Presidential candidate Barack Obama promised over and over, and over, and over, and over, again not to negotiate healthcare reform behind closed doors, to bring all parties together and to broadcast those negotiations on C-SPAN "so the American people can see what the choices are. Obama promised the healthcare negotiations would be on C-SPAN:
- He said it at Google --November 14, 2007
- He said it at the CNN Democrat Presidential Debate -- January 31, 2008
- He said it during an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle -- January 17, 2008 [the same interview during which Obama said his cap and trade plan would bankrupt anyone who builds a coal-powered plant and electricity rates will skyrocket.]
- He said it at an Ohio Town Hall -- March 2008
- He said it during an interview with the St. Petersburg Times -- May 2008
Watch the following video to see Obama's now broken promises for transparent healthcare negotiations:
It is truly unfortunate that President Obama did not keep those promises, but instead, chose to meet privately with healthcare executives, cut a deal with drug firms in secret, and outsourced the drafting of the Obamacare legislation to the highly partisan, Democrat-controlled Congress, thereby ensuring a very partisan Obamacare bill unacceptable to many, if not most of the American people.
Obama was correct about the involvement of the American people:
"Part of what we have to do is enlist the American people in this process." -- Barack Obama, CNN Democrat Presidential Debate, January 31, 2008.
Look at those town hall meetings. The American people have enlisted. I hope Obama is also right about Congress can be shamed into doing the right thing:
"I would not underestimate the degree to which shame is a healthy emotion and that you can shame Congress into doing the right thing if people know what is going on." -- Barack Obama, San Francisco Chronicle -- January 17, 2008
Can you hear them now? You work for us. Hear our voice. Don't close the door.
Comments
You're certainly right to criticize Obama for his lack of transparency on the issue, but please be aware that "Obamacare" is a buzzword propagated by the anti-reform movement, and doesn't belong in anything approximating journalism.
ObamaCare IS the truth regardless of what you say Alan. Obama sent his request to Reid and Waxman and Pelosi and he got back something he didn't want. THAT'S why it didn't get done before recess. He ordered them to "fix" it.
Will OBAMA take credit for what passes?
I rest my case!
At Obama's town hall today, he was trying to assure us that the "government option" would save money and NOT drive out private insurers. To prove his hypothesis, he said UPS and FedEx were doing fine, but “it’s the post office that’s always having problems.”
Ahahha Ahhahhah!!!
Trying to persuede that government can run a health program efficiently and cheaper and for proof brings up the USPS!
$3 to $6 BILLION deficit at the USPS and he wants us to believe he can run health insurance?!?!?!?
WHAT A FRICKING JOKE.
Hey Obammie, Teleprompter....NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!
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