CNN

that is because:

1. his solution didn't start with 'no'

2. he actually had a solution

of course they are angry, he is shedding some light on their spinless position with their head in the sand like an ostrich and actually proposing something

come out from under your rocks GOP, the sky isn't falling

No public option = No health care reform.

Health insurance reform is not health care reform.

All you need to do is read the script of this ad to realize that it is not written in the world of reality. It should say 'if I could get insurance that was paid for by other people and free to me, I'd be better'.
Yes it $ucks to not have insurance and rack up medical bills. Maybe you should have had it in the first place. BUT ALAS – you will be able to get insurance if they repeal the pre-existing conditions clause. 'Purchasing' The government's public option or a private insurance optino shouldn't matter after that (if you actually intend on purchasing it).

Please deal with facts people. I think most people can see through flimsy emotional pleas for irrational government growth.

Our government should stop interfering in everything. Instead of federal armed forces we should have blackwater take over everything b/c private companies are always run better right? Instead of the FDA we should just allow drug companies to approve their drugs, b/c if we had the government do it that would be socialism. We should also not have public schools, if a family can't afford a private school they don't deserve to learn how to read. We also should not provide any services to people not born in this country since every American's ancestors where born here and certainly didn't come from another country.

That's good, pretty good!!!

He's from Montana, which my boy barely lost by a couple points and his situation is unique, very unique! He is one of those numbers that everybody can relate to, is no secret. And since he is backed by two big organizations, it can help him in the long run and trust me, people will hook him up cause of his story, that I promise you.

For people like these are no exception, is an inception. They can play a major role and to give you one piece of advice Liberals, ante up! This is a good way to show compassionate and understanding among people who are in fact facing dilemnas. I'm not saying used them but what I am saying is, help them...

It's nice having a health insurance card in your wallet, just hope you never get sick and need to use it, that's when you find out how lousy and costly your insurance really is, start adding up your co-pays, deductibles, out of pocket expenses , uncovered medical expenses and what you pay towards your employee health care. Just hope and pray you don't get sick, because we are all one illness away from losing it all, your life savings, your homes, your cars.......

A Public Option is a must in health care reform

This isn't the American dream, it's more like a living nightmare
The rich get richer and the poor get poorer

You don't have to be a liberal to see this guy is a sell out to insurance and drug companies. Just follow his money trail back to them.

Of course you can do that with 99% of those opposed to any help for the average American person. Be in aid to Wall Street or sell out to big business in regulations. Follow the money trails.

For those of you who think republicans have any answers...just look at California. Eight years of a republican governor and it really sucks here.

Please learn, Republicans always have and always will suck. It's been proven.

These Republicans spend to much money on ads. And it is all about nothing . Oh forgot this is all the money that they stole doing the Bush/Cheney years.

For all of those persons against a public option:

1. Who rations your care now? The insurance companies.
2. Who takes your more of your money every year without increasing benefits? The insurance companies.
3. Who continues to increase executive pay and privilege while denying coverage? The insurance companies.

Be mad at big business, not the government. You're letting your outrage get turned toward the wrong institution. Don't be fooled.

We as a society are so selfish, it makes me ill!

Public Option is for losers looking to live off the government. The government CANNOT do anything efficient. Tort reform, interstate purchasing AND some of the Dems ideas is the way to go.

Montana's Senator has clearly shown his incompentence. So have most other Senators and Representatives. Throw all the bums out !

"rr" – more highly privatized wars like the one in iraq where our government pays outrageous sums to the likes of Halliburton and Blackwater for work that was never even performed is what will bankrupt our nation – not helping our own peope with healthcare costs. Greedy CEOS who continue to rake in obscene amounts of $ for poor job performance and yet force wage cuts on the middle class will bankrupt our nation before social security. The greedy corporations who ship our jobs overseas to be performed at slave wages will bankrupt our country .....why our you begrudging eldery Americans their social securtiy checks but not mad about this???

Why don't these people use the ad money for public health benefits like paying this guy's $100,000 in medical bills? Isn't the motto, "If we can help just one person, it's worth it."?

Thank god someone is taking this guy on. He has consistantly received more money from donors outside of his home state (i.e. insurance companies, lobbyists, etc) than all his in-state contributions combined. He is a textbook case of someone who puts his self preservation above the needs of the people he serves. He is a Democrat in name only, more often than not he votes along Republican party lines which is evident in the way that he supports the insurance companies and lobbyists at all costs.

The passage of health care reform must have a real public health insurance option. It is critical for containing skyrocketing cost and guaranteeing security for all Americans. Our health care system is broken, cost is skyrocketing and too many people can’t afford coverage. The public health plan insurance option is the key to fixing these problems. The cost of inaction is too high. Every day that we delay, 14,000 Americans lose their health insurance and nearly 2500 file for bankruptcy because of medical cost. And costs continue to spiral out of control. In the not so distance future the average family premiums will hit $22,000 a year. With the real public option, costs will start to go down and millions of individuals, families and small businesses will have access to high quality, affordable health insurance. And no matter what happens to our jobs or our health, a public option will always be there for us. The “Nay Sayers” in Congress who do not want a public plan themselves have just that a public plan but are trying to deny other Americans the same right. What disgusting and hypocritical self-serving individuals do we have in the United States Congress? A prescription for the public option should be filled.

Answers to points raised above:

YES, you can KEEP your current insurance if you want. Don't believe the fear being spread by special interests.

To those who are clamoring for a "free-market" insurance plan that allows you to shop in other states for insurance. This will NOT work. Virtually all the credit card companies are in either Delaware or North Dakota. They can physically locate in ANY state, but they choose between those two. Why? Because those states changed their laws to be very friendly to the credit card companies and pretty much let them do what they want.

Don't you think the insurance companies will do the same thing?

When was the last time a credit card company treated you with respect?

no Socialism.......no kids singing songs of praise to false idols......we're going back to basics in 2010 and 2012.....back to the Constitution...back to the Bill of Rights.....

OBAMA IS ONE AND DONE.......

Most politicians have but one true agenda, getting elected and reelected. Their one and only hope is that their constituents have VERY short memories! Our country has one of the greatest economies in the world, even in bad times, and yet also has one of the highest infant mortality rates and thousands of folks dying each year because they can't afford insurance and don't qualify for government programs. There will come a time when the voters will not forget those politicians, left or right, who they feel screwed them in the interest of, let's say, big pharma and the medical insurance companies for example. Let's hope it's soon!

The best way to solve the problem is to allow everyone to decide not to have insurance and just the the whole system collapse, but we know this will never happen.

Next best option seems to me that we should no longer allow insurance companies to be exempt from antitrust laws to force the issue of competition.

"counting the days until Obama is gone and we can prosper again???? " What planet are you from – like we "prospered under Bush??? Do you ever even read a newspaper?
Bush and his policies brought us to the edge of economic ruin that we are still trying to dig ourselves out from under.

The Insurance Companies are being threatened.......

Problem= Need to convince the American People that a Public Option will only make the deficit worse.

Advantage= Recognize that the majority of Americans are lazy when it comes to their own fact finding of the truth, they have a general distrust of their government, and although they want change are very y afraid of change.

Solution= Make up rumors that play on the irrational fears of many Americans, spice it up with more labels such as socialism and government takeover and then watch as they come running back for more of the same.

Is it so hard to see people? Your being led around like sheep.

Democrats have the majority in congress, so why isn't this bill already passed? Because democrats are not like the republicans. Republicans are all on the same page, they follow one philosophy only and that is to make money. The democrats are "liberal thinkers" and do not all fall under one catagory. The democrats have many different ideas. The republicans seem to have only one idea nowadays, be against whatever the democrats are for. It's really remarkable that one party can follow one philosophy so well, almost like sheep being lead to the slaughter house.

A public option would not introduce fair competition to the insurance industry. It would simply introduce a fixed competition whereby no others would be able to compete.

I would like to mention; take a look at all this "goverment run programs" Medicare and Medicaid are in trouble; Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had to be bailed out by the same Govt. who supported them. Need I continue? The states should be handling healthcare reform; not the Government. It is almost to the point where we are relying on the Government like they were our parents. The more they take care of you; the more dependent you will get. Get a backbone people and help find a different way!

I sell insurance an NONE of you have a CLUE as to how it really works or that this so called "reform bill" is reform. There is NOTHING about reform in the bill. Period. But there are an awful lot of lovely earmarks in there. . .

the poor have medicaid, the rich have private insurance and the working middle class get screwed! Health care reform is about helping the working middle class – who either cannot afford insurance because their employers don't offer it or have been denied.
WE NEED A PUBLIC OPTION BECAUSE WE CANNOT COUNT ON INSURANCE COMPANIES TO DO THE RIGHT THING!!!! The very people fighting this are often the people who need it the most! "Wake up" YOU need to wake up!! If the insurance companies won't let you buy insurance because of a pre-existing condition – it doesn't matter how hard you work – you are screwed!

After we all get free healthcare, I need the gov't to get me a free high-def television. My employer won't give me a free one so I need the gov't to give me one. All people should have equally capable televisions, right? It's not fair that someone should get a better one just because they make more money.

Once that is done, I vote for the free I-Phones for all!

I have made contributions to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and to Rob Miller of South Carolina for Congress.

But, because of senators like Max Baucus, I reduced the amount I sent to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Instead, sent the money to *Health Care for America NOW!* and to ActBlue's ad calling on Sen Lincoln and Rep Ross of Arkansas to stop doing the bidding of the insurance industry.

After decades of letting private sector interests create huge problems in our health care system, we need real reform.

THIS REFORM – OR FAILURE OF REFORM – WILL AFFECT US FOR DECADES TO COME.

My exhusband is alive now because of the VA. At that time, years ago, I had him on my private insurance i had through my job, and they did very little to help him. We stayed married for years opnly so he could keep having medical insurance that was really doing very little for him. When we divorced, I was able to obtain treatment through the VA that was far better than what my private insurance provided. I have no doubt he would be dead now ifnot for the VA, who never gave up on him despite his problems maintaining his own medical regimen.

The self-correcting economy can not be affective if the major players in the economy are crooks, thieves, con-artists, and criminals, a true free market system must have restraints on those who exploit the system to benefit only themselves, and government regulation is the only way to accomplish this. It seems all the Nay Sayers want to do is vilify our government and saying that people should not trust our government. Isn’t it strange that families put their trust in the government when they send their sons and daughters off to war to die for their country, but shouldn’t trust government with their health insurance? Something is very wrong with this.

We need a public option. Folks get rid of these BLUE DOG DEMS, they are REPUBLICANS posing as Dems. They are too comfortable, in it for the money not for the people they are to serve. Get rid of the old die hards, get some young blood with some new thoughts and ideas. Most of the old Repugs and old Dems are bought and paid for.

VOTE THE ONES WHO ARE SO COMFORTABLE OUT OF OFFICE, BOTH DEMS AND REPUGS. JUST LOOK AT WHAT THEY VOTED ON PAST EIGHT YEARS AND WHAT THEY KEPT THEIR MOUTHS SHUT ABOUT FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. SOME OLD DEMS ARE LATENT GOP (ERS). TOO RICH AND TOO LAZY, NOT FOR THE MASSES , ONLY THEMSELVES AND THE PEOPLE WHO LINE THEIR POCKETS.

This is what I have observed and I'm one year shy of 80.

Public Option is the only thing that makes sense and gives us the chance we need to get the health insurance that the FOR PROFIT health insurance companies are determined to deny us.

Health care is a right that has been acknowledge and adopted by the United States in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nation in the year 1949 with the urging and support of the United States. The Declaration proclaimed that: “ everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of oneself and one’s family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care” which reflects the truths of our nation’s founding documents such as the Preamble of the United States Constitution, and in the Bill of Rights, Amendment 1X: “ The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” And further Amendment X: “ The powers not delegated to the United States Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.” Health care is not only a proclaimed but an inherent right that is born out of compassion and love for the sake of humanity.

The Republicans will always be in power as long as there are Democrats who will help them, even when they are a minority.

Democrats don't deserve to be in leadership. The president is doing all he can to move this country along and the dead weight of deadbeat Dems should be thrown overboard. Period.

I guess the saying is true:
Dems fall in love (not in this case)
Repugs fall in line

I don't blame them. that bill he came up with benefited the insurance industry. Now Rockerfellor and Shumer had to go in and clean it up. Shame on you, Baucus!

I wish we didn't have to fight among ourselves this way. We should at least be able to be civil to each other even if the republicans seem to believe that rude, disrespectful people deserve badges of honor.

If we don't have a public option, we don't have health care reform.

“Socialism” is any of a various theories or systems in which the means of producing and distributing goods are owned and operated by society, rather than by private individuals, with all members of society sharing in the work and the products. The President’s reform plan would leave all providers, doctors, labs, clinics, many hospitals, pharmaceuticals—private and could, as Medicare does now, contract out many of its administrative functions to private companies. One might well come to the conclusion that preservation of choice and salvation from “Socialism” rest with the President’s reforms. But then, rigid ideology and deeply engrained political predispositions often filter information.

See! I told you! The Democrats are ON THE VERGE OF DISBANDING! It's anarchy! Earthquakes! Fire! Dogs and cats living together out of wedlock! Now, with the world reduced to rubble and the sky weeping, we Republicans can emerge from (an undisclosed location) and force the survivors to their knees and- Oh, it's not that bad yet? Maybe next week? I'll just write another column about how the liberals are turning on each other for CNN to publish while I wait.

By reading these comments I am, quite frankly, embarrased to be an American. One hundred years ago, immigrants came to this nation because it was "the land of OPPORTUNITY", not because it was the nation of handouts. They new then that you must build yourself. The positive aspect of capitalism is that no one is holding you back. Health care is not a right. Health care is a privelidge for those who can pay for it. The intelligent people who work hard to make money to make sure they can afford their health insurance each month should not be punished by those who thought otherwise. Most of those without health insurance are young adults who can afford it, but have chosen not to. That is their decision! But now you all seem to want to take my paycheck to pay for something they could have afforded, but chose to spend their money on an iPhone or cable TV. We have flipped the bill long enough. Stop taking money for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. I am 24 and these systems will be bankrupt when I am old enough for them. That is my money that is being taken from me and thrown away. I will never get it back. For those of you who believe health care is a right, how does plunder and theft fit into your moral high-ground?

Baucus is from Montana, where voters (as in most the nation) DO NOT WANT A PUBLIC OPTION. Enuff said!!!

President Obama’s health care reform will save us from socialism. Concerns that the President’s reform proposal would create big government, denial of “customer choice” and “socialism” is interesting. We currently live with restrictions on choice, imposed by “for-profit” health insurance companies through approved provider listings in/out network provisions, denials for pre-existing conditions and exclusions of certain treatments for the growing population which is unable to afford private insurance, the choice and the choice of their children is often restricted to an emergency room with zero provider options, or no health care at all. On the other hand provider choice is wide open under President Obama’s reform plan. All Americans have an inherent right to health care.

The Baucus Bill is very poor – and it should be even be considered.
A much better Bill can be written if they follow the guidelines President Obama put forth.

Baucus is actually part of the VRWC (vast right wing conspiracy) that former president Clinton and current secretary of state Clinton are so fearful of. But have no fear! President Gelding will save the day and redistribute the wealth for one and all!

In missouri I can't buy the cheaper insurance in Illinios why? As far as I can tell the GOP has been trying to pass a bill by letting me go across state lines to buy insurance. The DEMS are the ones stoping this. The insurance needs more competition ,but why have the DEMS been preventing this? Now they want a public option they said it would create competition. Sure it would , but why did they stop the other forms of competition. BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS WANTED THE PUBLIC OPTION TO PUT THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY OUT.

Just looked at my new private insurance program through my private employer, boy I am excited, I remain in control of my medical care, that is as long as I use the genertic drugs that they tell me I can use, I go to the doctor they tell me I can go to, I obtain the treatment that they tell me is within the scope of my plan (which by the way is actual good), To help me in my decisions they are going to triple my deductible, and increase my coinsurnce by 20%, all this with only a 7.5% increase in premium to make up for the negative salary increase this past year. So happy private insurers do it better, what a joke.

Max Baucus: owned an operated by the insurance companies.

The employer-based health insurance system uses the doctrines and methods of Fascism. The insurance companies are dictatorial and an industry that has absolute control and power over individuals in the distribution and terms of health insurance. And they seek to hang on to this power and control by promoting and conducting this asinine employer-based insurance system at the expense and detriment of the insured, under insured and uninsured. There is not any competition, fairness or democracy within the current employer-based health insurance system. The employer-based health insurance system has many flaws other than Fascism, high administration cost, inequitable sharing of costs, inability to cover large segments of the population, contribution to labor-management strife, and the inability of employers to act collectively to make health care more cost effective. The employer-based insurance system must be reform as President Obama has laid out in his health care reform proposal. The Congress must act on this NOW!

Newsfalsh: we already have socialized health care! It's called Medicare! All those angry seniors at townhalls are complete hypocrites. They are on tax paid, government run health care because private insurers won't cover them at all. (being senior is a serious pre-existing condition) Without socialized health care they would already have been dead or certainly bankrupt by now! What hypocrites! And now republicans criticize socialized, tax paid health care WHILE demanding that Medicare be expanded, as if somehow that's different! Hypocrisy alert again!

Just one more comment, Fed X and UPS are not out business because of the Services Provided by the United States Postal Service. More good Socialism any way you look at it. Any one that thinks health care is not a right and is a priviledge reserved for the politicians and wealthy is not a Christian. Jesus preached healing, helpling others. Where in the Bible do you see that Jesus sent the Leper a bill for his healing.

The employer-based health insurance system in the United States currently is an exploitative, dysfunction and un-American type of health care system. The system employs the doctrines and methods of fascism. In recent years the amount of coverage has eroded dramatically, and the individual now has to bear the burden of the astronomical costs and inadequate care. The premiums have gone up and the coverage down. This is one of the reasons why the employer-based health insurance system should be eliminated and either replaced with a system that has a public option along side the employer-based system, or in the alternative a single payer system. Starting in the year 2000 there has been a steadily decline in coverage which is the primary reason for overall increase in the number of Americans uninsured which is approaching 50 million today. This is not even counting the millions who are uninsured.

We need a public option...I am paying out the WAZOO!!! per month and the insurance company still want more money for prescriptions, specialty dr. visits, well-checkup visits, sick visits, ER visits, HEALTH CARE IS A JOK AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED NOW!!!!!!

Can't blame the republicans for health care. The left and the press have been trying but when you have the majority in both the house and senate, you can't claim it's the party of "No" blocking it. How about pass a bill that everyone agrees on ( no dropping people, no rejection for preexisting medical conditions and such ) ? Not only pass the part people agree on but make it a law immediately. The current health care plans don't take effect till 2013. 4 years? Is it really that critical to fix that nothing will take place for 4 years? After you pass what you agree on ( and enact it ) then work out the rest and pass it and enact it. Why does it have to be EVERYTHING or nothing but in 4 years? It shows it's more political than them actually caring. 2013 is after the next election. Coincidence? pass health care reform and stop delaying.

Anyone who thinks the insurance companies and health care industries will conform without a public option is diluted and living in a make believe world.

Everyone here wants a nanny state. give me give me give me. If the dems were serious about healthcare reform they would crack down on the lawsuits. This has been PROVEN to work on cost redution but none of the dems seem to worry about the lawyers(wonder why). They just want to shove a progressive agenda down our throats before they get voted out in 2010. And why do we keep trying to hide a way to pay for illegals in this. Obama does lie about that. He will sign a bill that covers illegals if it is hidden in the loopholes of these bills. Why wont the dems compromise on anything? Its "my way or the highway" attitude has to stop. Health care does need fixed but for gods sake do it right and dont bankrupt the country.

Go get him! This congressman needs to wake up. The public option is key in lowing prices and insuring the uninsured. Those of you who argue against it just haven't checked the true facts and have bought into the propaganda (which the insurance companies have already spent millions and millions to put out.) and greedy congressman like this democrat.

PUBLIC OPTION>>>>>>>YES!!!!

I went from my teens to near 60 without a car accident, paying car insurance that whole time. Thousands of dollars. Then, just once, I slipped up and got hit. I was lucky.

To all you folks who don't want a public option, which the only way some folks will ever get coverage, imagine that you work and stay healthy all your life. Then at 59, you get laid off and can't afford health insurance, and there's no public option, and that's when your "health accident" happens. Would you feel that you had been fairly treated by the system?

You should realize that some people get hit by bad luck very early in life, and some die quietly in old age. The reason we have insurance is that you never know which person you will be, and therefore we all pool our resources to help those who have bad luck, knowing that tomorrow it could be us. Everybody needs to have health insurance, and everybody needs to pay for it according to their ability. If that happens, the cost will not be prohibitive and the service will be decent.

This guy is not a real farmer, he only plays a farmer for political ads.

Besides, the story doesn't add up. Most farmers have insurance through private co-ops. I'd be willing to bet it's the same deal in Montana. If not, simply allow the same co-ops from Wisconsin to be used in Montana. CNN did a story on Wisconsin co-ops and they covered thousands of people and actually decreased premiums.

We don't need a public option when we can allow small businesses to join private co-ops and purchase private insurance.

Health care reform without the public option is not reform. It's the status quo. Without the public option all we'll have is even more money going to corrupt private insurance companies. Why would we want more of the same?

I see more sick and physically dibilitated people who are wealthy and do nothing all day but go to the country club, shop at the most expensive malls, and get botox injections for their already over chemical-peeled skin than those who need to go to work everyday. The Average working person doesn't have the luxury of letting themselves get sick otherwise we can't work. Where does "our" money go? It goes to these overprivilaged selfish people for their "Cadillac policies" while us working stiffs have to struggle with the cost of our health care and normal life costs. A PUBLIC OPTION is what's needed....

Take a look at how the Bush (Republican) administration helped the people of Iraq.... They assisted in the drafting of the Iraqi Constitution, July 2005. In this document (Google it for yourself)... PUBLIC FUNDED UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL IRAQIS - AS A RIGHT!!!

How then the Republicans support LESS for the Amerian people.... or.... can it be that there are no campaign funds to be had from insurance companies in Iraq?...

Strange to me.....

People are not asking a hand out! There are asking what every other country does put people first!

Don't like socialism, don't ask the city/county to haul your garbage to the (socialist) dump. Don't drive on county or interstate highways, don't call a cop if your car is stolen, don't go to the public library, don't call a fireman if your house is on fire or you cat is up a tree. Baucus is in bed with the insurance COMPANIES, that can deny you coverage for pre-existing conditions, charge you more whenever they decide their ceo needs a new vacation mansion, deny 1 out of every 5 claims and pay their employees bonsus for denying claims. Approximately 95% of claims that are denied and appealed by the policy holders are eventually paid. Private insurance, Nay, it's the Frank and Jesse James Insurance Companies of American. A one payor option is the only reasonable solution. See Michael Moore's new movie Captalism, A Love Story, the Truth will set you Free.

No Public Option= NO CHANGE

Mad Max Baucus is so in bed with the Insurance compaines he does not have the Peoples best Interest at heart he needs to switch Parties! He Pratices GOP Doings THEN SWITCH PARTIES OR REAL DEMOCRATS VOTE THE BUM OUT!

Progressive Change Committee and Democracy for America.

Americans for Stable Quality Care.

etc., etc., etc.

Same groups over and over again.

AMA. PHRMA. SEIU.

etc., etc., etc.

Did ya notice that while the names of these shadowy organizations change, or come and go, that the players remain the same?

Does anyone REALLY think this is about healthcare?

Don't be surprised. Remember Democrats arn't the smartest people there are. A chuckle head like W. Bush put beatdowns on them on a regular basis.

He needs a kick in the baucus for his disgraceful management, or should I say non-management of the healthcare bill....To dismiss a public plan option is to render the bill doa......He deserves to lose his seat, along with the other Blue Dogs.....And I'm surprised at how divisive Sen. McCaskill has become.....After she didn't receive an appointment in the president's admin....She went postal....

Ben Franklin introduced the concept of a post office.

This proves that the Democrats are lead by George Soros and Michael Moore. The radical left fringe is fully in charge of the DNC.

While I do not consider my self a real liberal, private insurance companies are not the answer to soving the health care problems in this country.

The first order is to get meaningful health insurance on all Americans, Private Insurers are not going to do this, no profit you see, government subsities to help pay for the insurance are not going to do this, under the current proposals individuals and families are expected to give up 10-15% of their income, that by the way they don't have to spend, on health care, can not be done they don't have that musch felexabilty. There must be a government plan, that will actually cover from 20-30% of the population, without it, the status quo exists and nothing will change.

Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country!!!

And guess what greedy conservatives? Your "country" includes millions of suffering Americans. HIGHER TAXES! PUBLIC OPTION! HIGHER WAGES! MORE SPENDING ON CONSUMABLES INSTEAD OF EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS!

Stop being so anti-American and do your part to help our entire country thrive, not just the rich!!!

Oh yeah, and capitalism DOESN'T WORK. Isn't that obvious enough from the events of this last year.

REGULATE! REGULATE! REGULATE!

A government BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE!!!

Yes, we need a public option, and we need it now! The insurance companies are making tremendous profits off of us, and I am ready for a change. I don't think opening state lines for buying insurance will do much for competition. Competition may be increased, but I think it would be a high premium competion at best.

I am not looking for any handouts. I am over 50 years old, and have worked and paid for my insurance all my life. I just want affordable insurance with decent coverage.

It's good that liberal Democrats are attacking Max Baucus for his failure to include the public option in his bill which serves only the interests of the pharmaceutical and health care insurance industries. We out here in Montana know how corrupt Max has become and we regard his bill as an act of betrayal.

My feeling is that Baucus is a Republican in Democrat's clothing. He kowtows to the insurance and drug industry and the Republicans. He should just change parties and quit the charade.

"Health" insurance companies have every incentive to withhold health care. When Americans get health care, the insurance companies must pay. They don't want to pay. So they deny coverage and claims. Therefore, they ration health care. So simple. So obvious. We need a public option. Period.

Public option insurance policies would be the biggest threat to private insurance company's profits in history!!! So what if insurance companies make big profits and their executives make a lot of money? That's what America is all about!!! Write your congressman and senator and tell them NO PUBLIC OPTION!!!

Amazing – and how will you pay for it?

Utterly amazing, it is no wonder we are in the fiscal crisis we are currently in – most of the comments here have little to no basis in reality. We are truly the uneducated masses......

As he should be. His proposed Health Care Bill should of included the Public Option. Do these guys not hear the American people? If they don't hear them now, they probably will come their next election, which they probably won't win. So my advice to them is to listen to the majority of the people...not the loud ones....not the ones shouting out the lies and hatred...but those, the majority who want Public Option. To make us a great country again, they (the blue dogs)or whatever you call them, needs to support the President, we the people elected.

I am a self involved narcissist who would rather buy a HUMV than be part of a moral imperative to help my fellow countrymen fulfill a basic human need – medical care – when they are down on their luck. In fact, I am self righteously yelling about it at a town hall meeting whenever I can while I strap a gun to my leg to get the attention I never got from my Daddy. Would an insurance company ever steer me wrong?

If the bill goes in without the public OPTION, it will be semi-worthless. It will be a moderate health insurance reform measure only! Many Democrats in the House and Senate will pay for this at election time. Essentially, Because the Democratic leadership started out with a position of compromise when the health care reform issue began, they essentially gave up! But the real truth is that , in fact, most Amdericans want a public option, whether you like it or not. Also, the real fact is that the health insurance compnaies have come to CONTROL health care - NOT THE GOVERNMENT (a fact for the selfish right-wing so-called conservatives!).

For those of you who think government can provide all of the answers to your problems, just look at California. They enacted massive entitlement legislation and now they are teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. The Federal Government is now well on it's way to insolvency even before any health care legislation is enacted.

Baucus is a heathcare insurance company shill. They are some of his major contributors. He is a traitor to the healthcare reform initiative.

THE BAUCUS BILL IS DOA as it stands right now.

Only if the PUBLIC OPTION is added back into this bill does it stand ANY chance of being passed.

I can almost bet the Democrats will lose control of both the House and the Senate come 2010 because of this healthcare reform. They were not prepared; did not have the proper information; and you can't keep Obama behind his desk long enough to come to a bi-partisan agreement. Inexperienced Leader and a dinasour house and senate. Time for an overhaul on Capitol Hill.

But don't you liberals understand that for the 'public option' you will pay a monthly premium and also be taxed at the end of each year, as the government option will need to be supported with tax money as well as monthly premiums?

My cousin died last week from undiagnosed congestive heart failure at the age of 35 leaving behind 4 young children because she didn't have medical insurance. She was having trouble breathing, had dark circles under her eyes and was fatigued all the time. Thinking it would pass, she did instead. So now the government will shell out more money for social security to take care of her kids, because she is no longer here. What will cost more in the long run? A lot of the people who are against the public option already have health insurance. Please think about those who make a dollar over the limite to qualify for Medicaid, but make too little to afford to buy health insurance. What kind of country do we really live in? The haves and the have nots? Isn't that why we fought the Revolutionary War?

Medicare and Medicaid are LIMITED Govt. programs; can you liberals not get that through your head? Where are the costs to insure every single American in the US going to come from? Your kids and grandkids will be paying for it; just as they will the bailout. Did ya read the news that the banks are not going to pay us back? Now in the news today; liberal Congress is wanted to insure illegals. Man.....move the heck out of this country if you want a socialist soceity and quit allowing the Govt. to lead you around on a leash. I'm sure the libs will throw Baucus under the bus; just as they did Lieberman. It's only a matter of time.

Mr. Baucus is dead wrong on his health care reform bill.
There isn't any reform without single payer or at least the public option.
Whose pockets is he in anyway?

Sure thing folks – we could throw out the current bills and start over – with SINGLE PAYER. Medicare for everyone who wants it. The system is already in place, so the start-up cost would be less, we could fix the subsidies insurance companies get already through medicare and stop the rip-off. The constant need of the Republicans to diminish everything about health care reform really indicates a refusal to participate in the democratic process, as well as a lack of concern about what the majority of Americans want or need.

EVERY Senator or Congressman receiving money from the Insurance and Heath-care industries to defeat a public option should be called out.

Their names and dollar amounts should be put in bold red fonts for all voters to see and to see how they vote in committee and all final passage. Also, the timing of the vote in the final passage to see if they sit on the sidelines until an outcome is achieved, only to say they voted in favor or againest it to appease the lobbyists and voters.

If you don't like their position/vote then throw all incumbents out next November, then again in 2012 and 2016.

Of the uninsured , who cannot afford health care even if they do work ,often low pay jobs and their unpaid medical bills cannot be paid in view of this fact , which can lead bankruptcy and bad credit revues for any future chance they may have to prosper. What would the solution be ? Perhaps re-instate the draft and send them off to some illegal war so the stock holders can make some $ and let it trickle down to thoose who are left ?

this is a another hachet job by george soris gang of thugs and smear mongers,,,, how sad ,,, hang tough senator,,,

My mother has taught school for 30 years, is a non-smoker with low cholesterol, and is in good health. The insurance offered to teachers in our area costs $1,400.00/month regardless of the number of people in the household. If my stepfather didn't have good insurance available through his work, my mom wouldn't be able to afford what's available to her. She works 50-60 hours per week. Don't begin to think for a second that she or any other teacher is lazy or has a hand out.

It is selfish and ignorant to argue against providing a low cost public option to all who need it.

Rick McDaniel...thats a stupid thing for you to say about the uninsured...I am a nurse and I have insurance and I'm not stupid enough to think reform is not needed. I wonder what you would do if you lost your job and you needed assistance...thats if you even have medical insurance...idiot

Can anyone explain where in the Constitution a public option is authorized? No, you can't.

Notice that the words "general welfare" are a restrictive element of a taxation clause; they have nothing to do with granting any powers. And "necessary and proper" only extends to what is necessary for executing those powers that are granted.

I'd like to see some coverage of how unequal health care governemnt benefits are distributed to our youth, students, even middle-aged workers who qualify as middle class in this country...we don't seem to care if the younger generation, our future, gets sick! University doctors and most low cost clinics are absolute cattle calls, sometimes people wait for hours. Why no coverage on the lavish entitlement benefits bestowed even on wealthy or upper middle class seniors? I'm not sure that the average person realizes how unequal these programs are. It seems like the spotlight is contiually on the angry senior citizen, most of the town halls were dominated by the social security crowd who have the least to be angry about in my opinion. I think they are only protecting their own overly generous benefits, taken without regard to whether they could or could not pay for some of the cost themselves. If you don't have even adequate health insurance, why is it fair that you are mandated to pay for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid without an examination of the fairness of the programs? Please give us better coverage of the age groups!!

Until you are unemployed and uninsured then you care. This it dont affect me attitude is what brought us here. I work in healthcare and see it day in and day out. The cost are out of control acrross the board. Guess who foot the bill for the uninsured, we the tax payer so requiring healthcare is not a bad thing it just need to be affordable and the only way to do it is through a public option. Do you think insurance companies are going to lower rate by themselves? I have a Cadillac plan and make ove 1M a year but I remember what it was like to just get by.

I have had employer-based health insurance my whole working life and I have never had a choice. I get what the employer buys but one thing for sure I have had an increase in my premium every year and the service has reduced. Within the last couple of years, I now have to pay a co-pay to every business that touch my health care. I used to pay to my primary care physician only. So, the insurance companies have found ways to make more money but reduce their service to you. So, if the insurance companies are charging my employer and me more to cover the uninsured and the underinsured, then I pray a public option will be available for these Americans. Plus, I really cannot believe that as Americans we do not care if our people die from illnesses because of no health insurance. I pray that we are not that evil.

When was the last time congress passed a legislation for the benefit of people? USA has become one big morally challenged and socially unconscious Corporation run by lobbyists of Corporations, for corporations and by corporations where the sole reason of its existence is to make a buck at any price.

Maybe if Sen. Baucus didn't have some pre-conceived notion that any of the Republicans want to work out a bipartisan agreement, he woldn't have half the problems he's got now. Wake up, man!!!! Even though you don't have a public option in your bill and you shaved as much fat as you could off the bill to reduce costs, you STILL don't have GOP support. My feeling is that since the Dems now have 60 seats in the Senate and that the GOP has had half a year to agree to a bipartisan bill, the Dems need to take control and move forward with the public option, no matter how much the GOP and the insurance lobbyists whine and gripe.

If we had campaign finance reform and kept big money OUT of our politics, this wouldn't even be an issue. Over 65% of Americans support the Public Option or Single Payer. Baucus is obviously torn and is struggling with his conscience. We need to keep the pressure on and get this done. Hopefully, someday we can get to the root of the problem and attack campaign financing by big $$$ interests... both corporations AND unions. GET BIG $$$ INTERESTS OUT OF OUR GOVERNMENT NOW!

They need to target all the rest of those so called Democrats who really for some strange reason think they need to pay attention to the Republicans who stole all our money and won't support a bill no matter what you but in it. You would think they won the election . We didn't put the president in there to cave in to the robbers. Stop looking like a bunch of weaklings. And they should also target those blue dogs who are nothing but Traders. We finally get a Democratic senate and house and look what happens. What a group of idiots. Wait when the Republicans get back in office. You think they'll care about bipartisanship. Wake up Idiots.

Any proposal in our Congress today does not "reform" healthcare. The current proposals merely let the Democrats buy more votes by increasing the number of people beholding to them for their livelihood. We need separate legislative actions that attack the access issue of the 35 to 50 million (pick your pundits number) of uninsured; a bill that attacks the cost of healthcare through tort reform, government funded pharmacutical and high-tech medical research and development; and increased tutition with set pay back for students wishing to become doctors to address the doctor shortage. All will help "reform" healthcare, not like the current bills which will merely increase the budget deficit and incourage people to give up their insurance and go tot he government.

Party of "NO"?...you do realize that the Dems don't need the republican votes to pass any bill, they just can't agree on anything amongst themselves. It doesn't matter what the Republicans say, the "Party of NO" is just a concoction of the liberals to try and deflect attention away from their own inability to get things done. With the democrats in control of congress we are now seeing their true colors and unfortunately they are going to drag the rest of the country down with them.

A mandate to have insurance with no public option is worse than no reform at all. Perhaps the Blue Dogs are really Red Elephants in disguise.

Healthcare reforms from Baucus? Its like the Judas kiss, All a man can betray is his conscience are you with me Mr. Baucus or with my greedy neighbor?

I've waited a while, listening to all perspectives to decide what sounds most logical to me, and I have to say that I agree. Ultimately, I don't see how we can effectively manage to keep insurance costs down without influencing them through the direct competition of a public option. It wouldn't mean a "government takeover of health care", and it wouldn't mean a bureaucrat would be approving your treatments despite the lies being spread to the contrary, but it would mitigate private insurance company greed by forcing them to keep costs down as much as possible in order to compete.

We need a public option.

Baucus writting the rhealth reforms proposals is like Judas Iscariot kissing Jesus Christ. All a man can betray is his conscience!!

Are these "liberal Democrats" really trying to convince us that they are STUPIDER than the stupidest Republican? Because they are succeeding and they are doing more to hurt the Democratic Party than any Republican.

And just how will the public option make a pharmaceutical company, who currently charges $15,000 bag of special IV fluid, charge any less?

This healthcare "reform" scam is about who gets to keep your money – and it won't be you.

a case against health care reform can be made by some of the people some of the time who can be fooled all of the time. Once you accept that the system is broken from medicaid to the private cadillac plans, there's a choice: leave it as it is, a health care that penalizes the poor and the sick with needeless suffereing and early death, or fox it. If hyou fix it, you can't turn over 16 percent of your income to the heartless and greedy companies that are causing the problem to make money. Nor do you want medicaid for all. So you try the middle: a self sustaining but non profit public option that won't cover everyone, but won't allow recissions or exclusions because of existing health. The Baucus bill fails because he wants by law to transfer income to private companies without improving health care.

With all the money blown on fighting to get HCR all these liberal groups could have easily gotten those most in need some sort of coverage don't you think ? I mean they must care so deeply !

What member of today's state-run media will have the cajonnes to ask our messiah and salvation, the Great "O"ne, the real question that must be investigated: Did Obama and the Dems lie when saying that there would be no access to government healthcare programs by ILLEGAL aliens? Was Joe Wilson exactly correct – or not??

Maybe the majority of you can afford higher taxes, maybe you don't think that the cost of malpractice insurance is directly related to increase in medical fees. That we will wait on lines there will be rationing. Just think when you go to a specialist now how long it takes for an appointment let alone the emergency room. The CBO has scored this bill at nearly 1 Trillion dollars and thats before all the amendments that have yet to be added. And yes there will be pork in the HC bill. So add that on. Medicare Advantage for Seniors will be gutted. These are facts this is not some right wing conspiracy. If u notice Obama says you will be able to keep the same coverage u have now, He doesn't say you will be able to keep the same insurance company. We should have Healthcare Reform, just not on the back of Small business and the middle Class.

I happily contributed to getting this ad aired! I also sent Bauccus an email suggesting that he is no friend of the majority of people in this country that desperately need health care that is affordable and that he should resign!

The problem is quite evident but no one wants to discuss it. We have a Congress....both House and Senate where the majority of members have been taking bribes from the health care industry for years. Now the health care folks want their pound of flesh for the money. Guess who will lose in this "debate"? Hint...it won't be the members of Congress or the health care industry.

As long as we allow a "Bribe-ocracy" th flourish in Washington...we'll see no change.

Three years ago, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma but was lucky enough to only have to undergo 5 months of chemotherapy and 3 weeks of radiation. Over the course of my treatment, I accumalated just under $200,000 of medical bills. Fortunately I had health insurance and my family didn't have to lose basically everything we had so I could beat cancer. But what about those who are not as fortunate?
The fact that people are dying everyday, here, in the United States, of treatable illnesses because they cannot afford or qualify for healthcare is sickening and we should be appalled.
The fact that people will not support a public option because "they refuse to pay for others health insurance" really shows what direction our nation is heading.

As a dual citizen (Canada and US), I've experience both healthcare systems of both countries first hand. Though I currently have great coverage through my work here in the US, I would trade it in a heartbeat for government managed, single payer healthcare. People all over the rest of the developed world look at opponents to health reform in the US and just shake their heads in disbelief. Let me tell all of you first hand...in Canada I had my choice of doctors, NO ONE came between me and my doctor (certainly not insurance companies), and I NEVER had to wait for care. More importantly, I NEVER had to think about money when thinking about my health...they were never in the same equation.

To me it dont matter who supports what, bypartisan or not its what works, if the public option is what will work then lets get busy with that.We are tired of people that are afraid of change if it was not for change we will not be where we are today. I support President Obama wholeheartely and i believe he is the one that can get us where we need to be, people can say this is not the change we need but Excuse Me! this is exactly the change we need, it starts from the bottom up not the top down. Thank GOD for President Obama!

Rick, how can you make a blanket statement like that? There are too many people with their hands out? Do you only care about yourself? Don't you think that people, in the greatest country of them all, should have an unwavering right to gain access to health care when they are sick? I am single, and happy to have a job, I live frugally, and I still have trouble making ends meet. I can only imagine what its like for families that are trying to make ends meet and take care of their kids.

we need health care reform but we dont need to force people to buy health care!!!!!! if we force health care on American poeple than we need public option because i am not making any healh insurance rich and i will not buy it!!!

OK, correct me please if I'm wrong but isn't the difference between a "so called public option" and a "co-op" who manages it? The problem I have with the "so called public option" is that it is government managed, hence the disgust and distrust because the government has a bettable track record against doing anything right, including managing taxpayer provided revenue. The "co-op" approach is non-profit and funded by the users, much like the "so called public option" but managed by entities whose jobs depend on making it work for patrons or they get fired or the patrons leave to competition and they go out of business. So it's government controlled/mandated and IRS enforced, or competitive co-op based on free market competition. I choose the co-op. I don't need or want our government behind more corrupt ways of mishandling my taxes, or empowering the IRS as an enfprcement agency. Wake up morons.

Dems! We know you tried to get the Republicans to help. They are not interested in any form of health care reform. Just draft a good bill and vote it in and move on. Forget about the Republicans.

I think food is too expensive. I want the government to start farming to provide needed competition to bring food prices down. I want the government to compete with computer makers so my new laptop won't cost so much. I want the government to get into the car business to bring car prices down. Oh wait, they are already in the car business.

Simple fix, expand MediCare eligibility to all Americans. The infrastructure is in place, the tax collection method is already in place. The network and billing apparatus is already being used by doctors nationwide. The government currently handles about 60% of the nation's healthcare in one manner or another, VA, Medicare, MedicAid, etc. Private insurance could continue operating as a supplement or a primary insurer for those that choose not to opt in to an expanded Medicare program. Then, with all of the efficiencies the administration and Congress say could save money and be realized, it should be easy to streamline it. Just a couple of thoughts from a redneck right wing nut. But, I think most would agree with me.

Have a nice day.

Well, it looks as if the Repubs are not the only ones to eat their own kind

One last point....

In these comments I see a repetitive theme of people claiming they make a meager living and don't want to pay for others.... If you truly are making a "meager" living then chances are less than 0.5% of your income goes to social programs. Hence the refund you get on your taxes every year. If you make over $60,000 then it is more like 5%.

Almost 4 times that is spent on failed and abandoned defense programs every year..... Which would you rather pay for?

Through my wifes employer our insurance will go up an additional $75 per month. We need a public option. Since the employer automatically takes it out of your account most people don’t pay any attention to how much they are paying. The politicians who speak out against public option are the person who lacks patriotism.

Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security will bankrupt this nation nicely without adding a public option, thank you very much!

So let me get this straight, obama and his left wing party want to take money away from senior citizens, over $500 billion, through their medicare and give it inner city people through subsidies public option(free healthcare). It is a fact that the highest number of emergency room visits come from inner city african americans who don't work or pay taxes, so they put nothing into the system and obama wants them to get the most out of the system, via free health care. When the people who have paid the most into the system, senior citizens, get their health care reduced, rationed, or taken away to give to inner city african americans who don't work or pay taxes. When is this nightmare going to end.

There will never be consensus on this. The party in power has to do what it thinks is best for the country. The GOP thought it was best for the rich folks to get richer and the poor folks to die serving them.
Now it's the Dem's turn.
Forget the opposition. They opposed freeing the slaves. They opposed equal rights. They opposed women voting. Forget them and do wht's right.

All clear thinking Americans are against Obama's government take over of our health care. All he has left are the lib loons who would sacrifce their children if Obama ordered them to.

We know how things are run in Chicago-land. Blago-Obama libs in charge of our health care would be beyond a disaster. Yeah, insurance lobbyists are wasting money now, but this is a drop in the bucket compared to the waste of money that the coming corruption of Chicago-land cronies if we had socialized medicine, which libs like to call a public option. If you thought it seemed cool to stand in those bread lines for 10 hours in the USSR then by all means contiue to support what would be the same outcome for Americans waiting outside of hospitals and doctors offices. You will get the crumb, and the Chicago-land lib cronies and their fellow theifs will be getting the filled bread baskets.

Baucus is from Montana, the number he is dealing with are way over his head and the man needs aid, assisstance and guidedance in the worst way. Thank God the reform bill doesn't rest on his shoulders.

The level of ignorance astonishes me in this debate. I can almost see Karl Rove hiding behind the curtain watching this all unfold... Anyone remember swift boat? Gay marriage? All just distractions to take away from the core principal of reform. Healthcare Reform WILL help all of us, it will not raise taxes, there are no death panels, illegals will not be covered (any more than they are now) and we will all be paying less in the long run.

It is odd how acceptable it is to people that the insurance companies are deciding our fates every day based on profits and doctors are making decisions based on profits. No one seems to care that another 37 million insured people are actually ineligible for the insurance they pay for!

Why are we arguing the things that are 100% false about the reforms still instead of focusing on the people this reform will help? This is a move right out of the Rove playbook.... Distraction.....

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

So Rick, the guy laid off from GM, or the teachers laid off in Michigan, should do what exactly? By your process, they should just go somewhere and die, so that the taxpayers don't have to help them at all. Sounds like a death panel to me...if the unemployed and self-employed COULD buy reasonably priced insurance, they would be happy to. My voice teacher's premiums just went up $200 a month...she is single and healthy, and pays
nearly $500/month for the privilege of then co-paying her physician visits and scrips. So where does the rest of the money go? Into the insurance co. coffers as profits, which they then pay their execs, not into some fund that pays for the uninsured. We NEED a single payer, cheap system, and it can work. And it is not socialism...it is promoting "the general welfare"
just like the Constitution guarantees.

You Americans are unbelievable. You gripe and whine that people should pay for their own healthcare, but yet you sit back and expect your employer to share the bill for your coverage.

Are you that foolish to think there is a difference between letting your gov't pay or letting your employer pay??

If you really want to be responsible for yourselves, get rid of employee coverage altogether and actually pay for your own bills. I'll bet the public option wouldn't look so bad then, would it?

Happily covered by public health care in Canada.

Where were some of you when Bush was saying that he had created thousands of jobs (when in fact he allowed all manufacturing to be outsourced to foreign countries) and he only generated "McDonald' wages jobs? You probably still think that there were weapons of mass destruction.

Baucus knows the liberal leftists will not get a bill passed in the Senate. He knows a public option won't fly, so he is trying to finf middle ground.

If there was a Public option, businesses would quit providing health insurance in favor of the less expensive, less quality public option plan. More people would be forced into the government run program. Government can't run anything efficiently, why would you want them ruining your health care? It is a matter of Life and Death.

@Wakeup – "Public option is garbage. Everyone needs to support themselves. If you are disabled, then fed govt. can help you...."

YOU ARE MISINFORMED. I am a 53 year old disabled rare cancer patient. Until last year, I had worked hard and paid taxes all of my life – then I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and required extensive surgery. 2 days after I returned home from the hospital, I lost my job and health insurance.

Those who are deemed eligible for social security disability are, indeed, eligible for Medicare. HOWEVER, they must wait a total of 29 months (mandatory 5 months for disability + 24 months for Medicare waiting period) before Medicare covers them. In the meantime, over a million disabled Americans are stuck in limbo. Many of them have no choice but to apply for Medicaid (State & Federal program). My only income (or asset) is $1,500/month disability (which I paid into all of my life). In order for Medicaid to cover me, I must pay a "spend-down" (share of cost) of $5,200 per 6 month period. THIS MEANS THAT I MUST PAY NEARLY $900/mo. OR OVER 50% OF MY INCOME FOR HEALTH COVERAGE.

Research the information – you're probably not hearing anything about this. WE NEED A STRONG PUBLIC OPTION!!!

We need a public option, because the insurance companys are stealing people blind. even if you can afford to buy private insurance, some where in your policy there will be a clause that is hidden that says that they wont pay if it is against their policy. believe me they will refuse to pay if it some thing major. they can raise you premiums when they want to. i am a disabled veteran that can not get the help i need from the veterans hospitial. and my disability check is only $752.00 a month. try living on that and pay doctor bills.

Right now, you stop paying FICA on any income you earn above $90,000.

Removing that limit would provide needed funding for the health care reform the majority of Americans want and need.

Asking the wealthy to pay their way is reasonable. And they can afford it.

Afterall, if it weren't for the opportunity and freedoms our country gives them, they wouldn't be wealthy in the first place.

The latest reports still show the majority of Americans (65%) want a public option in our health-care reforms.

Why do people think it is the governments responsibility to take care of them, by taking from those who take care of themselves? Time to take responsibility for yourself and not expect the government and everyone else to take care of you.

There are some really stupid liberals out there which may explain why the Democrats can't get this done.
Some think the insurance companies have a monopoly. A monopoly would be if there was only 1 insurance company, there are hundreds. Single payer government universal health care would be a monopoly.
But states do limit how many companies can offer plans in their state. Tear this down and let all companies compete in every state and you will have a tremendous increase in competition. Just get government out of the way. Less government and not more will bring the biggest increase in competion. Government has been responsible for the lack of competition and higher costs.

Max Baucas is nothing more than just another Shill for anyone who will give up the cash for the Unethical to do their bidding. This IS Fascism, the marriage of government and corporate money! I say throw out any and all who play this game for profits. You work for us and it's about time so many of you figure this out and stop the revolving door of politics to lobbying! We are on to you folks. Peace

The Congressional Budget Office recently released a letter on health care reform, including the conclusion that a public option would reduce premiums across the board.

Sounds good to me!

The public option is a self-sustaining government-run system on a sliding fee scale for the Middle Class. It is not a free handout system.

If people want to get together and pay for their care, why should Congress reject their proposal?

It's a bait-and-switch anyway. A single-payer system is what we were promised, what works in other countries, will save lives and improve quality of life, and what we need to compete internationally. There is not one good reason to have health insurance companies standing between us and our health care!

What? He's a Democrap. How can other Democraps hate their own?

Those who oppose a public option must be communist.

How did I arrive at this conclusion?

A public option would introduce competition into the health insurance marketplace, a cornerstone of capitalism.

Therefore, if you oppose a public option, you must oppose capitalism and are a communist.

Stupid, huh? So are the arguments here against the public option.

Baucus is no idiot. Not when he knows which side of the bread is buttered. Our representative government is representative in name only as long as lobbying is legal. Baucus would have no trouble accepting what's good for society if his loyalties weren't the property of the highest bidder. Everyone knows this yet for some reason the anti lobby movement doesn't have the traction it should.

When this healthcare fight is over we ought aim our sights at lobbying and it's corrupt effect on a true democracy.

IF we had REFUSED to bailout AIG, the banks, the Automotive Industry and all the fat cats on Wall Street with our hard earned tax dollars we would not be having a discussion about a Public Option... we would have a PUBLIC OPTION!

We would have a PUBLIC OPTION because these corporations would NOT have our tax dollars to fight against it and a totally new, fair system of FINANCE would have evolved... we allowed the STATUS QUO not only to be rebuilt, but enhanced!

ANYONE who voted for the bailout should be targeted by the voters for extinction: they do NOT serve WE THE PEOPLE…

And we thought he is one among the Dems. How Dumb!
The liberals and the barbaric right wingers ought to tone down the rhetoric and give it a rest.

I also have a heart condition, and I`m also more than $100,000 dollars in debt . We need to have a more leval playing field , we need the public option , we need to have the means to keep the health insurance insdustry honest ...... Max Baucus , we know you recieve a lot of money from the health insurance lobby, but you also recieve a fat salary , and an excellent medical package from taxpayers like me , who don`t have any medical insurance . So , stop acting like scum , and do the right thing , for the people of America , WE WANT AND NEED TO HAVE THE PUBLIC OPTION .........

"How is it that "no public option" equals monopoly?"

Antitrust laws do not apply to the insurance industry. Look it up.

Vote against anyone that votes against the Public Health Plan..if they aren't Republicans..then they are weak kneed democrats that are too frightened of the Republicans to vote the way the people elected them to. Your names will be taken.

The governement can't run medicare, social security, cash for clunkers, fannie mae & freddie mac, & several other programs & some of you people want them to run healthcare. Please note the following:

Doing the same things & expecting the results to be different is INSANITY!!!!

The governement can run medicare, social security, cash for clunkers, fannie mae & freddie mac, & several other programs & some of you people want them to run healthcare. Please note the following:

Doing the same things & expecting the results to be different is INSANITY!!!!

The ad is totally correct. Baucus has received over $4 MILLION in donations from health care entities.
Health Care Reform without Public Option will be a farce. It is the only plan that will make insurance companies become competitive, accountable, stop the raping of the American people and perhaps bring back some integrity to the health related businesses.
Public Option is the only option that truly benefits middle class, less fortunate, senior citizens and disabled.
We will no longer allow or tolerate big business, lobbyists, special interests or those who support them continue to run, control our country and make crucial decisions on our behalf. Just look at
what this has done to our country these last eight years.
Please contact every politician you can, ussenators.com or ushouseofrepresentatives.gov and demand they represent the
American people by supporting Public Option.

The Bauchus Bill is a rough draft – a starting point for discussion and hammering out the details ... rational people know its not the final bill – sensible people are speaking to their elected officials on what matters to them ... its called democracy ... ain't neat or pretty but its still the best system available.

A public option will just be another money pit like Social Security and Medicare. There are better ways to increase competition like letting the hundreds of insurance companies compete accross state lines. This would actually be more competition than adding 1 more choice.
A pubic option is certain to add to the deficits. It is clear that Liberal Democrats don't have a clue what to do about the deficits or for that matter really care about them. The only Democrats that really care about our nations future are the Blue Dogs who want to be responsible about spending, care about the deficits, and want health care reform that will increase protecitons for those already covered, get everyone else covered and bring down costs. By far the best way to go for everyones good is without the public option.

Why compare healthcare to the automotive industry? How many people die each year from not being able to buy a car? I haven't had one for 6 years and use (wait for it) public transportation! When I have a situation that requires a car I rent one or I borrow one. You can't do that with health insurance. If you can't afford health insurance or get dropped for being expensive, you will likely never have the option to buy it ever again.

Reforming the insurance industry sounds like a solution but think of it this way. They have billions of dollars of incentives to hire lawyers and find any loophole in the system. That's what they've been doing for 60 years and only a fool would think they won't continue.

Insurance companies are sucking the life out of the American families,... an American fellow from Buffalo, was fishing in Canada, had to go to a Canadian hospital in an emergency, spent 3 days cost him $1800.00 CND., ..Returned to Buffalo spent 3 days in an American hospital, got billed for$24,000.00,.. that's how you bankrupt a family, under your present system,... the public option is the only way to go you dummies.

How fast the "Right" is to put down Unions for working Americans,but quick to defend the Corporate crooks running health care.I smell a vested interest from the crooks posting today,could it be you work for them?

So, if I don't need public option insurance, I should oppose it for you because I got mine and you can got hell?

I wonder what the religious party is advocating?

If there was a public option to have heathcare coverage more people would carry insurance. Why is it socialist for us to have a government option, when Medicaid and Medicare are both government run health care for the poor and old. Wake up America, the profit needs to be taken out of healthcare because it is a necessity for all who lives.

There's too many people in this country, with their hand out. Most of those, do little to support themselves. I am tired of supporting them, on my own meager income level, so I say........you want insurance, by dang, PAY FOR IT!

Why is it that we trust our Education, Library Services, Fire Protection, Postal service, Public Safety, National Safety and Health Care for all those services to the government, and yet we do not trust our government to help THE PEOPLE with a public option for health care?

By this logic shouldn't we be living in a burning mire of stupidity that is consistently sick and forever being attacked by other nations?

What is the use of educating and protecting a society that can not agree that the best thing for the society is that everyone is well, that the best way for a capitalistic society to flourish is to have people alive and well putting MONEY back into the system. People going bankrupt because they can not pay their medical bills is NOT good for the system…because that just creates more deficit. Wouldn’t it be better for EVERYONE to be paying into the kitty and having that kitty actually generating money? Wouldn’t it be better for the insurance companies to NOT have to pay out premiums due to the fact that everyone is well?

What are we so afraid of? Perhaps this is the selfish people in this country's version of natural selection. Has evolution just become a matter of wealth and greed?

If we do not get a new public option, then the earnings limits for Medicaid eligibility must be raised so that those families who cannot afford insurance can qualify for Medicaid.

Healthcare is a right – not a privilege!
The GOP does not agree as it goes against the Republican edict of keeping that separation between the 'haves' and the 'haves not'.

I love the example of paying .44 for the public option/$15 for the private option!!...what a joke...I bet the private option arrived first..was able to be tracked..and you could "see" who received....the public option is still sitting somewhere waiting....waiting...and waiting to be delivered with no way to track etc.....People make the comment that we already have public options...and we do....medicare is under water and drowning...with untold billions of estimated payouts for healthcare for those of us baby boomers hoping to retire...and we all know what a joke medicaid is...and social security....can you tell me where the money is we have paid into it???....nothing but IOU's sitting there.....so give me a break...the "public option" would be another debacle...and don't get me started on the VA and Tricare....you don't don't what you are talking about if you haven't dealt with them....so please....NO PUBLIC OPTION>> true reform is needed not another program.....!!!!!

The MAJORITY Of Americans do NOT want the public option. Less than 50% support it.

Thank you both, the Progressive Change Committee and Democracy for America!

Thanks also to Actblue for their ad telling Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln and Rep. Mike Ross to stop doing the bidding of the insurance industry by blocking the public health insurance option.

And, of course, thanks are owed to Health Care for America NOW!

What do we want? A PUBLIC OPTION!! When do we want it? RIGHT NOW!! WHAT Happens if we dont get it? We vote every incumbent Republican and Democrat out of office in 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Obama and the Democrats are a joke on the public option issue.
The Democrats are obstructing health care reform because they can't generate enough votes in their party to pass reform with or without a public option. And Obama is no help, he just makes it worse. He votes present on the issue. He says he supports a public option which encourages the liberals and so they hold their ground and say they will not vote for a bill without a public option. Then Obama says the public option is not essential and so the Blue Dogs hear Obama saying he will give up the public option and they hold their ground to not vote for a bill with one. Good job Democrats, way to govern.

To paraphrase a former President...

"Insurance does not solve problems... Insurance IS the problem.

The private sector has had over 60 years to demonstrate its mythical efficiency. We are not having this conversation to celebrate its success in that endeavor.

The idea that everyone who receives govt assistance is a worthless, lazy, freeloader is one of the most ignorant and un-Christian things I have ever heard. My mother had no choice but to take govt aid when my father died unexpectedly. She worked multiple jobs, but it just wasn't enough to provide my sister and I. So I don't want to hear any moron who has never truly been in need of aid complaining about how we're becoming a "welfare state" It's our God-given duty to take care of our fellow men. Did you learn nothing from the Bible??

Baucus is a sell out. even though the party of no is not going along with anything put out there, baycys still submit a bill with no public option, who are you trying to impress? The GOP are a bunch of ignorant racist and no matter what is bought before this group of narrow minded clowns it its not there way then they shoot it down. baucus bill is a joke and he can keep it.

chris your comment "you are going to seek medical treatment for any little thing" goes to show how narrow minded and uneducated you are about the public option. clown.

We cannot possibly have people this stupid running the Congress right now... did the congressional liberals learn nothing from watching the right wing fringe of the Republican party chase away the moderates the past 8 years? Nice game plan, liberals, chase all the moderates back over to the Republicans and then watch the blood bath that will ensue in 2010. And if the Republicans are too stupid (or too tied down by Rush, Beck and Hannity) to capitalize on this, then I don't want them running things, either. Maybe the moderates should form a third party and then we can start making progress in this country again. Neither party seems to want them anyway...

SOCIALISM..... We don't Need SOCIALISM in AMERICA.....
SOCIALISM..... Obama's Health Reforms are SOCIALISM.....
SOCIALISM..... SOCIAL SECURITY, is it not SOCIALISM.....
SOCIALISM..... FREE EDUCATION UNTIL 12 GRADE, is it not SOCIALISM.
SOCIALISM..... BAIL OUT OF WALL STREET, is it not SOCIALISM.
SOCIALISM..... BUSH lied that IRAQ has WMD's, is it not SOCIALISM.
SOCIALISM..... We believed what BUSH said, is it not SOCIALISM.
SOCIALISM..... 4300 Troops died, is it not SOCIALISM.
SOCIALISM..... Feds BAILED OUT AIG and BANK of AMERICA, is it not SOCIALISM.

How easily we get Fooled and Misled by GOP............ Whatever Bush and GOP did is not Socialism........... Whatever Obama is doing is Socialism..............

WAKE UP PEOPLE AND OPEN YOUR EYES...... DON'T BE FOOLED AND MISLED BY GOP.

How is it that "no public option" equals monopoly? That's like saying the car companies have a monopoly on car production. It's a ridiculous statement. Something the leftists need to realize is that the insurance industry is a business. It must operate for profit or it doesn't operate at all. The leftist would then counter that we need government run health insurance so that care is not profit driven but available to everyone. This same argument could be extended to homes and food, but what they have forgotten is that freedom means you take the good with the bad. You don't have a right to insurance, i.e. paying someone to take the risk for the bad things that happen to you. A public option just opens the door to a single payer system and the libs know it, that's what they want. But to what end? To make it work fiscally, they have to either run up massive deficits, or deny care, as other countries have done. And if you deny care, what was the point in the first place? Who comes out ahead? The government does, because you are now dependent on them for a new "entitlement".

Yes I want government out of my life including medicare/medicade, soc. sec., fdic, fanny mae. I have my own retirement savings plan and buy private insurance when I am not employed and have employer sponsered insurance. I believe in social security for the sick and disabled that did not have enough time to save for these hazards, not as a crutch for people who don't want to live within their means when they are working. Fanny MAE and Freddie MAC did not make the mortgage business any more competitive they almost brought all lenders down with them with high-risk loans. Medicade is the scariest program of all. I would never put a family member of mine in a Medicaide facility. This farmer has no insurance but he is having children. Did he not think his family would need it or did he think the "government" would be there when he needed it, even putting his care before the needs ofour military and disabled?

Im just going to agree with this comment because she took the words straight out of my mouth...
I have no use for a public option. President Obama and the democratic congress claim there are so many billions of dollars in fraud in medicare, how can we trust the government to run any health care program? That fraud and waste have been in medicare for a long time and congress has done nothing to correct it. I am sure that everyone knows someone or has someone in the own extended family that has or is abusing the system. We all know someone on disability who we see daily doing things that indicates that they could work. If it appears to be free, there will always be people who will take advantage of the rest of us.

Just allow the insurance companies to compete across state lines, put a set of ground rules for them all to follow, reform torte laws with some caps.

These and many other simple reforms have been proposed by the republicans but no one will even give them a hearing.

It's become tiresome hearing the accusation thrown around that anyone that supports a public option is lazy and wants a hand-out. It's derogatory and, more-importantly, ignorant. Many of us out there are educated people with good jobs and insurance. We just recognize that a public option is needed. Otherwise, the market place will only reward the company that does the best job of avoiding the sick and maintaining the status quo.

I know for one, if there is ever a public option, I plan on abusing the system and going to the hospital for every little thing. A scratch, small cut, minor burn, minor cold, anything. My view is, if you want me to pay more taxes for a ridiculous system that will only take this country farther in to debt, I'm not going to self medicate for anything. Why should I buy band-aids, cold medicine, etc... I will let the government option pay for it.

What is with you people and your public option. It is a trillion solutions for a problem we haven’t figured out yet. The government pays 46% of the money spent on healthcare in this country, and only insures 28% of the population. Why is half of the population convinced the government can do it better when it costs them twice as much.

Let the privet sector compete without restriction and see where the industry is in a year. I understand FREE is not enough money to spend for the far left. Public option was the first idea out of a lefty’s mouth and they spent a lot of time selling it, I just can’t believe how many people bought it.

Letting government run things is as bad a letting large corporation go unregulated. The only difference is with government no one makes money and no one is over them to regulate them.

The country went to far right for too long; if we decide to go too far left we will not solve any existing issues and we will create many more.

We want a public option. But it's real hard to persuade a senator who is in the back pockets of insurance companies. Get rid of these Blue Dogs and elect some true liberals and moderates.

Get real. This will never happen until there is a majority for it. As long as people know that a public option is basically a government takeover; not gonna happen.

Why would the Government Option be able to compete across state lines,but the other health insurance companies can not? That is not competetion, Obama keeps spouting off about. Why will the Democrats not talk about a loser pays system( Tort reform) to lower health and Mal- practice insurance costs? Why does Obama keep lying about being able to keep your health insurance if you like it? when the bill clearly would be taking money from Medicare to pay for this new program? Making 10 million Seniors change to the government run program.

You fight for us Obama for that is what you do best. I am so pleased to be a Democrate ,so that I can pray and support your every efforts to help the American people. Don't listen to the ney sayers for they are a sad bunch of crazy fools. We all know that and so you continue to do what is best for us , for we all are praying around the clock for you our beloved smart, centered, grounded, man of God to do what is right for the people. Continue to fight for everyone and don't worry about these fools who write all the foolishness , for continue to focus on what is for us and we will focus on deep, deep prayers for everyone. May the good Lord continue to keep you safe , and give you the mind of Christ to do what is right for the American people those that voted for you and those that did not. Be for the people of all race and color.

Why doesn't Congress concentrate on getting people JOBS right now and then worry about the Health issue? With all the stimulus money that has been spent on who knows what, you could have given vouchers to those who need healthcare and are eligible, money for the premiums. And now i read where Democrats want healthcare for the illegals?? You Democrats sure know how to run a country, oops i mean "ruin" a country.
Please for all of you that are all so bent on public option and healthcare for all, please show your support and belief by sponsoring a family that doesnt have healthcare and pay their insurance premiums for a year! Any takers out there??? hmmmmm "Silence"

Sen. Baucus should represent the majority of Americans who support a public option for increased competition and extending affordable coverage to those in need.

Instead of misguided cooperatives, Sen. Snowe's recommendation for a public option trigger seems a far more reasonable compromise.

HEALTHCARE MAFIA consists of People like MADOFF.

Health Care Mafia Pays Bribes to GOP to Support their cause, so that:

1. They can Earn Unscrupulous Profits and Embezzle Money.

2. They can become Rich by Plunder and Extortion of the Middle Class.

3. They can Defraud the Public to deprive them of the Health Services.

4. They can Control and Deny the Doctors Independent Judgment.

Funny....Farmer's in the Midwest have been using private co-ops since the late 90's. It has covered thousands of families and brought down health insurance costs.

Wisconsin has had a huge success with private co-ops. I wonder why THAT'S not in the bill. I bet it would cost less than 1.3 trillion or 800 billion....whatever the price tag is for the public option.

Progressive Change Committee and Democracy for America should have picked some other BOGUS story. I don't buy this Bing guy's story one bit.

Republican's are only against STUPID reform, not reform.

Democrats are their own worst enemy at times... and Baucus is it !

My question is, what is going on with the 13 Appropirations Bills Congress by it own laws is supposed to pass by 30 SEP. A third of the Federal Budget, all the discretionary spending is tied to those 13 bills. They have historically done a terrible job of getting them passed. Why can't they act in accordance with the laws they pass thay regulate their own acitivites?!

Baucus has become an obstructionist is the healthcare reform. When will drop his fake idea of a bipartisan bill and embrace a Public Option?

America is a CAPITALIST Country.

PUBLIC OPTION is CAPITALISM because it is FAIR COMPETITION

NO PULIC OPTION is SOCIALISM because it is MONOPOLY.

Instead of using him for their own gain in this ad, why don't the sponsors of the ad pay his medical bills?

So what we are seeing is that there is both a right-wing and a left wing conspiracy!

They are either both political action groups or both conspiracies – you decide!

Question Authority.

I voted for Obama. I did not vote for him because I wanted liberals ramming through extreme programs. He needs to be the leader he can be and tell the extreme left of his party to stop sniping at the people who are more centrist. If the extreme left of the party insists on getting its way, then that moderate center will swing back to the Republicans and the next President Bush will hamstring or reverse whatever monstrosity they do put in place.

Insurance companies, even "co-ops", will never perform in such a way as to lower their profits. The only way to force them to offer a better product at a fairer price is to provide low cost, effective insurance! That means gov't run insurance. To all those hypocrats who claim to want gov't out of their lives, does that include medicare/medicade, soc. sec., fdic, fanny mae, va loans, etc?

We need to send a STRONG message to the politicians!!

NO PUBLIC OPTION - POLITICIANS WILL BE VOTED OUT OFFICE! They are being bought by the pharmatical companies and insurance companies. If we put them all in the unemployment line - they won't have insurance either!!

WE ALSO WANT SINGLE PAY!

I have no use for a public option. President Obama and the democratic congress claim there are so many billions of dollars in fraud in medicare, how can we trust the government to run any health care program? That fraud and waste have been in medicare for a long time and congress has done nothing to correct it. I am sure that everyone knows someone or has someone in the own extended family that has or is abusing the system. We all know someone on disability who we see daily doing things that indicates that they could work. If it appears to be free, there will always be people who will take advantage of the rest of us.

Just allow the insurance companies to compete across state lines, put a set of ground rules for them all to follow, reform torte laws with some caps.

These and many other simple reforms have been proposed by the republicans but no one will even give them a hearing.

NO GOVERNMENT OPTION!

Shirley Wood
Kenosha, WI

All developed countries have achieved affordable health care for their citizens thanks to a public plan. No one has done it with private industry. Need I say more?

Health insurance isn't a luxury. We've had enough of selfishness, greed, and oppression, and we're going to get this reform along with its public option.

Yes, give us a public option. Please. Good for the Dem groups. Enough of the Party of No.

So, it's bad to take money from insurance companies (that actually creat e jobs in the U.S.) but it is OK to take money from a Liberal Advocacy Organizations (that create nothing) from outside the state?

Health care, like education, is a right and not a privilege, although you'd think that both are privileges nowadays the way the health care and education systems pander to the upper class while screwing the middle and lower classes.

When you demand a public option, do you realize that your employer will immediately raise your health insurance premium so as to force you to the public option?
Then you will become subject to government program, good or bad.

Its not Reform without a Strong Public option

Its not Reform without a Strong Public Option

Its not Reform without a Strong Public Option

Dont let em fool ya......

End the Great American Rip-Off........Demand a Strong Public Option

End the Scam, End the Scam End the Scam

I'm a 59-year old TAXPAYING American citizen, currently without insurance - as I have been for most of the last 10 years. At last try, the only insurance company willing to cover me wouldn't include my pre-existing conditions, had a minimum $5,000 deductable, and the monthly premium rivaled my mortgage.

Private insurance companies somewhere along the line decided that they had to make ridiculous profits, rather like our oil companies, and found that by putting non-medical people in charge of deciding what was covered and what was not, they reduced their payouts. I'm not at all saying that insurance companies shouldn't make a profit, but looking at the differences of the profits they were making 10 years ago and today nearly made me throw up. They are, pure and simple, a monopoly that has gotten too powerful.

A public option is the only answer. Only then will they actually face competition, and start putting out better products at a more reasonable cost. And only then will people like me not have to hope and pray that nothing serious happens between now and when I qualify for Medicare, and that Medicare will still be there when I need it!

The only people left who want the "public option" are losers who want someone else to pay their medical bills, and politicians who want those losers to vote for them. Sensible people have long since figured out that even if it were a good idea, which it isn't, the country can't afford another trillion-dollar welfare program for the indolent, irresponsible, and improvident.

without a public option.... Health care reform is all smoke and mirrors. Insurance companies win. America loses. Have a nice day!

I can not believe anyone would think that our government could run an insurance program. The Baucus bill is the only thing that will pass, the Dems will not let anything else pass. There has to be something passed that can be changed in the near future that would include the Public option.

If there is a Public Option, we should all quit our jobs. The Almighty Obamassiah will take care of us all!

How about a "reverse trigger"?

The very minute the so-called "public option" runs a single dime of deficit, the plug gets pulled?

And so that no slight of hand takes place, word the legislation in such a way that it cannot be changed without an 80% majority in BOTH chambers.

Do that, and it will be dead in year 1.

A situation like that of Bing Perrine would be avoided under Sen. Baucus's proposed health-care reform WITHOUT a public option.
The television ad of the liberal Democrats is therefore specious and DECEPTIVE, not to use the L-word.
You want me to be taxed to pay for your public-option health-care insurance.
I want you to be taxed to pay for my champagne–no, Veuve Cliquot–and caviar.
Why should you pay for my luxuries?
Why should I pay for your health-care insurance?
You want it, you pay for it.

Are the Democrats so bad at math that they don't realize that the Republicans can't stop anything. If this bill is so great why haven't the
Democrats already passed it. Quit blaming the Republicans , the democrats have all the power.

About time; sell-outs like Baucus need to know that they will be held accountable by the people. There is no reason to push the lame and ineffective co-op idea over the more efficient public option other than catering to the insurance companies. Even 50% of Republican voters support the public option so the fact that virtually no Republicans in Congress are likely to vote for it shows just how much sway the insurance companies have.

A corrupt Democrat is no better than a corrupt Republican, and the likes of Baucus and the "blue dogs" better take notice.

i guess liberals also subscribe to the saying, "if you're not with us, then you're against us". it is surprising how liberal groups are now willing to target democrats and anyone else who stands in their way.

Let's see now, 1300 insurance companies in the U.S. , but 1 more(read government) will provide competition?? Why not just remove the state border barriers and let the 1300 actually compete equally? Or does that make too much sense?

People do not understand, the public option is not competition. The government option will easily destroy private insurance. They do not have to make any money and they could actually lose money for years. No private company has that luxury or could even compete against it.

Attacking Baucus makes sense, he's a wolf in sheeps clothing. He has taken THREE MIILION DOLLARS from the Insurance industry to do their bidding. He's a traitor and bought and paid for. He should be outted for his tie ins with the Insurance industry, he basically works for them AGAINST the American people. What a loser.

Villifying the Insurance Companies will not work. Why? Because, aside form collecting premiums, they have also PAID THE BILLS in the vast majority of cases. Yes, insures need to compete....but amongst themselves in a larger freer market...NOT against a government program that has the deck stacked in its favor. Public Option = Me losing my choice to keep my insurance(which has worked GREAT for 40 years now) eventually.

ILLEGALS should get HEALTH CARE.

Stopping HEALTH CARE for ILLEGALS is INHUMAN.

GOP never STOPPED illegals to get into US in the last 8 years.

STOPPING illegal immigartion is NOT INHUMAN.

STOPPING health care to illegals is INHUMAN.

STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – NOT HEALTH CARE TO ILLEGALS.

We should march on these companies not the government.We need the option,not more corporate greed.

Read the Schumer and Rockefeller amendments, folks. If included as part of a passed Bill, Joe Wilson will have been right on......

If you say "my insurance is good" you're playing a waiting game that you will lose. Rates will continue to go up while coverage decreases. I know this to be fact. I work for a major, in the publie eye, health insurance company. Competition is needed to drive down costs.

Nothing in this country ever gets done anymore. This country has no sense of it's self anymore and I hate it. I trully have given up on politicans and their greed on BOTH sides. This public option is a good thing. But they will never give it to us. I AM NOT HOLDING MY BREATH for the public option.

NO Public option, No Universal health care, No to this disaster of a healthcare proposal, throw it out and start over. Reform the insurance companies, allow all insurance companies to compete in all 50 states. Insurance needs to be affordable and available for all to PURCHASE on their own..........not tax some to pay for others!

I can't tell if the Democrats are just really stupid when they say the Republicans are the ones obstructing health care reform, or if they are just trying to cover their own behinds. Clearly the Republicans do not have enough votes in either the House or Senate to stop the Democrats from passing any bill they want. The Republicans wish they actually had the votes to obstuct Obamacare.
As this article clearly demonstrates, the Democrats are split on the public option and can't generate enough votes to pass a bill with or without a public option.
The Democrats are responsible for obstructing health care reform. Their claim that it is the Republicans who are obstructing shows they are really really stupid or that they are lying in an effort to hide the fact that they are the party responsible for obstructing and to hide just how terrible a leader Obama has been on this issue.

I wonder if the retirees in Arizona will be allowed to keep their medicare and VA benefits when they pass the no government health care plan in November of 2010.

Having a public option IS Capitalism!

THE PEOPLE DEMAND PUBLIC OPTION!

Yes people are increasingly becoming skeptical of Senator Baucus due to the huge amount of money he gets from the lobbyists. We need a public option...it's not about right-wing nuts, profits or lobbyists. It's about what's best for the middle class and the millions with no job.

Let's try the Baucus plan for a few years. See if it works. If the cost of healthcare and insurance premiums do not decrease, then trigger in the Public Option in say.... 5 years. It doesn't matter how you label it. Healthcare premiums must go down!!!!

to rob the nation???? we need health care reform with PUBLIC OPTION....it is only way to compete...ok....just pass this legislation first and talk....

rassmussen poll Septe 28th 2009 shows 41% support for PREs Obama healthcare reform. Over 56% are opposed. This is the lowest level of support yet. Obama has lost the independents and seniors in this debate. If obamacare passes look out in the 2010 elections.

This is EXACTLY what we need. We MUST have a public option.

If insurance companies and their minions are worried that they can not compete against what they themselves claim will be a 'horrible government run system'...then how retardedly poor is the current system?

Drop the bipartisan part. The retarded right wing will NEVER do anything to better america. Never has happened and won't happen now. Leave them crying and let's get on with fixxing america!

You can trust the gov't more than you can trust a corporation.

how anyone can say they are happy with their insurance coverage amazes me!

your incomes have fallen because of the amount of money your employer have had to increasingly pay towards your premium, and your copay have risen, and your actual coverage has diminished.

if you are happy with this situation, then keep your lousy private insurance and give us the option of the public plan!

If you don't like the public option then how can you say you support the troops?

The public option puts us all in an affordable option.

If a Democratic congress passes the Baucus bill, then I give up. Just let the Republicans run the country and leave me alone.

Dems–this is our chance to show what good we can do for America. The Republicans had 8 years to demonstrate their value to the country and they blew it!!! Big time. Let's not follow in their footsteps.

If I mail a letter to Wasilla, AK, I can use the public option for 44 cents, or I can overnight it by using the private private option for around $15.

It would seem that a lot more people would also be able to use the affordable option in health care if it was made available.

GOP wants ONLY Private Control of Health Care Which is:

1. MONOPOLY not FAIR COMPETITION.

2. Fair Competition will be only if there is PUBLIC OPTION.

3. MAFIA / GOP does not want PUBLIC OPTION. Mafia / GOP wants all PRIVATIZATION, so that they can Plunder, Embezzle and Extort.

4. HEALTH Insurance in America has failed – It must succeed now.

5. HEALTH Insurance COSTS, OVERHEADS and OPERATING COSTS are higher than the BENEFITS to THE INSURED.

6. HEALTH Insurance is a WASTE, SOURCE OF CORRUPTION AND EXTORTION.

CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE – WE WILL CHANGE AMERICA.

No ifs, ands or buts – WE NEED A PUBLIC OPTION to keep the corrupt insurance companies and the nasty, Senators who are profting from the insurance companies, from robbing the citizens of this country BLIND and KILLING them. Talk about death panels!

Baucus should be impeached. I found it troubling that he refused to allow time for the bill to be read. This smaks of someone trying to get something into law that they know the voters don't want.

Hopefully Montana will wake up and retire this idiot.

We need the public option. We need ads like this everywhere..against republicans AND blue dogs who oppose reform and are getting paid millions by the insurance lobby! Call them out for all to see who they are REALLY working for!

I don't like the ideal of Americans who choose not to enroll into a health care plan would be fine or jailed by the IRS. It smacks of communism.

Public option is garbage. Everyone needs to support themselves. If you are disabled, then fed govt. can help you, but no more for the lazy and unwilling. Many of us have 2 jobs, and are sick of supporting the lazy. Capitialism makes this govt. strong and hard working.

Great idea, this should be done in all states that have conservative & blue dog democrats, if they can not get on board & support the will of the American people & NONE of the GOP are going to support any reform BLAST THEM now & again when they are up for re-election. If they want to act like republicans leave our party & go to the party of NO...

This ad is right... call it what it is. Any reform without a public option is too watered down to make a difference.

I heard on the radio yesterday that a study came out that showed in the last decade, healthcare premiums have risen 90 to 150%!!!

If we don't have a public option, nothing is going to change.