Obama: Honesty Needed in Health Debate

(AP)  President Obama is challenging his critics on a national health care overhaul, accusing them of making "phony claims" about the legislation.

"This is an issue of vital concern to every American, and I'm glad that so many are engaged," Mr. Obama said Saturday in his weekly radio and Internet address.

"But it also should be an honest debate, not one dominated by willful misrepresentations and outright distortions, spread by the very folks who would benefit the most by keeping things exactly as they are."

Mr. Obama said illegal immigrants would not be part of the health care overhaul, taxpayers would not be mandated to fund abortions and he does not intend a government takeover of health care - all claims that critics have made at contentious town hall-style meetings with members of Congress.

He also took a swipe at "death panels," an idea former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin introduced on her Facebook page.

"As every credible person who has looked into it has said, there are no so-called death panels - an offensive notion to me and to the American people," Mr. Obama said. "These are phony claims meant to divide us."

Mr. Obama's liberal base was angered this past week after he seemed to suggest he would be fine with a plan that lacked a government-run health insurance option.

"This is one idea among many to provide more competition and choice, especially in the many places around the country where just one insurer thoroughly dominates the marketplace," Mr. Obama said. "Let me repeat: It would be just an option; those who prefer their private insurer would be under no obligation to shift to a public plan."

In their weekly address, Republicans accused Mr. Obama of misrepresenting his proposal.

"As opposition to the Democrats' government-run health plan is mounting, the president has said he'd like to stamp out some of the disinformation floating around out there," said Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga. "The problem is the president, himself, plays fast and loose with the facts."

Price said that the whole plan should be scrapped and lawmakers should start over with a plan that makes sure patients - not Washington or insurance providers - are the top priority.

"We all know that when the government is setting the rules and is backed by tax dollars, it will destroy, not compete with, the private sector," said Price, a physician. "The reality is, whether or not you get to keep your plan, or your doctor, is very much in question under the president's proposal."

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On the Net:

Mr. Obama: www.whitehouse.gov

GOP: www.youtube.com/RepublicanConference

[curiousQ]

Informed choices are hard to come by these days. Very sad...

[drsuz]

Once more..For those of you all hyped up on having National Health Care, well is it going to pay for your Dental and Optical expenses? Your kid needs braces..Too bad, let them have crooked teeth. You have cavities or your tooth got knocked out..Too Bad. Your kids needs glasses..Too Bad, let them go blind.

These are both included in my medical plan and for what we pay for family, if I can't afford the premium once a month for my health insurance, then I can't afford a telephone or cable which I would gladly do without to have my present health insurance plan.

Which gets me to the point. All those without health insurance now because they were laid off or lost their job, heck even some of those poor people. Do you have a telephone or cable or DSL internet or cell phones? If you can afford those, you can afford your own health insurance.

[endurorob]

Maybe the honesty should start with the president. The fact is that there is nothing requiring a check for legal residense in the bill but nooone can be truned down so that by default will allow illegals to be covered. There is nothing that says non medically required abortions are not covered so once again the default is they will be covered. And the fact is that the liberals, including Obama, dointend the public option to be the gateway to government takeover of health care. He has said it in the past and there is no reason to think that has changed.

[radicalc-2009]

Socialism by using socialized medicine to usher it in - by Ronald Reagan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iShCXx_xZDQ

[aldon62]

Medicare isn't scarey folks. It was easy to sign up for, and has been highly efficient. If anyone is afraid of a public option, much like Medicare, don't be! Oh, by the way, it isn't free, this is not a free program. You pay roughly $100 for part "B" AND AROUND $138 for part "D". Yes, "A" is free, but it only covers catastrophic claims, leaving the patient with a huge amount to re-pay. To get a "complete" package, you need co-insurance. I'm covered through United Healthcare and it runs $186 per month. In addition, I continue to work and am paying in every month to augment the system. I also have to pay for my wife's private insurance. as she's not yet 65 years old. This isn't a free ride for anyone; stop fighting a public option, it's the only thing that makes sense to cover everyone, and it IS NOT free!

[Hal_Horvath]

"We all know that when the government is setting the rules and is backed by tax dollars, it will destroy, not compete with, the private sector," said Price, a physician. "The reality is, whether or not you get to keep your plan, or your doctor, is very much in question under the president's proposal."

This itself is fast and loose with the facts. The facts are that all health care costs are escalating every year, becoming unaffordable, even for successful businesses to pay for...

So...right now, today, you are unlikely to be able to keep your current insurance plan! You and your employer won't be able to afford that plan without raising the deductible a lot this year (may have already done so), or next year, etc.

Or just your employer dropping you or your coverage, because they can't afford both...

2nd, under the most liberal bill: HR 3200, the subsidies are for low-income people to buy insurance, public OR PRIVATE... not for the public plan itself!

The subsidy is to buy insurance....including any private insurance!

That playing field would be level. From the beginning.

The rhetoric is meant to decieve.

Hello? anyone there?

[jab232]

It is time for the congress to put up or shut up. If those folks are in the pockets of the billion-dollar corporations rather than the ordinary people who are being exploited and abused, they need to vote and let everyone know it. That is especially true for the Blue Dog Democrats.

[radicalc-2009]

LIBERTIES ERODED- FIRST 150 PAGES OF THE BILL - MUCH MUCH MORE INCLUDED IN THE REST OF THE BILL- FROM RICK JOYNER

HR 3200 currently under consideration in the House of Representatives

Pg 22 of the HC Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit the books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure!!

Pg 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get

Pg 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!!

Pg 42 of HC Bill - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your benefits for you. You have no choice!

Pg 50 Section 152 in HC bill - HC will be provided to ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise

Pg 58HC Bill ? Gov?t will have real-time access to individual?s finances & a National ID Health care card will be issued!

Pg 59 HC Bill lines 21-24 Govt will have direct access to your banks accts for electronic funds transfer.

Pg 65 Sec 164 is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & community orgs (ACORN).

Pg 72 Lines 8-14 Govt is creating an HC Exchange to bring priv HC plans under Govt control.

Pg 84 Sec 203 HC bill - Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private Health Care plans in the Exchange

Pg 85 Line 7 HC Bill - Specs for of Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare!

Pg 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill - Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services.

Example - Translation for illegal aliens.

Pg 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18 The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Govt HC plan

Pg 85 Line 7 HC Bill - Specs of Ben Levels 4 Plans. #AARP members - Your Health Care WILL be rationed

Pg 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill - Medicaid Eligible Individual will be automat.enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.

Pg 124 lines 24-25 HC No company can sue Govt on price fixing. No ?judicial review? against Govt Monopoly.

Pg 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill - Doctors/ #AMA - The Govt will tell YOU what you can make.

Pg 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public opt plan. NO CHOICE

Pg 126 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.

Pg 149 Lines 16-24 ANY Employer w/ payroll 400k & above who does not prov. pub opt. pays 8% tax on all payroll

Pg 150 Lines 9-13 Biz w payroll btw 251k & 400k who doesnt provide public opt pays 2-6% tax on all payroll Pg 167 Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesnt have acceptable HC according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.

Read the bill! It's a nightmare

http://docs.house.gov/edlabor/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf

[the_majesty]

As Obama asked I will post the truth.
Rasussem - Aug 22 , 2009 ... Obama's approval index hsa fallen
to negative double digits. 39% of the national voters strongly
disapprove and onlt 29% of Obama. Now you have the truth....

[govmess]

FINALLY...THE $64,000 QUESTION WAS ASKED...

YESTERDAY ON "ABC-TV" DURING THE "NETWORK SPECIAL ON HEALTH CARE".... OBAMA WAS ASKED:

"MR. PRESIDENT WILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GIVE UP YOUR CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROGRAM AND JOIN THE NEW 'UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM' THAT THE REST OF US WILL BE ON ????".....

THERE WAS STONEY SILENCE AS OBAMA IGNORED THE QUESTION AND CHOSE NOT TO ANSWER IT !!!...

IN ADDITION, A NUMBER OF SENATORS WERE ASKED THE SAME QUESTION AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS..."WE WILL THINK ABOUT IT."

AND THEY DID. IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY ON THE NEWS THAT THE "KENNEDY HEALTH CARE BILL" WAS WRITTEN INTO THE NEW HEALTH CARE REFORM INITIATIVE ENSURING THAT CONGRESS WILL BE 100% EXEMPT !

SO, THIS GREAT NEW HEALTH CARE PLAN THAT IS GOOD FOR YOU AND ME... IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR OBAMA, HIS FAMILY OR CONGRESS. WE NEED TO STOP THIS PROPOSED DEBACLE ASAP !!!!... THIS IS TOTALLY WRONG !!!!!

I CAN ONLY ACCEPT A UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL THAT EXTENDS TO EVERYONE... NOT JUST US LOWLY CITIZENS... IT MUST STATE THAT THE WASHINGTON "ELITE" WILL GIVE UP THEIR GOLD-PLATED HEALTH CARE COVERAGES.

[ubrew12]

They've said repeatedly that you can keep your current insurance. You won't be forced on a 'government-run plan'. Why should they be forced on one? The public option is designed to force competition back into the market by creating a player who isn't in the market to gouge the customers. Remember, private health insurance in America is NOT a capitalist system (healthcare never really could be, but we tried), its an oligopoly, in which the 'competitors' wink and nod and make backroom deals, and agree to prey on their customers. This gives you the 'choice' to be preyed upon or uninsured, lucky you. The public option, with its transparency and open books, should be relatively unable to rip off its customers, and hence should inject some reality into what has been a health insurer feeding frenzy. It sounds like, you can only be forced onto the public plan if you find yourself unemployed, and are unwilling to purchase insurance on your own. In that case, the gov't will force you to buy their plan (or someones plan). And if you're poor, they'll help pay. Frankly, that's the way it should be.

[sjc_1]

The Republicans that lose their jobs will be the first ones signing up to get some help with health insurance for their families, when we get real health care. But now they are the first ones screaming "socialism". I will bet you that was the case in 1935 with Social Security and in 1965 with Medicare. The Right Wing screamed "socialism" then went on to accept the benefits and were glad that they had them. The word HYPOCRITE comes to mind.