Posted by John Romano in News and Analysis, Politics on September 21, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. (YBH.ME) – Yesterday, on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos”, President Obama declared that a penalty levied on individuals who refuse to purchase health insurance as mandated in Senator Max Baucus’ health care bill would not amount to a new tax. Political opinion and news website Politico did a check of the bill’s language and found that the penalty is in fact called an “excise tax” throughout the bill.
President Obama discusses health care with ABC's George Stephanopoulos.
The President, who blitzed the nation’s political shows yesterday, had pledged during the 2008 Presidential campaign that he would not raise taxes on those making under $250,000 per year. Critics will no doubt jump on this perceived inconsistency and use it to further tar the President’s health care ambitions. The tax is aimed squarely at those making under $250,000 and can be up to $3,800 for higher income individuals.
President Obama has, willingly or not, made health care reform the centerpiece of his first term in office. Many see the former Illinois Senator’s political fortunes riding on whether he passes an effective bill that voters find acceptable.
The President has had trouble selling his health care plans to many skeptical citizens, especially conservatives, who fear the size and cost of government is getting too big. Mr. Obama has also been under fire from the left wing of his own party for not backing a bill that, in their opinion, goes far enough toward universal health care. Some on the left believe that single-payer or government run health care is the only real reform option available to the United States. Republican critics argue that mandated or universal coverage is a big step toward a single-payer health care system.
It is not clear what the goal of yesterday’s “full-Ginsburg” was. Most of the topics covered had already been discussed by either the President or his supporters over the last few weeks and during the President’s speech two weeks ago to a joint session of Congress.
In media parlance, a full-Ginsburg refers to Monica Lewinsky’s former attorney William Ginsburg, who was the first person to do all five major network news shows during the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal in 1998.
Mr. Obama appeared on ABC’s “This Week”, CBS’s “Face The Nation”, NBC’s “Meet The Press”, UNIVISION’s “Al Punto” and CNN’s “State of the Union” yesterday. The President balked at appearing on “Fox News Sunday” with Chris Wallace. The appearances were all taped Friday at the White House.
#1 by jan on September 22, 2009 - 12:58 pm
Obama says that his proposals will not add one cent to the deficit and if more money is needed, he will find it via the elimination of waste and fraud in Medicare. Why not get rid of the "waste and fraud" now and the cost of health care would go down without the bill.