Maria Bartiromo Presses 44-Year-Old Congressman: If Medicare Is So Good, Why Aren't You On It? (VIDEO)

Earlier today, MSNBC's Carlos Watson hosted Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo for a discussion on health care.

At one point, Bartiromo was critical of the government-managed health care system in the United Kingdom. "How do I know the quality [of health care in the United States] is not going to suffer" with a public option? she asked.

Rep. Weiner reminded her that there already is government-managed health care in the United States -- namely, Medicare, the system created for Americans 65 years and older -- and that patients with Medicare report very high satisfaction rates.

Bartiromo's response to this argument was a true head-scratcher. In a mocking tone, she pressed the congressman: "How come you don't use it [Medicare]? You don't have it. How come you don't have it?"

Rep. Weiner, who turns 45 this week, tried to walk Bartiromo through it. "Because I'm not 65." But she was insistent. "Yeah... c'mon!" she exclaimed, laughing incredulously.

Thanks to HuffPost Media Monitor Kelly for spotting the moment. Click below to watch the video:

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Comments

[Chip Fernandez]

09:58 PM on 09/16/2009

Actually, a 44 year-old can be on Medicare if they have certain disabilities. (See medicare.gov)

[joe973]

12:31 PM on 09/16/2009

someone needs to set the record straight here...she went on Morning Joe and as a typical republican distorted the truth..., they were smart enough not to replay this tape because having her words next to the video would have been tough to handle...He was clearly talking about Medicare and that's been his argument all along...

[gra8whit]

08:39 AM on 09/16/2009

UPDATE: Maria on Morning Joe now says that she didn't mean Medicare and everyone just misinterpreted what she meant. C'mon Maria, how are supposed to interpret what you say when the words you say are, "If you think Medicare is so great, why don't..."? She stepped in and just like when she was exposed as a CEO-loving flack by Jon Stewart, she just denies, denies and denies. MSNBC still employs her.

[kamiron269]

10:22 AM on 09/16/2009

Bartiromo must have a hell of a lot of clout inside NBC's news operations. Joe and Mika don't have a lot of journalistic credibility to begin with. However, I can't believe they would gladly allow themselves to be used as a vehicle for Bartiromo to tell bald-faced ass-covering lies like they did this morning. They're at risk of being roasted over this, and they can't be so oblivious that they don't know it. This obviously was planned: Scarborough went out of his way to bring the matter up, and the video of the Weiner exchange conveniently wasn't shown. Bartiromo was allowed to lie and lie about this at length.
There's a lot out there that suggests Bartiromo is an egomaniacal bully. People like that are notorious for treating their screw-ups as other people's fault. After this morning, I'm beginning to wonder if it was a coincidence that Carlos Watson got kicked off the air shortly after the Weiner incident happened.

[skypuppet]

07:46 AM on 09/16/2009

typical. Out of touch with reality and what the rest of us (non-rich) have to deal with. It's ok, Maria, just go on living in your little world and unregulated capitalism will make everything pretty.

[bowthai]

08:03 PM on 09/09/2009

I am loving this guy. I just wish they had a better shot of his face when he rebuts her. I almost wished he would have just stopped and asked if she knew what the h*ll Medicare is, though it's pretty clear that she does not.

[tangolas]

05:25 PM on 09/07/2009

Homewrecker...
http://gawker.com/230698/what-rich-guy-youve-never-heard-of-is-banging-some-broad-off-the-tube

[nixau]

10:17 AM on 09/07/2009

Maria Barfaroma has been rode hard and put away wet by her corporate tricks.

[beeper]

11:01 PM on 09/06/2009

another rethuglicun brain sturgeon.

[Quipman]

06:47 PM on 09/06/2009

Once again a mind is a terrible thing to waste. Another mediocre news anchor employed by a mediocre network.

[John Warren Gotsch]

01:36 AM on 09/07/2009

"MEDIOCRE" ? Marie does not rise to such heights, more like dunderhead!

[Corsair369]

09:52 AM on 09/06/2009

The strident, intolerable pitch of Maria's voice now goes from (wrongly) reading her crystal
ball in the stock market to criticize a major issue like healthcare. What are the academic credentials of this women that gives her the authority to even open her mouth? Quality of healthcare in USA? That is a myth. Only for the rich. It' s obvious that this lady does not have even a remote idea of how health services are provided in Europe. And that goes for the majority of US (republican) population who does not even know where Europe is. All countries in Europe have a much superior health service than USA. I know it. I was there for many years and if I ever have a real medical problem which can not be resolved by taking an aspirin I will go for treatment in any country in Europe every day of the week and twice on sundays. Come Americans!! Open your eyes!! Look at the World!! It's also progress and compasion out there.

[cdc]

07:58 AM on 09/07/2009

Maria Bartiromo got where she is on looks. She has demonstrated again and again that she is dumb as a mushroom. I remember that she was on a special "Jeopardy" with Anderson Cooper and someone else from the news biz. Bartiromo never even tried to answer one question. So it's hardly a surprise that she knows nothing about healthcare, but on NBC she's paid to run her motuth, so the embarassing truth sometimes comes out.

[truthhasaname]

07:40 PM on 09/05/2009

I am on Medicare and it SUCKS!! WE HATE IT!! SO QUIT SAYIING II'S GREAT...IT SUCKSSSSSSS!!!

[dswagz]

09:19 PM on 09/06/2009

So you're saying you have a health care choice you can make??
..... You can decide to use a privately funded insurer of your choice -OR you can decide to use your Publicly funded health insurance (that you don't like) is you so choose ??

Thanks for making our point for us.

[HuffCheck]

08:44 AM on 09/07/2009

Sorry...I'm not following your point. Are you actually labeling Medicare as an optional program? Who would refuse benefits after being forced by law to contribute? I must be missing something. Please clarify.

[rlabner]

07:02 PM on 09/07/2009

most employ ins. is basesd on medicare any way.They will only pay what medicare would allow. ever hear of reasonable and customery charges? thats it. Once you reach 65 as an employe you are forced to drop company plans and use medicare. then are company suplimented after much out of pocketexpenses.Ive had medicare for some years and it is pretty good.unless they change what is allowed in the future its not bad for the price.

[time2getreal]

06:10 PM on 09/07/2009

You are not on Medicare. Older Americans do not talk like that.

[bowthai]

07:59 PM on 09/09/2009

Thank you, that's exactly what I was thinking. I don't know any grandma who types in capitals or who says 'SUCKSSSSSSSSSSSSS'.

[samiael888]

04:29 PM on 09/05/2009

This is the same Woman that went to Alaska to promote the genius of Sarah Palin, what more can you expect of her? She Purposefully lied on a Sunday NBC newscast in reporting and promoting Mcain's econaomic plan as opposed to Obama's as a tax plan.She has lost all credebility as a journalist, moreso asa financial advisor / planner / investment palnner, that youcan trust with your investments.If she does not understand medicare can she understand complex financial matters? Consider her a jaundiced republican,bereft of the truth and reality..

[Delaware22]

12:10 PM on 09/05/2009

I thought she had more brains.

[sippewissett]

10:37 AM on 09/05/2009

Wow. What a DUH moment for Bartiromo. Where has she been? She's not informed about the BASICS, like we already have 3 government-managed health care programs: Medicare, the federal employees plan (that makes our Reps so complacent about reform) and the military plan that covers active soldiers and vets.

[Crumbx]

11:31 AM on 09/05/2009

My representative, Congressman Stephen Lynch was at a Town Hall in Massachusetts and some questioner asked him "how much do you pay?" He informed the audience that there were "about 200 plans" offered to the Federal Government employees and that he took the "Cadillac" plan for his family. He paid 28% of the cost of the premium ($357.00/mo. and the taxpayers picked up the rest. I know this is true because my brother in law who works for the VA (and a former Marine) decided to take a "Corolla" plan-- a low-cost BC/BS plan for himself and family (his contribution? $7.00 a week) got rectal cancer and is so far on the hook for $20,000 of out of pocket costs. You get what you pay for. If he would have gone through the VA for medical care instead of his BC/BS Plan with the Federal government, he wouldn't have been able to enter the expensive protocol he entered at one of our top hospitals. He is alive and well now and probably would have had the same outcome at the VA--but how do you know this for sure when its your life? You pays your money and you takes your chances.

[scubadiver]

10:32 AM on 09/05/2009

I'm an American teaching English in South Korea. I have government run healthcare that works. I pay around $60 US dollars a month for health coverage for my Korean wife and myself. My employer pays the same amount to the government. I can visit any doctor I want without needing a referral. Alternative medicine, such as acupuncture and chiropractic care, is covered. No paperwork to fill out. No deductible. I don't have wait to weeks or months to see a doctor or specialist. After seeing the physician, I give the receptionist my health care card and pay my bill.

The initial visit for acupuncture treatment was < $5. Subsequent visits are < $4. Chiropractic care is < $15 a visit. When I had pharyngitis (severe sore throat), I went to a Korean doctor who spoke English. Total bill was < $60 (doctor's fee < $35 and medication < $25). If I see a non-English speaking doctor, the doctor's bill would be < $20.

Private insurance companies in Korea provide additional coverage for diseases, such as cancer, which act like supplemental insurance. What the government insurance won't cover the private insurance will. Monthly premium is around $230.

Personal income tax rates in Korea are < the US. My tax rate is 3.3%. Those who make around $70,000 pays 7-8% in taxes. I'm not saying South Korean's healthcare system is perfect, but we need to look at other countries' healthcare system and take what works and implement it.