Obama’s Top Five Broken Campaign Promises
For all he has managed to accomplish in the presidency, these are perhaps the five biggest disappointments thus far. Stephen Webster of Raw Story examines Obama’s campaign promises that never came true:
1. Health care for all
Ultimately, the [health care] debate in Washington became so heated and rife with disinformation that the administration agreed to forgo the public option, using it as a bargaining chip to ensure other proposals were passed. They also gave in to Republican demands and extended the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, promising to take on the issue again in 2012. In spite of the modest legislative victory of actually getting health reform passed, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that even after all the elements take effect in 2014, over 22 million Americans will still lack access to basic health services.2. Close Guantanamo
As a symbol of everything that liberals thought to be wrong with the Bush-era, closing…
How Congress Created Socialized Medicine — In 1798
Is Obamacare a communism-flavored slap-in-the-face to our Founding Fathers? No, it isn’t — Forbes points out that the wigged ones were closet socialists. In 1798, Congress created the first taxpayer-funded, government-run hospital, and mandated health insurance for all sailors — moves that seemed to predict health care in Europe and Canada today:
In July of 1798, Congress passed – and President John Adams signed – “An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen.” The law authorized the creation of a government operated marine hospital service and mandated that privately employed sailors be required to purchase health care insurance.
Keep in mind that the 5th Congress did not really need to struggle over the intentions of the drafters of the Constitutions in creating this Act as many of its members were the drafters of the Constitution.
And when the Bill came to the desk of President John Adams for signature, I think it’s…
The Secret Sponsors: Corporate Disinfo Campaign on Healthcare Reform
The talking baby ad was paid for by the “Coalition to Protect Seniors,” which has a Web site but no information about its backers.
Are CGI babies shilling for big insurance corporations? Mike McIntire of the New York Times did a little research and here’s what he had to say. It’s good stuff, so please do read it through to the end!
It was the wisecracking baby who caught my attention.
Sitting on a living room carpet and addressing the camera in a dubbed voice that growls like a Vegas bookie, he tells viewers, “Gramps is sad — Obama cut $455 billion from his Medicare.” He warns of dire consequences from the health insurance overhaul if voters do not take action in November.
“I don’t know what smells worse,” the little guy huffs, “my diaper or this new bill.”
A sign-off informs the television audience that this high-minded piece of issue advocacy was paid for…
Obama’s Deal
For those of us who weren’t able to “stay up” on the recent health care battles in Washington as they were happening, here’s a very concise overview from PBS Frontline.
A sobering look at the push to reform health care, revealing the realities of American politics, the power of special interest groups and the role of money in policy making.
What Didn’t Get into the Healthcare Bill
From the Miami Herald:
The death of Sen. Edward Kennedy and the tenor of tea party protests resulted in significant reductions.
In the year it took Congress to write and pass a healthcare overhaul, turbulent political shifts — including the Democrats’ loss of the seat long held by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy and the rise of the tea party movement — forced critical compromises on the scope of legislation.
The downsized ambitions of the final package mean that 32 million more people — not the 37 million in the original proposals — will end up insured by 2019. Others will face greater financial strain than lawmakers originally envisioned.
The political developments are well-known: A group of six Democratic and Republican senators, led by Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., failed to forge a bipartisan agreement. Concerns about the federal deficit swelled. Grass-roots conservatives filled congressional town hall meetings in August and helped to propel…
In Wake Of Health Care Bill Passing, GOP’s Website Goes Insane
Look out, because the Republican Party has gone crazy and activated Code Red in response to the passing of the health care bill. Right now, GOP.com leads you to a picture of Nancy Pelosi burning in hell, and asks for your assistance in creating a “Tweet Bomb” to destroy her.
