WH calls out Boehner for referring to health care reform as a “big government takeover”

[ProSense]

Still Not a "Government Takeover"

Posted by Dan Pfeiffer

In an appearance on a morning news show today, House Minority Leader John Boehner repeatedly charged that the health insurance reform bills being considered in Congress represent a “big government takeover” of health care.

It’s important to know that’s just not true. The claim of a “government takeover” is a time-worn attack raised by opponents of reform whenever real change is in sight. But the bills passed by the House and Senate would enact nothing of the sort.

The legislation would create a marketplace where private insurance companies would compete for business, and it would expand coverage by providing subsidies for Americans to purchase affordable coverage from private insurers. At the same time, the legislation would put the brakes on rising health care costs and put an end to insurance company abuses.

That's not a "government takeover": it's the solution to problems that have plagued our health care system for decades and slowed American competitiveness. And if the specifics sound familiar, it's because this legislation is very much like the bipartisan approach proposed by former Senate leaders Bob Dole, Howard Baker, and Tom Daschle, and the health care system supported by Senator-elect Scott Brown in Massachusetts.

Unfortunately, the knowing repetition of false claims has become a defining characteristic of this debate – and as the President said on Friday to House Republicans, that’s a loss for everyone:

“So I am absolutely committed to working with you on these issues, but it can’t just be political assertions that aren’t substantiated when it comes to the actual details of policy. Because otherwise, we’re going to be selling the American people a bill of goods.”

The President also stressed the broader point that in these trying times, the American people expect more from their elected officials than the same old political tactics:

“But we’ve gotten caught up in the political game in a way that’s just not healthy. It’s dividing our country in ways that are preventing us from meeting the challenges of the 21st century. I’m hopeful that the conversation we have today can help reverse that.”

If you haven’t seen the video of President Obama’s remarkable question-and-answer with House Republicans yet, you can check it out here.

[babylonsister]

1. I'm glad to read this. I hope the wh continues to defend their position

against the indefensible likes of boner. :thumbsup:

[peggygirl]

2. It would be nice if the pundits interviewing the GOP poops would just

make them explain what they mean by "big government takeover." Just once!

[Inuca]

9. I keep hoping for the same thing

Welcome to DU by the way :-).

[PearliePoo2]

3. We don't NEED any private insurance companies in the picture AT ALL.

Kick the fuckers to the curb. They provide nothing.
Medicare for all from day one.

edit spelling

[jtrockville]

7. +1: Health insurance is nothing but a SCAM

[The Wizard]

12. They provide paperwork

lots of paperwork and also a buffer between patients and doctors. They also provide "campaign contributions" that help our legislators get their minds right. They provide enormous pay checks for fat cat executives. They keep senators like Bachus and Liebermann from begging on street corners.
The list is endless.

[jenmito]

4. Good. I was so sick of him calling it a “big government takeover.”

There's not even a public option any longer in the bill. But it doesn't stop them from lying about it.

[PurityOfEssence]

5. The big question: do you want to be a slave to government or to corporations?

That's always a fun one to hit the reactionaries with. If you're going to have a slave mentality of accepting the dominance of an entity, which would be the better bet? Government at least has SOME directive in its charter to benefit its people, whereas corporations ONLY exist for their own well-being.

Personally, as a liberal capitalist, I like the mixture...

[Cha]

6. All of those republicons are life members of the

Liars are Us Club. What would it be like to be a liar who had to have a permanent tan like boehner.. to the point of looking like an orange alert?

[vssmith]

8. I heard him say that

and I thought to myself, "You lying fucker!"

[jefferson_dem]

10. The WH is right and right to call these scumbags out.

Still, I wish we weren't on the defensive all the freaking time.

The right-wing is so much better at framing that (sometimes) it doesn't even matter if what they are saying is close to truth.

[Vinca]

11. They need to call them out every time they throw this crap at the wall.

If anything, it's a big insurance takeover and Boner should be creaming his pants.

[The Wizard]

13. The only thing

that would make Boner cream in his pants is the thought of his dates with Don King.

[uponit7771]

14. Good!!! Hit back fast, often and with good sound thinking!!!

[JaneQPublic]

15. Funny, no one called it a "government takeover" to Obama's face...

...at the Baltimore Q&A.

That's because they knew Obama would call them on it and expose them as the liars that they are. Yet the GOPers know they can rattle off all the lies they want to David Gregory and he won't nail them on it.