2/27/10 - Dr. Tom Coburn (R-OK) Delivers Weekly Republican Address on Health Care

[Jazzycat47]

Well, it's Christmas, and Senator/Doctor Coburn is willing let 9/11 first responders get healthcare for their illnesses due to digging shit out of the World Trade Center disaster. Thanks for being such a big-hearted dude.

[AChildMolester]

Mr/ Rogers?

I thought Mr. Rogers was a liberal whose PBS show is now going to be defunded because Republicans have a problem with kids watching the supposedly left leaning programs paid for by (gulp) NON commercial interests?

[sommeflame34]

Dr Coburn as a PRAKTISING Physician is PARAPRASED in every Statement made on the floor of the House. He is no Einstein, and let us remember, Dr. William Harrison Frist Republican Majority Leader from 2003 until his retirement in 2007 and the SCHIAVO DIACNOSIS? He screwd up big and couldnt macke it to be an A. Einstein.

[peg321]

No one, especially the government crew they have in there now, should come between anyone and their doctor.

[kjm1056]

This man in particular needs to be targeted for defeat. He speaks of the same old worn out Republican ideas that were rejected in the 2008 elections and which still favor only the wealthy. DEFEAT this man Oklahomans!

[chbinpara]

as the speaker of the house has said...just vote yes for the bill and we will read the bill later....WHAT A JOKE...GOD HELP US

[TheLogicfirst]

I wonder where Mr. Tom C got his sponsor from? healthcare provider? I need a shower after seeing this video.

[Cassiesplace]

well now here is the government solution to non-profit medical insurance companies ... give it to ACORN and the government will subsidise ACORN medical ... hehehe

[rpeggio]

The Dems are funny, they point to Medicare as being a 'good' example of how the Gov't can manage healthcare yet in their very next breath, they say Medicare is ridden with Billions in fraud and waste...thus they plan to gut it by $500B to fund their new healthcare entitlement?

It's a joke and now you hear the Dems say they just haven't explained their massive healthcare bill well enough? Are you kidding us? They're going to get slaughtered in Nov 2010 if they force this thru somehow.

[quizerry]

You caught that to. It is crazy medicare is broke but they want to expand it. Obama expanded medicaid in the stimulus both budgets and now the healthcare bill. Do they really think we are that dense?

[rooforlife71]

Dr Coburn & Dr Inhofe did you seriously support Carly Fiorina over Chuck Devore to defeat Barbara Boxer? I am very disappointed Chuck Devore is the real Conservative & has PROVED it!

[mx4life82]

enough with the teleprompters! Speak from the heart! That's what people want and that's why Ron Paul is so popular - because he is truthful and speaks the truth.

[tjfgermany58123]

Get rid of all subsitities paid to the Healthcare Monopolies. Get rid of all regulation of Healthcare. ( It is only used by the Monpololies to drive out competition and screw the cusumer) Lastly, break up the healthcare monopolies. The myth bigger is more efficient is a big lie. Globalism is not "working together". Globalism is dictatorship. Prue and simple.

[quizerry]

Get Government out of healthcare the there would be no lobbyist to write the bills for the industry.

[The1CamBo]

Some of Tob Coburn's top industry contributors from 05-10

are...

Health Professionals, Lobbyists, Pharmaceuticals/Health Products, Insurance, Hospitals/Nursing Homes

This man has an incentive to stop healthcare reform.

[joesingle777]

obama is wanting to support crack addicts who will have easy access to drugs, through mandates, i do not support abortion and i do not want my money to support that, obama is a terrible president and the day he leaves office will be a great day. i want to do my healthcare the way i want whether i want it or not its my right and everyone elses.

[alpha11110]

Here is another interesting statistic, for those who say that this will bring down the deficit. Medicare fraud totals an average of $60 billion a year in costs against the government. The presence of the profit motive that so many people demonize is precisely what reduces this in the private sector. If 1/7 of the population is brought under a public plan, won't fraud be present to a very large extent, costing the government billions of dollars it doesn't have?

[alpha11110]

For those who keep talking about cheaper costs, I found a youtube video that provided a good comparison. Presently, there is a system similar to universal health care in place in Massachussets. Average premiums are $600 a month, and average wait times are about 50 days. Georgia, by comparison, has average premiums of $200 a month, and an 11 day average wait. Does that sound like a better system to you?

[shalcall]

First, where is that guy getting his average premium numbers? Second, please look at what you get per dollar. I'm pretty confident that a $600/month insurance plan in Mass. covers a tremendous amount more than the $200/month plan in GA.

And I question his wait times as well. What are his sources. I've never heard of people waiting 50 days for a doctor's visit in Mass.

[shalcall]

I'm sorry, is it cheaper to ship a letter through UPS or FedEx? Is it cheaper to go to a private school than a public one? Is it cheaper to rely on the police or higher your own personal body guard?

You have a problem with corruption, not government spending. Treat the problem, but don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

[alpha11110]

Do you mean "hire?"

And what corruption are you talking about? It is all over, both in government and the private sector. However, you need to be more specific

[shalcall]

Sorry, yes, I meant "hire." AmericanPowerBase complained about paying $700 for a toilet seat (happened under the Reagan administration's defense department). That's corruption. It does not mean that government is always a problem, or that government always raises prices.

[shalcall]

I find it amazing how these asshole Republicans can lie with such a straight face.

[tomarmst]

We will see who's lying!

[davidpark68]

they said the same about income taxes, only the rich will pay. didn't quite work out that way.

[mamothzoe1]

Agreed

[AtlasShruggery]

You must be one of those Family Values Republicans, eh? Like Larry "Widestance" Craig and Mark "Appalachian Trail" Sanford.

Smoking soap? Is that some kinda Teabagger thing?

[mamothzoe1]

Hey Tex

I work for a small business and have no idea what they are thinking about this.

The notion (and I think fact) that everyone is guessing what will happen is enough for me want to hold the phone for a minute.

Im in engineering and my discipline dictates that products be designed tested and only then deployed.

Thats how we get cars that dont kill our kids.

My concern is the economics of health care might be large enough to kill our economy. No economy and nothing else matters.

[davidpark68]

the government has no money that they don't take from us. do you think it will be any cheaper if they play middleman? do you think it will be cheaper for you if you have to also pay for the medical expenses of another family?

[davidpark68]

I agree, if you have Insurance that covers a condition, injury or illness the Insurance should pay if you get that condition, injury or illness. I also agree that if you contract for insurance for a specific time span for a specific price that the Insurance premium shouldn't be raised during that time. sounds like your problem is lack of choices, that's why insurance should be opened up across state lines. competition controls prices.

[jbmarcus110]

@texytam42 I agree. Tom (It's allright to kill abortion doctors Coburn) is a wing nut of the worst degree!

[mamothzoe1]

Both Rs and Ds say CBO estimates indicate this will either reduce or raise our costs. Who is right is kind of important.

Factchecks say they are both partially right. How can this be? Answer:

The CBO trys to provide good estimates but at the end of the day we are talking about the FED affecting one sixth of the US economy and the politicians are GUESSING whether this will work or not.

When I buy things I know what Im buying I dont guess. This is too important for guess work

[tmo7759]

Sorry Doc, most of your colleagues in the American Medical Association, AMerican Academy of Pediatrics, and American Nursing Association support the Obama health care reform plan.

Face it - you are a MD in degree only and I wouldn't trust your judgement to treat my cat.

[MrEb44]

Bitter Democrats are neat. They're like a new puppy you bring home for the first time.

[DillonX]

The majority of the public don't want this bill -- THEY WANT A STRONGER BILL - ONE WITH THE PUBLIC OPTION.

GET-ER DONE!

[AtlasShruggery]

The Republican Health Care Plan:

1. Don't get sick.

2. If you get sick, DIE QUICKLY!

[FreeAgain2]

If you think Health Care is expensive now - wait till the GOV gets it's hands on it. . . .

[olejac]

Two letters: B S

[drizzle4shizzle24]

If your happy with your health care the way it is and believe that this is going to be "Govt" take over of the health care system then still vote 4 Sen.Tom Coburn. But if you agree with much of what was offered by President Obama, Dems, the C.B.O. and "some" Republicans of how to insure everyone at the cheapest cost possible, then let your vote be heard.

Vote: Change or Status Quo instead of Republican or Democrate. Your lives depend on it..........Vote

[mamothzoe1]

Health care insurance cost is driven by the cost of health care so I don't see how a government take over of the insurance industry addresses the cost health care.

I know something has to be done but I don't see the federal gov as the solution.

Practically speaking expecting the fed to solve all of our problems violates the egg rule.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Drop the basket and nobody gets any breakfast.

[shalcall]

Government isn't trying to take over the health care industry, they're trying to regulate it. They're trying to enforce competition and drive down prices.

[mrgaribaldi2263]

I see that no one in the debate has suggested foreign competition (globalization). If foreign competition is so great for clothes, cars, electronics and IT, it should be fantastic for health care reform.

Here is a doctor who doesn't mind that doctors are paid twice the average of a European doctor with worse outcomes. Here is a doctor who doesn't mind the status quo.

Talk up foreign competition and I'll listen to you.

[JohnRhysMusician]

How can you say that we have worse outcomes when the cancer recovery rate in the United States creams every other country in many cases 10 times over?

[gablebt]

You say "we believe that no one has the right to step between you and your doctor."

Well, how about stock prices standing in the way of me, my doctor, and my health.

I am an Anthem Blue Cross patient, about to see a significant rate hike, and I am sickened by it. I agree that more options are good. But fundamentally, healthcare should not be for profit, and my welfare should not be tied to a company's stock price. Profits have a negative correlation with widespread coverage. End of story.

[DinobotPrime]

Hate to tell you this, most of the innovations in healthcare, most of the discoveries and many of the inventions related to health care have profit in mind . Remove profit, remove those monetary incentives and no amount of your whining will force people and companies to invent, make, build, innovate those wonderful health care products that made this world a better place.

[gablebt]

DinobotPrime, I should be more specific. I am referring to removing the profit component for heath coverage providers; not for doctors, drugmakers, and other healthcare businesses. The the profits continue, just not for the unsustainable and broken coverage system that is exploitive, abusive, predatory, corrupt and immoral.

[DinobotPrime]

Please. humor me. The reason why the system is unsustainable and broken is this. The Federal government decided to join in the action . Remove the Federal and individual state government from health care and you reduced almost 75% percent of the abuses, exploitation, corruption and the immorality of the insurance coverage system. The rest will be taken care of by the Free market.

I don't trust Government monopolies either which is worse than the HMOs.

[davidpark68]

so drop your insurance & there wont be anything in between you & your doctor.

"healthcare should not be for profit" so a nurse or doctor shouldn't profit?

[gablebt]

Let's be clear. A nurse and a doctor have a salary, and if they have a private practice, do in-fact, profit as a business as they are free to charge whatever they like...which the insurance companies do pay (and usually are billed much higher than what Mr. Non-Insured actually pays).

My target is more specific as to who is paying the bills, assessing what's fair, and in charge of providing health coverage when the invoice hits. Do you trust the HMO monopolies to do this?

[davidpark68]

so the doctors & Nurses are allowed to make money but Insurance companies aren't? what about the people that work for them? with all the people screaming they want another choice you would think you could start your own non profit Insurance Company.

[alfredo042295]

We all know Obama whants to make History with H/C so let him do it if don't work he be the one to bblame.and American People take the Pain jest don't complaint he should be looking for jobs so we can get out of welfare and go to work to take care of our Family.

[marebjs]

The Republicans had * YEARS to do something about health care , and ,again, have done NOTHING! Get it done or we'll vote you out of office.

[JohnRhysMusician]

Republicans have done numerous things on health care at the state level. They tried to pass medical malpractice litigation reform (TORT) in congress, but were unable to because they never could acheive 60 votes.

[mc81773]

Sen. Coburn says his plan includes all of presidents plan. Is this GOP Plan.

Are you suggesting that

- Doctors order most tests in order to avoid lawsuits.

- There are so many doctors today, lots of competition but physician fees increases.

Please don't talk like a politician, talk for the people.

[JohnRhysMusician]

Physicians make less and less money believe me.

[pjsolarz]

This health care summit was a hoax as the people rejected these bills and Obama still wants the push it on us against our will.

Sorry Mr. Obama but this is unconstitutional. Saul Alinky and Karl Marx are not our founding fathers

[pjsolarz]

If you were looking to hire someone, would you hire a person who had Welfare, Medicare and Social Security on thier resume?

These bills will lead to a single payer plan by forcing health insurance companies to abide by the governments plan, but they will have to operate without the aid of taxpayer dollars as the government plan will.

The best line out of this meeting was that if you took all the profits from all the insurance companies for a year, it would only pay for health care for 2 days.

[pjsolarz]

Sen. Coburn tells it like it is. The majority 61% of the people do not want thier taxes raised yet again to pay for other people's health care. We've been doing this for years with Welfare, Medicare and Social Security which are all bankrupt.

[btc8128]

Bull Crap Mr. Coburn! Bull Crap!

Shame on you Sr. and the rest of the Republicans!!!

[princeorfrog]

Yeah. The truth. A bunch of Demorat bull crap.

[btc8128]

good one lol