July 23, 2009 - 04:27 PM

Health Care Fairy Tale

by Mike Huckabee

On Wednesday, President Obama held a news conference, which was designed to enlist public support for his universal healthcare plan. I think it is pretty safe to say that the President’s remarks created more questions than he answered.

There isn’t any question that there is a disconnect between the President and the American people on the issue of health care. Most Americans do not want government controlled health care. They do want lower costs.

Like most Americans, I find myself asking again and again, why the rush to adopt a national health care plan that will consume 1/6 of our federal budget? Isn’t this an important issue that we should take our time on, debate fully all of the proposals being floated, and make sure that everyone, including our legislators, has a chance to read the bill?

The Obama Administration continues to say that the issue has been debated for years. That may or may not be true, but what is true is that the bills being proposed on Capitol Hill have not been debated!!! In fact, no one seems to know what is in them

The President cites as a reason for quick action, rising costs of health care. Yet even the Congressional Budget Office says the plans being offered will not decrease costs, and in fact, will increase them. Seems like a good time to get our figures straight before we try to pass any legislation...
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Comments 1-50 of 139

  • Burr, Catherine

    08/17/2009 05:50 PM

    The issue with healthcare is the usual - money, and the power to control that money. There's no question that the involvement of the unions reflects control of such $$ investment power.

  • mclaughlin, judythe

    08/02/2009 11:51 PM

    The Lord warns of doing things too fast, all within His time. Know what we are doing. Pray and patiently wait for His answer. I say we cannot rush into anything. I say we must look at Canada and England for for examples of what the government wants to push down our throats. I have had this experience myself. If you have private insurance you get care. If not,you have to wait and wait and wait to get care...I would hope everyone in this country will get more informed and do something.

  • Johnson, Jeremy

    07/30/2009 11:30 AM

    Brian Snow,

    Don't forget about Obama and the CPUSA. It couldn't be more obvious. (By the way, I love that slap .gif!)

    We've all heard the "something must be done" screams before. History has taught us that sometimes it is better to just do *nothing* instead of doing *something* that will end up making the situation worse. People will complain that you're not helping if you cannot offer an alternative *something* but it doesn't occur to them that *nothing* is a perfectly viable alternative in itself.

    With regard to health care, I'm sure there are many *somethings* that can be done to make the current situation better. However, the fact of the matter is that *nothing* is still better than the current proposal. Those who reject this plan without proposing another *something* are still doing the country a big favor.

    If there's no water in sight, that doesn't mean you should instead pour gasoline on a burning house.

    Jeremy Johnson

  • Doc, Hous

    07/29/2009 04:43 PM

    Can do both; provide better care as well as cut costs. Have to make better use of technology though. For example, switching from the phone to email for communication with patients. You can use www.housedoc.us, which is free and HIPAA compliant, and can be used by NPs and PAs as well as doctors.

  • Doc, Hous

    07/29/2009 04:39 PM

    There is no reason we can't both provide better health care and cotrol costs at the same time. Technology can help. For example, it saves time and more convenient to communicate with patients by email instead of by phone. If you don't have access to a secure email service, you can use www.housedoc.us, which is a free and HIPAA compliantonline communications service for patients and their medical providers including doctors, NPs and PAs.

  • henderson, cary

    07/26/2009 06:46 PM

    > An article showed up on the Kitco page Friday describing our financial problems and the role Congress is play in them, see;
    http://www.kitco.com/ind/Dougherty/jul242009.html

  • Goff, Steve

    07/26/2009 10:39 AM

    In regard to the “Conscience Clause” and the closing of over one thousand Catholic Medical Institutions: this actually plays beautifully into President Obama’s hands. According to the USCCB, there are over 615 Catholic hospitals which account for 12.5 % of community hospitals in the United States, and over 15.5% of all US hospital admissions. They also run an additional 404 health care centers. In 2005 alone, there were over 15.4 million emergency room visits, and over 86 million outpatient visits in Catholic hospitals. Add these two figures together and that gives you 101 million admissions in 2005 alone. Keep in mind that the figure of 15.5% is for hospitals and not health care centers, so with these figures combined, the percentage will no doubt be significantly higher. So the Catholic Hospital system accounts for 1/5 of the health care private sector, serving around 20% (and maybe higher—the figure of 101 million represents a third of our population granted that some of the numbers are multiple admissions, etc., but for now I will go with the USCCB’s figure) of our population. The collapse of the Catholic institution will create a considerable void in the private sector, such as that the remaining sectors may have trouble absorbing the additional 101 million admissions, and guess who will be there to step into the void? That’s right, the government. This is part of a coordinated effort to help destroy a significant portion of the private sector (you know, the one that our President keeps promising won’t be harmed) and expand the government’s power.

  • Usher, Merial

    07/25/2009 03:20 PM

    Mike I wrote my Rep. Mica & my Senator Martinez to express my concerns over this health care plan especially after watching your show & the folks from Canada. What else can we do as we are going to be in a horrible mess if this passes thru. Thank God for people like you who open the average person`s eyes to this complete mess. By the way I voted for you & supported you. Thanks Merial

  • Goff, Steve

    07/25/2009 03:22 AM

    It should be quite evident of what the current administration’s real philosophy of health care is: reduce cost and provide healthcare for all by eliminating the current strain on the system—the chronically ill and those towards the end of their lives. The Pres. has verified this in his own words, but even more troubling, the bill also includes an assault on “special needs” people, and will provide gov. funded abortions. So let’s recap; the chronically ill, the elderly, special needs, and the unborn are all targeted by this bill. We are witnessing nothing less than the implementing of euthanasia through the healthcare system.

    Here is a peek of a portion of the bill—you make the connection.

    Pg 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill Govt will reduce physician svcs 4 Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected

    PG 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 Govt provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding u in death

    Pg 429 Lines 1-9 An „adv. care planning consult‰ will b used frequently as patients health deteriorates

    PG 429 Lines 10-12 „adv. care consultation‰ may incl an ORDER 4 end of life plans. AN ORDER from GOV

    Pg 429 Lines 13-25 - The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.

    PG 430 Lines 11-15 The Govt will decide what level of treatment u will have at end of life

    Pg 354 Sec 1177 - Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs ppl

    Keep in mind that the Pres. just appointed two czars, one who believes that we should have mandated abortion for population control; the other who believes that younger people have more value than older people, and that a smart border collie has more value than a retarded child. These views kind of fit into the language of this current bill—don’t you think?

    It is sad that the news organizations didn’t report on “The Comfort Room” as ardently as they should have. It’s also sad that they refused to show photographs of the “The Comfort Room.” This included the “dead infant care packages (to include imprints of the dead baby’s feet and baptismal certificates) and the chair where babies were rocked to death. If anyone would like to know what Pres. Obama’s government mandated health care policy will be like, they need to look no further than “The Comfort Room.” Here is Obama in his words one last time:

    “I mean, the chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives are accounting for potentially 80 percent of the total health care bill out here. So how do you -- how do we deal with it? Well, I think there is going to have to be a conversation that is guided by doctors, scientists, ethicists. And then there is going to have to be a very difficult democratic conversation that takes place. It is very difficult to imagine the country making those decisions just through the normal political channels. And that’s part of why you have to have some independent group that can give you guidance. It’s not determinative, but I think has to be able to give you some guidance. And that’s part of what I suspect you’ll see emerging out of the various health care conversations that are taking place on the Hill right now.”

  • Goff, Steve

    07/25/2009 03:02 AM

    Here is a very informative article floating around the blogosphere (you know that portion of the media that actually reported consistently on “The Comfort Room.”)

    Dr. Steve Maloney, Ambridge, PA

    “The biggest issue that lies before America is Barack Obama’s version of national health care. Obama claims that increasing demands on the health care system, which his plan surely will do, is somehow going to lower costs while increasing quality.
    Based on the experiences of other countries, including Canada and European nations, Obama-care eventually may lower unit costs modestly (mainly through rationing). On the minus side, it will decimate the quality of care. It will make the world’s gold standard in health care — the US — start to resemble your local Department of Motor Vehicles (”take a number please”)…

    One way Obama wants to control health costs is by increasing the number of abortions, both in the US and worldwide. The basic concept is that dead embryos don’t incur any additional health costs. I’ll write more about that later.

    I want to focus on the severely infirm and/or “terminally ill” elderly. Here’s what Obama recently said about them. He admitted he wants the government to decide what health care Americans receive.
    “There’s always going to be an asymmetry of information between patient and provider,” he said. “And part of what I think government can do effectively is to be an honest broker in assessing and evaluating treatment options.” In other words, the federal government would be a middleman, basically usurping a doctor’s determination what treatment is appropriate.

    In addition, Obama stated that “the chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives are accounting for potentially 80 percent of the total health care bill out here.” (Note: it should not come as a surprise that people who are sick are big consumers of health care. People who are well don’t need it.)

    For such patients, he said, “I think that there is going to have to be a conversation that is guided by doctors, scientists, ethicists. And then there is going to have to be a very difficult democratic conversation that takes place. It is very It is very difficult to imagine the country making those decisions just through the normal political channels.”
    http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/may/01/obamas-health-care-rationing/

    In other words, if you’re “chronically ill” — say, you have diabetes or high blood pressure or multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis — society (in the form of a government employee) may decide your presence on earth is no longer needed! Perhaps Obama “misspoke,” as he has a chronic habit of doing, but his words as stated are extremely ominous. Frankly, those words may be the most chilling ever uttered by a US President.

    What about that “democratic conversation” Obama mentions? Basically, it may be a show of hands (by bureaucrats mainly) on how best to get grandma out of her expensive hospital bed and into a pine box.

    His initial choice for his Health and Human Services Secretary, Tom Daschle, wrote a book emphasizing the need to keep the terminally ill from staying around as long they do. If HHS Secretary Kathleen Sibelius differs with Daschle (and Obama), she’s yet to make that clear.

    One thing Obama will not tell you is that dead people — who famously tell no tales — also incur no additional health costs. The more rapidly people die, the more the Obama Plan will save (if that’s any consolation to grieving relatives). Perhaps Joe Biden will tell us it’s “patriotic” for people to die with neither fanfare nor care.
    Obama and other liberal Democrats regularly hold up the Canadian and European national health care systems as superior to our in the US They are dead wrong at that. By nearly any measure, health care in the US is much better at curing sick people than our counterparts overseas.

    National health care systems save money in some bizarre ways. Consider how one business and economics writer (Phillippe Maniere) describes the situation in his native France:
    “The majority of France’s state-owned hospitals are managed in a way that is reminiscent of the old USSR For example, in the average French public hospital, is not uncommon for every window to be open, even in winter, because the heating system for the building cannot be regulated. With the only options being no heat or unbearably high heat, everyone opts for the latter. Predictably, this is not very cheap.” Ah, the wonderful cost savings of Euro-care.

    Oh, and French hospitals generally lack air conditioning, which can be a problem. In the summer of 2003 the lack of cool air, coupled with the fact most French doctors were on vacation, resulted in the death from dehydration of 15,000 elderly people.

    By the way, the French health system, even with its obvious limitations, is far superior to those in Great Britain and Germany. Their mantra seems to be, “First, provide no care.”
    Of course, the excess costs on heat in such hospitals presumably are balanced by the number of patients who pass away prematurely. Perhaps some enterprising journalist (if there are any in DC) will ask Barack Obama if one of his health care models for America is France. If so, patients can prepared to be very hot — and not just under the collar.

    Am I really saying in this piece that a mainstay of Obama-care will be helping to terminate old people who are too stubborn to die quickly? To steal Gov. Palin’s favorite saying, “You betcha.”

  • Captain Obvious

    07/25/2009 12:34 AM

    Alan, your juxtaposition of quotes from George Bernard Shaw and Governor Huckabee is stunning.

  • Alan4Huck

    07/24/2009 08:34 PM

    Why does President Obama not see a problem with a universal healthcare plan that will ration medical treatment(which is inevitable) and allow government bureaurocrats to decide which elderly or sick persons get continued treatment?

    Because, as politically incorrect as this reminder is, I remind everyone that it was at one time Senator Barrack H. Obama that voted for infanticide on three separate occassions. He sees people an our nation more as a collective whole than he does as individuals. Why? Because of Obama's past history of mentorship and training which cannot be erased from his psyche just because he is now president. When someone does not value life at the most simple (inception) and early stage, that someone is more prone to then value life for how healthy, productive, independent, or valuable he/she is to society, in other words socialism.

    The person who does not ardently protect life at the most vulnerable early stages of life will also tend not to protect life at the more vulnerable end of life. After having read some of the current healthcare bill, it is an understatement to say that the bill does not adequately value/care for or protect the life of the unborn or the elderly. Also, fiscally, the healthcare bill is a fiasco. Even the independent Congressional Budget Office exposed that Obama's Healthcare was monstrously expensive and would make medical care more expensive. Unfortunately, for Obama, he is now politically committed, and the healthcare bill is now much more about political victory than what is best for the individual and even the nation as a whole.

    "I also made it quite clear that Socialism means equality of income or nothing, and that under Socialism you would not be allowed to be poor. You would be forcibly fed, clothed, lodged, taught, and employed whether you liked it or not. If it were discovered that you had not character and industry enough to be WORTH all this trouble, you might possibly be executed in a kindly manner; but whilst you were permitted to live you would have to live well."
    - George Bernard Shaw (An ardent Socialist) -

    "I want lower taxes, less government, more local control, less spending, greater accountability for tax dollars, a strong national defense, and less government regulation. But above all, I want a government who respects life—mine, yours, and that of people I don’t know and even those I don’t like. A government that decides that an unborn baby isn’t worth anything may one day decide that about me. Or you."
    - Mike Huckabee -

  • Linenbrink, Osa

    07/24/2009 07:52 PM

    I am a single white female. 48 years old. I go to the doctor when I need to. I have never had health insurance. I pay as I go. I have worked a full time since I was 17 years old. I do not wish to have to be forced to buy health insurance. I believe that it is my constitutional right not to have to. I am not in debt with creditors. As a matter of fact I am debt free...on a full time job income. I make less than $2000.00 a month..but I live within my means. I believe that if everyone can if they just would stop and think about it. I do not want you to vote for mandatory health insurance for myself or anyone else.

  • Captain Obvious

    07/24/2009 05:38 PM

    Our legislators let us down by passing a bailout costing us billions of tax dollars without DEMANDING adequate time to read the dern thing.
    That must never happen again. Certainly not on this healthcare plan.

    Tax dollars must not be used to fund elective procedures--like liposuction, tummy tucks, and abortions. (As one who once measured only a few cells in stature, I'm 'way beyond appalled at the idea that maybe killing a human at that stage is somehow okay.)

    And bless the congressperson I heard quoted on Fox News who pointed out that the proposed plan basically tells those of us who have reached retirement age to "drop dead". Fellow boomers, do YOU want some young bureaucrat deciding that having to inject insulin or dealing with whatever you deal with causes your "quality of life" to slip below the official "worth saving" standard? I don't.

    Don't miss the post from
    Falwell, Kris
    07/23/2009 07:53 PM--

    I'm with Shelley Ahlersmeyer--let's do all we can to support HuckPAC and elect good people. And for corn's sake don't vote on this beast until we have some adult leadership!

    R23745

  • Shelley Ahlersmeyer

    07/24/2009 04:48 PM

    Thank you for your perspective on this critical piece of legislation Gov. Huckabee

    Everyone: We need to support Huck PAC so we can get rid of this liberal Congress. Let's get conservatives elected in 2010!

    Make a contribution to Huck PAC today. (Please use my code: 23751)

    P.S. Governor - wish you were our president now!

  • Dr. David

    07/24/2009 03:09 PM

    mxnwilson 07/24/2009 2:41 pm. Hi, Maxine. A few courageous physicians (e.g. Dr. Jack Wennberg) have devoted their lives to amassing the data which show huge regional differences in medical treatments, all of which can be traced to the greed of some medical practicioners. Our friend Brian Snow referred to one recent article about McAllen, Texas, that documents such differences.

    Doctors are no different from the rest of us. Most are honorable, but some are not. Some specialists in particular see a medical license as a hunting license. They look for patients so they can "bag their quarry" per unit time. But doctors are far from the only problem. Every industry that profits from more care has an incentive to stretch the system. Those are the plain facts. No serious person disputes them.

    I am encouraged that apparently some progress was made today in the Congress about redesigning the Medicare rules to emphasize quality of medical intervention rather than quantity.

  • mxnwilson

    07/24/2009 02:41 PM

    As the latest developments unfold in President Obama's health care plan, there is certainly room for concern, especially with the unveiling of the plans for senior citizens. (This includes me) These proposals are indeed a scary situation, but what is even more apprehensive to me is the awareness that we have a person in the highest office in our country who is proving to be so unprofessional as well as unqualified for this office.

    Just this week our POTUS has insulted two different professions without any reason to do so. His assumption that those in the medical profession would give a child with a sore throat a tonsillectomy for greedy purposes is an insult to those who have dedicated their time and skills to this profession. Needless to say, his remarks directed to the Cambridge police office was more than likely just a case of misspeaking, but even so, it clearly lets us know he is biased in his opinions, and shows how much he was influenced by his pastor of 20 years.

    A Fairy tale? Absolutely, and I also recall a former President who evaluated his candidacy as just that!

  • Darrin Cline

    07/24/2009 10:36 AM

    Just heard a doctor from the California State Medical Commission stating that one provision of the bill will REQUIRE all citizens who are 65 and older to meet once every five years with a physician to "discuss" end-of-life scenarios. This is a push towards rationing and forcing seniors to sign off on not receiving expensive life-saving treatments? How would this be enforced? Federal Health Care Gestapo? Told my parents who are in this age-group and it really upset them. Scary that such intimate Federal involvement in care-decisions is close to becoming law.

  • Jones, Bobbie

    07/24/2009 10:34 AM

    In 1997 I was I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. I was hospitalized and the hospital made my doctor discharge me after 1 week because I did not have insurance. Shortly after we moved to another state and I finally had to file backruptcy because of all the medical bills. I applied for state help for medical help, but was turned down because the governor at the time did not feel like the taxpayers should have to pay for my chronic illness that was not going to kill me soon enough. In a way I can understand, but because of that I have not seen a doctor since. I just suffer with the terrible effects of this disease. I am able to work part time and thankfully I have an understanding boss and co-workers since I spend a lot of time in the bathroom every day. So I am very lucky. Now the moral to my story is, thru all of this I still think Pres. Obama is way off with this health reform, I in no want the govt. running my health care. I at least got to see a doctor right away and at least I know what is wrong with me and I can take as many precautions as possible to manage my illness. With this government running things I may have never been able to see a doctor or been diagnosed. Yes, I live with pain every day, some days much worse than others, yes I may spend a lot of my life in the bathroom, but I know what is wrong and I can at least try to manage it. I don't however look forward to the day that I can no longer do this, just don't know what I'll do then, guess that's just a bridge that I will have to cross when I come to it. In the end I don't think it's fair for everyone else to have to suffer for the few of us that can't get insurance and even if I could I could surly not afford it. So Greta, that's my sad story, but I don't feel sorry for myself, I'm still much luckier than a lot of other people.
    Thanks for listening.

    Sincerely,

    Bobbie Jones
    Springtown, Texas

  • Alan4Huck

    07/24/2009 10:24 AM

    Hello fellow rangers, on a lighter note, imagine if our president, republicans, and democrats were working this hard to pass the Fair Tax and repeal the 16th amendment!

    Now, this would be so much better for our economy, getting us on our way out of bankruptcy, and helping the low income Americans, the middle class, and even the rich. The government (IRS would cease to exist) would shrink and individual rights would be empowered. Americans would have more disposable income and would be able spend more on healthcare if they so chose to do so. A win-win scenario for all (with exception of the thousands of Washington lobbysts).

    I firmly believe Obama would be doing much better right now with his plans for socialized healthcare if he had handled his big stimulus package with less of a rush, the transparency which he promised which was purposefully absent, and if the final result had been what he promised. Unfortunately, his first big ticket item was more of a social welfare package filled with pork than a stimulus item for the economy. That is why it had little effect. Now, many Americans including some of his own democrat supporters are looking back on this and are quite leery. Obama destroyed much of his own credibility mishandling such a politically important spending bill and now most citizens (the 87 percent that are insured) are not so ready to hand over their healthcare rights into his hands and that of the Federal Government.

  • AV Fundamentalist

    07/24/2009 10:15 AM

    "I think it is pretty safe to say that the President’s remarks created more questions than he answered."

    Huckabee is right! We need to pray that America's eyes will be opened.

  • Reber, Kelly

    07/24/2009 09:56 AM

    Our President is off the radar. What he says, I don't understand. I feel betrayed by his deceptions. My belief system is totally different. His abortions are the killing of young Americans in my book. No question about it, I feel like an alien in my own country that I volunteered 6 yrs to defend. I hope he steps down within year one. God Bless America

  • Dr. David

    07/24/2009 09:47 AM

    The plain facts remain that the costs of health care have been rising faster than the gross national product for many years. It is consuming a larger percentage of our budget every year, and the trend is unsustainable. This trend parallels the fact that wealth in America has been concentrating in the hands of the few for many years, diminishing the middle class and the traditional American way of life. The deep recession we now have is a culmination of the irresponsible attitude of those who put profits before patriotism, all in the name of freedom and liberty.

    The facts are that there is a large amount of waste, fraud, and abuse in the health insurance system, and all of that increases the maldistribution of wealth. This occurs because the present system encourages unnecessary health care spending, too many tests, too many operations, etc. When maldistribution of wealth becomes too extreme, public discontent increases, and those with socialistic inclinations get elected because they promise to do something about the injustice.

    Obama's health care proposal is in fact a clever attempt to do something about the health care crisis. A majority of Americans now understand, however, that his proposal is deficient because the public option, which is a good way to force the special interests to become more competitive, could have a bad outcome (government control of medicine).

    The effect of simply rabble rousing against Obama without providing a better alternative to health care reform is to encourage the status quo. This is done deliberately by those who do not have America's best interests at heart, and innocently by some would-be patriots, who don't know the difference between facts and cliches. But the status quo is not acceptable. Obama is correct that the debate is not about him. It is about the future of our country. Let's get on with it.

    PS Nice to see Juliee 4 Huckabee back in action!

  • Spate, Randy

    07/24/2009 09:36 AM

    Everything Obumma says is a lie.. He wouldn't know the truth if it was handed to him by millions of people saying no to his Obumma care plan.. Give me medical care that I choose.. not a death sentence from the government... Join us for tea party protests across the country see www.teapartyexpress.org

  • Judge Deborah

    07/24/2009 08:00 AM

    Our country is going bankrupt regardless of whether we sign a healthcare reform bill or not. Pres. Obama's plan will just hurry the bankruptcy along a lot faster!

    I just don't think it's any of our President's business whether I have my tonsils out or not. Maybe I didn't need that surgery when I was in Junior High. But it just irks me to hear a President of the U.S. discussing my private decisions between my doctor and myself on national TV.

    Who cares whether pre-existing conditions are covered by insurance or not if there are no jobs to be had? You can't afford insurance if you don't have a job. Rather than go to a clinic, I'd rather just keep taking my Vitamin C and stretching on my Total Gym.

    Have never had a flu shot and don't intend to start that kind of nonsense now!

  • Sobek, Sheila

    07/24/2009 08:00 AM

    I think that when you make promises that you can't afford to keep, you cause more problems than you had originally. Not everyone is equal nor do we have equal needs. To attempt to make a policy to try to change this will only add disappointment to an already faltering
    system.

  • Smith, Paula

    07/24/2009 07:10 AM

    I totally agree! This is too big and important to rush into. This is NOT my priority , let's get some other more important things done. I love my health care.
    Obama and the House won't even sign up for the health care they are pushing on us!

  • BDS

    07/24/2009 05:05 AM

    WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK?

    1. Is Obama a socialist?

    2. Do you believe that "ObamaCare" represents socialism?

    3. Does saying so make one a defender of the flaws in our health care system and any special interests they entail?

    Why? I'd like to respond to one contributor's remarks below. In some cases, I may remind us what Gov. Huckabee had to say.

    (07/23/2009 10:11 PM)
    I suppose Obama's health care plan could be described as one more way to transfer resources from those that have to those that need.

    Wow. Does the author approve of that concept? That description sounds like it could have come straight from the mouth of one Karl Marx who said, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."

    Call it socialism if you wish, but many who are thereby defend a system that, if left unreformed, will bankrupt us.

    Said Juliet to Romeo:
    "O, be some other name!
    What's in a name? that which we call a rose
    By any other name would smell as sweet."

    Similarly, Socialism by any other name is still Socialism. Does the author excuse socialism so blatant while accusing those who sound an alarm of being anti-progress?

    Will Obama's plan bankrupt us any less than the status quo?

    Huckabee: "Yet even the Congressional Budget Office says the plans being offered will not decrease costs, and in fact, will increase them."

    (07/23/2009 09:19 PM)
    President Obama had the idealistic view that he could provide health care for most of the uninsured by extracting much of the waste, fraud, and abuse from the current system, keeping the expansion of health care revenue neutral.

    ..and, let's not forget, by confiscating $1.5 TRILLION from "the rich" and redistributing it to the bulk of the middle class, on down (e.g. even to families of four with household incomes of $88,000! Buying off the middle class, hmmm?). The plan appears revenue-neutral until one realizes that the White House back-loaded significant portions of the cost ten years out.

    The private option would have been the way to force the special interests to cooperate (or go under).

    That is so free-market and so American: using other people's money to produce "public option" premiums so artificially low that the government's competitors are run out of business, defaulting the majority of us onto the "public mandate." To make doubly sure that the government's competitors implode, the House Bill is more explicit: most new and altered policies by private insurers will be illegal.

    That's not all the "public option" would force. It would also mandate use of taxpayers' money to fund abortions.

    Unfortunately, the special interests like things the way they are now, and are stonewalling via their agents in Congress.

    Obama The Innocent doesn't have any "special interests" at his back! Oh, wait...now they're coming back to me:
    * ACORN
    * Kos-HuffPo-DemUnderground cabal
    * Reparations racket
    * NARAL
    * Planned Parenthood
    * AFL-CIO, Big Labor
    * Trial lawyers
    * Sierra Club and friends
    * Any number of other undisclosed parties who were in on secret White House meetings

    Others who despise Obama because of his perceived socialistic instincts are jumping on the bandwagon. So, the situation remains in limbo, with the national debt mounting.

    Perceived socialistic instincts?
    So the author denies that Obama is actually a socialist? Perhaps it was merely my perception that...

    * Obama told Joe the Plumber: "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

    * Obama said in this 2001 radio interview that the Constitution is only "a charter of negative liberties...it doesn't say what the government must do on your behalf" and that a means must be found to redistribute the wealth, either legislatively or via the courts.

    * Obama wrote in Dreams From My Father that, as a teenager, he chose as a father figure Frank Marshall Davis, member of the Communist Party USA, who taught him during their frequent visits: "Never trust white people." (Cambridge police "acted stupidly," anyone?)

    Why does the author attribute so much good faith to Obama and his objectives (e.g. health care reform) yet so little good faith to his fellow HuckPAC-ers who would raise the alarm regarding the wiles of a proven socialist (or worse)? Every time I read such comments, they feel like this to me.

    What do the letters U.S.S.R. stand for?
    Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

    What does "Nazi" mean?
    National Socialist

    Said Huckabee at CPAC this year: "The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics may be dead, but the Union of American Socialist Republics is being born."

    I say: "No quarter, no comfort given to Socialism in any guise!"

    WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK?

  • Culver, Patti

    07/24/2009 04:27 AM

    The Federal Gov't. running healthcare? I can't imagine a creepier scenario. I had cancer while enrolled in a CA HMO, something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. It was a bureaucratic nightmare, with "managers" coming between me and my doctors at every turn. Tests rejeted, treatments denied, even lab tests deemed unnecessary by the "disease model interpretor." Is this what Americans want? Imagine this, multiplied by 1,000. No matter how you add it up, it equals disaster on every level. We need healthcare REFORM of some of our private systems; not a suicidal leap into socialized medicine

  • Vickers, Mary Catherine

    07/24/2009 01:16 AM

    I was watching Fox News last night and there was a statement given by President Obama, he said something along the lines of "Politicians are too busy worrying about scoring points instead of worrying about families." As I see it, when a politician is scoring points in the polls, I feel it reflects the fact he or she is following the direction of the constituents in their voting district.
    In my short 16 years I have noticed my Congressional representatives only worryig about scoring poll points during election years rather than all year, every year.
    It is time we stopped being pushed into passing legislation that is meaningless and taxing and begin doing what is right for our nation such as eliminating deficit spending and finding ways to releive the tax burden on the middle class.
    Our president is a prolific orator, but again it is just words.

  • JULIEE 4 HUCKABEE, CA

    07/24/2009 01:12 AM

    Health Care Fairy Tale or Health Care Nightmare???!

  • rodriguez, edith

    07/24/2009 12:48 AM

    How will the proposed health care plan support millions more with the same number of doctors? If the plan is to help Americans now, this should be addressed now.

  • Copple, Rick

    07/24/2009 12:24 AM

    In case some aren't aware, Republicans have put forth at least three alternative bills in the Senate. None of them involved government run health care options to lower cost and insure more people. Also, none of them have made it out of committee.

    I do think the Republicans need to tout their proposals to the American people better. It might force the other side to deal with them if enough Americans write their senators and representatives.

    But, it is a false statement to say that the Republicans have not offered any viable alternatives that would reform health care. The reason they aren't being debated in Congress is because the committees only want plans that involve government control...exactly what most Americans don't want. Go figure.

  • Allen, Dan

    07/24/2009 12:07 AM

    I know from experiencing the VA as a student in medicine, that the systems that the government has really aren't managed well. I also work with public aid--same story. So, let's improve the system, yes, but not by the government. Free market is a better way to go. I want SLOW progression of this bill so that I know what's in it as does my liberal senators so that I can express my opinion on what it says, unlike the stimulus package that we still don't know what was in it.

  • douglas, wilson

    07/24/2009 12:03 AM

    Hey Huck, Can you shed some light on this ever escalating number of "the uninsured"? The latest talking heads are now suggesting we have 50 million of them. How did the govt. determine this? Does it include people who receive Medicaid? Does it include illegals? Does it include Military vets who are unemployed and not eligible for VA benefits? Thanks Doug Wilson

  • Richman, Kristi

    07/23/2009 11:53 PM

    I do agree that President Obama and his administration should slow down and give the American public time to look this healthcare reform over and have numerous debates. This would be beneficial. On another note, I also have read, that we have at least one state official/case in an eastern state, that totally mandated treatment for a sick child against the parents' approval. When a parent's rights to choose whatever type of treatment they want for their child are challenged,in my opinion, we've already got a really big problem at a state level much less a federal level. What we do not need is more red tape and regulations that always comes with more federal control. Who do we really want making important healthcare decisions for ourselves, our family and family members? Government controlled physicians and nurses? Insurance companies? I don't. But from everything I've seen and read about this healthcare reform plan so far, we are going to see more of the same and most likely even worse problems. (I am a state licensed Lpn. )

  • Witch, Mystic

    07/23/2009 11:13 PM

    Can we take this HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL to the people for a vote ?

  • SC - Texas Strong

    07/23/2009 11:02 PM

    I assume this reformed health care will include all Veterans too. If so, what do veterans think about their health care provided under Veterans Administration. I know many who feel like they are not pleased with it. This may be a minority but I do think so. A study and poll should be publicized to show what veterans think.

  • Smithpeters, Jeff

    07/23/2009 11:00 PM

    You disappoint me Mike.

    You know better than to say Obama and the Democrats are moving toward "government controlled healthcare."

    All the bills being considered give Americans the choice among the many private insurance companies and ONE government run insurance option.

    So often you'll say something refreshing that makes me think maybe you're a different kind of Republican, not as prone to use the usual boilerplate rhetoric.

    And it's not as though Obama's kept the details secret. All of the bills working their way through the committees are widely discussed in the media in great detail. Trying to brand Obama's plan as "shrouded in secrecy" the way Republicans did with Hillary's bill in 94 just will not work. The facts get in the way.

    Again, Mike. I like you, but I wish you wouldn't do this. As the man who brought health care to so many Arkansas children, you should know better.

  • Dr. David

    07/23/2009 10:11 PM

    In my brief comment at 9:19 pm, I intended to say "public option" rather than "private option". A Freudian slip, perhaps.

    I suppose Obama's health care plan could be described as one more way to transfer resources from those that have to those that need. Call it socialism if you wish, but many who are thereby defend a system that, if left unreformed, will bankrupt us.

  • b, richard

    07/23/2009 10:09 PM

    Want government calling the shots on healthcare?? Here's what you statists will get...
    Read this shocking example...
    On an Air force Base...
    A simple gall bladder operation...
    Don't they have things that fly there?
    Why did it take over 8.5 hrs to medivac this fine man?
    Is this how they support the troops?
    Government (in)efficiency at its worst....
    Now this 20yr old airman must live without legs.
    http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=8150409&page=1

  • Ross, Wendy

    07/23/2009 09:57 PM

    I think every time the President speaks he reveals how out of touch he is with our country and it's people.Most of the people in this country believe in the one true God & without Him we cease to exist as the Powerful & caring nation to it's on people to so many countries around the world! He seems to have one agenda & that is to shove his ideas down our throats! Most of our Congressmen & Senators not to mention the American people don't even know what's in those thousands of pages regarding so called healthcare reform! He refuses to listen to the people or anyone who has any other ideas of how we can make Healthcare better for American citizens who want healthcare.(I stress American Citizens and people who want healthcare)! He doesn't seem to care about the price we will have to pay & I don't just mean money! Other countries have tried this and health of the people have suffered tremendously! I pray for him, but I don't agree with anything he stands for. He is trying to turn this country into a socialist nation! When we cease to be a Christian nation then the end is near! I pray that many people will begin to realize His true agenda & will stand up & let their voices be heard! Afterall, this country belongs to all Americans and we should be able to have a say in what happens to it!!! Thank you Mr. Huckabee for all you do & may God bless you! You are a great person and a great American!

  • Jones, Kathryn

    07/23/2009 09:52 PM

    Can't there be a plan just for "Americans" that have a low income? Make a plan fit their needs so that they can afford check-ups and medication.
    Look into pharmaceutical and medical pricing.
    I don't want to worry about my parents (in their mid 80's) or what might happen to me (I'm 62). And what about my children and grandchildren?
    Government Health Care for everyone? NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Davis, Sylleste

    07/23/2009 09:40 PM

    As I believe we all understand, health care reform is an extremely complicated issue. Any reform requires a well thought out plan, with deliberate and gradual change. My primary concern is that our Congress is moving too fast on this issue and the result will require a long lasting effort to undo the damage at the expense of our nation's physical and mental wellbeing.

  • Rose, Jim

    07/23/2009 09:27 PM

    Isn't the real hurry to pass legislation the fact that a lot of Obama votes will be leaving DC in year 2010.

  • Smallwood, Robert

    07/23/2009 09:26 PM

    I think if Obama has he way We will shurely fall and not rise again. He hates our way of life and wants us to be like the therd world countries.
    He dos not wnt the helth care plane for himself just for us servents of the Almighty Obama.

  • Mann, Jane

    07/23/2009 09:23 PM

    He's like a car salesman trying to get you to buy today,the "special" [Obama's Health care plan]is only today .......But you and I know there will always be another special coming around the bend.We need to wait and get it right. Healthcare rationing is a scary thing It gives the Government the ability to play God with our lives.stop giving free healthcare to aliens.If they are sick send them home.If it's an acute problem treat them in the ER and buy them a ticket hom.The people who are paying taxes aren't getting it free.

  • Ron and Dottie in Fl

    07/23/2009 09:19 PM

    I just read through all 78 comments.

    I especially like the following:

    Tyler Paula today at 4:56pm who gives several recommendations

    Coggin Johnny at 4:57pm talks about Haste makes waste and it is good the way he says it.

    Schiebrel Janet at 5:10 talks about pork and concealed legislation and other thoughts to ponder.

    Out of the 78 comments there was only one negative one. As usual it showed the person did not bother to read what responders on this post had to say.
    Robert Doug at 6:24pm appeared negative and puzzled why we don't present solutions to our arguments.

    Besides what the people wrote that I listed, I will add additional concerns and solutions.

    To start with I do not trust any of the bills coming through Congress (based on poor track record alone, pork, favors, imbedded legislation, buying votes, duplication, not cost effective, poor choices, short cuts, no common sense, not doing the right thing, not representative of the people, rushed through).

    I am beginning to come to the conclusion that bills need to be broken into 4 parts to help keep the integrity of a bill. It could also help us better understand what our leaders are voting on plus make it easier for those voting on a bill to better understand what they are voting on.
    1. Summary of all the main points of the bill.
    2. List any and all pork including the beneficiaries and estimated cost allocation.
    3. Summarize all legislation that does not belong in the bill and why it is there.
    4. List legislation added that caused legislators to change their vote.

    I have read example where users of medicare etc. could help with reducing costs. One example where the medicare recipient is not charged to rent equipment (in some cases for years). The equipments retail cost is 800 dollars but medicare is charged 350 dollars / month for the rental. In my book that adds up to mega bucks.

    One other example I heard of is an illegal goes into the hospital, a million dollars later the illegal is deported to country of origin. Now that same illegal is suing hospital because condition can't be handled in country deported to. Go figure.

    What this amounts to is we have so much fraud and other problems that needs to be resolved, before even thinking about adding more spider webs.

    The Fair Tax could help resolve many of our problem with Federal Income Tax. The amount of Fair Tax would show on all our receipts.

    Health Care could be worked out with a lot of work and starting with financial accountability.

  • Dr. David

    07/23/2009 09:19 PM

    President Obama had the idealistic view that he could provide health care for most of the uninsured by extracting much of the waste, fraud, and abuse from the current system, keeping the expansion of health care revenue neutral. The private option would have been the way to force the special interests to cooperate (or go under). Unfortunately, the special interests like things the way they are now, and are stonewalling via their agents in Congress. Others who despise Obama because of his perceived socialistic instincts are jumping on the bandwagon. So, the situation remains in limbo, with the national debt mounting.

  • Hayward, Peggy

    07/23/2009 09:18 PM

    Health care reform is indeed necessary. I feel we are going about it all wrong. There are alot of well meaning people, both Democrat and Rebulican who want reform. The problem is the people who are writing the refom are unqualified and out of touch with our health care system.
    As an RN I teach people everyday that the best health care is to eat properly and exercise. Do most people listen? Of course not because we are a society that wants our comfort and our way. Daily, people stream into hospitals expecting care at the snap of their fingers from overworked and underpaid healthcare workers who are trying their best to keep their head above water. As to the person who felt RN's were graduating who were unqualified and couldn't even read, we do know how to read and are acutally quite smart, imagine that!
    Hospitals have had to cut back on supplies and care due to inadequate medicare reimbursement. For every medicare pt in the hospital money is lost and has to be made up for in other ways. I have taken care of many many uninsured, even the homeless and they all get quality health care in the U.S. I have also taken care of even more people coming from the countries that have universal health care that were on the waiting list, mostly from Canada but also from Europe. They appreciate our system and quality of care.
    I have worked with many nurses also who came across the border from Canada to work at our hospitals. Ask them if Canada gives quality health care and the answer is no.
    Why doesn't the government get health care professionals from Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic to see what ideas they have? I'm sure there are some highly qualified people who don't have hidden agendas on what they are passing. Our wonderful country is getting older, if the drs and nurses who we depend on for our very lives are going to have wage cuts (some of us make less than factory workers) have to make even more concessions America will have an even bigger shortage of health care professionals. Please don't complain about quality of health care then, we dug our own grave (literally)