During President Obama's healthcare address to the nation last week, he said, "I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits either now or in the future," and that most of his plan "can be paid for by finding savings within in the existing healthcare system."
Yet, presidential candidate Obama, speaking at a town hall meeting in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on April 3, 2007, said, "Conceivably, it is possible to capture those savings and apply them to provide coverage in theory, but transitioning a system is a very difficult and costly and lengthy enterprise."
Furthermore, as the following video uncovered by our friends at Naked Emperor News depicts, candidate Obama told attendees "that's why there have been a couple of times where I've pushed people on the idea of paying higher taxes in order to implement the system" (video embedded below the fold with partial transcript):
Estimates range from 20 percent to 30 percent of our healthcare dollars go into red tape, paperwork, profits for the private marketplace and so forth. Conceivably, it is possible to capture those savings and apply them to provide coverage in theory, but transitioning a system is a very difficult and costly and lengthy enterprise. It's not like you can turn on a switch and you go from one system to another. So, it's possible that up front you would need not just, you might need an additional 90 or 100 billion dollars a year to provide coverage with the understanding that you would capture savings over the long-term as the system transitions. And, and the question then becomes how do people feel about paying additional money? [....]
Let's say that we, let's say that I proposed a plan that moved to a single-payer system, let's say Medicare Plus, be essentially that everybody can buy into Medicare for example. It would cost a huge amount of money. [...]
We're going to have to come up with at least $15 billion in new money just to maintain the existing coverage that's provided to kids through the SCHIP program. There are an additional six million I believe children who are not covered but who would otherwise be eligible, we'd have to come up with some additional money to cover them, to make sure that every child has basic coverage. And, and I think it raises then the issue of cost. And that's why there have been a couple of times where I've pushed people on the idea of paying higher taxes in order to implement the system. [...]
And by the way, that's an area that we should be willing to make an investment upfront because there may be community hospitals in rural areas for example that can't afford to set up the computerization and the software system. The federal government should subsidize that initial process. [...]
You're right that Medicare and Medicaid oftentimes politicians use those two systems as a way of, as a sort of a safety valve budget, particularly at the state level. So what they do is if they get in a budget crunch, they will delay payments to doctors or the reimbursements won't be quite as high and force providers to suck up the costs. [...]
And one of the things that I want to find out is whether folks are actually ready to move off an employer-based system. This is how you get into trouble when you're president, you start saying, "We're going full speed ahead," and you look behind and nobody's behind you.
Wouldn't an honest media share this video and its contents with Americans comparing and contrasting what the President is currently saying versus what he said while on the stump?
Or would that be too much like journalism?
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
sounds familiar
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 09:08 ET by jon_torlinSomeone else did something like this.....hmmm, oh wait, it was John Kerry, he voted for attacking Iraq before voting against it.....or something like that, can't get that story straight at least as Kerry's concerned, wouldn't matter the order because it's the other way around....wait....I'm confused.
By the way, he served in Vietnam, right?
-Jon
(in case people didn't get it, I'm being sarcastic, not racist...or wait...is it the other way around the other way?)
Wouldn't it be honest of
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 09:18 ET by dscottWouldn't it be honest of Obama to admit the entire ObamaCare plan is about shifting the cost of Medicaid (indigent care) onto the backs of those who pay for insurance and then spend that money saved on some other liberal program? Ask him why his budget zeros out Medicaid... Go ahead, ask him.
This is the same shell game played in Massachuesetts under RomneyCare. ObamaCare is a tax increase on everyone. Obama intends to break his promise not to increase taxes on those making below $250k.
Talking about stealth tax increases, Cap & Trade is just another one.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
Honesty??? Surely you
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 09:58 ET by motherbeltHonesty??? Surely you jest!
It would cost a huge amount of money. [...]We're
going to have to come up with at least $15 billion in new money just to
maintain the existing coverage that's provided to kids through the
SCHIP program. There are an additional six million I believe children
who are not covered but who would otherwise be eligible, we'd have to
come up with some additional money to cover them, to make sure that
every child has basic coverage. -Candidate Obama
That was then; this is now. NOW all these changes will actually reduce the deficit and stimulate the economy!!
The biggest lie of all time was Obama's claim that economic recovery required energy and health care reform.
Yea, Kerry did serve but ...
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 09:21 ET by SentryDanYea, Kerry did serve but that doesn't make up for what he did in 1971, as a Naval Reserve officer, by meeting with the communists in Paris any less wrong. What is the definition of treason, anyway?
Oh, wait, didn't "the one" say he wouldn't raise the taxes of anyone making less than $250K a year, or was it $200K, or was it $150k, or was it $?. I'm not sure anymore. But since he plans to raise taxes, can I say, "You Lie!!!"?
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.
Our voices must get louder!
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 13:49 ET by goldenthroat"...that's why there have been a couple of times where I've pushed people on the idea of paying higher taxes in order to implement the system" - Osama Bama
If we don't send a strong message in the midterms next year, America may never recover from the socialist agenda that Obamessiah and his demoncratic cronies are trying to force down the throats of its people.
The looks on the faces of Obamessiah, below-average Joe, and queen Nancy in this picture says it all - it makes me want to punch the lights out of all three of them - it is a look of smugness, arrogance and a look-down-our-liberal-noses attitude that they think the American people don't know what's good for them!
Hey, Obama voters, how are you liking your "change" now - you bunch of morons!
"Inferior people should not be employed." - Firesign Theatre
we can pay for "most of
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 09:36 ET by athoughtor2we can pay for "most of it" with savings. But how do we pay for the rest of it? notice he did not say pay for all of it.
Well, there you go...
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 09:47 ET by Scout FinchTrying to hold a politician to his campaign words. Don't you know that campaigning is merely advertising? You musn't hold a campaigning politician to his words! What are you, a racist???
Does he know what he's doing?
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 09:49 ET by KC MulvilleNo.
The Obama campaign frequently made questionable assertions that no one checked him on. I say questionable, with the warning that he could and should have been questioned on them, but he never was. Now as president, he's discovering that he can't just say whatever sounds nice. The media isn't holding him accountable, but he's discovering that when it counts, the people are holding him accountable for his words and decisions.
I'm still infuriated by the decision yesterday to sell out the Poles and Czechs. Obama tried to argue that it was a decision to improve defense capability, but that's a crock.
Way over his head.
Way over his head
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 10:36 ET by motherbeltWay over his head indeed.
He thinks that "making nice" with Russia on this will induce them to join in pressuring Iran. What a joke.
That photo Drudge had of Putin winking was worth a thousand words. He knows that he rolled Obama.
Frankly, I've had it already with this "no preconditions" Presidency.
I think I figured out why
Sat, 09/19/2009 - 02:40 ET by stratmanI think I figured out why Obama just got punked by Putin... again. Putin tricked Obama by playing to one of Barry's weaknesses.
I hope that radio host Michael Savage is correct in his hypothesis Obama's appearant total giveaway to the Russians was in exchange for allowing Israel to fly over and take out Iranian nuclear production/testing sites. Otherwise Obama the Rube just got rolled big time (no relation to Dick "BigTime" Cheney" - boy do I miss him).
It's Big Union, Stupid.
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 10:02 ET by slickwillie2001The massive intrusion of Big Union into the healthcare industry should Obamacare pass will cause an explosion of costs and inefficiency that will dwarf any problems with Medicare and Medicaid. I foresee rubber rooms for health workers that can't be fired like those for NEA teachers. I foresee a thousand-page union contract for healthcare workers similar to the UAW's that dictates how many workers it will take to perform each task. A nurse deisgnated as a blood taker by the union will not be allowed to administer IVs, that will be the job of a nurse designated as an IV adminster-er.
It's union hell and that's one of the reasons Big Union is pushing Obamacare, for the billions in union dues and pension contributions.
We, who went through ...
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 10:05 ET by SentryDanWe, who went through the "Cold War" knew that when the thaw happened as long as there were hard-line communists (like Putin) left, the Russians couldn't be trusted. What further proof do we need than helping Chavez acquire weapons and possible nuclear technology?
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.
Here's a slogan from the liberal handbook
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 10:31 ET by Willis_Leon_Johnson"OBAMA'S LYING, AND PEOPLE ARE DYING!"
please feel free to use it everywhere.
http://gjresult.com
Obama Lies
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 10:58 ET by slickwillie2001We have to call the Bamster's lies out, as Joe Wilson did, and a protester at a rally yesterday in Maryland did. Krauthammer on the Bamster's lies:
Does He Lie? http://www.washingtonpost.com
"Obama doesn't lie. He implies, he misdirects, he misleads -- so fluidly and incessantly that he risks transmuting eloquence into mere slickness. Slickness wasn't fatal to 'Slick Willie' Clinton because he possessed a winning, nearly irresistible charm. Obama's persona is more cool, distant, imperial. The charming scoundrel can get away with endless deception; the righteous redeemer cannot."
Obama is ...
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 11:25 ET by SentryDanObama is supposed to be the leader of the free world. obama couldn't lead anybody out of anythng with neon light pointing the way. You can see that in the way "the one" is handling the economy, healthcare, and foreign policy.
obama was elected president. Yet he is out on the campaign trail trying to sell the American people a bill of goods. He doesn't know how to lead. He was only an organizer and not a very good one at that.
obama is one of the most dishonest, dishonorable people I have seen. He is right up there with the likes of John Kerry, Teddy Kennedy, Pelosi, Reid, Murtha, Barney Frank, etc.
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.
I gotta ask
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 12:27 ET by jon_torlinNothing against you, SentryDan, but I have to ask you and others who might think this way, why do people think he's incompetent? I'm not saying that what he's doing is competent in any stretch of the imagination, but am I the only one who thinks that his actions are deliberate?
Now if the stuff he's done was done over the course of 4 years, then even I would agree it's incompetent, but it's been not quite a year, but 8 months since he's gotten control and he's done a lot in that short amount of time that it can't be anything BUT deliberate, especially with the Czars that he has (what's it up to, 40+ now?) who are just as radical and socialist as he is.
Rush has said it several times himself that it's a deliberate attempt (and so far successful) attempt to take over the country and weaken it. Again, how can it be anything BUT deliberate?
I mentioned the Czars, I didn't mention the cabinet, the ones he has partially filled, those jokers are just that, jokes and they are more like lackeys than the Czars. Look who the VP is for pete's sake too!
Where am I wrong on this? (I don't think I am, but am willing to look at other opinions)
-Jon
No your not
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 12:41 ET by general companybut am I the only one who thinks that his actions are deliberate?
But I think he is incompetent in the sense of what we expect from our President. His tearing down of America I also feel is deliberate
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Jon, a puppet ...
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 12:47 ET by SentryDanJon, a puppet will do anything it's master wants it to do. I don't believe that "the one" doesn't possess some intelligence, but I do believe that he can pull this off on his own.
Those folks that obama surrounded himself with were chosen by someone else, quite possibly Soros. obama doesn't have the skill set to be president and people who voted for him are starting to see that. IMO
And like one of our fellow posters says "I have been classified by my government as a right-wing extremist (American Patriot).
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.
the ARAB has no leadership skills.
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 14:59 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonHe only says what the teleprompter tells him to say. He goes where he is told and does what he is told.
He is a good liar when he has a teleprompter, but when it goes offline, he fumbles and screws up the official line that he doesn't fully know, or understand.
Pretty much incompetent.....
http://gjresult.com
Because in short -
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 15:07 ET by dscottBecause in short - incompetence is more believable than malice.
Example: If I told you it was from malice that George W Bush didn't secure the Mexican border and approved of amnesty, would you believe me? Probably not.
On the other hand if I told you it was from incompetence (lack of foresight) that George W Bush didn't secure the Mexican border and approved of amnesty, would you believe me? Probably yes.
Now put yourself in the shoes of independents and moderates (people with no political leaning or interest in politics). Which is more believable, Obama through malice wants to weaken the US or Obama is so incompetent that he is weakening the US?
I encourage you to read my piece linked above on Hanlon's Razor, think of the strategic influence and who needs to be influenced. Both right and left are not going to change their stances, only the independents and moderates are malleable enough, they are the tipping point.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
An excellent, well written article.
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 15:43 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonTHANK YOU DAN!
As Americans, we choose to not think of our 'leaders' as deliberate traitors to this nation.
Stupidity, ignorance and incompetence are usually applied when these people do irrational things.
Like your examples of Bush and the border and his position on amnesty were attributed to incompetence by conservatives and liberals alike.
Mr. Soetoro, on the other hand....., can anybody truly be stupid enough, or incompetent enough to have done all the stupid, incompetent things he has done?
He studied Islam while in school in Indonesia, and properly bowed to the King of Saudia Arabia.
He apologizes for OUR GREATNESS every chance he gets.
He has spent over one million dollars concealing a five dollar birth certificate.
He is attacking every Citizen that does not cater to his every whim on every asault on our way of life.
His wife showed her true feelings towards this nation with her comment: "For the first time in my adult life I am proud of this country."
Are his feelings any different?
His formative years were spent in a country that is not known for its love of OUR Country. He studied a religion that has repeatedly shown to be anti American, a large number of radicals in that religion have vowed to destoy our way of life.
And that's just the stuff off the top. An indepth study would show so many more instances of his disgust for this country.
I'm gonna go with the "malice" on this one.
http://gjresult.com
As a conservative, malice
Sat, 09/19/2009 - 09:04 ET by dscottAs a conservative, malice would probably be right, however, when talking with independents and moderates, you would be more likely to be believed if you pitched incompetence. Both motivations have the same result, so why not pitch the most believable motivation to the greatest number of people?
BTW- personally I'm inclined to a position that actually falls between malice and incompetence, you might say it incorporates both. I say, Obama due to his being a liberal demagogue, who as a consequence has an insular view of the world, hates the culture of this country and being blinded to the facts by that hatred can not see the failure of his position. Obama as a liberal demagogue dismisses the waves of facts that breaks upon the beaches of his tiny insular world view in the vast ocean of reality. You see the nuance of my position between outright treasonous malice and malice?
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
appreciate the responses
Sat, 09/19/2009 - 13:55 ET by jon_torlinThanks to those who responded, they were very insightful.
While I may have agreed or disagreed with the various responses, it does show how we see a BIG problem that continues to unfold as long as it's there.
-Jon
Mr.
Sat, 09/19/2009 - 09:22 ET by jessieHMr. obama, this is a simple fix. Take the money from Acorn & every other special intrest group and put it into healthcare. Take the money the congress gets paid, under the table, from the special intrest groups, and put it into healthcare. Get rid of the sweetheart healthcare deal the govt. gets, and put them all on the same care as the people. TA-DA! It's fixed,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
What? Take the profit
Sat, 09/19/2009 - 14:20 ET by dscottWhat? Take the profit motive out of being a Congress cockroach and what's the point of going to Washington? Dream on JessieH, I suggest rephrasing your comment into an "I have a Dream" format. Only a crook would call being a Congressman a "public service." A public servant is just a sick euphesim for con artist.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.