CBS: Free Clinic Shows Health Care Reform ‘Desperately Needed’

CBS: Free Clinic Shows Health Care Reform ‘Desperately Needed’

By Kyle Drennen (Bio | Archive)
August 14, 2009 - 11:26 ET

Katie Couric, CBS At the top of Thursday’s CBS Evening News, anchor Katie Couric used a free clinic in Inglewood, California to push for health care reform: "Tonight in the battle over health care, they are on the front lines....we’re going to show you why many believe reform is desperately needed. These are just some of the tens of thousands of Americans who need health care but have no insurance or not enough of it."

In the report that followed, correspondent Bill Whitaker described the organization that set up the free health clinic: "This program is run by Remote Area Medical, a nonprofit group established 24 years ago to take modern medicine to the third world. Today, they do some 40 multi-day free clinics a year, 65% of them now in the U.S." Whitaker spoke to one volunteer physician, who compared the need for health care in the U.S. to that of third world nations: "Here at home, we have as much a need as I do when I travel to the most remote areas of India, and that’s very heartbreaking."

On March 2 of last year, CBS’s 60 Minutes ran a story on Remote Area Medical in which anchor Scott Pelley made similar third world comparisons when discussing the American health care system: "Recently, we heard about an American relief organization that air drops doctors and medicine into the jungles of the Amazon....But these days, that’s not the Amazon – this charity founded to help people who can’t reach medical care now finds itself throwing America a lifeline."

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Later in the Thursday Evening News report, Whitaker took a shot at the protests at health care town hall meetings: "For doctors and patients here, the shouting over health care reform is incomprehensible." He cited one patient at the clinic, Anna Garcia, who declared: "Walk in my shoes. Try it a couple of weeks. You won’t last."

The story was repeated on Friday’s CBS Early Show and Whitaker again criticized the town hall protests: "Furry and shouting have dominated the debate over health care reform, making it difficult to hear the quiet pain of people like Cynthia Cobb....She lost her job as an L.A. bus driver and with it, her benefits and insurance. She ended up joining thousands of people here in desperate need of health care."

In the 8:00AM ET hour of the show, co-host Harry Smith interviewed Remote Area Medical Founder, Stan Brock, and asked about the large turnout at the free clinic: "What does this response tell you about the state of health care in America?" Brock attacked the American health care system: "Well, you know, the World Health Organization rates the United States at number 37 in its ability to provide health care for its citizens....It’s been like that in this country for many, many years....Unfortunately, in the United States it seems that health care is the privilege of the wealthy and the well-insured. And the rest of us have to do the best we can."

Smith’s only response to those incendiary accusations: "Stan Brock, we applaud you and the service that you have helped offer to all of these folks."

Here is a full transcript of the Evening News story:

6:30PM TEASE:

KATIE COURIC: Tonight in the battle over health care, they are on the front lines. Poor, under-insured and in need of a doctor.

6:31PM SEGMENT:

KATIE COURIC: Good evening, everyone. Once again, we begin tonight with the battle over health care reform, but this time, we’re not starting at a town meeting. Tonight, we’re going to show you why many believe reform is desperately needed. These are just some of the tens of thousands of Americans who need health care but have no insurance or not enough of it, and they’re lining up at a free makeshift clinic in Los Angeles, a short-term solution to a long-term problem. Bill Whitaker begins our coverage.

BILL WHITAKER: People from all around Los Angeles have been lining up like this around the clock since Monday. Waiting, hoping to get medical care.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN [VOLUNTEER, REMOTE AREA MEDICAL]: Follow the line.

WHITAKER: Free medical care, some 1,500 people a day, almost all working people who have insurance, but it’s just not enough, filing into L.A.’s cavernous forum to see 443 doctors.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN [DOCTOR, REMOTE AREA MEDICAL]: Can you can see my finger?

WHITAKER: Dentists, optometrists, all of these medical professionals volunteers, all of these people in need. Larry Durst’s disability check won’t cover the glasses he needs. What would you do you if this were not here?

LARRY DURST: Suffer. You know, go without.

WHITAKER: Kenya Smith needs a checkup for two week-old Zoe. Her insurance doesn’t cover it.

KENYA SMITH: They wanted $1,500 for – just to be seen by a doctor, plus co-payments and that was kind of a lot of money, I thought.

WHITAKER: Anna Garcia got in line Tuesday for dental work.

ANNA GARCIA: I have insurance through my employer.

WHITAKER: She works for Orange County, has five children, her husband out of work. The co-pay for three-year-old Aisa’s root canal, $1,000.

GARCIA: I couldn’t afford it and I didn’t want her to lose her teeth, so once I read about this program, I had to take advantage of it, even if it meant me losing a couple of days from work.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN [VOLUNTEER, REMOTE AREA MEDICAL]: I need a volunteer at seven, please.

WHITAKER: This program is run by Remote Area Medical, a nonprofit group established 24 years ago to take modern medicine to the third world. Today, they do some 40 multi-day free clinics a year, 65% of them now in the U.S.

STAN BROCK [ FOUNDER, REMOTE AREA MEDICAL]: The need is all over the United States, just like this, wherever you go. There are about 49 million people that don’t have access to the care they need. They simply can’t afford it.

WHITAKER: Family physician Natalie Nevins has worked in villages in India and Africa.

NATALIE NEVINS: Here at home, we have as much a need as I do when I travel to the most remote areas of India, and that’s very heartbreaking. Most of these people work. They have jobs, but they work for small companies that can’t afford to give them insurance.

WHITAKER: For doctors and patients here, the shouting over health care reform is incomprehensible.

GARCIA: Walk in my shoes. Try it a couple of weeks. You won’t last.

WHITAKER: Sutina Green works for the City of Long Beach. She could be speaking for every patient here.

SUTINA GREEN: I have five children and I’m a single mother. So for me, this was a blessing.

WHITAKER: Now, Katie, this has been going on all day. The doctors here are overwhelmed. They don’t have enough volunteers to meet the need. Now, they expect to serve more than 1,000 people a day through Tuesday, and after they close down, they expect to send thousands more away unserved. Katie.

COURIC: Bill Whitaker in Inglewood, California. Bill, thank you.

—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.

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NATALIE NEVINS: Here at

August 14, 2009 - 11:44 ET by MidAmerica

NATALIE NEVINS: Here at home, we have as much a need as I do when I travel to the most remote areas of India, and that’s very heartbreaking. Most of these people work. They have jobs, but they work for small companies that can’t afford to give them insurance.

But if you look real close at all this the problem is not the decision making of the medical personel. It's the fact that these are poor people who cannot afford insurance. They are elegible for government programs if they care to apply. So for billions of tax dollars less than a complete teardown of the present healthcare delivery system we could just do more outreach to underserved patients. But then, obama and congress won't get to play god and decide who lives and who dies.

Exactly

August 14, 2009 - 11:58 ET by SickofLibs

But applying for existing government programs or assistance is way too much work... it's a lot easier to just head over to the free clinic, even if you have to wait awhile.

About those lines

August 14, 2009 - 13:03 ET by Pam

A family friend volunteers his services at an inner city clinic in GR, Michigan. This is a retired Internist, graduate with honors from the University of Michigan Medical School, retiree from a very successful practice and named one of the top 20 doctors in the state...He has a 65% no show rate at the clinic..This clinic is within walking distace from many patients homes, has a bus stop right at the front door, neighborhood is pretty safe, yet the clinic has a 65% no show rate.. Does anyone think this isn't the norm?

Free Ice Cream

August 14, 2009 - 11:45 ET by mattm

Breaking News: A small toen ice cream dealer recently decided to give away free ice cream as a promotional gimmick.

Thousands showed up to get their free treats. The tremendous response demonstrates how ice cream is desperately needed, especially among the poor and elderly.

→ Back to school drugs?

August 14, 2009 - 11:51 ET by Cool Arrow

Stores in New York are reporting a significant uptick in the sale of cigarettes and alcohol corresponding to the Stimulus giveaway of $200 per child.

Is there any doubt that Soros and the Federal Government are also subsidizing drug habits?

LYDSEXICS UNTIE!

Right on, matt. If these

August 14, 2009 - 12:05 ET by QueenMum

Right on, matt. If these folks think the lines are long for this clinic, what do they think will happen if and when (God forbid) government-run healthcare comes to pass?

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out
of other people's money."

—Margaret Thatcher

This seems more like a premonition than a case for reform to me

August 14, 2009 - 11:52 ET by BKeyser

This is an exact copy of the email I sent to flag@whitehouse.gov:

I'm sending this email to ask several specific questions regarding the
information being disseminated from Democrats and the White House,
especially as it applies in the effort to counter information from the
GOP and anti-Progressive health care reform activists.

Will you guarantee that any government-run plan (public option) will not undercut substantially any private-run plan in any area of the country if implemented? If so, how will this be enforced?

If you cannot guarantee that any public option will not undercut private plans, do you acknowledge that the public plans currently in effect will likely be unable to compete and will therefor likely fold over time? If not, why?

Will you acknowledge that if the vast majority of Americans end up in a public plan, the implementation of the plan will largely be affected by the funds available to that plan? If not, why?

Will you acknowledge that as more people join a public plan, more funding will be required to maintain that plan? If not, why?

Do you acknowledge the likelihood of tax increases or diminished services will be required to fund and ever-growing public health care plan?

Will you guarantee the country will never encounter another serious economic recession or depression? I ask this in light of the current economic state; with the severe decrease of tax revenue, services have been slashed throughout the public-provided spectrum. Additionally, the simple fact that resources are always limited -as in the case of the H1N1 vaccine- requires that these resources be allocated by some defined priority structure (in the H1N1 vaccine case, for example, children, pregnant woman, and health care workers are first in line.) California has been issuing IOU's for services and many states have cut fire, police, and other public-sector positions as the funds are not available to keep them going. Is it not it reasonable to infer that in future times of economic strife that health care services would be similarly affected? And if so, how would they be affected? Would it mean that some people would receive levels of care that others would not? And if so, how would the public plan administrators determine the order under which people would receive care?

If this administration is truly concerned about the health and wellness of the residents of this country, answering my questions in the public
forum, directly and without filibuster, would go a long way to helping
folks understand the intent of this reform. If I am answered directly,
I will forward the answers to as many people as possible; however, I
understand that there is a vast number of emails flooding this address
and it may not be possible to answer my concerns.

In any case, I do not authorize my email address to be used in any subscription for mass email distributions by the White House or any affiliate of the White House including OfA or barackobama.com. I DO NOT WISH TO RECEIVE GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED OR POLITICAL MASS EMAIL PUBLICATIONS. I do, however, have genuine concerns about this legislation and would like a response specific to my inquiries.

Thank you,

Bob Keyser

I wonder if I'll get a response...(not likely)

BK, You may very well get a response which begins like this,

August 14, 2009 - 12:52 ET by sic721

The White House, Washington

Dear Friend,

This is probably one of the longest emails I've ever sent, but it could be the most important.......

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/08/axelrods_unsolicited_email_on.html

There was a Texas Ranger one time who said that there's no stopping a man who knows he's in the right and keeps a-coming.--Louis L'Amour

--->sic

August 14, 2009 - 13:10 ET by BKeyser

That's what I'm wondering. But according to some from the White House, you have to sign up for the Axelrod Spam-O-Gram or follow some link of consent on another government website. I sent this from MS Outlook with a newly-created email address (anti_hr3200@... btw)

BKeyser...I've also been

August 14, 2009 - 17:36 ET by celator

BKeyser...I've also been receiving those emails from Axelrod.

The only emails I've submitted to government folks are to my Congressman, a far, far, left Rep, and to my state's other far left Rep (we have only two Reps in the state).

It took awhile for me to ask how in the world did Axelrod get my email address? It's been bugging me and I want to know the answer.

My guess at the moment is that my own Congressman turned me in to the White House for my criticism of Obama's HellCare program.

Someone, someday may uncover an email from Axelrod to members of Congress ordering them to send all the names and email addresses of the troublemakers.

Wouldn't that be interesting.

No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.

>>>celator

August 14, 2009 - 17:50 ET by BKeyser

You can notify Fox in their blog here. Major Garrett is monitoring this.

Thanks! I am going to do

August 14, 2009 - 17:53 ET by celator

Thanks! I am going to do that right now. Good tip.

No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.

Re mail list

August 14, 2009 - 22:05 ET by slickwillie2001

I believe that they may have harvested emails from some friendly corporation, like GE, or Progressive Insurance, or the banks that the Bamster took over, or maybe Fannie and Freddie, Government Motors, etc. That's why they don't want to talk about it. It just illustrates how corrupt government, especially a Chicago thug government, can get when the opportunities are so many.

You can bet that at election time, those same folks will get requests for contributions. ("You wouldn't want to get sick in our rationed healthcare system without having a donation to your local democratic on file now would you?")

Some good detective work might figure out the common denominator; I believe Major said Fox had received 500 emails on this. With a base of 500 you would be able to find the common denominator, but it would require cooperation of the address holders.

These sob stories are even lamer than the $50K amputation lie

August 14, 2009 - 11:53 ET by SickofLibs

$1,500 PLUS copay just for a checkup for a two-week old baby? Does that include a 10-day vacation in Honolulu with airfare?

And how does a three-year get to the point where she requires a freakin' root canal? Teach your kids to brush their teeth and quit feeding them junkfood!

Yeah, Sick. I must confess

August 14, 2009 - 12:25 ET by QueenMum

Yeah, Sick. I must confess I was skeptical of these two particular
cases as well. I realize things are costly in L.A. Just wonder if
someone knows if the $1,500 cost is legit. It also doesn't make sense that Zoe's mother said her insurance doesn't cover the check-up, but that there's a $1,500 charge PLUS co-pay. If her insurance doesn't cover it, there is no copay. It's all out-of-pocket. And most health insurance plans cover well-baby care. Nit-picking perhaps. But can't help being skeptical of the likes of Katie Couric, et al.

Edited to add: Here in Ohio, most cities have free clinics where well-baby care is available. If someone lives in a small town, the county also provides such services. Transportation may be an issue for some. In which case, the idea of setting up mobile clinics or providing transportation seems like a much better use of taxpayer dollars than government health insurance. For that matter, if someone doesn't have the means to get to a doctor, the health insurance isn't going to be much help. Just a thought.

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out
of other people's money."

—Margaret Thatcher

QM: I squealed on Couric to the WH...

August 14, 2009 - 12:27 ET by SickofLibs

...b/c this is by far THE fishiest story I've seen yet.

It's not nit-picking, it's fact checking - something that none of these people even bother to do anymore.

$1,500 for a baby checkup... by who, Dr. 90210 on Rodeo Drive?

I've raised three kids, and

August 14, 2009 - 12:31 ET by Bruzilla

I've raised three kids, and have had multiple insurers, and I've never heard of any insurance plan that doesn't cover well-baby checks or child immunizations!!!

Also, why is this woman getting a root canal done on a three-year old? The kid's going to be losing that tooth in a couple of years regardless of whether she gets a root canal or not.

This whole report is bogus.

I had to look that up too

August 14, 2009 - 12:44 ET by katainkent

Some dentists think its necessary to leave a tooth in so that the next tooth might be guided in. I gathered by reading that a child that young has enamel that is so soft that the root canal would take about ten minutes.

___________________________________________
"The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax" - HR 3200 (Health Care Bill) Pg. 203. Ln 14 & 15

IMO, it doesn't make sense

August 14, 2009 - 12:49 ET by QueenMum

IMO, it doesn't make sense to do a root canal on a 3-year-old if the tooth in question is indeed a baby tooth. A quick shot of Novacain and the tooth could easily be pulled. That's what I'd do. In fact, my daughter had several baby teeth removed because they didn't fall out on their own when her permanent teeth grew in. Didn't bother her a bit.

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out
of other people's money."

—Margaret Thatcher

it's likely what I'd have done too

August 14, 2009 - 12:51 ET by katainkent

fortunately we've not had to make those decisions. We're all still cavity free here.

___________________________________________
"The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax" - HR 3200 (Health Care Bill) Pg. 203. Ln 14 & 15

But it would still be a tricky thing

August 14, 2009 - 12:58 ET by OBQuiet

I'm no expert but I have a hard time imagining a 3 year old holding still for 10 minutes while having a root canal. Most would freak out.

It could be that they need to use general anesthesiato be sure the child is impbile and that would drive the cost up very fast. And the risk. Seems more cost effective to pull and see if orthodontia is needed in a few yesrs when the permanents come in.

My guess is that a root

August 14, 2009 - 13:00 ET by Agnostic

My guess is that a root canal was easier on the mother. Less visits, less crying, less attention. Especially considering the demands on her time already.

A person may be won over with logic and reason but the masses must be bought with spectacle and platitudes. - 2008 Elections

well the article states

August 14, 2009 - 13:03 ET by katainkent

the mother didn't want the child to lose a tooth. We gather what we can from that statement. The interviewer for this article is worthless.

___________________________________________
"The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax" - HR 3200 (Health Care Bill) Pg. 203. Ln 14 & 15

katainkent

August 14, 2009 - 13:12 ET by Agnostic

Not to impune the mother's decision but those were not the child permanent teeth, were they? I really don't know a lot about children but a procedure that expensive for a tooth that is coming out anyway sounds like something is missing from the story - besides the normal common sense.

A person may be won over with logic and reason but the masses must be bought with spectacle and platitudes. - 2008 Elections

Bruzilla: To be fair, the

August 14, 2009 - 12:59 ET by QueenMum

Bruzilla: To be fair, the one excuse I can come up with for the mom is that she didn't understand her insurance policy and didn't follow instructions as to what she needed to do before and after her baby was born. I'm all for simplifying plan documents and creating some sort of consistency among insurers. The fact is, she DOES have insurance. She doesn't need government healthcare.

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out
of other people's money."

—Margaret Thatcher

tired of liberal

August 14, 2009 - 12:01 ET by stunned

tired of liberal lies

"Tonight in the battle over health care, they are on the front lines....we’re going to show you why many believe reform is desperately needed" Yes Yes Show Us Show Us!!!! Yes Katie please please do whatever you can to help Obama pass his plan to have the government takeover of healthcare. Do what you can to show critics as cold hearted uneducated fools and supporters as generous wise caretakers. But do not show how British citizens are pulling out their own teeth because there are not enough dentists in England to take care of its citizens or citizens waiting six months for chemo or an MRI in Canada. I heard this report on CBS radio last night and found myself yelling at the radio and vowing to never tune into that station again.

And don't...

August 14, 2009 - 12:10 ET by Prester John

....bother writing a check to help them out either.

Here's an interesting little nugget...

August 14, 2009 - 12:25 ET by BKeyser

Canadian health care, the model that so many compare (both good and bad) to the US (both as is and via reform) has a population of roughly 33.7 million. I think it would be cheaper for the US to swallow up their citizens and health care than to insure the 47 million Americans the left claims are without coverage. Maybe we can arrange a swap.

btw- I do not have health care insurance.

Need is not the issue

August 14, 2009 - 12:21 ET by KC Mulville

Suppose I showed you a poor man who had a nasty scrape on his arm. To relieve his pain, I planned to amputate the arm. And when you objected to my solution, my only defense was: "But look at how his arm is bleeding!" The fact that there is a problem doesn't justify every kind of treatment.

Yes, there is a problem in healthcare. This report only confirms that there is a problem. However, letting government take over the system, or evem meddling in it as a competing insurer, is not the solution to the problem.

Anyone who walks away from this report and thinks that we must pass Obamacare because people really are in need ... simply insn't thinking properly.

"Yes, there is a problem in

August 14, 2009 - 12:37 ET by ckc1227

"Yes, there is a problem in healthcare. This report only confirms that there is a problem."

I'd say it confirms there is a problem, but I wouldn't say it necessarily confirms that problem is healthcare.

"We represent the lollipop brigade"

August 14, 2009 - 12:23 ET by RoloT

I haven't liked anything Couric has done since she was in The Wizard of Oz.

In all seriousness, the MSM has become so utterly laughable, is it even productive to continue to monitor their madness?

you got it wrong, roloT

August 14, 2009 - 12:25 ET by candance

It was the lollipop guild.

Yes, and the Guild is currently affiliated with the Teamsters

August 14, 2009 - 12:35 ET by SickofLibs

Yes, and the Guild is currently affiliated with the Teamsters, I believe,

The militant Lollipop Brigade is currently holed up in a Montana cabin, heavily armed, waiting for the Feds.

→ SOL

August 14, 2009 - 12:37 ET by Cool Arrow

I think that's the Brokeback Brigade you're referring to.

Easily confused as they are known to practice on lollipoops.

LYDSEXICS UNTIE!

Cool: LOL!

August 14, 2009 - 12:48 ET by SickofLibs

I hope you're archiving these for an upcoming anthology!

My bad

August 14, 2009 - 13:34 ET by RoloT

I've gotten to sharpen my knowledge of the Wizard of Oz.

Lollipop Brigade in Montana, hilarious

WAKE UP AMERICA

August 14, 2009 - 12:26 ET by sam12663

This is not about health care. This president could care less about the health care needs of Americans; this legislation is just a means to an end in the quest for implementing his liberal agenda. It is all about power and control. The sooner everyone see's this, the faster this 'reform' will be put down to defeat.

President Obama is nothing more than a lying empty suit; a Hollywood style special effects smoke and mirrors show that has shown itself to be a total fraud.

WAKE UP AMERICA! SAVE OUR CONSTITUTION!

Root canals

August 14, 2009 - 12:32 ET by umpete

I seriously doubt dentists do root canals on the baby teeth of a 3-year-old....yet a MSM journalist goes right to print (or to the microphone) citing this situation as factual. How about checking with a dentist to see if this is factual, or someone pulling "facts" out of thin air.

When is comes to attribution, MSM seems to have forgotten some golden rules of the business: verify facts with at least two credible sources.

"WHITAKER: Sutina Green

August 14, 2009 - 12:29 ET by ckc1227

"WHITAKER: Sutina Green works for the City of Long Beach. She could be speaking for every patient here.

SUTINA GREEN: I have five children and I’m a single mother. So for me, this was a blessing."

What's wrong with this picture, and why is it the fault of the current health care system?

<blockquote> WHITAKER: She

August 14, 2009 - 12:39 ET by OBQuiet

WHITAKER: She works for Orange County, has five children, her
husband out of work. The co-pay for three-year-old Aisa’s root canal,
$1,000.

GARCIA: I couldn’t afford it and I didn’t want her to lose her
teeth, so once I read about this program, I had to take advantage of
it, even if it meant me losing a couple of days from work.

</blockquote>

Where is she going for treatment or have rates jumped that much that the copay will be $1K?

And at three years old are we talking about paying that money to save a tooth do to drop out in a couple years on its own?

What's healthcare got to do with it?

August 14, 2009 - 12:55 ET by Agnostic

Husband out of work?
She takes off work to take kids to doctor?
Could the husband squeeze in a visit into his schedule?

Everything that is wrong with these kids being at this clinic can not be fixed via healthcare.

A person may be won over with logic and reason but the masses must be bought with spectacle and platitudes. - 2008 Elections

Dental insurance policies

August 14, 2009 - 13:34 ET by QueenMum

Dental insurance policies aren't generally a good value. I would guess that the $1,000 co-pay being thrown out here is a deductible for more complicated procedures such as root canals. Preventive care is usually better covered and less costly to the patient, as are simple fillings. But of course it fits the template better if they can show how evil and greedy the insurance companies are.

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out
of other people's money."

—Margaret Thatcher

A sixth grader could blow holes in this fabrication

August 14, 2009 - 12:52 ET by SickofLibs

Whittaker states 1,500 patients a day are seen by 443 doctors.

By my math, that means each doctor sees 3.3 patients per day. Or put another way, spends 2.5 hours with each patient.

Where do I sign up, because if I'm lucky, I get 15 minutes with my doctor.

Also note all the nice round numbers: $1,500, 1,500 patients, $1,000, 1,000 patients

bad apples vs. government orange juice

August 14, 2009 - 12:49 ET by katainkent

rediculous. Try again Katie.

___________________________________________
"The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax" - HR 3200 (Health Care Bill) Pg. 203. Ln 14 & 15

The real journalistic malpractice...

August 14, 2009 - 12:56 ET by retrocon

The real journalistic malpractice is that "only" the democrat proposals for reform are "reform." That conservative ideas are not debated. Why? Because the conservative ideas, tort reform, catastrophic care + med savings accounts, etc., make a lot of sense.

So, to win, they have to cheerlead for the the dem proposals, lie when necessary, and absolutely, positively don't mention a conservative idea.

Give Katie root canals

August 14, 2009 - 13:05 ET by averageschmoe

I think we need to give Katie and all srmsm anchors root canals on all of their teeth. We will all gladly pay for that!

Why waste the money?

August 14, 2009 - 13:22 ET by NL207

Why waste the money? Their likely future contributions to society don't justify the cost. Give them the 'little blue pill' and tell them to be happy and shut up.

See how useful Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel's statist re-interpretation of the doctor - patient relationship is?

Where are the poll Numbers Katie?

August 14, 2009 - 13:03 ET by Bluegill

Glad CBS can remain impartial, HA

Harriet Smith puzzled by large turnout for 'free' clinic

August 14, 2009 - 13:10 ET by SickofLibs

Hello, Harriet: put 'free' in front of anything, and see what happens. Here, let's try it:

Free Daycare

Free Auto Repair

Free drugs

Free Airplane Tickets

Free Donuts

Free Willy

One Question for Katie and CBS

August 14, 2009 - 13:37 ET by Airforce_5_O

How many of these people being treated at this free clinic were legal residence? COULD THAT BE THE PROBLEM!

Liberalism: The huanting feeling that someone, somewhere, can help themselves.

You're not being inclusive,

August 14, 2009 - 20:05 ET by Free Stinker

You're not being inclusive, diverse, or caring AF50!

GOOD WORK !! :-)

"Gov. Palin has been subjected to one of the most massive and dishonest pile-on smear attacks in the history of liberal media." -- Lowell Ponte

as bad as the third world??????

August 14, 2009 - 13:59 ET by kmkirkland

From the perspective of someone who grew up in East Africa and has visited India, I would like to say that it is absolutely outrageous to compare our healthcare problems in the U.S. to those in third world nations. There is no comparision.

Well you see kmkirkland, in

August 14, 2009 - 14:07 ET by QueenMum

Well you see kmkirkland, in the eyes of the elites of so-called journalism, the average folk in America may as well be living in a Third World nation. The likes of Ms. Couric have lives so far-removed from reality that they are shocked that other people live so much more simply. Check out Ms. Couric's annual income for a starter. It's all a matter of perspective. I'm sure Ms. Couric would be appalled to find out that I have to cook my own meals and clean my own house. Thank you for your informed comment. I agree. The comparison is ludicrous.

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out
of other people's money."

—Margaret Thatcher

Alternate Head Lines

August 14, 2009 - 16:59 ET by JustAl

"Newsbusters; A Free News Site That Shows Media Reform is Desparately Needed"

"Katie Couric: Free of Logic Newcaster Shows Clue is Desparately Needed"

Katie the Stenographer

August 14, 2009 - 20:03 ET by Free Stinker

Liberals will always be able to depend upon Katie the Stenographer to pass along their propoganda.

IF IT IS FREE IT IS NO INSURANCE

August 14, 2009 - 20:13 ET by mooseburger

THIS MORON SHOULD CHECK THE DICTIONARY

BY DEFINITION, IF SOMETHING IS FREE, IT IS NO LONGER INSURANCE

HER TITLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN "SOME PEOPLE DO STILL NOT GET FREE UNLIMITED HEALTHCARE"

YEAH, AND I STILL HAVE TO PAY AT THE GROCERY STORE AS WELL. WHERE IS MY FOOD-INSURANCE?

More Couric Non-Sense

August 14, 2009 - 22:36 ET by BigMike252

Hey Katie.......Stop attempting to spend our tax dollars and you pay for it!

Free clinics operate across the country

August 15, 2009 - 12:50 ET by redfish

There are actually free medical clinics across the United States that operate on a daily basis. See the National Association of Free Clinics : http://www.freeclini... . They run on donations and in many cases also receive funds from the state governments. There's one that's a short bus ride from Inglewood ( http://www.thesabanf... ) that also provides dental care.

Most of the treatment at this 8 day clinic was for dental care, because its covered less (although I don't know what extent of dental care is covered at the LA free clinic I mentioned) and its worth noting most public systems don't cover dental care either.

If Couric, or The Independent, or any other source, wants to do a more comprehensive report on US healthcare they're welcome to. I don't think they want to though. People who portray the US as a wild west where if you don't have money you can't have care are wrong. Besides free clinics, there's government aid if you're below the poverty line, out of work, or have disabilities. There are charities that fund treatment of problems like cancer that have high costs. There are problems with this system, but there are also problems with public health care.

You'll also always see the media report it as if Republicans are against any type of reforms. Republican's aren't against health care reforms, just Democratic proposals, and too many pro-reform articles make this into a black and white issue: either you're with Obama and support health care reform, or you're a Republican and don't. We need more articles that actually present a balanced view of the health care system in America, the trade-offs between public and private care, and the proposals coming from both Democrats and Republicans. Biased reports like Couric's don't help the debate.

Just think...when ObamaCare

August 15, 2009 - 15:45 ET by RR GOP

Just think...when ObamaCare comes online every hospital in the country will be like this! Thank you, Katie. Rarely do we humans get to see into the future.

One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.

"We the People" need ...

August 16, 2009 - 00:29 ET by SentryDan

"We the People" need to replace the congress with representatives who will do the will of "We the People". Then once replaced, we need to have impeachment proceedings started against Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Biden and anyone else who has violated their oath of office. At the same time, throw the rests of the bums like the Emanual brothers adn Gibbs into jail. Also get the liberal judges who believe it is their place to make the laws and not interpret the laws.

Remember, there isn't anything in the US Constitution the gives obama or the congress authority to do anything with healthcare.

Let us use every legal means to remove these usurpers from office.

Remember folks, Freedom isn't Free. It was bought with the blood and sacrifice of the men and women who are serving and who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.

Also remember folks, that the way to SUPPORT THE TROOPS is to support their mission. Anyone who says that they support the troops but don't support their mission is lying about supporting the troops. And if you want to know, yes I do have a dog in the fight, he is a United States Marine.

Katie is a shameless shill for a revolutionary coup-

August 16, 2009 - 18:39 ET by Thalpy

Katie is a shameless shill for a revolutionary coup. Sadly, she's too ignorant to see that Obama-care would change our country for the worse--forever.