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Obama Healthcare Battles and Reports from the Frontlines, Part 3. Are the Obama Forces Retreating?

Posted Aug 15, 2009 by Al Mccray

Updated Aug 16, 2009 at 01:50 AM

I am a firm believer in Universal Healthcare for all without any political, judicial, economic or religious barriers to prevent quality healthcare for all. A nation that has sent men to the moon and are now drawing up plans to colonize the Planet of Mars should be able to find a way to pay for my trip to the emergency room. There are only three real issues; who pays for it, the cost, limits and who will control National Health care.

It appears that the political forces behind Obama Care are backing off?  Let me say that not all politicians bought into Obama Care. The primary supporters of the President’s initiative have by large numbers been Democrats and some Republicans who face elections in 2010 in districts too close to call.  The Democrats have been on a roll like a steam roller passing legislations without any real opposition. Have they run out of steam with Obama Care? Have they lost The National “right to call the shots?”

Recently there have been tremendously negative loud verbal attacks from the public. This national outrage has taken many forms. It is all over the media, talks at work, in the church and just about every where else. The people against Obama Care have turned town hall meetings into halls of discontent, anger, hostility, and shoving matches. It’s gotten so bad and potentially dangerous that some politicians are either cancelling town hall meetings or conducting them by telephone. Politicians are not as vocal in their support for Obama Care.

Who are behind these seemingly out of control Town Hall meetings? Who stands to gain the most if Obama Care is defeated and derailed?

Two obvious suspects come to mind, the Republican Party and the Health Care industry. The Republican Party needs some national issue to gain political electable momentum, retake lost seats in the Congress and ultimately the White House. Health Care could very well be that meal ticket or issue that changes the Republican”NO” Party into the party fight to stop the Government from managing your health care and financial life. Past ventures by the Republican Party in fighting the Democrats and The President never really gained any real traction than media sound bites with the American average person. The Republican Party was nick named the “NO Party”. Health care affects the average person.  The health care crisis could be The Republican Party ticket to and from the politician recovery room.

The Health Care industry stands to loss $$ Trillions of dollars and control of the health care. They might have to compete with “A Government Health Plan” and be forced to insure those with pre existing conditions at much lower premiums. The Democratic party controlled government could pull a General Motors style “coup de Obama” and take over the health care industry. If the health Care industry does not follow the dictates and mandates of Obama care, Obama could appoint his team to run the health care companies, hospitals, health care facilities, health care administrators and insurance companies.

I am not at all hinting that these two groups are in partnership and are financing the sinister forces or behind the scene or even pulling the strings in creating the havoc at Town Hall meetings.  The elected Democrats, on the national and state scenes, have three most important choices. They could continue to support Obama Care initiatives, or listen to the voices of the people and act accordingly, or just back off and deal with other legislative items with less public scrutiny. Choice one will certainly benefit Republican candidates in mid term elections in 2010.

Here is what some politicians have to say about Obama Care and Health Care.

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Paula Dockery, Florida State Senator (Republican), Says, “Health care is a major concern of most Americans.  This is true even though as many as 80% enjoy excellent health care benefits through Medicare, Medicaid, VA administration and employer financed programs. The other smaller population includes some who simply don’t want to purchase health insurance, some of whom are young adults who don’t see a personal need for health insurance.  This leaves a significant number of citizens without access to adequate health
care. These are the ones for whom we must find a solution. Unfortunately for them,20there is no lobbying group to represent their interests. Recognizing this, we must ask why the opposition to Heath Care Reform is so loud and sometimes vicious. It could be the fear of losing by those who are fortunate to have good insurance or it could be the thought of having to pay something to provide benefits to those less fortunate who do not have insurance through a government run or employer based program.

As a state Senator, I am painfully aware of the unsustainable increases in Medicaid costs in our State budget which, by law must be a balanced20budget.  No one in the United States is denied Health Care services but without proper coverage, they face financially devastating bills or lack of access to preventive care which leads to higher overall costs.”

(Above L-R) Debbie Cox-Roush, Chair Person, Hillsborough County Republican Party, says, “It is not time to play politics with healthcare. Healthcare reform is needed, but not in the form that is being presented to the American citizens at this time. This is not a Democrat versus Republican issue, but an American issue. We need to ask Congress to “commit to the principle that doctors and patients should be making healthcare decisions, not Washington. We do not want Washington deciding the best treatment for us, we want our doctors to decide that; we do not want our quality of healthcare to be lowered. We need to find immediate, measurable ways to make healthcare more accessible and affordable without jeopardizing quality, individual choice and personalized care.  We must protect the doctor-patient relationship.

Christopher Carlos Cano, serves as Democratic Party Committeeman of Precinct 227, Legislative Chair of the Hillsborough County Democratic Disability Caucus, says, “The facts are simple.  The other G-8 members are doing fine with state run healthcare.  In Germany, there’s both private & state-run insurance available to citizens.  They all share the same healthcare delivery system.  A public option in America will not be the end of private healthcare as it is obviously still alive in our European allies.  A universal system will not mean the end of free choice as we have heard from critics & radicals alike.  In Japan, their universal system ensures freedom to select physicians & facilities of one’s choice.  Our French allies rank number one in the world in healthcare.  Physicians still practice privately yet draw income from publicly funded insurance.  We should provide quality Healthcare to all Americans.  Whether single-payer or universal, a public insurance program run on a non-profit basis can be the first step in ensuring the most sacred of all values, Life.”

The medical professionals face the public every day in rendering health care services. They are really on the front line to all of the complaints, problems, rewards and confusions in the health care industry. They can’t duck and hide. Part 4 of Obama Care will be about what the medical professionals have to say about Obama Care and National Health Insurance.
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Send Comments to:  Almccray @ aol.com