REVEALING: Obama ad against Arnold health insurance scam proposal in CA

[yurbud]

Obama just rose in my estimation by standing up to Arnold AND corrupt Democrats in California by saying in a commercial against Arnoldcare:

"The reason people don't have health insurance is because they can't afford it."

The Arnold-Nunez plan addresses one problem with healthcare; it bans insurers from refusing to sell someone a policy because of a pre-existing condition.

However, it does NOT address the cost issue with price controls and strict oversight (the only way a private system could work), but instead REQUIRES people to buy a private policy if their employer doesn't provide it. So if you don't have insurance because you can't afford it, you will be punished.

That is the same conservative logic behind NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. Schools are struggling because students come to school with more problems than in the past, teachers are paid too little, and classes are too big. The NCLB solution is to measure failure and further punish those who can't the job done by removing funding. Ultimately, this will lead to more private schools set up by business people who will make money and use some of it as political contributions. Bush's own brother makes money selling NCLB testing materials to schools.

If we want to live in a decent country, we need representatives who call bullshit on these intentionally destructive conservative ideas.

The full text of the ad:

(voice over) The nurses of California agree with Senator Barack Obama: The government shouldn't punish people who can't afford health insurance.

(Sen. Obama) I know that there have been some folks who said that it's not possible to provide universal health care coverage unless there's a mandate. Their essential argument is the only way to get everybody covered is if the government forces you to buy health insurance. If you don't buy it, then you’ll be penalized in some way. And the reason people don't have health insurance is because they can't afford it.

(voice over) So why are Gov. Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Nunez proposing a law, AB x 1.1, to force you to buy insurance which would pad the pockets of the insurance companies? AB x 1.1 is not the path to the universal healthcare we so desperately need. Don't let the politicians force you to buy insurance you can't afford and which won't help you when you're sick.

OBAMA on Arnoldcare mp3

http://www.calnurse.org/media-center/press-releases/2008/january/nurses-unveil-new-advertising-campaign-against-schwarzenegger-nunez-individual-mandate-plan.html?lk=4901682-4901682-0-30498-yyy/NokX-ZcOkqosn6cPcd3o9NkxRk6r">CA NURSES CAMPAIGN AGAINST ARNOLDCARE

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/patientrevolt/?lk=4901682-4901682-0-30498-yyy/NokX-ZcOkqosn6cPcd3o9NkxRk6r|CONTACT CA LEGISLATORS>

[OzarkDem]

1. Obama's alternative isn't much better

His plan just doesn't require you to buy it.

If you can't afford it, you'll just have to wait until his plans to reduce costs get through Congress, get implemented and start having an impact on health care costs. Then you'll have to wait for him to find a way to make private insurance companies pass those savings on to consumers.

That could take a while. Meanwhile, you'll still be uninsured.

Running ads like this is dishonest. Obama's campaign is making it appear he has a good alternative, which he doesn't. Obama's meme of "mandatory insurance" is straight from the GOP playbook - a trick to make the public fear universal health coverage.

One can only assume this tactic was generated by the private insurance industry since its being used by the GOP as well.

I hope John Edwards calls him out on it.

[Garbo 2004]

2. It's not an Obama ad. CA Nurses used sound clips from Obama to make their point about the bill.

See disclaimer on their site: "Paid for by the California Nurses Association which is responsible for the content of this ad. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee." http://www.calnurse.org/media-center/press-releases/2008/january/nurses-unveil-new-advertising-campaign-against-schwarzenegger-nunez-individual-mandate-plan.html?lk=4901682-4901682-0-30498-yyy/NokX-ZcOkqosn6cPcd3o9NkxRk6r

[truedelphi]

3. I was somewhat pleased by the bill (though not totally)

I think most people who truly cannot afford it would be able to have the cost of insurance covered.

And the insurance industry is allowed in, something I oppose, but the bill limits their abilty to receive monies to 20%.

That being said, I am hoping something much better comes along and I applaud the Nurses Union for their active stance in obtaining that something better.