In an effort to swing support for ObamaCare, the president hosted a conference call, asking liberal bloggers to put the pressure on Congress.
During the call, a blogger asked a question regarding an article he read in Investors Business Daily, claiming that the House bill would outlaw private insurance. He asked: “Is this true? Will people be able to keep their insurance and will insurers be able to write new policies even though H.R. 3200 is passed?” Obama replied: “You know, I have to say that I am not familiar with the provision you are talking about.” He added: “If you have health insurance and you like it, and you have a doctor that you like, then you can keep it. Period.”
But how can the president make such a promise if he is unfamiliar with the legislation? He can’t. It’s another empty promise.
Although the health legislation will not outlaw private insurance, it will regulate it to the point of extinction, making it one of the many reasons that this legislation is unpopular.
Listen to the call. Minute 16:00 should get you there.
Comments
I listened to that sound clip. The questioner was asking whether it's true, as claimed by some article, that a particular section of the bill (Section 102) will prohibit people from signing on to private plans. Obama said he is not familiar with that section, but he explained that if you have insurance you like, you will be able to keep it. Obama said he will not sign a bill that made it more difficult for people to afford health insurance, since the whole point of the bill is to make insurance more affordable for more people. You seem to be jumping to a conclusion you like, which is that Obama is cheating the American people. But the clip doesn't support your case. Your headline is misleading and slanted.
again this is quote mining and lazy quote mining at that. Obama did not respond that he was unfamiliar so much as he did not have any understanding of legislation that had such impacts upon health care. do not pretend to be muckrackers especially when dealing with open conference calls and public conventions acsessable to so many.
If you can't see the empty promise buried in there Matt and Randy, you need your head examined. If you think that private health care will be able to compete with the public (sub-standard) insurance then you are clearly not familiar with BASIC economic theory. Try economics 101 before you decide you know what you're talking about.
And also try reading Section 102 before you just believe what he says.
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