle. Over 70% of the people support a public option and we need SINGLE PAYER. Very simple. JUST SUPPORT THE PEOPLE!!

[Lemeritus]

For once...

[PiscesPrincess]

hear hear.