Obama's Thinking 'Evolves' on Health Care Requirements

[Beacool]

By KAREN TRAVERS
WASHINGTON, June 24, 2009

Acknowledging that his thinking on the issue has "evolved," President Barack Obama says he could support a law mandating that individuals purchase health care coverage, with fines for those who do not, but he stressed that there must be some kind of waiver for those who are simply unable to afford it.

"People have made some pretty compelling arguments to me that if we want to have a system that drives down costs for everybody, then we've got to have healthier people not opt out of the system," the president said in an exclusive interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer today on "Good Morning America."

During the election campaign, Obama said he was opposed to a federal law mandating the purchase of health care coverage. But earlier this month in a letter to Congressional leaders working on the reform legislation, he said he would consider supporting such a measure, if it has room for exemptions for small businesses and individuals who cannot afford the premiums.

The president would not delve deeply into the nuts and bolts of what he wants included and what he will concede in health care reform legislation, saying it's still early in the process, but he acknowledged that change will not come easily.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Politics/story?id=7913045&page=1

[Oregone]

1. Evolve into single-payer while you are at it

I guess everything except real solutions are options.

[Beacool]

6. My same thoughts,

but it ain't going to happen. No one has seriously tried it since 1993 and look how well that went......

:eyes:

[Oregone]

7. No one tried it in 1993 either

As far as I was aware, the Clinton reform was not single-payer. Correct me if Im wrong on that

"The core element of the proposed plan was an enforced mandate for employers to provide health insurance coverage to all of their employees through competitive but closely-regulated health maintenance organizations."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_health_care_plan

Thats not single-payer (HMOs suck)

[Beacool]

11. You are correct.

The Clinton plan was a universal proposal. It was deemed at the time that the nation was not ready, and Congress would not pass, a true single payer plan. A lot has changed since 1993, I think that if Obama truly fought for a single payer plan he would have much more support for it than was the case 16 years ago.

[sisters6]

16. Good one.

[Why Syzygy]

2. Besides rec's

too bad we don't have one of those little :thumbsdown: votes.

(It isn't for YOU, Beacool)

[vaberella]

3. The article is false...or a good part of it.

When did the President state this?! Excluding the quote listed--but the interpretation. I saw the presser several times and he never even implied he'd be supportive of mandates. He said that there are a few things on the table but he never stated he'd do that. I can call this article crap. You need to see the presser yourself.

[masuki bance]

12. At least follow the link before your sleuthing skills get exposed

"...the president said in an exclusive interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer today on "Good Morning America.""

[sisters6]

17. Thanks. So, it was at an interview today that he said this.

[uponit7771]

13. They do this often, they just lie and say it was from Obama....

[AtomicKitten]

14. You've nailed the specious nature of the article.

And that's precisely why it was posted ---> it fits the narrative of the OP's passive-aggressive attack de jour on Obama.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

4. It was a shitty idea when Hillary had it ---

and it is a shitty idea now.

[vaberella]

5. He doesn't have it...the person who wrote that article is wrong. I saw the Presser. n/t

[masuki bance]

15. He also said this, not at "the presser", but in an interview w/ABC

Will Americans Lose a Health Care Plan They Like?

At a White House press conference on Tuesday, Obama seemed to back off from his promise that people who like their health care plans will be able to keep them under his plan for reform.

Instead of saying that "no one" will take away any American's health insurance, Obama said only that the government would not do so, but pinned the possible changes on employers, who may adjust their health care plans due to costs.

"I can guarantee you that there's the possibility for a whole lot of Americans out there that they're not going to end up having the same health care they have," he said Tuesday. "Because what's going to happen is, as costs keep on going up, employers are going to start making decisions: 'We've got to raise premiums on our employees. In some cases, we can't provide health insurance at all.'"

This was a shift from what the president said just last week, when he told a gathering of the nation's doctors, "If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what."

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Politics/Story?id=7913045&page=2
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Politics/Story?id=7913045&page=3

[Fire1]

18. This was NOT a SHIFT. He reiterated the SAME statement

AGAIN YESTERDAY, but this time ADDING the possibility that employers may have to raise premiums on their employees or not provide coverage at all. I believe he was making reference to the eventual NEED for single payer insurance should that be the case for employers and employees.

[masuki bance]

19. So, he really meant-"No one will take it away, no matter what." except your boss. nt

[Fire1]

20. Pretty much. Thus, his acknowlegment of the need for

single payer (the safety net for those unfortunate employees AND for ANYONE choosing single payer over their current insurance coverage.)

[Autumn]

8. Mandated insurance is only acceptable if

it does have exemptions,and he is right change will not come easily.

[Oregone]

9. No

Its only acceptable in a single-payer system where everyone is covered and the cost per individual (via taxation) is based upon one's income. In every such case, the poor would contribute little to nothing for coverage, and the rich, who benefit most from the social structure, would contribute the most to taking care of society.

[Autumn]

10. I agree, I want single payer

but what we want and what they will be willing to give us is two different things.