The Republicans got 110 minutes of talking while Democrats got 114 minutes however the President awarded himself 119 minutes. Unbelievable. Not only that but as you watch you will see that President Obama plays as referee and player and gets to respond to any Republican speech he wants in full time but barely awards Republicans an allowance to respond and quite less timing. Republicans held themselves well in our President's home court. CNN's David Gergen proclaimed that Republicans "had their best day in years.". See Home Court Advantage Didn’t Help Obama.
For some balance and fairness I have made some comments concerning the summit below but for a better and probably more in depth and more scholarly opinion see The Heritage Foundation's analysis at Heritage’s Ongoing Analysis of Health Care Summit and Reaction Roundup: Heritage Responds to the Health Care Summit and Home Court Advantage Didn’t Help Obama.
Part 1
It appears to me that Republicans are for a step by step approach to health care reform whereas Democrats want the current comprehensive approach that is currently very unpopular with the American people.
The points made about the reconciliation process were quite interesting. Reconciliation has been used before as one of the Democrats pointed out but I am not sure if reconciliation has been used against the will of the American people before and on a big bill like this. It is one thing to use it on a big bill that the American people back but another on a big bill that the American people have overwhelmingly opposed.
54:00 minutes: President Obama and Republican Alexander dispute CBO analysis that states insurance costs will go up under current health care reform. Do get to 58:30 minutes. President says he wants this issue settled today.
91:30 minutes: Dave Camp does a great job showing how the discussion between Lamar Alexander and President Obama as to whether or not the current health care bill will lead to an increase in health insurance costs. He actually proves how both President Obama and Lamar Alexander are both right on the issue of costs. To appreciate this discussion more fully about go back to 54:00 minutes and note above. This actually does settle the issue our President wanted settled from earlier!!!
96:30 minutes: Another point that I was just about to make as McConnell points out at about 96:30 minutes is that Republicans have had 24 minutes to Democrats 55 minutes of speaking time so far. Not only that but President Obama has pretty much allowed a response to all the Republican speeches but not the other way around. Each time the Republican had to jump in themselves.
97 minutes: Paul Ryan does a great job in explaining the real differences between the Republican view and Democrat view. Really it boils down to regulation and how much should the government get involved in health care in mandates and regulations. President Obama point this section out. This is really the difference that divides the two parties.
107 minutes: Republican Jon Kyl applauds our President for explaing the real difference between the Democrat and Republican plan and makes further comments. Kyl gives some concrete examples of how these two difference could play out in health care legislation.
President Obama again takes the liberty to respond to criticism of the bill and why Republicans wish to scrap and start over with a truly bi-partisan bill. Notice our President allows no rebuttal to his rebuttals. This has not at all been a fair discussion in timing and allowing only one side to respond to criticism.
123 minutes: Again our President gives himself the liberty of to much time and allowance of response when finally a Republican got a minute response in there. Unbelievable. Our President would not at all make a fair moderator.
It is also interesting who always gets the last saw without fail in this "bi-partisan" discussion.
127 minutes: I have found the Republicans so far to handle themselves very well and respectfully in spite of the above facts and I think will fair very well for them as it should in the eyes of the public...127 minutes. You can really tell which party has the American people backing them. By the way many of the Democrats and our President is handling this you can tell which party is concerned about negative public opinion and rightly so given Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts and all current polling.
141 minutes: McCain calls our President out on his promises. Not so elegantly but none the less makes a point that many Americans are indeed concerned about and President Obama had no real answer to the criticism cause our President did promise transparency in the process and yet that was lost when the deals were being made. McCain is right on this one see: Obama promised Americans that CSPAN would cover negotiations on health care plan with all parties at the table so we can see what choices and deals are being made.
153 minutes: I thought Republican Eric Cantor and our President had a good discussion between the two which again highlighted those differences.
166 minutes: They discussed further those main differences and Biden attempts to downplay them a bit. Both sides make there points.
That is it for part 1. Will embed part 2 and have comments.
Part 2
Part 2 continues with some follow up comments from part 1 discussion.
41 minutes: A lot of talk concerning Medicare and Deficit which was quite interesting.
87:50 minutes: Republican John Boehner surfaces the issue of abortion in the health care bill. This is the only area that abortion was discussed so far. It was discussed for one minute by John and it is unfortunate cause it would have been interesting seeing the two sides discuss the issue of tax payer funding of abortion in the bill. Update at 177:50 minutes: Nancy Pelosi slams Boehner for claiming tax payer funding of abortion is in Senate health care bill. Unbelievable. She resided over the House bill which overwhelmingly passed the Stupak amendment which at least 240 members of her House deemed necessary to keep "current law" in the health care bill. An amendment which the Senate rejected. So 240 members of her House agree with Boehner and that includes some 60 or more Democrats. See Video: Stupak, Pitts and company make statements and answer questions about the passing of the bi-partisan pro-life amendment by a vote of 240 - 194 and Video: Minority leader in the House brings out the issue of tax payer funding of abortion at Health Care Summit and So what does pro-life Democrat Bart Stupak think of President Obama's health care proposal?
108 minutes: Talks on the uninsured.
119 minutes: I must admit that our President's voice is getting quite tiresome in this debate and in general. He really should have had others responding then just himself. I really think his voice has worn out on the American people and it is the same old arguments that just haven't worked which makes his voice even more annoying. It could be cause he lost a lot of credibility for various reasons last year. I don't know but it is getting tiresome at this point. I will love my President and pray for him but he really needs to get somebody elses voice out there.
121 minutes: It was refreshing at this point to have Waxman step in and make some points for the Democrats. I disagree but quite refreshing to here another voice that is fresh and new and passionate.
130 minutes: Republican explains why many are not accepting of the bill so far. Also, very interesting comments concerning this bill expanding Medicaid to get more people covered and if that is they way to go or no.
149:50 minutes: Even though I would disagree at least you finally have a Democrat that finds the debate constructive and explains briefly both sides and attacks the heart of the Republican side. Excellent rebuttal but still in disagreement.
153:30 minutes: Senate Minority leader McConnell brings in the will of the American people into the debate. For evidence of this see graphs below.
156:00 minutes: President Obama responds to McConnell to which I would respond it doesn't matter Americans oppose the overall health care plan and how our President is handling it. Not only that but just look to Virginia, New Jersey and the recent major upset in Massachusetts. Even Europe got it see BBC News on Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts: "...a shock victory...a huge blow...a humiliating blow...one of the biggest political upset in years...a referendum on his first year in office..."
Concerning our President's handling of Health Care
180 minutes: President makes a closing statement
