ABC's Jake Tapper Hits Obama for Specifics on Health Care Plan

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During the June 23 White House press conference, ABC News reporter Jake Tapper sparred with Barack Obama over the details of the President's universal health care plan, bluntly observing, "...If the government is offering a cheaper health care plan, then lots of employers will want to have their employees covered by that cheaper plan, which will not have to be for-profit, unlike private plans."

Although there was laughter in the press conference, the exchanges became pointed. At one point, Tapper sarcastically observed that he appreciated Obama's "Spock-like language about the logic of the health care plan." Tapper's question, about whether the so-called "public choice" option would actually allow employees to keep the current insurance plans they have now, was a follow-up to a similar one offered by USA Today's David Jackson. After the President failed to answer that query, Tapper began by challenging, "I wonder if you could actually answer David's? Is the public plan non- negotiable?" A testy Obama retorted, "All right, if that's your question."

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He continued, "You think you're going to- are you the ombudsman for the White House press corps? What's your question- is that your question?" After pointing out how the public option could lead to employers choosing a cheaper, government plan, Tapper continued, "And then their employees would be signed up for this public plan, which would violate what you're promising the American people, that they will not have to change health care plans if they like the plan they have."

Following a long, somewhat vague response, Tapper tried one more time: "I'm sorry, but what about keeping your promise to the American people that they won't have to change plans even if employers-" Obama interrupted and attempted to clarify, "Well, all right- when I say if you have your plan and you like it, and your doctor has a plan- or you have a doctor and you like your doctor, that you don't have to change plans, what I'm saying is the government is not going to make you change plans under health reform."

A transcript of the June 23 exchange, which occurred at 1:02pm, follows:

BARACK OBAMA: Jake Tapper.

TAPPER: Thank you, Mr. President. Before I ask my question, I wonder if you could actually answer David's? Is the public plan non- negotiable?

OBAMA: All right, if that's your question.

[Laughter]

OBAMA: You think you're going to- are you the ombudsman for the White House press corps? What's your question- is that your question?

TAPPER: Then I have a two-part question.

[LAUGHTER]

TAPPER: Is the public plan non-negotiable? And, while I appreciate your Spock-like language about the logic of the health care plan and the public plan, it does seem logical to a lot of people that if the government is offering a cheaper health care plan, then lots of employers will want to have their employees covered by that cheaper plan, which will not have to be for-profit, unlike private plans. And may, possibly, benefit from some government subsidies, who knows? And then their employees would be signed up for this public plan, which would violate what you're promising the American people, that they will not have to change health care plans if they like the plan they have. So-

OBAMA: Okay. You're pitching; I'm catching.

TAPPER: Okay.

OBAMA: I got the question. First of all, was the reference to Spock, is that a crack on my ears?

[LAUGHTER]

TAPPER: No.

OBAMA: All right. I just wanted to make sure. No?

TAPPER: I would never make fun of your ears, sir.

OBAMA: In answer to David's question, which you co-opted, we are still early in this process. So, you know, we have not drawn lines in the sand, other than that reform has to control costs and that it has to provide relief to people who don't have health insurance or are under-insured. You know, those are the broad parameters that we've discussed. There are a whole host of other issues where, ultimately, I may have a strong opinion, and I will express those to members of Congress as this is shaping up. It's too early to say that. Right now, I will say that our position is that a public plan makes sense. Now, let me go to the- the broader question you made about the public plan. As I said before, I think that there is a legitimate concern, if the public plan was simply eating off the taxpayer trough, that it would be hard for private insurers to compete. If, on the other hand, the public plan is structure in such a way where they've got to collect premiums and they've got to provide good services, then, if what the insurance companies are saying is true, that they're doing their best to serve their customers, that they're in the business of keeping people well and giving them security when they get sick, they should be able to compete. Now, if it turns out that the public plan, for example, is able to reduce administrative costs significantly, then you know what, I'd like the insurance companies to take note and say, hey, if the public plan can do that, why can't we? And that's good for everybody in the system. And I don't think there should be any objection to that. Now, by the way, I should point out that part of the reform that we've suggested is that, if you want to be a private insurer as part of the exchange, as part of this marketplace, this menu of options that people can choose from, we're going to have some different rules for all insurance companies, one of them being that you can't preclude people from getting health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. You can't cherry-pick and just take the healthiest people. So there are going to be some ground rules that are going to apply to all insurance companies. Because I think the American people understand that, too often, insurance companies have been spending more time thinking about how to take premiums and then avoid providing people coverage than they have been thinking about how can we make sure that insurance is there; health care is there when families need it. But, I'm confident that, if- you know, I take those advocates of the free market to heart when they say that, you know, the free market is innovative and is going to compete on service and is going to compete on, you know, their ability to deliver good care to families. And if that's the case, then this just becomes one more option. If it's not the case, then I think that that's something that the American people should know.

TAPPER: I'm sorry, but what about keeping your promise to the American people that they won't have to change plans even if employers-

OBAMA: Well, all right- when I say if you have your plan and you like it, and your doctor has a plan- or you have a doctor and you like your doctor, that you don't have to change plans, what I'm saying is the government is not going to make you change plans under health reform. Now, are there going to be employers right now, assuming we don't do anything- let's say that we take the advice of some folks who are out there and say, "Oh, this is not the time to do health care. We can't afford it. It's too complicated. So, let's take our time," et cetera. So let's assume that nothing happened. I can guarantee you that there's the possibility for a whole lot of Americans out there that they're not going to end up having the same health care they have. Because what's going to happen is, as costs keep on going up, employers are going to start making decisions. We've got to raise premiums on our employees. In some cases, we can't provide health insurance at all. And so there are going to be a whole set of changes out there. That's exactly why health reform is so important.

—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.


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Slow burn

The media is slowly getting tired of Obama's smug solipsism.  It'll be nice when there are more Jake Tapper and Major Garrett type questions coming at the President.  Maybe then we'll get down to business and get some real thoughtful answers instead of just smug laughter and avoidance.

News Media IS Turning

All Obama can do is blame Bush 

JDW

DAILY WAVE

When people fear their government there is tyranny.

When government fears the people there is liberty.

Government premiums for coverage

For a family of 4 it is 13,000 dollars per year.  Obama comes along and mandates employers provide it.  So if they currently do not have a plan, their cost per employee goes up like a minimum wage increase.  If an employer can't afford it, Obama gets 3 million more layoffs. 

Go to china and borrow money to pay now for future claims and premiums?  How stupid does he think china is?

Rationing And Long Lines

Obama cannot explain health care savings 

JDW

DAILY WAVE

When people fear their government there is tyranny.

When government fears the people there is liberty.

JDW, let's take it one step further...

Osama Bama cannot explain ANYTHING without a teleprompter! This man is totally and completely clueless about a few things: the whats, where, whens, hows and whys.

Oh, wait a minute - I forgot - he IS Obamessiah, isnt' he?

"Inferior people should not be employed!" - Firesign Theatre

I'm surprised Obama didn't

I'm surprised Obama didn't warn Tapper that he was "wasting his question."

I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows.  -Bart Simpson

 

MB

It still weirded me out that Tapper was clearly talking about Spock's logic (''And, while I appreciate your Spock-like language about the logic of the health care plan and the public plan...'') and Hussein was so touchy he thought it was about his ears. Or, for some reason, Hussein thought it would be hilarious to put Tapper on the spot (sort of a reversal thingy).

And the WH press gang could sure use an Ombudsman.

DoktorFranken~

Try not to laugh at me but ... what exactly did he mean by "Spock-like language/logic"? I've never watched Star Trek, so I didn't get it. But I agree it seemed an odd thing to say, regardless of what he meant by it. But at least the guy had the guts to ask some real questions, which should be the usual job of the press to do, but these days -- not so much!

GG

I did not read what Hussein said regarding the HC plan (because I never listen to Hussein - ever) but usually on Star Trek (and help me out here, folks, 'cause I could be wrong) Spock speaks in very dry, scientific terms and he lacks a touch of humanity - or at least he did in The Original Series (TOS).

This may, or may not, be accurate pertaining to what Big Ears said.

DoktorF~

Big Ears, LOL. Thanks -- and although I just barely know who Spock is, it makes sense to me! ;)

Georgia Girl

...and although I just barely know who Spock is...

GASP! :)

 

You're the next contestant on...
THE MESSIAH IS... LEFT !!

 

→ Actually Captain

Given her lithe physique and youthful appearance, it is quite logical she would be oblivious to Vulcan lore.

We will Barry you! - Russian Prophecy

Spock

Actually, your descriptions of my name sake are not far off.  Spock was known to speak clearly, without humor and without emotions.  He was driven by pure logic but was often confounded by his human counterparts illogical, emotion based responses.

 That is why I believe that Spock was the purest form of conservative.  He did not operate on emtions so therefore "feel good" measures would be illogical.  And if Spock were ever elected president (not possible as he is not a natural born citizen) then he would likely veto every bill that congress passed before him as being completely and totally illogical.

Therefore, I would be a lot like...

-Spock

SPOCK???

Oh my gosh. Seriously ... I scrolled down and saw that "Spock" had replied and about flipped out! LOL. I had to remind myself that Spock is not real. And please don't come unglued for me saying that, guys. ^_^

I did not know we have an NB Spock! If you couple that with my not knowing who the pointy-eared TV Spock is, I guess I have been quite sheltered. :)

 

 

Yup

The next thing you know Rod Serling will post a reply.

Hey, Spock, are you just on your way through time to show up somewhen in the yesternow to alter the course of this reality?

It's for the childrun!  Or for the sake of endless future Star Trek movie profits!

;-)

Mr. Shy~but we have the glasses!

I know. It's very shocking. Does it help that my son wanted to collect all the Burger King Star Trek glasses -- and that we now have the complete set? Wait ... maybe it's Star Wars. Nope, I just went to check. It's Star Trek. ((^_^))

GG... Listen

GG...

Listen gal....you're not alone....I'm not any spring chicken, got my son who is now almost 37 Star Trek stuff....I have never once watched it....my brothers did...other relatives and friends did....I couldn't stand it.

I only know what I know about it via msm clips/readings/commercials and others posting on the internet now and then...not everyone was a Trekkie...and I don't know if that is even the right spelling.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

BT & GG & Cool & Mr. Logic

The only real Star Trek, for me, is the original TV series in the '60's, because it's totally funny -- not taking itself seriously at all -- and all the acting is classic.

The subsequent movies and TV shows/specials, etc., I don't care for and were too "realistic" and dull.

 

You're the next contestant on...
THE MESSIAH IS... LEFT !!

 

Everybody...

At the risk of having Mr. Shy pass out (and greatly fearing the NB Spock), I just don't get how so many people liked watching a show where there was some spaceship thingy and people in tight, nylon-type tops talking gibberishy tech stuff. I know: I'm now going to get clobbered. And then shunned.

But to be fair, I've never, ever sat through that show. BT does not make that sound like a great idea. However, if anybody can tell me if there are reruns on, I could commit to watching ONE episode. So is it on these days? I can just hear people laughing at me now. *_*  

GG

You just had to take it for what it was. I'm no trekkie, (or is it trekker now?), but I enjoyed watching reruns in my teen years to early twenties. 

It's kinda like the Stooges- you either get it or you don't. Nothing wrong either way. 

Gotta agree with Shy though, the movies and subsequent incarnations were nowhere near as entertaining as the tv show. 

"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008

Restless...

I get what you're saying. Well, I'll give it a whirl and watch an episode, if anybody can tell me if they are on. It probably would be un-American to never watch even one episode of Star Trek. And I absolutely know I'd rather watch Star Trek than "The Three Stooges"!

*SIGH* Chicks never get

the stooges man. 8^(

As to finding episodes, they are usually found on local channels. I don't know of any national channels that run them. 

I have found one online. It's pretty good, but its no "The Trouble with Tribbles". :)

Ha! found "The Trouble with Tribbles".

"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008

Wow

This thread really did go where no thread has gone before.  Today, at least.

I'm waiting for some genius moviemaker to do Asimov's Foundation series.   It's literally (no pun intended) the 'Lord of the Rings' of SF.

Restless~

Thanks so much for the links! We're going to be out the rest of the day, but I'm going to watch them tonight. At the risk of really offending this blog's writer, I'll come back later tonight to post a comment on what I thought.

Yeah, I guess we did go a little off-track here .. but at least the reporter mentioned Spock, so we're sort of on topic. We just took a little path off the main road. ((^_^))

P.S. You're right. I really don't get the Stooges. I just can't get into watching three (clowny?) men pull each other's hair, slap each other, etc. I guess it is a guy-humor thing. Forgive me ladies ... I didn't mean to speak for everyone. Perhaps there is a female on here who finds it funny. ^_^

Restless~shocker

OK, I just finished watching the Star Trek intruder episode. I can't believe it ... but I sort of liked it! What is the matter with me???? ^_^ Seriously, nobody is more surprise at this than me. I did NOT think I would be able to sit through a fifty-minute show.

The first five minutes or so, I didn't think I was going to get into it. But then I slowly started to get hooked, wondering what would happen next. It's like a sci fi soap opera. LOL. And I have a soft spot for campy. Gotta love the over-acting.

I have one pressing question though: if they are floating out in space for five years, then what's up with the females wearing full makeup? Lipstick and eye shadow? Huh? What, did they stock up on Mary Kay before they boarded? I know, spoken like a girl. LOL. But it did distract me, as did all the different colors and other mysterious things on the walls. I couldn't quite figure everything out. But it was more interesting than I thought it would be. Please tell me this does not mean I'm headed to a Star Trek convention any time soon!

P.S. Oh, and when do they eat? What do they eat? Where do they get the food? .... It's too much for my little mind.

GG, Glad you liked it

If you like campy acting, you would love the scenes when the Enterprise takes a laser hit from enemy ships. The cameras shake and the cast throws themselves over chairs and consoles, all the while Cpt. Kirk holds steady at the helm.

 As to your makeup question, these women were on the Starship Enterprise, with Captain James T. Kirk. 'Nuff said. :)

"This liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008

double post

Ignore!

GG

No one is laughing at you, I suspect.  Star Trek is like any other show - an acquired taste.

Restless1 gave a link to the ''Chuckles The Clown'' of the Star Trek series - ''The Trouble With Tribbles''.  I am watching it while the '3rd Rock From The Sun' episode is on my TV - the one where William Shatner (Kirk) plays ''The Big Giant Head'' and gets Vicky pregnant after attending Tommie's HS Prom.  Talk about ''acquired taste''!

I wonder if there's a beer in the fridge?

MrS... You have me

MrS...

You have me laughing and really showing my age.....I was only talking about the television series.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

MrShy

Why, as 'The Great Bird of the Galaxy' (Gene Roddenberry) called it as he 'pitched' it to the network suits, ST was just ''Wagon Train to the Stars'' - that's all.  And you're right - the best episodes were the ones where the writers and cast did not take themselves too seriously.

Tapper missed a comeback...

OBAMA: I got the question. First of all, was the reference to Spock, is that a crack on my ears?

[LAUGHTER]

TAPPER: No.

OBAMA: All right. I just wanted to make sure. No?

TAPPER: I would never make fun of your ears, Dumbo.

Sefton

Priceless!  Very Disneyesque.

More Jake Tapper?

That's assuming he'll ever be called on again after this.

 

<swishing pom-poms>  Go Jake, Go! Go Jake, Go!

healthcare "competition"

So Comrade O believes in competition. OK, does that mean state mandates and restrictions against selling health insurance by private companies are going to be eliminated so there's a level playing field? Medicare was touted as "government insurance" too, and it's the largest single threat to economic viability that we have with a $31 TRILLION unfunded liability, with "premiums" collected from beneficiaries and direct access to the treasury.  In the real world, premiums are a function of risk; the cost of actual previous experience; RESERVES for future claims; administration expenses; taxes and profit (I know Comrade O hates that word)margin and taxes. Will the public option be costed on the same basis? I doubt it, whoich will make it underpriced compared to the marketplace. Also, what happens to the investment funds generated by premiums, since all claims don't come do at once, and the impact on the investment and capital markets, intrest rates, the cost of the recovery,if any? Who out there knows anyone who buys his auto, homeowners, renters, motorcycle, boat, personal liability or life insurance from a "public option'? What does the government know about risk thta private insurers, many with hundreds of years of experience don't? If you can't control demand or offset costs with investment returns,how do you control costs? Even the government doesn't deal in "free". The only things that will happen are a reduction in providers, reduced quality and rationing of the services left available.The premise that an ultimately government monoply can control cost without consumer imput and provide better service than a market based system, with government oversight, is a dubious proposition at best and can't be substantiated by any reliable data.

Obama:  "You don't have to

Obama:  "You don't have to change plans, but we're going to make the public version so cheap you'd have to be a fool not to use it, much like public education. And yes it will squash the insurance industry allowing for a government takeover, just as the government squashed and took control of GM and the banking industry. Next question!"

Poor Tapper

After this you can bet that you will be able to count on one hand the number of questions he is allowed to ask of His "O"lliness during the next 3.5 years.

Good Job

I have to say good job to Tapper.  I'm about 99% sure he's as liberal as most of his colleagues, but he's almost the only one that cares more about being a journolist than a liberal.  He manages to upset both Left and Right, which I think is a hallmark that a reporter is actually playing it down the middle like he should.

bdsheppard

You're right.  And it really doesn't matter what political leanings reporters have - just as long as they 'report' and not 'distort'.

I love Tapper as a reporter

I've been reading this site which provides an awesome service for years, and I am finally making my first post!

I agree with you that Jake actually takes his reporting duties seriously and professionally the way he should. Ask Democrat officials good, thoughtful questions persistently? What a novel idea for a political reporter!!!

He reminds me of Leno on the Tonight Show in how well, as you said, he plays it down the middle to the point that he doesn't allow his personal feelings to escape while discussing partisan issues. It is so refreshing. Is there any other comparable MSM reporter currently working out there? 

Bizarro

Welcome to what will be, I hope, a long posting history for you here.  It's one of the best places on the Internet to get the facts and to have the media spin unspun.

The Doktor

Bizarro... I ditto Doks

Bizarro...

I ditto Dok's sentiments.

Enjoy!

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

It is going to be so much

It is going to be so much fun to watch when the wheels come off this circus wagon.

Obama interrupted and attempted to clarify

Obama interrupted and attempted to clarify, "Well, all right- when I say if you have your plan and you like it, and your doctor has a plan- or you have a doctor and you like your doctor, that you don't have to change plans, what I'm saying is the government is not going to make you change plans under health reform

Direct from stump speech

That does not take into consideration any co-pay done by employer, If the government plan is cheaper then the employer will make the employee get the new plan. Which will result in all the things Obama said will not happen will happen. The govenment will not make you change but thoes who pay it will.

Candyman

Yeah, I saw how he threw that out there - "the government is not going to make you change..."

Why does this remind me of some sleazy drug pusher offering free crack to a junkie trying to come off the habit?

Tapper

Jake...get yourself a food taster.

Forbus, and furthermore...

Along with a flak jacket - bodyguard - carbon monoxide detector - 9mm handgun - and a survival kit. Osama Bama's not going to let this one slide anytime soon - but kudos to Tapper for sticking to his line of questioning.

"Inferior people should not be employed!" - Firesign Theatre

President Obama, no one is

President Obama, no one is saying not to reform health care....they are saying not to nationalize health care. So, either you ARE lying when you say this, in which case no one should buy into your scheme, or you don't know what the hell you're talking about, in which case no one should buy into your scheme. 

I vote for all of the above...

Smug!

Yup, Obama is a smug SOB.  I can barely watch this clip. He just HATES when people challenge him.  I guess employers won't give employees an option. Truth comes out!!

ng... He even did the

ng...

He even did the same thing with good ol' butt kisser Chucky Todd today, it was something to behold, I was really surprised for once.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

Tapper rhymes with...

That's where Jake is likely to end up if he continues to ask tough questions.  Is he really from the same ABC that will broadcast the White House's infomercial tomorrow? 

Who want to hear Obama stammer of whistle his S's.  I am more interested in where he learned to love.

No Kobe beef for Jake tomorrow. 

 http://www.framingthedialogue.com/archives/a-pressmass-carol-chapter-one/

 

gee whiz, baz gets real

gee whiz, baz gets real testy when asked a ligit question that needs a real answer, and jake has no qualms badgering the heck out of him for one, baz is so egotistical, that he is going to bust a blood vessel, I wouldn't want to be on his bad side thats for sure

Tapper must actually read a

Tapper must actually read a lot of the posts over on his ABC site...it's a no-man's land, that is, not run by Liberals and many of us conservatives post there.

Just my hypothesis.

One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).

Jake! Jake!

You're a pro!

Tapper best be careful, else Robert Goebbels Gibbs...

...is going to yank his credentials.

-Dave

Obama's health care "reform" plan is to blow up the building in order to fix a leak in the roof-Herman Cain

"I can guarantee you that

"I can guarantee you that there's the possibility"

WTH does that mean?

Obama thinking to self:

"He said 'Spock like'". Is that a shot at my ears?"

Look at the video again. I swear that's what it looks like he is thinking. 8^)

"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008

R1

Your emoticon looks a bit like Dilbert.  I will add the hair:

∑8^)

Kudos to Jake Tapper

and Fox' Garrett. It sounded and looked like they were the only serious people in the room. But the look on Obama's face as Tapper pressed him on his millionth lie was priceless because when he is mad you see the real Obama.

Hey President Obama, You

Hey President Obama,

You are a lying sack of S***!!

Delish

Jake Tapper rocks my world. I believe he'd totally take anyone to task, Democrat or Republican. He's one of the only true "journalists" out there. Thank God.

Major Garrett's Reaction

Watch Major Garrett's reaction as Tapper and Obama go at it.   I love these 2 guys.  They know this isn't all fun and games. 

Yeah, right

Obama is lying through his teeth.  Once government gets in it's all or nothing.  We wont be able to keep our own health care plans in the same way we are forced into social security and medicare.  We have no choice in those because government can call the shots.

Sorry, I'm not biting out of that apple.

There is nothing wrong with our health care system that getting the government and trial lawyers out of it wont fix.

"I dont need to read a newspaper to know the world's been shaved by a drunken barber."

Walter Brennan, The Colonel, Meet John Doe, 1941

I wouldn't compare baz to

I wouldn't compare baz to spock except for the ears of course, but I would liken him to Quark on Deep Space Nine, bigger ears, and an ugly mug, and is sly, lies his flipping ass off with ease, does multible back room deals to his advantage, and seeks revenge when slighted, only difference is Quark runs a ligit biz which baz has never done,

Obama can run, but he can't hide the outcome of his health plan

"what I'm saying is the government is not going to make you change plans under health reform."

Scary times ahead.