Open thread: Obama health-care summit; Update: Video link added
posted at 9:30 am on February 25, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
This health-care summit is already off to a great start. The White House leaked a scaled-down proposal just days after unveiling a formal proposal so vague that the CBO couldn’t score it. Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi will kick things off at the summit by laying out her approach to any hint of a new direction for ObamaCare. In her opening statement, Pelosi will specifically reject what she calls “incrementalism,” demanding instead the kind of sweeping reform that has made ObamaCare political poison for Democrats living outside of San Francisco:
Traveling around the country, we’ve all heard stories about people unable to pay their medical bills. I’ve even seen a grown man cry – a senior citizen from Michigan, whose wife had been sick for 16 years. He didn’t know how he’d pay the medical bills. He was too proud to ask his children for help – they had financial challenges of their own. He worried he might lose his house because of the cost of care. All he could ask was: how can I tell my children?
His story and others illustrate why reform is so critical and why inaction and incrementalism are simply unacceptable.
Both “inaction and incrementalism” are unacceptable? They’re not the same thing, as even some of her Democratic allies have begun to realize. A sweeping reform in the wrong direction would be much worse than incrementalism that could later be reversed without doing extensive damage to the system — and it would be worse even than doing nothing at all.
What do you think the outcome will be? Take the poll:
Update (AP): NBC should be streaming it live in this player as it gets going.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
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Unexpected.
NaCly dog on February 25, 2010 at 8:42 PM
Reading all of the 50′s plus posts, I’m game! Woooo Hooo! Party time! Color me there!
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 8:47 PM
Shoot we’re all pretty much going to be a part of Obooboo’s death panels, might as well go out with a bang, Aye?
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 8:49 PM
Absolutely no surprise at the “summit.” The Prez was condescending, arrogant, overbearing, and no doubt thought he was the smartest person in the room.
GFW on February 25, 2010 at 9:14 PM
Frank Luntz’s focus group on Hannity goes nuclear on Maobama’s kabuki today; only 3 want the current bill pushed through on reconciliation. About half the audience voted for Obama. Shocka! Luntz is right: Is anyone in Washington listening and do they care what the public thinks? Hell no is the answer.
Philly on February 25, 2010 at 9:44 PM
H/T Michael Savage
Obama held his first Teach-in. Just another reveal of his radically anti-American upbringing. Teach-ins were a favorite tool of the Students for Democratic Society. F-ing communist waste of carbon.
daesleeper on February 25, 2010 at 9:49 PM
Might as well go for 6K.
2ipa on February 25, 2010 at 10:01 PM
Thanks to all who watched and reported I had to work but could check in for updates it was killin me to not be able to watch.
The GOP had better get Rush’s tapes of alnmost all leading Dems but especially O’Biden and Dingy dirty Harry, railin, just railin, against reconciliation for judges in 2005 and play them night after night day after day in continous 30 second spots . No commentary just the lyin rats whinin and moanin against reconciliation. Rush did it Wed and it was devastating. The American people need to see these two faced varmints for the lyin crapweasals that they are
dhunter on February 25, 2010 at 10:09 PM
Wait…WTF? 5,300 comments on 54 pages?
Jaibones on February 25, 2010 at 10:13 PM
Sure, why not.
Just for the record, I actually watched some clips of this kangaroo court, and if Obama got positive buzz from insulting House Repubs in the first bout, he got his ass handed to him today. Outsmarted, outboxed, and outmaneuvered.
He came off smaller, dumber, more obnoxious, more arrogant. And his socialist BS is getting shoved right up his ass.
Jaibones on February 25, 2010 at 10:16 PM
0 looked positively un-presidential today.
OmahaConservative on February 25, 2010 at 10:18 PM
Thanks jaibones wished I could have watched. All pics I see of Obam look like he’s about to puke or needs a white line maybe thats why his lips are purple he took a coke break
dhunter on February 25, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Folks still think there’s such a thing as a ballot box solution. There isn’t any. That came and went in November, 2008. These guys are committed Marxist revolutionaries…dress them up and label them any way you like…that’s what they really are.
They are looking to carry out a major paradigm shift. Not merely to feed their inflated egos, but ideologically they are long past tired of what they believe to be social injustice and inequality. And they are doing something about it. Unfortunately, those of us on the right have never had that kind of resolve.
We never paid attention to what they were doing behind the scenes (life was good and who cares about politics and there are no such things as Communists and if so they are too weak to do anything dangerous) and now it’s too late. We dither with the CPAC and talk show nonsense, though these people are right on many levels, ultimately does nothing except to make more of us aware that we are indeed headed towards the chutes. Small comfort.
Dr. ZhivBlago on February 25, 2010 at 10:20 PM
I’m a veteran 1972-1975 2nd/320th 101st AIRBOURN I have no choice I have to use the VA medical system I pray you that have not had to deal with government health care will not have to GOD BLESS what is left of AMERICA
KATDADDY on February 25, 2010 at 10:21 PM
KATDADDY on February 25, 2010 at 10:21 PM
Thankyou for your service!
dhunter on February 25, 2010 at 10:27 PM
dhunter on February 25, 2010 at 10:27 PM
Any time brother
KATDADDY on February 25, 2010 at 10:29 PM
I didn’t see the summit, but I just turned on msnbc and there’s Matthews.
Uh, where’s Olbermann? That’s all I need to know.
B Man on February 25, 2010 at 10:31 PM
Well that’s not true; I did see Obama’s opening speech and Lamar’s opening and Lamar looked like he was the adult punishing the little kid in junior high.
B Man on February 25, 2010 at 10:46 PM
It was painfully boring to watch, honestly.
Jaibones on February 25, 2010 at 10:56 PM
Obama supports drilling!
Mr. Joe on February 25, 2010 at 11:06 PM
Am I the only one who noticed that everyone’s name placards used the same color scheme and fonts as Obama campaign literature and advertisements?
No longer in the campaign, indeed.
29Victor on February 25, 2010 at 11:15 PM
I noticed that as well–I meant to comment on it and was distracted. They looked like that silly sign he used that said the Office of the President-Elect. That color is Obama blue–not the blue of the Stars and Stripes!
INC on February 25, 2010 at 11:22 PM
The Los Angeles Slimes has the lib talking points down pat.
So much for a “GOP victory.” As long as Osama Obama’s spinners in the MSM are on hand (which they will be, because the person of the Chicago Jesus is inviolate) and people are stupid enough to believe them (which many still do), we lose.
MrScribbler on February 25, 2010 at 11:24 PM
Nahhhh. If that were true, we’d already have this monstrosity as law with about a 75% public approval rating and today’s farce wouldn’t have been necessary. The LA Times et al are becoming increasingly irrelevant.
ddrintn on February 25, 2010 at 11:31 PM
I feel like I am on a Huffpo thread with over 5000 comments! Rush seemed pumped today about how the dems were getting pummeled.
wi farmgirl on February 25, 2010 at 11:38 PM
It would be pretty to think so, but there are still masses of people out there who buy what the Times (and Ronald Pearlstein in the Washington Post) are dishing out.
Don’t discount them just yet. After all, various “conservatives” (like Ed Morrissey) have told us before that this steaming pile of dung is dead.
It is not, and won’t be until the totalitarian Constitution-haters in DC are rooted out and no longer have the power to play their traitorous games.
Underestimating the enemy is a sure way to get steamrollered. Which is what I’m afraid will happen to us.
MrScribbler on February 25, 2010 at 11:43 PM
Does one suffer banishment for commenting on Mr. Obama’s dietary habits as made clear by his performance today? I’m thinking of his obvious taste for secondarily processed food. That is, food from which most nutrients have been extracted but that still has enough substance, albeit soft, to allow reconsumption. My dog Wags is a scamp when it comes to this (my neighbor has a cat). Please advise. If I’m beyond the pale please ignore (although it’s true).
Mason on February 26, 2010 at 12:32 AM
Well I wonder if now there will be a summit on Crap and Tax and Global Smarming?
Dhuka on February 26, 2010 at 1:10 AM
Would that Obama’s problem was merely a dietary one. Nah, I’m afraid it’s more likely an over-indulgence of narcissistic ego self-feeding of the type of malnourished platitudes that do nothing but artificially plump up the ego yet leaves it devoid of basic human nature, and the rational thought patterns and common sense that most of the rest of us possess.
KendraWilder on February 26, 2010 at 1:16 AM
Got to say the Elephants walked the Jackass right into a trap. Obama challenges them to put up or shut up. It ‘leaks out’ the GOP ‘fears’ a trap and the DEMs get pumped thinking they have them over a barrel. Obama will be presidential while the GOP is mean and petty
The staging was creepy, with Obama at the head of the roundtable like King Arthur. But the GOP came in with a a concerned demeanor, quiet voices, and projected nothing but concern for the little people and for saving the nation financially. Very obviously, Obama did not plan for this
By the end, Obama was sweating, literally. He took some of cheap shots and cut folk off. The GOP came out looking like the nice guys. Jailbones described it correctly. Flustered, floundering Obama did not look Presidential.
As I watched Obama waste a whole day posing, I saw an absence of aides running to him with requests relating to his difficult and burdesome job as President. My thought: doesn’t this guy have something else to do as President? I would have faked it. He was too dumb to understand how he diminished his aura.
This is why Presidents normally send aides to answer to Congress. After all, the President is supposed to be preoccupied with world affairs, plus, the President can always make the aide take the blame if he bombs
Missing from the event was a preamble setting the terms of the talk. For instance, at the start, the party in power should have made clear whether any parts of the President’s bill were off limits. Without a clear understanding of the terms, the talk was fruitless
It became obvious the entire bill was off limits, and the purpose therefore of the meeting was to prove to America who were the good guys. The GOP would spend the time ‘attacking’ benefits for the little people.
Instead, the GOP spent their time defending the little people against the special interests. McCain made Obama lose it, and the rest is history
Humiliated loser Obama, Reid and Pelosi, Oh My, will now go for the revenge by trying the ram approach. They will be doing it minus any good will from those who witnessed their sorry act
entagor on February 26, 2010 at 2:32 AM
Zero just looked unprepared and disinterested most of the time. He often appeared petty in his responses – especially with McCain. President Bush certainly never treated John Kerry or Al Gore so disrespectfully.
It’s hard to imagine he won over many moderates with his divisive antics and playing 3 card monte with the facts.
Mr Purple on February 26, 2010 at 4:12 AM
L A Times? I live in LA, is that rag still relevant? No one buys it for section A– it’s straight to the sports department, and then it’s all wadded up and used as packing for ebay sales.
leftnomore on February 26, 2010 at 4:44 AM
What makes me wonder is:
if indeed Pelosi is currently lacking votes,
and Obama knows this,
just what his point of threatening reconciliation at the end of the “meeting”?
Macho soundbite?
When juxtaposed against Capitol Hill voting “no” on it?!
Bring out the tricycle!
Lockstein13 on February 26, 2010 at 6:16 AM
99 comments per page … I noticed this some time ago. Whenever the number is a multiple of 100 or a few more you can just count the comments on the last page.
gh on February 26, 2010 at 6:33 AM
They were too confident after that republican retreat thingy
tomas on February 26, 2010 at 6:36 AM
My summary: somebody took the training wheels off to early. Major crash coming.
BushPookie did it.Yoop on February 26, 2010 at 6:40 AM
Obama and the Democrats are lost and have nothing of any substance to offer. Their only recourse was for Obama to revet to his natural state of being a smug wise-ass. This once great Republic is in a steep decline and will soon crash.
rplat on February 26, 2010 at 6:46 AM
I just meant holy spit, that’s a lot of comments. I don’t ever seeing one that big on Hot Air.
Jaibones on February 26, 2010 at 6:56 AM
What really infuriated me is when ‘whats his name’ tried to humiliate John McCain, a decorated Hero and devoted American. What a shameful display of arrogance from ‘whats his name’. I can’t even say it anymore.
2012.
Key West Reader on February 26, 2010 at 7:01 AM
Yup. This is the guy who couldn’t find half an hour over 6 months to meet with the General in charge of the war in Afghanistan, and he looked like this year’s President of the Student Council.
And as I’ve been saying for a year, anyone who thinks Paul Ryan, Eric Cantor and Mitch McConnell are overmatched intellectually by Obama is insane.
Jaibones on February 26, 2010 at 7:02 AM
I suggest that we re-run this bipartisan meeting video when any terrorist is captured.
yoda on February 26, 2010 at 7:07 AM
Right on. McCain certainly isn’t perfect but Obama wouldn’t make a pimple on McCains backside. When Obama is threatened or challenged he reverts to his natural stater of being a smug, condescending wise-ass.
rplat on February 26, 2010 at 7:18 AM
If Obama had his way, ALL of his agenda would have passed by now. He would be the Great and Powerful Obama having passed HC, cap and trade and the stimulus having the jobless rate be less then 8%.
Instead look where he is. He doesn’t know wtf to do.
He has this titanic over inflated view of himself because he’s surrounded by sychophants and he just naturally thinks the world of himself to begin with.
That’s why he did this summit. He was going to demonize the GOP and “save the day”. That’s what he always thinks.
And he always fails. But he puts those past failures out of his mind.
He was supposed to be sailing through ’10 helping his dem friends win with his amazing coattails.
But reality has become a vicious b!tch.
I’ve seen the look on his face on people I talk to. It’s the look of “I don’t know what to say to that!” So let’s change the subject.
After a few mins, the eruptions start happening. Very predictable lib behavior.
B Man on February 26, 2010 at 7:33 AM
FIFY.
Just like the filthy lying coward stopped holding pressers after his “acted stupidly” gaffe in July, we will be seeing no more summits now that it has been proven he is really intellectually inferior to the majority of Americans. Just an empty affirmative action suit pretending to be brilliant and relevant.
highhopes on February 26, 2010 at 7:34 AM
Just remember, the L in Obama stands for leadership.
highhopes on February 26, 2010 at 7:36 AM
In at 5332. ;-)
Holy cow, this place is getting big time.
MNHawk on February 26, 2010 at 7:43 AM
PPPOTUS (Petty Petulant President of the United States)
Yoop on February 26, 2010 at 7:47 AM
That’s another thing: Libs are calling on him to be the Mythical Leader that he hasn’t been yet. That was another reason yesterday happened.
Only one problem with that: He’s not a leader. He just isn’t.
One person I talked to back last year thought it was a great idea for Obama to let congress do health care and for him to do nothing.
Yeah, BAD idea for him. He gave a presser in July having no real knowledge of the HC bills and sounded idiotic.
Thank God we elected a clueless guy who had it in for business.
I mean if we had gotten Hillary we might be REALLY screwed.
B Man on February 26, 2010 at 7:51 AM
Obama unmasked.
Heh. No prompters that day.
Key West Reader on February 26, 2010 at 7:54 AM
I thought for sure that Democrats inviting Republicans to this summit would turn out like Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown, and in a way it was……except this time, Charlie Brown ran up and kicked Lucy’s a55 as she was attempting to yank the football away.
olesparkie on February 26, 2010 at 7:56 AM
In all honesty, I’m not sure that Hillary Clinton is all that much different from Obama when it comes to intellect. She’s been a terrible SECSTATE. The thing is that the Clintons are professional grifters. They know how to surround themselves with smart people who do know what they are doing. Obama just brought in the folks from Chicago who are as clueless as he when it comes to running a nation.
highhopes on February 26, 2010 at 8:21 AM
I won’t judge her intellect or abilities based on her being SoS.
She’s as much of a socialist and “spread the wealth” person as he is, but she’s cunning and, well, not stupid like he is.
The moves that Obama is making are truly idiotic. He is killing the democrats. They will come to see him as their curse.
Hillary isn’t like that. When she had to turn on the afterburners as Obama was getting ready to take the nomination, her mental abilities came out loud and clear.
There’s nothing there with him. His back is against the wall and he’s losing everything. He’s going to endorse reconciliation and destroy the dem party. His failure will go down in history. 60 seats in the senate, huge majority in the house, and nothing accomplished.
I cannot believe Hillary would have the same record if she had won POTUS.
Maybe she would, but I doubt it. In a perverse way we got lucky.
B Man on February 26, 2010 at 8:32 AM
Anyone who can’t afford to pay their medical bills can qualify for MEDICAID or declare bankruptcy in which their house cannot be taken away from them.
rlwo2008 on February 26, 2010 at 2:19 PM
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