Yesterday, President Obama gave a health-care reform speech at an AFL-CIO picnic. During his speech, the President speaks in great length about his opponents on the subject. However, in typical fashion, he spins his rhetoric to suggest that those who oppose the 1100-page reform plans proposed by the progressives of his party, are against health care reform. He paints Republicans and all of his critics as heartless and greedy people who want people without insurance to die and maintain the status quo. He even goes so far to ask - "Where is your solution to health reform?" Then boldly declares that his opposition doesn't have any solutions. [You can view his speech here - go to about 2 minutes in the video to get to the aforementioned strawman.]
WRONG. WRONG. WRONG. The President is either clueless or being deliberately deceptive. I suspect it is the latter. But this is what happens when you have the bully pulpit. You can label the opposition as the "Party of No" and no one in the media will dare question it.
Here are at least four plans proposed by members of the Senate which do not include a public option.
S. 391 The Healthy Americans Act - Proposed by Senators Bennett (R-UT) and Wyden (D-OR).
S. 1324 The Health Care Freedom Act - Proposed by Senator DeMint (R-SC).
S. 1099 The Patients' Choice Act - Introduced by Senators Coburn (R-OK) and Burr (R-SC). This bill also includes support from members of the House.
Coverage, Prevention, Reform (CPR) - A plan suggested by Senator Gregg (R-NH). [Note: At present, I found no legislation proposed by Gregg with this plan included.]
A staff source for the Senate Republicans informs me there is another proposal being worked on presently by Senators Hatch (R-UT), Kyl (R-AZ), Cornyn (R-TX), Ensign (R-NV), and Barrasso (R-WY). I am told that this plan has more state-based reform, which would encourage states to make needed reforms in a way that isn’t “one size fits all.”
There are also several pieces of legislation in the House, put forth by the Republican Study Committee. These bills have been consolidated under the Empowering Patients First Act.
What's that? You had no idea there were all these proposals out there? Most people don't. The media and the Democrats have a strange way of sheltering us from the truth - for our own good, of course.
In the coming weeks (assuming legislation isn't passed quickly), I will attempt to break down each of the proposals and highlight things that will truly reform our nation's health care. In the meanwhile, I recommend watching some of the video clips from the Senate Doctors Show. Drs. Coburn and Barrasso talk with people in the medical industry (and the public) and listen to their concerns. It is very enlightening.
WRONG. WRONG. WRONG. The President is either clueless or being deliberately deceptive. I suspect it is the latter. But this is what happens when you have the bully pulpit. You can label the opposition as the "Party of No" and no one in the media will dare question it.
Here are at least four plans proposed by members of the Senate which do not include a public option.
S. 391 The Healthy Americans Act - Proposed by Senators Bennett (R-UT) and Wyden (D-OR).
S. 1324 The Health Care Freedom Act - Proposed by Senator DeMint (R-SC).
S. 1099 The Patients' Choice Act - Introduced by Senators Coburn (R-OK) and Burr (R-SC). This bill also includes support from members of the House.
Coverage, Prevention, Reform (CPR) - A plan suggested by Senator Gregg (R-NH). [Note: At present, I found no legislation proposed by Gregg with this plan included.]
A staff source for the Senate Republicans informs me there is another proposal being worked on presently by Senators Hatch (R-UT), Kyl (R-AZ), Cornyn (R-TX), Ensign (R-NV), and Barrasso (R-WY). I am told that this plan has more state-based reform, which would encourage states to make needed reforms in a way that isn’t “one size fits all.”
There are also several pieces of legislation in the House, put forth by the Republican Study Committee. These bills have been consolidated under the Empowering Patients First Act.
What's that? You had no idea there were all these proposals out there? Most people don't. The media and the Democrats have a strange way of sheltering us from the truth - for our own good, of course.
In the coming weeks (assuming legislation isn't passed quickly), I will attempt to break down each of the proposals and highlight things that will truly reform our nation's health care. In the meanwhile, I recommend watching some of the video clips from the Senate Doctors Show. Drs. Coburn and Barrasso talk with people in the medical industry (and the public) and listen to their concerns. It is very enlightening.
I say he's deliberately deceptive. Clearly we need more Joe Wilson's to step up and say so.
Hey CB-
I know it's been awhile (been busy out here in the desert!) Glad to see you are still blogging!
Question: Is it really an alternative if the Dem's promise X amount of government interference versus the GOP promising Y amount of government interference? I believe the GOP could offer true dissent from Obamacare by saying the government will get out of regulating healthcare altogether.