Obama Crowd Cheers Public Option, Boos Baucus Plan (VIDEO)

When President Obama spoke in front of thousands of college students in College Park, Maryland on Thursday, the crowd cheered for a public health care option -- and booed at the plan from Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.).

Jed Lewison of Daily Kos pointed out the disparity.

Watch the University of Maryland students break into wild applause when Obama says there should be a government-run health insurance choice:

But the students booed when Obama mentioned the Senate Finance Committee plan presented by Baucus this week.

It's not just college students -- workers chanted "bullshit" when President Obama brought up Baucus' plan at the AFL-CIO convention on Wednesday.

Comments

[whoknew42]

Please pass a health reform bill that INCLUDES the PUBLIC OPTION...PLEASE!

[hhayden]

Dear Everybody, I have been a progressive all my life. I lived in the So'viet Union for a year as a journalist and thinking So'cialism and Com'munism is the right way to go. I worked for the most Left leaning media outlet in the country…Pacifica. I am not a Conservative…didn’t vote for Bu'sh and didn’t like him……I was at the March on Saturday. I never voted for a Republican in my life. The march was peaceful. I met lots of Democrats and lIberals as well. I mets lots of people of different ethic background­­..includi­n­g blacks, hispancis, and asians. O’re'illy may make mi'stakes but you guys at CNN and MSNBC are not reporting the news at all. There were way over a million people at that March. Maybe 2 million according to police estimates. Larger than Obama’s inauguration. It was peaceful. Maybe there were a couple of n'ut cases there however the majority…the big majority were peaceful. I have lived as a white woman in Harlem most of my adult life. I have worked and helped the poor and needy. I have cared for them when they are sick. You are doing this country a diss'ervice.

[veteransquared]

Well, I'm glad to hear you lived in the USSR for some time. But, i have served in the military for 18 years and have been to combat twice and maybe more. I would first like to say, I don't care who or how many marched on DC, and that's my HOME !!!!!! Where were you and your so-called tea party for america marchers, when the previous adminstration decided to go to WAR with the world, and put soldiers in harms way for their own personal agenda. Where did you think the money came from to finance two different wars(the American people)..where were you, when the bush administration passed policy that allowed the government to invade Americans privacy, where was the march then..where was the march, when the bush adminstration gave the first stimulus bill and gave most the money to the banks and their earmarks, with no stipulations or regulations... Please let's start informing ourselves. What the POTUS needs is an entire new congress and senate....most of those politicians have been there entirely to long. Please share this with your marching buddies...

[hhayden]

Dear Everybody, I have been a progressive all my life. I lived in the Soviet Union for a year as a journalist and thinking Socialism and Communism is the right way to go. I worked for the most Left leaning media outlet in the country…Pacifica. I am not a Conservative…didn’t vote for Bush and didn’t like him……I was at the March on Saturday. I never voted for a Republican in my life. The march was peaceful. I met lots of Democrats and lIberals as well. I mets lots of people of different ethic background­..includin­g blacks, hispancis, and asians. O’reilly may make mistakes but you guys at CNN and MSNBC are not reporting the news at all. There were way over a million people at that March. Maybe 2 million according to police estimates. Larger than Obama’s inauguration. It was peaceful. Maybe there were a couple of nut cases there however the majority…the big majority were peaceful. I have lived as a white woman in Harlem most of my adult life. I have worked and helped the poor and needy. I have cared for them when they are sick. You are doing this country a disservice.

[LightningJoe]

A health care plan cannot pass, with no public option in it. We have eighty-five Representative's signatures that say so.

Next...?

[hhayden]

If it were only that easy.

Obama has a massive media blitz plannd for next week. The media is turning over the air waves to him to repeat himself over and over and over again. Too bad he didn't have any words for the protestors who went all the way to Washington to see him.

[hhayden]

President Obama said this week that his health care plan won't cover illegal immigrants, but argued that's all the more reason to legalize them and ensure they eventually do get coverage.

He also staked out a position that anyone in the country legally should be covered - a major break with the 1996 welfare reform bill, which limited most federal public assistance programs only to citizens and longtime immigrants.

"Even though I do not believe we can extend coverage to those who are here illegally, I also don't simply believe we can simply ignore the fact that our immigration system is broken," Mr. Obama said Wednesday evening in a speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. "That's why I strongly support making sure folks who are here legally have access to affordable, quality health insurance under this plan, just like everybody else

[wdw505]

i heard what MRbo said i just don't believe him as i read both 3200 and 676

3200 has no enforcement

676 if you reside in this country you can get coverage

(a) In General- All individuals residing in the United States (including any territory of the United States) are covered under the USNHI Program entitling them to a universal, best quality standard of care. Each such individual shall receive a card with a unique number in the mail. An individual's social security number shall not be used for purposes of registration under this section.

[hhayden]

How many lies does Obama have to tell before the zombies catch on I wonder. Unlimited I guess. Obama says he will just wave a wand and make them all legal like he waved his wand and did away with all terrorists.

[hhayden]

How many li'es does Obama have to tell before the zom'bies catch on I wonder. Unlimited I guess. Obama says he will just wave a wand and make them all legal like he waved his wand and did away with all terr'orists.

[GrandmaBEE]

Can't cost me anymore than I am already paying.

myself and husband -- $249 monthly for insurance thru his work + co-pays and 90/10 coverage

working son in mid 20's--- no health insurance, skips dental check ups can't afford, mom and dad pay $286 to have tooth pulled, then pay for prescriptions full price

Same son -- Gets bit on ankle by spider, turns to MRSA, Goes to emergency room twice in one week. Can't afford to pay (so we're all stuck with that bill) and mom and dad pay nearly $125 for medications full price.

Believe me we all are paying for others health care already.

[Tyler-Durden]

the dude below has illustrated the problem. HE doesn't have the same problems as you, so he has no sympathy for you.

somehow he got awesome healthcare. $20 copays and no premiums. that's some good stuff right there. must be nice to be so privileged.

unfortunately, people like yourself, and your son, can rot on the side of the road according to this guy.

2 yrs ago, i had no coverage either. i had a tooth break in the back of my mouth. it hurt like heck. i wound up pulling it out myself with needle-nose vice grips.

some people just don't care about anyone but themselves. the rest of us have to stick together to keep the greedy and selfish at bay.

[GrandmaBEE]

You are so right. I have many stories of grown foster children that I have had to help financially. There is nothing for them by way of healthcare once they become adults. Many of them work minimum wage jobs with no healthcare. They all end up using the emergency room as thier only source of medical treatment. We are all paying for that.

[Buddy McCue]

"Needle-nose vice grips?"

Ow!

[hhayden]

I have great insurence and I do have sympathy. That's why I don't want to see good people get screwed by the Obama administration selling a product they can't deliver.

Not "somehow". I served my country and there are benefits for doing that. Must anyone can do the same. I recommend it actually.

[hhayden]

Dude?

I'm a horse ridin' pis'tol packing Texan. (This may not come as a complete surprise to you)

[Tuckerndfw]

Congress is not proposing free health care for anyone.

Congress is proposing that everyone must buy insurance.

HR 3200 will be of very limited or no benefit to you based on your comment.

[GrandmaBEE]

Well definately not in the Baucus Bill. Alot of us are still holding out hope that there will be help for those who can't afford insurance. A public option with maybe a sliding fee for basic health insurance.

[wdw505]

i agree that we are but we should not be.......a hospital ER should be able to turn away non life threatening uninsured individuals

[GrandmaBEE]

Wow, and I thought the Grinch was fictional.

[Wghedrick3]

Where on earth do you guys get your facts......In my state and the surronding ones there are a lot of health insurers. I know because I had to study all their plans to see which one I wanted to have. What does that cause..competition which lowers prices. None of these restricted my care unless I wanted something elective like a facelift or something. None can deny me care or cancel me if I get sick in the future. Not only is that policy but the law. Insurance is regulated solely by the states, but an insurance company can provide policies in any state it wants, provided it follows that states laws. a lot of companies compete in more than one state. Some actually provide in every state. If you believe medicare is run so great, you are again not paying attention. There is more fraud and mismanagement in medicare then any corporation I have ever seen. Billons of dollars a year are lost or wasted. If thier administration cost are so low, thats not something to brag about. Maybe they need to hire some more people to run this big mess. It makes Enron look like a lemon aid stand that went bad.

[Tuckerndfw]

Obama supporters: "The public option insurance will be cheaper than private insurance."

Inquirer: "How much does it cost?"

OS: "I don't know."

Inquirer: "How will HR 3200 lead to universal heath care?"

OS: "I don't know."

Inquirer: "How wil HR 3200 lead to single payer?"

OS: "I don't know."'

Inquirer: "Since you know nothing about HR 3200, why do you support it?"

OS: Because Barack Obama told me I should. And, Republicans (appear to) oppose it, so that's good enough for me."

Conclusion: Obamabots = Bushbots.

That's VERY reassuring. (NOT)

[Tyler-Durden]

ok, i have some questions for you.

how much does private insurance cost?

what is the point of paying insurance premiums if ins. co's can deny you for whatever they see fit to slip out of their obligation?

how long before only the elite can afford private health care?

why do you want the status quo to continue?

please answer them, i would like to know what you think. i'm not going to make up snarky fake answers because i'm trying to discuss this rationally.

[hhayden]

My insurence coast me $20 for a doctors visit and $7 for any prescription. If I needed something more than that there is no charge. (You know surgery and tests etc,) I pay no premiums. But then, I thought ahead. That's what self determinitation can do for you.

I am not for status quo. That's another Obamamantra you have adopted. I am for improving the private sector starting with TORT reform. Omama's way is not the only way no matter what he says.

[Tuckerndfw]

HR 3200, as written, requires everyone to buy insurance.That is effectively all it does in regards to individuals.

The costs & benefits have yet to be determined so the only thing we know at this point is that everyone will be required to buy insurance.

It reforms nothing.

I much prefer HR 676 if we are serious about reforming our health care delivery system.

In no case do I support HR 3200 unless it morphs into HR 676.

I see no value in turning our entire health care delivery system over to insurance companies.

But, since Obama's supporters appear to accept his claims at face value, they (you) do not seem to understand that is all HR 3200 accomplishes.

I'm not going to support HR 3200 regardless how many "experts" (corporate shills & lackeys) claim it is better than our current system. If our system is so bad and is only going to get worse, let's wait for a better time and enact HR 676.

[wdw505]

the only way any bill of value will pass is if they do line item by line item on the things most can agree on.

address the following one by one

Insurance companies may not use preexisting conditions when pricing

Insurance companies may not drop you if you get sick as long as the premium is paid

No insurance caps

A company or individual may purchase from any insurance company in any state from any state.

[veteransquared]

Nobody accepts anything, we just happen to agree with what the POTUS is trying to do. You quote HR3200, like it's been approved. They are just proposals, and the POTUS job is to lead, not do everything himself. He never came out and endorsed that measure, he just expressed to congress and the senate, that it's time for reform and what he wants the reform to look like. It's the failure of congress and the senate, to do their job. They are responsible for putting together policy, they all need to be fired for failure to serve the American people. And what's not reassuring is that more Americans don't understand this.

[Bronxdude]

Something is amiss. Bush and his evil puppet master – Dick Cheney – lie to manipulate American patriotism to justify invading Iraq, and conservatives are silent. Bush inherits, then squanders a $759 billion surplus, and conservatives are silent. Bush appoints a horse trader to head FEMA, hundreds die of thirst in the aftermath of Katrina, and conservatives are mute. Bush guts the Geneva Conventions, authorizes torture, and conservatives are silent. Bush condones risky subprime mortgage derivatives, America dances on the precipice of economic annihilation, and conservatives are silent. Bush razes the Fourth Amendment, authorizes warrantless eavesdropping, and conservatives are silent. Bush signs $1.2 trillion Prescription Drug Bill, a federally subsidized give-away which balloons the deficit, and conservatives are silent. Bush diverts $1 trillion from the counter-terrorism struggle in Afghanistan, making America significantly less safe, and conservatives are silent. Bush signs unfunded NCLB legislation, the most intrusive federal education law in history, and conservatives are quiet. Bush delays processing of disability claims for Iraqi war veterans, and conservatives are silent. Bush deregulation exposes 2.5 million children to toxic toys from China, and conservatives are silent. Birthers delegitimize the first black president, choosing instead to ignore 8 years of Bush inflicted plunder and ruination, and conservatives are silent. Obama talks to school children about being successful, conservatives slash their wrist. Bush rambles incoherently while addressing school children in Florida, and republicans anoint him God. Racism, bigotry and hypocrisy: cherished planks in the republican platform.

[Bronxdude]

Real reform means real choice—Private versus Public. There is nothing more American than real, competition-based choice, something republicans despise because the continued monopolization of the health industry ensures their uninhibited access to wealth, which translates into limitless political power. Universal healthcare works well in Great Britain, but is opposed by republicans because the Brits have succeeded in removing the constant quest for greed-driven profit from the equation. By using alarmist rhetoric, republicans are attempting to intimidate Americans into remaining loyal to an unsustainable and broken system that is exploitive, abusive, predatory, corrupt and immoral. Contrary to what republicans would want you to believe, socialize medicine works exceptionally well in America, as evidenced by Medicare, military medicine and the Veterans Administration. Over 44 million Americans receive their healthcare through Medicare, and the number of Medicare beneficiaries receiving prescription drug coverage is expected to top 28 million this year. Combined, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs provide health care services to more than 17 million beneficiaries. Unlike predatory private insurers, beneficiaries in these systems receive benchmark pricing and have patient protection rights because the incentives have been changed from profit to ensuring quality-based, cost-effective healthcare. Republicans demonize Medicare because the incentive for profit has been removed, which means they can’t exploit government-run healthcare for monetary gain. Even though as a B film actor Reagan was paid to villainize socialized medicine, 40 years later, Medicare is a glowing success.

[Tyler-Durden]

another great comment. hey man, we could use another rational thinker like you at planetpov.com

stop by and see if you'd like to contribute one way or another. i welcome any comments you may offer on any of the articles i've written.

[hhayden]

More self promotion?

[Bronxdude]

President Obama truly cares about the prosperity and well-being of every American—regardless of class or race—and is offering this country healthcare stability and security. Afraid of the impact Obama might have on unifying America, republicans are villainizing, dehumanizing and delegitimizing him to advance their exclusionist, racist and elitist agenda. Since Obama is not part of the entrenched Washington establishment or the elite upper crust, he feels no pressure to return favors that would unnecessarily sacrifice precious political capital he’ll need in the future to strong-arm self-serving politicians. Republicans are singularly fixated on maintaining the status quo to ensure their continued generational access to wealth, influence and power. Similar to segregated country clubs, republicans are concerned primarily with separating and distancing themselves from members of the working-class. After all, the purpose of the working-class is to serve the wealthy by cooking their meals, rearing their children, cleaning their homes and doing whatever tasks deemed essential to ensuring their existence is awash in luxury, simplicity and overindulgence. Working-class conservatives have been duped into believing that their concerns are championed by republicans, a political party heavily comprised of aristocrats. In reality, the GOP is only concerned with advancing their own self-serving interests, which is why they exploit the working-class, oppose worker rights and want to keep America angrily divided by class and race. Universal health insurance would elevate the standard of living for working-class Americans, something republicans vehemently oppose.

[Tyler-Durden]

TELL IT LIKE IT IS, BROTHER! AMEN!

[rtlr1004]

AMEN and AMEN!

[Bronxdude]

Structural change invariably generates anxiety and fear, which was the case in 1964 when President Johnson pushed the Civil Rights Act through Congress. Dixiecrats and Southerners were comfortable with the brutal status quo and wrongly believed that granting Black Americans equal protection under the Constitution would somehow destabilize America, both economically and politically. With regard to health insurance reform, the same type of baseless fear is rearing its ugly head in 2009. For republicans, fear mongering proliferated through vicious lies is the preferred weapon of choice, and the disgusting success of their disinformation campaign is quite apparent in North Carolina, where 12 percent of registered republicans believe that Hawaii is a foreign country, 46 percent believe President Obama is an undocumented alien and 76 percent believe that Medicare is not socialized healthcare. It’s no surprise that the epicenter of opposition against insurance reform originates in the hinterlands of sparsely populated, undeveloped, uneducated, culturally remote and unsophisticated Southern states. Georgia and Alabama rank at the bottom on every public health indicator monitored by CDC and DHHS, yet Southern republicans do not support healthcare reform. Life expectancy in Alabama is equal to that of many third-world countries. Not surprisingly, however, republicans from Alabama and Georgia rank at the top when it comes to soliciting payoffs from insurance parasites like UnitedHealthcare. Seniors: If you don’t like government run healthcare, turn in your Medicare cards!

[Tyler-Durden]

i notice not one reply from the trolls to you on any of your posts. they just skip right by all the logic and rationality. amazing.

[SWZRindependent]

They just see so many letters and stuff and their eyes glaze over until they see a short little blurb that they can read in about 5 or ten minutes and make a nice little snarky reply to.

Bronxdude is just too heavy for them to handle.

[Bronxdude]

Forget bipartisanship; true reform will provide affordable options that include a public offering. Chuck Grassley is an idiot, charlatan and health industry prostitute. For his efforts to embarrass the President and sabotage reform, Grassley has received millions in blood money from insurance corporations like UnitedHealthcare, and should be censured by Congress for his treasonous lies. Real reform will end the monopolistic strangle-hold enjoyed by ruthless insurers like UnitedHealthcare. In Georgia, UnitedHealthcare executives colluded with sleazy republican politicians like Johnny Isakson to eliminate competition, with the end result being higher premiums, reduced benefits, and greater profit. With no real competition, UnitedHealthCare is free to rape consumers. When compared to the second quarter of 2008, profits for UnitedHealthcare increased by a whopping 155%, yet premiums continue to climb 4 times faster than wages. UnitedHealthcare is leading the charge to defeat healthcare reform. Regarding healthcare, America spends 17% of GNP, while France, Canada and Britain, respectively, spend 10% of GNP and everyone is insured (With regard to providing its citizens with universal healthcare, WHO ranks America 37th, Canada 13th, France 1st and Britain 18th). Republicans want watered-down reform so when it fails to achieve meaningful change, they can point to democrats and say, “see, government is the problem”; thus, to ensure success, I want access to the same options enjoyed by Congress and 8.5 million federal employees. The public option will control costs, expand coverage and end the single profiteer insurance system killing Americans.

[Bronxdude]

Since sell-out republicans sanction the looting of the middleclass by the same ruthless health insurers they fought to deregulate during the Reagan years, we need the government between the public and degenerate insurance profiteers. Republicans are spreading malicious lies that the democrats’ reform plan will lead to rationing and the government determining which medical procedures a patient can have. Really? Millions of Americans already face rationing, as parasitic insurance companies like UnitedHealthcare arbitrarily rule on what they will cover. To solidify their monopolistic stranglehold in Georgia, UnitedHealthcare executives colluded with elected republican bureaucrats to artificially control marketplace competition, with the goal being to increase the profit margin for UnitedHealthcare. To further reduce utilization costs, and gin up profits, state employees in Georgia have no due process appeal rights, a negotiated constraint that gives UnitedHealthcare carte blanche to deny medical care or coverage at will with no consequences. Limiting choice drives up cost, increasing the profit margin for UnitedHealthcare, which translates into republican whores receiving bigger payoffs. Real reform will end the monopolistic strangle-hold enjoyed by soul-less insurers like UnitedHealthcare. Hospitals, entrepreneurs masquerading as doctors and insurance parasites get paid regardless of the outcome: if you live, they get paid; if you die, they get paid; if you’re maimed, they get paid. Only lawyers, politicians and prostitutes enjoy a sweeter financial arrangement. The republican legislated status quo is not working for middleclass America. Competition with government works: just ask FedEx and UPS.

[Bronxdude]

Predatory insurance corporations – the real death panels – are spending more than $1.6 million per day to buy republican votes, gin up fear and defeat reform. When it comes to receiving payoffs from the insurance industry, of 535 Congressmen, Grassley and Conrad rank 29th and 35th, respectively; therefore, how can I trust them to represent my best interest when it comes to negotiating healthcare reform? Making money off human pain is a republican principle. Real competition is the de facto monopoly buster. 100,000 people die each year due insurers denying coverage. This is criminal and immoral. Georgia state employees have no due process patient protection rights, a negotiated constraint that gives UnitedHealthcare carte blanche to chose who lives and who dies. If competition is the lynchpin of free-market capitalism, why is UnitedHealthcare afraid to compete on a level playing field? Limiting choice drives up cost, benefiting the insurer, which is why slime-dog republicans defend the middleclass being systematically bilked by corporations like UnitedHealthcare. Through mendacious scare tactics, lying republicans curry favor and fear monger by preaching that reform will lead to rationed healthcare and place restrictions on doctor choice. Contrary to specious talking points propagated by solution-less republicans, as it stands right now, without true marketplace competition, insurers not only dictate the cost of medical care, but they also get to choose who receives care. Despicable republican profiteers will not retreat quietly from millions in payoffs. Public option now!