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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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 OPINION 
14

If Health Care Push Fails, Blame Dems

Public wants a public option; why do 'centrists' oppose it?

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(Newser) – Now ought to be a good time to reform health care. With costs up and coverage down, polls show the public overwhelmingly favors change. Unfortunately, “a handful of Democratic senators are still determined to party like it’s 1993,” writes Paul Krugman of the New York Times. These so-called “centrists” want to kill the best reform idea: a public insurance option that drives down costs through competition.

Again, polls show the public favors that idea, and if the center is the position held by most Americans, these “centrists” are in right field. And they seem utterly incapable of explaining their opposition. Ben Nelson of Nebraska called it a “deal breaker” because private insurers wouldn’t be able to compete with it. Asks Krugman: “Um, isn’t the purpose of health care reform to protect American citizens, not insurance companies?”

President Barack Obama meets with Senate Democrats to discuss health care, Tuesday, June 2, 2009. From left are Max Baucus and Kent Conrad, both health care 'centrists.'
President Barack Obama meets with Senate Democrats to discuss health care, Tuesday, June 2, 2009. From left are Max Baucus and Kent Conrad, both health care 'centrists.'   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sen. Kent Conrad's utterly circular argument against the public option? It'll prevent the bill from getting votes from senators like him.
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sen. Kent Conrad's utterly circular argument against the public option? It'll prevent the bill from getting votes from senators like him.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari/file)
Paul Krugman talks to a gathering in Princeton, after he was announced the winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in economics Monday, Oct. 13, 2008.
Paul Krugman talks to a gathering in Princeton, after he was announced the winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in economics Monday, Oct. 13, 2008.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
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Honestly, I don’t know what these Democrats are trying to achieve. Yes, some of the balking senators receive large campaign contributions from the medical-industrial complex — but who in politics doesn’t? - Paul Krugman

Their role in the health care debate is purely that of spoilers who keep shouting the old slogans — Government-run health care! Socialism! Europe! — hoping that someone still cares. - Paul Krugman, on Republicans

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14 comments
VIEWING:
 
Left-Blog
Jun 22, 09 11:22 AM CDT
Civil war looming within the Democratic party: http://leftsolutions.wordpress.com/a-civil-war-looms-in-the-democratic-party/ Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Reader64481089
Jun 22, 09 11:36 AM CDT
Simple answer, Big Business (Medical INDUSTRY) doesn't want to loose mass profit for inferior medical treatment and bribe any and all willing for the handout whether Republican or Democrat Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+9
IN RESPONSE:
Snowleopard
Jun 22, 09 3:03 PM CDT
so true. it sux that washington works like this. lobbyists have too much power over both parties.
Vote up! Vote down!
+4
IN RESPONSE:
freethemall
Jun 22, 09 10:38 PM CDT
You got that right, and nothing will change until the electorate stops letting itself be fooled by the minority who have a vested interest in the status quo.
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0
JonmarkP
Jun 22, 09 12:04 PM CDT
They're not "centrists," they're corporate whores. Transforming the Congress from corporate whorehouse to responsible legislature is entirely up to us. These roundheels must understand that failing to pass a public health care option will be the end of them. Call it capitol punishment if you will- the consequences for failure must be fatal to their terms at the public trough. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+7

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