McCain Nudges Obama Toward His Party’s Health Plans (RINOcare rising from the ashes of Obamacare?)

The New York Times ^ | 2010-01-25 | Joseph Berger

[rabscuttle385]

In the wake of a political setback for national health care legislation, Senator John McCain, the losing candidate in the last presidential election, advised his victorious 2008 adversary on Sunday that the way to get meaningful changes passed is to “start from the beginning” by meeting with Republicans.

Mr. McCain, a Republican from Arizona, said on the CBS news program “Face the Nation” that President Obama should sit down with Republican leaders and begin adopting some of their ideas for improving the nation’s health care system such as overhauling medical malpractice lawsuits, allowing residents of one state to buy health insurance from a company in another state, and granting tax credits for people who purchase health insurance on their own.

The Democrats last week lost a Senate seat in Massachusetts that had given them the 60 votes needed to block a Republican filibuster of a health care bill that appeared on the verge of passage by both houses. Mr. McCain was asked what would Republicans do in response.

“We’d be willing to sit down and start over from the beginning with genuine negotiations,” he replied. “There are things we can agree on.”

[FTJM]

Democrats have blocked every health reform bill offered by Republicans. What is there to negotiate? They want Universal health care, Republicans want real reform. Split the difference John? This is why the country is screwed up.

[flintsilver7]

I’m no fan of McCain, but it looks like he’s suggesting Obama-style bipartisanship here. In other words, agree with our point of view or go pound sand. As you point out, these are all conservative ideas. There’s no way any Democrat would actually do that, but it’s fun to try.

[Defiant]

Let's hope RINO-care is unpalatable enough to Dems that it can't be passed.

Why can't those idiots in the Stupid Party get behind the free-market based reforms that are out there? Bennett from Utah had some legislation a few years ago that was a start? There are lots of ideas from places like the Heritage Foundation that would be improvements, and would show that Republicans do want to make things better, and aren't just socialist lite.

[Cobra64]

I take it JM does not understand that the evil backers of Obamacare will take anything at this point, and once it is law, change it from there to exactly what they want. It will be easy for Obama to do.

Correct. Shred the 2,000 pages and start over with something like this (just a draft of some common sense points to consider):

[Rome2000]

John McCain crippled the rights ability to get its message out and campaign effectively with his stupid "campaign finance reform" and as a result is directly responsible for the socialist majority in Congress and the muslim in the WH.

His "campaign finance reform" has put MILLIONS of people out of work and cost citizens billions of dollars in the stock market.

He wants to grant amnesty and citizenship to millions of illegal aliens, doesn't support enhanced interrogation methods necessary to protect the nation, and is a supporter of the KLA, a muzzie terrorist organization.

The most dangerous man in America.

[montanajoe]

This is the same thing Scott Brown has said. When conservatives elect RINO’s how can they be surprised? Look for Mc Cain Brown health care bill coming your way soon...

[Rome2000]

There are things we can agree on

Well, this crazy SOB campaigned on taxing health benefits.

Of course the COM-SYMP Obama and his PR man Goebbels/Axelrod used it against him in the campaign, but they all now agree that its a GREAT IDEA!!.

[plain talk]

ideas for improving the nation’s health care system such as overhauling medical malpractice lawsuits, allowing residents of one state to buy health insurance from a company in another state, and granting tax credits for people who purchase health insurance on their own.

I agree with all three of those old ideas. However the problem is the bill would not be limited to those 3 things and they would include all the socialistic stuff. So it would be better to do nothing now, win the house back and then pass those 3 things.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Exactly. Hey, we can talk about these points, and make the Democrats say WHY they are opposed to them.

However, this is just another of the daily rabscuttle “hate McCain/hate Conservatives” threads. He just likes to only attack those in the GOP, never the Democrats. And McCain is his favorite whipping boy.

I’m not a big fan of McCain, but the man’s 100% correct on these points, and that the GOP should push this type of sensible, conservative health care reform.

[Bad Jack Bauer]

Obamacare is toxic, and now McLame wants to contaminate his own party with this stinking pile of garbage.

I say good. Shake the tree and target what scurries out. The Party needs a good purge and this is a good way to do it because there are many Republicans wanting to jump on the healthcare band wagon so bad. They would love "to reach across the aisle, my friends" but have had their hands cuffed behind their back by fear of their constituents.

[Will88]

As you point out, these are all conservative ideas. There’s no way any Democrat would actually do that, but it’s fun to try.

But there is a real danger in cases like this that McCain and/or Graham will get a few concessions and decide to vote for the wonderful, new "bipartisan" bill.

Republicans need to get away from Obamacare and let it die, or let the Dims own it 100%.

[Rome2000]

Let the socialists keep trying to nationalize the medical industry, it doesn't matter, because it will not stand, and all that is lacking is conservative leadership that has the guts to call that collection of socialist crook sex pervert baby killer trial lawyer scum in the democrat party exactly what they are, and not let them hide behind "progressive" and "liberal".

"You are seeing today an all out attempt to marshal the forces of the opposition, using not merely the communists, or their fellow travelers-the deluded liberals, the eggheads, and some of my good friends in both the Democratic and Republican Parties who can become heros over night in the eyes of the left-wing press if they will just join with the jackal pack"

[flintsilver7]

It looks like he’s suggesting that they start over with conservative ideas. You’re right in that those ideas could easily be poisoned, but that doesn’t mean you never try.

[M1911 Colt .45 ACP]

HAYWORTH 2010!

http://fittrust.org/

http://www.ontheissues.org/House/J_D__Hayworth.htm

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"These are all good ideas. They are conservative ideas that will most definitely save money. If this is indeed what John McCain wants Obama to move towards, that's good. On the other hand, there's no way he would adopt any of those, so it's really a moot point."

Thank you. McCain isn't wrong all the time. (Case in point: Sarah Palin. Q.E.D.)

[Will88]

It looks like he’s suggesting that they start over with conservative ideas. You’re right in that those ideas could easily be poisoned, but that doesn’t mean you never try.

But the Dims still have their big majorities until after the next election. They will never agree to a bill that is not loaded up with their ideas, several of theirs to one from the Republicans.

And Obama specifically eliminated tort reform in a speech at the outset of this Obamacare push.

A total waste of Republican time and effort to do anything but try and kill Obamacare. All the things that might happen would be more bad than good. Stay away from health care reform until there are many more Republicans in Congress.

McCain needs to stop his lone ranger negotiations and attempts to reach across the aisle (and create another disaster).

[Venturer]

Amen, Brother.

I dont know what the hell was on Sarah Palins mind when she endorsed this old RINO.

[grey_whiskers]

FUBO FUMC!

Cheers!

[Will88]

“Thank you. McCain isn’t wrong all the time. (Case in point: Sarah Palin. Q.E.D.)”

The real case in point. Juan wanted Joe Lieberman, and had to be talked out of it very late in the game.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=McCain+wanted+Lieberman+as+VP&sourceid=navclient-ff&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS345US345&ie=UTF-8

[Candor7]

Oh Nooooo! Sarah Palin has GOT to get away from McPain.