Jonathan Alter of Newsweek--"Obama Party" vs. "Fox Party"

[xadam2dudex]

corporate America laid down the law to Obama when he got into office.. can u imagine what they said to him ? what they would do if he did anything to upset the apple cart ??

[argonaaut]

I have to agree with many of the posters...you can't fix a broken system half-assed. There are fundamental problems in the medical system and in the legislative system. The reason medicare is tanking in the red is we have the most expensive health care in the world(but not nearly the best). We can't depend on Obama to make real reform...he's good at giving moving speeches, but he's hired geithner, emmanual and a cadre of other special interest work horses to do the dirty work.

[Kloxboy]

The point of this bill was to have a public option (not just reform), which in itself is a watered down version of what people actually wanted. And now they want to destroy the watered down bill. This is not the will of the people, why should they support it? Get real, Alter. Baby steps are not the answer here because it just prolongs the process and Alter should know better.

[sclf]

Man cobra is really expensive,

[dangerouslytalented]

Medical bankruptcies do not happen in any other country.

And it can even happen to the insured, all that needs to happen is for one loss adjuster to do his or her job properly, and find a way to deny a claim.

[blackacadian]

The democrats already conceded single payer universal healthcare in order to pursue the public option even though they have a majority in both houses and control over the presidency. What will the republicans be willing to concede in order reach a deal? Nothing, because they are confident that the democrats will fold like always. Jonathan Alter is not really helping change that perception.

[jxsilicon9]

The co-op is just paying the corporations money instead of spending it directly on health care.This moron is a spinless fool.Republicans will never help pass a public option.Its time for the Democrats to say my way or the highway.Because republicans get it done with exactly that.But democrats get useless bills with so called bipartisan support.

[WellIAMScottish]

A bill without the public option is unacceptable. If the public option is removed, expect riots on the streets of DC. I'm serious. I and many people I know are expecting to get the public option NO MATTER WHAT. If that means we have to burn down the buildings of private health insurance companies SO BE IT. No public healthcare option, no peace! Expect wrath if you DC crooks don't give us the public option. Fuck the private healthcare insurance industry, they are liars, thieves, and murderers.

[clownpenisfart]

I wish Cenk had done this interview. Jonathan Alter is advocating the 'weak sauce' bill matriculating its way out of the Senate Finance Committee that he had railed against. That dynamic would have made for a more interesting interview.

[Xenite227]

Sorry but a public option is a must. If insurance companies are forced to actually pay for peoples health care for a change instead of denying them, they will only raises everyones rates and claim they have to.

Without a public option there is simply nothing in place to get insurance costs under control. 47 million uninsured and most cannot afford $400 a month for insurance.

You think someone working at Wal-Mart can afford even $250 a month for insurance when they make $7.50 an hour?

[superdragoncat]

What about the people who won't be able to afford health insurance because premiums go up so high due to insurance co. raising costs after they're forced to keep people with pre-existing conditions?

Won't we end up giving the insurance co.more corporate welfare from the gov. to helpit cover these people?

This seems like a bad idea to me.

[jxsilicon9]

Yes, the co-op would just give the insurance companies more money instead of spending it on direct health care costs.Its ridiculous.

[sisforshayla]

i'm gonna hafta agree with mr. alter here. of course we should fight for the public option, but in the end he is right. we should not prefer a glorious defeat to a smaller victory that we can build on in the future.

[3star2nr]

ABSOLUTELY NOT

We CANNOT compromise on the public option. If we pass this bill without the public option the effects on costs would be cataclysmic.

If you FORCE insurers to take on more risks, THEY WILL RAISE COSTS DRAMATICALLY

The route cause of the problem is the PROFIT motive. A public Option is NECESSARY to lower costs.

Im sorry mr Alter but I cannot agree with you on this one.

Bring it to the floor and let the blue dogs kill it, so the people can vote them the fuck out.

[3star2nr]

Im telling you if we bring the best bill to the floor with public option the Blue dogs WILL CAVE. 7 people ARENT going to go against 52 democrats.

Its just 7 blue dogs, we can do this. we can use reconciliation and ram it through without them. the votes are there pass the bill with a public ption. we CANNOT compromise now

[3star2nr]

TELL RUSH LIMBAUGH TO GET OFF MY BALLS