Mr. President – Please Call Me Out!
Yesterday I posted the ObamaCare Speech Primer for the President’s speech last night to Congress. They were a list of questions for you to see what the President’s answers would be. Below are the questions posed yester day with the answers in bold.
How does Obama reconcile that creating another government bureaucracy which spends trillions of taxpayers’ hard earned money and insures 350 million Americans with creating efficiencies and reducing costs? He doesn’t. Obama didn’t give specific details on the total cost of his plan, how it was going to be paid for, and who was paying for it. Is it any wonder that he doesn’t when we hear idiocy like this from him – But by avoiding some of the overhead that gets eaten up at private companies by profits”?
Does Obama talk about comprehensive tort reform and reducing defensive medicine/documentation practices which will reduce costs by tens of billions of dollars? Here’s what Obama said “Now, finally, many in this chamber — particularly on the Republican side of the aisle — have long insisted that reforming our medical malpractice laws can help bring down the cost of health care. Now — there you go. There you go. Now, I don’t believe malpractice reform is a silver bullet, but I’ve talked to enough doctors to know that defensive medicine may be contributing to unnecessary costs. So I’m proposing that we move forward on a range of ideas about how to put patient safety first and let doctors focus on practicing medicine.” So first he talks about medical malpractice laws, then he talks about defensive medicine, then he talks about patient safety first and doctors focusing on practicing medicine. Hear ANY SPECIFIC details on tort reform? NOPE. Perhaps my fellow Americans would like to learn that defensive medicine is between 9% and 25% of total healthcare spending. In dollars, that’s between $198 billion and $550 billion that’s squandered annually in defensive medicine decisions. Mr. President we don’t need tests to see if we need tort reform.
When Obama talks about the people who say “we just can’t do nothing” who, specifically, has said that besides Obama? To date, I haven’t been able to find a single person from either side who’s said “we just can’t do nothing”. No one else has come forward and pointed out any other person who’s said that besides the President. Why does the President keep bringing this up?
Does Obama talk about allowing the 1300+ insurance companies to sell plans across state lines which will reduce costs for every single American dramatically? It’s worked for millions of products and services for decades, why does he think it won’t work for health insurance? No, not a single mention. That’s very odd because he made the argument for it in his speech to Congress – “My guiding principle is, and always has been, that consumers do better when there is choice and competition. That’s how the market works. (Applause.) Unfortunately, in 34 states, 75 percent of the insurance market is controlled by five or fewer companies. In Alabama, almost 90 percent is controlled by just one company. And without competition, the price of insurance goes up and quality goes down. And it makes it easier for insurance companies to treat their customers badly — by cherry-picking the healthiest individuals and trying to drop the sickest, by overcharging small businesses who have no leverage, and by jacking up rates.” So Mr. President, instead of creating a government run public option and a government run Health Insurance exchange with over 53 new government agencies, committees, and panels, why not just allow the 1300+ companies to sell across state lines for a fraction of the cost of your big government plan?
Does Obama talk about making health insurance for the individual tax deductible which will allow Americans to use their own dollars to make their own choices about their own health care? Nope not one single mention of it last nite or ever from the President.
Does Obama talk about the numerous alternative plans that have been offered and why does he keep saying no plans have been offered by Republicans? Hasn’t he seen HR 3400? He didn’t last night. In fact he had to state that his door is wide open. Oh really Mr. President? Since when? Last nite? – Obama’s Door Has Been Shut Tight. He’s also stated repeatedly that no other plans have been offered. Mr. President, educate thyself – Plans Galore and More. Really now Mr. President, to be so intellectually dishonest is beneath the level of the President. Tell the truth, the only health care reform you want is what you and the Dems have proposed – Big Government Health Care.
Does Obama specifically address how he will reform Medicare’s $38 trillion of unfunded debt? Not a single specific detail. In fact he kicks the can down the road.
Does Obama specifically state how ObamaCare will improve the quality of health care for every American? The President doesn’t. He actually made the case that organizations are already doing that without the help of ObamaCare: “We have long known that some places — like the Intermountain Healthcare in Utah or the Geisinger Health System in rural Pennsylvania — offer high-quality care at costs below average. So the commission can help encourage the adoption of these common-sense best practices by doctors and medical professionals throughout the system” . So Mr. President, why would we need your bloated bureaucratic government run commission muddying things up that are already successful? We don’t.
How does Obama reconcile his mantra of deficit neutral health care reform with the CBO showing the plan will add billions every year to the deficit? Let’s hear what the President said – “First, I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits — either now or in the future. I will not sign it if it adds one dime to the deficit, now or in the future, period. And to prove that I’m serious, there will be a provision in this plan that requires us to come forward with more spending cuts if the savings we promised don’t materialize.” Ok, Mr President, have you been listening to the CBO? We don’t need to know if your savings will materialize, they won’t:
When Obama talks about the public option, does he inform the American people that the only choices they will have is through the mandates of hundreds of government regulations? Again, the President did not inform the American people. Here is what the President said – But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange. Now, let me be clear. Let me be clear. It would only be an option for those who don’t have insurance. No one would be forced to choose it, and it would not impact those of you who already have insurance. In fact, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, we believe that less than 5 percent of Americans would sign up.” First, not one specific detail about the hundreds of government regulations on individuals and businesses. Second, no mention of the forcing of individuals into the public option if they don’t choose that or a plan in the government run Health Insurance Exchange. Third, not a single utterance of the monetary penalties imposed by HR 3200 on individuals and businesses who chose neither the public option or the Gov’t Health Insurance Exchange. Finally, if only 5% of Americans would sign up for the public option then how would that increase competition for the other 340 million Americans Mr. President? (Shhh, it wouldn’t)
Does Obama inform the people of America about the 50+ new agencies, committees, and panels that ObamaCare will create? The President doesn’t utter a single word about these new government agencies, committees, and panels nor the costs associated with them. Oh and by the way, it’s 53 not 50 new government bureaucracies.
Does Obama inform the American people that the main agency who will enforce compliance of ObamaCare is the IRS? Not a single utterance.
Does Obama inform the American people that participants in Medicare D will see there premiums rise by 20%? Oh no he doesn’t. In fact, the President dishonestly states that “we can use some of the savings to fill the gap in coverage that forces too many seniors to pay thousands of dollars a year out of their own pockets for prescription drugs” The Medicare Trust Fund has $38 Trillion of unfunded debt. What savings? Savings is what you have left over after expenses are paid Mr. President. Seniors allow me to show you just how the President is going to help you by cutting Medicare Benefits and increasing Medicare D premiums here and here. Feel better now?
Will Obama inform the people that of the 47 million uninsured is inaccurate according to the Census Bureau? Nope, instead the President gave another inaccurate number – “There are now more than 30 million American citizens who cannot get coverage”
Will he tell the truth – That only about 4% of the total population in U.S. is uninured. Allowing about half of the 18 million (ages 18 to 34) as part of the 17 million (household income > $50K), 9.5 million + 17 million + 9 million = 35.5 million. 46.6 million – 35.5 million = 11.1 million potentially “uninsured.” In 2006, the Census Bureau reported that there were 46.6 million people without health insurance. About 9.5 million were not United States citizens. Another 17 million lived in households with incomes exceeding $50,000 a year and could, presumably, purchase their own health coverage [1]. Eighteen million of the 46.6 million uninsured were between the ages of eighteen and thirty-four, most of whom were in good health and no necessarily in need of health-care coverage or chose not to purchase it [2]. Moreover, only 30 percent of the nonelderly population who became uninsured in a given year remained uninsured for more than twelve months. Almost 50 percent regained their health coverage within four months [3]. The 47 million “uninsured” figure used by [Speaker of the House Nancy] Pelosi and others is widely inaccurate.” From Liberty and Tyranny by Mark Levin He did not tell the truth again. See the previous answer and directly above.
When Obama talks about special interest groups will he inform the American people that he is the biggest monetary benefactor of the special interest groups? No. Here’s what the President said about special interests – “I won’t stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are.” Now let’s see just how interested the President is in special interests via OpenSecrets.Org -
- Lawyers & Lobbyists – #1 Barack Obama (D) $46,244,493
- Finance/Insurance/RE – #1 Barack Obama (D) $42,268,366
- Misc. Business – #1 Barack Obama (D) $38,104,140
- Ideology/Single Issue – #1 Barack Obama (D) $24,242,985
- Health Professionals – #1 Barack Obama (D) $20,064,596
- Health Services/HMOs – #1 Barack Obama (D) $1,468,450
- Pharma/Health Prod. – #1 Barack Obama (D) $2,129,073
When Obama starts bringing up the stories of people who have problems with their insurance will he bring up any stories of the 85% of Americans who are happy with their insurance? Not a single story brought up about any of the 85% of Americans who are happy with their insurance. Hmmm.
Will Obama have an explanation for the American people as to why he hasn’t invited GOP leaders to the White House since April of this year for talks on health care reform? Will he tell the American people why he said to GOP leaders that he has health care reform under control? We still don’t have an answer from the President. We only know this – Obama’s door has been shut since April.
When Obama talks about health care/insurance reform, does he know the actual definition of reform – ‘to put or change into an improved form or condition? From the President’s speech last night and the 29 same speeches before – absolutely not.
Based on the actual definition of reform, does ObamaCare come anywhere close to true reform? No.
Does Obama present a plan that is market-based, limits the role of government, decreases costs, improve the quality and delivery of health care, has comprehensive tort reform, and allows for complete freedom of choice by the individual? If you think that a government run Health Insurance Exchange with a government run public option plan, or co-op or trigger is any of the above then please kindly turn in your brain.
Mr. President, last night you said that you would call me out. Please sir, I implore you to call me out. Nothing would make me happier than for you to personally call me out. That is, if you have the courage or gravitas to do so, sir.
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