Q&A Bill Frist: Healthcare, The GOP and Birthers
What are the biggest mistakes both parties have made on healthcare?
The Democrats: President Obama and Harry Reid early on sent a signal that they might use a process called reconciliation, a process which would limit debate to twenty hours total and would lower the threshold for passage of a bill in the Senate. That process results in the possibility of a partisan bill. The signal was sent that what Republicans say isn't going to matter in the long run. It therefore sends a signal: don't participate. There's no reason to participate in the debate.
Additionally, President Obama over-learned the lessons of 1993. President Obama had outlined a fairly centrist position in terms of increasing access, including the uninsured, in insurance markets and addressing cost. But, the details of the bills being left to the Senate and the House, which lean to the left of where the American people are, mean you are going to have a bill that probably isn't going to be in sync with the American people. In the end, that's exactly what's happened.
The Republicans: Their biggest mistake was not putting together a comprehensive bill three months ago that highlighted the dominant Republican issues of things like consumer empowerment using markets to control costs, bending the cost curve, tort reform and being able to purchase insurance across state lines.
What do you make of Sarah Palin's claims that there are death panels in the bill?
I dont buy it. I've read the legislation. It's three sentences in there. It says basically compensate doctors for the time that they spend talking about end of life issues to patients and to individuals.
Is there room for moderates in the GOP?
In the Republican Party that I see, there is. And I would encourage the Republican Party and the leaders of the Republican Party today to keep their arms open. I do not think there should be any single litmus test on issues, either fiscal issues or social issues. I think the overall philosophy of the Republican Party focusing on individual dignity and responsibility and less government intervention is the overriding principle.
Is the birther movement bad for the Republican Party?
I don't think its a reflection of the Republican Party. I think that people trying to connect the two are exaggerating and trying to make a point.
Do you think President Obama was born in this country?
Absolutely. I have no question about Obama's citizenship.
Bill Frist is the former Republican Senate Majority Leader. He is the author of the new book: A Heart to Serve: The Passion to Bring Health, Hope, and Healing.
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Bill Frist was a RINO Senator , he was my senator. Who cares what he thinks.
Federal Government Health care is not a right and is not constitutional, the Republican Congress in 2003 that decided to subsidize private health insurers under Medicaid Advantage, which costs taxpayers an average of 13 percent more per beneficiary than the government-run program. The same Republican Congress passed the prescription drug benefit add-on to Medicare that President George W. Bush so enthusiastically championed, creating the largest expansion of the welfare state since LBJ’s “Great Society.”
Yet the Republicans passed the biggest Prescription bill ever back a few years ago.
The only reason former Sen Dr. Bill Frist is re-appearing these days is to plug his book (undoubtedly ghost written)
I know his health care politics and HE IS NOT TO BE TRUSTED
He was part of the Republican cabal that came VERY close to bringing our nation down
Dr. Rick Lippin
Southampton,Pa
http://med
"The signal was sent that what Republicans say isn't going to matter in the long run"
Exactly, because what the Republicans are proposing is to maintain the status quo. By definition, a reform bill cannot aim to keep everything the same. This is grade-school stuff, yet it baffles the right-wingers. Democrats aren't obligated to pay any mind to bad GOP ideas, especially ones that have already had ruinous effects on our nation.
Frist is so Republican. First thing out of his mouth is lamenting about no Republican comprehensive healthcare reform. What you never hear, is these jerks offering even one item they would include. Just total silence, and distancing themselves from participating. Frist is truly a member of the Party of Corporate Welfare.
Trust Bill Frist? I'm not sure about him but you sure can't trust government bureaucrats any more. It would be silly and futile to try to fix problems found in government administration today. The only way to get fair and balanced distribution of healthcare and all other needed social services is to get government completely out of the picture. If CIGNA, BLUECROSS, or UNITED run short of employees as a result, I'm sure they can still find some laid off ENRON, AIG and other equally capable people to help out. And while we're at it, we clearly need to rid our country of these socialist leaning banking and securities regulators. They just get in the way of our honest MBAs trying to move our country forward, not to mention stifling their support of foreign banking systems. And, oh, I almost forgot. If we aren't diligent, I'm sure these closet commies in our local municipalities across the country who have the nerve to use TAX dollars to pay the salaries of policemen and firemen will eventually try to cancel any contracts they have with private contractors and replace them with civil servants, who are really just "comrades," right?
Our motto must be, "Keep our eyes on the prize, Privatize!"
I may be too old, since I remember, as a doctor's daughter, when Blue Cross/Blue Shield was a NON-profit organization and Public Health wasn't considered Communism and offered school immunization clinics, TB clinics, newborn classes, VD clinics with birth control, migrant workers' clinics, assistance to school nurses (which used to be in every public school), and numerous other programs for society (not socialism, since doctors volunteered for these programs of the Health Dept.).
But Ginny, that quaint time was then. Now is now. You forget, we won the Cold War and we must be vigilant. If we aren't careful, our wonderful private sector healthcare insurance INDUSTRY might be abandoned, leading us toward the ruin of having to live like people in Northwestern Europe!
Privatize? You mean, like the private banks, insurance companies, pharmaceuticals, coal companies? You mean like Blackwater, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Enron?
The United States has been known and loved for its government run/taxpayer supported endeavors - before the privatizers got their paws into the systems - organizations and projects for and by the public, for the public good: highways, public schools (back when they were truly supported), higher education (back when it was truly supported), public libraries, the kind of public health projects cited excellently by Ginny in her post, Medicare (before privatizers began their erosion of it), Social Security (before it was repeatedly "robbed" by the corporatists in Congress), etc.
That kind of privatization, you mean? No, thanks. America actually needs to AGAIN embrace the concept and the fact of doing good for the public by pooling public funds and using them to that end. Privatizers want all the money for doing none of the good, except for them and theirs. No, thanks. I saw a great bumper sticker that read something like this: none of does well unless all of us do well. Public support for the good of all. And by the way, SINGLE PAYER, UNIVERSAL, NATIONAL, MEDICARE FOR ALL!! The only REAL reform!
Privatize? Of course! Healthcare is only 18% of our economy. Many families can afford the premiums of a "Blackwater Security Package," providing dusk to dawn personal and property protection. Some might even be able to afford a 24/7 package. There would surely be more than enough subscribers to keep Blackwater at the forefront of personal safety in America. And for those who want total service, and the peace of mind that brings, Halliburton, through KBR, is ready and willing to partner with Blackwater to provide a package including everything from meal preparation to child care. And to keep the costs of these comprehensive services within the means of most of the families in our lovely gated communities around the country, I'm sure these civic minded corporations can convince [what is left of] our government that special arrangements should be made at the INS to allow Filipino, Mexican, and other less fortunate people around the world to come and Serve America. Halliburton's business model works well in war zones, why not right here at home? They could set their rates based on estimates of average salaries of $100,000 per year, but find millions willing to work for $5,000. What a business! Unfortunately, except for on-duty, armed Blackwater guards and those who own estates in the communities served, all others working for this awe-inspiring enterprise would be required to leave at dusk and return to their own unprotected neighborhoods.
Keep your eyes on the prize -- Privatize!
Senate and House lean left of the American people? give me a break.
Bill Frist brags about passing the Medicare Part D on a bi-partisan basis which wasn't paid for but in the same breath complains about the cost of this healthcare legislation. If he doesn't truly believe that the birthers are part of the GOP, then he should tell Marsha Blackburn who is a Repub from TN and a birther.
Talk about tone deaf! "Not in synch with the American people?" Maybe not your teabagging winguts, son.
He and HCA Healthcare are not in sync with the American people nor the citizens of Nashville where HCA is headquartered.
"like consumer empowerment using markets to control costs,"
Yeah, Bill, we know how well that has worked for us. Any more clever ideas (that don't make the rich richer)?
Gotta wonder how he would have answered that question about Obama's birth if he were still in office....
You can trust Bill Frist. After all, as George Bush said, "his wife is a west Texas girl, just like me."
Google Bill Frist and HCA and see how much you should trust Bill Frist.
But your post was funny, even though I resist any attempt to make me laugh at anything George W. Bush said because I think his little Texas cowboy facade was full of guile and deceipt and led people to confuse him with some ole mythological American cowboy they thought they knew and could trust. But pardner, it weren't Bush and his pal Cheney.
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