TPM: Shh, Anthony Weiner -- The Moderates Might Hear You (he is coming up on Rachel soon)

[Pirate Smile]

Shh, Anthony Weiner -- The Moderates Might Hear You

Republicans say Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) let the cat out of the bag on the Senate health care reform compromise today. After the ardent public option supporter extolled the virtues of the Senate compromise plan that expands Medicare coverage, Republicans seized on his comments as evidence that the plan was a backdoor to government-run, single-payer coverage.

Weiner told the New York Daily News that the Medicare buy-in plan under discussion in the Senate "would perhaps get us on the path to a single payer model."

"This is one idea I like a lot," he told the paper.

Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and John McCain (R-AZ) seized on Weiner's comments when they stopped by the Senate press gallery to talk Medicare with reporters this evening. They clearly enjoyed attacking the fragile Democratic compromise with the words of one of the party's own.

Thune said that quote was all he needed to hear about the plan. He told reporters that the "goal" of people like Weiner was a single, government-run plan for all Americans. Citing the quote, he said the Medicare buy-in plan "appeared to be another step in that direction."

McCain said that, over time, the plan would make health insurance companies "competitive with the federal government." That's the goal of progressives, McCain said, and "that's why Weiner said what he said."

McCain, Thune and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) also said hospital groups were opposed to the plan because expanding Medicare, which the trio said pays about 80% of health costs, would mean hospitals would lose money with every new Medicare patient they see. The net effect, they said, could be the shuttering of existing hospitals and slow the growth of new ones.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/shh-anthony-weiner----the-moderates-might-hear-you.php#more

[Clio the Leo]

1. Anthony is on my list....

.... of people who's opinions matter on this whole thing. Glad he likes it.

[vaberella]

4. Ditto for me. I'd like to hear from WhiteHouse and a few others too.

But Weiner is key...most others who like it and came out in support recently...don't hold too much water for me.

[Clio the Leo]

8. Oh SENATOR Whitehouse! lol

For a minute there I was like, "Vabs, did ya NOT see the thread I posted last night?" lol

I still want him to be the next President just so we can call his admin "the Whitehouse White House."

I was also intrigued to see what Lieberman said too. So far, so good.

[vaberella]

9. I know...I get a kick out of spelling it WhiteHouse...it entertains me. n/t

[andym]

2. This is what I've been afraid of-- any expansion of Medicare is too good to be true

and is probably the best road to the single-payer, given American's mostly moderate politics.
Let's hope that they don't use the media to kill it.

[Cha]

3. The doom and gloomers might hear

him too.

[HughMoran]

5. I'm glad the Republicans are afraid it might become another popular program

Perhaps it's not as bad as it first seems.

Dean, Krugman, Sanders & Weiner like it, Republicans don't - perhaps I should wait and see...

[babylonsister]

6. fyi, Rep. Weiner on Rachel's show tonight. nt

[IndianaGreen]

7. Yes, is he coming up on Rachel shortly

Right now she is talking about the Uganda death penalty to LGBTs bill.

[Phx_Dem]

10. Whatever you do, Weiner, don't go on Countdown. Olbermann said you

and the other Dems have screwed him over. When he hears that you actually like this plan, he's gonna cry for while and then subject his viewers (thankfully, I'm no longer one) to one of his 20 minute Special Rants.