My response to David Gergen saying Medicare was passed with bipartisan efforts

[zulchzulu]

David Gergen, who I usually like, made a statement that Medicare was passed with bipartisan efforts and the passing of this new health care reform may be seen as not being "bipartisan"...

... to what I would say...



Yes, back then, cars had fins.

Back then, mop-top hairstyles were in fashion.

Back then, ponchos, mocassins, love beads, peace signs, medallion necklaces, chain belts and polka dot-printed fabrics were popular.

And...



Back then, Republicans called Medicare "socialism".

At the time, conservatives strongly opposed Medicare, warning that a government-run program would lead to socialism in America:

Ronald Reagan: “f you don’t and I don’t do it, one of these days you and I are going to spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it once was like in America when men were free.” <1961>

George H.W. Bush: Described Medicare in 1964 as “socialized medicine.” <1964>

Barry Goldwater: “Having given our pensioners their medical care in kind, why not food baskets, why not public housing accommodations, why not vacation resorts, why not a ration of cigarettes for those who smoke and of beer for those who drink.” <1964>

Bob Dole: In 1996, while running for the Presidency, Dole openly bragged that he was one of 12 House members who voted against creating Medicare in 1965. “I was there, fighting the fight, voting against Medicare . . . because we knew it wouldn’t work in 1965.” <1965>

http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/07/29/medicare-44/

Yeah, a lot has changed since then...

:crazy:

[Captain Hilts]

1. He's kinda right: Here's Eisenhower's statement

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=10399

The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare has been working with specialists from the insurance industry, with experts from the health professions, and with many other interested citizens, in its effort to perfect a sound reinsurance program--a program which involves no Government subsidy and no Government competition with private insurance carriers. The time has come to put such a program to work for the American people.

I urge the Congress to launch the reinsurance service this year by authorizing a reasonable capital fund and by providing for its use as necessary to reinsure three broad areas for expansion in private voluntary health insurance:

1. health insurance plans providing protection against the high costs of severe or prolonged illness,

2. health insurance plans providing coverage for individuals and families in predominantly rural areas,

3. health insurance plans designed primarily for coverage of individuals and families of average or lower income against medical care costs in the home and physician's office as well as in the hospital.

[depakid]

2. Not that it's all that applicable to Geffen's statement in the OP- but check out Nixon:

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2009/September/03/nixon-proposal.aspx

Look familiar?

[Captain Hilts]

4. Yes! The LAST truly progressive effort to get healthcare. Ain't life strange? nt

[OHdem10]

3. Revisionist History is astounding. Regardless of what they now

try to say, The GOP never wanted Medicare. It simply
defies their Rugged Individualism. Trying to be something
they are not, is unbecoming. Gergen has suddenly become
a partisan Republican after all those years of being
one of the more fair Republicans. You can know just
how much they hate even the idea HCR, when Gergen goes
partisan.

[Jennicut]

5. Back then, there were moderate Repubs still in existence, not just the two Senators from Maine

who won't budge anyway.

[zulchzulu]

6. Yep, even those Republican "leaders" were against Medicare, there were more GOP moderates

Nixon is a Blue Dog Democrat in today's political climate.

[unblock]

7. remember wage and price controls? going to china? he'd be called a socialist by today's repugs

[DrToast]

8. Bernie Sanders is for it; it's bipartisan.

[Cha]

9. I'd say he's a whining freak and I don't

like him ever.