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Thursday, July 23, 2009
Ken Blackwell :: Townhall.com Columnist
Obama’s “Government Option”—Alligator or Anaconda?
by Ken Blackwell
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A key element of President Obama’s plan for a government takeover of health care is to create what he calls “the government option.” He wants his government option to compete with private insurers. Congressman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) says that this government option will compete with private insurers the way an alligator “competes” with ducks. It’s a pretty safe bet that the ducks always lose.

House Democrats are working up a slightly different plan. It’s part of the bill they’re moving through Congress very quickly and trying to pass before the August recess. They know that the more Americans find out about plans for their government takeover of health care, the more resistance they will face. Former Sen. Tom Daschle, the President’s first choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services before tax problems ended his nomination, is said to be very worried that if a bill is not sent to the President’s desk before the August recess, the whole plan might have to be re-framed.

Given this mad dash to enact a bill, a statement President Obama made the other night is truly stunning. He was on a conference call with liberal bloggers. One of these bloggers—clearly a backer of ObamaCare—brought up an article in Investors Business Daily that claims under Section 102 of the House health care bill (H.R.3200) would outlaw private insurance. The blogger wanted the President to give a strong rebuttal to the IBD article’s claims, but what he got instead was this incredible statement: “I have to say that I am not familiar with the provision you are talking about.”

What? He’s “not familiar” with the central provision of the bill he’s flogging Congress to pass? He’s “not familiar” with the section of the House Bill that those who are familiar with say will regulate private insurers out of business?

The Heritage Foundation is familiar with Section 102. They’ve partnered with the respected health consulting organization The Lewin Group to research how many Americans would be forced into the “government option.” Here’s what they found:

• Despite Administration assurances to the contrary, 83.4 million people would lose their private insurance coverage.

• Nearly 90 million who are currently covered by an employer-sponsored health plan would be shifted into the government plan. Continued...
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About The Author
Mr. Blackwell, a contributing editor at Townhall.com, is a senior fellow at the Family Research Council and American Civil Rights Union.
 
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Reply # 1
Date: Jul 25, 2009 - 7:49 AM EST
Caprock2


Location: TX
Reply # 16
Date: Jul 23, 2009 - 12:08 PM EST Who would have ever dreamed??
That Montana would become so chuck full of neo-Marxist libturds they would have two libturd Senators representing them in Congress??

Who would have ever dream a state such a Nebraska which used to be the true heart of this nation would have even one libturd Senator riding the fence on something like this??

Or, how about Indiana??

My this old nation has changed.

Sure makes me proud to be a born and raised Texan. Where only the ladies wear dresses.

~~~

You mentioned Indiana.

Wearing Dresses? I was forced to wear a dress one time. I was part of an Easter Pageant, and Mom called it a robe, as I was portraying one of the three wise men.

Didn't fool me. I saw back in the late 40s, where our once great country was going.

We are just plain scrod, past tense of screwed.

Rep and Dem are just one big party. And, Do They Ever Party !

Agreement is, 'Barf Bash' and former 'King of Indianapolis, Plick Lugar' will be our Indiana 'Sinators' for life.

Large cities of sin, determine things... Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Gary, Evansville, and the Neighboring dens of iniquity of Chitcargo, SinSinatti, and Sin Louis, whose bedroom communes befoul, the otherwise decent State.

We Hoosiers Have exactly One Conservative. Mark Spence.



The other national standards for our state are commies, Dems, RINOs and CINOs. This includes most mayors, our Governor 'Stitch Danials', and almost all Media.

Fer gosh sakes, the slime Dave Letterman originated in India-sin-apolis.



I am not ashamed of the true hoosiers, I am ashamed of the slime that infests our State.

On the foul date in November, 2008, my district voted 80 some percent for the lesser of two evils.

We know what is correct, we just can't figure out how to fix what is wrong.



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Reply # 2
Date: Jul 24, 2009 - 12:11 AM EST
What if......
If the Democrats want universal health care so badly, they should be MORE than willing to go on the SAME PLAN they are trying to foist on the American public. ALL members of Congress AND all government employees including local, state, and federal (the only sector that is growing in employment). Just watch them scream bloody murder!

I would go one step FARTHER!

Many of the Dem plans want to exempt UNIONS from any of the provisions in the proposed plans (such as taxing benefits for everyone else). Since the unions are wholly owned by the Democrats, I think that ALL union members should ALSO go on the plan. That will save the companies saddled with outrageous union contracts enough money that they may actually SAVE jobs and make a profit.

The THIRD group that should be required to go on the plan is the MEDIA and the PRESS who quiver in orgasmic delight about EVERYTHING Obama does. SURELY they should have no objections either.

Let these three groups be on whatever program for a YEAR (that is a good statistical sample and enough time to see if the proposed plan would work as inexpensively and efficiently as they SAY!).

Let's let THEM be the guinea pigs for this crap! THEY are the ones that championing this administration, so they should be the ones to test it!
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