Tom Carper Tele-Town Hall Tonite
Senator Carper is apparently holding a telephone Town Hall tonite — there was a message waiting for me on my phone last night providing a heads up that they would call. And we had a tip from one of our contributors that he had gotten the same call.
I’m going to try to be on this call tonite and try to ask a question. So I ask you — what would you ask Tom Carper about the health insurance reform effort if you could? Post your ideas in the comments and I’ll try to ask one.
Tags: Tom Carper, Town Halls
Is Jensen really quoting Jan Ting as the active democrat on health care right now?
For those of us who can’t listen to the radio now, what is he saying?
Does Carper support a public option for health care insurance, and if not, why not?
Does Carper support co-ops over the public option even though this is an unproven concept?
Does Carper believe that the U.S. government has an obligation to protect the profits of for-profit health insurance companies?
Would Carper be willing to vote for cloture on a Democratic bill even if he didn’t agree with all the provisions in the bill? In other words, would he stand with Republicans against the Democratic president?
Would Carper be willing to vote for the health insurance reform bill through the budget reconciliation process?
Related:
Will Democrats do anything to address the ridiculous “60 vote” threshold to pass legislation, including limitation of the filibuster?
Asking about the Public Option is at the top of the list. I’ve been trying to think of how to frame is so that it is hard for him to slide into the “trigger” discussion.
Yes, good wording is important if you’re lucky enough to get to ask that question.
Perhaps you could word a question specifically about triggers so he can’t worm out of it. I can definitely see him saying he supports the public option and triggers without elaborating on what a horrible idea that really is. I’d probably write down some questions in order of priority in case you’re lucky enough to ask one.
Yes, good wording is important if you’re lucky enough to get to ask that question.
How can any plan realistically control costs without a public option? And don’t hand me that crap about “waste, fraud, and abuse.”
The question is not the “Public Option”, that is a ruse! The question is what kind of public option? Do any of you know what the Public Option is? Can you point to any bill coming out of the Congress or Senate that defines the “public option”. This is a trick and I know most of you cant answer. It’s nothing more than bait and switch. Health care for Everyone? What kind of health care for everyone? Would you all support the Public Option if it turns out to be a Co-op?
The only public option is the single payer public option. Its too bad that lame brained, no nothing democrats are asking for all of us to sign on to something that hasnt been defined? Single payer HR 676 has the most legislators signed on! So why you you buying this bullshit.
U.I. The 60 vote threshold was initiated by the Republicans and lately they’ve been talking about an 80 vote majority to reflect “bipartisanship”. It’s a brilliant strategy to turn the Senate into a Republican veto machine. Because every state, regardless of population, gets two votes in the Senate, the farther you get from a simple 51 vote majority the farther you skew to control by the Old South Bigots and the Farmer’s Protection Racket. The fact that these factions are not truly representative of 2009 America doesn’t matter.
Senator Carper, would you support a bill which provides the public with the choice of a health care policy run by the government, without a profit layer, such as your policy?
If not, why do you believe that you have the right to this but we do not?
“So I ask you — what would you ask Tom Carper about the health insurance reform effort if you could?”
I’d like to know why he doesn’t have the balls to have an actual *Town Hall* meeting. You know, the type of meeting where his constituency actually has some face time with the Carpster. Just kidding, Princess, I already know the answer. I’m thinking you’re going to get a busy signal anyway.
Thanks in advance.
Love,
Miscreant
I’d be interested in the proportion of time he spends in this ‘tele tubby town hall’ speaking and what proportion of time he spends listening.
Classic Carper style is at least a 2:1 (if not 9:1) ratio of him spouting, to minimize the amount of time he has to listen to the voters.
Methinks he is trying to compensate for something …
I’ve known Tom C. for over twenty years and, on a personal level, he’s a very nice guy. He always had a funny story to tell (sometimes the same tale, several times). As Governor, he presented my youngest daughter with an award for volunteerism, and took about five minutes to talk to her before the presentation. She was smitten with him for years afterward. Nowadays, she’s not quite as enamored.
Agan, he is talking about these fraudlent co ops. Has this man done NO research on this issue? Tort reform is only 1% of the total health care budget not even an issue. Tom didnt no that answer either. Why doesnt he ask the doctors/nurses what they want…they will tell him they want single payer! He doesnt want to talk to those who have the answers.
Co ops cost $12M to start up. He knows the only ones who can come up with that amount of money are the for profit corporations. What large purchasing pool…..tell us about even one Tom! Every one that started in 1995 were bankrupt in 2000. The administrative cost in for profits is 30%, instead of 1.5% that medicare costs. He is not interested in saving money, but keeping for profits in business. What a fool this man is? Sure does have his republican talking points! Why not Medicare for All Tom?
Who is going to pay for the illegal’s who show up at our hospitals Tom? Are you willing to let them die on the sidewalk to appease the ultra right wing?
He has his Rethug talking points b/c that’s who he represents. His ability to seem human, as cited by Miscreant, is why he’s been able to get away with it all these years.
Which reminds ‘bulo of his favorite quote regarding politicians (wish he could remember who said it):
“The most important trait for a politician to have is sincerity. Once you can fake that, you can get away with anything.”
And that, senors y senoras, defines Tom Carper and his undistinguished career.