Jindal Pans Obama's "Marketing" of Health Plan

(CBS)

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said President Obama's push for health care reform is more about rhetoric than reality.

"His marketing is the best part of this," the Republican governor said Thursday on CBS' "The Early Show", the morning after Mr. Obama addressed the nation in a prime time news conference aimed at jumpstarting support for his health initiative.

"[Obama] said, he does not want to increase the deficit, does not want government control of health care. He wants people to keep their insurance. He wants to crack down on the abuse, the over utilization. All that's great. The problem is that's not what's in the House Democrat bill. The House Democratic bill increases the deficit by $250 billion [and] increases the burden on employers. Why would we want to do that during one of the worst recessions in decades?"

In his news conference, Mr. Obama emphasized the importance of reform, but pledged that he would not support any plan that increased the federal deficit or placed an economic burden on middle-class families.

Mr. Obama has insisted that a public plan option will increase competition and drive costs down in the private sector. Jindal agreed that the "status quo is not acceptable" but said a government-run plan is not the solution.

"Nobody is defending the status quo," said Jindal, who has been mentioned as a possible GOP presidential candidate in 2012. "We don't want a bureaucrat telling us which treatments we can receive, which providers to go to, how much they'll be paid. We don't want government competition in TV stations, in factories, in stores, in groceries. Why do we think we need government competition in healthcare? Why do we need the government to run a plan to make healthcare work?"

"This is the fundamental issue here. How do you have the government, which is paying for health care, regulating health care, now competing with the private sector?"

Jindal also said the tax penalties for not participating in the plan would place an undue burden on individuals and business owners.

"Look, in the House plan they're talking about an 8 percent tax on employers who don't want to participate [and a] 2.5 percent tax on individuals who don't want to participate. Our top tax rates in many states are going to be higher than what you see in Europe. We don't need to be increasing taxes during these economic times."

White House adviser David Axelrod, appearing on the "Early Show" after Jindal countered the governor's argument, saying the plan would give consumers greater control of their own health care.

"The bottom line here is right now healthcare premiums have doubled over the last decade. Out of pocket costs up by a third. Health care costs are growing three times the rate of wages. It's an unsustainable path, and the government is being crunch the by it, businesses are being crushed by it," he said.

"We have to respond. Mr. Jindal says, 'Well, the government shouldn't interfere in the market.' The bottom line right now is everyone is at the mercy of the insurance industry, and this would reform the system and put consumers in control. That's what we need."

More Coverage of Obama's Press Conference:

Obama: Changes Will Make People Healthier

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Obama: Cops Acted "Stupidly" in Professor's Arrest

Obama: "Why Not Pay Half Price?"

Obama: Banks Will Act Recklessly Without Reform

Bob Schieffer: Obama Trying to Take Control

Reality Check: Do Obama's Health Care Claims Hold Up?

Jindal Pans Obama's "Marketing" of Health Plan?

Obama's "Stupid" Comment Disappoints Cop

More Video: Opening Statement On Professor Gates Sacrifices For Healthcare Reform? Politics of Medicare Instant Analysis from Bob Schieffer and Nancy Cordes

[labrat9999]

Is this the same Bobby Jindal that said we didn't need to monitor volcanos in Alaska and weeks later one blew up! Now he's going to lecture us on health care. Perhaps we should take away his health care benefits paid for by the taxpayers and tell him to go buy his own private insurance! By the way, the number 1 or 2 (depending on who you read) cause of bankruptcy in American is medical expenses. Gee Bobby you would think that would tell ya something!! Or that health costs have risen higher than anything else in America in the last ten years...except CEO compensation of course. So the next time someone interviews dear Bobby, I'd like them to ask just a few questions; for all those people without insurance that get care at a hospital now, who pays for it? Hospitals just do it for free? Bobby and the rest of the Republicans talk about President Obama's health care plan as though it was socialism that they want to stop...and if true...then what is Medicare? Do they want to stop that too? And if so what would they tell the millions of Americans over the age of 64 they are going to replace it with?

[rjstolba]

JINDAL IS DONE AS A 2012 CANDIDATE, SO WHY DOESN'T HE AND THE REST OF THE REPUG OBSTRUCTIONISTS GET OUT OF THE WAY AND LET HEALTH CARE REFORM TAKE PPLACE?? wE WIL ALL HAVE TO PAY MORE. THAT'S THE PRICE OF TRYING TO PROTECT THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD REASONABLE HEALTH CARE. I SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: LOWER INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES HAVE TO GIVE UP "SOMETHING" AND OFTEN HEALTH CARE IS WHAT THEY GIVE UP. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN THIS GREAT NATIONE WE LIVE IN!!!

[credibility2]

I used to think whenever Bush 43 went before the cameras that his pontificating was mindless, meandering drivel. Nope. I was totally wrong. What Obama tried to do last night with his ramblings and incoherent rhetoric surpasses anything that Bush 43 did in any of his press conferences. I guess the Obama writers couldn't come up with any new materials, since everything Obama blathered on and on about was a repeat of things he's stated before. Or, perhaps Obama has an attention disorder or retention intellect disorder and can't handle new material coherently and cogently. Which probably explains why he's always scripted and never without his constant companion the crutch teleprompter.

[marcodele]

Take it from someone who lives in Louisiana, Bobby Jindal is a true Bush-era hypocrite who promises one thing and does the exact opposite. When did he propose health care reforms when he was in congress? His solution in Louisiana is to just shut down hospitals for poor kids and seniors. What a man.

[tautomer]

Obama should demonstrate that he can fix the existing government medical plans before expanding government control of private healthcare. So far he has been unable to do so. If Obama were to cut say 30-40% from Medicare and Medicaid while improving the quality of care everyone would hop on board.

[magicwolf1]

Jindal is as much a right-wing whack-job as Sarah Palin. Republicans should wake up and move more to the center before the only states they win in are Utah, Idaho, Alaska and Wyoming!

[hungry1968-16]

by AntiSocialist2009 July 23, 2009 11:23 AM EDT
So tell us again why only 26% of the American population is going to benifit from 90% of the Obama policy paid for by 74% of Americans?

Most of the Americans in the 74% bracket (you figure it out) voted for chage not Socialism.






I asked you three times to point out the source of this BS, and you can't or won't do it.

Why is that?

[hungry1968-16]

by AntiSocialist2009 July 23, 2009 11:18 AM EDT
the74blaster

So if they offered you the job at the full salary, you wouldnt take it or ask for less.........







They're making MILLIONS by denying needed medical benefits to their PAYING CUSTOMERS, allowing them to die.

You see NO PROBLEM with that?

[busybeela]

There are bloggers out there doing the work that the old media refuses to do, reading the bill! Here are some of the nasty details:

? Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.

? Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.

? Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (read: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)

? Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.

? Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No "judicial review" is permitted against the government monopoly. Put simply, private insurers will be crushed.

? Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan. No alternatives.

? Page 126: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND their families.

? Page 167: Any individual who doesnt' have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.

? Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them).

? Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.

More here: http://directorblue.blogspot.com

[hungry1968-16]

I saw this list yesterday, and debunked the first four that I looked at, by simply looking at the legislation itself.

What this person is counting on is ignorant people - such as yourself - to believe the lies without fact checking to see if it's true or not.

In summary, the creator of this nonsense is playing you for a fool, and you bought it unquestioningly.

[Yellowdog68]

Piyush Jindal is a joke as gov. of Louisiana. Typical right wing politician, he talks reform, transparency,smaller government,lower taxes. in reality all BS. Ethics reform has no teeth,transparency of his office is nonexistence,he lets health and education face drastic cuts but allows state pols. to continue to fund dubious pet projects which he could have done away with with his line item veto. He has NEVER held a real job only government appointed jobs and elected positions. Do not be fooled by the GOP trying to promote him, because the Grand Old party thinks it needs a brown skinned man to counter Obama.
Of course we in LA would be better off if he would leave for national office,good riddance.