Keith Olbermann Delivers Hour-Long "Special Comment" On Health Care (VIDEO)

***UPDATED 10/7 9:40PM*** Keith Olbermann delivered an hour-long "Special Comment" tonight on the urgent need for health care reform. Drawing on his personal experiences with the system, especially the ordeal of his father falling gravely ill and being hospitalized, Olbermann describes a decaying system that is failing to fulfill one of the most important priorities we have as a nation: taking care of our citizens.

Olbermann particularly targets the insurance companies, illustrating how their business models are more focused on making money than helping people, which leads to very perverse incentives. The insurance companies are concerned about profit, which is why they're fighting against health reform. Olbermann concludes, "The insurance companies are at war with America."

At the end of the show, Olbermann states that he is going to demonstrate his support for reform by donating money to help the establishment of free clinics in the capital cities of each of the states of the six senators who are blocking reform. He will offer further information on how other can participate.

WATCH:

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Keith Olbermann will deliver an hour-long "Special Comment" on health care Wednesday night, MSNBC announced Tuesday.

Wednesday's "Countdown" will be devoted entirely to "Health Care Reform: The Fight Against Death." According to a network release, it will focus on "the need for and meaning of health care reform in the United States" and Olbermann will "propose group action by patients, and how patients can reclaim the debate over health care reform."

Olbermann has, thus far, delivered two "Special Comments" related to health care reform: one, on August 3, slamming members of congress for being in the pocket of the health care lobby; and another on August 10, calling Sarah Palin's "death panel" claims "dangerously irresponsible."

Comments

[Girish Laikhra]

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[auntiegrav]

Two suggestions:
1. Do a special hour of nothing but examples of EOB statements. Show how much individuals have to pay when they don't have insurance, how much they pay if they have average insurance, and how much they pay to hospitals when they are a Congressman or CEO of an insurance company.

Show how bills are 'negotiated' down by insurance companies.

2. Get the democrats to look into the FairTax bill. Get rid of the IRS and the loopholes and the tax deductions and the fraud and the lies and the overconsumption which is destroying the planet all in one step: Pass the FairTax and double or triple it.

"Those who talk about overpopulation are shifting the blame from the rich to the poor." --George Monbiot

[Chicagofan1]

That was very good program. KO did very well.
So much better then playing clown for Fox.
Keep up a good work with good, substantial information.

[BambooHarvester]

Whadda MAN !
~he// of a primate !

[gialla]

I just made a donation to the National Association of Free Clinics. I put a note on my Facebook page asking that others do the same.

i have a nickname for Keith O. I call him "my boyfriend". Thanks Keith for that great special comment.

[normalintexas]

Nice going gialla! Can I call KO my boyfriend too? Let's keep spreading the word regarding freeclinics.us and donating..­.yes it is that important. I hope President Obama donates the Peace Prize $$$$ to this more than worthy cause.

[gialla]

Yes you can Normalintexas. I hope you do not feel too much like an outsider considering where you live.

[karen1p]

I want to marry you, Keith!

[Daniel Leyva]

Olbermann always do and say what is best for America. He is about one of the few real patriots in this country. The conservatives just fiddle while rome burns...

[quidam56]

Thanks Keith !

No one knows until one experiences the status quo and I hope and pray Mr. Olbermann get's better and out of a nasty hospital facility festering and breeding MRSA ( methicilin resistant staphlycoccus aureaus ) My father ( thanks to what they deem, defend and support as "the acceptable standards of health care") in Tennessee and Virginia literally rotted to death after picking up MRSA in a filthy hospital, and they call it quality care ! He went in for a three day procedure that ended up being a ten month long nightmare. He walked into their facility, his feet rotted and his legs had to be amputated. I've tried to get answers but am rebuffed and ignored, from the hospital, to local government to state government and federal government. MRSA SHOULD NOT be in our homes and schools or killing children with a flu bug. It's been a frustrating five years but I do keep asking and prodding hopefully some day I will get facts instead of excuses, sent to another board or agency or no reply at all.

http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 ( see link for more info )

The very health care system we trust, believe and depend on to keep us healthy clean up their nasty hospitals and quit infesting our communities with a potentially deadly bacteria. Seven kids from Tennessee have died from "swine flu", what they aren't telling you is what is the underlying cause of these deaths, it's MRSA.

[escribacat]

Keith is brilliant, articulate, funny and compassionate. I think I like him a little too much.

[Poorsarah]

The only two news people that I listen to are Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann; for one simple reason...t­hey tell it like it is...a.k.a­. telling the truth, being honest, diplaying integrity.

[ADUNN13]

I will start out by saying that I am a big fan of Mr. Olbermann. I am so grateful to MSNBC for letting him speak truth to power on a regular basis.
Now I think he is truly amazing. Having just lost my Mother on September 7, and going through the nightmare of our health care system (and she had gold ball AFTRA health insurance), I was literally cheering through my tears.
Keep up the good work Keith, your Mom would be proud and I am sure your Dad is proud too.
Make room on your mantle for an EMMY for this one.
Mahalo and Aloha from Kauai!!

[goodnews7]

Keith Olbermann Embarrasses Key Feet-Dragging Democrats
Frustrated by the slow progress towards passing a worthwhile health insurance reform bill, Keith Olbermann, host of MSNBC’s “Countdown” political commentary program, made a spectacular statement yesterday. Olbermann lambasted the feet dragging and obstructive politicians and singled out the health insurance cartel [his label] for extensive denigration. He then suggested a novel way of embarrassing the key Democrats who are not standing behind the President’s wish for affordable health care for [...]
http://silverbuzzcafe.com/?p=3565

[jimrs6]

The hundreds of viewers are all grateful for this program.

[NCIndependant]

Back under your bridge, your pathetic efforts embarrass only you.

[protagonia]

Are you actually this way, or merely paid by the health industry to pretend to be?

:)

[LiberalBuzz]

You mean the two and a half million viewers that night?

Figure probably twice that since that only represents households.

Your bridge is missing you being under it, please return to it.

[BlackWidowPilot]

Vile Hyposciry Incarnate, thy name remains the "Greedy Old Perverts" who so slavishly champion the status quo of healthcare in America:

http://www.armchairsubversive.org

http://www.republicanoffenders.com

"Party of conservative Christian family values" only if one means the locals in THE HILLS HAVE EYES, but that's about it.

So we're all safe in concluding that you, "jimrs6," are happy with the status-quo of circa 15-45,000 *Americans* including *children* *dying* each year due to lack of access to affordable healthcare, for no other "sin" than being "...not profitable enough."

"...not profitable enough?" That's what the nice Blue Cross/Blue Shield broker told me "...off the record..." over seven years ago as to why I would "... never get private health insurance.­.." because I'm self-employed and have degenerative arthritis.

Clearly you think that corporate profit margins trump human life, including hundreds or perhaps thousands of *American children* who die each year so insurance company CEOs can have a third vacation home in the Hamptons and a third BMW G-series in their garage.

God pity you.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

One of the 47 Million Declared "...not profitable enough!" By the For-Profit Insurance Industry

[BlackWidowPilot]

Vile Hyposciry Incarnate, thy name remains the "Greedy Old Perverts" who so slavishly champion the status quo of healthcare in America:

http://www.armchairsubversive.org

http://www.republicanoffenders.com

"Party of conservative Christian family values" only if one means the locals in THE HILLS HAVE EYES, but that's about it.

So we're all safe in concluding that you, "jimrs6," are happy with the status-quo of circa 15-45,000 *Americans* including *children* *dying* each year due to lack of access to affordable healthcare, for no other "sin" than being "...not profitable enough."

"...not profitable enough?" That's what the nice Blue Cross/Blue Shield broker told me "...off the record..." over seven years ago as to why I would "... never get private health insurance.­.." because I'm self-employed and have degenerative arthritis.

Clearly you think that corporate profit margins trump human life, including hundreds or perhaps thousands of *American children* who die each year so insurance company CEOs can have a third vacation home in the Hamptons and a third BMW G-series in their garage.

God pity you.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

One of the 47 Million Declared "...not profitable enough!" By the For-Profit Insurance Industry

P.S. The content of this post does not violate Fair Use.

[protagonia]

Seconded.

[IslandGyal]

Have you all contributed to the Free Clinics yet?

[ChelleAgain]

Yep!

[petman2001]

According to Countdown on Friday, in just two days $225,000 has been donated by 2812 people. Folks, if you haven't contributed, please do. We need more than 3000 supporting this effort, even if its just a few dollars. Not only will we be sending a strong political statement but, just as importantly, we will be helping sick folks in need. A win-win situation. Thanks.

[zenaby56]

Keith Olbermann's special comment was courageous and right on point! He gave us a call to action and I hope everyone is finding ways, even in these tough economic times, to dig into their pockets and to help support the Free Clinic health fairs in those 6 senator capital cities. It is going to take the people of this nation to hold our Senators' feet to the fire to get health care reform. Real health care reform, not something that just perpetuates the same broken system and keeps giving money to big insurance.