Pointing Fingers

Earlier today, Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, pointed the finger of blame at the press for setting an arbitrary deadline on the health care compromise talks, one that is very likely to go unmet.

Sen. Reid must be thinking that the health care plan will not be passed because he is already blaming the media for setting a deadline for health care negotiations before Congress adjourns for their August break. Hmm.

I found the following quotes on the internet regarding setting a deadline for the health care talks.

The Administration

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “This Window Between Now And The August Recess, I Think, Is Going To Be The Make-Or-Break Period.” “This issue, health care reform, is not a luxury. … So we can't afford to put this off. And the dedicated public servants who are gathered here today understand that and they are ready to get going. And this window between now and the August recess, I think, is going to be the make-or-break period. This is the time where we've got to get this done.” (President Obama, Press Conference, 6/2/09)

· OBAMA: “I Really Want To Get It Done By The August Recess.” Q: “Is it a pretty much a do or die by the August recess?” OBAMA: “I never believe anything is a do or die. But I really want to get it done by the August recess.” (CNN’s “State Of The Union,” 7/12/019)

· OBAMA: “I’ve Told Harry Reid And Nancy Pelosi, You Know, That It Is Critical That We See Serious Forward Motion Before People Leave.” JOHN AMATO, Crooks And Liars Blogger: “… will you then [Congress] make them give us a bill before the August recess?” PRESIDENT OBAMA:“We are working as hard as we can and I've told Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, you know, that it is critical that we see serious forward motion before people leave. Alright?” (“President Obama’s Conference Call With Liberal Bloggers,” Crooks and Liars, 7/20/09)

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: “We Must And We Will Enact Reform By The End Of August, And We Can't Wait. I know that the leaders that are up here know that. The president knows that. My colleagues who I just spoke to know that, and the entire Congress knows it.” (VP Biden, Remarks, 7/8/09)

Democrats In The Senate

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “Before We Leave Here … We're Going To Complete The Legislation We Have Dealing With Health Care.” “The question is, do I think the session will be extended in the August recess? We're going to complete -- before we leave here, we're going to do our very best to have a good strong run on DOD. We're going to complete the legislation we have dealing with health care, and we're going to confirm Sonia Sotomayor.” (Sen. Reid, Press Conference, 7/14/09)

· REID: “We must keep our eye on the prize. The prize is health care reform. My desire is to get it done this work period, and I'm going to continue pushing to see everything -- to do everything I can to get it done this work period.” (Sen. Reid, Press Conference, 7/21/09)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): “We Expect The House And Senate To Have Passed Bills [By August], Yes.” SCHUMER: “Well, we don't expect it to be signed into law by the August recess.” Q: “Understood, but an actual...” SCHUMER: “But we expect the House and Senate to have passed bills, yes.” Q: “You think it's going to happen.” SCHUMER: “I do.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 7/12/09)

Democrats In The House Of Representatives

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): “We’re Still On Schedule … We Have Plans To Vote For This Legislation Before We Leave For The August Recess.” (“Obama Health Reform: ‘Don’t Bet Against Us,’” The Hill, 7/13/09)

REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD): “We're Going To Pass Significant Reform … Before The August Recess In The House Of Representatives.” Q: “Health care reform -- Congressman Hoyer, will the House pass a bill before the August recess? And what are you going to do about the two biggest problems, which are -- one, increasing coverage, increasing coverage to all of the uninsured without spending another trillion dollars?” HOYER: “Well, first of all, the American people understand that the health care system in this country is in real trouble. They like what they have, about 75 percent of them, but about 87 percent of them think we need significant reform. And the answer to your question is yes, we're going to pass significant reform.” Q: “Before the August recess?” HOYER: “Before the August recess in the House of Representatives, because we need to bring costs down.” (Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” 7/5/09)

Now Nancy Pelosi is pointing fingers at the insurance industry because she feels that they have more power than Democrats in Congress. Hello, Pelosi, the Democrats have control of the House and Senate. I view this as an excuse on her end if the Health care bill is not passed.

Health Care: Oppose greater government role. Support free market solutions

The politicians tell us free market health care doesn't work, but we haven't had a free market in decades.

• The government already pays for nearly half of all health care. This means we're half-socialized already.
• Starting with depression era wage and price controls, and continuing with government tax policies, the politicians have made Americans dependent on their jobs to get health insurance.
• State government policies have made insurance too expensive by piling on special interest mandates dictating specific types of coverage.
• Medicare and Medicaid have fixed the prices we pay for health care, causing the extraordinary paradox of both price inflation and shortages in areas like primary care.

The list of ways the politicians have screwed up our health care system could go on and on, but now the politicians want to exploit the crisis they created by taking over even more control of our medical care. This will only make things worse, and once we let them do it we may never be able to change it.