Roy Sekoff: Health Care Reform Summit Looks Like Political Theater (VIDEO)

President Obama's upcoming health care summit is more about political theater than the politics of health care reform, according to HuffPost Editor Roy Sekoff.

Sekoff appeared on "The Ed Show" Friday evening with guest host Lawrence O'Donnell to discuss health care reform.

Sekoff pointed out that the administration's invitation to Republican leaders for the February 25 health care summit called for the party to bring a "comprehensive" health care plan. How, Sekoff wanted to know, could the GOP be expected to produce new health care ideas in two weeks, when they could not produce them in 14 months.

WATCH:

 

Comments

[NomadicView]

07:44 AM on 02/14/2010

To measure the progress of corporate corruption in this country. It was fifty years ago tomorrow that the Senate held committee hearings on the dubious practices of price fixing of prescription drugs by Pharma, as well as attempting to tag on unnecessary charges in order to boost prices.
http://nomadicjoe.blogspot.com/2010/02/fifty-years-ago-drug-companies-under.html

[KeyInfo]

10:27 PM on 02/13/2010

If you are against Health Care Reform, Socialized Medicine and the Public Option. Fine, but please turn in your Medicare Card and cancel your Social Security Payments. These are government controlled socialist programs. If you talk the talk you got to walk the walk. And if you're working and covered by your employer when your retire you will be required to purchase your own insurance. #1) You may not qualify #2) Your premiums will increase by 75%, presently your employer pays 70% and the employee covers about 30%.

For the most part Republicans repeat what they or have heard. They don't have a brain that can form a personal idea. Of all the ones I've met they seem pretty unintelligent.

Remember, no Medicare and no Social Security if you are against health care reform, socialized medicine and a public option.

Better yet, do us all a favor and go jump off a bridge. And be sure to kill yourself because I don't want any tax payers money going to benefit any effort to revive ot repair you.

[Scentedflower]

06:37 PM on 02/13/2010

Political Theatre -a Battle for Societal Change
-Sotomayor confirmation-thoroughly enjoyed
-Health care Reform-cannot wait
-

[seedoubleyou]

04:47 PM on 02/13/2010

Political theater, kabuki theater, heck they could dance the hippo waltz for all I care: PASS HEALTH CARE.

[jade7243]

04:20 PM on 02/13/2010

I have noticed that Lawrence O'Donnell consistently mischaracterizes what happened during the Clinton era -- when he was working on Capitol hill. Perhaps O'Donnell wants to claim credit for something that simply did not happen.

But I suppose if one needs to pump up one's ego with a "victory" in a "fight" that never took place, Lawrence is your guy, and AH, Roy and HP are right there with him, urging him to embellish the fairy tale.

[papau]

04:45 PM on 02/13/2010

Some folks hate to admit the good accomplished - and the good battles fought, during Bill Clinton's 8 years - even in health care. I was an insurance exec during the 93 health reform fight - and it was only Hillary - of all the Dems - that pushed single payer back then - and we got to Bill with promises of cooperation if he dropped single payer and went with HMO's and buying improvements - co-op's. There was not even a Senate vote - and before Hillary was given the task force, Bill laid down the no single payer rule. The delay the vote plan of the GOP back then - and of Obama now - so as to get a "welfare check for Insurance companies or nothing" situation - is standard corporate lobbying - and we have now a Democratic corporate president that in terms of results is no different from a GOP corporate president.

[Howellstephen]

03:44 PM on 02/13/2010

I agree with O'Donnell, which is something I rarely do, the Democrats are playing with their constituents on this thing. They know health care is dead and they are just trying to keep the spirits of Democrats up so things won't get worse in the next election. Having said that I also believe health care failure is totally the fault of the Democrats. The simple fact is the over-reached! When Johnson got parts of his great society he had 67 Democrats and numerous Republicans willing to follow. What the Democrats should have done was pass something that would have started the ball rolling. I don't claim to know what that something might be. But some simple bill that could have served as the core to which hundreds of other bills could have been attached in the future. I am afraid the Democrats have so alienated the electorate they not get another chance for 40 years.

[papau]

04:52 PM on 02/13/2010

Health is dead as long as Obama wants to stop change via 51 vote majorities not being allowed.

The 60 vote rule ended hope/change despite the fact the GOP made major changes with 51 votes.

I was watching LBJ as to got his legislation - and it was not because there was a large number of Democrats - the Southern Democrats were never a solid vote for anything liberal or progressive. LBJ worked the phones and the lunches and dinners to get votes - something Obama will not do because he was the corporate choice over scary female liberals like Hillary (who by the - with Ted - guided childrens health care SCHIP into law via the 51 vote path of budget recon.)

[JohnSawyer]

10:43 PM on 02/13/2010

I'm not sure I'd agree that "health care failure is totally the fault of the Democrats. The simple fact is they over-reached!". I think the fact that not a single Republican voted for HCR, except Cao in the House, lays some blame on them too--let's not pretend they don't exist. As for over-reaching, it's more a matter of the Republicans under-reaching (and worse).

[McGruff]

03:40 PM on 02/13/2010

It is theater ... Barack Obama theater.

Americans have overwhelmingly "rejected" Obama's approach to healthcare reform.

The polls show it ... and so do the most recent election results ... yet Obama continues with this theater.

If he truly had any leadership qualities ... he would recognize the will of the people ... and start over.

This is bad theater ... it's embarrasing to watch ... and bad for the Democratic Party.

Obama has managed to unite the country in opposition ... think about it.

[bcolovas]

03:26 PM on 02/13/2010

I'm a pretty strong democrat but I blame the democrats for this failure. I don't even mind if it costs them in 2010, they had it and they blew it. To try to blame the republicans is silly. I blame Max Buacus, Kent Conrad and some others for always seeming to come out against it whenever there seemed to be getting some momentum. I am a little disappointed with the President, partly because everyone says he didn't lead, but I don't really see what he could have done?? Every time he spoke about health care it seemed to get tore down in the messaging cycle. They should have just rammed it through and sold it like hell after wards.
Democrats cant govern.

[JohnSawyer]

10:46 PM on 02/13/2010

It's not silly to implicate the Republicans in this failure too--not silly at all. If you're traveling down a road, and a big boulder comes crashing down off the nearby hillside and lands in front of your car, causing you to crash into it, it would be silly to say the boulder had nothing to do with your making a sudden stop, and that instead it was your fault for traveling on that road.

[whyworry]

03:05 PM on 02/13/2010

Personally…I’m just sitting back watching the theatrics unfold and LMAO; because many aren’t paying attention to how this Administration is governing; because we are accustomed to following the road maps of other leaders in the past; and looking for failure.

We been easily swayed by the usual rhetoric offered by numerous commentators on political shows only to have their “spin or opinions” dispelled on numerous occasions…yet we continue to ignore fact based on the spin of the 24 hour news cycle.

I’m posting this just for the fun of seeing just how in tuned I am with the governing of this Administration. I’m making some predictions of my own.

1. Health Care Reform will pass with bi-partisanship; for one thing Judd Greg is not seeking re-election and the GOP lawmakers have had their hands spanked by higher ups as to the political damage that could result from their bad behavior they displayed to this administration and this nation. The stakes are high.
2. The trial of KSM will be held in a Military setting; because the cost of it being held in NYC isn’t something that’s not affordable for this administration right now. Bloomberg has already asked that the Feds pick up the tab.

I’m only doing two now because I’m unable to list anymore on this comment sheet.

[thepheonix]

01:24 PM on 02/13/2010

According to the Washington Examiner:

The House is short 100 votes and the meeting is a last ditch effort to get the bill passed.

They can't pass anything with those votes.

So.... STUCK

[BeVeryAfraid]

02:55 PM on 02/13/2010

The Washington Examiner......enuf said.

[ssgman]

01:22 PM on 02/13/2010

Of course it's a political show. O is going to SHOW the repubs for what they are: Obstructionists who have no plan of refroming health care except to enrich the insurers even more.

And while I appreciate the difficulties of the 1994 HCR attempt, to equate 1994 with 2010 are waaaay off base. Wellpoint just announced they are raising rates 40%!! The situation is unteneble and the outrage is not going to go away.

[SaintZak]

10:12 AM on 02/13/2010

Political theater?! I'll tell what's political theater...all of these internet sites and cable news stations. No, they're actually political vaudeville. They've turned our political system into reality tv.

[myj66]

08:58 AM on 02/13/2010

They should have never painted themselves into this corner! Too bad they lack the ability to think outside the box; predict the consequences of their actions.

[Eykis]

08:57 AM on 02/13/2010

The Thugs have ALREADU turned this into political theatre by saying they want "pre-conditions"


They MUST show up and FACE THE MUSIC in front of the American People, so the PEOPLE can see what OBSTRUCTIONISTS and JERKS they have been for the past year.


I dunno why the Rethugs think they have the RIGHT to ask for anything. The deserve nothing and will get NOTHING.



Mitch McConnell was dressed down by POTUS for the nominations hold-up and POTUS needs to embarass Rethugs until they DO THEIR JOB.



WE THE PEOPLE WANT HCR - NOW.

[tandy7]

10:13 AM on 02/13/2010

Obstructionism, prevarication, racism, partisan politics, 'schlepism'...inhabit and infest the halls of congress and senate. Why are we tolerating and rewarding their obstructionist behavior? Shame on their behavior. If they do not pass healthcare legislation in good conscience, their inaction is anti-people and anti-American. I mourn the loss of their conscience. Their actions are those of the new-age concubines of the insurance and pharmaceutical companies and banks.

[anniebuddy]

11:01 AM on 02/13/2010

But how do we educate the people who really do believe them ... and elect them?!!! There are soooo many people who don't have a clue. These politicians continuously play the "government is too big" or "fear mongering" card and lead their followers over a cliff like ignorant sheep.

[parose10]

08:04 AM on 02/13/2010

Yes, it's theater. And it's offensive to those who follow the issues and see the Republican obstructionism for what it is. But what about all of those people who don't get it. We look at them and scratch our heads and wonder what went wrong in Kansas. Maybe theater is what it takes to get to these people. After all, it's worked well for the Republicans for a long time.

[Eykis]

08:53 AM on 02/13/2010

Parose GREAT POST. Fanned.







UpFrom, EXCELLENT. Fanned.