TYT: Did Obama Really Offer A Public Option?

[ihavenobias]

Run time: 02:15 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0fl6r-EzTQ   Posted on YouTube: September 10, 2009 By YouTube Member: TheYoungTurks Views on YouTube: 12854   Posted on DU: September 10, 2009 By DU Member: ihavenobias Views on DU: 789

 
Note: After you watch the above video make sure you also watch this:
TYT: The Back Story of How Right-Wing Groups Got Van Jones Fired/Made Him Resign.

Summary: Cenk did more in depth analysis of the speech will I (or someone else I'm sure) will post later. This is just a quick reaction from Cenk and Ana on the topic of if it seemed the president was 100% behind a public option. Their main concern is that people will be mandated into expensive for-profit insurance.

Also Watch These 5 Clips You May Have Missed:

1)-Example of Public Option vs. the Private in Cenk's Personal Life

2)-Fox Criticizes Obama For Speaking To The Children

3)-Olbermann Criticizes Obama From The Left

4)-Is The Mainstream Media Swift Boating Obama?

5)-A Progressive Review Of The Movie 'District 9'

PS---TYT is now on Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheYoungTurks

[TheEuclideanOne]

1. Most commonly heard future comment of insurance companies

You mean that we don't have to change at all and on top of that we get 30 million new customers? Whoo Hoo!!!

[ihavenobias]

8. Sad but true. n/t

[Melissa G]

2. Closing Line...If that is the case, It is not a coincidence.

I so agree.

A strong public option, which is a compromise instead of the Better Choice SINGLE PAYER, is critical for this speech not to be just a major giveaway to the insurance industry.

[debbierlus]

3. No. A severely restricted option with room left to be thrown off the table

And, a dismissive comment to progressives

'ONLY a means to an end'...

No public option.

He talked more to the right then the left.

He has nothing but disdain for those who challenge his corporate agenda.

[Plucketeer]

4. It was a good speech alright, but....

the minimalizing of the "public option" was disappointing and worriesome. It was almost as if it was a minor footnote to the rest of the proposal. It should have been the anchor of all the points made. It could have started reform JUST by it's prominence in the speech.
What we need more than health care is election finance reform! Get THAT done right and the rest will fall in line for the people's wants and needs.

[abelenkpe2]

5. Defended the public option

but he said he was open to alternatives. How difficult is that for people to understand? It is a giveaway to insurance companies:
mandatory health insurance
no government run plan
subsidies for those that can't afford to purchase a plan

Of course the bill still has not been settled on. There is still time to push for a strong public option, so we need to keep writing and calling our reps to make sure it's in there. The speech as good as it was did not promise a public option.

[SandWalker1984]

6. Obama gave a good speech - BUT HE THREW PUBLIC OPTION UNDER THE BUS

Wall Street is celebrating today as United Health Care stock is up substantially. Why shouldn't they celebrate? Last night Obama told them and us that they would get 30-40 million new MANDATED customers, they won't have any curbs or regulation of the premiums they charge us, and the public option will be so small, so underfunded that it will die on the vine without giving the corporate insurance companies any competition.

Obama's version of a public option has been watered down into nothing before it even got started. Less than 5% of the population will be eligible to join. If your employer offers you insurance, even if poor or expensive, you cannot go to the public option. No government subsidies to help get the public option up and running. Subsidies to help you purchase private insurance in the exchange but nothing for a public option - it has to pay it's own way.

People, it's not a free market if you cannot select a public option or if you are forced by mandate to buy private insurance.

The CEOs of the insurance companies are dancing on their desks today.


There was also nothing in the speech about capping or regulating what insurance companies can charge for premiums.

So the big greedy corporations get millions of new victims, competition will be DOA.

Better they never attempted reform than to pass crap like that.

I expected better from Obama.

I refuse to give up the fight for an affordable public Medicare-type option with access to everyone. THAT would be true competition.

[Bette Noir]

7. He threw US under the bus.

[JDPriestly]

9. States require car insurance coverage as a CONDITION for car ownership.

They do not require everyone to have car insurance. If you don't have a car, you don't have to have car insurance. Woody Allen claimed to have lived in New York City for some years without a car and therefore without car insurance.

This health insurance would be a requirement for everyone. That is why Obama is doing it as a tax credit. Congress does not have the authority to require health insurance for everyone. It has the authority to impose an income tax under the 16th Amendment (and certain other taxes under other authorizations), but it does not have the authority to order you and me to buy a specific product from one of a number of corporations. That is my opinion.

[pleah]

10. K& R Like I said before no matter what they push through we are gonna get screwed.

[ihavenobias]

11. I fear you're right.

We'll see.