The SCHIP Veto

Posted: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 1:58 PM by Countdown

***UPDATE**** We'll have the real soldier in this clip on our show tonight...Brian McGough, who Rush Limbaugh likened to a suicide bomber, who took shrapnel from a **real** car bomber in Iraq, will be our guest on Countdown tonight.

President Bush today took out his veto pen for only the fourth time to nix the SCHIP healthcare plan for children. We'll try and figure out why...and talk to former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards.

Also...the Blackwater hearings continue. We'll bring you up to date on today's events on that front, and on the Mukasey confirmation front. Also...new Rush Limbaugh 'phony soldier' developments. Busy show...hope you join us.

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Comments

"Bush doesn't want to "put people on that can afford private insurance." How about if we remove all Congressmen and Senators and people working in the White House from the health benefits provided by the government." Disgusted, TX

That is precicely what I said in a letter to to my Congressmen last month! Their response? A large round of indifference.

Christina, Helena, AL (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 5:59 PM)

To all the righties out there let me make one thing clear. I WANT SOCIALIZED MEDICINE. I'm happy to pay more taxs for it because socialized medicine is better than no health care. which is currently the only choice 47 million of my fellow citizens have. If we are suppose to be the greatest country in the world we need to start acting like it.

jen,il (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:00 PM)

Scott, universal health care and/or SCHIPS is not socialized medicine. It is socialized insurance. And if ever a country needed socialized insurance, it is this one. Americans spend far more on health care per person than Canadians, Australians, and British.

Disgusted, TX (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:00 PM)

The simple fact is when health care gets socialized. The quality and of health care drops. China, USSR, CUba, N. Korea

Peter G V/T (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:01 PM)

Scott, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 5:15 PM)

Thanks Scott for yet another uninformed inner-rage NeoConNutJob rant. The Schip healthcare plan is supposed to cover the children who would normally fall through the cracks so to speak. I don't suppose any of the self-entitled Neo-trolls pay monthly health insurance premiums? For a family of 4 making 60 or even 85,000 a year, if their employer doesn't cover the insurance premiums, the cost is astronomical.

The poorest among us are the one's who benefit the most from Schip, but don't let the facts get in your way..you have your mythical 25 year old's to worry about..
I hate to say this about fellow Americans, but portions of the RightWingers are seriously deranged.. If you folks really have that much anger and hatred towards the "Other Side", it is a truly scary phenomenon to behold. Thanks a bunch GWB, you uniter you.

LT in MD (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:02 PM)

The troops know who supports them and it isn't the people who claim they are terrorizing people at night and it isn't the people calling them losers and it isn't the people who voted for the 87 billion before they voted against it.

Grow up, Olbermann. All this is, is retaliation for the lowdown scummy attack on General Petraeus. Why don't you ask the troops who'd they'd rather have come visit them? Scumbag democrats like Reid, Kerry, or Murtha, or Rush Limbaugh. No, you won't ask them because you're a child petulantly trying to get back at Rush.

And we're all still waiting for Murtha to apologize to the soldiers he claimed committed atrocities, subsequently proved false.

Neill C., Montgomery, Al (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:03 PM)

jen,il (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 5:46 PM)

You are so correct with your observation.

I've never run into a Republican at the United Way fund raisers, or the Amercian Heart Association Heart Walks -- in fact, the R's are the ones who won't even put a d-mn dollar in the fund raising envelope. I have a hard time getting them to donate blood. (I wear many hats at work).

I firmly believe in Karma -- and these selfish individuals will get what is coming to them.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:03 PM)

It's funny, all these liberals scream and complain about Bush's spending and complain about giving money to rich people, but when it's THEM giving money to rich people, well, then that's OK.

Democrats = hypocrisy.

Neill C, Montgomery, Al. (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:05 PM)

Bill Rochester NY. It's called stop digging into my pocket for your bad choices life.

If you think they should get this, get all your liberal friends to pony up for it out of your own pockets. Oh, that's right, you only want to raise taxes when you can force it on the rest of us who don't want to raise taxes.

Neill C., Montgomery, Al (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:09 PM)

Do you supposed Tony Snow was able to keep his superb health insurance when he the White House? He certainly wouldn't be able to get insurance out here in the real world -- at any price.

MaryS, Poway, Calif. (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:10 PM)

ROCKIES WIN 4-2. YES !!!!

Full Moon (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:13 PM)

Those who whine about socialized medicine should DEMAND that our congress and WH personnel give up their government sponsored healthcare NOW! Like some have said, if it benefits the rich right, defense contractors, or utility companies, the money can always be found. Corporate welfare for companies with record-breaking profits are just fine thank you, but we can't possibly come up with a tiny percentage of what we've spent killing people to save any lives! It makes me ashamed to be an American citizen.

Lisa, Fort Worth TX (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:17 PM)

I'm tired of the Yankees, Red Sox, etc., but as long as the Giants and Barry Bonds didn't win anything this year I'm happy. Now it looks like Barry won't have a home next year. The Giants have said NO WAY to another contract. And having an asterisk on the baseball going into the Hall of Fame is the icing on the cake.

Full Moon (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:21 PM)

http://www.factcheck.org/bushs_false_claims_about_childrens_health_insurance.html

I triple dog dare the posters to the right of center to read the FACTS posted at this site.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:22 PM)

Why doesn't Keith hop on a plane take a trip to Iraq, or Afghanistan explain what he's taliking about to the troops that he "suports", and get feedback from them. Celebrities are doing it every day now.

S Vickers Fl (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:23 PM)

I am a mother of two children born with serious congenital problems. The bills added up in the millions and my insurance would not cover siting the problems as pre-existing. I paid on these for over 20 years till I finally took out Bankruptcy. I have worked all my life and have no savings or retirement because of health care costs. I made too much to qualify for Medicaid and was charged as all uninsured the highest rates by doctors and hospitals. I am an RN and watch families where both parents work but do not have the benifit of insurance being destroyed by an illness or accident. It is a tragedy for a country who calls itself the "greatest in the world" to treat its' children in such a manner. My children are grown and my husband works for our local school system where we pay $500 a month for an HMO for two people. The cost for a family of four is $900 a month. Something must be done and our President should be ashamed.

Christie S. Hollywood, Fl. (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:25 PM)

What happened to compassionate conservatism?
If those who agree with Bush so much think that he's right, I hope they're tithing at church on Sunday. If they do so with a good heart, there might be some funds left (after they've finished building their mega-churches) to help the poor with their medical bills.
I know what Jesus would do.

Nanalinda, San Antonio, TX (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:30 PM)

And Bush claims to be a Christian! He is the worst hypocrite of the free world. Someone should ask him, "What would Jesus do?" Why doesn't someone call him to the carpet? Hey Keith, oh Keith, do your thing, Oh Great One. (I'm serious!)

kaybee, Lewiston, Maine (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:34 PM)

Why do President Bush and Republicans in Congress hate our children? What a jerk, of all the things to veto, the SCHIP program. This is the same President who essentially told everyone during the flu vaccination shortage a few years ago, "just don't get sick and you'll be ok." Just brilliant George. "Childrens do get sick," George and you sir are one sick pup!

Michael D. Gwizdala, Albany, New York (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:34 PM)

As an employer paying 100% of health care for my employees, I find it very difficult to keep this going. It is extremely expensive to pay according to one's age. My HMO in the last few years, has increased rates according to age. Since 1/3 of my employees are middle aged, the cost is prohibitive. Something better needs to come along to save $$. Socialized insurance, socialized medicine, whatever you want to call it, seems to be cheaper. I have the added burden of paying into California's Workers Comp system according to my company payroll. This, in my opinion, is a waste of money. To be fair California should charge companies not offering insurance, not my company which does. Now Gov. Arnie wants to pass legislation for employers to help fund insurance for those who don't have it. I haven't read all there is to this, but it doesn't sound like a good thing. I don't want to deny my employees their health care, but I may have to charge them to pay for at least 1/3 of what I pay for them. I don't know if the cost of medical care will ever change. There is just too much money to be made by insurance companies.

Laura in Los Angeles (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:36 PM)

To all the righties out there let me make one thing clear. I WANT SOCIALIZED MEDICINE
jen,il (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:00 PM)

Well go northy or southy until you get someplace that they offer it

Waiting for Hilary's tax bomb (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:38 PM)

HELLO

The bill imposes a new federal tax (.45 House version, .61 Senate version) on all tobacco products sold to help pay for SCHIP.

It all comes down to protecting the FAT CATS with deep pockets in the tobacco industry.

Rick, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:42 PM)

"It's funny, all these liberals scream and complain about Bush's spending and complain about giving money to rich people, but when it's THEM giving money to rich people, well, then that's OK.

Democrats = hypocrisy."

Some of us with kids would rather see our tax dollars spent improving this country before we go fixing anybody elses. Why don't you talk to all the middle-class parents who have kids with autism, who can't buy private health insurance for ANY amount money if they aren't covered by employee healthcare, like the President, our congressmen, and senators enjoy.

You trolls (and our own politicians) can insist till the cow come home that bringing democracy to Iraq is more important that helping American children and our fellow Americans, but that doesn't change the truth.

Neil=idiot

Scott Copeland, Naples, Fl (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:43 PM)

Peter B V/T 6:01 PM..I have two friends living in Sweden. Socialized medicine there. Works like a charm, has for decades. They are very happy with it. Not only that, they take care of their sick and elderly. Many other European countries have socialized medicine as well. The word people are so "scared" of when socialized medicine is brought up is the word "communism". Don't ask me why. My dad told me this decades ago, he was a smart man so I wasn't at an age to ask him why. He is gone now so I can't ask him.

Laura in Los Angeles (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:45 PM)

Scott, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 5:15 PM)

said:

"Since when is a 25 year old in a family earning $80,000 (the age limit and income limit for SCHIP) a POOR CHILD???"

Middle class kids with free healthcare?!?!?! Oh the horror! Tear out my eyes so I don't have to see the eeeevvvviiiillllll!!!!!!!!

Anyway, So what? What if it does cover a kid with a family that earns $80,000 a year until he's 25? You're telling me that if this was your kid, you wouldn't accept free healthcare based purely on principle?

Besides that, even if you were making $80,000 a year, what happens if your kid gets cancer and you suddenly have $100,000 of medical bills (possible even with insurance)?

You're so worried about "socialism" that you are totally missing the point. What point you ask? The point is that no one (yes, NO ONE) should ever have to choose between the health of their child and going bankrupt.

That's called being moral bubbo. And no, you don't make a profit off of it. I know, it's radical, but you really ought to try it some time.

Intillectual Avatar, Denver, CO (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:50 PM)

Neill C.
I can't believe that you think this war is free of charge. Bush hasn't raised your taxes (too chicken), but whoever wins in Nov 08, taxes will go up. I suppose you still believe in Santa Claus & the Tooth Fairy. We are all going to have to pay for Bush's bad choices, not just those who support them.

Nanalinda, San Antonio, TX (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 6:56 PM)

W's ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PRESIDENT: (part 1)

I am the first President in U.S. history to enter office with a criminal record.

I invaded and occupied two countries at a continuing cost of over one billion dollars per week.

I spent the U.S. surplus and effectively bankrupted the U.S. Treasury.

I shattered the record for the largest annual deficit in U.S. history.

I set an economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any 12-month period.

I set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12-month period.

I set the all-time record for the biggest drop in the history of the U.S. stock market.

In my first year in office, over 2 million Americans lost their jobs and that trend continues every month.

I'm proud that the members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in U.S. history. My "poorest millionaire," Condoleeza Rice, has a Chevron oil tanker named after her.

I set the record for most campaign fund-raising trips by a U.S. President.

I am the all-time U.S. and world record-holder for receiving the most corporate campaign donations.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:14 PM)

Another republican retireing from office. Pretty soon the Democrats are gonna run out of excuses why they can't get things done in congress.

US politics (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:18 PM)

Bush has got to be a MORON. If Congress had any cojones they would charge Bush and his cohorts with Treason for starting his Iraq War, and wouldn't be concerned with the head Wimp's veto.
rojo, ms.

D.E. Dawsey Columbia, Ms. (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:19 PM)

Where is the democracy? A majority want us out of Iraq. A majority wanted Shrub to pass SCHIP. Funny how Shrub is shoving democracy down the Middle Easts throat when he does not live by it here. Someone remind him that the only reason he is president is the Electoral College and not democracy.

Matt, Il (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:20 PM)

right on jen,il and don't forget the tree-huggers

nuanced (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:21 PM)

O J (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:24 PM)

Neill C., a little testy today? As my father used to say "don't blow a gasket"

nuanced (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:25 PM)

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:14 PM)
I set the all-time record for the biggest drop in the history of the U.S. stock market.

I could have sworn the market was at an all time high this week. This must have been written in error and credbility records are only as good as your last mistake. Who's next?

S vickers, Fl (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:31 PM)

Lets not forget he recovered he came into office at the satrt of recession in 1999 and got to recover in the fastest time ever

J. Reid NY (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:33 PM)

Bush does not have a moral compass. It's all about greed. More for the rich, the poor or working class in this country can fend for themselfs. If you work for a living under this bunch your on your own. Keep the tax dollars comming and by the way this government no longer works for you. Sorry about your luck.

Diane Sallis, MS (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:34 PM)

Washington College poll
A Washington College poll about presidential greatness, taken 11 February 2005, asked 800 adults nationwide, "Thinking about all the presidents of the United States throughout history to the present, who would you say was America's greatest president?"

Abraham Lincoln (20%)
Ronald Reagan (15%)
Franklin D. Roosevelt (12%)
John F. Kennedy (11%)
Bill Clinton (10%)
Other/Don't Know (9%)
George W. Bush (8%)
George Washington (6%)
Theodore Roosevelt (3%)
Dwight Eisenhower (3%)
Jimmy Carter (2%)
Thomas Jefferson (2%)
Richard Nixon (1%)
John Adams (<1%)
Andrew Jackson (<1%)
Lyndon Johnson (<1%)

Gallup poll

Ronald Reagan has fared well in recent public opinion pollsA Gallup poll about presidential greatness, taken February 9-11, 2007, asked 1006 adults nationwide, "Who do you regard as the greatest United States president?"

Abraham Lincoln (18%)
Ronald Reagan (16%)
John F. Kennedy (14%)
Bill Clinton (13%)
Franklin Roosevelt (9%)
Other/None/No opinion (8%)
George Washington (7%)
Harry Truman (3%)
George W. Bush (2%)
Theodore Roosevelt (2%)
Dwight Eisenhower (2%)
Thomas Jefferson (2%)
Jimmy Carter (2%)
Gerald Ford (1%)
George H.W. Bush (1%)
Richard Nixon (-%)

Peter G V/T (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:46 PM)

If you like US policy as it is today and want to guarantee that it stays for another 4-5 years than cast your ticket for the democratic party in 2008.

politics (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:50 PM)

CA had it right. Those who support the war should pay for it out of their taxes. Those who support SCHIP should pay for that out of their taxes. Before too long those who support the war will be begging for socialized health care and an end to war.
As Colin Powell once said, you break it, you own it.

Nanalinda, San Antonio, TX (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:52 PM)

C A - Stop the nit-picking and whining. Do it for Smearmaster Harry Reid and the far left liberal insanity. Do it for Springsteen and Penn, and the ghost of Pelosi. Now and forever.

Full Moon (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 8:51 PM)

Let's be fair here. The bill is supposed to be about giving health coverage to poor children. 25 year olds making $84,000 are not poor children.

James, San Diego, CA (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 8:52 PM)

I believe the Democrats have taken a cowardly approach to funding SCHIP and I hope they fix it before the next go-round. Rather than fund this worthwhile program from general revenues and take the heat for a possible tax increase, they chose instead to target a much-demonized minority.

If you believe the current propaganda that only the uneducated lower classes smoke, then you have to think that it's is a regressive tax. And if you believe that raising the tax will reduce smoking, then where do you think the funding for "health insurance for needy children" is headed? It doesn't make sense to fund a needed program that will need room to grow with a funding source that is expected to decline.

The sixty-one cent per pack increase is not a tax on the tobacco companies. It's a tax on people who don't fit the bourgeois paradigm of what you're currently "supposed to do". It's an obnoxious and mean-spirited piece of social engineering and deserves to be vetoed, even if by the wrong person for all the wrong reasons.

Democrats should find another, more progressive, way to fund SCHIP. To fund it by taxing a sitting duck minority is cowardly and a bad precedent.

Otherwise, all Democrats should do their part and take up smoking...for the children, you know.

puffin (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 9:24 PM)

Carol, that all sounds like the economy of NJ. Remember the great tax on yachts that sent everyone to NY to buy theirs , bankrupted your own NJ businesses. The economy is great , stock market highest ever. If you're not taking advantage of it you are the loser.

Larry Charleston, Sc (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 9:53 PM)

Hey I got a great idea that will save billions in the health care market. Let's stop the trial lawyers from filing frivilous lawsuits against doctors and lawyers and drug companies. Malpractice insurance drives up the cost of medical services tremendously. I know the liberals won't mind pissing off one of their great constituancies for the good of the CHILDREN. To repeat - trial lawyers are hurting our CHILDREN ! ( According to Hillary's playbook, mention CHILDREN and everyone will support it ) . John Edwards made millions filing these lawsuits , so he is the problem hurting the children's healthcare.

Larry Charleston, SC (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:11 PM)

Put Pelosi's 3some with Whoopi on pay per view and we'll have enough $ for free healthcare for everyone ! Great idea Babara Walters !

Harry, Nevada (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:13 PM)

Way to go George "no kids left behind huh? How many just got left behind with that nice little veto".

Lee, Orlando Florida (Sent Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:16 PM)

I would wholeheartedly support SCHIP. But the funding plan for SCHIP calls for increasing taxes on only one segment of the population…that maligned minority, smokers. At sixty-one cents per pack, our household taxes would increase by $435 per year…almost one percent of our net income. That is grossly regressive and terribly unfair.

What’s most troubling about it is that the rationale for this tax is that it might cause smokers to quit. If you follow that line of logic, the people who theoretically support SCHIP are hoping to see it de-funded.

SCHIP deserves to be vetoed, even if by the wrong person for the wrong reasons. And the Democrats need to find a fairer way of funding it next time it’s proposed. Here’s a novel idea….how about reducing the funding for the war and using the money for SCHIP? Gee, you think you could get the current crop of Democrats to go for it?

In the meantime, I think all good Democrats have an obligation to take up smoking. After all, it’s for the children.

puffin (Sent Thursday, October 04, 2007 12:10 AM)

I the report on the SCHIP veto, Countdown identified Sen, Charles Grassley as being from Nebraska. He is from Iowa.

Tony B (Sent Thursday, October 04, 2007 12:19 AM)

Here is the page for the SCHIP vote in the house.

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll906.xml

Phyllis (Sent Thursday, October 04, 2007 12:30 AM)

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