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Inside the Obamacare Spin Zone: Pay no attention to that iceberg ahead! 1.23.12

James C. Capretta — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:53:45 +0000

Last week, the White House issued a new “study” on the supposed progress states have made in implementing the “health exchanges” that are central to constructing the Obamacare system. According to the administration’s spin, some 28 states are “on their way” toward establishing the exchanges, so everything is apparently well under control. In other words, nothing to worry about here. Full speed ahead!

But is that really what’s going on here?

Because, even if one were to accept the White House’s accounting (which one shouldn’t), that would mean that 22 states — roughly 40 percent of the country — are not “on their way” toward erecting the Obamacare exchanges. Isn’t that a problem? Further, upon closer inspection, it’s clear that many of the 28 states that are supposedly “on their way” really aren’t “on their way.” That’s just comical White House spin, in which the truly inconsequential — the acceptance of minor federal grant money, or the setting up of a committee to “study” the question — is elevated into a sure sign that Obamacare is a fait accompli. It’s ridiculous.

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Union Jobs vs. Children’s Lives: Which Side Are You On?

NB Staff — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:57:02 +0000

From our friends at Reason.tv:

Question: Are lawmakers in Sacramento really putting the interests of the big labor ahead of children’s health?

House Dems confident of passing health reform

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0000

House Democrats on Thursday said they’re closing in on the votes needed to pass President Obama’s health care overhaul, as they try to muscle past obstacles such as controversial abortion language and difficult reconciliation rules. A top House Democrat, Rep. Henry A. Waxman, predicted the House can pass the health care overhaul without the support of anti-abortion Democrats, dismissing the notion that stronger language is needed to prevent federal dollars from being used for abortions. The House Budget Committee plans to start the reconciliation process Monday with a vote to pass a bill under the complicated rule structure, which allows …

Public unmoved by Obama’s health bill PR

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:08:41 +0000

For all of President Obama’s impassioned speeches trying to sell his health care reform plan to Americans, opposition to the $2 trillion proposal has remained nearly unchanged for months, stretching back to last summer, when town halls across the nation flared with voter discontent. Mr. Obama has been lobbying Americans on his reform bill for just more than a year, beginning on March 5, 2009, at the opening session of the Forum on Health Reform, according to CBS Radio’s Mark Knoller, who keeps scrupulous records on the president’s daily events. Since then, Mr. Obama has delivered 52 speeches, statements and …

Lincoln opposes fast-track health bill

THE WASHINGTON TIMES — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:04:28 +0000

A moderate Democrat insisted Tuesday she remained opposed to pushing a health care bill through the Senate with a simple majority vote, despite saying she wanted to see what was in the legislation. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, Arkansas Democrat, who is facing a more liberal Democratic primary challenger as well as GOP opposition, said those comments didn’t represent a change of heart on her stance against the controversial majority-vote procedure known as “reconciliation.” “I don’t support reconciliation. All I said was I want to see what’s in it,” M rs. Lincoln told reporters outside the Senate floor. She walked quickly into …

Stupak: Health bill abortion fray resolvable

THE WASHINGTON TIMES — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:32:19 +0000

TAWAS CITY, Mich. — Prospects are good for resolving a dispute over abortion that has led some House Democrats to threaten to withhold support of President Obama’s health care overhaul, a key Michigan Democrat said Monday. Rep. Bart Stupak said he expects to resume talks with House leaders this week in a quest for wording that would impose no new limits on abortion rights but also would not allow use of federal money for the procedure. “I’m more optimistic than I was a week ago,” Mr. Stupak told the Associated Press between meetings with constituents in his northern Michigan district, …

Obama on the road to pitch health bill

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:00:10 +0000

Seeking to close the deal on a health care overhaul, President Obama is getting out of Washington, leaving the city he loves to bash and giving himself a platform to portray himself as an outsider going up against big insurance companies and their Capitol Hill lobbyists. Just about every time Mr. Obama has faced a deadline or crunch on his marquee priority, he has exchanged a White House podium for a campaign-style forum outside the Beltway in a bid to break through the political wrangling, attack Republican detractors and reconnect with voters. On Monday, Mr. Obama – backed by a …

Is Health Care a Right? 3.8.10

Walter Williams — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:39:51 +0000

Most politicians, and probably most Americans, see health care as a right. Thus, whether a person has the means to pay for medical services or not, he is nonetheless entitled to them. Let’s ask ourselves a few questions about this vision.
Say a person, let’s call him Harry, suffers from diabetes and he has no means to pay a laboratory for blood work, a doctor for treatment and a pharmacy for medication. Does Harry have a right to XYZ lab’s and Dr. Jones’ services and a prescription from a pharmacist? And, if those services are not provided without charge, should Harry be able to call for criminal sanctions against those persons for violating his rights to health care?

From OutloudOpinion – For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com

Obama hits road, pitches health plan

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:17:06 +0000

Seeking to close the deal on his health care overhaul bill, President Obama is getting out of Washington, leaving the city he loves to bash to portray himself as an outsider going up against big insurance companies and their lobbyists in the capital. Just about every time Mr. Obama has faced a deadline or crunch on his top policy priority, he has exchanged a White House podium for a campaign-style event somewhere beyond the Beltway in a bid to break through the political wrangling and reconnect with voters. The latest iteration of that strategy Monday brought Mr. Obama to a …

Obama Bribes, Threatens, and Rewards Congress to Pass Health Care 3.5.10

Dick Morris — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:46:06 +0000

All aspects of President Obama’s Chicago-style tactics are on display as he cajoles, bullies and bribes the House to pass his health care proposals despite the overwhelming public rejection with which they have been met.

To some, he offers bribes. Rep. Jim Matheson, endangered species — a Utah Democrat — succeeded in getting his brother Scott appointed to a federal judgeship. Matheson voted against Obamacare when it first passed the House. With his new-found winnings in his pocket, he now professes to be undecided. He faces a clear conflict between his district and his conscience on the one hand and the bribe to his brother on the other. The conscience will probably lose.

From OutloudOpinion – For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com