Steele Struggles To Name His Own Health Care Provider

Michael Steele provided a bit of fodder on Tuesday for Democrats trying to frame both him and the GOP as obstructionist forces in the national debate about health care.

The RNC Chairman stumbled during an appearance on CNN on Tuesday when he was asked to name what type of insurance he has and who exactly is his health care provider.

"What company is it?" host Kyra Phillips asked.

"Blue Cross Blue Shield I believe," Steele replied. "Or maybe not. I think it is Blue Cross Blue Shield."

The slip-up was immediately seized upon by the Democratic National Committee, which charged that Steele's hesitation was further evidence that he and the RNC are out of touch and only interested in political warfare when it comes to health care.

"It must be nice to have the luxury of not even knowing the name of your own health care provider, but Michael Steele's comments today, and the Republican strategy of working to kill reform for their own political purposes, is simply insulting to the millions of American families and businesses struggling with soaring health care costs," read a statement from DNC Press Secretary Hari Sevugan.

Sevugan and others seem to be envisioning a repeat of the 2008 campaign moment when Sen. John McCain couldn't remember how many houses he owned. But it's doubtful that Steele's misstep matches that gaffe. Far more people have trouble naming the insurance provider they have than they do listing the houses they own.

Still, it's clear that Democratic partisans aren't shying away from the heat of the health care debate and the weeks ahead could be the first true test of how well the remnants of the Obama campaign still operate in a fiercely contested political battle.

Comments

[obiejuan]

Republican Michael Steel can't name his health care provider and I am suppose to rely on him telling me what is good for me? I don't think so....

Republican Sarah Palin, "Three separate times, Couric tried to elicit a response from Palin about which specific newspapers she reads. Seemingly caught off guard, Palin could not name a single news source" and she can't answer. http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/30/palins-news/

I am suppose to rely on her telling me what is good for me? I don't think so.... Palin refuses to go on a real Sunday news talk show to defend her position. Palin now refuses to talk to anyone and prefers to tweet or go on facebook where she does not have to answer questions. Maybe that's why she quit the position of Governor of Alaska? The questions became harder and the kitchen was too hot and she had to get out.

[Rain-man]

Elitist Republican Micheil Steel does not know what type of insurance he has and who exactly is his health care provider.

Interesting!

Elitist Republican John McCain does not know how many houses he owns.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/08/21/politics/fromtheroad/entry4372200.shtml

Interesting!

e·lit·ism or é·lit·ism (-ltzm, -l-)
n.
1. The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources.

[dropnknowledge]

Does anyone else think the 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.

[Wallysmom]

Yes!!!! A black version....see clip below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDLHGcnoMpQ

[Passenger57]

Steele IS a stump!

[ProudlyConservative42]

I'll give you "clueless." Here's Obama trying to answer a question about the current House Healthcare Bill:

"During the call, a blogger from Maine said he kept running into an Investors Business Daily article that claimed Section 102 of the House health legislation would outlaw private insurance. He asked: “Is this true? Will people be able to keep their insurance and will insurers be able to write new policies even though H.R. 3200 is passed?” President Obama replied: “You know, I have to say that I am not familiar with the provision you are talking about.”"

http://www.heritage.org/2009/07/21/morning-bell-obama-admits-hes-not-familiar-with-house-bill/

[Passenger57]

But I'll bet Obama knows who his insurance provider is...Why is the standard Republican - or anti-Obama - response , when they step in a pile of Duh, is to say, "Well, he did it too!!"

[Wallysmom]

This report you site is from The Heritage Foundation, an extremely Right-leaning organization that is notorious for cherry-picking information that feeds the fuel of their base. The information:
"With the public’s trust in his handling of health care tanking (50%-44% of Americans disapprove), the White House has launched a new phase of its strategy designed to pass Obamacare: all Obama, all the time."
There are no citations on their site for poll numbers or information, just inuendo.

[lastpost]

Steele yourself:

Democracy (Rule by the majority will of the people), is dead.
(It didn’t have any healthcare).

Long live the Republic (Rule by the will of an individual, elected by the people)
(An individual with healthcare)

[ramal]

My 85 year old Grandmother is covered under Medicare, she just got a hip replacement. What's the difference, Mr. Steele?

[onestop56]

Well, when you have good health care, who cares who the provider is. Now, when you want to keep others from getting it, you come armed with all the "facts" about why it shouldn't happen.

[highjacked]

this is a story? the correct answer--none of your business!

[thebirdstheword]

yet, i'm sure you're clamoring to see a certain president's birth certificate? right?

[Passenger57]

Why shouldn't we want to know what kind of insurance he has? Here he is telling us what the thinks is good for us...let's make it easy for him: WE WANT WHAT YOU GOT, STEELE!
He's like McCain, not knowing how many houses he has!
It's good to be the King!

[ChuckStake]

I don't get it. I wouldn't know the name of my insurance provider without looking at my insurance card. Who cares and what is the point?

[thebirdstheword]

how can he be an educated voice on the nation's health insurance, when he's clueless about his own?

[jane gallagher]

For someone who purports that healthcare is fine, he he sure doesn't know much about his own.

[pinkyboo]

So when you signed up for it you did not read anything, just went to the bottom of the page and signed your name?

I diot.

[Hedgehogging]

Socialized medicine--ha ha ha!!!

Look, if half of you people knew the real reasons why it costs so much for health care then this silly little debate would end. The real reason is the same reason why University costs an arm and a leg and that's because the US government drives up the prices!!!

Another reason is because Americans don't understand the four food groups and basic nutrition knowledge.

I'm an American living in Japan. My wife is Japanese and my baby is half. We have socialized medicine and guess what? It sucks!

Here's the really sad part, it's rigged so that Big Pharm still makes out like bandits!!!

You Obama folks really need to read and understand the plot here!!!!

[pinkyboo]

Tell the people who have died in this country due to lack of coverage or those who had coverage and were denied procedures by HMO's that having a public option sucks.

[Passenger57]

Weeelll, it's time to leave Japan then, isn't it?
Come back to America where the health care system is great and the living is easy!

[shadowgm]

Comparison shopping:

With Steele, I'm getting 'bling-bling,' 'off-the-hook' MORE OF THE SAME and 'fried chicken and potato salad.'

With Obama, I'm getting a dialogue about health care for all Americans, which is an issue that's lain fallow throughout a Republican presidency and Republican congress.

Easy choice.

[Skeetshooter]

I wonder if Michael Steele has ever seen SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS, in which Joel McCrea gave up his well paying job to travel as a common man across depression era America. I suggest Steele take a break from his privileged life and give it a try. He seems to have forgotten where he comes from.

[Oldbuck]

Micheil Steel is a true representative of the Republican party he is clueless which is what ti wrong with the Republican party where do they come up with these people like Steel , Palin and Joe the Plumber. And they wonder why they lost the last couple of elections. "Gee"

[LonghornDem]

I love how much he is openly speculating on things he doesn't know. "Whether it's in the bill or not...I don't know that and neither do you." He has to admit that he's scared of things regardless of whether it's actually in the bill. FINE! So, have a discussion about it, get your fears allayed and work to make sure the bill doesn't go there. I have no problem with that. But, that's not what he's doing. He's acting like this is absolutely what the bill will do if it gets passed. He's wildly dishonest and leading the RNC down a hilariously disorganized and paranoid path.