Obama's Faux Pas

Democrats in Congress pushing health care “reform” are looking more dubious by the day. Still spewing the same talking points from last year – even though we are led to believe this is a different, more acceptable bill – are trying to convince the public and themselves that Obamacare is everything and more than what the President promised.

But when you take a look at the 1,000+ pages of proposed law, as difficult as that may be, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to see that none of the President’s promises will be kept and in fact – will do the opposite. Signing into law Obamacare will be a devastating blow to the economy, the medical industry, medical innovation, health insurance, drug companies, the public and the world – this is crystal clear. (If only this statement was a scare tactic instead of being just scary, I wouldn’t be so concerned.)...

The truth is the President, together with the main architects of the proposed plan - Reid, Pelosi, Baucus and SEIU Boss (and most frequent guest at the Obama-shah White House) Andy Stern have successfully designed a system that over time squeezes out private insurance companies through excess regulation and taxation that will force the federal government to be national insurer and in charge of providing health care to all Americans – make no mistake this has been the plan all along.

The SEIU website posted the following on March 3:

The President pushed hard against insurance companies who have abused working Americans with obscene costs for decades… Amidst all the Republican lies about “death panels,” there is the real issue of insurance companies making life and death decisions for working Americans. The need to get insurance companies out of the path between patients and doctors is clear.

Well, that’s quite an indictment without any facts. It’s the American people who, at the rate of 80%, say they are satisfied with their current health care insurance, and if these insurance companies are indeed abusing Americans in an obscene way, then, isn’t it the job of the Justice Department to get involved?

A scary assertion becomes a scare tactic when there are no facts to back it up, what SEIU is doing amounts to the Pot Calling the Kettle Black at its best – on purpose folks!

Calling a federal government appointed panel that would make life or death decisions a “death panel” is much closer to the truth than calling government regulation a means to creating consumer choice. Life or death decisions over health care becomes the responsibility of the federal government when health insurance companies fail due to its inability to do what it’s supposed to do – assign risk. Take that away, there is no insurance, there is no choice.

It’s dumb, dumb, and dumber –will not work – and if we continue to permit the federal government to make decisions for private companies – the federal government will own us.

As I explained at my blog post “Obamacare Back From The Dead” the Presidential health care summit last week (what I like to call the President’s reality show) was all smoke and mirrors and no substance because at the end of the day, the only reason health care “reform” has not passed to date, is because the Democrats do not have enough votes, and eventually the only way it could pass without Republican support, is by invoking the “reconciliation” or “nuclear” option.

During the summit itself, king of the court, Obama-shah, was comfortable, attractive and determined – proving no script too difficult for the seasoned actor! So, I was impressed by Republican Lamar Alexander’s opening remarks with his right off- the- bat demand that the President take reconciliation “off the table” and when the cameraman at FOX news zoomed in on Reid and Pelosi at that very moment, I had to chuckle because they looked away like two 12 year olds who just got caught stealing cigarettes from their grand daddy’s pack.

Even more telling was Reid’s remarks concerning the issue of reconciliation, when he indignantly said ”No one is talking about reconciliation as the only way out!” Ha! It was less than a week before the President announced his demand for an up or down vote which was the actor’s cue to his colleagues to deliver the bill passed via reconciliation – or a simple majority – so that he could sign it into law and destroy medical health care in America as we know it.

How much more of this propaganda can we take?

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WE MUST STAND FIRM

Here are some of the most offensive parts of the health care reform bill (h/t Isabelle Archer):

Doctors will face financial penalties beginning in 2014 for treating high-cost patients with complex conditions. (American Spectator: “Downgrading American Medical Care,” Betsy McCaughey)
Emergency Rooms would receive fewer resources to deal with higher caseloads of Medicaid patients. (“Reformers’ Giant ER Error,” Marc R. Siegel)
Health care will be provided to all non-U.S. citizens, illegal or otherwise. (HR 3200, p. 50, Section 152)
ObamaCare is all about rationing, would harm people with insurance, and massively raise taxes says Martin Feldstein, one of the President’s own advisors. (“Obama’s Health Care ‘Reform’ Contains Hidden Tax Penalties for Unsuspecting Taxpayers,” Hans Bader, August 25, 2009, OpenMarket.org)
Rationing: You may receive “so much” care per year: $5,000 per individual and $10,000 per family. (HR 3200, p. 29, lines 4-16)
You will be forced to buy government-run health care under penalty of fines and/prison. (“Liberal Lies About National Health Care,” First in a Series, Ann Coulter, August 19, 2009)
Private health insurance will be made illegal (Investors Business Daily editorial, July 16, 2009)
As soon as natural market forces kick in, employer-provided plans which were grandfathered in will disappear and everyone will be funneled into one of the government exchange (“Obamacare: No Exit,” Scott Gottlieb)
Health services to people who are not “participating citizens” (disabled or elderly) are not basic and should not be guaranteed – Dr. Ezekeil Emanuel, “Principles for Allocation of Scarce Medical Interventions,” The Lancet, January 31, 2009
In the complete lives system of Dr. Emanuel individuals between 15 and 40 get the most substantial choices. (“Health Care vs. the Value of Human Life, Sarah Durand)
A Health Care Commissioner will choose your health care benefits for you. You have no choice. (HR 3200, p. 42)
A Federal Health Board determines what treatments doctors can offer and to whom and under what circumstances. (“Health Care by Orwell,” Dick Morris)
Government restricts enrollment of special needs individuals (HR 3200, p. 354, Sect. 1177)
Secretary of Health and Human Services (the same organization which called for cutting back mammograms) will be empowered to regulate your doctor’s decision on everything from cardiac and cancer care to childbirth. (“Our Doctor, Our Government,” Betsy McCaughey)
Government will have direct access to your bank accounts for elective funds transfer (HR 3200, p. 59, lines 21-24)
Government will have real time access to your finances. (HR 3200, p. 58)
Functionaries who will make decisions about your treatment have never met you, do not know your name and have never spoken to your doctor.(“The Cold Heart of ObamaCare,” Nat Hentoff of the Cato Institute)
Employer-Mandate requires employers to provide insurance or pay the following penalties: (Federal Public Policy, Nov. 5, 2009)
$500,000 or more in payroll 8% of payroll
above $350,000 - $400,000 6% of payroll
above $300,000 - $350,000 4% of payroll
above $250,000 - $300,000 2% of payroll
less than $250,000 exempt
Exemption thresholds are not indexed for inflation, hitting more and more employers until no one is exempt.
The Employer-Mandate requires employers to pay for health care for both full and part time employees and their families. (Federal Public Policy, Nov. 5, 2009 and HR 3200, p. 126, lines 22-25)
Companies with more than 50 employees that do not offer a health plan approved by the government will be forced to pay a $750 per employee job tax. (“A Health Bill Nobody Believes In,” Heritage Foundation)
A new tax-compliance paperwork burden on all small business transactions of more than $600. (Federal Public Policy, Nov. 5, 2009)
Government will audit all books of all employers who self-insure. (HR 3200, p. 22)
No company may sue the government on price-fixing and there will be no judicial review against the government monopoly. (HR 3200, p. 124, pp. 24-25)
Broad authority will be given to state attorneys general to litigate against insurers and employer-sponsored health care plans. (Federal Public Policy, Nov. 5, 2009)
Imposes almost half a trillion dollars worth of new taxes, fees and penalties on individuals, families and businesses. (“A Health Bill Nobody Believes In,” Heritage Foundation)
Government will have access to all Americans’ personal and financial records. (HR3200, p. 195)
Forty percent excise tax on individual policies worth $8,500 or more annually and family policies worth $23,000. (“Ripping Open New Wounds,” David M. Drucker)
Excise tax on charitable hospitals of $50,000 per hospital if they fail to meet now “community health assessment need,” “financial assistance,” and “billing and collections” rules sets by Health and Human Services. (“A Health Bill Nobody Believes In,” Heritage Foundation)
Government tells doctors what and how much they may own. (HR 3200, p. 317, lines 13-20)
Tax hike for Blue Cross/Blue Shield – except for Nebraska (“A Health Bill Nobody Believes In,” Heritage Foundation)
Annual fees of $2.3 Billion on brand-name drugs, $4 Billion on medical devices, $6.7 Billion on certain insurance providers. (Scott Gottlieb, Oct. 29, 2009)
Taxes on drug companies and device-makers will be passed on to consumers. (“’Reform’ Still Stinks,” Sally Pipes, NY Post, (12/16/09).
Either premiums for the middle class increase with limited compensating subsidies OR generous subsidies are funded with hidden middle class taxes. (“Obama’s Magic Math,” Rich Lowry)
Non-resident aliens will be exempt from individual taxes. (HR 3200, p. 170, pages 1-3)
The average New York City family with two children would see its premiums jump 85%. (“’Reform’ Still Stinks,” Sally Pipes).
Governor Patterson says: The cost of the proposed legislation will cost New York State $1 Billion per year and would cause hundreds of health facilities to close. (“Gillly’s Second Opinion,” Charles Hurt)