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Was Obama's apology sincere?
The President and his Obamacare team are on an apology tour. Why can some politicians admit they were wrong, while others can't? Was the President's apology sincere?
In the Crossfire, Ruth Marcus and Kevin Madden join host Stephanie Cutter and guest host Kevin Madden.
We want you to weigh in: Did the President's apology matter to you?
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Posted by CNN's Eric Weisbrod Filed under: Fireback • Health care • In the Crossfire |
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
Yes. Sincere and gracious. This must appear totally alien to the numskull rabid GOP.
IF you actually listened to his "apology" and thinks it sincere, you must be smoking pineapple express.
Was Obama's apology sincere? What apology? To apologize is to express regret or to ask pardon for a fault or offense. Obama said he was sorry. This is a little better than Clinton's 'apology' when he said what he had done was wrong. Clinton did not, can not, apologize. Obama maybe could apologize but to date he has not.
The Supreme Court support only the President or they suppose support the entire Nation ?, do they know about the Health Care wasn't affordable and the untold truth about keep our insurance and doctor ??.
Being afordable is a law. Legality of being "AFFORDABLE" is not something tye courts address. The FACT we were lied to was not the issue brought before our supreme court.
I think we are all jumping the gun on this thing. Everyone should hold their fire for a few months and let's see what the premiums are and how many people sign up. It will be self evident soon enough whether the law is going to work. If people aren't able to sign up for policies they like, it won't work.
It will probably work for people who were stuck without insurance coverage. For everyone else, we will undoubtedly pay more. I don't think most people expected that and will not be happy.
"If" it's going to work? You mean that some one is guessing about squandering 15% of our GDP and you agree they don't know? Wow, if I gambled 15% of my company's annual revenue, I'd be in jail and deserve it.
The real truth is that whether or not it works depends on how you define the problem. If the problem is that the poor don't have access to the Sam ehealthcare as the rich, the yes. This law lowers,the standards for the rich, increases their cost and everyone (except Congress) has equals bad healthcare.
If you defined the problem as high costs of healthcare, the this law not only fails, it will make the problem much, much worse. Over the next 20 years, the cost of health insurance will continue to skyrocket as more and more coverage is mandated, as mor and more consumers are brought into it and as more and more doctors opt out of being doctors. This day one of my econ101 class in college, higher demand raises prices. Lower supply raises prices. This law does both.
My estimation is that if this law is not changed, then each American will be paying 20k a year for health insurance in 20 years – call it the 20/20 prediction. Some middle class and lower middle class families will be financially ruined by the burden, they will lose their house because they are unable to pay insurance or the IRS penalties for not having it. But at least they can still walk into any emergency room and get medical treatment, just like today.
The initial statement was not sincere. It was obviously false from the first moment and anyone who was thinking knew it. If you deliberately and willfully lie to get your way, then apologize later after you got your way, the apology cannot be believed.
If he was sincere, he would agree to repeal the law.
I don't think Obama lied. He thought what he was saying was true. The apology was sincere. I'm sure the President didn't want to convey any misinformation, and he was sorry that he did.
With what is documented that he recieved and when, how can you possible say this?
Of course it wasn't sincere. Nothing he says is ever about taking responsibility. It is about politics or blaming someone else.
Of course it WAS sincere. I am very proud of our president for this ACA that so many ppople will have acess to
The president was not apologizing for the ACA, but for the inconvience of the letters of cancellation.
Here is a good article from another website that explains the way I feel. If I may quote here. below.
"All this misinformation, fear mongering, twisting of facts, and lying about the ACA is getting a little tiresome. The media occasionally draws attention to the scare tactics of people on television and radio griping about their "cancellation letters" and "horror stories" of going to the websiteā¦.but usually only if it's a gotcha moment with another network.
But it needs to be pointed out :
If your plan was in effect before the law was enacted in 2010, your plan is grandfathered in even if it does not meet the ACA requirements as long as YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY DOES NOT CHANGE THE PLAN.
Meaning, it:
– May not significantly cut or reduce benefits (e.g. removing coverage for cystic fibrosis),
– May not raise co-insurance charges (any change at all),
– May not significantly increase co-payment charges ($5 or more beyond medical inflation),
– May not significantly raise deductibles (15% or more beyond medical inflation),
– May not significantly decrease the employer contribution (5% or more),
– May not tighten the annual limit of what the insurer will pay, and
– May not change insurance providers.
In essence, those insurances that are wanting to DO this to its policy holdersā¦to gain profits for themselvesā¦.are not allowed to do so. That's the reason for all the "cancellation notices" without informing their customers that why usually have better choices than the crappy policy they have now. Or maybe they'll say it's because of Obamacareā¦.because they do not want to follow the rules of the ACA.
Ask those folks in Kentucky, California, other states that went ahead with their own exchanges and are able to get the correct information. There will be a small portion to show increases, usually those on individual policies with higher incomes. And younger people who are invincible and want to waitā¦.until they are in that car wreck or have a sports accident. (The Repubs are OK with pushing means-testing on SS and Medicare, but for some reason they have a hissy fit if anyone's insurance goes up in the ACA. But even though it has been going up very year for decades, it's simply "the market working."
Wow. Does that Kool Aid still taste good?
I agree that Obama was sincere in his apology, but I'm sure it was also perceived by him as the politically appropriate thing to do. Most people are prone to forgiveness when someone admits a mistake. And the mistake he admitted to, wasn't really that horrible. He misinformed the American people, but not willfully. He simply didn't know what he was talking about when he said that all people could keep their health plans.
I agree with Dave, must be great kool-aid you are drinking.
Well, he did take responsibility for misinforming the American people. An apology is an admission of wrongdoing. He took responsibility for what he was apologizing for . . . misinforming the public.
If it was sincere, he should do what Bill Clinton has said to do. I bet he won't.
He is cold and apathetic.
He's a monster.
Obamacare is a disaster. Obama and the Democrat Party have destroyed the US healthcare system, the greatest in the world. Tens of millions of people are losing their current policies, seeing huge insurance premium increases and losing their doctors. This is a travesty. Obamacare was originated, written and passed only by the Democrat Party and they should be held accountable. Obama should be IMPEACHED for lying to the American people (and Fast & Furious, Benghazi, IRS & NSA), every Democrat should be voted out of office in 2014 and 2016 for creating this catastrophe of a law and all should feel the wrath of the American people.
Stephanie Cutter believes that the loss of millions of health insurance plans is a feature of Obamacare and not a sign of incompetence and corruption! It's a feature, not a bug! š
I wonder how many times she had to say to herself, in a mirror: "If you like your insurance, you can keep your insurance... Period!" before she could say it with a straight face and without breaking out into laughter.
tWhy do people keep repeating the lies of he GOP. The ACA is a very good healthcare system that will work for millions of Americans as soon as they understand the law. The R party has done a very good job of confusing the American people for their own gain when it comes to election time. People would rather hate on the healthcare instead of understanding it.
Please read the ACA law. The polling numbers are rising in favor of the healthcare law as it will from now on.. It will help so many people who have not been able to afford healthcare as they haven't in the past. Why is that so hateful to people! Where is YOUR compassion for goodness sakes.
Ok, the ACA is good for a few million, while being bad for 10s of millions more. the good of the few outweigh the good of the many.
HE DID NOT APOLOGIZE. He said he wished WE had been more clear. One more time "I DID NOT KNOW..." Obamacare is socialism-government owned and controlled health care and what is scary the IRS will be the keeper????-next he will go after education and or energy-energy under the idea of environment.
I feel very sorry for the people here commenting that have been fooled by the lies of the Republican party andACA but on the president himself. Do not listen to the liars and conspiracy theorists of the world..
The above message is paid for by Media Matters.
Most people don't even understand health insurance and how it works until they use it.
And then, just because they use it, they think they're experts on it. The reality is that understanding health insurance and medical practice are VERY complex, something that is way beyond the grasp of most politicians (regardless of the party they are in). Obamacare is now the international embarrassment that will forever be used as the example of what happens when "politicians" try and solve problems.... They turn the solutions into "political solutions" because they are self-serving and looking to advance themselves.
Gee, that's funny. I thought the objective was healthCARE, not health insurance. Insurance is just spreading out financial costs. By stating that everyone must share the costs (ok, not the lower half)', the law effectively mandates that Americans WILL spend whatever the health insurance companies demand for coverage. They have effectively mandated the insurance market. CEOs at health insurance companies must be having a huge party, they're going to make trillions off this.
I think the insurance policies that Obama was talking about were the 2010 insurance plans that were suppose to be grandfathered in. In fact, there are people in CA. suing Blue Cross for cancelling their grandfathered in insurance plans.
Yes, and they will lose the lawsuit because BCBS will use the argument that they were just following the law that would put in place by Obamacare.
Nor is there any law written that requires a company to continue providing the exact same services. Insurance law requires the health insurers can NOT single out a person our just specific people and make changes (especially due to claims), but they can make changes, if the make the same changes to ALL within a plan and or geographic area.
Obama deliberately misled people. Period. Knowing all along that the "grandfathered" policies are always open to change – therefore he could try to be the good guy and say they would still be grandfathered in if the insurance companies had not made a change to them. Thus is it the fault of the bad insurance companies. But then once they change a word, or raise a premium, boom – not grandfathered in. This is part of the game to get as many kicked off their insurance policies and forced into the ACA. The government wants to control as many people as possible.
What apology?
Listen to the words. He's sorry his politics have caused people who lost insurance so concern.
He IS NOT sorry for lying, he IS NOT sorry for anything he's done to this country.
Remember he once taught college so he KNOWS what's best for us even if we don't.
I'm 65 and my wife 59. We NEED maternity care. We CAN afford a $5k deductible.
He KNOWS! nothing about being American.
most who blindly follow Obama are going to think it's sincere, and most who blindly dislikes Obama are going to say it isn't.
Except for those who blindly followed Obama and are now jumping ship, like those Democratic Congress and Senate members who are up for reelection and who are distancing themselves from the president.
Isn't it amazing how... all of a sudden... they're thinking twice about all their chants that: "if you like your insurance, you can keep your insurance... Period!"
Although I believe that Obama's apology was sincere, I also believe that the issues with Obama care were well known and that the president and his team did not take the preventative measures they should have. Skeptics before the bill was passed predicted the increase of insurance premiums and the cancelation of polices. With three years in office and no worry about re-election, I feel that obama care was rushed and I would have taken the time needed to take care of the basic structural issues. As for the apology itself, it is an example law makers need to follow; so much more could be accomplished if instead of blaming one another, they could take responsibility, see their errors, and go from there to find a solution that would help all of us.
Of course it wasn't. He even knew about it before the law passed according to his own people.
There are the few though that will follow their Pied Piper at all costs.
Um,
First you have to know which end is up. Obama not figure that out yet. Old Gunderson see big trouble ahead if "Nanny" care not repealed. More people on welfare than working. Over last 100 years Liberal's, Uh, sorry, Progressives rund Government. Now have over 17 Trillion Dollar Federal Debt. Anybody think people suddenly have money for Obama Care? 17 Trillion Dollar Federal Debt says otherwise.
That was NO apology. Why can't the liberals at CNN and any Democrat simply tell the truth? Obama LIED and LIED and LIED and he KNEW he was lying and now after being caught, you all cannot seem to admit the truth and how dare you call that miss-mash softball interview by NBC an apology by Obama? Can't you all for ONCE get out of bed with Obama and at least do what you claim to be doing and report for once in your life the TRUTH?
Don't forget all the people who intentionally helped him lie, over and over again. People like Stephanie Cutter knew and not only said nothing but helped perpetuate the lie(s).
Remember the statement... "If you like your insurance, you can keep your insurance... Period." The "Period" in the statement means... "Absolutely", "No qualifiers", "No other conditions." The administration and its supporters knew they were perpetrating false expectations from day one. They had to... There was no other way Obama would win re-election and they knew it. Remember that this president has nothing positive to show for his tenure so they had to lie or risk losing the election.
When I watch Crossfire, I don't know what I enjoy more... The sophisticated and intelligent beauty that is S.E. Cupp or the constant and comical attempts by Stephanie Cutter to talk over her guests to try and justify the failures of the Obama administration she helped create and cover up.
Well maybe there are problems with the health care program and web site. But at least he is trying to get everyone covered, just what are the GOP's doing, but for wanting too let the insurance companies go back to screwing people and canceling them when they get sick.
And he did come out and say he was sorry for the problems. Can any of you tell me any thing the George W. butt-head Bush ever said he was sorry about, like all the lies that got us into his wars, the way he let Wall Street write their own rules that screwed all the lower income Americans, for the millions of jobs that were lost while he was in office,and many many more things he did while in office, he has never said he was sorry for anything!!!
Is it ironic more people will be uninsured after 1/1/14 than were before 1/1/14?
When Democrats try, our country fails.
Obama apologized but stressed just how much he and his administration have been able to achieve, while working together:
1) Caught lying about ObamaCare Insurance Accessibility
2) The Obamacare website "Debacle"
3) Benghazi
4) IRS scandal
5) NSA Spying
6) Phone tapping the media and labeling notable journalist as "potential terrorist" in subpoenas
7) Fast and Furious Denial
8) GSA Fraud
9) Solyndra
10) Spying & Tapping of Merkel's and Other Leaders' Phones & Email
His apology was pathetic. What I do not understand is why people still trust and like this guy? His approval rating is 41%, how is that possible? He hasn't done one good thing for this country. I can't stomach three more years of his deceitful agendas.
Interesting that analysts are now expecting MORE to be uninsured after Jan 1, 2014 than before. 1/1/14.
What apology? He said that he was sorry people were having a bad time. Not that he was sorry he lied to everyone to get Obamacare passed.
Was Obama's apology sincere?
LOL !!! LOL !!! !!! LOL !!! !!! !!!
"I" feel your pain....
but hey dude it's for your own good.
TRUST "ME"
What will you do now ?
Pay the fine;
and let nature take it's course.
Can't take the $1,500 per month NEW RATE from my children
After lies after lies, excuse me if I am VERY skeptical of anything Obama says.
no
His "apology" is meaningless. He told the same lie for over 4 years, said, "I sorry if....", and then made another promise to "
do everything we can to...." He did not admit he lied, and he did not list one single action he (or we as he like to say) are going to do to help those that are being screwed. The only ones that are pacified are the press and liberals.
"I'm sorry IF" is not an apology, it is an excuse. The form of it make the harm conditional, maybe it happened, maybe it didn't. So since it might not be real harm, I'm not really apologizing.
A true and sincere apology 1) recognizes that harm was done, 2) accepts personal responsibility for the harm and 3) expresses true regret at having hurt another person. I do not see those elements, so sincerity is missing.
The POS is not sorry about anything! This guy just keeps on lying and
lying and lying......he is like the fricking energizer bunny! It wasn't even
an apology for his lies....it was tough sh !t that people got cancelled
or have to pay more! Nixon was forced to resign for much less than this jerk has done! The liar and his liberals need to go!!!
Fuck you! Tell the truth!
you're bias is so over the top, you can't possible consider yourself a real news org? You are pushing and pulling for the dems at every stop! News is the truth, are you telling the news? Or making it? I'll tell you, it's disgusting! And the fact that you employ terrorist like Van Jones is un defensible.
the truth is the truth! Can't be changed by demagoguery. Lie's are lie's despite the truth!
OBAMA care to correct myu first post, sorry I am so pissed.....
I do not think you should have anything to say about obaba care unless you subject it. Not obama or him family, congress or any one making me do it has anything to do with what I do with my health care. I know a woman that was happy woth her program at 200 a month with 1000 deductable now has to pay 600 a month and 13000 deductable, she has cancer and now will die. GREAT good job. now what????
He is only sorry he got caught!
Why do you only allow people to respond to your Nov. 8th Obama question via "twitter" or "Facebook?" Do you only want answers from younger people, versus anyone over 50, who prefers to use e-mail???
I cared about Obama's speech!
It meant a lot to me, just to see him firing back at a dispassionate opposition which could care less that millions of other people do not have any form of health care available to them–so they get sick and just suffer.. I have two children, one who has worked for the same employer for 25 years, without affordable health care. This will be their only chance to avoid catastrophic health care costs, now that they are half-way to retirement-and old age.
For wealthy Senators to arbitrarily block healthcare, while enjoying it themselves, is just inhuman. You would think we lived in the dark ages-and we do. (My son has to go to Sweden, where his wife is still a citizen, to get his complete dental check up and cleaning-standard office call for Dr. visit,, just $12.00. Europeans have had universal health care. free college educations and subsidized daycare for generations! We have been scammed royally by the insurance industry and the "dancing horse" politicians who only see tax breaks as a a goody bag for the rich! The rest of the world cares about quality of LIFE and cutting costs radically by preventative care. Obama's effort to lead us out of the dark ages will save hundreds of thousands of lives!.
WOW! Your son pays the airfare to Sweeden so he can pay $12.00 to have a dentist clean his teeth? If he can afford the round trip plane ticket then he could afford the $114.00 to have it done here.
So your son has worked for the same company without benefits for 25 years and never thought it would be a good idea to, ya know, find a new job???? So the middle class should pay for his healthcare because he has made some poor choices in life???
Thank you , Karen, for your comment.
There are many haters on the websites commenting how awful the ACA is. That is NOT true.
Pres. Obama is helping the country for better insurance plans indeed. the haters of the world do not want to accept what the president is doing for our country, that is helping thousands and thousand of people. who never had healthcare before.
I know change is not what people really care for at least some people. It is hard for them to accept the change, but in the end the ACA will work. The polling numbers are showing that it IS working with higher poll numbers by the day.
If they only understood the law then perhaps they would change their minds.
As to the commenter who posted Californians are suing their insurance companies. Well, good for them. but it was only two people in all. so I read. The insurance companies cancelled their policies for they were not honest with their clients and gave them a junk policy that did not comply with the ACA. The ins companies did not want to be found out that they issued june policies. It's really the ins companies fault in the first place for not being honest with their insurers.
#crossfire yes