Bill Clinton: Killing Health Bill Is 'Colossal Blunder'

[BeyondGeography]

Bill Clinton, the last President to take on health care and fail, is throwing his weight behind President Obama — and against many liberals — saying it’s better to pass the watered-down Senate health care reform bill than to let it die.

Many on the left have erupted over the last couple of days, including Howard Dean, saying it’d be better to kill the Senate version as it stands than to pass it.

“Take it from someone who knows: these chances don’t come around every day,” Clinton says. “Allowing this effort to fall short now would be a colossal blunder — both politically for our party and, far more important, for the physical, fiscal, and economic health of our country.”

It’s the second time Clinton has weighed in, first going up to the Senate to prod progress along, and we take it as a sign that leaders are extremely concerned by then outburst in their base.

This latest seems aimed at convincing angry liberals that they’ll be worse off if they don’t get on board.

Here’s the whole statement:

December 17, 2009

New York, NY - “America stands at a historic crossroads. At last, we are close to making real health insurance reform a reality. We face one critical, final choice, between action and inaction. We know where the path of inaction leads to: more uninsured Americans, more families struggling to keep up with skyrocketing premiums, higher federal budget deficits, and health costs so much higher than any other country’s they will cripple us economically.

Our only responsible choice is the path of action. Does this bill read exactly how I would write it? No. Does it contain everything everyone wants? Of course not. But America can’t afford to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

And this is a good bill: it increases the security of those who already have insurance and gives every American access to affordable coverage; and contains comprehensive efforts to control costs and improve quality, with more information on best practices, and comparative costs and results. The bill will shift the power away from the insurance companies and into the hands of consumers.

Take it from someone who knows: these chances don’t come around every day. Allowing this effort to fall short now would be a colossal blunder — both politically for our party and, far more important, for the physical, fiscal, and economic health of our country.”


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2009/12/bill-clinton-backs-obama-on-we.html#ixzz0ZyumMsQ0

[dave29]

1. Heya Bill, call Ben Nelson?

?

[TwilightGardener]

2. Well, that's not gonna help in these parts, LOL.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BeyondGeography]

5. Total road kill, oh yeah

[Zodiak]

11. This must be the new meme...all those crazy "leftbaggers" eh?

Name calling is about as useful and mature as Limbaugh's butt mole.

Here's a hint: One has to have a "bus" to throw someone under. The powerless do not have the "bus", but we sure can wave as you drive it off of a cliff calling us names.

[Why Syzygy]

4. I remain unconvinced.

I will still trust Howard Dean more than a dozen Clintons any day.

[freddie mertz]

6. They must really be worried by the eruption in the base.

"I feel a disturbance in the Force, Lord Vader."

[Zodiak]

8. Funny that they think the base loves Bill Clinton

We don't...if we did, perhaps Nader would not have done so well in 2000.

[freddie mertz]

10. I don't mind Bill, respect his skills, but he is a conservative in the end.

And its clear to all that he is just carrying Obama's water here.

[snagglepuss]

14. LOL

:thumbsup:

[damntexdem]

25. The GOP embraces an insane base, while the Dems shit on their own base.

And Slick Willy reaches for more toilet paper.

[Zodiak]

7. Shut up, Clinton

You did the same thing....abandoned the left, took them for granted, and then sold out to Republicans. Then you went and repealed Glass-Steagal, consolidated the media (who went right after you immediately), and put a bunch of poor people out on the streets.

You have about as much political foresight as Mr. Magoo.

Go back to championing the Iraq war like you did when Bush wanted it...oh wait, was that supposed to also be your political "brilliance"?

Your DLC slip is showing, Bill.

[depakid]

13. "You have about as much political foresight as Mr. Magoo."

:rofl:

Sadly, it was Gore who ended up paying the price for that (though it's fair to say he wasn't blameless in the administration's pandering to the right).

[quantass]

9. ...BUT still being able to Discriminate & Premium Price hikes...And the gain? is a Mandate for Insur

Forgive me for my ignorance but this is what I've read and heard. I really should read the bill in full but I am open to any corrections out there.

[tomm2thumbs]

1000 to one he has not read the bill - anyone taking bets?

c'mon - seriously

[stopbush]

15. Exactly. Does he know about Ben Nelson's amendment

that says anybody who has ever been on a government health plan and who ever commits adultery gets stoned to death?

Bet he hasn't read that.

[stopbush]

12. Bill sees this as the "Too Big To Fail" HCR bill.

And we all know how well that philosophy worked in the economic sector.

[leftofcool]

16. Shut Up, Bill! You are wrong!

[SIMPLYB1980]

17. Big Dog is right as usual.

[tabatha]

18. So, there would have been no difference between

Obama and Hillary.

[Mojambo]

19. President NAFTA speaks!

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[Laelth]

20. President Clinton may, simply, be wrong on this.

Doing nothing would be better. Here's why:

The current system is unsustainable, and everyone knows it. Change will come, eventually, UNLESS we pass the disastrous bill that's currently on the table.

California will probably pass single-payer on its own in 2011. All they need is a Democratic Governor. The legislature has already passed the bill. Schwarzenegger vetoed it. Once California has single-payer, most (if not all) states will follow suit.

It's likely that if we pass a new law now, the new law will preempt single-payer, i.e. the Federal law will preempt state law and prevent states from enacting a single-payer system.

THIS is what the health insurance companies fear. THIS is what brought them to the bargaining table. THIS is why they are not fighting Obama's tepid reforms, and THIS is why it is extremely important that we do not pass any health insurance reform bill this year.

Let's not settle for a bail-out of the health insurance industry. Let's insist on the eradication of it. In all likelihood, California will lead the way in 2011 ... if we can just give them time.

Canada got its single-payer system one province at a time. That seems to be the way it will have to happen in the U.S.

[TheKentuckian]

21. Where the hell were these words of wisdom when the Democratic conservatives

were off the reservation and turning this effort from health care reform to a big insurance profit guarantee?

It is hard to have credibility when you only break stones on one side of the spectrum and I don't think it should fool too many. One can't help but notice Lieberman, Nelson, and company didn't get forced into line with horse heads in the bed and hourly deliveries of fishes wrapped in newspaper.

Somebody needs to make a compelling case pretty quick how any of us are supposed to fail to notice that Vinnie the Enforcer nor are any Henry Clays sent in to advise about compromise when a certain small minority of folks act a monkey but 95% of the Democratic coalition is made to heel by any means necessary. Lieberman goes full on traitor every few weeks and gets a highway with no one on it and Sanders works in the interests of the people and probably gets death threats.

I think this standard operating procedure is pretty telling and quite damning. It's in broad daylight, once the store is given away then "you won't have a friend in the lord" if you utter squeak but the hostage situation was done in good conscience and it is time to go forward...see.

These fuckers aren't fighting for us, they are just redirecting the entire economy into the wealthy fuckers pockets for about nothing in return to the people. I heard no threats on Blanche Lincoln and these fucks were always welcome and not really problems.

These tactics are unacceptable and far as I can see, inarguably in action. I don't want to believe it but fuck if it doesn't seem loud and clear that people have been cowed and told to sell, sell, sell with talking points in hand. This ain't right.

[Laelth]

22. +1 n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[juno jones]

23. Bill "Nafta/Welfare Deform" Clinton

Yeah, he has a lot of gall telling us how much a corporate giveaway will benefit us.

His endorsement should be enough to make people run away screaming.

[damntexdem]

24. Look at the source: no credentials at all to lecture on how to avoid HCR blunders.

nuff said

[quiller4]

26. Thank you, Bill, for showing some class. n/t

[David Zephyr]

27. Someone please give Bill Clinton a mirror so he can occupy himself.

Of course, he would.

[Clio the Leo]

28. Speak to it Big Dawg!!!! NT