Trump: Unlike Cruz, ‘I Have a Heart,’ I’ll Enact Universal Health Coverage

National Review ^ | January 31, 2016 12:20 PM | Tom S. Elliott

[Behind Liberal Lines]

In an interview this morning on This Week, Donald Trump cited his desire to "help people" as the reason he favors government-funded universal health coverage. Unlike Ted Cruz, Trump said, "I have a heart."

"If somebody has no money and they're lying in the middle of the street and they're dying, I'm going to take care of that person," Trump said.

[TADSLOS]

So riddle me this batman.....how is it “private” if the government is in control of it? That is not private. He keeps using that word, and I do not think it means what he thinks it means. And to me, ANY plan that is put forth by the govt for “healthcare”, single payer or not, is unacceptable, because I believe they have no business being involved in it. It is only “PRIVATE” when it’s left to the people and private companies, with NO government involvement.

Tell 'em what they wanna hear, Donnie...and damned the consequences.

Ain't populism grand?

[itsahoot]

It wasn’t free, so HOW did those places recover those expenses?

I remember more than 50 years ago reading an article in a magazine interview of the National Hospital Administrators Council when he admitted they over charged those with health insurance to pay for those that could not pay.

That was a totally illegal transfer of wealth fully condoned by the government and it will continue in one form or another no matter who is elected. I had some stents inserted a few years back and remember that the hospital billed over $125,000.00 but the insurance paid a little over $20,000.00 and it was my responsibility to pay nothing. Where is the real cost determined?

[Luircin]

I want a name-caller as President. I want someone who will rip the heads off of the enemies of America and spit down their necks.

Personally, with all that’s gone on lately, Cruz has shown that he’s not really ready for prime time, in my personal opinion. And even if my opinion is incorrect, there might have been too many bridges burned during this campaign for him to be considered.

Sessions, though? Senator Sessions would be an excellent Veep choice in my opinion. Conservative, consistent, and well-known. Also voted against the Corker bill and was the only one to do so.

[tillacum]

America has Medicaide, it is government funded universal health care, has been for years. People in economic strife use it. So why have a another government funded universal health care, based on Canadian style medicine? Many Canadians who need specialized health care come to the US to have it taken care of. Of course in Canada and Germany, health insurance is available should they need more care than the socialized medicine covers. In England where there is socialized medicine, insurance is available. Should the government funded medicalcare not be covered, the patient waits until the end of the work day and uses their insurance to see their Doctor, who is then a private practicing physician to take care of the problem.

[Disestablishmentarian]

>>Yeah, that’s the ticket . . . cite Cruz’s support for TPA in order to defeat the contention that Trump is in favor of single-payer.<<

---

Okay . . . that is a reasonable point. However, I was responding to someone’s statement about Cruz’s alleged conservatism by pointing out that, for some of us, this “Conservatism” argument is is a red herring. Defending the United States of America on many levels—including trade—is the main point for many Trump supporters in this election. I think it is clear that the schism on this list between Cruz and Trump supporters reflects the fact that we are judging our candidates by two entirely different sets of criteria.

[ChessExpert]

“And I mean, maybe he’s got no heart.”

Presumably he is talking about Ted Cruz. Donald sure sounds like a Democrat talking about a Republican. Either that or a “moderate” (i.e. liberal) Republican talking about a conservative Republican.

I think the only proper way to show compassion is with one’s own money or time. Certainly Donald has enough money to give to caring causes. Why should he give my money away too? I can choose my own causes. Mind your own business and leave me alone.

[Luircin]

Trump supporters need to get honest

***

I AM honest. That’s why I’m telling you that Trump’s plan, according to his site and his speeches, is NOT single payer. Competition across state lines is not single payer, no matter how much you desperately wish it was.

I won’t call it perfect, but if you listen to his actual position on the issue instead of the voices in your head, it’s a damn sight better than what we have now.

[mac_truck]

Have any American English quotes for your tagline that don't make you look like a total crazy loser?

Lol...is it really surprising that a German socialist would be unfamiliar with a French Christian affirmation?

You're probably much more familiar with the words of Der Hundin aus Holle Frau Merkel...

[kygolfman]

If you are for single payer, you are in the wrong website!

Please take yourself and anyone else that believes single payer is the answer with you!!

Go to Canada for your healthcare needs.

You need to be on DU not FR.

Ronald Reagan, years before he was president, spoke against socialized medicine....government run healthcare wasn’t the answer then...not the answer now...and never will be the answer.

[Mom MD]

I take care of a lot of people for free that don’t have insurance and so does the hospital I work for. Disingenuous argument Trump is no conservative and on this issue is as socialist as Bernie I’m shocked that true conservatives can’t figure this out

[OhioBuckeye]

His stance on Prop 187 was sound.

TPA — sound

H1B visas:

One woman asked about his prior support during the 2013 immigration debate for legislation expanding H1B visas for high skilled workers. Cruz, citing recent reports of abuses by large companies to facilitate outsourcing, said he was working on a bill with Sen. Jeff Sessions — a leading GOP hawk on immigration – to “fundamentally change the H1B program.”

“These stories are horrifying, those stories are a serious abuse of the program,” he said.
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ted-cruz-gop-field-immigration

I think I’ve posted that last one 25 times. Anything else?

[huldah1776]

If he wins, I hope he does care about small businesses. We’ll see.

[Disestablishmentarian]

Trump has also talked about putting prescription drugs out for bid on behalf of Medicare—for a possible savings of $300 billion per year.

He says current political class is too beholden to Big Pharma and is afraid to touch this approach. It is standard procedure, of course, in a business deal, to get competitive bids.

[1rudeboy]

I agree that it is a main point for many Trump supporters, and frankly, I wish more people would talk about trade. But the notion that (some) Trump supporters have that trade, and TPA for that matter, are not conservative . . . well, perhaps those people need to brush-up on Ronald Reagan.

[Lucky9teen]

As far left as Obama and Co. has boldly taken this country, IMO, the ONLY way to fix it, is to swing back boldly to the far right. And Trump will only swing them to the mushy middle.

I believe Ronald Reagans laid it out best, when he said: “Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?”

That’s why I wholeheartedly believe in Ted Cruz. He is not mushy middle. He is not pale pastels. He says what he believes,. He lives what he believes. And he is consistent with what he believes. And that is why the mushy middle and pale pastels dislike him. He has made it unmistakenly clear where he stands. And I stand with him.

[Luircin]

Alternatively, it depends on whether you consider a ‘no’ vote on TPA a ‘yes.’

***

Cloture was the vote that mattered.

Everything else was just theater.

[1rudeboy]

uh huh

[Luircin]

I think it is clear that the schism on this list between Cruz and Trump supporters reflects the fact that we are judging our candidates by two entirely different sets of criteria.

***

You are correct.

But I don’t think that anyone really wants to hear that. Not about politics any more; it’s about virtue signalling and putting down the other side.

[Luircin]

So glad you agree.

[Mr Rogers]

Trump’s plan, in his own words:

“We’re going to work with our hospitals. We’re going to work with our doctors. We’ve got to do something. You can’t have a — a small percentage of our economy, because they’re down and out, have absolutely no protection so they end up dying from, you know, what you could have a simple procedure or even a pill. You can’t do that. We’ll work something out.

That doesn’t mean single payer. And I mean, maybe he’s got no heart. And if this means I lose an election, that’s fine, because, frankly, we have to take care of the people in our country. We can’t let them die on the sidewalks of New York or the sidewalks of Iowa or anywhere else.”

His plan is to do something: “We’re going to work with our hospitals. We’re going to work with our doctors. We’ve got to do something.”

Good luck holding him to that! What in the hell is he talking about? Does he know?