The Obamacare Speech He Never Gave

It’s now a matter of bipartisan consensus that President Obama should have been more honest and forthright in selling his health-care plan. Here is the transcript of the speech he never gave:

Hello, St. Paul! It is so good to be back in the great state of Minnesota. Go Gophers! [We love you!] I love you back! [Stomping, cheers.]

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’ve been talking about health-care reform a little lately. [Laughter.] I want to set the record straight on a few things today.

Republicans are out there scaring folks, and saying that they’ll lose their insurance. [Boos, jeers.] No, no — hey, just because they don’t care about people doesn’t mean they are wrong about everything. [Laughter, applause.]

And they’re right about this. Some folks are going to lose their insurance. Millions of them, in fact.

Let me be clear: Just because you have insurance you like, doesn’t mean you can keep it. If it doesn’t meet the new federal standards, your plan is going to get canceled. I guarantee it.

Some of my political advisers say, “Hey, you can’t go out and tell people that, Obama. It doesn’t test well. People hate it in the polls.”

And you know what I told them? “I . . . don’t . . . care . . . about . . . the polls.” [Applause]

I said: “That’s the old politics. That’s what’s wrong with Washington, DC, right there. If you think I’m going to go out and lie about my plan, you’ve got the wrong guy. What did you think hope and change were all about?” [Laughter, applause.]

So, yeah, some of you are going to lose your insurance. Now, because of the marketplace we’ll set up, you’re going to go online and shop for new insurance. Some of you are going to get a better deal. If you don’t make much money, you’re going to get help from the government. [Cheers.]

But let me be clear again — and Axelrod hates this part [Laughter] — many of you are going to pay more than you did before. Maybe double. Because all of these new regulations cost money. You don’t believe in a free lunch, do you? [Confused murmurs.]

Via: Real Clear Politics

Continue Reading....