Oct. 22, 2010
JOEBAMACARE: Why Manchin's Health Care Reform Woes Won't Go Away
Campaign 2010 Analysis: The Raese/Manchin U.S. Senate Race
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
In a recent Associated Press interview, Governor Joe Manchin again parsed through some
of the elements of the Obamacare legislation that he backed this past year. Like a man
going through a salad bar, he tried to explaine which parts he liked and picked away
at those elements of the bill he didn't like. Manchin says that he disliked the insurance
mandate in the bill, while liking many other aspects of it.
Yet turning again, Manchin went on to say that America has been "spending ourselves into oblivion" when it comes to health care.
But Manchin's tough talk is hard to believe for many voters. Manchin knows that it is very unlikely that the Obamacare legislation can simply be tweaked. Moreover, those who have serious concerns about Obamacare, including at least two-thirds of West Virginia voters, simply don't agree with the Governor. Most voters here don't think the few good things in the bill are worth keeping it otherwise intact.
Most West Virginians seem to agree with Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Raese, who wants Obamacare scrapped altogether. Then if a more sensible, less centralized health care reform bill could come about, maybe that could win West Virginians' support. But not this costly bill, which many believe was crammed through Congress without nearly enough input from constitutents and debate.
"Heck, even Senator Rockefeller is now saying that there are parts of the Obamacare bill that need to be changed," said Jack Ellis, HNN's Senior Political Analyst. "Nobody believes that Rockefeller really means that because, like Manchin, he was a huge supporter of Obamacare. He's just being sensitive to his homeboys back in West Virginia."
"But Manchin told the Associated Press something else that confirms that our Governor
sees more good than bad in Obamacare," said Ellis. "He told the reporter that he would
not be joining in with Governors from other states who are challenging the Obamacare law.
West Virginians are within their rights to ask why other states' Governors are challenging
the Obama Administration on this in court but ours isn't."
"So take a look, folks: you've got an unpopular President who lost badly twice in West Virginia in 2008 elections," said Ellis. "You have that President's signature piece of legislation, which is overwhelmingly rejected among West Virginians in both parties. Yet Manchin still supports Obamacare."
"Why is this Obamacare law so unpopular?" asked Ellis. "Well, how about the fact that this reform is going to cost West Virginia's Small Critical Access hospitals $53 million in federal payments over the next three years? That's likely to close some of these small town hospitals down. Now how does that help give more access to health care to West Virginians?"
"Other Governors around the country now are challenging the Obamacare legislation in court, yet Manchin still stands with Obama, despite the looming damage to our own small town hospitals," said Ellis. "That's why so many voters here think he's more cozy with Obama than West Virginians. What other conclusion could you possibly draw, given all these circumstances?"
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JOEBAMACARE: Why Manchin's Health Care Reform Woes Won't Go Away
Campaign 2010 Analysis: The Raese/Manchin U.S. Senate Race
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
In a recent Associated Press interview, Governor Joe Manchin again parsed through some
of the elements of the Obamacare legislation that he backed this past year. Like a man
going through a salad bar, he tried to explaine which parts he liked and picked away
at those elements of the bill he didn't like. Manchin says that he disliked the insurance
mandate in the bill, while liking many other aspects of it.
Yet turning again, Manchin went on to say that America has been "spending ourselves into oblivion" when it comes to health care.
But Manchin's tough talk is hard to believe for many voters. Manchin knows that it is very unlikely that the Obamacare legislation can simply be tweaked. Moreover, those who have serious concerns about Obamacare, including at least two-thirds of West Virginia voters, simply don't agree with the Governor. Most voters here don't think the few good things in the bill are worth keeping it otherwise intact.
Most West Virginians seem to agree with Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Raese, who wants Obamacare scrapped altogether. Then if a more sensible, less centralized health care reform bill could come about, maybe that could win West Virginians' support. But not this costly bill, which many believe was crammed through Congress without nearly enough input from constitutents and debate.
"Heck, even Senator Rockefeller is now saying that there are parts of the Obamacare bill that need to be changed," said Jack Ellis, HNN's Senior Political Analyst. "Nobody believes that Rockefeller really means that because, like Manchin, he was a huge supporter of Obamacare. He's just being sensitive to his homeboys back in West Virginia."
"But Manchin told the Associated Press something else that confirms that our Governor
sees more good than bad in Obamacare," said Ellis. "He told the reporter that he would
not be joining in with Governors from other states who are challenging the Obamacare law.
West Virginians are within their rights to ask why other states' Governors are challenging
the Obama Administration on this in court but ours isn't."
"So take a look, folks: you've got an unpopular President who lost badly twice in West Virginia in 2008 elections," said Ellis. "You have that President's signature piece of legislation, which is overwhelmingly rejected among West Virginians in both parties. Yet Manchin still supports Obamacare."
"Why is this Obamacare law so unpopular?" asked Ellis. "Well, how about the fact that this reform is going to cost West Virginia's Small Critical Access hospitals $53 million in federal payments over the next three years? That's likely to close some of these small town hospitals down. Now how does that help give more access to health care to West Virginians?"
"Other Governors around the country now are challenging the Obamacare legislation in court, yet Manchin still stands with Obama, despite the looming damage to our own small town hospitals," said Ellis. "That's why so many voters here think he's more cozy with Obama than West Virginians. What other conclusion could you possibly draw, given all these circumstances?"
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