Hillary Clinton Talks Health Care Reform On "Meet The Press": Situation "Different In Several Ways" From 1993 (VIDEO)

Hillary Clinton gave a lengthy interview to David Gregory on Sunday's "Meet the Press," and despite her new role as Secretary of State, she seemed eager to also discuss health care reform, a cause that has defined her political career.

Clinton feels very optimistic that a bill will be passed this year, she said, in large part because she sees the situation as very different from the one in 1993, when she tried and failed to reform health care:

Oh, it is. It's different in several ways. It's different because I think everybody's now convinced there's a problem. Back in '93 we had to keep making the case over and over again. Well, now we know costs will continue to rise. For everybody who has insurance, there is no safe haven, their costs will go up. We lose insurance for 14,000 people a day. We know that our system, left unchecked, is going to bankrupt not just families and businesses, but our country. So it is a central concern of President Obama and our administration.

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Comments

[klondiker]

Her grasp of issues is incredible! As grateful as I am that she is the SoS, I wish she were involved with the heath reform bill in some way.

[hairyhuman]

...she was once before. lol

[Vote2bfree]

Hilary I apologize...I should have voted for you and not listened to the many in the fancy empty suit!

[saron123]

But you still would have the same democratic congressmen and congresswomen, who are actually holding the health care reform.

[Klimb]

Exactly!

[hairyhuman]

This was awesome.

http://freedomeden.blogspot.com/2009/08/sebelius-and-specter-booed-town-hall-in.html

[myk-os]

The current health system is not working, WHY DELAY FIXING IT? If the dam is leaking, better spend to fix it now than wait for it to break and create a disaster. .

Reform must be fair. No one should fall through the cracks.
If Inmates who committed heinous crimes and elected officials get the best health insurance, then all law-abiding, tax paying people should have the same. Since we can't afford that, government should provide basic health insurance to everyone ( inmates and elected officials included ). For those wanting bells and whistles, get supplemental insurance !
It has to be fair. The rich get taxed a bit more, but they should realize that a healthy nation will be good for them. The health care providers who will have to lower their fees should be freed from red tape and be fairly reimbursed for services rendered. Frivolous lawsuits should be stopped . These contribute to the costly practice of medicine. People should realize that medical care works two ways, and trust is important. If you dont trust your doctor, switch! If patients are free to choose their doctors, the good old free market will keep the doctors on their toes to attract patients. Insurance companies and drug companies will adjust as well. Reform should emphasize preventive measures and individual responsibity must be one of its cornerstones. Reward good health practices, non-compliance should not be tolerated. Basic coverage to everyone equalizes health care and weeds out the bad guys.

[Klimb]

"If Inmates who committed heinous crimes and elected officials get the best health insurance, then all law-abiding, tax paying people should have the same".

SPOT ON!!!

[Klimb]

Dr. Howard Dean will be hosting MSNBC (Countdown with Keith Olbermann) on Tuesday and Wednesday. People we can not let the public option fail!

[AngieMom57]

Die DEMONIC Health Insurance Corporations!

Go get real jobs those of you who work for benefit from and are involved with Health Ins. Companies!

[mld678]

Our goal should be to cover all individuals through private health insurance. We are not prepared to turn our health system over to the government. Advocate for greater transparency in both quality and price information. Place both the decision making ability and healthcare dollars in the hands of the consumer. Support the Friends of the U.S. Chamber and sign the Health Care petition at http://www.friendsoftheuschamber.com/takeaction/index.cfm?ID=40 .

[betty22]

hillary did it right......Obama's all wrong

[Klimb]

Can you explain yourself b/c if you mean on healthcare then, what did Hillary do right?

[Eriq]

Thank you, Hillary, for hanging in there!

[peacethinker]

Some good reading and videos on all this...
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/healthcare/index.html

[peacethinker]

Cenk talks about how the GOP stands in the way of reform (too many Dems play along too)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q54Et_2qt0w&feature=PlayList&p=B9A054FE3EC10A54&index=1

[Klimb]

Yeah! Dems are a real disappointment...I am really shocked...60 votes and can not pass a thing. Bush was able to wring hands and get votes for Iraq. I am beginning to believe what a friend said about the Dems that they have a "Donkey" symbol b/c they are docile.

[Bronxdude]

Senators DeMint and Coburn: The best healthcare system in the world leaves 50 million Americans uninsured to fend for themselves, while generating billions in profit and millions in kickbacks for corrupt republicans. If you’re fortunate to be a member of Congress, you do in fact have unfettered access to the best healthcare. The republican aristocracy always seems to know what’s best for the working-class. Several years ago, the republicans pushed through the Prescription Drug Bill at a cost of $900 billion, which benefited the pharmaceutical industry, not the working-class. To enact this flawed legislation, lobbyists paid-out millions in kickbacks to buy republican votes. The exact same strategy is now being employed by parasitic health insurers to defeat healthcare reform. Self-serving sell-outs like DeMint and Coburn are getting rich by helping big business generate outrageous profits on the backs of the working-class. In healthcare, the profit is in treatment, not the cure, which is why republicans lobby for ruthless pharmaceutical manufactures and parasitic physicians that regard healthcare as nothing more than a revenue stream. Republicans have dehumanized healthcare and transformed it into a commodity akin to oil, steel or corn. Republicans have always supported big business, and they have fought hard to pass abusive and exploitive legislation designed to keep the working-class subservient and subjugated. The republican concocted Iraq War will create thousands of new millionaires, which self-serving republicans welcome because such profit translates into huge kickbacks for them.

[BurtonOerney]

We in the working class have been waiting for a champion like you. We have no idea how bad it is out here because we don't have your clear-eyed perspective from outside our subservient ranks. Why, if we're not careful, republicans will fool us again and buy our votes. Please help us.

[Bronxdude]

The average American refuses to accept that the Republican Nation is at war with the working-class, which is why republicans support the status quo and vehemently oppose single-payor healthcare, public education, government oversight, minimum wage hikes, worker rights, access to higher education, middleclass tax relief, and, in general, any legislation that would jeopardize the continuation of a credit-dependent, employer exploited, unhealthy, downtrodden, underpaid, debt-laden, undereducated and permanent class of consumers and laborers. Similar to exploited sharecroppers, it’s in the best interest of republicans to keep the working-class hopeless, oppressed, unhealthy, undereducated and debt-laden. Republicans staunchly supported the bailout of Wall Street to protect their own assets, while opposing the bailout out the automobile industry, which employs thousands of middleclass Americans. The republican aristocracy opposes any kind of governmental oversight because it interferes with their pursuit of exploitive and ruthless capitalism; republicans would like to abolish the Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Interior, Education and The Food and Drug Administration, because these agencies protect and advocate for workers. Just like feudal lords, the Republican Nation requires a formidable army to protect their financial interests, which is why republicans defend unrestrained military spending. According to the CBO, the Iraq War will cost $2.6 trillion over 10 years, while health insurance for every American would cost $1.2 trillion over the same period. Universal health insurance would elevate the standard of living for the working-class, something republicans don’t want.

[losingitbigtime]

All very true Bronxdude, but the tide is turning since the demographics of what constitutes the average American is changing plus the Republicans seem hell bent on accelerating their demise. I just wish it would happen even faster. For now, we apparently have to settle for only going half way on healthcare reform because republicans and blue dogs consider "we the people" to mean the people of the corporate healthcare lobby.

[Klimb]

The tide maybe changing but the Senate financial committee just dropped the public option...what is wrong with democrats...60 votes without cooperation within party. Look at the GOP glorifying Palin without reservations and democrats can not support a very hard working and highly intellectual President like Obama...

[fscuttle]

Great post.The only thing you left out is that the Democrats are there to give us the illusion that we can make a change.That keeps us from revolting altogether­.Sometimes i feel "they" gave us Obama to bring us back from the edge

[fscuttle]

Who cares? What color is Michelle Obama wearing today?Thats what i want to know.

[1088]

Now Hillary, please tell your buddies the blue dogs to stop their nonsense!

[lwaldmann]

Generally I agree with Hilary and think she is the bomb. However her comment at the end of this piece about getting the Healthcare thing done, is supportive of the President, but in my view ignores those facts. Since single payer was abandoned, in favour of Republicans and Blue Dogs and what ever else got to put in their two cents, I believe that the notion of Universal Healthcare died. It is really very simple, and does not require 1300 pages of regulations. You get sick, you go to the doctor, and they try and fix you up until they do, or you die. It cost you nothing, nada. It is the responsibility of the State, and god knows the United States of America can afford it, if they just had the heart. I live in Canada, never stood in any line, am a Diabetic, and I receive everything I need, because Canadians pay taxes, they don't like it, but they know they have to, because one day they may need a new heart, or some other hideously expensive service and it will be there for them. Period. If you don't believe it, come on up and check it out. We are always glad to see our American cousins.

Lary Waldman

[Klimb]

There is a difference btn Universal healthcare and public option...Listen to govt. Howard Dean, tonight on MSNBC (will be hosting ON COUNTDOWN with Keith Olbermann). Right now, we are not regulating healthcare just like Wall street failed but Wall st could be bailed out with printed money and were saved. However, oneday when healthcare implodes pple this one and time concerns life, you can not bail out life with money when you suddenly have an influx of hundreds without health coverage who have swine flu (predicted will be worse in fall 2009), diabetes due to obesity; need heart, lung transplant, etc. if we do not act ASAP, we will pay with lives b/c pple will not have health coverage to get treatment and this serious. How can we not support health reform b/c it will cost billion dollars to spend and yet, we supported Iraq war that has brought this country's economy to its knees and lost lives (over 4000)...I am very disappointed