Posted on 08/23/2009 2:32:13 PM PDT by neverdem
Wading into the debate on a national health care plan, Senator John McCain said on Sunday that one way for Democrats and Republicans to reach a compromise would be for President Obama to abandon a government-run insurance program for the nation’s 49 million uninsured.
Interviewed on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” Mr. McCain, the Arizona Republican and 2008 presidential candidate, said that a public plan would cause many Americans to lose their private health insurance. Although he was not asked to explain, opponents of a government-run plan have previously warned that many employers would scuttle private insurance for their workers if such a program were enacted.
“Certainly if you have it, you shouldn’t have to lose it,” Mr. McCain said of private insurance. “But under the president’s plan, you would have to lose it in my view because of the government option. I believe that one of the fundamentals for any agreement would be that the president abandon the government option.”
Last week, Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, said that a government-run plan was not essential to an overhaul, a concession to United States senators who say such a plan could not win the backing of a majority of the crucial Senate Finance Committee. The focus shifted to discussion of nonprofit medical co-operatives, which are popular in some Midwestern states and more palatable to conservatives. But outrage by liberals supporting a government plan has made the fate of that provision unclear.
Senator Charles E. Schumer, the New York Democrat and a member of the Finance committee, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that President Obama “believes strongly in a public option.”
He argued that a government plan was imperative because it would introduce competition in the industry. In 40 of the 50 states, he said...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
No good. People have got to understand that any tiny part of this POS bill WILL lead to National Health Care, single payer and government will be the ONLY option!!!
... fast forward 4 to 6 months... 0bama is signing the Bipartisan (TM) Ted Kennedy Health Care Memorial Act, as McCain and other RINOs with shit-eating grins on their faces stand behind him and watch...
translation, (yes mccain served in the military and was a POW, etc etc) McCain is telegraphing he is willing to stab the USA in the back just as he was willing to sign on to AMNESYY.
McCain is the kind of useful idiot who would buy the lie about health care coops.
How the heck did someone so STUPID become a fighter pilot?
That's our "Maverick": Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory for the Republicans since 1982.
Whaddya wanna bet he & his peeps across the aisle already have the McCain-Kennedy-Feingold-Liberman Health Care 'Reform' Act of 2009 ready to go to the printers at this very moment.
The NANOsecond I or any other employer can dump employees into the public option, we will. period.
Somewhere out there, that SOB McCain is conniving, scheming and conspiring to screw Conservatives. As I was finishing my Sunday dinner, I was just thinking that he would be meeting with obummer, Kennedy, Reid and/or pelosi with the objective of jamming this healthcare/amnesty down our throats,(or somewhere darker). As I was considering this at 4:04 PM CDT, Major Garrett started talking about the obamas staying at a “farm” owned by Wm. Jackson Van de Vender(sp?) on Martha’s Vinyard, a prominent Republican from Mississippi, or at least large contributer to McCain/Republicans in 2008. What’s up with that? Wonder who else will be there? McCain?
The last person we need involved in the final phases of the health care debate is Mr. Reach across the aisle and screw the conservatives. Juan is one of those who thinks passing some sort of legislation is an accomplishment. He needs to stay out of it and let this thing be defeated.
One side gets to make up all the rules, change the rules as they go, not worry about the cost since they own the printing presses, not have to make a profit, and the bosses get an exemption to use a better system. Now that's a level playing field.
McCain is up for reelection in 2010.
McCain is trying to keep his public option employement.
How about dropping the entire bill you RINO.
How does capitalism compromise with socialism???
Answer: It doesn’t... capitalism is absorbed by socialism.
How do you save a cancer patient’s life by removing only part of the tumor?
Answer: You don’t... get it all out, or the patient is doomed.
You sound like a Dem or a RINO. First of all, McCain is the last person who should be giving the Rep position. This self-described maverick supports cap and trade and amnesty for starters. He is also against drilling in ANWR.
Contrary to the Dems talking points, the Reps do have alternatives. One of them, sponsored by Tom Coburn and Paul Ryan is called the The Patient's Choice Act
There is only one reason why the Dems want Reps to sign on to their socialist agenda. "Bipartisanship" means that both parties will share the blame for the consequences. Obama and the Dems are still blaming Bush for the economy and inheriting the deficit, despite passing the Porkulus bill and the supplementary budget. And the Dems have been in control of Congress since 2007.
When the Dems were acting as obstructionists during the Bush administration, they actually helped their cause of regaining control of Congress and the WH.
Once they give in on the public option, is when you start to attack the concepts of a government designed co-op.
And the Dems will blame the Reps as being the party of No because even after they made this "compromise," the Reps still oppose the bill. If we make the public option the centerpiece of our objection, it will be a major mistake. The entire bill must be defeated and we must spell out what is wrong with it, including the public option. We don't want compulsory healthcare insurance. We don't want Amercians fined because they don't have insurance or at least insurance that meets federal diktat. We don't want businesses fined for the same reasons.
FYI: Tom Daschle said some time ago that the Dems should hold off on the government option. IMO this is a phony bargaining chip so that the Dems can get some Reps onboard for this monstrosity.
Your argument would have merit if it weren’t for the fact that McCain is not simply posturing for the cameras - he really does want a “bipartisan” deal.
Having Admirals for a father and Grandfather helped somewhat.
OK.
Hey McCain, you stupid son of a @#$%#!
NO COMPROMISE, you moron.
(Idiot still can’t figure out why he cost Palin the election, can he?)
Great analogy. I will have to use that one.
I don’t want a comprise bill that can be expanded incrementally
“Competition like the Harlem Globetrotters versus the Washington Generals”?
...great comparison! I’m going to use that one.
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, no matter what the bill contains.
McCain will always sell out when push comes to shove. He’s pathetically eager to win approval from the Democrats.
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