Bill Clinton Says Obama Should Change Health Care Law

[flpoljunkie]

November 12, 2013

Clinton Says Obama Should Change Health Care Law

Bill Clinton told OZY that President Obama should change the law so that people can keep their existing health insurance plans.

Said Clinton: "I personally believe, even if it takes a change in the law, that the president should honor the commitment the federal government made to those people and let them keep what they've got."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/11/12/clinton_says_obama_should_change_health_care_law.html

[Drunken Irishman]

1. Go away, Bill...

Just go away.

[Kahuna]

2. LOL! Methinks BC is getting ahead of the issue for his wife. nt

[Vincardog]

26. Right you are, Bill is just front running Hill's drift to the corporate middle for the general elec

[Wait Wut]

6. + a 'pretty please'

Look, I like him a lot better now that when he was President, but his time is done and he needs to shut up.

[jehop61]

3. Statements like this

make me want to rethink my support for Hillary. Do we really want him in the White House again?

[riversedge]

7. Hilllary was always for the public option. I think she would push to change

this aca law to include it. So many millions are not going to be covered now cause Repug governors did not sign onto the Expanded Medicaid. Damn.

[libdem4life]

41. It was called HillaryCare...20 years ago.

[riversedge]

50. I was referring to her health plan during the 2008

primary. sorry for the confusion.

[libdem4life]

55. People forget how ahead of her time she was on health care...and the grief heaped upon both Clintons

[CountAllVotes]

53. Right!

Who wants another 8 years of Slick Willy anyway?

Not me, that is for sure!

[Lifelong Dem]

4. Yeah let's all go back to junk insurance

[Rosa Luxemburg]

31. People don't know exactly what coverage they have and what they could have

their plans are generally full of holes but they don't realize.

Single payer would be the best option.

[riversedge]

5. Fine, let the idiots keep their junk

insurance. But include an amendment--make Hannity, rush O'Lielly, GOP congresscritters and the other baggers pay their medical bills if something horrible happens!!


Of course the amendment would not pass and we are back to square one--NO insurance reform--and taxpayers, one way or another will pick up the medical bills for these folks with junk insurance.


What a mess!!

[Cigar11]

8. I agree 100000% with Bill Clinton

... and to make sure these people who want to keep their crap insurance, make them stick with that decision, I'd make them sign a 25 Year Waver from Enrolling into ObamaCare

If your insurance plan is so good, stick with it through thick and thin.

[Whisp]

13. Cigar agrees with Bill Clinton...

jeeze, you're not good at undercover work, are you?

[Myrina]

9. Sure, with one caveat, Bubba ...

.... that when someone goes to re-sign for whatever coverage they HAD, they get a printout which explains - IN PLAIN ENGLISH - what Plan A covers & costs and what a similar ACA plan covers & costs.

I suspect not so many would retain their coverage. Some, maybe sure, but not all.

[Arkana]

10. Jesus, Bill. Can always count on you, eh?

[elleng]

11. Damn!

Is he so out of touch that he's unaware that the companies change their plans ALL THE TIME??? He's going along with the bogus meme???

[geek tragedy]

12. Um, yeah, I'm sure the House GOP will get around to trying to improve the bill

between votes 500 and 501 to repeal the entire act.

[Beacool]

14. Well, the reality is that insurance companies have canceled some people's coverage.

Durbin addressed this issue:

“I can tell you that a couple more sentences added to it would’ve clarified it, and they should’ve been added. The president has apologized. I think he said very clearly he was sorry if he misled people,” Durbin (D-Ill.) said on CNN’s “Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield.”

The number two Senate Democrat also acknowledged that he, in addition to President Barack Obama, told people that under the new law, if you like your plan, you can keep it.

“I said it because I believed it. Now I know that I should have added that for 98 percent of American people, that is exactly true. For the other two percent who are in the individual market, there are frequent changes in policies,” Durbin said.

When pressed about the talking points, Durbin said he “certainly wasn’t in on that decision,” but added there are ways to move forward.

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/dick-durbin-obamacare-clarification-99733.html

[Whisp]

15. You obviously have no idea what you are talking about

except the fact you must agree with Bubba all the time, no matter what idiotcy slips from his craven lips.

Here is some discussion to help you out:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4020919

[Laura PourMeADrink]

16. He's saying MAKE insurance companies not cancel policies? Is that even constitutional?

[Beacool]

17. Read this before continuing to trash Bill.

White House: Obama agrees with Clinton on need to fix health law

President Obama agrees with former President Bill Clinton's assessment of problems with the Affordable Care Act and has asked his aides to find ways to address them, White House press secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday.

Carney pointed to Obama’s comments in an interview last week with NBC News, in which he said he has requested fixes that will help people keep health insurance plans that are being cancelled but that they don’t want to give up.

http://www.politico.com/politico44/2013/11/white-house-obama-agrees-with-clinton-on-need-to-fix-177333.html

[SunSeeker]

18. That is a misleading headline; he only wants to strengthen the already existing grandfather clause.

Not sure why you linked to such a truncated version of the story. This is being posted in a lot of places, most with headlines about Clinton calling on Obama to keep his promise. But in all the places, if you read past the sensationalist headline, you will see Bill Clinton defending the ACA, with his only criticism being that the grandfather clause that should have prevented these cancellations did not and should be reworded. Obama is saying the same thing.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/12/clinton-obama-should-honor-commitment-on-keeping-health-plans/?hpt=hp_t2

[Beacool]

19. Thank you.

When it comes to the Clintons people around here seem to have a Pavlovian response. It's frankly, quite demoralizing.

[flpoljunkie]

20. Was the quote inaccurate?

Only Congress can make the change Clinton's calling for and there's fat chance of that happening.

[SunSeeker]

25. In a way, it is.

Clinton doesn't really want to change the ACA, he just wants to tweek it so that it does what is says it does. He seems pretty happy with the ACA; the headline suggests otherwise and is misleading. He just wants the grandfather clause to actually be a grandfather clause for those idiots who want to keep their crap plans.

And I agree, Congress will not go along with anything that involves improving the ACA or letting Obama fulfill a promise. But if such a tweek of the grandfather clause is proposed and the GOP votes it down or--more likely--refuses to even give it a vote, then the blame for cancelled policies falls on the GOP. This whole broohaha over cancelled policies is just kabuki theater anyway.

[flpoljunkie]

30. Bill's concern was for the 'young, affluent' 'idiots who want to keep their own plans'

Rather strange focus of concern. We agree Congress will do nothing. Surely Clinton knows this, as well.

[SunSeeker]

34. Bill's concern is to make sure the ACA survives.

OF COURSE Bill knows Congress will do nothing. He is not stupid. He is not saying this because he thinks Congress will pass such a law. He is saying we need to strengthen the grandfather clause because he knows Congress won't pass such a law, and we need to get the GOP on the record as refusing to pass such a law--so they can't keep maligning the ACA and Obama with the canceled policies issue. Their kill ACA bill cannot be the only proposal out there, Dems need to have their own so it does not look like the GOP is the only party addressing this.

And it must be addressed. The "he lied" meme has gained some traction. Obama knows this. Bill knows this. Recent polls show it:

According to the poll, a majority of voters, 52%, say the President is not honest and trustworthy, compared to 44% who say the opposite. It's the first time in Quinnipiac history that the president's trustworthy numbers are underwater.

The Obama administration maintains that a majority of people who are losing their current plans will be better off under Obamacare, but officials and some members of Congress have pledged to seek some kind of solution for those getting dropped by their insurance provider.

Asked if the president knowingly deceived Americans with his promise, 46% of voters said they believe he made the statement on purpose, while 47% disagreed.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/12/poll-obama-approval-ratings-drop-americans-say-hes-not-trustworthy/?hpt=hp_t2


And it is not "strange" for Bill to address the concerns of the young and affluent. As unsympathetic as yuppies are, we need their cooperation with the ACA for the ACA to work. Right now, the young and affluent don't see much tangible benefit from the ACA. They aren't eligible for tax subsidies; they were not having trouble buying insurance before, so the exchanges are no big whoop to them, and they were able to get their old crap policies for pretty cheap. Since they rarely used them, it did not matter that the policies were useless. We have to turn these yuppies around and see the good that the ACA is providing to them. Or at least that it is not screwing them. And if it takes allowing the insurers to keep selling crap policies to them, then so be it.

[flpoljunkie]

35. Obama said last week he wants to help those who can't afford new Obamacare policies.

Last edited Wed Nov 13, 2013, 07:51 AM - Edit history (1)

That is not what Bill Clinton is saying. Letting young affluent people keep their 'crap' plans weakens Obamacare and threatens its success--just what Republicans want.

[flpoljunkie]

23. Would you prefer the Talkingpointsmemo version? Bill Clinton's concerned about the affluent young.

Clinton: Obama Should Let People Keep Their Health Plans

DYLAN SCOTT – NOVEMBER 12, 2013, 11:33 AM EST4140
President Bill Clinton said Tuesday that President Obama should do whatever it takes to fulfill his pledge that if Americans like their current health plan, they can keep it under Obamacare.

In an interview with OZY, Clinton said he had been talking to a young American with a family who had had his old health plan canceled and seen his premiums increase when it was replaced with an Obamacare-compliant plan. Clinton said the man said some of his benefits were better -- his co-pays and deductibles are lower -- but because he's young and healthy, that might not end up helping him or his family much.

It's those people -- young, healthy and affluent -- who took Obama's pledge to heart, Clinton said, and the administration should do what it takes to make things right with them.

"I personally believe, even if it takes a change to the law, the president should honor the commitment the federal government made to those people and let them keep what they got," Clinton said.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/clinton-obama-should-keep-keep-your-health-plan-promise

[ramapo]

21. I thought Congress makes laws

Dumb comment #1, Bill. How about Congress passes a law that requires insurance companies to offer individual poliicies in any market in which they sell group policies as well as provide at least one PPO option.

[flpoljunkie]

22. They do and the House Dems oppose the Republicans 'Keep your Health Plan' bill

House Dem Leaders To Oppose GOP's 'Keep Your Health Plan' Bill

SAHIL KAPUR – NOVEMBER 12, 2013, 4:29 PM

House Democratic leaders will oppose Republican-led legislation that allows insurers to continue insurance policies into 2014 even if they don't meet Obamacare benefit standards, a Democratic leadership aide told TPM.

"The [Fred] Upton legislation would create a new insurance market where people with preexisting conditions would be discriminated against and women would pay more," the aide said. “This bill would increase premiums and undermine the health reform law. While we have not seen final text, the leadership will oppose this legislation as it is the 46th attempt to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act."

Rory Cooper, a spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), predicted that the bill would win Democratic votes. "Something tells me their members don't feel the same way," he wrote on Twitter, responding to the Democratic aide's comment.

The White House came out against the bill earlier Tuesday afternoon. Read it here. (Link below)

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/house-dem-leaders-to-oppose-gop-s-keep-your-health-plan-bill

[SunSeeker]

27. That isn't a keep your plan bill, that's a kill the ACA bill.

It relieves insurers of the pre-existing condition exclusion ban and lets them charge women more. Fuck that. It's nothing but another cynical attack on the ACA and lying bill title name. The Dems needs to submit their own bill.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

24. How is this going to work in practice?

Congress and the President can't make insurance companies offer policies, which should be viewed by most Republicans as infringing on the "free market" in a huge way, and secondly, if you're going to change standards to allow them to be lower, then the whole point of this endeavor is pretty much moot IMHO. Why not make an argument that people should be able to get better insurance?

[james1980]

28. A little disappointed

Personally, I am a little disappointed with the news coming out these days about the ACA. today, another 1 million people in CA lost their health insurance. No matter how you try to spin this, it's not good.

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2013/11/12/calif-insurance-commissioner-more-than-1m-californians-having-insurance-cancelled-due-to-obamacare/

[uppityperson]

29. The article you link to does not say that. Yes, underfunctioning ins plans are being stopped

and replaced with ones that are useable, but no. 1 million people in CA did not lose insurance today.

For instance, my ins with a $10,000 deductible before paying anything has been canceled. I now will have ins with a much lower deductible at a fraction of the cost. My insurance was cancelled and I am much better off for it. Thanks Obamacare!

[gopiscrap]

33. welcome to DU

[SunSeeker]

36. No, 1 million people in CA did not lose their insurance today.

The story says just the opposite:

Anthem Blue Cross of California has agreed to a two-month extension of about 104,000 individual policies after failing to give the required 90-day cancellation notice, state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced Tuesday.

The policies had been set to expire on Dec. 31 but will be extended until Feb. 28 for those who choose to re-enroll. Notices informing customers of the extension will be sent out this week...

Try reading past the stupid headline next time. You do realize papers like to sensationalize headlines to grab readers' attention, right? And CBS has had some issues with truth as of late.

Also, Dems just proposed a bill shoring up the holes in the grandfather clause in the ACA that insurers have been taking advantage of. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2013/11/sen-dianne-feinstein-pushing-for-customers-to-keep-their-health-plans.html

The real question is why would people want to keep these crap policies. Is your policy being canceled?

[Blue Idaho]

32. Shit oh dear...

Clinton has been in politics his entire life, do you really think he didn't realize how this quote would be handled - or mishandled by the media and republicans? While personally charming Bill has been a corporate politician since forever. He may rarely say something that ends up helping Democratic causes, he generally helps himself and infrequently his wife.

[Whisp]

37. Here Bill, the Rude Pundit has some information for you:

try to keep up.

====
Instead of Barack Obama and the House GOP agreeing that the law is the law and making it function for Americans, we get the sight of Obama appearing before the press corps and saying, more or less, "Goddamn, I'm sick of you motherfuckers whining about your shitty ass health insurance getting canceled because your provider is just a bunch of sick, greedy dickheads who would murder you where you sit if it would squeeze one more cent of profit out of your useless bodies. You wanna cling to your high deductible, low benefit policy for another year because you're scared that the black man president might be right and all that Fox 'news' noise might be wrong? Fine. Fuck it. Kiss my ass and keep your shit plan. Don't come whining to me when it turns out that your insurer drops your sorry ass when you get too sick for it. You asked to be grandfathered in, so lick grandpa's balls and tell me how tasty they are now. Now, can we please talk about the fact that Republicans want to kick over 100,000 people who just got insurance off it?"

[bigwillq]

38. Obama took Bill's advice

[Whisp]

39. just like it appeared he took Bill's advice re: Syria and 'wuss'.

Bill has insiders all over who are loyal to bill and nothing else. Probably like the Syria thing he got insider information ahead of time and conditioned his 'advice' to time it like it looks - Obama taking Bill's advice. The decision was likely made before Bill opened his yaw.

[bigwillq]

40. I just found it funny

that some here in this thread are criticizing Bill for his comments.


Then Obama does essentially what Bill said.



But I guess when Obama does it, it's ok.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

42. How do you know what came first?

And I don't see what's so funny. This isn't a laughing matter, not when people are suffering.

I don't see anything funny at all.

[bigwillq]

44. Publicly, Clinton made his comments on Nov. 12 according to this article

Obama on Nov. 14

And, yes, I do find it funny that some folks criticize Clinton for his comments when Obama essentially said the same thing.

Hypocritical much?

For the record, I support Obama's decision to allow insured to keep health plans for one year.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

45. Who's the hypocrite? You don't know what goes on behind closed doors. And you're acting like a

complete child with that stupid emoticon. It's ridiculous.

[bigwillq]

48. The hypocrites in this thread

Telling Bill to please go away, etc.


I never said I know what goes on behind closed doors. I don't. But that is not my point.

My point is: there's people in THIS THREAD that are criticizing Bill for saying that they should let folks keep their insurance.

But Obama is now saying the same thing (even though I am aware Obama probably made his decision before Bill made his comments).

[Whisp]

46. I don't think Obama and his people made the decision

nor wrote the speech today just before he walked on to face the cameras.

But you can believe it if you like.

[bigwillq]

47. I don't believe it

I'm sure they made it right news broke that he misled the American people.

[Whisp]

49. and you are so happy happy joy joy.

No. He did not mislead the American People. The media and posts like yours do the misleading.

Obama was on Fhuck Chodd last week, saying things needed to be changed in the ACA for a very small percentage of people. but Clinton is now advising him, so they say. Obama says something a week ago, Clinton says it a week later, therefore: Clinton is the big smart one with the idea.

Every damn big undertaking like this comes with changes and hardships and bugs and whatnot. wtf. good damn instant gratification generation.

[DonCoquixote]

51. and bill chiming in

had nothing to do with Obama getting more pressure, right?

I would wonder if you are a troll, but frankly, Clinton fans are very often not distinguishable, as they both want a nation where rich people rule and are pampered.

[libdem4life]

43. I personally hope that his wife tells him to shut the hell up...or else. While checking out at the

grocery store I saw a tabloid rumor that Chelsea is expecting. Pray that it's true so he has another raison d'etre.

[DonCoquixote]

52. If Hillary cannot make her hubby shut up

then she has no buisness in the Oval Office, PERIOD!

[libdem4life]

56. Absolutely !! I think Grandpa Clinton is the best role for him from here on out...real or imagined.

[Beacool]

57. Come again?????????

She's not his mother.

[DonCoquixote]

59. No, but

when he speaks out on policy that is outright baneful, she should be able to riegn him in, given that when he speaks, people will tend to give him wight since he is a former president.

Or do you wnat Hillary to have a policy as Prez, onyl to have Bill call her a wuss, or suggest she scale back her policy on healthcare, as he did to Obama. Do you want Bill to be her backseat driver?

[Beacool]

60. Bill stayed out of the way when Hilary was a senator and SOS.

Right now she's a private citizen and her husband is free to say whatever he wants to say.

[Whisp]

61. and so are we free to say whatever.

if he keeps up with this idiot seniors moments thing, he deserves being razzed about it.

[markpkessinger]

58. Can't pass up an opportunity to triangulate, can you, Bill? n/t

[marshall]

62. Obama can't change it, for two reasons, and Bill knows this

First, he doesn't have the power to unilaterally change it--Congress does that. All he can do is what he did in his press conference, suggest to insurers that they should extend the illegal policies with an implied promise not to prosecute them for a year. His power is over enforcing the law, not changing it, and this solution is the best he can do by himself.

Second, he could triangulate and arrange a compromised change with Congress, but he has no history of setting this dynamic up. The ACA is already not something that resulted from compromise--Republicans refused to stay at the table and left it solely to Democrats to craft it. Now that problems arrive the wisdom of bipartisanship is more clear--shRed ownership means shared cover. But it's too late for that, and Bill knows it.

And for whatever reason he is speaking out about that now, and the President is left to say "Et tu, Bill?"