Lieberman: "Nothing" Better Than Public Option (VIDEO)

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) made his position on health care reform even more clear Sunday morning, saying he would rather have "nothing" than a bill with a public option.

"I want to have health care reform, I want to be able to say yes," Lieberman opined on CBS' "Face the Nation." But asked by host Bob Schieffer whether his position could mean ending up with nothing, Lieberman said that was fine. He pointed the finger at Democrats for making the public option part of their bill when there was "broad bipartisan support" for a bill without one.

"But is what you're also saying is that nothing is better than a government health insurance, or a health insurance reform that includes a public option? Nothing is better than that?" Schieffer asked.

"Well, the truth is that nothing is better than that, because I think we ought to follow, if I may, the doctor's oath in Congress as we deal with health care reform, do no harm," Lieberman responded, chuckling.

Watch (via ThinkProgress):

Last week, Lieberman announced that he would join a Republican filibuster if a public option was included in the final health care bill.

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Comments

[larce1948]

Of all the putrid clowns in Washington Lieberman seems determined to be #1. But, he is safe until 2014. Plenty of time to suck up money and thwart any effort to aid the American people. Connecticut!
You gonna have to work to live that blunder down.

[wardropper]

Nothing better than Public Option?
Well I suggest we give Lieberman precisely that - nothing.
The man really should be unemployed.
He has nothing to offer to human beings.

[frankath]

Joe is a BIG supporter of Israel, no? Why oh why then is it OK for Israel to have government-funded health insurance and basically universal healthcare, when it would be disastrous for the US???? For us, Joe would rather have NOTHING than what Israel already has! Amazing and enlightening. In Israel, the reason that universal healthcare is so accepted is the moral tenet that EVERY HUMAN BEING IS ENTITILED TO HEALTHCARE. No one in Israel would even THINK to dispute that very basic belief. Whatever needs to be done to accomplish that is necessary, not just OK with, Israelis. Why is that not the case in the US? If we are based on Judeo-Christian ethic, and ALL the other "Chrisitian countries" and the one Jewish country feel that universal healthcare is a civil and human right, thus a Judeo-Christian requisite, then what is wrong with us in the US? What would Jesus think of our attempts at providing healthcare to all? Not much, I'd think. One of the most Christian countries in the world, ITALY, is # ONE IN HEALTHCARE. Coincidence? What would Jesus do?

[Estrella Besinga Sybinsk]

Unlike previous comments, we should give thoughtful pause to Senator Lieberman's perspective on the public option. While I have strongly supported the compelling need for health care reform in our country and share the discomfort that for a rich country, we have close to 50 million without health insurance - I am likewise uncomfortable about the anticipated financial insolvency of our medicare/medicaid government health care run program. While this scary fact is staring us in the face, I am skeptical about another government run health care public option that potentially increases our deficit and furthers the entitlement culture in our country. The current "this is mine and you can't take it" mentality runs the gamut across the entire economic spectrum. While those truly in need have legitimate arguments, the entitlement mentality reaches even to those who are privileged, are not hurting for money, and can afford to have less from the government. Why not sincerely pass effective regulation and oversight legislation affecting our insurance and pharmaceutical industries? Legislators receiving huge political contributions from their lobbyists are thus prevented from promoting insurance/­pharmaceut­ical interests at the expense of the people's interest? If lobbying from these companies are effectively regulated, then insurance and pharmaceutical companies can compete for our business, for good healthcare for Americans without the government itself running its own business and jumping in the ring. I can hear Adam Smith's echo, "where art thou government, the free, enlightened, honest broker to our democratic free enterprise?"

[powerpsi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPt0aWtOwlY&feature=sub

[Joe P]

The insurance lobbyists are spending untold millions on deceptive media campaigns to misinform the public and smear the public option. They want to continue to profit under the current system, while forcing US to continue to suffer. To keep things the way they are, they spin the media so we would fear a government run healthcare plan. But, they have a big problem. Medicare is a government run plan and if you want a fight just tell a senior you are taking it away from them! Talk to those who have Medicare and talk to doctors who work with Medicare. Medicare is a government run healthcare plan, and it works! Why can’t we have a government plan like Medicare for all citizens? After all, 55 of those in congress are on Medicare….and they love it. They have a public option, yet because of the lobbyists many of these hypocrites are against a public option for the rest of US! We can have affordable healthcare, and we must call our Senators and Representatives to demand it.

Call 1-877-323-5246 and follow the instructions. Tell them that you demand a public option and oppose any new taxes on the middle class. Then call again to demand they pass the Employee Free Choice Act.
Not motivated? Watch the PBS FRONTLINE documentary "The Warning" at http://video.pbs.org/video/1302794657/ or go see the movie “Capitalism, a love story”. Join the fight against CORPORATE GREED!

Joseph Pijanowski
IAM Local 126

[PhilipTaylor]

Possible Democratic Party C0NNECT1CUT Cha11engers to L!eberman:
There has to be S0ME0NE BETTER than this BU_FF00N!

R0B S!mmons
N@ncy D!Nardo
Jean Ho11oway
Hect0r R0b1es
Lar_ry P1easant
He1ene Sh_ay
Patr!cia Gate1y
J@mes Thr0we
Patr!cia Mar!n0s
N!cho1as Pa!nd!ris
B@rbara G0rdon
J0seph Staff0rd
Kev!n Mu_rphy
Emm@ P!erce
Car01 Censk!
Car1 Sch!ess1
M!chael L0ng
My_rna Wa_tanabe
Jud!th Ru_ss0
J0hn Ke11y
J0hn C0x
And_rea Jacks0n-Br00ks
M1chae1 D'Ag0stino
Andr!a Mat_thews
J@mes Ba11
M@rtha Car1son
Chr!stine B0urne
St_ephen Zer!0
J@mes Mc_mah0n
L!nda St_ephens0n
E1aine Cu_rran
Renat0 R!cciuti
Th0mas McD0nough
Chr!stine Shan1ey-Bu_ck
Pau1ine Samp!eri
Ger@1d We!ner
Sc0tt Ba_tes
D0rothy D0ucette
Yv_ette Ja_carus0
Wi11iam Rud!s
Anth0ny Bas!1ica
Sh@r0n Pa1mer
R!chard Bu_tur1a
Ei1een W!!son
H0n. J0hn Fabr!zi
M@ry Ma_rkham
A1bert0 Aya1a
L0retta Wi11iams
D!anne Epp!nger
H0n. James Ma10ney
Gw_en Br!ggs
Pe_ter Th0r
M@rtha Aa_sen
Te_d H0ffstatter
J@mes D!amond
M@rgg!e Laur!e
Sus@n Barrett
Wi11iam Bu_rke
Br!an Anders0n
M@e F1exer
Aud_rey B10ndin
Kev!n Cr_eed
Joe11a Mu_dry
Th0mas Raga!ni
Ke_n Cu_rran
Shar0n Sh_erman
D0rothy Mr0wka
L0n Se!dman
R0bin Hettr!ck
Ge_ne Ru0cc0
G1oria Co11ins
Wi11iam Paku1is
M@ry Mc_Namee
D@vid S!nger

[PhilipTaylor]

L1EBERMAN is one of the MOST Corrupt Politicians

He has had almost a YEAR to debate the Public Option and he said ZERO!

He is the worst EXAMPLE of a "TURN-COAT" in EXISTENCE TODAY!

He has taken over $10 Million from Wall Street and Health Care Providers!

His wife gets money from the Health Care Industry!

What CREDIBILITY DOES HE HAVE? NOT ZERO but NEGATIVE 100%!

WELL Over 60% of CT V0TERS want a PUBLIC OPTION!

He is doing this for L00T and against the VAST Majority of PEOPLE in his state and in AMERICA!

Start Singing YOUR FINAL "SWAN SONG" LY1NG L1EBERMAN!

[PhilipTaylor]

PERHAPS THIS HELPS EXPLAIN L1EBERMAN'S ANTI-AMERICAN PEOPLE STANCE!

Connecticut Leads Nation in Multiple Measures of Income Inequality

Key Facts:

1. Census data shows Connecticut leads the nation in household income inequality
2. CT has second-most unequal household income distribution
3. The greatest growth in household income inequality over the past several decades.
4. CT has 4 of TOP 5 Metro Areas for increasing income inequality

http://www.ctdatahaven.org/reports/CT_inequality_07.pdf

[PhilipTaylor]

As Senator Teddy says, "But quality care should NOT depend on your financial resources, or the type of job you have, or the medical condition you face. Every American should be able to get the same treatment that U.S. senators are entitled to (in their Government Run Plan)."

[PhilipTaylor]

40 REASONS L1EBERMAN HAD BETTER RETHINK HIS STRATEGY:

1. The Public Option reduces cost the most of all options, says CBO! $25Bn-$110Bn
2. Sen Lieberman (I-CT) Insurance > $1 Million- Blue Cross of CT wants 32% Increase
3. Health Related Industries = Campaign FUNDS UP by 35% over 2004!
4. Camera hog L!eberman was quiet until recently says Jane Hamsher of firedoglake
5. Healthcare Providers >$1 Million
6. Big Pharma > $600,000
7. Wife works in Industry
8. US ranks 37th, on PAR with CUBA and below Chile and Costa Rica
9. US pays 134% over the median other rated countries pay
10. 73% of Americans Want Strong Public Option
11. 72% of Physicians Want Strong Public Option
12. 47 million (15%) Americans = no health insurance in 2007.
13. We live shorter lives
14. We are less Healthy
15. We have a higher rate of Infant mortality
16. Medicare= 3%-4% Admin Cost while Insurers=20%-30% or 500%-1,000% Higher
17. America are geared to MAKING MONEY NOT HELPING PATIENTS STAY WELL
18. 44,800 People D1E Each year of 448,000 over ten years
19. 1 Million Medical Bankruptcies/ year or 10 Million over 10 years
20. MOST SENATORS FUNDED by Insurance+­Healthcare­+BIG Pharma Companies
21. Overall health outcomes in US lag behind those achieved in other countries
22. Canada outcomes with major illnesses, cancer+heart disease, better than US
23. Canada has less litigation costs over medical bills than US

[PhilipTaylor]

24. Drugs cheaper=C@­nada+Eur0p­e+J@pan = LARGE Group plan discounts
25. Canadian doctors+nurses better trained than US
26. US doctors must study a year to meet practice requirements in C@nada
27. Health Insurer Execs are paid 10 to 100 times what they are paid in other countries
28. Healthcare CEO PAY over 5 years - TOP 25 Companies: TOTAL $14.9 billion
29. Profitcare costs increase 6.5%/year in US, 3 to 4 X overall inflation
30. With 306 Million covered we should self-insure (Medicare) like Corporations do!
31. COST of DOING NOTHING for Uninsured is $1.3 Trillion in Emergency Room Fees
32. Only 50% of diabetic and 33% of coronary Americans receive proper care
33. Average US worker pays $1,800 more/yr over 1999
34. Insurer Profits have increased 428% over 2000 levels
35. 2008 Average Cost/Family of Four for Employer was $9,325 Employee paid $3,354
36. 2018 Average Cost/Family of Four for Employer was $18,650 Employee $6,708
37. USA spends $5 Billion/yr Pharma R&D-most to Executives-Cuba found more cancer cures: Lung and breast
38. Top Tax Rate for 50 years Pre-Reagan was 63% to 94% over gross of $500,000
39. Tax Corp. Revenue Over $1 Bn at Flat 7% without deductions­+0FF-Shore Tricks
40. Tax Corp. Gross Profits OVER $500MILL at 28% No Deduction Tricks+0ff-Shoring

[frankbaldwin]

“Nothing” is what I have in my wallet because
I just picked up my daughter’s cough medicine.
After insurance it cost me $103.00
This is syrup and codeine.
Get rid of big health insurance and big pharm.
They are 100% of the problem.
Socialize medicine. That is change I can believe in.

[RobertHenryEller]

"Nothing" would certainly be an improvement over Joe Lieberman.

Remember:

Lieberman begins with Lie.

[salkoc]

there is no other politician i would rather see in prison .....he makes me want to throw up when i look at him.

[winterthur]

Amen!

[gray375]

does he not remind anyone of chancellor palpitine?

[cheeriogirl]

McCain/Palin brought us Joe the Plumber, in actuality Sam the non-licensed plumber.

Then the Republican party rolled out Joe "the Liar" Wilson for America's viewing pleasure. Today, Wilson's been saying it's Obama's fault that there isn't enough H1N1 vaccine to treat our citizens. This AFTER he AND the Republicans voted AGAINST funding for additional vaccines back in JUNE! They also prevented President Obama's nominee for Surgeon General from being confirmed while we were and are in the midst of this pandemic!

And now Joe Lieberman. He is an embarrassment to civilized society, and the greatest argument ever for finance reform. Enough said.

So, are these men simply three average Joes, or three Republican stuntmen?

I report, you decide.

[meede]

I don't know why we don't have enough vaccine -- the GOP have laid enough eggs!!

[cheeriogirl]

They sure have meede!

[MrWest]

"We have the best congress money can buy"

[Jrflem]

I just heard audio of Lieberman supporting Universal/Public Option Health Care back on '06. Ridiculous­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!

[BambooHarvester]

There were the ones that led the other into the gas chambers . . .
~