Fox News's Shepard Smith Goes After Sen. John Barrasso On Public Option

Earlier this afternoon, Fox News's Shepard Smith demonstrated some of that trademarked independent thinking that so often gets him in dutch with the cable network's most dedicated viewers, when he took on Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and offered up some serious-minded and well-informed pushback on the public option. His initial response, for my money, is rich with substance and exceedingly well-expressed:

SMITH: Over the last ten years health care costs in America have skyrocketed. Regular folks cannot afford it. So, they tax the system by not getting preventative medicine. They go to the emergency room in the last case and we all wind up paying for it. As the costs have gone up, the insurance industry's profits, on average, have gone up more than 350%. And it is the insurance companies which have paid, and who have contributed to Senators and Congressmen on both sides of the aisle to the point where now we cannot get what all concerned on Capitol Hill seem to believe and more 60% of Americans say they would support, which is a public option. This has been an enormous win for the health-care industry, that is an unquestioned fact. But I wonder, what happens to the American people when we come out with legislation now which requires everyone to have health care insurance -- or many more people -- but does not give a public option? Therefore millions more people will have to buy insurance from the very corporations that are overcharging us, and whose profits have gone up 350 percent in the last ten years. It seems like we the people are the ones getting the shaft here.

Barrasso's response to this is to limply offer up the criticism that "we have not allowed the American people to read the bill," which to my knowledge, does not contain a section entitled, "Oh By The Way, We Are All In Bed With Lobbyists, Like Whores." Smith continues to press the point: "But with every vote against the public option is a vote for the insurance companies, sir, it is."

As much as I appreciate Smith for some informed support of the public option, it's a far rarer thing to see someone in the media, anywhere, who's willing to pin the blame for the degradation of the health care reform package on the toxic relationship between legislators and lobbyists. The only thing that would improve on this exchange would be for Shepard Smith to levy the same charges at Max Baucus or Kent Conrad, who, unlike John Barrasso, are actually relevant to the debate. But, hey, you go to war against the idiots that show up, I guess!

WATCH:

Immediately following the Barrasso segment, it should be noted, Smith interviewed Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh and challenged her on the same health care issue:

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Comments

[alwqb]

I have never heard so much bs in my life. First of all allowing insurance to cross state lines will just produce a monopoly and then the insurance industry will be one big behemoth and we will all be screwed.

[Colin Dixon]

Here in the UK we have universal health care free at delivery , its not perfect but you get seen & mostly fixed up . We also have a thriving private health care sector for those who want buy it . it is not neccessarily betteer than the NHS just different hospitals & usually the same doctors earning a bit extra. The main thing is nobody dies because they cannot afford treatment .
I know we see things different here in Europe but i really cannot see why your politicans argue while potential voters die or bankrupt themselves when they get sick !

Can anyone explain ?

[juancapez]

honestly? a lot of these conservatives don't believe health care is a right and they don't want to pay taxes for someone else's well-being. the engine driving the GOP: self-interest.

[acoz1]

I think Shep Smith has demonstrated more and more that he is a legitimate and noble reporter for Fox News.

Major Garrett is not the only one who is noteworthy http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/10/08/what-even-the-white-house-likes-about-fox-news/x-news/

The White House should acknowledge Shep Smith if they are going to single people out.

[Raster]

I can't believe the Dims are going to pass health legislation (it's certainly not reform) that will contain a personal mandate for most men, women, and their children in the United States to purchase health insurance or be subject to significant Income Tax penalties. The subsequent Reversal of Fortune for the Dims will be historic.

[Iccarus]

Your posts would carry more weight if you stopped using the term dims. I makes you look dim.

[pammiethekid]

Yet everyone must have auto insurance in order to drive, which, if you had more than two brain cells to snap together, you would understand.
But since you don't, here's the deal, Sparky; you are not insured, you fall off your motorcyle and go brain dead because you don't wear a helmet, the aging mother you still live with drives you to the hospital Er, they keep you alive by putting you in a coma for nine weeks. The rates of the insured go up to cover your bill, and you wake up with no less intelligence than you had going into the accident. However much you might want to believe otherwise, most Americans don't actually desire that level of "freedom" from responsibility.

[sailboy]

We have all hear the analogy equating the requirement of auto insurance to the requirement of health insurance. Unfortunately, this analogy just doesn’t hold up. First, auto insurance is just one of the costs associated with the privilege of owning a car. If you elect not to own a car, there are public options by which you have to choose. You could choose a public funded bus at a reduced rate, or, provide you could afford it, you could opt for a more expensive means of travel such as a taxi. Either way, not all Americans elect to own a car. but when it comes to their health, Americans have little choice.
For the Federal Government to mandate very American acquire health insurance without a federally funded public option is extortion. It is the biggest windfall for the Insurance industry ever. As a democrat, I would never support another democrat who voted for such a bill. I can understand the need for every American to have health insurance, but for the Federal Government to mandate that I put my money into the pockets of a private business is just UN-AMERCIAN. We need a public option period so I can elect to put my money in a not for profit insurance plan and not in the pockets of the CEOs of the insurance industry.

[Eriq]

Yet another crazy right-winger from Wyoming. Whoa!!!

[ubatuba]

Shep is not so bad. He continues to impress me. Nice to see someone with a brain at Fox.

[MSaxe]

Shep has been a solid journalist all along. He rarely lets his view from the centrist right show. He's the only one on Faux that doesn't grind an axe.

[bighat]

I wonder why the dems keep voting against posting their bills on the internet 72 hours before voting on the bill.

Even Shep gives a fair and balanced opinion on Fox News

What are the democrats scratch that what are the members of congress trying to hide from us. Are they afraid of the earmarks attached to the bills, how about many of us figuring out the loopholes given to corporations, or support for organizations we may not agree with. ACORN is in the news but I bet there are 1000 more organizations as well as foreign countries all asking for aid.

Anyone see Saudi Arabia' request for aid in case the climate treaties cause the world to use less oil and their economy would be hurt.?

[MSaxe]

The proposed 72 Hour rule is not just for final passage. It is for virtually every change that comes to the floor. As such, it is designed as a stalling procedure by the current minority party.

The Republicans jammed their war bills through while they had the majority and now it just sour grapes when the shoe is on the other foot.

[thinklib]

Some people can rationalize anything.

[sting7]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPfHVWU_uSM&feature=related

[Sobeton]

Bravo!! Shep is the best thing Faux Noise has going for him.

[bellabeach]

Thank you Shep for being the only one on Faux news to actually be fair!!

[Kelly Laraia]

The cable shows are all about right vs left but Shep Smith doesn't fall into that trap. He's not a partisan hack for either side. CNN should grab him and give him a prime time slot. He deserves it.

[lescargot]

OK Shep. It's not apples to apples. It's life and death to ice cream. No one will die if they don't get ice cream. The delivery of health care to our population and providing ice cream to that same population are just not the same. The government would not any moral responsibility to supplement America's desire for ice cream, therefore no intervention would be required.

Jesus!

[lokipuck]

Goes after?

[jbkelly]

Republican 7:07 minutes
Democratic strategist 4:10 minutes