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Health Reform Deniers: Logic? We Don't need No Stinkin' Logic . . .
Let's try and get real here . . .Here is the President's response to a question during the press conference yesterday about private insurers and their arguments against the competition from a public option plan:
Q Won't that drive private insurers out of business?
THE PRESIDENT: Why would it drive private insurers out of business? If private insurers say that the marketplace provides the best quality health care, if they tell us that they're offering a good deal, then why is it that the government -- which they say can't run anything -- suddenly is going to drive them out of business? That's not logical.
whitehouse.gov/.../Press-Conference-by-the-President-6-23-09/
Logic doesn't put fear in the hearts of the unsuspecting public. (see video here at the Cafe)
Anyone here have any thoughts on the President's push back (if even ever so slightly) on this issue?
~OGD~
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I think that he's dead on the money. He's basically saying, "If your product is so good, what's the problem?", and he's got them by the nuts. Their product sucks and they know it. That's why they are going to get creamed, and he knows it.
June 24, 2009 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey ... Brant
Thanks for the comment.
~OGD~
June 24, 2009 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's happening behind the curtain?
With Obama's small push back on the insurance industry's rhetoric at his news conference, I see it as slight nudge to those sitting on the fence that he supports the public option idea to remain in the debate mix into committee conference. The President's small statement may even be an ever so slight sign that he is indirectly supporting Chuck Shumer who has been negoitiating with Kent Conrad in relationship with Conrad's co-op idea that would operate “at the state level or regionally”.
There has been some movement from Conrad that his co-op plan has suddenly morphed from a state or regionally run idea to a position of nationalizing the co-op idea as a "...national entity with state affiliates and those affiliates have to have the ability to regionalize."
Call that what he wishes but Conrad's idea sounds more and more like a national public option.
Thoughts anyone?
~OGD~
June 24, 2009 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Obama's being coy about the issue of a public option. I also think he's waiting to see if the public is going to get loud and in his face on the issue before, (or if), he leads any discussion of it. He will easily deflect blame onto the legislature if they deliver a public option that is stillborn in committee, without having to risk the political controversy of backing a public option openly.
June 24, 2009 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Having worked in the health insurance business when it was dominated by not-for-profits, I can say that Obama is right on the money. For profits would not have been able to function if government had not fallen for the competition cures all ills argument and crippled the not-for-profits ability to do their job.
June 24, 2009 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink