'Sicko' leaves top Democrats ill at ease

[TeamJordan23]

I saw the movie last night, and I think it might be Moore's best film. Altough other countries' health care systems are not perfect, they are a lot better than here in the states. I would love to see true universal, federal health care in the US in my lifetime but I just don't it will ever happen with the power that Pharm and Insurance companies have on our government.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-movie22jun22,0,5962985.story?coll=la-home-center
From the Los Angeles Times

'Sicko' leaves top Democrats ill at ease
Leading candidates are sidestepping direct comment on filmmaker Michael Moore's proposals for universal healthcare.
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar
Times Staff Writer

June 22, 2007

WASHINGTON — With the release of Michael Moore's "Sicko," a movie once again is adding sizzle to an issue that's a high priority for liberal politicians — this time comprehensive health insurance for all. But unlike Al Gore's film on global warming, which helped rally support on an equally controversial problem, "Sicko" is creating an awkward situation for the leading Democratic presidential candidates.

Rejecting Moore's prescription on healthcare could alienate liberal activists, who will play a big role in choosing the party's next standard-bearer. However, his proposal — wiping out private health insurance and replacing it with a massive federal program — could be political poison with the larger electorate.

At a special screening in Washington this week, politicians, lobbyists, media pooh-bahs and policy junkies flocked to see Moore's film. And its slashing demand for action on an issue that voters care deeply about, and Democrats hope to capitalize on, generated plenty of buzz. Moore hopes that, after its general release June 29, "Sicko" will exert significant influence on the presidential campaign.

Instead of greeting the film with hosannas or challenging it head-on, however, the leading Democratic presidential candidates have sidestepped direct comment on Moore's proposals.

[DS1]

1. because all but one of them are totally gutless

[Totally Committed]

15. Straight to just the point I was going to make!

Thank you!

TC

[antigop]

2. Well, at least at the end he acknowledges Kucinich's support for single-payer n/t

[Captain Hilts]

3. As well it should. Getting health insurance in this country is difficult.

And often unaffordable. For individuals, for businesses.

[Redbear]

4. I believe the reporter has it very, very wrong in the second pargraph

national health insurance is NOT poison with the electorate at large.

It is, however, poison with those who control large blocks of campaign cash and with people who want to "swift-boat" any candidate who gets out of line by supporting real change.

[John Q. Citizen]

8. Bingo. I knocked on 21,000 thousand doors from 1990-'93 in seven states

working in healthcare reform with Citizen Action/Fair Share. I can tell you honestly, Americans were ready then to support single payer.

They are even more ready now.

Any candidate who doesn't demand single payer is a sell out. Even if overcoming the strangle hold the insurace industry has on our politicians is an up hill fight, at least let's draw the line as to what we are fightring for.

The plans put forth by the 3 "top tier" Dem Candidates to subsidize private health insurance companies with public tax dollars amounts to nothing more than bribery and graft on a grand scale surpassing what we've seen in Iraq with the war profiteers. This is profiteering on the sick and the well in a mind boogling scale.

I sure the hell hope "Sicko" is making Dem congress people and candidates very uncomfortable.

[Benhurst]

5. We shouldn't let them get away with it. Everytime they pop up,

they should be asked about single-payer universal health care.

If they try to dodge, throw their own health care programs at them -- it's disgraceful for them to be covered when we are not. If they think the present system is adequate, let them go out and get health coverage on their own.

No more Strom Thurmonds living out of a suit of hospital rooms at our expense!

Single-payer universal care for all. All the pigs are equal -- NO exceptions, not even for the Commander in Chief of The World's Only Superpower and Third World Dump.

[AndyA]

6. Greed and a "me first" attitude on the part of our law makers puts the

United States in a sad place when it comes to health care for its citizens. Considering this is supposed to be the most powerful nation in the world, this is a pathetic score, and one which we should all remember when we go to vote.

Some of our representatives have been in office for decades, and have done little to nothing to fix this situation. And everyday, Americans die because of inadequate or no health care. Yet we send billions overseas every year to other countries. This is at the expense of our own citizens.

[polichick]

7. Can't wait to see it...

Moore is a true patriot in my book ~ top Dems should be sweating about this!

[rodeodance]

9. as per usual--a critic here does not talk of the substance;

"It's quite effective, it's not a documentary," Robert D. Reischauer, one of Washington's leading health policy experts and a supporter of coverage for all, said after viewing the movie.

"Policy propaganda," he called it.

For most Democratic presidential candidates (Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio advocates a government single-payer program), it's more like a headache.

[LibDemAlways]

10. The idea that "government is the problem" unfortunately

resinates with much of the American populice. People certainly don't think so when they're cashing a Social Security check or Medicare payment or disability check courtesy of Uncle Sam, or when they send their children off to school or visit a library or call the police/fire department for help in an emergency; but there's a disconnect when it comes to health care for all. Repukes toss around phrases like "socialized medicine" and throw out canards like mythical Canadians dying while they wait to see a doctor. Never mind that many Americans can't afford to see a doctor. Dems have been too timid on this issue. I remember back in 2000 Al Gore was talking about providing coverage for America's children, and I thought, "hey, what about their parents?"

Michael Moore is doing a tremendous public service. He's forcing politicians to confront the issue, and hopefully, people will start to wake up and realize that their tax dollars can be put to work for their own health and well being. What a concept.

[glarius]

11. Here is the truth about "government is the problem":

<anip>
Repukes toss around phrases like "socialized medicine" and throw out canards like mythical Canadians dying while they wait to see a doctor.

I have heard right-wing American politicians saying such ridiculous things as Canadians can't choose their own doctors and their government decides on what operations, procedures and treatments can be done. These are outright lies. We choose our own doctors and the doctors and hospitals merely send in the bills to the government to be paid...PERIOD. The last poll I saw, something between 90% and 95% of the population want to KEEP our system. We pay for this through our taxes, yes, but still manage to have one of the highest standards of living in the world for our citizens. We must be doing something right! I only wish you in the United States could get a similar health care system for your people! GOOD LUCK!!!!
:hi:

[Ishoutandscream2]

12. Thank you. I have this argument with my many Bushbot friends

They go on about the horrors of Canadian healthcare. When I have gone to Canada in the past, the vast majority of Canadians I talked to were very happy with their health care. I believe a lot of this is sheer propaganda spat out by insurance companies and the AMA so as to keep their pockets full. It's all about greed down here, and like Michael says, health care shouldn't be about making profits.

[CK_John]

13. Canada has only 30 mil people we have 300 mil. Different problem.

[glarius]

17. European democracies have much larger populations but it still works!!!!!!!

Actually we have over 33 million now...and rising....:)

[Solon]

18. "different problem"? OK, call me mystified, what does population have to do with it?

According to the economics of scale, Canada's system should be more expensive per person, compared to the United States. Yet, in reality, its cheaper, almost half the cost, per person, to give Canadians health care compared to Americans.

[BootinUp]

14. The purpose of Moore's film

is twofold.

1) Affect the opinions of Americans

2) Pressure the politicians


If it fails in either regard we will not make progress on this issue. In fact Number 1 is the most important because it is the primary cause for number 2.

[sampsonblk]

16. More spin than courage in our party leadership-nt

nt

[Stop Cornyn]

19. I wish the film were a catalyst for a serious discussion of Kucinich's health care plan.

[democrat2thecore]

20. It SHOULD shake them up

Only a couple have the guts to put together a health-care plan that makes sure that ALL Americans have access to quality health care. The Moore film SHOULD shake the others up - it SHOULD shame them.

[bread_and_roses]

21. They should be deeply ashamed - selling out to Big $$ contributions

from Pharma and Insurers. They should be uneasy. There is considerable support already in the Country for a national health care system.

edit for typo

[TeamJordan23]

22. Enough of these worthless debates we have, we should have monthly debates on specific topics

Starting with healthcare.