DNC chair/US Rep Debbie Wasserman-Schultz on Face the Nation

[alp227]

Run time: 07:20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD0z64Y3p3A   Posted on YouTube: May 29, 2011 By YouTube Member: CBSNewsOnline Views on YouTube: 25   Posted on DU: May 30, 2011 By DU Member: alp227 Views on DU: 2953

 
Since CBS disables embedding its news videos, you'll have to open a new window/tab to watch this interview on YouTube proper. Summary article: "Dem: GOP Medicare plan throws young to wolves".

(CBS News)

Newly-elected DNC chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Fla.) said Sunday that the recent Democratic victory in a special election in a conservative upstate New York district was evidence that voters across the country disapproved of the Republican proposal for Medicare which, she argued, would end the program "as we know it."

In an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation," Wasserman-Schultz said that the GOP plan, outlined in Wis. Rep. Paul Ryan's proposed 2012 budget, would unfairly target young Americans.

" would take the people who are younger than 55 years old today and tell them, 'You know what? You're on your own. Go and find private health insurance in the health care insurance market. We're going to throw you to the wolves, and allow insurance companies to deny you coverage and drop you for pre-existing conditions,' " Wasserman-Schultz told CBS' Harry Smith. " 'We're going to give you X amount of dollars and you figure it out.'

"These are people who have paid for their whole life into the system," she added.

The full transcript of Sunday's Face the Nation should be up in PDF format this week on CBSNews.com.

[tishaLA]

1. She's a very good spokesperson

I know she's not a favorite here, but I think she's very effective. When she used to go on shows to tout Hillary in 08, she used to piss me off because she was so good...I'm glad she's working for the party now, even if she may not be as progressive as some of us might like.

[Indykatie]

2. I Thoroughly Agree that D W-S is An Excellent Spokesperson

I like her aggressive approach and the fact that she always makes her points effectively. Very few are as progressive as the DU community would like and it appears we often forget that we can not establish a winning majority composed only of progressives. Same is true for what Obama can accomplish given the make up of the senate and house. He's done so much and yet many only want to focus on what he hasn't been able to get done.

[Enthusiast]

3. But the American electorate is far more

"progressive" than those fans of the status quo are willing to admit. On the big issues a huge majority of Americans are with us.

So many of us at DU don't like politicians that *pretend* the nation is right wing.

[pnwmom]

6. If the electorate is so progressive then why have so many Rethugs

gotten elected?

[alp227]

7. depends who actually goes out and votes n/t

[Enthusiast]

8. For one thing, the

Democratic Party is no longer as progressive as it once was.

Voters are no longer so sure Democrats will end the Bush tax cuts, protect labor rights, end oil industry subsidies and pull the troops out of Afghanistan. And the voters are right to feel this way. Voters that lack enthusiasm are not good voters. This is exactly what happened in 2010.

[pnwmom]

9. I think the differences are pretty stark.

It isn't the Democratic party that's denying global warming while it's trying to trash labor rights, end Medicare and Social Security, end universal public education, deny civil rights to GLBTQ, and end women's right to choose.

Lazy or discouraged progressive voters will deserve what they get, if the Republicans take over.

[Enthusiast]

11. Actually some Democrats are doing

those things. This is what I find so disturbing. I expect Republicans to do the wrong thing. It is a matter of degree.

[pnwmom]

13. Which ones are doing which of those things? n/t

[spicegal]

4. This idea of vouchers kicking in for those currently under 55

really ticks me off. I'm 53 and wouldn't make the cut. I've been paying into Medicare my entire life, and now to be told, so sorry, but here's your voucher, go find insurance on the open market. I'm currently healthy. I have no chronic medical problems. I exercise and keep my weight down. I take a very small dose of an antihypertensive because my BP was borderline. But even w/my history, the odds of finding affordable healthcare insurance is practically nil. It's just wrong and would be a total disaster. I've worked in healthcare my entire life. I deal with Medicare everyday w/beneficiary protection and appeals. People are already shocked when they find out some of the things it doesn't cover. Can you imagine what will happen to all those seniors if something like this passed?

[neoralme]

5. Unless single payer happens, very few will be able to find affordable

healthcare that have anything wrong with them. That's the way it works best for the health care providers. Only insure those who don't need insurance. Have you wondered why they have the cutoff at 55? Many think its because those over that age don't have enough time to come up with the extra money to get health insurance. No, that's not it... It's because they are afraid of the early boomers. If the government screws them they are not going to send emails to Bernie Sanders and stand in a park somewhere waving signs. No, they will grab their guns and other assorted junk from Vietnam, say goodbye to wives and children, and hit the streets. The government is deathly afraid of these people. There are groups forming everywhere, but most notably in the South Dakota-Idaho area. If enough of these groups form and show their colors, the government will back down. Bush was counting on using the military to suppress these folks. That's why he reversed posse comitatus. This 55-65 exception group is simply a hedge. If this was France, there would be major work stoppages, demonstrations, and car burnings going on right now. Here, it's emails and Faxes. My daughter is 41 so she will be in the same boat as you. I am putting aside money for her insurance now. I hope it's enough. One thing in your favor. Even if it comes down to the cutoff of age before the transfer to whatever, I believe that will be adjusted down to 50. So you should be okay.

[Enthusiast]

12. There is no alternative

other than single payer. This should be pointed out by everyone with a lick of sense. We have all the European examples, all different from one another yet all superior and more effective than in the U.S.

[Enthusiast]

10. They want you good and pissed off.

They want you pissed off at the older ones like me still receiving full benefits. They don't want your anger directed at the profit driven world wide perpetual war and profit driven heath care.

I used to exercise. I was an exercise beast! One day that all ended. My BP was borderline, now I take four meds a day to keep it regulated.

Your concerns are certainly justified.