Medicare Defender Michael Steele Says Medicare ‘Is A Very Good Example Of What We Should Not Have’
Medicare Defender Michael Steele Says Medicare ‘Is A Very Good Example Of What We Should Not Have’
Yesterday, the Republican National Committee announced a “Seniors’ Health Care Bill of Rights,” in which they announced that they would “protect Medicare.” “We want to make sure that we are not cutting the Medicare program,” said RNC Chairman Michael Steele on ABC’s Good Morning America.
But on Fox and Friends this morning, Steele undermined his new argument that Medicare is a sacrosanct program that must be protected by calling it “a very good example of what we should not have happen with all of our health care.” Asked to respond to Rep. Anthony Weiner’s (D-NY) argument that “if you like Medicare and you don’t want to make any cuts to it, then you’re basically defending a single payer system,” Steele launched into an attack on the program, implying that it would be better if it were privatized:
STEELE: It’s, you know, God bless the congressman, but look the bottom line is, raiding an already bankrupt program to pay for a program we can’t afford is not good public policy. And that’s exactly what they’re doing with respect to Medicare, number one. Number two, you know, with all due respect to the congressman, I mean, he’s just flat out wrong on the facts.
I mean the reality of it is that, you know, this single payer program known as Medicare is a very good example of what we should not have happen with all of our health care. The reality of it is, how may times have we been at the trough of bankruptcy and no money for the Medicare program when Congress is running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to figure out how to fix a program that they’ve already mismanaged.
So, now you want to do that Congressman on a larger scale? You want to include all of us? You’re talking, taking our senior population and now expanding it to the broader population? Government cannot run a health care system. They’ve already shown that. Trust the private markets to do it the right way. If there are reforms to be put in place, let’s deal specifically with those reforms.
Watch it:
As ThinkProgress noted yesterday, Steele and the RNC’s recent aversion to finding cost-savings in Medicare is inconsistent with their past support for making cuts to the program. With his Fox News appearance today, Steele demonstrated just how hollow his change of heart has been.
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Q. How can you tell when a Republic party member is lying?
August 25th, 2009 at 11:45 amA. His/Her lips are moving.
…running around like chickens with their heads cut off…
– - Those chickens are still smarter than you are, Mikey.
August 25th, 2009 at 11:45 amsteel: Let us run it and we will show you how it can’t work.
August 25th, 2009 at 11:45 amMichael Steele: idiot extraordinaire.
August 25th, 2009 at 11:46 amGotta keep those viewers scared and ignorant.
Advertisers prefer them that way.
August 25th, 2009 at 11:47 amShorter Steele: Lets kill Grannys AND Grampas
August 25th, 2009 at 11:49 amAdvise from a complete idiot of the Republican Party now that’s what we need to listen to. President George H. W. Bush spoke to the American people in Jan. 1991 and warned of the collapse of the Health Programs in 10 years if nothing were done. Yes the largest number of citizens to use the programs would be the baby boomers yet no one listened. Now we see he was right while his Republican Party continues to deny the facts. We need 1 Trillion to protect and cover American citizens but President George W. Bush gave 1 Trillion to Iraq and said they never had to pay the taxpayers the money back. We are giving Trillions to other countries while the US is going broke. Our Law Makers continue to get a big raise every year while denying the taxpayers anything. Contractors have been given Trillions for no services done. Waste is causing most of the problems. It’s up to the American people to stop this and stand beside President Obama. Steele will say what he’s told to say even when making a complete fool of himself.
August 25th, 2009 at 11:50 amWell, God bless the igmoes. Jesus was the prince of peace Steele, if we cant afford Medicare we cant afford two foreign wars and other interventionist programs and foreign aid now can we?
Or how about that socialist subsidising of private insurance? Cant afford that either. Or Subsidising big oil, no, we cant afford that either, right?
August 25th, 2009 at 11:54 amIs there a chance that Bozo Steele can put a cork in it? Nah.
Was it Oscar Wilde that said, “Consistency is the hob-goblin of little minds.”? It would appear that Steele is the exemplar that proves or disproves that rule; for consistency’s sake, you may waver between proof and not. As far as anyone can tell, he is very small-minded but he seems to be quite hog-goblin free; there’s not a bit of consistency to the man. That’s probably why he flunked out of seminary; couldn’t handle the discipline; does OK with crapulent dogma though.
I’m sure that in his heart, he’d prefer to trash any form of public health care insurance for the general population. Why squander money on people who are going to die, ya know?
\snark
August 25th, 2009 at 11:54 am‘With his Fox News appearance today, Steele demonstrated just how hollow his change of heart, his brain, and more importantly, his Balls have been.’
This isn’t a flip-flop, it’s a complete back flip.
August 25th, 2009 at 11:55 amShorter SteelyMike ~ The reality of it is that I can’t figure out what the hell crapper I’m in this morning!
August 25th, 2009 at 11:58 amFirst off Steele is a Republican and for him not to be a hypocrite would be…well…hypocritical.
August 25th, 2009 at 11:59 amI think McSteele is well on the road to out waffling StCain
August 25th, 2009 at 12:00 pm“protect Medicare.” “We want to make sure that we are not cutting the Medicare program,”
Offer exp. 01/13
Isn’t political expediency great?
August 25th, 2009 at 12:00 pmAfter the last decade of non-stop scandal and implosion and conviction and bankruptcy and general depravity….
…only an utter fool could say something like that with a straight face.
…only someone actively pandering to the dumbest, amnesia-afflicted hole-dwellers could say that.
…only someone who represents the kind of vile human scum who have profited from the wrack and ruin wrought by private enterprise could say that.
…only a lying, cheating Republican’t could say that in 2009.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:00 pmSomeone should tell the old fool who wants to take his gun to DC with an armed rebellion, that the Repubs would like to take his Medicare away from him.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:02 pmMedicare and Medicaid only cover the people that need the most health care. Private insurance refuses to cover anyone who isn’t healthy. The problems there is that Medicare a financial disadvantage because the system allows private insurance to collect but never pay.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:03 pm9. Virtual Pebble sez:…
Well, pardon the hell out of me. He is turning to consistency when he sez, “Trust the private markets to do it the right way.”. Yessiree. Bozo Steele, pimp and shill for the insurance companies. Let the market work it’s magic.
Under the Steele plan, which company wins this little game of monopoly and takes over the economy? That’s right, the whole economy, not just the insurance market end of it. With the lack of regulation the Rs propose, everyone will be in hock to the insurance industry.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:05 pmMy parents, now both dead, were able to live into their 90’s, thanks to Medicare.
They didn’t die bankrupt, or owing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What in the name of God (literally) has happened to the repiggies?
Aren’t the repiggies constantly braying on about how religious they are?
How is it that supposedly religious people can behave in such a vile, despicable manner toward their fellow human beings?
August 25th, 2009 at 12:06 pmInteresting how Steele never mentions the unfunded mandate that is the (Republican sponsored) Medicare drug benefit and sloppy wet kiss to the pharma industry when he discusses the alleged bankruptcy of the Medicare system. Republicans only oppose the “tax” side of the “tax and spend” equation. They spend money like there is no tomorrow. Just don’t ask them to pay for anything. Kind of puts Mark Sanford’s use of state aircraft for private purposes into perspective.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:09 pmThey have lost and they know it.
This will all go badly for the gop no matter the outcome.
If we fail, no one can say we didn’t try and when it continues to get worse who will get the blame?
August 25th, 2009 at 12:10 pmThey have been in the process of privatizing Medicare for years now. Private insurance companies, like Humana, offer insurance to anyone on Medicare. The premium is the same and they tell you that they pay more of your medical bill then regular Medicare. That is true, but the government is also paying these insurance companies 14% more. This is the back door way in to privatization.
I now pay $96 something for Medicare through the government, what do you think my premiums would be if Medicare was privatized….yes, hundreds of dollars a months.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:11 pmYeh, just dront drink the Halliburton water or take showers in their shoddily built, overbilled, constructions, or eat a meal that doesnt actually exist.
Steels is basiclly saying your money should go to a few CEOs so they can buy a new citation or lear jet and new gold plated dinnerware.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:11 pmYour an embarrasment to me Steele as a human and, it seems, a servant to Mammom
August 25th, 2009 at 12:13 pmevangenital says: …How is it that supposedly religious people can behave in such a vile, despicable manner toward their fellow human beings?
The same way they pick & choose which commandment they follow.
Ensign / Sanford: Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s wife.
Bush / Cheney: Thou shalt not kill
Others abound, as well, but the bottom line is Republican Terrorists will find a way around laws, scripture, or morals to justify their actions, regardless of right or wrong.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:14 pmHi my name is Micheal hip-hop flip-flop pop-fart Steel here to sell you the deal, I would give it to you if only i could remember extractly what it was we were for.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:14 pmMy 87 year grandmother wants to slap the shyt out of Steele.
If I could post her thoughts on Steele here on TP they would never get posted.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:15 pmAnd reall, I dont see how private insurance, is a market when they are basically middlemen running a ponzi scheme where the healthy pay for the sick.
The difference between private and public health insurance is this. The greedy unscrupulous middlemen.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:24 pmGoddamn, he is such a fcuking idiot.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:27 pmCan we put a quota on the maximum number of stoopid things a politician can say in one month? One you use up your quota, that’s it; you have to shaddup and siddown….
Cheers,
August 25th, 2009 at 12:27 pmHey… we’re dealing w/ Mikey Steele here…
This could all be carefully crafted strategery…
Don’t forget… Mikey is a master tactician… he sees the political realm as a chess board…
He’s prolly just checking to see who’s going to jump the highest… shout the loudest… and laugh the hardest…
August 25th, 2009 at 12:33 pmzuch says:
One you use up your quota, that’s it; you have to shaddup and siddown….
____________
Great… in addition to rationing healthcare, you’re now putting a quota on stupidity too?
You filthy socialist…
August 25th, 2009 at 12:33 pmIt’s become pathetic to the point of surreal that Republicans will change their tune depending on what TV camera is pointed at them. They have no trouble completely contradicting themselves within the span of 24 hours! Amazing and pathetic.
Just goes to show how “for sale” they all really are. Morals and votes to the highest bidders. Not that some Dems aren’t like that either.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:38 pmOy. Some people are just too stupid to be decently embarrassed by their own behavior….
August 25th, 2009 at 12:39 pmThink this is the start of the repugs flip on how they are for health care and if it passes its because of them. who fought off the big bad socialists and the other hordes.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:40 pmWell they don’t want to pull grandma `s plug oh no they are care givers they just want to pull one plug and its on Medicare. see no grandma plug pulling here.
Steele says “government cannot run a healthcare system”?
France’s healthcare system provides universal coverage at half the cost.
So, what’s the problem, Steele?
Are you saying we’re intellectually inferior to the French?
Or is our whole system of government being financially sabatoged by the corporate terrorists that hired you?
August 25th, 2009 at 12:43 pm.
Dear Michael Steele,
IF you are to be correct…
… Please show the hordes of people petitioning and protesting their Medicare. I want to see the throngs of people DEMANDING to be free of their Medicare!
.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:15 pmokie dokie,
Steele says “government cannot run a healthcare system”?
We’re taliking about a man who can’t even run the G(no)P.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:18 pmHas anyone told Michael H. Steele (the H is for HYPOCRISY) that the Medicare program WAS Privatized under ROnnie RRRRRaygun, when he instituted the incredibliy UNCONSTITUTIONAL Regional DMERC program, that farms out (still to this day as CMS) the (NCDs) National Coverage Determinations of Medicare, into LCDs, Local COverage Determinations that turn over the National coverage to the whims of the local CORPORATION that covers your “Region”.
This then allows a covered person to actually NOT get coverage for treatment X in one region, but GET coverage for treatment X in another region.
TOTALLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Medicare has been raped over the last 30 years but no one is realizing it. Why do you think it is going broke? Because CORPORATATIONS PROVIDE THE LOCAL COVERAGE. PERIOD, PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/index_lmrp_bystate_criteria.asp?from2=index_lmrp_bystate_criteria.asp&
http://www.acr.org/Hidden/Economics/FeaturedCategories/Coverage/cac/find_carrier.aspx
August 25th, 2009 at 1:25 pmMedicare is broke.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/111590-government-s-ponzi-scheme-1000-times-worse-than-madoff-s
France’s universal health care is broke, too.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124958049241511735.html
August 25th, 2009 at 2:02 pmbetter broke than morally bankrupt kws.
you have my pity.
August 25th, 2009 at 2:18 pmMulling around 2 questions germane to this news item:
1) besides the Constitutional authority to provide for the general welfare, why would insurance not fall under the authority for Interstate Commerce – expressly forbidden for the states to regulate.
Against the idea, each state regulates the insurance policies sold in that state(in essence, each company has to maintain a sham business in each state). So you could argue it isn’t interstate commerce.
For the idea, how many people live in the same state as their insurance company ? Wouldn’t it be easier for the companies if they only had one set of guidelines to follow ?
2) I’m getting a little tinfoil hat here. But obviouly, Steele isn’t the seat of Republican party power. He makes audacious statements that get people confused (including denouncing his own party). His statements aren’t consistent (either self consisstent or consistent with the actions of his party). Obviously the seat of power is elsewhere.
Could Steele have been appointed strictly to make the RNC a facade so that the illuminati of republican party power can act in secrecy ?
August 25th, 2009 at 2:20 pmGeneral Douglas MacArthur once said, “Security is your ability to produce.” Security does not come from a job, from a company or from the government. It comes in your ability to be productive – and that is seldom taken away.
August 25th, 2009 at 2:21 pm“serve the King or die” – right kws?
classy stuff there.
Macarthur was insane.
August 25th, 2009 at 2:25 pmspeaking of bankrupt kws…
How many more Americans than French had to declare personal bankruptcy last year because of medical bills?
August 25th, 2009 at 2:27 pmArt says:
How many more Americans than French DIED from lack of access to healthcare?
August 25th, 2009 at 4:30 pmThis isn’t even the second or third time that he’s gone within the same 24-hour period switching to say the opposite of what he said the day before. I understand that politicians lie, but you’d think this one would be at least a little less transparent about it.
If Medicare is so bad, I dare you to try to take it away from Seniors. We’ll see just how valuable it is to the electorate then.
August 25th, 2009 at 4:43 pmWe are all in the same rowboat trying to make it to shore. The right needs to STICK their oars in the water and sttart rowing and STOP snivelling that we ought to throw that one armed guy overboard because HE isnt rowing as much as THEY are
August 25th, 2009 at 5:21 pm43. kwsventures says “Security does not come from a job, from a company or from the government. It comes in your ability to be productive ”
Yeah, you said that on another thread too. I take it you like posting the same thing on multiple threads.
Of course, you are arguing strict social Darwinism. So anyone with a handicap should be shot.
Not to mention, we all are just one heartbeat away from being in a traffic accident, having a stroke, having a heart attack, or loosing our job due to the current economy. The result is no job, no health insurance.
August 25th, 2009 at 5:28 pmMapleStreet says:
Exactly not to mention it is dehumanizing to say our VALUE has to do with how well we fit in the money making apparatus. That if we arent helping to make rich people money then we have no value. We found a neandrathal skeleton which showed he had been severly injured in his early life. The injuries would have made the left side of his body almost usless. He would have been lame, and had little us of his left arm. Which means the tribe had to hunt for him and protect him. He reached a fairly old age for neandrathals. Probably in his late thirties. It is sad to think that modern conservatives are LESS EVOLVED than neandrathals
August 25th, 2009 at 5:34 pmWho takes Michael Steele seriously except for Michael Steele! He has two asses and readily talks out of both of them.
August 25th, 2009 at 9:35 pmThe ‘hollow tone’ of this article reflects the aimlessness of fifty years of conservative politics. IMO, we should begin to exact real, and needed value for our tax dollars.
August 26th, 2009 at 11:21 pmvery thanks for article!
August 30th, 2009 at 9:13 am