posted
Michael Steele Unplugged: ‘Don’t Know’ If There’s Moral Responsibility To Cover Uninsured, ‘I Don’t Do Policy’ In prepared remarks this morning at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, RNC Chairman Michael Steele derided President Obama’s health efforts, calling it a “risky experimentation,” a “Grand Experiment,” and the product of a “cabal.”
After reading his speech, Steele then took a few questions. It quickly became apparent that, once Steele ventured off his prepared talking points, he was uncomfortable responding to queries about his health care views. The RNC Chairman offered a host of bizarre, conflicting, and nonsensical responses. Here’s some highlights:
‘Don’t know’ if there’s a moral responsibility to cover uninsured: When asked if it’s a “moral responsibility” to cover the uninsured, Steele responded, “I don’t know if that’s a consideration for politicians versus a pastor.” But a few minutes later, Steele was asked – if the U.S. can put a man on the moon, why can’t we provide coverage for all Americans. “Bingo! That’s it,” Steele said, approving of the notion of universal coverage that he rejected moments earlier.
Republicans didn’t have ‘the will’ to reform health care: When asked why Republicans didn’t do “anything substantial” about health care when they held power, Steele said there wasn’t “the will to do it,” adding, “I just think that there’s been just a general lack of focus on this issue by many.”
We’re being ‘shut up,’ even though we have nothing to say: When posed with the fact that Republicans lost the last election, Steele called it a “silly” question. “Yeah, we lost the last election, so that means we shut up?” But in the next question, the interviewer noted that Republicans have yet to come forward with a proposal that they claim to have been drafting for months.
Stumped on individual mandate: Asked whether he supports an individual mandate — an issue that became a point of controversy in the 2008 election between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama — Steele was completely ignorant. “An individual requirement? What do you mean?” Steele could only respond that there are “differing opinions” on this.
Obama’s plan is socialism: Steele emphatically stated that Obama’s health care policy would lead to socialism. When the interviewer noted that Republicans raised similar unsubstantiated fears about Medicare, Steele suggested that he opposes Medicare. “I think that there’s a legitimate debate there about the impact that Medicare and Medicaid are having on the overall fabric of our economy.”
Health Care is more of a real cost than Iraq: Steele was asked why he wasn’t worried about a CBO score that estimated Iraq would cost $2.75 trillion, but is now worried about health care costing half as much. Steele responded that health care costs are different than Iraq because “the costs of health care is something up close and right here.”
‘I don’t do policy.’ When stumped with numerous health care policy questions, Steele said, “I don’t do policy,” acknowledging that he’s paying attention to his internal RNC polling to craft his political message. Moments later, Steele said he’s “not concerned” about the politics of health care. “I’m not looking at this through the rose-colored glasses of, oh what are our political fortunes.”
-------------------- Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise.
IP: Logged |
posted
Iraq can pay back health care costs with all the oil they are about to develop. No problem. In the United States they want to cut back on oil drilling and exploration with this current admin. More imports, less domestic.
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so.
IP: Logged |
posted
With the public’s trust in his handling of health care tanking (50%-44% of Americans disapprove), the White House has launched a new phase of its strategy designed to pass Obamacare: all Obama, all the time. As part of that effort, Obama hosted a conference call with leftist ****gers urging them to pressure Congress to pass his health plan as soon as possible.
http://www.heritage.org/2009/07/21/morning-bell-obama-admits-hes-not-familiar-wi th-house-bill/ During the call, a ****ger from Maine said he kept running into an Investors Business Daily article that claimed Section 102 of the House health legislation would outlaw private insurance. He asked: “Is this true? Will people be able to keep their insurance and will insurers be able to write new policies even though H.R. 3200 is passed?” President Obama replied: “You know, I have to say that I am not familiar with the provision you are talking about.” (quote begins at 17:10)
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so.
IP: Logged |
he didn't/doesn't write the bill, he signs it or doesn't sign it after it's been passed.
keep in mind that Obam's personal experience in the health care system is:
his mother, dying of cancer at age 53, having to fight her insurance company, trying to prove that her disease had not been a pre-existing condition.
the president rarely writes laws. when they do try to write laws? the president NEVER gets a law to sign that they wrote. it's always sent thru congress and "negotiated".
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise.
IP: Logged |
posted
fact is? we are damned if we do, and damned if don't act on healthcare.
our healthcare system is so screwed up that you have to be crazy to not want change.
H.R. 3200
SEC. 102. PROTECTING THE CHOICE TO KEEP CURRENT COVERAGE.
(a) Grandfathered Health Insurance Coverage Defined- Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, for purposes of establishing acceptable coverage under this division, the term `grandfathered health insurance coverage' means individual health insurance coverage that is offered and in force and effect before the first day of Y1 if the following conditions are met:
(1) LIMITATION ON NEW ENROLLMENT-
(A) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day of Y1.
(B) DEPENDENT COVERAGE PERMITTED- Subparagraph (A) shall not affect the subsequent enrollment of a dependent of an individual who is covered as of such first day.
(2) LIMITATION ON CHANGES IN TERMS OR CONDITIONS- Subject to paragraph (3) and except as required by law, the issuer does not change any of its terms or conditions, including benefits and cost-sharing, from those in effect as of the day before the first day of Y1.
(3) RESTRICTIONS ON PREMIUM INCREASES- The issuer cannot vary the percentage increase in the premium for a risk group of enrollees in specific grandfathered health insurance coverage without changing the premium for all enrollees in the same risk group at the same rate, as specified by the Commissioner.
(b) Grace Period for Current Employment-based Health Plans-
(1) GRACE PERIOD-
(A) IN GENERAL- The Commissioner shall establish a grace period whereby, for plan years beginning after the end of the 5-year period beginning with Y1, an employment-based health plan in operation as of the day before the first day of Y1 must meet the same requirements as apply to a qualified health benefits plan under section 101, including the essential benefit package requirement under section 121.
(B) EXCEPTION FOR LIMITED BENEFITS PLANS- Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to an employment-based health plan in which the coverage consists only of one or more of the following:
(i) Any coverage described in section 3001(a)(1)(B)(ii)(IV) of division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).
(ii) Excepted benefits (as defined in section 733(c) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), including coverage under a specified disease or illness policy described in paragraph (3)(A) of such section.
(iii) Such other limited benefits as the Commissioner may specify.
In no case shall an employment-based health plan in which the coverage consists only of one or more of the coverage or benefits described in clauses (i) through (iii) be treated as acceptable coverage under this division
(2) TRANSITIONAL TREATMENT AS ACCEPTABLE COVERAGE- During the grace period specified in paragraph (1)(A), an employment-based health plan that is described in such paragraph shall be treated as acceptable coverage under this division.
(c) Limitation on Individual Health Insurance Coverage-
(1) IN GENERAL- Individual health insurance coverage that is not grandfathered health insurance coverage under subsection (a) may only be offered on or after the first day of Y1 as an Exchange-participating health benefits plan.
(2) SEPARATE, EXCEPTED COVERAGE PERMITTED- Excepted benefits (as defined in section 2791(c) of the Public Health Service Act) are not included within the definition of health insurance coverage. Nothing in paragraph (1) shall prevent the offering, other than through the Health Insurance Exchange, of excepted benefits so long as it is offered and priced separately from health insurance coverage.
Subtitle B--Standards Guaranteeing Access to Affordable Coverage
SEC. 111. PROHIBITING PRE-EXISTING CONDITION EXCLUSIONS.
A qualified health benefits plan may not impose any pre-existing condition exclusion (as defined in section 2701(b)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act) or otherwise impose any limit or condition on the coverage under the plan with respect to an individual or dependent based on any health status-related factors (as defined in section 2791(d)(9) of the Public Health Service Act) in relation to the individual or dependent.
i have reread this paragraph several times, and i cannot decide if the people claiming it will prohibit people from getting private coverage is a legit complaint.
i doubt the AMA would supper a bill that outlaws private insurance, yet the AMA likes it:
Today, however, it seems that the AMA has willingly changed its tune 63 years after torpedoing Truman’s lofty goal. By endorsing HR 3200 last week the AMA has in fact turned into a major proponent of health sector change.
“Last month physician delegates from all medical and specialty state societies voted for the AMA to support health system reform proposals that are consistent with the principals of pluralism, freedom of choice, freedom of practice and universal access for patients,” AMA president Dr. J. James Rohack, MD said in a video message posted on AMA’s website on Saturday. “Now based on that policy, and after thorough review of HR 3200, the AMA announced its support for health reform legislation released by the three committees of the U.S. House of Representatives.”
it does not outlaw new private insurance, what it does is establish new rules for what private insurance co's can sell. the "old" policies do not have to follow the new guidelines...
the best healthcare reform IMO? would be to double our number of med schools and more than double enrollment at med school...
i don't even see that on the table...
more than half of all personal bankruptices in the US include serious medical bills...
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise.
IP: Logged |
posted
To defend against all enemies foriegn and domestic remember those words. Best estimates that are say 18000 t0 22000 people die a year in this country due to not being coverd by a health care plan.
So guess what if you are against health care that people can buyat a reasonable price instead of hoping that there employer will carry a plan that they can purchase you are supporting a system that kills Americans and that makes you imho an enemy of the state
-------------------- Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise.
IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by raybond: To defend against all enemies foriegn and domestic remember those words. Best estimates that are say 18000 t0 22000 people die a year in this country due to not being coverd by a health care plan.
So guess what if you are against health care that people can buyat a reasonable price instead of hoping that there employer will carry a plan that they can purchase you are supporting a system that kills Americans and that makes you imho an enemy of the state
And what happens when your rationed out of the care you require because of age.
-------------------- Let's Go METS!!!
IP: Logged |
posted
Health care is not a right. It is earned and a personal responsibility.
The lefties want it as a right paid for by the right and any other americans' toil.
The lefties will get fat, do drugs, etc. and have unhealthy lifestyle that drains system but claim health care is a right. If you want others to pay for it - alot of folks will be fat, drink, do drugs, etc..and think it is their right for health care.
Health is mostly lifestlye and some dna.
You can not legislate health nor can you pAY FOR ALL. There is simply not enuff resources cause if free all line up but all dont want to earn and have healthy lifestyle. And, so free but in the end - it will be rationed - and society ceases to exist cause most earners will not be motivated - lines for social health, food , housing will be so long- and those that actually work - those lines will not be able to support all the leeches-
Health is a personal responsiblilty and lifstyle choice determines how healthy one is for most part -And if bad dna then ancestors had unhealthy liefstlye -
IP: Logged |
posted
Yes, and smoke to. These are unhealthy habits that an individual chooses and risks one's health. If bad DNA than ancestors' unhealthy habilts in DNA.
Health cant be legislated or if it is - then it will be rationed and freedom gone - govt will tell us what we can eat, drink, etc...cause demand will exceed resources.
IP: Logged |
posted
americans will drink,smoke and get fat because they can buy a health care policy it does not work that way in other countries I have seen it and that tells me you don't care much for your country men and women. I have been to Germany,England, Republic of Ireland,France and for a very short time Italy and I did not see or here of any elderly not getting treatment. As a matter of fact I did not see anybody waiting in lines and getting pushed off. As a matter of fact in England they have had there health care system since 1949 and nobody I spoke to did not want to give it up. By the way doctors still do house calls in England
-------------------- Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise.
IP: Logged |
posted
It is not a a matter of caring for men and women. The argument can be made - I care more for my fellow citizens by letting them be free to make their own choices. Folks take better care of their health if they pay and if they are responsible. Also, americans care about freedom vs being forced by state to do as state wants - Sorry, your argument is not valid. Is the individual responsible for ones' life? or is it the responsiblility of state to provide health, housing ,food etc? I do think our health care needs to be improved but the answer is not socialized medicine.
And, most articles I read say how dire their system is -
This sums it up -
It is one thing to read about the National Health Care System (NHS) in England as reported by our mainstream media. It is quite different to experience first-hand how most English citizens have been trapped in a failing single-payer health care system.
With the exception of 10 percent of the population who subscribe to private health care insurance and medical care (a result of Margaret Thatcher’s privatization initiative), 90 percent still try to get timely medical care from the NHS bureaucracy.
All too frequently they don’t get care all; are subjected to queuing for 12 months or more; get better on their own; are sent to other countries for care; are shifted to the private sector for care; or die while on the waiting list to see a doctor or gain access to a hospital.
IP: Logged |
posted
Folks take better care of their health if they pay and if they are responsible. Also, americans care about freedom vs being forced by state to do as state wants - Sorry, your argument is not valid. Is the individual responsible for ones' life? or is it the responsiblility of state to provide health, housing ,food etc?
then how do you explain the health problems we already have?
31% 0f Americans are already obese.
secondly and maybe most importantly?
Christ's teachings do not agree.
there is a minimum acceptable level that we should maintain.
should the poor be "eating cake"? no, but they should eat be clothed and housed.
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise.
IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by glassman: Folks take better care of their health if they pay and if they are responsible. Also, americans care about freedom vs being forced by state to do as state wants - Sorry, your argument is not valid. Is the individual responsible for ones' life? or is it the responsiblility of state to provide health, housing ,food etc?
then how do you explain the health problems we already have?
31% 0f Americans are already obese.
secondly and maybe most importantly?
Christ's teachings do not agree.
there is a minimum acceptable level that we should maintain.
should the poor be "eating cake"? no, but they should eat be clothed and housed.
What happens when the poor become the majority? Everyone should be offered a helping hand in times of need but were setting up systems that make self responsiblity unnecessary, and it will lead to a weaker nation.
-------------------- Let's Go METS!!!
IP: Logged |
posted
comeon lock, throughout history the poor are the majority and have been fast becoming the majority again over the last ten-twenty years.
the Randian notion of Objectivism where the talented lose interest in work goes against what America did to become great. sure, you have to reward people for good woks, but the same truth that applies to teh poor applies to the wealthy. reward them too much and they become lazy.
when Capital stops serving the people that create it and starts serving itself? we are in just as much trouble as we are if we adopt communism.
too much of a good thing eh?
what is money exactly? today it's only a relative thing anymore. i don't like it, i'd prefer a gold standard, but that's the way it is-
i despise the "oil standard" we seem to be adopting since it disappears as fast as it is created.
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise.
IP: Logged |
We are at a cross roads here. Dem or Rep. it makes no difference. If we don't as a nation curb government spending our standard of living will be lowered to that of severe government dependency.
I don't want to live in a country where the attitude is tax the wealthy until it hurts and provide a sub-standard living to the lower middle class. The current climate being fostered by this administration is give everyone everything and the Rich will pay for it. Eventually you and I become the rich.
-------------------- Let's Go METS!!!
IP: Logged |
posted
and how is that different from the last admins policy?
the only difference i see is that this admin is making people pay more of the costs as they go, instead of borrowing more.
where in the heck are we supposed to cut costs?
all of the "economic theories" i see posted by the "conservatives" fail to recognise the FULL economy in many ways, like how the govt spent moeny goes right back into communities
or this, for instance:
half of all personal BK's are due to medical bills. how much does that actually COST US?
and when those bills are wiped out at BK court? WHO the heck do you think pays them?
no, not TXpyers, people who already pay for insurance that's who. wich is most likely everybody here right?
now, i have no friggin idear if this plan that is going thru congress will fix any of this. but what i DO know is that the GOP is trying lik ehell to stop ANY change just because Obama is NOT a GOP. those are the facts, and i for one am sick of it.
my mother was on BOD of a large hosp in the 70's and they KNEW all the way back then that "socialised" medicine of one form or another was inevitable. they have never been able to make the health insurance for profit system work properly.
do you see how many TV ads there are on every night for PRESCRIPTION drugs? who pays for the ads? you and me who have friggin insurance that's who. the thing is broke, and it's broke bad, and been broke for decades. at least Obama has the guts to stand up and try to get something done, even if we don't get it right.
i don't like ever expanding Govt either, but what i see every day is that the Govt is basically owned by big businesses that keep expanding it for themselves.
i'd like to see a chart of just how much taxpayer$ goes to pay contract govt costs to private co's in the US
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise.
IP: Logged |
posted
Member Rated: posted 22-07-2009 09:16 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It is not a a matter of caring for men and women. The argument can be made - I care more for my fellow citizens by letting them be free to make their own choices. Folks take better care of their health if they pay and if they are responsible. Also, americans care about freedom vs being forced by state to do as state wants - Sorry, your argument is not valid. Is the individual responsible for ones' life? or is it the responsiblility of state to provide health, housing ,food etc? ------------------------------------------------
What do you mean if you support this system you support a system that kills 1800 to 22000 people a year and all the fear you people have is you don't want ,the close to 50 million uninsured to have an option to buy medical coverage. Its very obivous that you don't want to insure these people because insurance companies feel the risk to reward is not there so there option is to do what they do now. And exclude the unhealthy people as much as possible and insure the healthy and young. This is great for inurance companies but it is bad for society.
All and all you right wingers may get a victory on health care again.In the long run your terrble greed and the hurt lyou cause to society will undo your policies.
And like I said I went to Eourpe over many years and never saw or heard any thing negative about there health care I found that people would not trade it for our system,and that was the way they felt
-------------------- Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise.
IP: Logged |
posted
Who is the strata predominantly that is obese?
I bet low income welfare folks --- Hard to swallow but proves my point.
The folks on welfare , mostly blacks are obese - Someone else pays the bills so why should they care?
And, second it is the welafare latinos in this country -
And, then welafare whites and last the asians-
The whites that are obese are probably the low income - welfare ones -
Now, obesity crosses al racial barriers BUT the black welfare mom leads with the hispanic welfare recipient then the white recipient -
The asians - they work and care not for welfare just work hard -
It is a correlation and i beleive proves my point - Those that leech from the system have no personal accoutnability or self responsibility cause the state will take care of me or i will let state take care of me --
And, the other side of the coin is they are emotionally gone that they dont care cause self esttem very low-
Taking care of folks is not admirable is is makin others' be the victim -
Back to- let a man fish and he will feed himself and family but give the man fish and he will depend on state and self destruct -
I do think there should be temporary safety nets like unemployment insurance but all are self responsible - I will also add ONLY temporalily as one collects unemployment - health care available also - but afte 6- 12 months - gone - or perish -charity or family can step in--
Also, I do support education and training so all can fish ---that is the Christian thing to do - give temporary relief but show the man to fish but dependency only will destruct the person, etc...
And, a second reason health sytem is not good cause the greedy leech from it - close those loop holes by regulation ---
IP: Logged |
posted
Here Lock, tell you what... Wait three years. That is how long I have calculated that it will take me to finish my program. Once that happens I will tell you how much these taxes you object to actually hurt.
-------------------- No longer eligible for government service due to lack of tax issues.
IP: Logged |
posted
Who is the strata predominantly that is obese?
I bet low income welfare folks --- Hard to swallow but proves my point.
once again TM, i have to wonder where you do your fishing.
it is true that a higher number of African Americans are obese, in particular African American women.
HOWEVER, the numbers are not that far off.
African Americans are 35% obese Hispanics (part of the Caucasion RACE) are 29%
and Caucasions are 25%.
overweight the numbers are almost the same difference:
white 60% African American 70% Hispanic (once again part of the causasion race)62% Native American 67%
the statistical differences are negligable
In 2008, only one state (Colorado) had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-two states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; six of these states (Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia ) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%.
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise.
IP: Logged |
posted
I remember the the african woman in some show blaming others', quite angrily' cause no vegetables near her -
And, the asian women simply growing them regardless where they live- no blame but makes her garden and more -
The cuacasian grows them or moves where she can get them -
Also, your stats validated my point but other stats more significant showing obesity is most prevalent among black woman (usually low income or welfare) and then low income hispanics ---
IP: Logged |
considering that in 2000 there were 194 million caucasion? that means there were about 50 million obese.
there were 34 million African Americans meaning there were about 12 million obese. now which do you think is costing more overall? statistics are funny, they can be interpreted most any way you like....
99% of statistics are lies anyway
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise.
IP: Logged |
posted
Most people that are on welfare are white. A lot of things make people stress,poor diet,lack of education, and lack of access to good foods in there neighborhood
-------------------- Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise.
IP: Logged |
posted
related...and something that absolutely killz me: groceries in poor neighborhoods get away with higher prices. I mean to the point of gouging...
Sure, I "get it," but it does seem counterintuitive...
-------------------- Nashoba Holba Chepulechi Adventures in microcapitalism...
IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by The Bigfoot: Here Lock, tell you what... Wait three years. That is how long I have calculated that it will take me to finish my program. Once that happens I will tell you how much these taxes you object to actually hurt.
What program is that?
-------------------- Let's Go METS!!!
IP: Logged |
posted
Grassley: GOP will take ‘blame’ if we don’t pass health care. Many conservatives are viewing the health care debate as a personal political battle against Obama, claiming health care reform could be the president’s “Waterloo” and advising that GOP members of Congress “resist the temptation” to work with Democrats and instead “go for the kill.” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is offering the opposite advice. “If we don’t do something on health-care reform,” Grassley said, “the voters are more apt to blame Republicans than Democrats.” Grassley also expressed his disagreement with the Republican Party of Iowa, which called health care reform an “experiment Iowa cannot afford.” “I would suggest there have been some Republicans who haven’t been looking at the polls,” Grassley said in a weekly conference call with Iowa reporters, in which he announced he would continue to seek a bipartisan bill:
He referred to a poll showing voters would assign blame 30 percent to the health industry, 22 to Republicans, 11 percent to Democrats and only 4 percent to Obama.
“So it seems to me that we have a responsibility to the Republican Party not to be seen as destroying or at least not talking about things that people believe are wrong with the present health-care system,” Grassley said.
Yesterday, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) announced he was taking himself out of bipartisan group of Finance Committee members drafting the health care bill. Left in the group are Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and Grassley. Comments 53 SharePermalink
-------------------- Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise.
IP: Logged |
posted
Bigfoot's steps to financial freedom. The beta test has been productive. If it works I'll write a book and tell ya how to follow in my footsteps.
(Not that it is anything that hasn't been done before...but the book would net a nice profit too.)
-------------------- No longer eligible for government service due to lack of tax issues.
IP: Logged |
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
