More "Public Option" Lies, Spin and Obfuscation

The Administration and the Democratic leadership have continued to label those of us who oppose HR 3200 as un-American mobsters, political hacks, health insurance company shills and, yes, even liars. Very inspired dialogue, indeed. Psychologists would readily characterize this ad hominem tactic as a simple case of guilt transference. But, hey, when one's got a lousy proposal, how else can one attempt to defend it except by attacking those who disagree with it?

The Prez has said that the 9 - 12 million illegal immigrants in the country would NOT be provided healthcare benefits under his plan. If true, then why was Rep. Dean Heller's amendment recently rejected along party lines in the House Ways and Means Committee? If passed, this amendment would have allowed only citizens and legal immigrants to access federal healthcare benefits by requiring two eligibility systems to verify their eligibility, i.e. the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) and the Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS). Again, soundly rejected by Committee Democrats.

The Prez has also assured us that we wouldn't lose our private healthcare insurance with his plan. However, the non-partisan Lewin Group found that an estimated 56% of Americans WOULD, in fact, lose their current private health insurance under the House bill. Let me guess: the Lewin Group is also a bunch of misinformed, lying mobsters as well? (Note: the Democrat plan clearly allows employers to opt for the cheaper "public option", and who could possibly blame them?)

And on the issue of abortion, in all four mark-ups of health legislation (three in the House and one in the Senate), conservatives have offered amendments that would specifically prohibit federal funds from being used to cover abortions. Not one of those amendments passed. Instead, the House Energy & Commerce Committee passed an amendment by Rep. Capps which requires at least one insurance plan to cover abortion in every geographical region and further requires the public plan to cover all abortion services.

These items alone are surely sufficient to justify any thinking person's being circumspect about the Administration's vacuous claims.

But, of course, to the Washington elite many of us are but pesky, unwashed, stupid country boobs. But, come on, guys. You gotta' do better than this! OR, better yet, how about scrapping the whole damned thing and do it right. What a refreshingly novel approach to governance that would be.