Shepard Smith tells Barrasso that public option is not a gov't take over of health care

[guyinsf]

Wow a Fox news anchor who supports the public option?

Am I dreaming?

Is Smith a democrat on Fox?

[huzzy33]

Fox News, Get rid of Shepherd. Why in the world do you give him TWO shows?? Let Beck have his 7:00pm slot. He is better suited for MSNBC.

[whiskeysauer]

I will laugh when Shep loses his insurance when his private plan can no longer compete against a subsidized public plan. What a douche. Shep makes a fool of himself quite a bit.

[guyinsf]

The government-run option is designed to create competition with and among the private companies not destroy them. Of course you conservatives want to twist it around to discourage the public option so private companies can continue to rip the american people off!

[gjohnson87109]

Every now and then Shep really does the job Fox does not want its veiwers to see. Thanks Shep continue the good work but do it more often. Do it before Fox outs you!! Close friends tell me that it is in the works.

[anryth]

the reason why it sky rocketed is because of the governments regulations. so why let the people who broke it in the first place try to fix it?

[MoDans]

BUSH deregulated the insurance industry.

[anryth]

oh sorry i guess im living in a different fantasy world than you

[kazooga1234]

they dont want to fix it and the system we have now for health care was accidental and it wasnt created by any1 and now the government is trying to fix it after all they have a good medicade and medicare program

[anryth]

which are both bankrupt

[kazooga1234]

no they rnt thats y people who r on medicade r still saying its good

[anryth]

go read a newspaper

[kazooga1234]

y would i read a newspaper its republic biest beyond anything i much rather read websites

[Paracelsus23]

Barasshole! ins. whoore, +1 Shepard

[cmpm439]

you are obviously a bright person, unfortunately using your intelligence to try to bs your way through life.

[thesepipesRclean]

We needed a single payer system . The government would pay for healh care , we would pay it in our taxes . It would be way cheaper than our current system . Having the 36th best health care is not cutting it . Every other industrialised country has figured out that universal health care is necessary .

[littledogs1]

god love Shep, I can't beleive he hasn't been fired yet, he is constantly going against his employers agenda, you know faux news aka the republican party. I know why he stays, he is hoping that he can reach just a few of the missguided people who watch faux news. His coverage of Katrina was outstanding, the way he went after the Bush admin, and the lack luster responce of the fed government.

[Formulabruce]

Too bad when he was after Bush he didnt do his homework on WHO is the FIRST RESPONDERS and WHAT their respective responsibilities were. Their mayor, and their Govenor FAILED them.... you folks love blaming Bush cause he didnt get up and defend himself all the time... STATES have FIRST RESPONSE..

[djCASHmachine]

more fox fake conservatism.

[spyder357]

First off I want to say I use to be a Republican, till those greedy bastards became corporate stooges interested only in taxing the poor.

This health care debate is unreal, Rebpulicans give big oil, wall st, the auto companies, hell even walmart, subsidies but they can't believe we want to spend a few bucks providing healthcare for the nations citizens.

Republican Motto: Welfare for the rich, free market for the rest of us.

Signed: Disgruntled Republican

[Formulabruce]

The Dems are who is running wall st and covering up Loopholes and corruption..... The free market cant work fairly till all the BS rules changes and laws in banking, SEC and housing and accounting are put back to 1970, When it worked as it should

[thesepipesRclean]

Yes , but the National Reserve actually held up the response of local authorites as well as denying Red Cross and thousands of smaller charites from getting in to help . Free Speech Tv aired videos of National Guard pointing assault rifles at church groups bringing in food , water , and medical supplies . They used a natural disaster to relocate poor people and comdemned areas where there was no flood damage at all .

[Formulabruce]

So much crap all over, who knows Who wanted what, i do know this, the GOVERNOR was SLACKING as well as the MAYOR, and there was mold issues...poor Texas got the brunt of the "relocated"

[thesepipesRclean]

I agree .

[djmarkanthony69]

AMEN....,Thank you so much, Shepard...As you are the only one thus far coming from Fox "KKK News who's walking the talk of being..."fair and balanced"

[cmpm439]

just because someone does not want the government to take over private enterprise does not mean they are not anti government. they certainly are not undemocratic. give me a break. this mentality has destroyed the investment climate in the country. who wants to put seed money up for anything right now? those currently in power seem to see government as the solution and business as the problem. profit is a bad thing that drives up prices in a free market? some people are clueless.

[cmpm439]

excuse me, double negative. just because someone doesn't want government to take over the private sector does not mean they are anti government.

[northmeister]

Anti-Government rhetoric is ruinous to our national dialogue, undemocratic, and doesn't recognize that private industry = production, personal services (haircuts), and retail - healthcare - should not be profit based and no American should be bankrupt, suffer, or pay more to support big insurance profits. Government has its purposes and the negativists/neo-cons should recognize the difference between government n private sector - where profits are good and where they are unethical.

[cmpm439]

northmeister, you are nutz if you believe there is no profit when government controls. the profit goes to politicians campaigns and family who get the inflated contracts. government always pays more than private enterprise when those businesses have competition. think for a minute. if a business is gouging customers or giving a poor service or product, it opens the door for other businesses to undercut and still make a profit, without the ability to make laws or rig the system as with government

[northmeister]

As I stated before - anti-government rhetoric doesn't work with me...you concept of government is negativist; the sort of view that would have been opposed to the Constitution in our Founders day. You have a right to hold that belief; but you should recognize the difference between what Government ought to do and what it should not. America may be in debt, but this is due to borrowing from the FED which is uneccessary - Government, your corp. creates the Money Supply - debt is a non-issue.

[Formulabruce]

so Drunks that spend all their money on booze, instead of RENT, should NOT go bankrupt??

[gogojoe123456789]

Shep: you know the Government is "the people". Pols are spending the people's money like drunken sailors, running up unsustainble deficits on the backs of the people, and their children and grand children.

Medicare,medicaid,social security,post office, amtrack, freddie and fannie all government(people's money) subsidized.Capitalism, free markets, made this country.

[northmeister]

gogo...You need to study American history. Capitalism did make America, but our Capitalism was not the free market nor free trade. From Lincoln to FDR from FDR to Nixon (who started the privatization, free market, free trade, deregulation, HMO mess we are in today - and the decline we've seen in living standards since the 1970s) - America until Nixon, protected its home market, so Americans could own it, subsidized industry and farms for sustainability, and promoted the General Welfare - study!

[Formulabruce]

You are correct!! and after Nixon, the SEC was changed, the redevelopment act came to be and the banking laws were changed to supposedly speed up growth, which it did, but allowed for B&BBLES, loopholes, GREED and CORRUPTION. Google "ENRON"

[littledogs1]

Enron was a direct result of the comodities futurization act written by Phill Gram, R.. who's wife got a great job with Enron right after he slipped the act in a bill that had already left comity, which, he also did with the Banking modernization act, slipped the act in a bill after it left commity, allowing banks to go largly unregulated, and allowed the effed up mort and bundling of securities, what a cluster F he created, deregualation, works for the rich, not for the rest of us.

[Formulabruce]

Im not going to disagree, my point is that the SEC, banking, housing, and accounting have all been messed with since Nixon was in office, This allows for loopholes and GREED, CORRUPTION. I believe this the CHANGE we wanted GONE.... These policies still exist making hard for a FAIR free market to exist without GLUT of some sort, be in Government, or big business.

 Nice info though, thanks!!

[beeshor1]

Shep Smith is fast becoming someone I respect. I've seen his disgust at the torture issue and now this. I don't watch Fox anymore. They're so full of BS. But I might watch Shep's show because I love anyone who can't make sense.

[curtistalls1977]

only person at fox i respect

[squidwoman]

WOW, what happened, didn't he get the talking points memo that morning? He's put it in a nutshell...he's history. I bet MSNBC would find a place for him, or CNN.

[sliznim]

Smith can't last long at Fox talking sense like this

[d00mbilly]

Barrasso is a moron...from the Cheney State. When faced with FACTS he just reverts to blah blah blha talking points that are not true..I don't believe....don't confuse me with FACTS.... etc...

[AllStarKase]

Shep Smith, the dark overmasters want to have a word with you!

[PotheadPundit]

Finally someone understands the OPTION part of the public OPTION

[cmpm439]

the corruption has gone over the edge in dc yet some people want to turn over everything to these crooks. not only are they trying to take over as much as possible, they are also demonizing investors then wonder why the investment climate has gotten so bad. anyone who thinks transferring most of our economy to central government is a good idea while killing the golden goose must be clueless.

[ericwormann]

We need to stop opening public libraries because the bottomless pockets of the government are putting hard working American companies like Barnes and Noble and Borders out of business.

[JEW20009]

There seems to be two types of people regarding the healthcare issue. Those who only get their news from FOX news, Shepard excluded, and those of us who read.

[cmpm439]

There is a total government take over with the government setting all the rules and requirements, including forcing individuals to purchase insurance and telling private insurers what will be required. How is this not a total government takeover that allows private insurers to initially compete until Dems finally get to single payer, as they admit in tape after tape? Shepard Smith is an idiot and does not deserve to be on Fox with this lie. He should be on a channel that gets MSNBC ratings.

[Formulabruce]

yep, Government in YOUR BANK ACOUNT taking out money, and your health records in front a of a panel, NOT a doctor. Hitler took over healthcare in germany in 1933, to get better control over the people. once they get jobs and healthcare they run your life.

[northmeister]

"Government in YOUR BANK ACOUNT" - Rather have the private insurer in your bank account overcharging you for premiums, co-deductables, and then not paying for numerous items, barely paying for others, and then turning you down because of a technicality or failure to report a 'cold' back in the day?

[cmpm439]

northmeister, most people are happy with their private insurers. even people with no insurance get care. in my own community there is a string of state of the art clinics that serve 50,000 patients in 200,000 visits on a pay as you can basis. thjis is not the problem you are making it. open up the restrictions so business can actually compete and change the system so the customer actually deals with the provider and you will see great improvement, give it to politicians in dc and we go bankrupt.

[northmeister]

According to all polls around 65% of Americans want a public option at the very least and a sizable number want a single-payer system. What you advocate for healthcare (a human right in modern society that can provide it) is unethical in is assumption - no one should be put into bankruptcy, no one should have bad credit due to medical bills - no one should suffer illness rather than see a doctor due to costs - WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT - We are a can do nation, and in health we can do better.

[Formulabruce]

LOL ever seen ANY PRIVATE insurance company IN your bank accounT?? in obamas BILL< its the LAW...

[Smartassawhip]

We must take a stand against thoes who are standing in the way of REAL health care reform. I have some new petitions as well as many other ways you can get involved in the comment section of my profile. Thanks.

[warren1816]

the government can't run anything worth a shit. no government program has ever kept prices in check. we see how well hmos worked. that was a government idea that was supposed to solve the cost problem. don't forget, the public option will be open to illegals, also. smith is a clown.

[Chrisfs59]

HMOs are run by private companies, if they didn't like them, they wouldn't use them. Medicare has less overhead than private insurers. There are plenty of good government program, and private companies that waste millions on perks rather than giving customers a better deal.

[JEW20009]

Huh? What's your point?

[Formulabruce]

LOL Medicare has HUGE OVERHEAD and runs at about 50% efficiency, like most government programs. 50% doesnt fly at all in the private sector.

[JEW20009]

You're right the government can't run anything right, but did you go to public schools? Do you hate the roads and sidewalks? Do you think your food is safe because of the goodness of businessmen? Do you trust that if you home catches file the fire department will come to your rescue? Would you prefer a world without a police department? I could go on, but I am pretty sure you don't want to live in a cave like cavemen who had no government.

[northmeister]

Right on...don't forget to remind him of our Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, Coast Guard, etc. all government - and by many standards the most impressive and best in the world. If medicine had been advanced in 1787, when our Government began, a US Dept. of Health and a US Health Service, would probably been set up alongside the US Postal Dept and Postal Service; Public Libraries, Free Schools from K-12 etc. This anti-government rhetoric is nonsense, and a smear against democracy n Americans

[Formulabruce]

Guys the armed services Is NOT what im talking about, the Congress controlled thousands of programs run by a 50% efficient government. Social security, Government run, BROKE medicare, Broke or headed that way, Government run. I want to see reforms but NOT Government run, just regulated.Government is not my 'daddy" The congress and the SEC changes rules that create loops holes for greed and corruption, they need fixing as well. this admin wants to control ALL sectors of the economy.

[cmpm439]

northmeister, schools and library are local government, post office is quasi government, the military is absolutely forbidden from civilian areas, medicare runs at a deficit and is subsidized by private insurers, social security has been robbed of all savings, basically a ponzi scheme, we are ten trillion in debt with a hundred trillion in promises by politicians that know nothing, dollar being destroyed, bills written overnight and pushed through with nobody reading. open your eyes.

[northmeister]

cm...Government is government regardless of the level..the different levels have their responsibilities for sure and at the Federal level...Promoting the General Welfare - we should have Healthcare. Medicare actually works well, although it could be reformed to be better (not worse by subsidizing private drug companies or insurers)...Social Security, simply needs to lift the 150,000 ceiling and it works and is not a ponzi scheme; the debt is due to the FED, not the problem you think. Be positive

[cmpm439]

northmeister, government isn't just government regardless of the level. Send trillions to DC and it becomes a free for all with no accountability, it becomes totally ionefficient, it does not give the flexibility to reflect regional or local differences or needs, it allows programs to run on debt to bankrupt a nation (as we now are and getting much worse to the point the dollar is being discarded on the world stage). Medicare is broke even though subsidized by debt and private insurers.

[northmeister]

Your assumptions about the men and women in DC are just that bad assumptions on a whole group of representatives who are serving their country due to a few corrupt ones - that same can be said of Big Insurance, Enron, Big Banks (they failed due to corruption), and so on...the people in DC are no better or worse than in business. Business is good for retail, production, personal services, and the like. But, not in healthcare, defense, retirement security and so on. Who cares about the dollar...

[northmeister]

....con't...Our money supply is too small for our nation, it presently is at 10 trillion or so, it should be 30 trillion or so..Further, the FED is the cause of debt, charging our Corporation, the Government interest, to print money - when they should do so themselves within the 30 trillion range as to prevent inflation. REAL WEALTH, is productive capacity, skills of citizens, education of citizens, the health of citizens - As long as we have those, it does not matter if the world wants dollars.

[thesepipesRclean]

Our money supply is not the problem , it is our military budget ! When you add the 567 billion for the Dep of Defense with the Health &Human services and Dep of Veteran Affairs that take care of our veterans , widows etc . , YOU GET 50% OF OUR TOTAL ANNUAL BUDGET !! That is 80% of the rest of the countries in the world's combined military budget . It is disgusting to know the Pentagon could not even account for 25% of their expenditures last year , so they got a 4% raise this year .

[cmpm439]

northmeister, you are nutz. you think we can triple the money supply and not get third world inflation? productive capacity grows according to investment through the private sector. you currently see the results of government attempting to replace that approach- higher unemployment, lower productivity, lower capital creation, less lending. you are obviously talking out of your ass. think as a business owner or tune in to cnbc, fox business, bloomberg to get some understanding of the real world.

[northmeister]

We already have third world inflation, its been going on since the dollar was taken off the stable currency system set up by FDR under Bretton Woods Agreements for post-WWII world by Nixon in the 1970s, called floating exchange rates. Thats why a dollar ain't worth a dollar among other things. As far as Monery Supply, it is much to small for the USA, a continental nation of some 300 million people. Hmmm, seems to me these private sector companies have shipped production to China - grows there.

[northmeister]

Again - NOT TRUE - Government did not cause the mess we are in - privatization, free trade, free marketism (with its deregulation of banking, insurance, housing, airlines etc.) - caused the mess we are in period. You argue for the un-American idea that we should do more of the same that we've done since Nixon - so we can continue to what? See more industry leave, see our wages lowered more, see the Unions (resp. for the Middle Class mainly) decimated? LOL...you keep watching that drivel.

[Formulabruce]

WHO do you think controls BANKING REGULATIONS?? WHO started the Community Redevelopment ACT>>? WHO. started Mark to Market accounting?? WHO changed the RULES in the SEC ??allowing futures to be bought on CREDIT? WHO wrote huge BONUSES into AIG CONTRACTS??

 YOUR GOVERNMENT is WHO Appointed individuals, and Elected representatives. Blame Lobbyists??>> Get Em GONE!!

[northmeister]

Yes, the problem lies with corporate lobbyists as well as the negativist/neo-con types running the country as either New Democrats (Clinton/Carter) or as Conservative Republicans (Nixon/Ford/Reagan/Bush/Bush). We need to: Take money out of politics, by public financing of all elections; limiting personal donations to 1,000 per citizen or mass groups (1,000 per member). That is a start, Perot actually had a lot of good answers on this. America did quite well under New Deal regulations thank you.

[Formulabruce]

Ill agree but the new deal is a broad paintbrush and not all was good. You know that Mccain was audited, but not obama. I feel no matter what path you choose to funding, you should be audited, BEFORE the election LOL that should open some eyes. But limits, yeah Mccain tried it and it killed him, along with other things, it would need to be very comprehensive and well policed

[northmeister]

True. Yeah, public financing would have to be universal with no opt outs to work proper. This country has a way of fixing the messes some get us into; and we've been favored with the Washingtons/Lincolns/Roosevelt­s(both) of this world from time to time; to help us to realize our potential. I like our Presidential system, and seperation of powers, but looking into parliamentary systems, there is much to be admired there as well; majority governs, but if none, then coalitions have to form.

[cmpm439]

northmeister, not only do you not know economics, you even call it drivel. you are a perfect candidate for government control over your life. the problem is that if enough people agree and let the government gain almost total control over the economy, you will take us all down. the golden goose will die. the middle class will resemble citizens in the ussr. sadly, we will deserve it with a populace that argues that inflation will be controlled by printing more money. absolutely clueless.

[northmeister]

LOL...wow, ok. Well then... America, as I've stated often, is made of better ideas than: Smith, Ricardo, Quesnay, Friedman, Hayek, Von Mises...etc We have Hamilton, Carey, Clay, Lincoln, McKinley, T.R., FDR - you know the ones whose policies unleashed the collective talents of the American people and made America the "Arsenal of Democracy" twice and also the country with the largest 'middle class' in history! But, that REAL ECONOMIC HISTORY, smacks in the face of your theoretical nonsense.

[cmpm439]

northmeister, the only theoretical nonsense is in your head. for your own sake, get off the computer spouting nonsense that you know nothing about and actually get an education on economics, business, and what actually makes the world work. you are so clueless that you actually believe that bs can pass for knowledge. if you get even the slightest education you will look back on your comments with absolute emmbarassment and disgust, wondering why you wasted time trying to bs rather than learning.

[northmeister]

You assume to much my right honorable friend... Thanks for the compliment, and I don't take debating an issue personally - you make good points - but I do not agree with your assumptions, based on failed theories, based on bad economics, based itself upon 'limitation' and a 'me vs. them' 18th Century mentality. When our Fathers conceived our country, they were daring enough to throw off the vestages of tyranny and embrace the concept of majority rule and reject Smith's WON as wrong for America

[northmeister]

It was Hamilton who was embraced. I suggest you read his Report on Manufactures, Report on Public Credit, Report on Banking - to understand the roots of America's economic success. I suggest this because, Japan did so wisely, and implented them in modern terms after WWII - the Japanese Miracle was all about following our economic principles - not free marketism or Adam Smith. Again, though - I do respect your opinion, God knows I've heard it enough from economist who've got it wrong each time.

[seniordiscount]

Axelrod secretly meets with Roger Ailes and POOF....democrat talking points brought to you by shlep smith.

Look for others on fox to follow.

[Formulabruce]

Isnt this UNBELIEVEABLE??

[TrollBuster9090]

I'm loving Shep Smith's new found common sense, but am still amazed that Roger Ailes hasn't "re-assigned" him to his new assignment as the most highly-paid local news anchor that Gnome Alaska has ever had.

[wildwilly1111]

Why is Shep still on Fox News?

*How* is Shep still on Fox News?

[PurushaDesa]

@wildwilly1111

He's the token black guy. Or gay guy. Or feminist. (I don't know - one of those anti-American ones - I forget which.)

[lazyyp]

Shep once again showing that reason can shine through, gotta love it.

[JEW20009]

Nice to see a Republican feel the angst that thousands of Americans feel first hand everyday regarding health insurance. I am sure he had a drink later to steady his nerves. Unfortunately that doesn't erase the problem for many Americans.

[dubdub911]

and they will say no because like most people they want to keep their job.

[felixxxx999]

I have to say this guy made my day. Finally a voice of reason on FOX News of all places. Hes a hero in my book. Shepard, Ill buy you a beer if I ever meet you in person.

From the spineless Left, the No! Right and the media thats afraid to actually report on it (and giving the pundits all the air time instead of doctors, people that need health care, people that have gone bankrupt and so on) this is a breath of fresh air.

Keep it going Shep! Get the ball rolling!

[allbymyself27]

Shep: "This wouldn't be a government takeover; it would just be government run." WTF?????? Hey Shepard, put down the Kool-Aid and walk away from the desk. You look like a buffoon.

[dubdub911]

that means it would be a gov run buisness IN the health care industry.

that will be started off with tax money, just like if applied for a gov grant, and then run off the money it collects like blue cross blue shield, a non profit.

now if there really are death pannels and all that crazy shit people wont get it and it will go out of buisness, because in order to get more funds it would have to go back through the senate,

[JEW20009]

After reading your comment, I can only wonder what point you were attempting to make. I see some good points, but I am not sure where you went with them. I think you have something to say and I hope you will rephrase it and repost.

[dubdub911]

ok

The Public Option is just a non profit insurance company run by the government. Like Blue Cross Blue Shield.And just like if you or anyone starts a non profit, you can get a grant, its just free money.Thats how they are going to start it. Now after it gets going its going to run off the premiums it collects.If all the stuff the GOP has been saying is true, then people will stop using it and it will go broke.Now if it goes broke then it will have to throught congress to get more money.

[JEW20009]

I agree 100%. The Federal Government provides the seed money for a not for profit. The not for profit contains its costs in the same way that current insurance companies do -except- this new quasi government company (think Post Office) actual provides real competition in the industry, plus it has the extra umph that is truly not for profit (BCBS has tried several times to become for profit...wonder what that is about).

[Formulabruce]

think POST OFFICE??? as in BROKE POST OFFICE?? that wants a BAIL OUT??? another government failure??

[northmeister]

Yes, think Post Office, that prior to 1970s semi-privatization; was a Government operated mail delivery system, that was the BEST IN THE WORLD, compared to anything else - that started with Ben Franklin (along with free libraries, free University, Public Hospitals in Philadelphia) and continued successfully to employ Vets coming home from war among others with decent wages delivering our mail on time all the time, in the rain sleet and snow. Yes think of that. It is 'broke' now because of priva.

[Formulabruce]

Actually its broke because of UNIONS, NOT the private sector.

[northmeister]

lol...The Postal Service as it is now called, is broke because of UNIONS? And, just what did the UNIONS, do to break it?  The Post Office should not be for profit, it was meant to deliver messages free of charge, so information could flow easily in a republican democracy; which is why Ben Franklin and our Fathers created it - much in the way they would have created a US Health Service, had medicine been advanced then - its Promoting the General Welfare (well being) of society.

[allbymyself27]

Shepard needs to get out of the Kool-Aid.  He's just repeating Obama talking points/lies on health care and sounds like a brain-dead, anti-capitalist, liberal retard.

[clintatl]

Shepherd Smith is the only voice of reason in a very dark forest of hate.

[GBTRU]

I wonder how Shep gets away with telling the truth to Fox viewers?

[dubdub911]

he get paid like 8 million a year to state the facts as they are minus the spin and bs

[JEW20009]

Who gets $8 million a year? The anchor in salary or the Senator in insurance kickbacks?

[dubdub911]

shep smith

its something like that he gets paid not to give his opinion on his show, thats why sometimes he sounds stupid, like he is just reading or repeating facts, like a yard is 3 feet.