President Obama has an obligation to deliver on the healthcare reforms he ran on as a candidate.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/HealthCareFullPlan.pdf

The centerpiece of his health reform was a "new public plan", as it is referred to repeatedly in his health manifesto, that is modeled after the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, which is the plan that members of Congress have.

I hope you will all take the time to read the program that Candidate Obama ran on. It is not vague, it is rich with very specific details.

Is it expecting to much for President Obama to take a leadership position in the current healthcare discussions to push and promote the plan he won the election with?

[Vinca]

1. I faxed a letter to him the other night and that was one of the points.

[babylonsister]

2. What do you think he's doing?

You don't think he's taking a leadership position by promoting health care the way he has been?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

4. I am extremely confused about the way the process is proceeding

We have Schumer on Finance publicly gutting the "public option" until it is just a carcass of a public option. Then we have the Baucus hearings that are now apparently going to be held "privately" for the next few sessions.

I am NOT seeing President Obama using a bully pulpit or promoting or explaining his own very detailed program, which so far seems better than anything that is out there. Have you heard anyone discussing President Obama's plan for healthcare reform? I haven't. It seems likes healthcare reform in general is being put through a meat grinder of two different Senate committees who don't even seem like they are consulting with each other.

Also, I was pretty amazed that President Obama was so happy to promote the insurance industry's pathetic offer to reduce cost INCREASES by a paltry 1.5 % a year for 10 years as a "watershed". 1.5% is probably what they spend on coffee in their breakrooms. It is far from being a watershed in cost reductions. And remember, that was on growth, not even on current costs, so to me, if anything it was entrenching current costs as a benchmark.

So, no, I'm not seeing him in front of the debate. Perhaps he is doing stuff in the background that I am unaware of. Let's hope so.

[babylonsister]

6. So you want to trash him before even knowing what he's doing

or where this will end?

Hey, I'm having fits over here about some things Obama related, too. But your constant negative posts on healthcare before there's a solid plan don't seem to be helping to me.

I have been dressed up and down for not getting in line and trashing what's going on now, but my simple premise is, I don't know what the end result will be. I don't. I don't know if there's a method to this madness, I don't know if Sen. Kennedy's voice is the same as Baucus', I don't know what success will look like to the politicians and if it will be sufficient for us.

I do know there will be a lot of disappointed people who lose sight of the big picture because their vision might not be accomplished. But something will be accomplished, this year, and that's something that hasn't happened in a very long while.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

8. I am not trashing him. I am saying he needs to be front and center using the bully pulpit

where the American people can see him as he personally attempts to deliver on a major piece of his platform. And no, I wasn't happy seeing him with the entrenched insiders acting like their promise to cut 1.5 % was a big deal. We've already lived through a financial bailout that left the miscreants in charge, so I think some cynicism in this regard has been earned.

I know that some may see my posts about healthcare as negative and alarmist and I would be thrilled to find out in retrospect that they are/were. BUT healthcare or lack thereof is a MAJOR concern/passion for millions and millions of Americans. The debate and process has begun. Even though it's early I don't like what has happened so far- single payer gone in a puff of smoke without even the pretense of discussing it, Baucus's committee meeting in secret, which is EXACTLY what torpedoed Hillary's former attempt. I am not sure that I believe that the Congress has my best interests at heart, and apparently a lot of other people feel that way as well. I don't see that as negative, I see that as realistic. I wish there was some way to change that fact, but how? The only tool at anyone's disposal is caring enough and hopefully having other people caring enough to let them know there will be SERIOUS outrage/disapproval if certain minimum expectations are not met. Do you tell them after you've been screwed? No, you let them know before.

Healthcare is where the rubber meets the road for many people.

[babylonsister]

10. Well, to emphasize your point,

I just posted this. It seems our prez isn't listening to 'alarmists' like you, according to his HHS sec. According to her, he thinks we need to build on the existing system.

OK, keep it up, keep screaming! Why are we building on an existing system that doesn't work?

And I did listen to Baucus a bit yesterday. He's too smarmy by half, and now these meetings are going underground? I don't like that either.



http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/05/singlepayer-health-care-advoca.html

Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius flatly ruled out Medicare expansion in an interview this week with CNN's Wolf Blitzer:

* BLITZER: Will this be a single payer system along the lines of Medicare?
* SEBELIUS: No. I think that what the president has made it very clear is he wants to actually build on the supporting system. There are about 85 million Americans who have employer-based health coverage and are very satisfied -- a lot of them are very satisfied with the coverage they have. They don't know what's going to happen to the cost...
* BLITZER: So you don't want to simply expand Medicare to include everyone?
* SEBELIUS: That's correct.
* BLITZER: But there are some who would like to do that.
* SEBELIUS: There -- there definitely are some single-payer advocates. But that is not the president's proposal, and I think he -- he thinks choice, that Americans should have choice of doctors and providers, have an opportunity to keep that coverage that they have, if they like their coverage.
(CNN, 5/11)

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

11. Thanks, I saw that post and of course commented. But here's what I don't get

I continue to read President Obama's healthcare plan that is posted in the OP here. It is extremely detailed, it is extremely well thought out and I would be happy to accept it as the next best alternative to single payer, which I personally still think would be best for the country and everyone individually.

So, why are they re-inventing the wheel? Why doesn't President Obama push for his own plan? If you read the summaries of the debate so far what they appear to be coming up with is not as good. Sibelius in your quote above refers to the "President's proposal". I haven't seen or read anything in the debate going on right this moment about "the President's proposal". I don't know what it is. Do you?

(This Wall Street Journal article says that the Finance Committee is "taking the lead" in putting together legislation. That is where that snake Schumer gutted "public option" so much as to make it meaningless.)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124208733559708887.html

[babylonsister]

14. "Why doesn't President Obama push for his own plan?"

Because of people like Baucus, Kennedy, Schumer, etc. He's looking for a consensus, but that might bite him on the behind in the long run.

I just don't think he could do this alone, so he's going to have to compromise. How much of a compromise remains to be seen, but I'm hopeful whatever they come up with will be better than what we've had.

I surely don't envy the man.

[snowdays]

15. As I understand it, Obama gave a blueprint of his 'proposal' in his budget

outline and essential told Congress to work out the details-following his 'blueprint' as he called it. A few of the major newspapers carried a few paragraphs about health when he put out his budget. Sorry but I did not save them.

Baucus has said he will use the public option as a bargaining chip with the insurance companies (cause the insurance companies do NOT want the public option).

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

16. Nice of Baucus to use the public option as a "bargaining chip" w/ insurance companies

Who the !@#$ does he think he is? He is referring to the future physical and financial well being of American citizens as a bargaining chip?!! Far from calming down during this process, everyday I hear something else that just makes me angrier and angrier.

The insurance industry is a regulated industry. You really don't have to "negotiate" squat with them. It just goes to show who is really calling the shots in Washington.

Thanks for the info about Obama's "blueprint" being in the budget. I wonder if that is accessible anywhere?

[KharmaTrain]

3. Obligation? Is He A Dictator?

Almost everyone wants some form of healthcare reform. The problem is that there are several different plans out there...none are perfect...and there are a lot of loose ends to put together before a realistic plan can be put in place.

It's one thing to campaign, it's another to govern. We've just barely survived 8 years of a non-stop campaign...empty rhetoric and a one-sided, repressive administration. There was no negotiation...just a rubber stamp regime that put rhetoric and political gain ahead of running an efficient government.

This is a debate. I know it's rare for some who've never really seen one before. We're in the first phases of a process that won't really play out until late this summer or into the Fall...and I imagine we'll have many yins and yangs along the way. Preident Obama can't do this alone...to pass legislation he needs to work with the Congress unlike the past regime that ramroded bills through.

In the end, the President's say will mean a lot, but right now the debate is just starting and all voices need to be heard. Hearings have begun and many more will be ahead. It's important to let your Congresscritter know where you stand and to demand a plan that provides coverage for all, but how its done will be a compromise. No one side will come out of this debate with everything. Before one condemns, let the debate roll...this is how a representative democracy is supposed to work.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

5. Well, the process is well underway and now is the time to voice one's

feelings. One thing that has apparently happened right away is that single payer was summarily taken off the table by Baucus from the getgo. Is that a proper debate? Is that a sincere attempt to investigate all options? As to "seeing the debate" I guess that won't be allowed either since they are bringing down the cloak of secrecy for the next few Baucus hearings, or so I have heard. Where's that "transparency" we were supposed to get?


By the way, thank you for disagreeing with me so agreeably. :hi:

[KharmaTrain]

9. Bacus Is Just One Player...

I've been encouraged by what I've heard from Eric Massa and the resolve of House Democrats to have single payer as part of a bill. The House has as much a say as Bachus & the Senate in what is drafted into a final bill...and this is where our voices do have pull.

Yes, Bachus is a toadie of the insurance industry...and there are other Democrats who share his same feelings/contributions. He's not looking for your welfare, he's looking to fill a $5 mil or more tab to stay in the "boys club" and get re-elected. Shameful as it is, but this is the government we have to work with.

In the end, the final bill will be done behind closed doors. They always are. It'll be worked out between Congresscritters over drinks, Senators and lobbyists at drinkie-drinkie parties and through intermediaries and lobbyists. The game here is to get single payer advocates in those final meetings...and to support those in the House who can and will counteract Bachus.

The problem with transparency is the ability for major characters to showboat...play to the cameras and the voters. A Blue Dog from a conservative district can't say publicly what they can in private...it's not all as dark as you may think.

Let us see how this debate plays out. Everyone has a different need and viewpoint in this and the more information that is put out there the better. One thing I think we both agree on is that the current system dominated by the insurance companies need to change...so does the President (or this debate wouldn't happen in the first place)...change will happen. In a democracy our voices...even on a message board are a part of the process. Thank you for being agreeable to be so pleasantly disagreeable...that's what a discussion board should be...or at least I think so.

:hi:

[gblady]

17. my concern....

"let the debate roll...this is how a representative democracy is supposed to work."

I'm all for debate...I'm simply alarmed that some, who represent the views
of millions of citizens and thousands of health care workers were not allowed to participate...
and were, in fact, arrested for trying to be heard.

[KharmaTrain]

18. Concern Noted...

I had hoped that yesterday's hearings would have included single-payer advocates but their protests didn't go completely in vain.

There's a ways to go until a final bill is crafted and I see a two-fold game in play here. The insurance companies, no matter how we despise them, are too big and entrenched to be dismantled or denied participation. Best to get them into the process and on the record; which is what that hearing did produce. IMO, this was a "feeling out"...to see where the resistance from these groups would be so strategies can be arranged to counteract them or come up with an equitable compromise.

I did see an AFL-CIO member on the panel who did advocate universal care for all, so it wasn't as much a kangeroo court as some portray. There are going to be many voices heard in the weeks and months to come, plus a lot of debate on the state and local level this summer. I'd be more concerned if your Congresscritter refused to hold a town hall on the issue.

Single payer's best place at the table in through the House...I like what Congressman Massa is pushing for.

Cheers...

[WI_DEM]

7. He's working on it. He's already delivered health care to four million additional kids and put forth

more money towards health care than we have ever seen before in this country. So, anybody who doesn't think he's committed to this is nuts.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. He was big on 'no mandate'

and yet all I hear about is that we will all be forced to buy policies from private, for profit companies. The mandate he was so adament against when it was Hillary's idea seems to be the center of his plan now that he's won.
The mandate will destroy families all over the country.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

13. That is why at the very MINIMUM there HAS to be a "public option"

That is what the people looking after the insurance industry and lobbyists (like Schumer) are trying to make disappear. People have to be extremely loud and vocal with their own Congresscritter to let them know that any plan without a true public option is unacceptable from the get-go.

You're proving my point that people LISTENED during the election and that was a big part of why they voted the way they voted.