MSNBC’s Chris Matthews apparently wants no discouraging words about ObamaCare on his program.
At the beginning of a segment about problems with the website’s launch, the Hardball host actually told his guests Monday, “I want you, both gentlemen, to be positive” (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CHRIS MATTHEWS: That was of course President Obama earlier today acknowledging in no uncertain terms that the rollout of his signature policy achievement ObamaCare has not lived up to expectations. As you heard him there, the president has vowed to fix the problems which are daunting.
The New York Times reports that the issues plaguing the law's rollout, or actually enrollment website are more than just a few bugs. Here's why. The error messages and registration issues may be masking deeper systems problems. Some insurers have been receiving incorrect enrollment information. Contractors are worried that the system may be weeks away from operating smoothly. And, get this, an astonishing 5 million lines of code may need to be rewritten.
A recent report from USA Today summed it up like this, quote, “The federal health care exchange was built using ten year old technology that may require constant fixes and updates for months and the eventual overhaul of the entire system” according to technology experts. My question tonight: What can be done to fix this situation?
Aneesh Chopra was the White House chief technology officer from 2009 through 2012. He served as a key policy adviser to the president when the Affordable Care Act systems were designed. And the Washington Post’s Ezra Klein is a smart fellow on most things economic, he’s an MSNBC policy analyst.
I want you, both gentlemen, to be positive. We've only got a few minutes here. Help the viewer, help the consumer at the same time. Aneesh, what can be done to improve what's wrong?
Fox News's Juan Williams said of MSNBC Sunday, "I don't think they even have any pretense of balance at this point."
