Sam Stein On The Ed Show: The Public Option Is Now 'Almost Unrecognizable'

HuffPost political reporter Sam Stein joined an "Ed Show" panel alongside conservative radio show host Michael Medved to discuss the Democrats' watering down of the public option.

Stein addressed a new term being thrown around called the "hammer," which would have the public option kick in for states where insurance companies fail to meet standards of availability and affordability of plans. The "hammer" is meant to make the public option more palatable to moderates, a move that Stein argues would compromise the quality of reform:

"Yes, the Republicans are proving to be very well-established obstructionists on this one, but the problem again is with those four, moderate Democratic senators, and it's a bigger problem than just the specifics. It feels like you have to draw them over the line to actually get this bill done, as if passing health care reform would be a terrible thing for the country. We're watering down the public option to the point where it's almost unrecognizable, and we're getting to the point where even if it were to pass, the quality of reform that it would bring to the system is questionable at best. I know that the idea is to get 60 votes, but at some they gotta draw a line in the sand over principle, and I'm waiting to see where that is. "

WATCH Stein on the "Ed Show":

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Comments

[mgloraine]

09:22 AM on 12/03/2009

"...they gotta draw a line in the sand over principle..."

Sorry, Sam, you seem to have mistaken our Democratic Senators for people who give a damn about the American people. That is clearly not the case. They only draw lines in the sand to protect the profits of their corporate donors.

[den1953]

09:11 AM on 12/03/2009

If this bill fails at least blame it on the Republicans and vote the fake Democratic Senators out in 2010 then work on a new bill!

[cripes]

08:43 AM on 12/03/2009

Of course! Dem's also have hands out to lobbyists. If they really cared we would be going by way of single payer.Lower cost and a much less complicated..

[dayala]

08:36 AM on 12/03/2009

I'll always remember John Edwards during the campaign stating you cannot make deals with the special interest and lobbyists they are not going to "willingly" give up power and control, the power needs to be taken away them, once Obama started making back room deals with Pharma and Insurance lobbyists HCR was dead on arrival.

the special interests controlled the narrative and debate from day one through the repugs, town halls and teabaggers, gotta hand them credit they successfully killed it and we now have this piece of garbage masquerading as HCR....I blame Obama for not leading the effort and delegating it to Rahm Emmanuel.

I hope the bill fails I want LIEberman, Nelson,Blanche, Landrieu, Bayh and the rest of the bought and sold traitors to go down in 2010, make the 2010 a referendum on HCR and Gay Rights.

I'm glad to see Ed Schultz promoting the same thing I've been touting all along here on huffpo, scrap HCR until after 2010. I refuse to be mandated to buy insurance with no choice or option to not be ripped off by private insurers.

[doublels]

08:29 AM on 12/03/2009

This is so utterly dissappointing. All they had to do was ''keep it simple''. Just extend Medicare out to the public that want it. The only hope I see is that a week public option bill would be vetoed by the President, if he truly meant what he said on the campaign stump. Time will tell.

[Rod DK]

06:53 AM on 12/03/2009

Wingnuts have called me, and my country for socialist, nomatter the fact that I am liberal, or that Denmark have a conservative/liberal goverment. Somehow I don´t really matter to me any longer, becouse I HAVE SINGLEPAYER HC and I love it. The wingnuts also say that the US have the world best HC system as is, well maybe... if you are rich, but what about everyone else ?

[Soulsurfer]

09:00 AM on 12/03/2009

You don't understand.......being rich is all that matters here. The rest can just watch "Idol" and eat pizza.

[minerva117]

09:50 AM on 12/03/2009

You nailed it, Soulsurfer. Bread and circuses.

[breakingpoint]

05:25 AM on 12/03/2009

Q: What would it take to get single payer enacted?

A: “I happen to be a proponent of a single payer universal health care program.” (applause) “I see no reason why the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, spending 14 percent of its Gross National Product on health care cannot provide basic health insurance to everybody. And that”s what Jim is talking about when he says everybody in, nobody out. A single payer health care plan, a universal health care plan. And that”s what I”d like to see. But as all of you know, we may not get there immediately. Because first we have to take back the White House, we have to take back the Senate, and we have to take back the House.” - Barack Obama

http://jischinger.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/the-health-care-cartel

[Trittydi]

03:38 AM on 12/03/2009

Bernie Sanders is right. The bill should be voted down. It's junk.
*

[Trittydi]

03:36 AM on 12/03/2009

Yes - he's right - the bill is absolute garbage - it's junk - worthless.

Count me in the 40% that said they won't vote next year. I'm completely disgusted.

Change was a nice illusion while it lasted.
*

[enigmamj]

05:50 AM on 12/03/2009

looks like the republicans will make big gains if that many stay home. Not that there is much difference these days between many dems and repubs

[Wm Hunn]

02:44 AM on 12/03/2009

“The only kinds of fights worth fighting are those you are going to lose, because somebody has to fight them and lose and lose and lose until someday, somebody who believes as you do wins. In order for somebody to win an important, major fight 100 years hence, a lot of other people have got to be willing - for the sheer fun and joy of it - to go right ahead and fight, knowing you're going to lose. You mustn't feel like a martyr. You've got to enjoy it.”

Isador F. Stone

[TheBaffler]

02:46 AM on 12/03/2009

We have a glaring Izzy shortage these days.

[logical77]

12:32 AM on 12/03/2009

Just how much are they politicians being paid off? Is someone blackmailing them or something? What's really going on here? Only a fool would believe their argument at face value. We need a TMZ or National Enquirer specifically for congress. Investigate their finances! Why are they all millionaires?

And people, it's not the government you should be worried about. It's the companies! Who do you think is paying off the corrupt politicians!!!

[ErnestineBass]

12:42 AM on 12/03/2009

Go to opensecrets.org. They've got all the dirt on these porkers.

[TheBaffler]

02:47 AM on 12/03/2009

EB! Where have you been? A nice long vacation?

[Nelson Montana]

12:24 AM on 12/03/2009

This is about as surprised as finding out Sean Hannity votes Republican.

There is no healthcare reform bill. Never was.

[Trittydi]

03:37 AM on 12/03/2009

Agreed. it was always a big fat sloppy wet kiss for the Insurance Industry.
*

[greygrey]

12:21 AM on 12/03/2009

Suggestion, since the new public office is called the "Hammer", we should send plastic hammers to the congress. Come on bloogers, can we get up out of our chair for a minute and purchase a plastic hammer.?

[ErnestineBass]

12:38 AM on 12/03/2009

Not unless it's Made In America.

I refuse to buy any more crap produced overseas.

Period.

[sawbuck]

01:03 AM on 12/03/2009

good luck. you'll have to do without a lot of stuff. like clothes, electronics and tools.

[thestargazer]

01:27 AM on 12/03/2009

A waste of money...It would be meaningless to these worthless, out-of-touch senators of ours.

[greygrey]

12:14 AM on 12/03/2009

Okay, are we ready to fight for a true healhcare bill? Are you bloggers ready to march for what is our right? If you''re not going to march, are you ready to get these spineless creeps out of office? I am willing to do both. We have to vote in 2010. We have to organize without the dems telling us who to vote for. They are useless to us. Now, we hve to make sure real healthcare reform pass. How do we do that? First, we can't allow the Rethugs to get back in. Second, the conservadems got to go. Third, we have to demand primaries. Who should be primaried? Blanche Lincoln in 2010. She is a loser. I don';t know when Carper is going up in Deleware. Joe Liberman will be gone in 2012. Bill Nelson ahs to go. IAre you ready to fight? I am!

[WorkhelpWorkhelp]

12:16 AM on 12/03/2009

How to get organized.......
at least "Billionaires for Wealthcare" is a start......

Seen them?

[sposton]

12:05 AM on 12/03/2009

When designing a system one has to have a clear aim in mind. The aim of this legislation is the further transfer of wealth from many to few under a pretense of helping the uninsured. This does not deserve to be called a reform. Perhaps it is better than nothing but the country needs and deserves better.