Weiner: Obama admin. 'half-pregnant' with health industries

[joeycola]

Thumbs up. Keep up the pressure Mr. Weiner.


http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/63931-weiner-obama-admin-half-pregnant-with-health-industries


Weiner: Obama admin. 'half-pregnant' with health industries


By Jordan Fabian - 10/20/09 03:56 PM ET

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) said on Tuesday that the Obama administration is "half-pregnant" with health insurers and pharmaceutical companies, which may jeopardize the success of reform.

The congressman -- who is a leading liberal voice in the healthcare reform debate -- said that rumored deals the White House has struck with big pharmaceutical companies and insurers may guide them to abandon key elements of reform, such as a public health insurance option.

"The Obama administration is trying to be, I don't know how to put it, half-pregnant with the insurance industry and the pharmaceutical companies," he told WNYC Radio today. "They're to some degree the source of our problem."

The Energy and Commerce committee member also criticized the White House's effort to attract bipartisan support for healthcare reform, saying both efforts will water down provisions favored by liberals and turn the bill into a failure.

"I think the White House very much wants to have, even if it's just one person, the ability to say that this is a bipartisan outcome," Weiner said. "And my frustration is we are really as a party are flirting with the notion of minority rule here."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), and Senate Banking Committee chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) are currently drafting a final bill along with White House advisers.

Individuals involved in the negotiations have indicated that a public option is still on the table to be included in a final bill. But some observers have indicated they may drop it because it may not attract a 60 senator majority need to break a potential filibuster.

Yet, Weiner challenged his party leaders to include the option, saying that Democrats are "perilously close" to failing to pass a healthcare bill that would reduce costs and cover enough uninsured individuals.............................

[tomm2thumbs]

1. we need to keep holding their feet to the fire

Obama said he wants it and it keeps 'em honest. So far, not so much.

[geek tragedy]

9. I agree. I rec'd this thread because Weiner is holding him

accountable.

However, a lot of comments on this thread represent the very worst of DU.

[ProSense]

2. "saying that Democrats are "perilously close" to failing to pass a healthcare bill " Doesn't really

reflect reality, does it?

Pelosi Whipping House Health Care Plan--Including Robust Public Option

[geek tragedy]

8. The Whiny Ass Titty Babies ignore what's happening in the House

because their agenda isn't health care reform, it's to complain and act superior.

[Oregone]

17. Weiner is a Whiny Ass Titty Baby?

Who ignores the very House he is a member of?

[geek tragedy]

18. No, the morons who refer to Obama as a "big pregnant whore"

are those whom I am talking about.

[Oregone]

21. Random then

Being that it was in response to a comment on the Weiner article. Thatd make you look like a half-abortion. :)

[polichick]

3. The administration wants to have its cake and eat it too - what a waste of a mandate. nt

[Name removed]

4. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rudy23]

5. That was their plan from the beginning--serve their donors & blame bipartisanship for the compromise

When the R's pulled the rug out from under them, they had to scramble to find ONE R to climb onboard so they could keep their bipartisan claim.

Otherwise, it would look like they're selling out their constituents with no relevant pressure from the right. Then we'd see them for the whores they are. Now, they'll smile right at us and tell us this bipartisan bill was better for the country because it's bipartisan. Where this demand for bipartisanship is coming from, I'll never know. I think it's the imaginary force that Obama will hide behind whenever he wants to act like a Republican.

[geek tragedy]

7. Blind hatred does not serve you well.

Your post is unintelligent Naderite gibberish. You just assume the worst and pout.

And, of course, you and your tribe of haters will respond to anyone who calls you out on your stupid bashing as "cheerleaders." No, it makes us adults and Democrats, not Naderite crybabies.

[rudy23]

13. No hatred, just disappointment. Happen to catch the Sunday shows, and Obama's last speech?

All backpedaling on the public option.

You sound like the hateful one, "stupid bashing", "unintelligent gibberish", "Naderite crybabies." And you're the one who's an adult?

[geek tragedy]

19. You decide to believe the worst and then act disappointed.

It's an old whiny crybaby schtick.

[Cha]

15. No, you have it wrong.

[rudy23]

16. I hope I do, but everything is playing out exactly as if this is the case. nt

[msongs]

6. these bills are all written by lobbyists - congress is pretending to write them nt

[Thrill]

10. Obama's weak pushing for the public option has to make you wonder

Thats all I can say

[uponit7771]

11. It makes me wonder if the people who are saying its been "weak" aren't here to start some shit

[rudy23]

14. By "start some shit" do you mean "uphold Democratic values"?

In that case I'd agree with you.

[geek tragedy]

20. Automatically assuming the worst about Democrats is a Republican value.

Or a Naderite one. Whichever applies to you.

[rudy23]

22. And calling all critically thinking, left leaning Democrats "Naderites" is a DLC/DINO value

We can go round and round on this all day---until we stand up and provide the full public option in a bill and get it on the president's desk, you're going to hear so much criticism the "Naderite" label will look pretty silly when applied to 80% of the party who wants the PO.

[geek tragedy]

23. You are not a critical thinker, You are an unthinking critic.

You just assume the worst and then bitch and moan.

that's being a crybaby, not independent thinking.

[saracat]

12. Good for Weiner. He speaks truth to power and is holding the Admin accountable

If we get "real health care reform" out of this it will be due to folks like Weiner and the unions.