Robert Reich: Right-wing getting away with attacks because there's still no healthcare plan!

[Better Believe It]

How To Fight Heathcare Fearmongers and Demagogues
By Robert Reich
August 12, 2009

Why are these meetings brimming with so much anger? Because Republican Astroturfers have joined the same old right-wing broadcast demagogues that have been spewing hate and fear for years, to create a tempest.

But why are they getting away with it? Why aren't progressives -- indeed, why aren't ordinary citizens -- taking the meetings back?

Mainly because there's still no healthcare plan. All we have are some initial markups from several congressional committees, which differ from one another in significant ways. The White House is waiting to see what emerges from the House and Senate before insisting on what it wants, maybe in conference committee.

But that's the problem: It's always easier to stir up fear and anger against something that's amorphous than to stir up enthusiasm for it.

The White House has just announced a web page designed to rebut some of the insane charges that the right is instigating. That won't be enough. The President has to be more specific about what he's for and what he's against. Without these specifics, the right can conjure up every demon in its arsenal while the middle and left can only shrug their shoulders.

The President needs to be very specific about two things in particular: (1) Who will pay? and (2) Why the public option is so important -- and why it's not a Trojan Horse to a government takeover.

Now's the time for specifics. It's impossible to fight fearmongering lies about specifics with nothing but positive principles.

Please read the entire article at:

http://www.robertreich.blogspot.com/

[ProSense]

1. Reich believes they're getting away with death panel claims because a bill hasn't been finalized?

What a crock!

These people are lunatics.

The corporate media is deliberately sabatoging health care, so why are WE blaming President Obama?

May be Reich should become part of the solution and begin countering the RW BS.

[PassingFair]

4. Mr. Reich is correct, as usual.

He's not BLAMING Obama, he's pointing out
a TRUTH.

I, myself have been hard pressed to "argue"
with the Douchebaggers of my acquaintance
because they are pulling stuff out of their
asses as "facts".


I am sure this is WHY Obama wanted a BILL
BEFORE the August recess, but he was not
(IMO) forceful enough with the blue dog
and new dem
SCUM that held it up.

We would still have a fight on our hands,
but at least we would know what we are
FIGHTING FOR.

[ProSense]

8. Claiming the RW is getting away with attacks because there are no specifics is nonsense.

A Look at Health Care Plans in Congress

Two primary bills: HELP and House

Reich can get more specifics here and here.

If he still needs more material to counter RW BS, he can use the AARP as a source.

[PassingFair]

11. They are all different.

We are "arguing" about angels dancing on pins
at this stage.

Do you doubt that Obama wanted this settled
BEFORE the break?

[Better Believe It]

15. What healthcare plan did President Obama want them to settle on?

His plan?

Someone else's plan?

The "any plan that Congress passes is OK with him plan"?

Whose plan?

What plan?

Who the hell can we defend the so-called "Obamacare plan" if the President doesn't even know what his plan is?

For example, will the healthcare plan he wants include or must it include a strong public option to get his signature? He's not saying. Or he don't know and you sure as hell don't know!

[customerserviceguy]

18. It's easier to make the case with the mushy middle

for "no change" versus "change that we really don't even know what it will look like exactly".

Reich is right.

[debbierlus]

38. Exactly.

The left is afraid there will be no real effective public option (justifiably so)

The elderly are afraid that the proposed cuts to Medicare will deny them treatment (justifiably so)

Everyone is concerned about what the term 'affordable' actually means....(justifiably so)

The single payer movement is disgusted that the President completely dismissed ANY dialogue around government administered insurance. (Justifiably so)

Obama put himself in this situation. And, I feel no sympathy for him. He decided back room deals & corporate profits trumped open dialogue and universal coverage. This is what you get when you don't stand for anything.

You end up standing for nothing.

[Cha]

25. I know the Blue Dogs didn't because my congressman

was bragging about it to his constituents on the Telephone Town Hall Meet he threw last Friday.

He wanted to come home and talk to them and see what they wanted in the Health Insurance Reform Bill. One thing he did was shoot down the gop media myths that are permeating the tv and airwaves.

[ProSense]

29. They're not so different that you can claim there are no specifics. Still

what does that have to do with the RW getting away with their lunatic attacks? There bizarre claims aren't in any bill. In fact, they're being pulled from the imagination of kooks.

[masuki bance]

33. Answer these- Will there be a public option in the final bill?

How about a co-op? Will there be individual mandates? What kind and what levels? How about a business mandate?

[ProSense]

37. Answers:

Will there be a public option in the final bill? Yes

How about a co-op? No

Will there be individual mandates? Most likely, with subsidies and a hardship waiver.

What kind and what levels? Up to 400% of the poverty level.

How about a business mandate? Still being discussed, but most likely.

That was my best attempt at reading minds. Now if you want specifics on the existing bills (which are similar to the above), the links have been provided. Have at it.

[masuki bance]

42. Guesses aren't good enough. nt

[ProSense]

50. How do you know they're guesses? n/t

[masuki bance]

51. Don't be obtuse. You are guessing at what will be in the final bill that Obama signs. nt

[ProSense]

53. Don't be ignorant become informed. Your response shows

you cannot distinguish an informed opinion from a guess.

[masuki bance]

54. lame. nt

[ProSense]

61. What a great response. n/t

[jbnow]

60. If house and senate got it done as he requested

we still wouldn't have "the" health care bill. We would have two

The protesters would still be encouraged to do the same thing to block the final bill..He couldn't have final bill passed by then. There wasn't a way around it through that

However Obama could/should have been far clearer about what the public plan is, what the exchange is, why the public plan needs to be in it, that it isn't free, isn't subsidized more than any plan in the exchange and that by God he is president and has the right to pull the plug on whoever he wants.

I made up the last one of course. Sometimes I feel like saying something like that instead of patiently explaining the reality of it

[Orsino]

43. That's irrelevant, too.

The wingers will go on screaming about death panels long after a bill is finalized.

[ncteechur]

27. Mr Obama knew that there would be no bill before August break.

I suspect that he set that date to push the opposition into this kind of behavior now rather than later. Once you have a bill, then you have a single target.

[Phx_Dem]

9. Reich is full of shit, as usual.

So if there was a finalized plan ready to be voted on, the hatemongers, radicals, lunatics would be quiet, and the GOP wouldn't be spreading lies. Really, Reich? You actually believe that bullshit?

They'd be doing exactly the same thing they are doing now. They've been doing it for decades -- it's nothing new.

[QC]

41. Reich is an enemy of the people. n/t

[chicago legal pro]

47. Send him to the wall!

[QC]

48. He is a kulak and a counterrevolutionary. n/t

[Cha]

26. I agree with you about Reich on this..I like his views but

not this. This is like a "woulda shoulda coulda"..it didn't happen this way ..it's going to happen and there will be Town Hall Meets in between.

The fucking screaming assholes are getting away with it because our MediaWhores are encouraging it..don't give them a pass, Reich..and blame it on what didn't happen.

Major whine on his part.

[phantom power]

2. I'd like to see Obama *selling* a government takeover...

All the villagers are treating single payer like a political impossibility, but that's just their own groupthink. I say it would be pretty easy for Obama to lay out the sanity of single payer directly to the American people, and put his support behind HR676.

[Better Believe It]

44. Single payer Medicare for All would have been a much easier "sell" and

easy to explain to most people. Can you imagine of bunch of Canadian doctors, patients, NDP and Liberal party members going on national tours in the United States explaining how much they prefer their single payer system without insurance companies getting in the way and ripping off consumers? That would be just for starters.

Canadian cities could have adopted major American cities to target their pro Medicare for All activities.

Just a few initial ideas. I'm sure leaders in the fight for true universal healthcare coverage would have figured out hundreds of way to campaign for single payer with President Obama and progressive members of Congress demonstrating leadership on this.

A great amount of confusion would have been avoided and the right-wing could have had their wings clipped.

[Cant trust em]

3. That would be true if the lies being spread were in any of the proposals

No bill pushes single payer, death panels, or any of the other straight up lies that are going around.

[Better Believe It]

5. 4 different healthcare bills have been passed by Congress. Which one do you support and why?

And which one would you defend in a townhall meeting?

A 5th bill may be passed by the Senate Finance Committee in September.

The President should be very clear on the two points raised by Reich. How's healthcare "reform" going to be funded and why is a public option necessary.

Before that happens, it's very difficult to defend a non-existent administration healthcare plan at a townhall meeting or anywhere else. The right-wingers are attacking "President Obama's healthcare plan".

[TomCADem]

7. The One That Does Not Have Death Panels. I'm Against That One

Also, I really am not crazy about the bill that will have the Government takeover Medicare.

:sarcasm:

:)

[Better Believe It]

12. Cute, but your comment sidesteps the points made by Reich.

[bvar22]

28. Not exactly true.

Several Bill have passed out of Committee, but NO Health Care Bill has passed Congress.

Only ONE Bill has been scored by the Congressional Budget Office, and that is HR 3200.

[Better Believe It]

31. Four bills have been passed in Congress by four different committees.

Nitpicking?

Which of the four do you support?

[bvar22]

32. A Bill passed out of Committee....

...is a World of difference away from a Bill being "passed by Congress".
This is hardly "Nitpicking",
and with ALL the chaos and confusion surrounding Health Care Reform, it is wise to be accurate.
After All, THAT is the point Reich was trying to make.

There has been only ONE Bill scored by the CBO (HR 3200), and that is the one with which I am most familiar....and I strongly OPPOSE it because it contains a token element that is being called a "Public Option", but is NOT available to "The Public", and is not an option for the MAJORITY of Americans who will be MANDATED into For Profit Private Insurance.

The Bill I currently support is HR 676 (Medicare for ALL).
It covers everyone.
It is very simple, only 27 pages long, and easy to read and understand.
It contains no "Firewalls" or convoluted restrictions,
No Loopholes, and NO subsidies for the For Profit Health Insurance Industry.
It is also the least expensive Bill currently in Congress.

[Better Believe It]

6. What are President Obama's specific proposals?

[Cant trust em]

10. I do agree that it is time for more specific proposals

But the reason that there are crazy bald-faced lies floating around is not because the president hasn't released what the public option would be modeled after.

[Better Believe It]

19. President Obama hasn't even said a public option is one of his requirements in legislation ....

in order to obtain his signature. And how is healthcare going to be funded, and will people be required under law to buy private health insurance?

These are some of the important questions which deserve clear answers.

He is the President.

In other words, the President needs a clear healthcare plan that people can defend from right-wing attacks.

[Cant trust em]

24. I agree, but that still won't stop people from coming up with brazen lies

If you think that him coming up with answers to those questions would have stopped Palin from the death panels claim, then I've got a bridge to sell you.

[debbierlus]

39. The right will lie and smear no matter what - that is why you fight AGAINST them & for good policy

You are exactly right. You can't be bipartisan with people who will resort to such ugly and deceitful tactics.

Obama caved into big insurance & pharm & now, he is trying to force us to buy their horseshit product. This is his 'bipartisan' solution.

It will work.

I predict a government mandated private insurance bill with no real public option.

[stillcool]

40. In his last Town Hall I think he gave..

a great answer as to how it would be funded. Probably too many words for most people. And, he has consistently said he wants a public option included, although the last Town Hall he said public option or co-op. I've never heard him say anything about a law though.

[Better Believe It]

45. "Probably too many words for most people." The solution:

Use fewer words and don't lecture like a professor.

[stillcool]

46. Nah..the solution..

put a cardboard cut-out up there and use repetitive phrases on a continuous loop. Lots of question..one answer. Everyone 'gets it'.

[Better Believe It]

52. Repetition is very important and is used in all effective propaganda campaigns

The difference is we must tell the truth in our propaganda while the right-wing nuts must lie.

[bvar22]

34. During the Campaign, Obama made two specific proposals:

1) He absolutely OPPOSED Individual Mandates to purchase Health Insurance.

2) He proposed a "Public Option like Medicare" that would be available to anyone who wanted it.

Public Option = Publicly Owned, Government Administered Health Insurance alternative to Private Insurance available to anyone who wanted it.
THIS is the "Public Option that 72% of Americans support.


Unfortunately, this has morphed into "Health Insurance Reform", and Non-Opposition to Individual Mandates

[KakistocracyHater]

55. this is about feelings, not facts-THAT is how the Right has gotten

people to go against their own well-being.

[timeforpeace]

13. The clever plan to not having anything concrete has backfired in a big way. Whose idea was that?

If not the game plan, then is it just a lack of leadership?

[Political Tiger]

14. Yes, I'm sure if there was a specific plan the right would be playing nice......

NOT!

In fact, I'd bet they'd be even more rabid than they already are.

[Better Believe It]

21. Not at all. It just helps to have a healthcare plan, don't ya think?

[depakid]

16. It also pays not to be tone deaf

Note to Rep. Blumenauer:

What exactly did you think the nutters' response would be to the end of life discussions? These folks thrive on paranoia.

Yes, it's a responsible amendment and long overdue, but best considered in another context- as attached to another bill down the line, it wouldn't have been bound to help derail the process.

[ironrooster]

17. Sounds about right to me -

Does Obama want this resolved? I think he should step up to the plate and spend some
political capital.

[TxRider]

20. If he wants it to pass... n/t

[Better Believe It]

22. He'll probably wind up signing whatever lame (no public option) ineffective plan Congress passes.

[WCGreen]

23. Exactly....

I thought that turning over the whole development of the plan to the legislature was a big mistake.

He really didn't even set parameters in which to work from.

[Better Believe It]

30. It seems they went from one extreme to another.

The Clinton administration wrote the entire bill of over 1,000 pages and submitted it to Congress and the Obama administration didn't present any legislative proposal to Congress on their healthcare objectives and how to achieve them!

[WCGreen]

35. I understand why he did it....

I think he wanted the folks in Congress to own the outcome as much as he is going to.

[Better Believe It]

36. If Obama signs it he owns it along with the Democratic Party .....

especially if only a few Republican members of Congress vote for it.

Three Senate Republicans wrote the stimulus bill. Who gets blamed if it fails? Them or President Obama for going along with the Republican changes and signing it?

[madville]

49. I think whatever is passed, any real changes won't take affect until after 2016

He's not stupid, you don't want any real changes or possible screwups to take place while you are still in charge.

[SpartanDem]

56. I guess he and others don't remember what happened to Clinton

he sent a bill to Congress and it got eaten alive Obama has moved this process further than before. The attacks are so baseless that even if their was only one bill they would still be happening.

[DailyGrind51]

57. Reich is correct, there needs to be a on-page summary document,

simple enough for even the most troglodytic knuckle-dragger.

[zulchzulu]

58. Spot. On. Whenever a Birther says "I have read the bill...", they are LYING

What bill?

There is legislation in process from various committees in the Congress and Senate, but there is not a "final" bill yet. Anyone who says they "read the bill" is a goddamn liar.

[Better Believe It]

59. There are four completed marked-up bills out of congressional committees

And a fifth one may be on the way in September (Senate Finance Committee)

Where can one read the four marked-up bills?

We're probably talking about something in excess of 4,000 pages here!

[OwnedByFerrets]

62. Its been framed wrong from the onset. Medicare for ALL

should have been the plan from day one. Paid for with cut back on taxes on millionaires. Period.