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In the Crossfire: Reps. Ellison and Gardner
Days from the government shutdown showdown, the Obama administration on Wednesday released the first look at the cost to consumers of the federally run health care exchanges that launch October 1, saying that premiums under Obamacare will be lower than originally projected.
“Five days from now, on Oct. 1, millions of Americans who don’t have health insurance because they’ve been priced out of the market,” Obama said, “they will finally be able to buy quality, affordable health insurance.”
Despite Republican efforts to delay or defund the law, the president pressed, “The Affordable Care Act is here to stay.”
Tonight in the Crossfire: two members of Congress, Rep. Keith Ellison, a Democrat who supports Obamacare, and Rep. Cory Gardner, a Republican who opposes the law, join hosts Newt Gingrich and Stephanie Cutter to debate the costs of health care reform and the debt limit negotiations.
We want you to weigh in do you think the debt ceiling should be raised?
Meet the Hosts
Author, documentary filmmaker, historian, Speaker of the House (1995-1999), and 2012 Republican presidential candidate
Fmr. Obama Deputy Campaign Mgr. and W.H. Sr. Adviser, founder of Precision Strategies, fmr. Sr. Adviser to Maj. Leader Reid and Sen. Kennedy
Conservative columnist for New York Daily News, contributing editor at Townhall Magazine, commentator and author
Former Special Adviser for Green Jobs under President Obama, co-founder of Rebuild the Dream, author and attorney
Newt, Cupp, and Jones are OK but Ms Cutter is just unwatchable. Do the producer have no control over this? It's hard to believe she was ever a White House staffer and easy to see why she isn't anymore. JH
I'm assume Ms. Cutter is an intelligent woman, but she is the most rude, arrogant host on Crossfire. I'm not a fan of Newt, but at least he gives the guest respect and the opportunity for the guest to respond without talking over him. Ms. Cutter however comes across as a "kissing cousin" to Chris Mathews. She lets her alligator mouth overload her humming bird butt.
Both parties at fault. Yet, the fact that Congressional Staffers gained an exception from having to participate because it was to expensive seems to speak volumes. In addition, if leaders ( in this case Dems) believe in ACA, they should vote on it by submitting to it and making their health plan of choice. Imagine the profound statement that would be made if Rep. Pelosi, Sen. Reid, and Pres. Obama got on CNN and ceremoniously show themselves to be the first 3 ACA enrollees.
The voters said 'yes' to Universal Healthcare.\
The Republicans said 'No'
The law was passed.
The process should now be put into effect.
In time improvements will become apparent and they will be implemented.
That is democracy at work.
Why do we now have an impasse?
An educated public recognize a luddite when they see one.
We have been waiting for a change to come.
It is here.
Recognize it, adopt it.
Consign the obstructionists of the Republican Party to the pages of history.
Use your vote wisely when the time comes.
It is your duty
You are correct in that ACA is the law of the land.
The Republicans should push for ACA being implemented in its entirety, as should the Democrats. No exceptions or delays should be permitted that cause ACA to be applied differently among various groups (e.g., Public v. Private employers / Union v Non-Union workers / Big Corporations v. Small Businesses). Law should be a law. Imagine various highway speed signs on the same road based on your employer or social group, enforcement would be challenging.
Moreover, whether voters said "yes" to ACA is questionable at best. Polls suggest the more Americans are against ACA than for it and Democrats lost many Congressional seats in 2010 due to it. If there is anyone reading this note, whom can recall a single material federal law (or even a immaterial one) passed by a single party without at least single "friendly" vote for the opposing party (Democrat or Republican)...please advise. ACA may be new ground......?
Anyway, by implementing ACA as passed and agreed by the Supreme Court , it will either work as advertised (best outcome), have correctable hiccups (which seems ok) , or fail (requiring ACA be seriously re=worked or thrown out). But the piecemeal approach being taken for implementing ACA seems silly. It retards understanding how all final moving pieces, of which many are to be implemented later, need to interact for success.
Moreover, temporary US Gov't shutdowns were somewhat typical in the last quarter of the 20th century.
Why must Mr. Gringrich start off with revisionist history? My meager knowledge tells me debt limits have historically been mostly pro-forma events with little if any of the "negotiations' you are demanding
The debt ceiling should absolutely be raised ! How can the Republican members of Congress risk the full faith and credit of the US for partisan political bickering.
It is absolutely shameful that Crossfire producers have so little respect for the show's viewers. They allow, and perhaps even encourage, the guests and hosts of both persuasions to talk over each other continuously. If you want to produce a "reality" program, then call it that and we will ignore the programs as we have done with all others
of its ilk. If you wish to air a news program, please enforce some decorum. That will respect both the viewers and the participants.
The democrats have yet to accept the results of the 2010 election. Of course you raise the debt ceiling, and of course you defund or rewrite bad laws. Blackmail to the tune of 10K for everyone per ACA if you include the out of pocket max with the premiums. You're getting off cheap, america! It's been costing me over $400 per month and no RXN coverage because the RXN deductible is a separate deductible that's too high for me to reach! Yes sir, get those questions ready by Oct 1st.
I've tried but it's just not working. They talk over each other (today mostly her) and it degenerates into a mess. Since neither side has control, nobody does. Sorry, I'll set the TIVO and check in over the next couple weeks but it needs a lot of work.
Jim H Tempe, AZ
GOOD HEAVENS!!!! Cutter NEVER lets the Republican finish what they are saying. In fact ALL the Dems on the panel are always OVER talking and few times Reps talk, let Reps finish!! They make sounds instead of listening and on and on. Talk about RUDE. No wonder DC is an all time low in the polls.
This guy... Rep. Cory Gardner, is WRONG. The AMERICAN people DO want the Affordable Health Care Act, and also- when he was talking about getting the country back on track because of the last 4 or 5 years??? REALLY? Does he NOT remember the 8 years of Republican spending and glad handing that got us here in the first place? I'm so TIRED of these yahoos...