Didn’t We Just Have a National Referendum on Obama’s Health Care Plan Last November?

[babylonsister]

http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/12/didnt-we-just-have-a-national-referendum-on-obamas-health-care-plan-last-november/

Didn’t We Just Have a National Referendum on Obama’s Health Care Plan Last November?
By: Blue Texan Wednesday August 12, 2009 10:30 am


Barack Obama, June 23, 2007:

I have made a solemn pledge that I will sign a universal health care bill into law by the end of my first term as president that will cover every American and cut the cost of a typical family's premium by up to $2,500 a year.

There's something rather surreal about this seemingly endless hysteria over President Obama fulfilling one of his campaign promises.

Americans had a clear choice when it came to the presidential candidate's platforms on health care. And they soundly rejected John McCain's tax credits and "letting the marketplace work" plan. Less than a year ago.

What did they vote for when they voted for Obama? Some very specific proposals, including:

* Affordable and high-quality universal coverage through mix of private and expanded public insurance.

* Prohibit insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

* Require all children to have health insurance.

* Require employers to offer “meaningful” coverage or contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of the public plan; small businesses will be exempt from this requirement.

* Create a new public plan so that small businesses and individuals without access to other public programs or employer-based coverage could purchase insurance.

So to recap: Obama runs on providing universal health care via a public plan, which McCain opposed. The candidates spend endless months discussing and debating the issue. Voters then give Obama the largest margin of victory in 12 years, and the largest percentage of the vote in 20 years. And on top of that, they give Obama even larger majorities in the House and Senate with which to enact the proposals he ran on.

Now he's supposed to actually do the stuff he got elected on right? Otherwise, what's the point of elections?

[rvablue]

1. Yes, we did. n/t

[AspenRose]

2. "Elections have consequences." --Senator Barbara Boxer

[countingbluecars]

3. Exactly! n/t

[BlooInBloo]

4. Ask the blue dogs.

[TxRider]

5. Ummm...

"What did they vote for when they voted for Obama?"

Ending the war in Iraq


As well as...

Cutting the deficit

Fixing afghanistan

Transparency in government

Reforming immigration

Tax the rich


Ohh and there was that bit about "Not being Bush"...

Health care isn't everyone's top issue.

[amandabeech]

12. Don't forget "doing something about the economy," which looked like it was in freefall.

n/t

[Better Believe It]

6. So President Obama should have proposed legislation to accomplish those goals.

[babylonsister]

7. Figures you'd be complaining. Have you made that positive post yet?

And you'd be kicking and screaming if he proposed legislation without input. YOU can't have it both ways.

[Gregorian]

8. No. The corporations didn't elect Obama.

And they're very unhappy about it. Diebold didn't stop him. Swiftboating didn't stop him.

And we the people don't get to make the choices about things that affect the corporations. Not at the ballot box.

So yes, we did. And no they didn't.

[Grinchie]

9. Sorry Sister, but the DLC is in complete Control now.

It not matters what Obama said on the campaign trail, now that the DLC has been able to implant Monsanto Lawyers in the USDA, Federal Reserve Cronies in control of guarding the status quo, and reinvokes the selling out of America through Globalization to the highest bidder.

It's the illusion of Democracy, and people are fed up with it.

[Becky72]

10. Not necessarily. Voters take several factors into consideration

The economy being by far the most important. Foreign policy was very high in voters' minds as well.

Only in a referendum asking for specific questions about health care reform choice would we know Americans' views on that subject at a given time.

Besides, even if America had spoken back then, people get misinformed throughout the months. It's possible for people to change their minds in a period of months.

[bvar22]

11. This is what America voted for:

Obama on the campaign trail:

*Absolutely OPPOSED Mandates.

*Promised a "Public Option like Medicare" available to anyone who chooses it.

"Public Option like Medicare" = publicly owned, government administered Health Insurance open to ALL Americans.

THAT is what America voted for.
THAT is what 72% of ALL Americans support.


Unfortunately, No Mandates/Public Option like Medicare has morphed into:
Individual Mandates to BUY Insurance and a weak "Public Option" that in NOT open to The Public (HR 3200).

Even Obama has dropped "Health Care Reform" and substituted the phrase "Health Insurance Reform".

America did NOT vote for "Health Insurance Reform".

[Dreamer Tatum]

13. Ridiculous

So anytime a President gets elected, platform items are automatically funded and implemented?

Don't think so. He's President, nor King or Emporer.

[grantcart]

14. Exactly correct.

[Wednesdays]

15. K&R

:kick: