Steele: Public Option is Socialist

By: Daniel Carty
Topics: Health Care

(CBS)

As President Obama readies an address to Congress Wednesday night to save his stalled health care agenda, Republican opposition to the public option – a government-run insurance program designed to compete with private insurers – remained stiff.

The reason? It's socialist. At least that's what Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele told "Early Show" co-host Harry Smith" Wednesday, echoing a familiar criticism leveled at the public option by conservatives.

"And quite frankly I think a lot more people believing that there's more to this than meets the eye. And the reality of it is, you know, I just don't understand this idea that somehow people think that the federal government can enter into a marketplace and compete with private industry. That goes counter to everything that we know about how markets work and the role that the government plays in those markets."

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But, as Smith pointed out, Medicare is a government-run health insurance program that is largely supported by the public – and has escaped the stigma of socialism.

"[But] how often do we have to do another reset on Medicare because it's in default or running out of money?" Steele countered.

"If this is a matter of getting a certain number of people insurance, then let's work to get them into the insurance market," he added. "There are ways to do that. You can create in situation with respect to pre-existing conditions, address that issue through portability. You don't have to up end the entire system. To do this comprehensively just is not the way this should be done in my view and the view of a lot of people."

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told "The Early Show" that the president would address the public option and the need for "choice and competition" during his Wednesday. Gibbs said the public option was still on the table but declined to say how far Mr. Obama would push for it – something that has drawn the ire of many of his supporters.

Steele said the president's speech would just be "one more opportunity to tell us what we already know."

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by msimamaji September 10, 2009 10:25 AM EDT: I am not at all surprised that RNC Chairman Michale Steele considers a public option "socialist.'Go to center for Responsive politics and do some research. You'll discover that most GOP Congressmen get hefty political campaign contributions from pharmaceutical companies and health insurance companies. Whenever you or your employer pay for health insurance, you are giving the GOP a generous campaign contribution. (The same applies to Blue Dog Democrats.)
In addition, companies like Blue Cross offer Medicare Advantage, which causes me to wonder. How much money from Medicare Advnatage goes to senior citizens and how much money goes into political campaign coffers? How much money does Michael Steele himself steal from senior citizens Medicare Advantage Accounts.
No wonder Steele considers a public option "socialist." It's a threat to his source of income and Steele is always after "mo'money."
It's high time that the Justice Department conduct an investigation of Medicare Advantage, and perhaps Steele himself should be forced to testify.; Reply to this comment


by Zagama September 9, 2009 9:33 PM EDT: It`s a crying SHAME that Michael Steele does`nt know what socialism is. Why do they assume that the rest of the country does`nt know what it is??? I can only imagine they feed on the ignorant and those to lazy to look it up. Public option make sense...except for the big insurance companies who are slipping money to the right people to lobby against it. That`s great for those being lobbied but sucks for the rest of us and that takes away OUR freedom of choice.Obama is trying to look out for us.; Reply to this comment


by MelJM September 9, 2009 7:40 PM EDT: The gov option has guns behind it. A private market doesn't and is subject to state regulation also--more guns. It's as if the Microsoft board were competing with and regulating Apple. Competition? Ludicrous!; Reply to this comment


by pjk12354 September 9, 2009 7:06 PM EDT: Health care in the current system is crumbling as we speak........I've been out of work for over a year in the current system.......now you want to fine me because I can't afford health care..........looks really bad to me the way things are currently........maybe socialism isn't such a bad idea if it puts me back to work & gives me health care...........; Reply to this comment


by woeisme1 September 9, 2009 7:03 PM EDT: Michael Steele should know that he is an option.; Reply to this comment


by bantamei September 9, 2009 6:48 PM EDT: Do RepubLIEcans ever get tired of just out right lieing?; Reply to this comment


by notsouthern September 9, 2009 6:37 PM EDT: Republicon plan for health reform is more of the same.; Reply to this comment


by abluetiger September 9, 2009 5:44 PM EDT: Well so is high school football. Are you telling me that high school football is bad?
Well so are the interstate highways. Are you telling me that the interstate highway system proposed by President Eisenhower is bad?
Well so is ... there are so many thing it's hard to pick the next thing to question if it is bad.

You represent what party. What party is that again? Oh yes them.; Reply to this comment


by lovegetpeace September 9, 2009 5:07 PM EDT: Folks,
Anything less than the Public Option is Self-Suicidal in the long run given the 11% inflation rate average of the last 30 years in the Health Care industry.; Reply to this comment


by Questionews September 9, 2009 4:58 PM EDT: I don't see what the big uproar is!
It is socialist by definition. No biggie in calling it as it is.
There's lots of socialist programs in the US as has been pointed out many times on this board.
If Steele had been on a farm and pointed at the pasture & said "That's a cow" would there be all this wigging out happening??

(My guess is yes, by some select CBS bloggers); Reply to this comment