Posted on 09/09/2009 3:27:43 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
While arguing with Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele about health care reform on Wednesday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith proclaimed: "...if the public option is socialism, then what is Medicare?....That people overwhelmingly think works pretty well for them."
Steele pointed out Medicare’s obvious flaw: "Medicare’s a government-run program that is not – that is not doing that well....Harry, come on. How often do we have to do another reset on Medicare because it’s in default or running out of money?" Steele went on to challenge President Obama’s drastic approach to reform: "My only point is why do we have to up end 1/6 of our nation’s economy to fix what the President has now redefined-" Smith interrupted: "Because that 1/6 of our economy, left to go as it is, will bankrupt us." Apparently spending $1 trillion on a massive new government program will not.
Earlier in the interview, Steele reacted to Obama’s upcoming address to Congress: "And after 26 speeches and 12 resets on this health care plan, tonight, in my view, it’s just one more opportunity to tell us what we already know." Smith responded by claiming: "Okay. Except polls would say the opposite of that." Steele replied: "No, the polls don’t...Harry I don’t know what polls you’re looking at. The polls don’t say the opposite of that."
Smith defended his characterization: "The polls say they don’t really know what is in this health care plan or what the public option is." Steele pointed out: "Exactly, and what they – and what they do know they don’t like, which is why this thing has been tanking for the last three weeks. That’s my point."
Immediately following Smith’s interview with Steele, co-host Russ Mitchell reported news headlines, including: "And thus far this morning, 9 looks like a lucky number. Some doomsayers had predicted the end of the world as the numbers turned to the ninth day of the ninth month of the ninth year of the new century. But others are getting married on what they think is a lucky day." Co-host Maggie Rodriguez chimed in: "President Obama’s sure hoping it’s a lucky number for him. Right?" Mitchell agreed: "Oh yes, yes he is."
Here is a full transcript of Smith’s interview with Steele:
7:06AM
HARRY SMITH: Joining us now from Washington is Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. Mr. Steele, good morning.
MICHAEL STEELE: Hey, good morning, Harry.
SMITH: A lot of conservatives around the country feel like the public option, which is still very much on the table and the President is going to talk about tonight, is socialism. Do you think the public option is socialism?
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Health Care Fight; GOP Chairman on Opposition to Obama Plan]
STEELE: Yes, I do. And quite frankly, I think a lot more people are believing that there’s more to this than meets the eye. And – and the reality of it is, you know, I just don’t understand this idea that somehow people think that the federal government can enter into a marketplace and compete with private industry. That goes counter to everything that we know about how markets work and the role that the government plays in those markets. So the idea that you’re going to take an institution like, you know, the Department of Health and Human Services and then put that – put them in competition with private insurers, to me doesn’t make sense. If you have an insurance problem with one insurance company dominating a particular market, then break that up. There are incentives and disincentives that can be created that would create greater competition. But the idea that the federal government can come in and all of a sudden be the same as All-State in providing insurance is a ridiculous notion and that’s the problem here. The people of this country have figured this out and they’re like, you know, this plan makes no sense. And after 26 speeches and 12 resets on this health care plan, tonight, in my view, it’s just one more opportunity to tell us what we already know.
SMITH: Okay. Except polls would say the opposite of that. Here’s the question, though, if-
STEELE: No, the polls don’t-
SMITH: -if – if the – hey – no, no, no-
STEELE: Harry, I don’t know what polls – Harry I don’t know what polls you’re looking at. The polls don’t say the opposite of that.
SMITH: The polls say they don’t really know what is in this health care plan or what the public option is.
STEELE: Exactly, and what they – and what they do know they don’t like, which is why this thing has been tanking for the last three weeks. That’s my point.
SMITH: Alright. Let me ask you this – let me ask you this, if the public option is socialism, then what is Medicare?
STEELE: Medicare’s a government-run program that is not – that is not doing that well.
SMITH: That people overwhelmingly think works pretty well for them.
STEELE: No – Harry, come on. How often do we have to do another reset on Medicare because it’s in default or running out of money? I mean, the reality of it is, you know, this is something that took a year and a half to put in place-
SMITH: But people say ‘I don't want this public option, but don’t mess with my Medicare,’ you know that.
STEELE: Yeah, I know that. And that’s now a part of the system here. My only point is why do we have to up end 1/6 of our nation’s economy to fix what the President has now redefined-
SMITH: Because that 1/6 of our economy left to go as it is will bankrupt us.
STEELE: That has – that has – that has redefined 1/6 of our economy to fix what he has redefined as a insurance problem. If this is a matter of getting a certain number of people insurance, then let’s work to get them into the insurance market. There are ways to do that. You can create a situation, with respect to pre-existing conditions, address that issue through portability. You don’t have to up end the entire system. To do this comprehensively just is not the way this should be done in my view and in the view of a lot of people.
SMITH: Alright. Mr. Steele, as always, a pleasure to chat with you this morning, thanks.
STEELE: Alright.
SMITH: Alright.
STEELE: Alright.
SMITH: You bet. Russ Mitchell is at the news desk this morning. Should be an interesting speech tonight.
RUSS MITCHELL: It certainly should. Interesting interview right there, Harry.
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
Obama says we have to have Obamacare because Medicare is breaking the bank.
Oh, if only we could assign Cuba as the primary insurer of the US Congress and their families
Amazing how people that don’t have to rely on Medicare think it’s just wonderful.
does he know that Medicare does not cover dental. The Drug bene is not that great cure everyone thought it would be. I have yet to hear anyone that LOOOOVVVEEEES Medicare.
Is there nothing they won’t say or do for the ‘bama? For about 2 months, I consciously avoid the evening (national) news, and switch over to Fox. I don’t want to risk even accidently being identified as a viewer.
Medicare is FREAKING BANKRUPT!
Why does the moron think the dems are in a panic to pass something, anything to pick up dollars to put in the funding?
This isn’t about healthcare. This is about tens of millions without jobs and soon without healthcare. This is about bankrupt social programs and the soon to be bankrupt SS system. This is about the IRS picking more tax money from those least able to afford the fine because they won’t or can’t buy insurance.
If I hear one more time this is “Healthcare” I’m going to punch the computer screen.
obama says we have to add 47 million mostly healthy young and middle-aged Americans and illegals to the govt spam wagon to receive a plethora of preventive care because MEDICARE and MEDICAID are busted....
go figure
But I thought they denied it was Socialism?
Can they at least keep their lies straight?
Good grief. I havent taken economics since high school. But I understand that the reason Medicare works reasonably well is that it insures only a small subset of the population. As a result, the money that providers lose on this subset can be recouped by shifting costs to the rest of the population that is privately insured.
If you force the privately insured into a Medicare program, there wont be payors to whom costs can be shifted. Something will have to give, and it will obviously be the quality of care.
You could say that Medicare is NOT socialism because it depends on being surrounded by capitalism to work.
The Socislist Medicare Program Must Be Stopped.
So... obviously all 100 Senators and 435 Congresspersons will proudly step up and be at the head of the line to put themselves and their families under the "Socialist Success Story." Right Harry?
Exactly,
I am never so astounded as when I hear people defend systems that DEPEND on a robust Capitalist system... then in the next breath advocate destroying the very Capitalist system that all these programs MUST have to survive.
When there are no longer a robust capitalist system, small business for job creation, and the rich are no longer rich. WTH do they think will happen then. but ofcourse no one evey accused the Commie/fascist/socialist/dums of being intelligent, or for that matter even understands the meaning of UNINTENDED COSEQUENCES.
Steele does not even have the brass to admit that Medicare is Socialist.
If Medicare is so wonderful, why do the people on Medicare have to have a supplimental insurance policy?
A good question. And also if medicare is so great, why is it bankrupt??
Exactly. Medicare has 50 trillion in unfunded mandates. It can’t be sustained by hopes and dreams.
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