Steele: Obama Is Part Of Health Care "Cabal"

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Republican party is accusing President Barack Obama of conducting "risky experimentation" with his health care proposals, saying they will hurt the economy and force millions to drop their current coverage.

Michael Steele, in remarks prepared for delivery at the National Press Club, also said the president, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and key congressional committee chairmen are part of a "cabal" that wants to implement government-run health care.

"Obama-Pelosi want to start building a colossal, closed health care system where Washington decides. Republicans want and support an open health care system where patients and doctors make the decisions," Steele said in excerpts of his speech made available in advance.

Obama has repeatedly said he does not favor a government-run health care system. Legislation taking shape in the House envisions private insurance companies selling coverage in competition with the government.

Even so, numerous Republicans in Congress continue to level the accusation at Obama and congressional Democrats, and Steele did so in sharply critical terms.

"Many Democrats outside of the Obama-Pelosi-Reid-Waxman cabal know that voters won't stand for these kinds of foolish prescriptions for our health care. We do too. That's why Republicans will stop at nothing to remind voters about the risky experimentation going on in Washington," the party chairman said in advance excerpts. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is Senate majority leader; Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Republican officials said they were supplementing Steele's speech with a round of television advertising designed to oppose government-run health care. No details were immediately available on the areas where the commercials would run or their cost.

In his speech, Steele broadened his attack beyond health care to question Obama's truthfulness.

The president "tells us he doesn't want to spend more than we have, he doesn't want the deficit to go up, he doesn't want to live off borrowed money. But he also told us he didn't want to run an auto company. President Obama justifies this spending by saying the devil made him do it. He doesn't want to spend trillions we can't afford, but he says he just can't help it," Steele said in the prepared excerpts.

The Republican chairman is making his speech at a time when Obama is struggling to advance his trademark health care proposal after a period of evident progress. Two of three House committees have approved their portions of the bill, while one of two Senate panels have acted.

But conservative Democrats have raised objections to some elements of the legislation, and efforts in the Senate to reach a bipartisan agreement have yet to bear fruit. Obama's attempt to impose an early August deadline on both the House and Senate for passage of legislation is in jeopardy.

Comments

[staticnoise]

12:35 AM on 07/28/2009

In not addressing the healthcare problem when they had the power to do so in a way pleasing to them, the rebublicans have no credibility in this matter.I find both the democrats and republicans dissapointing, but the republicans more so.

[dropnknowledge]

12:26 AM on 07/23/2009

On a lighter note, does anyone think that Michael Steele reminds you of Officer "Hoppy" Hopkins from Sanford and Son. Remember the white cop who tried to use slang and always got it wrong. His partner Officer "Smitty" Smith, the black officer then translates everything he says.

[Hollyhock44]

04:18 PM on 07/21/2009

More comments from me that didn't fit before. I don't understand why so many Black Americans are not proud of the accomplishments of Black Americans in politics unless they are left left liberals. Isn't that what we all wanted, accomplishments and success where their contribution made a positive influence? What does it matter if it is the opposite of your opinion, the fact that the Black American made it to the top should be what counts. Yet we will adore the entertainers even though they may influence our children in a negative manner and cause our neighborhoods to erupt with crime. I find it amazing that Washingtonians will praise Marion Barry, excuse and applaud his disgusting behavior, yet jump on someone's else back with fangs and claws. Yes, many years ago, he was the man, but those years are long gone. Let's not even start talking about who calls upon Jesus, that comment really made me chuckle. Well I know I will be slammed and insulted but so be it.

[Hollyhock44]

04:13 PM on 07/21/2009

I am an American of multiple cultures. grateful that I live in this country. About health care: we can continue to bash each other with these rude statements-- whatever this administration wants to pass, will be. I want the entire administration and all people with incomes who can afford their own private care be required to use whatever government health care the average citizen has. I am totally opposed to providing health care and all government services to anyone who is not an American citizen, regardless of the circumstances. I find it very foolish that there is so much sniping over the party differences. I don't understand why people can't have different view points, why we cannot disagree with current or proposed policy without being called a racist or other slandering words? America is supposed to be about freedom to believe, or at least used to be. I do not agree with the policies of left liberals but I don't vent hatred toward them, as they do toward me. Our country is more divided than ever and that is not the way it should have gone.

[DiDill]

03:22 PM on 07/21/2009

What Hypocrite!
"Michael Steele Lacked Health Insurance For Years, Told Kids Not To “Break Anything”
SOURCE: whorunsgov.com
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/republican-national-committee/flashback-steele-lacked-health-insurance-for-years-told-kids-not-to-break-anything/

[WRP64]

01:23 PM on 07/21/2009

Only competition with a national public option would force those private insurance companies that can to operate as efficiently as public health insurance does in developed countries around the world.

In a society where the merits of competition in the marketplace are near axiomatic, I don’t quite know what to make of the spectacle of a powerful medical lobby evading competition that promotes efficiency and having political clout to maybe get its way. It’s embarrassing, really. At least it should seem so to anyone who recognizes the value of competition in the marketplace.

[Cathyv]

12:05 PM on 07/21/2009

Here's my plan for HEALTH CARE (not health insurance) in this country: Create a single payer plan that covers all American Citizens. Allow private insurance to compete for 'secondary' policies that cover things like private rooms in hospitals, private duty nursing, elective cosmetic surgery (as opposed to plastic surgery as part of a recovery from an accident or illness), etc.

Tax EVERY WORKING PERSON AND EVERY ADULT PERSON RECEIVING welfare, Social Security, Disability, etc a tax of 1% of their GROSS income. All sources of income must be included; interest, capital gains, etc. I propose taxing gross income because we all know that some people pay no tax after all their deductions and exemptions - both rich and poor. The point is that everyone pays according to their ability at a flat tax rate of 1%. The 1% tax should not be eligible for deduction from the adjusted gross income

Roll Medicare, Medicaid and VA, etc. programs into the new universal health plan. No point in maintaining multiple administration systems.

[LaurelCB]

01:38 AM on 07/21/2009

Republicans:
I am an American citizen and, as such, you represent me.
I am also a practising RN.
Advocating using the health care crisis in this country, using the unfortunate among us who do not have access to quality health care as foils to further your political fortunes, makes a mockery of everything this country stands for. As an American citizen, the Republican Party embarrasses me.
I have seen 'your' ads and read the op-eds and seen the bytes. These are clearly tactics to misinform and scare people who look to you for help and guidance in their time of need. This is shameful. These Republican Party endorced actions are reprehensible.
If you and your cohorts were truly interested in your declared purpose, to look after the best interests of the American people, you would be informing yourselves of the issues regarding health care reform and working to find a meaningful and long overdue solution.
I suggest you begin at pnhp.org.

[belyeu]

12:13 AM on 07/21/2009

Things that I know about health care:

1.The bottom line in health care is profit.

2. There are approximately 47million Americans without health care and I'm sure those numbers are growing.

3. The fees greedy insurance companies, physicians, hospitals, and drug companies charge is unsustainable.

4. Claiming that doctors and insurance companies are looking out for your best interests is fantasy.

5. You really do not have much of a choice with your health care because your insurance carrier has already decided what is and is not covered.

6. The government is not experimenting with health care, they have been managing medicare for decades.

7. Uninsured Americans are forced to visit emergency rooms to obtain routine care which increases health care costs.

8. The United States spends more per person on health care than any other country, yet in overall quality its care ranks 37th in the world.

9. Insurance companies, doctors, hospitals, and drug companies have no incentive to try and lower the cost of health care. so, I suspect that our government will have to do what the health care industry will never do on it's own, control costs.

10. I never thought I would say this in a million years but I trust our government to manage health care rather than greedy doctors and corporations.

[YeWight]

02:52 PM on 07/21/2009

11. You are mixing fact and fiction and are obviously clueless, especially when it comes to who's greedy. FYI, a CEO of an insurance company, or a CEO of a big hospital system can make more in a year (hint: "bonuses") than a (greedy) primary care doctor in a life time. Same goes for trial lawyers which are conspicuously missing from your top 10 list. Are you one of them?

[hauty007]

11:02 PM on 07/20/2009

a number of elites that have been hiding behind a veneer of conservatism, downplaying the egregious sins and errors of POTUS & DC, is foolish in the extreme.

[LCLA]

10:28 PM on 07/20/2009

Aside from the blatantly false mischaracterization of Obama's health care goals, Steele's comment about Republican goals is a farce. Republicans in general (and, frankly, far too many Democrats) are afraid of any change. They want to keep us in the same crappy, broken system which is unfairly stacked against patients/consumers. Employer based healthcare is a really bad system which is decades overdue for reform. An open health care system where patients and doctors make the decisions has not existed for the huge majority of us since the advent of "managed care" and even before.
Insurance companies discovered a loophole in ERISSA in the late 1980s to help them evade state insurance regulations. There have been almost no federal regulations to fill the vacuum since then. That has created the health care crisis which the right wing propagandists are questioning in their current talking points. The crisis is very real! The unprotected citizens and patients in the USA are virtually alone in our exposure to financial ruin and bankruptcy due to medical bills.
We must address the crisis with real answers, not propaganda talking points. Solutions, not delay and doing nothing.
Our government is far from perfect, but it is not our enemy. I cannot say the same for those who run insurance conglomerates and pharmaceutical companies. I am a healthcare provider, and I am also disappointed in our professional organizations who have put self interest and turf protection far ahead of the good of the public.

[zoophee]

07:07 PM on 07/20/2009

We should be charged the same amount for RX's as the Canadians pay. We should be able to get the same generics as Canadians are able to get.
Our congress should have to pay for their medical care like most of us do.
The drug companies control so much of our congress it is sickening.Congress sells out to them.
So many members of congress have large investments in drug companies. It surprised me when I found out that the democrats were the worst offenders.
John Kerry is worst offender by far.

Correct these things and our medical costs will go down.

I see so many volunteer hospital workers working for no pay in hospitals owned by stockholers. These misguided people think they are doing good but all they do is line the pockets of the stockholders. These hospitals in turn. overcharge us every which way they can.

ZOOPHEE

[snesich]

06:54 PM on 07/20/2009

Steele said, "Republicans want and support an open health care system where patients and doctors make the decisions,"

Ha ha.

So, Michael, does this mean you don't want insurance companies to be involved with our health care decisions? Since you never mentioned them, I assume you want them out of the picture? Did I misunderstand you? Or were you just lying to us, again?

[Chip W]

09:27 PM on 07/20/2009

Patients and doctors making decisions. Good idea.
But how about comparing a government plan to the current system (insurance companies), not to something that doesn't exist.

[aznurse]

01:04 AM on 07/21/2009

like medicare?

[winta]

06:35 PM on 07/20/2009

Like Robinhood. Obama steals from the "rich" (those who work and pay taxes) and gives to the poor (those who don't pay taxes). However, as he ruins the economy he is running out of "rich" to steal from. He wants to follow all the other failures in health policy.

[snesich]

06:52 PM on 07/20/2009

Hey "winta", your parroting of Rush Limbaugh is putting us to sleep. Such predictable drivel. Limbaugh followers really are like birds that understand nothing except how to repeat what he tells them.

Polly want a cracker?

[ruthie17]

07:22 PM on 07/20/2009

You did not make a stink when Bush ran through a surplus and now you are complaining when someone is trying hard to help those who don't have health care, I bet you haven't payed an extra cent any where alone the line! We gave the rich all those extra tax cut--GIVE IT BACK--

[Alablanca]

06:34 PM on 07/20/2009

WE NEED SINGLE PAYER HEALTH PLAN ADMINISTERED BY OUR GOVERNMENT AND OFFERED TO ALL AMERICANS. IF WE ELIMINATE THE PROFITS THAT PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES COLLECT, WE ELIMINATE TREMENDOUS COSTS. THE WEALTHY CAN ALWAYS GET ADDITIONAL INSURANCE PRIVATELY, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIGHT TOO MUCH BECAUSE THEY WILL STILL GET SOME BENEFITS FROM THE GOVERNMENT.. AMERICANS WHOSE INCOME IS MORE THAN $280,000 CAN CERTAINLY AFFORD TO PAY MORE TAXES TO HELP WITH THE COSTS. THEY HAD ALREADY ENJOYED ALL THOSE TAX CUTS THAT PRES. BUSH GAVE THEM.

[Chip W]

09:31 PM on 07/20/2009

I WILL NOT READ YOUR POST BECAUSE READING IT MAKES MY EARS HURT.