Robert Reich: Paul Ryan Still Doesn’t Get It

[ProSense]

Paul Ryan Still Doesn’t Get It

Republican House Budget chief Paul Ryan still doesn’t get it. He blames Tuesday’s upset victory of Democrat Kathy Hochul over Republican Jane Corwin to represent New York’s 26th congressional district on Democratic scare tactics.

Hochul had focused like a laser on the Republican plan to turn Medicare into vouchers that would funnel the money to private health insurers. Republicans didn’t exactly take it lying down. The National Republican Congressional Committee poured over $400,000 into the race, and Karl Rove’s American Crossroads provided Corwin an additional $700,000 of support. But the money didn’t work. Even in this traditionally Republican district – represented in the past by such GOP notables as Jack Kemp and William Miller, both of whom would become vice presidential candidates – Hochul’s message hit home.

Ryan calls it “demagoguery,” accusing Hochul and her fellow Democrats of trying to “scare seniors into thinking that their current benefits are being affected.”

Scare tactics? Seniors have every right to be scared. His plan would eviscerate Medicare by privatizing it with vouchers that would fall further and further behind the rising cost of health insurance. And Ryan and the Republicans offer no means of slowing rising health-care costs. To the contrary, they want to repeal every cost-containment measure enacted in last year’s health-reform legislation. The inevitable result: More and more seniors would be priced out of the market for health care.

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[AmericaIsGreat]

1. He'll get it when Dems take back the house

Until then he can "not get it" as much as he wants. In fact, I insist: don't get it, Paul Ryan!

[yellowcanine]

2. Dang those Democrats. Scaring old folk like that. Next thing you know they will be accusing

Republicans of setting up death panels for seniors. Ah...Never mind!

[CakeGrrl]

3. Let him remain clueless, I say

While he refuses to acknowledge that the American public hates his plan, the R's will lose seats for supporting it.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Reich is wrong. It isn't that Ryan doesn't get it. It is all about destroying the programs.

[Martin Eden]

7. Reich meant Ryan doesn't get WHY the DEM WON the election ...

... but most likely he gets it and is merely spewing political spin in an attempt to hide the fact his plan for Medicare is a huge political liability,

And YES -- the ultimate goal of this Randian sociopath is to destroy government social programs altogther.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. American Crossroads threw $700K away?

Satisfying.

[Mimosa]

6. Thought you didn't appreciate my man, Robert Reich. ;)

Reich is one of the smartest people in this country. I'd read his books years ago. He's never said anything stupid and he doesn't sell out because he knows what's at stake for the American people.

[flpoljunkie]

8. The 'tell': R's want to repeal every cost-containment measure enacted in last year’s health-reform

Reich spells it out clearly. Dems need to make themselves as clear on what Ryan's plan would do to Medicare.