Lieberman: I Stand With The Small Minority Of Americans Who Oppose Public Option
The surfeit of polling data showing broad public support for the public option hasn't swayed Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, who's joining conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans in staunch opposition. Check out this video from Paul Bass at the New Haven Independent.
His two key objections are:
- "If we create a public option, the public is going to end up paying for it."
- "My fear is...[health care providers] would end up getting levels of reimbursement from the public plan...comparable to what they get today from Medicaid."
He should probably take a look at the work the relevant Senate committees are doing, though. The Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee is contemplating a public option that finances itself (i.e. no public subsidy), and the likeliest outcome of the legislative process will be a public option that either exists on a level playing field with private insurers (and pays comparable rates for care), or a public option that pays Medicare like rates, or something in between.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
let's hope Joe LIEberman stands with the unemployed in his next election cycle. He is a complete republican in his views on health care reform but he can be bought by PACs and lobbyists.
July 1, 2009 9:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Expected. Joe LieberSchmuck (I-Likud) represents Connecticut, and Hartford is the nation's Insurance Capital.
July 1, 2009 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
So much for his maintaining that although he supports Bush on war and McCain for the presidency, he remains a liberal Democrat on domestic issues.
It should not go unnoticed that despite recent troubles the insurance industry remains big in Connecticut. Throw this bum out--and Dodd too, for other reasons.
July 1, 2009 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
All together now:
FUCK YOU, JOE
July 1, 2009 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
SECOND!
July 1, 2009 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
FUCK YOU JOE!!!
July 1, 2009 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lieberman is a festering boil on the buttocks of America
July 1, 2009 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
I find your comment offensive in the extreme to festering boils on buttocks. What did they do to deserve being compared to Joementum?
July 1, 2009 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I believe he is the festering boil between the buttocks of America.
July 1, 2009 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Get this guy out of the Democratic party, out of office.
July 1, 2009 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately, the people of Connecticut only managed to accomplish half that mission.
July 1, 2009 11:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, but now they've changed the law in CT so that senators are replaced by special election, rather than by appointment by the (currently Republican) governor.
As Atrios said when that news came out, now is the time for Obama to appoint Lieberman ambassador to wherever he wants to go.
July 1, 2009 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a great idea!
July 1, 2009 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, can I take this as him giving up his reelection in 2012?
(Come on, Connecticut!)
July 1, 2009 10:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
What he should be giving up is his Socialist healthcare plan and try taking his woes to the marketplace, like he is encouraging everyone else to do!
July 1, 2009 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
One can only hope.
July 1, 2009 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't his wife a health industry lobbyist? Or just for Big Pharma. Either way, that fact should be mentioned in every article involving Holy Joe and health care.
July 1, 2009 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
No she is in Big Pharma - a lobbyist I think. On the other hand Chris Dodd's wife is in insurance. They have all the bases covered.
July 1, 2009 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Aren't many of the Insurance companies located in Ct.? Check their contributions (bribes) to LIEberman and Dodd and I'm betting they are huge. Campaign "contributions" exceeding $100.00 have to be labeled what they are; bribes.
July 1, 2009 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Would want to upset CT insurance companies now would we
What did we get for taking this guy back again?
July 1, 2009 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep...you got it John. It is all about Joe pandering to insurance companies, and their employees, in who are worried about their jobs the face of health care reform, here in CT. He probably thinks he is making a heroic stand in their common defense.
Or then again he is just telling his major contributors "Mr. Insurance company CEO, I got your back".
July 1, 2009 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is just but another example where the real problem in American government is not because of politicians lying about being on the Appalachian Trail but dutifully being on the money trail and fulfilling the definition of being an honest politician, that is someone who is bought who stays bought.
July 1, 2009 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Joe Liberman, even $1,000,000,000.00 isn't enough money to buy you a soul. You are pure garbage.
July 1, 2009 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Damn, i cannot wait for when that little shit-bag is up for re-election....LMAO
July 1, 2009 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Lieberman is the biggest whore and liar and hypocrite in the US Senate and that's saying something! His state is insurance company central. No way is he going to do what it right. Thanks to all the numbnuts in Connecticut for giving this asshole another 6 years to screw America.
July 1, 2009 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here now! No, I won't have that. It simply won't do. That's just hyperbole. Joe Lieberman is only the biggest whore, liar and hypocrite in the Senate Democratic Caucus. There are several men in the Republican Caucus who are marginally worse liars and whores than Lieberman and one or two of those are at least as bad in the hypocricy department. Wide Stance Larry, Diaper Dave and Mitch McConnell, just to name three.
July 1, 2009 11:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wide-stance Larry has retired from office. So that leaves two. LIEberman is working his way up to the top of douchebag mountain.
July 1, 2009 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, F-U, peanut. Thanks to all the numbnuts in "America's Heartland" for giving us Senators like Ben Nelson. Lieberman has zero input on the healthcare reform process, your man Nelson is running the train right off the rails.
Lieberman at this point is all mouth and gut wind. A character in search of an author. He earns a couple extra grand a month yakking into the camera, while you all soil your Depends over the output.
Might be time to change the channel and start focussing on the people who are actually turning the healthcare reform express into stop action animation. I dunno -- it's a thought.
mp in CT
July 2, 2009 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
A healthcare bill with the public option should be brought to the floor.
If Republicans and Lieberman filibuster, then we should use that against them in 2010 and pass a good healthcare bill in 2011.
I don't want a mediocre healthcare bill with no public option to pass this year. If it does, we may not get another chance for 15 years.
July 1, 2009 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Joe Lieberman needs to be defeated at all costs. He stands for everything that is wrong with politics today.
July 1, 2009 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Doesn't the public already pay for Joe Lieberman's health care? Is he getting that cough looked into?
July 1, 2009 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
As opposed to the healthcare faeries who are paying for our present system ...
July 1, 2009 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Joe, you seem to have a terrible cough. Maybe bronchitis. You had better hustle on down to your public health care provider and see if you can get better.
July 1, 2009 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly.
July 1, 2009 2:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am not someone who loves Joe Lieberman, but I am somewhat surprised by his reaction. Normally, Joe has been with us on a lot of important health-related issues. I know bloggers hate Joe, but if you look at his social-spending history, Joe has been a pretty reliable vote.
It's unfortunate. I hope that HELP committee produces a good report that shows the potential benefits of the public option.
July 1, 2009 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder what "Government Option" Joe chose when he got on the Government payroll.
July 1, 2009 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why doesn't Obama make Joe Ambassador to Isreal and put him on the next plane out of here.
July 1, 2009 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Because we want our Ambassador to Israel to work in our interest, not Bibi's?
July 1, 2009 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess for Joe, his wife being on a drug company
payroll means more that the collective will of the people - nothing new there. It's all about Joe and nothing more. Yes, CT is home to many insurance companies - Aetna, The Hartford, etc. -so this not surprise to me that he goes his own way.
According to the Campaign Finance Institute, Joe (I-CT) took in $15,599,455 in 2006
http://tinyurl.com/mgryqz
Top 10 Senate Recipients of Health Insurer Money
Senator$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Amount
McCain, John (R-AZ)------$251,834
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)--$200,200
Baucus, Max (D-MT)-------$183,750
Lieberman, Joe (I-CT) ---$101,400
Top 10 Senate Recipients of Drug Co. Money
Senator Amount
McCain, John (R-AZ)-------$294,603
Baucus, Max (D-MT)--------$229,020
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)---$225,200
Lieberman, Joe (I-CT)-----$196,540
Source: consumerwatchdog.org
http://tinyurl.com/brbcto
July 1, 2009 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you fucking shitting me? They're selling us out for such a small amount? Disgusting.
July 1, 2009 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's what I think too! If all it takes is a few hundred thou, or maybe a million or two, that is chump change to what it costs everyone to keep these WHORES in the business of MISREPRESENTING us. Why on Earth is there no simple way of bribing these WHORES with just a dollar more than they get from big pharma and big insurance? Let's just quit with the ad campaigns and debate bullshit and just pay the fuckers to be OUR WHORES for single payer. Simple math. Problem solved!
July 1, 2009 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Article in todays New Haven Register "Blue Cross asked to pull rate requrest" Subtitle: Health care advocate say increase ill-timed in current enconomy.
"State Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo asked Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of CT to withdraw a proposal to boost rates by an average of 23 percent for customers with individual insurance policies..."
"Anthem submitted the rate increase in early June and requested that it be effective Oct 1st, instead of the usual Jan 1 start time."
The changes would effect 56,000 people in CT under the age of 65, with premium rates set to rise between 22 and 30 percent, although some policies would see no change according to Anthem..."
July 2, 2009 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unless you live in CT, you can't understand the impact that the insurance companies have on the state. If it weren't for them, Hartford would cease to exist, not that it's much now. In downtown Hartford, there are the Hqs of Travelers, Aetna, The Hartford, Phoenix, and just a couple of miles away in Bloomfield there's Cigna. That's a lot of $$$, a lot of employees, and a lot of donations.
July 1, 2009 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't worry about Hartford, acf_ma.
Major TARP coming the insurance industries way!
July 2, 2009 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish more people would emphasize that a public option does NOT mean free insurance for anyone who wants it. A lot of the public is being fooled into thinking that "taxpayer" money will completely support it. We want to pay but we don't want to pay the unfair amount being charged now. Now if we could make the campaign contributions and hire the same number of lobbyists................that seems to be the only way to make a difference. Since 77% of my net pay is now going for my health insurance premium, I guess I can't compete with the insurance companies.
July 1, 2009 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you suggesting that it's not just more welfare for darkies?
July 1, 2009 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pity we can't refuse to pay the % of their bill that corresponds to the % of their net take spent on lobbyists.
July 1, 2009 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I BLAME THE DEMS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN IT PROPERLY.
July 1, 2009 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe, I realize that you live in a different reality than most people so you might not be able to read or understand this but just about every time you open your mouth you persuade more americans to donate money and fight against your reelection.
EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE ALREADY LOW.
YOU ARE GOING DOWN!
July 1, 2009 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
He is unspeakable. I look forward to the day when Connecticut has two Senators who truly represent the majority of the people instead of one Senator and a delegate of special interests.
July 1, 2009 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, Joe, why don't you see if your public-plan coverage will pay to get you a set of uppers.
July 1, 2009 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Democrats got it wrong in the last election: promising to provide everyone with the same coverage that Senators (and Congresscritters) receive. Instead, they should have promised that Senators (and Congresscritters) receive the same coverage that the average American receives.
That way, they could enjoy the pleasures of being bankrupted when they got sick -- even if they had insurance. Of course, since all Senators and most Congresscritters make more than the median income, they could not file under Chapter 7.
This would have created true reform.
July 1, 2009 1:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe Lieberman's wife is Hadassah Lieberman, who has worked for the PR firm of Hill and Knowlton.
One may remember that firm as the one that represented the tobacco industry for years, with the founder John Hill's campaign that "there is no link between smoking and cancer", or from it's selling us the BS to allow GHBush to invade Kuwait under Desert Storm/ Gulf WarI, see:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0906/p01s0wosc.html
For her efforts as a "senior counselor" in the firm's "health care and pharmaceuticals practice."
try: http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2006/09/01/hadassah_lieberman/
"Birds of a feather, flock together."
July 1, 2009 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tim Tagaris and other nutmeggers have put together a post on Lieberman's 15 year record of Lies and Broken Promises on healthcare
http://myleftnutmeg.com/diary/11521/liebermans-15year-record-of-killing-health-care-reform
July 1, 2009 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Calling on Ned Lamont....the voters of CT and America need you to run again and knock this dirt bag slime puppy out of our lives forever! He is the biggest slime who travels in the circles of the elite GOP...campaigned against Obama...owes our country's best interests to a foreign country. Joe, I will rejoice the day you are voted at of office!
July 1, 2009 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Everyone should stop stressing over a public option; passing one or not passing one.
The bottom line is, there IS going to be a public option health plan passed. The House will be able to muster the votes. In the Senate, its either going to happen under normal legislative rules or through reconciliation. One or the other.
There is simply NO WAY President Obama will allow the Congress to dodge it. It is THE signature issue of his Presidency. He's given on single payer. But he won't on a public option.
If he has to force 50 Senators at gun-point to vote for it through reconciliation, then send Biden over to break the tie, that's whats going to happen.
I'm not worried one damn bit.
July 1, 2009 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
What, me worry?
Obama talks a very good show about health care. I'm inclined to believe that he will refuse to sign a bill that does not include a robust public option. But, I also have a good memory for events of the past 6 months, so I do worry.
My worry is that as long as the insurance and drug company lobbyists are deeply involved in writing this bill, as they are, no matter what the bill gives us in the way of affordable health care, it will give the insurance and drug companies a lot more, taking back our savings and more. We need face the fact that a good health care bill will necessarily put most of the insurance companies out of business, and will greatly reduce executive pay for drug companies. Those are prime factors in making the bill a good health care bill.
July 1, 2009 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama needs to threaten a VETO of this legislation if it does not have a real public option. That is what Presidents do if congress passes something not up to their standard. I makes the congress compromise a lot closer to what the President wants. It is his biggest power play.
OBAMA VETO! OBAMA VETO! OBAMA VETO!
July 1, 2009 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope you are correct. I do get the feeling Obama is holding some card. Axelrod on MTP this past Sunday implied that we don't need the pubs to pass health care
July 1, 2009 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fixed that for you, Brian.
July 1, 2009 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Back in November, when it was possible Lieberman might actually face serious consequences for his multiple betrayals of the Democratic Party and Democratic principles, Obama, with several other of his powerful Senate Democratic colleagues (Reid, Clinton....) stopped that move dead in its tracks. Subsequently, the "whatever Obama says or wants is obviously Torah from Sinai" partisans came out here to.... you guessed it... defend Lieberman (yeah, kozmik, that's you and your buddies).
Well, here we are. Sure glad the caucus was so nice to good ol' Joe. He's repaid us the same way he always does.
July 1, 2009 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
And may you continue to stand with "the small minority of voters" when election day rolls around.
It is beyond me why this tool continues to be needed by the Democratic caucus when he so dearly want to be a republican. He can't be trusted, he can't be relied upon, he has demonstrated absolutely NO loyalty since he ran for vice president. Had Al Gore won in 2000 I hate to think what kind of VP Joe would have made? Did the Democrats just miss a Palin moment? The man isn't fit to be a heart beat away from the presidency and (shudder) had something happened to Al Joe Liberman might have started more wars than W. Just goes to show what an important decision choosing the VP is.
July 2, 2009 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Joe:
Can you please just go away? Honestly, we won't try to stop you. And don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out...
July 2, 2009 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hereby vote to cut off Lieberman's public option.
Go buy an HMO policy like the rest of us, Joe. Congress should have the exact same benefits as the public. I pay a fortune for Kaiser, you pay a fortune for Kaiser, Joe...
We don't call him Joe "Super Douche" Lieberman for nothing...
Boy, he sure is trying hard to make the other Senator from Connecticut look good.
You know the fortunate one, the Senator's son Dodd...
"Lord don't they help themselves..."
July 2, 2009 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Turncoat tool.
July 2, 2009 6:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
..."I stand with the small minority..." - aren't senators elected to REPRESENT the majority??? Lieberman is an opportunistic, mealy-mouthed motherf&%$er who has been enjoying "public" health care for years but doesn't want anybody else to have it.
Citizens of Connecticut should be embarrassed.
July 2, 2009 8:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
NOTHING NEW HERE . . . UNFORTUNATELY MONEY BUYS ALL OF OUR CONGRESS TODAY!
July 3, 2009 1:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe Liberman makes a better Grinch than he does a Congressman.
December 14, 2009 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Help Beat Joe Lieberman
https://pol.moveon.org/donate/lieberman.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=18305-17432984-Urkp79x&t=2
December 16, 2009 3:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Article in todays New Haven Register "Blue Cross asked to pull rate requrest" Subtitle: Health care advocate say increase ill-timed in current enconomy.
"State Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo asked Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of CT to withdraw a proposal to boost rates by an average of 23 percent for customers with individual insurance policies..."
"Anthem submitted the rate increase in early June and requested that it be effective Oct 1st, instead of the usual Jan 1 start time."
The changes would effect 56,000 people in CT under the age of 65, with premium rates set to rise between 22 and 30 percent, although some policies would see no change according to Anthem..."
m65 kamagra
June 6, 2010 8:04 PM | Reply | Permalink