I am really sick and tired (no pun intended) of all the pessimism and negativity towards President Obama and the Affordable Care Act. Understandably, I am only one person out of more than 317 million Americans...but without "ObamaCare"...I would not have health insurance. If you have read The Controversy throughout the last year then you undoubtedly are aware that I am a 2-time cancer survivor who suffers from Crohn's Disease and an assortment of other health issues. And although I agonize from extreme pain everyday of my life...I live...I work...and I function as a capable, breathing human being...with the help of medical care and prescription medicine. If there was no Affordable Care Act...if there was no "ObamaCare"...then with all my pre-existing conditions...I would not be able to get that care...and get that medicine...and the bottom line is...I would not be able to get health insurance. In fact...I was turned down time and time again.For those of you who oppose the Affordable Care Act...and want to criticize an outstanding President of the United States - a phenomenal humanitarian and a humane human being - that is your choice. Thank God - and our nation's founding fathers - you have the freedom as an American citizen to privately and publicly...like or dislike our President...agree with him or disagree with him...praise him or chide him. But think about someone in your family...or a friend of yours who was not able to purchase health insurance before the Affordable Care Act...but now...because of President Obama and "ObamaCare"...your loved one can be protected with an insurance package to cover costs for his or her pre-existing ailments.
The United States of America was created on building blocks of the wealthy helping the poor. Our country was molded by good, decent people who assist others who do not have as much...and who need more...in order to just survive. Are the greedy of today that selfish...that stingy...and so ungenerous...that they can't give a little more...to aid those who need that help?
Admittedly...my income bracket is not in the top two percent of our nation's employed. And don't tell me - as others have - if I was richer...if I had more money in my bank account...and a fatter paycheck every week...that I would have a different opinion. Because I can flatly say...definitively...and categorically...without any exception whatsoever...that I would have the same view as I do now. After all...I am a charitable...and philanthropic individual in my own right...and I help people nearly everyday of my life...by means that I can. And I would do more...if I could. I am certain of that.
There are people in my own family who are, let's say..."extremely comfortable"...and they "give 'til it hurts" - with their money...and by volunteering with their time. Others in my family live "check to check"...and they too..."give 'til it hurts." So in their own way...in our own way...in my own way...and in your own way - that is...some of you - each of us goes above and beyond to help others. But that phrase... "give 'til it hurts"...is really not the proper or correct wording. Simply put... when you are hurt...you are generally not happy. But giving money or time to help others..."giving 'til it hurts"...does make you happy. Or it should. And some of the less than privileged...as do some of the more fortunate...give more from their hearts...when they give from their wallets.
On October 1st, 2013, the Health Insurance Marketplace opened...including the federal government's healthcare website. HealthCare.gov is the chief portal for uninsured Americans in 36 states. The remaining 14 states are operating their own on-line exchanges where people can purchase health insurance coverage and receive subsidies to assist with their premiums. It's unfortunate that HealthCare.gov has had its share of technical difficulties that perhaps should have been discovered and repaired prior to its launch. But technology is not always a perfect science...and with anything technical... there can be glitches...none of which have anything to do with the Affordable Care Act itself. As for the issues facing "ObamaCare On-Line"...The White House has employed a private company to fix the HealthCare.gov website... and to work out all the "bugs" by November 30th. So give Uncle Sam...and President Obama... some leeway...to iron out the kinks.
MSNBC's Morning Joe host, Joe Scarborough told NBC's Meet The Press moderator David Gregory on the November 10th, 2013 edition of the world's longest running television program, "This botched launch is a self-inflicted wound by the President. It showed just how disconnected he's been." I can't disagree more with the former Republican Congressman from Florida. 
In an exclusive interview on Thursday, November 7th, 2013 with NBC News Chief White House Correspondent and Political Director Chuck Todd...President Obama stated he is "deeply frustrated" about the failures of the HealthCare.gov website during its first few weeks of operation. I respect the President for saying that "Ultimately, the buck stops with me. I'm the President. This is my team. If it's not working...it's my job to get it fixed." I admire President Obama for speaking the words that were made famous by a sign that sat on the Oval Office desk of President Harry S. Truman...but I have never been one who believes in "The buck stops here." The President of the United States...or the president or head of any entity...is not always responsible for something that fails...especially when there are hundreds...or thousands of people involved in developing and implementing a project. President Obama is not to be blamed for HealthCare.gov's technology troubles.As for the accusations that President Obama intentionally lied...when he - over the past few years - uttered the words, "If you like your healthcare plan...you can keep it"...I...for one...do not believe that the President lied about anything. After all...by definition...a "lie"...is "a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive." Deliberate intent to deceive? President Obama did nothing of the sort. And for Joe Scarborough to tell David Gregory on Meet The Press..."The fact is that the President did not tell the truth and it was a calculated misstatement"...that is a harsh comment with no proof...no validity and one that should be retracted...as it is inaccurate and unjustified. In his conversation with Chuck Todd...President Obama "regret(s) very much" that his administration wasn't "as clear as we needed to be." But that is not lying...and certainly not a deliberate intent to deceive.
In his interview with Chuck Todd, President Obama apologized to those Americans whose insurance plans are being cancelled because of the new healthcare law. "I am sorry that they are finding themselves in this situation based on assurances they got from me." And the President says he's going to "work hard to make sure those folks are taken care of." He has "assigned" his "team" to "see what we can do to close some of the holes and gaps in the law." But Mr. Obama wants everyone to know that "Most of the folks who got these cancellation letters... they'll be able to get better care at the same cost or cheaper in these new marketplaces...because they'll have more choices." President Obama says they'll be "part of a bigger pool" and that "The majority of folks will end up being better off" and that once the HealthCare.gov web site is working right... they and everyone will know it.
The policies being cancelled are - what the President calls - "subpar" plans...with bare bones coverage...and only about 5 percent of the U.S. population may be affected. Prior to "ObamaCare"...many insurance policies did not provide what people thought they were buying. It is the intention of the Affordable Care Act to get Americans improved coverage at a cost that is the same or less expensive than plans they may have currently. President Obama told Chuck Todd that people will "get a good deal - a better deal - than they've got right now...when it comes to buying health insurance." The President wants Americans to be in a "better position than they were before this law happened." How can anybody oppose that?
Insurance experts all over the country have shown with facts and figures that many people who were paying a pittance of a premium for their health insurance...would receive the same if they ever had to file a claim. A pittance of coverage. I have read reports where health insurance analysts have examined numerous policies...and have stated that if people with some of those policies had undergone a critical health care matter...their insurance would not cover them as they think it would. But with a new policy under the Affordable Care Act... under "ObamaCare"...they would be protected when suffering a serious healthcare problem.
Think of the lifelong, beneficial impact that "ObamaCare" has...and will continue to have for Americans this year...next year...and for generations to come. Without question...the advantages outweigh any disadvantages. So why then are so many of you bashing the President and his signature piece of legislation? I now receive my health insurance through the primary company that employs me. My plan has not been cancelled...my rates have not increased...and I don't have to change my doctors. And for the small fraction of the American population who may be disturbed...upset...or even angry by receiving a cancellation letter from their insurance company...when you compare the crappy policy you were paying for - what Consumer Reports calls "junk insurance" - with the policy you'll now be able to get with "ObamaCare" - you should be pleasantly pleased.
Oh I agree that our national health insurance program is not perfect. There are elements that I...and President Obama...wanted included in the Affordable Care Act. But with compromise...came a law that is going to help tens of millions of people this year and next...and millions and millions of more...for years and decades in to the future.
On Monday, November 4th, 2013...conservative talk show host Sean Hannity asked his radio audience to tell him about
their "ObamaCare horror stories." I beg to differ with you, Sean.
There are no "horror stories." The only "horror stories" are from
conservatives such as yourself...who are trying to destroy a healthcare
law...and a Presidency...both of which are already proving to be valuable to the American public. And in the long run...for "ObamaCare"...and for so many other achievements...Barack Obama...will go down in history...as one of the greatest Presidents of the United States. 
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.
The Controversy will make an effort to publish a new commentary every Sunday. Unscheduled essays may appear, from time to time, on other days as well.
Please express your opinions in the comment box below. You do not have to register your name and you can remain anonymous if you prefer. The Controversy wants to know your views on the essay above and on any other commentaries written on this blog. Just click on the word "Comments" below and write your thoughts in the box that appears. Make sure please that when you finish your statement that you click on the word "Publish." Thank you for your thoughts and thank you for reading The Controversy.
Copyright 2013 Gary B. Duglin and
TheControversy.net. All Rights Reserved.
It is amazing how much Kool-Aid you must be drinking – he lied, flat out lied, no questions about it. As you have said you can have your own opinion but not your own facts and the FACT is he lied. His administration warned him it was not true and for political reason they made the decision to lie. They knew millions of Americans may lose their health plans, from Forbes magazine October 31,2013 : “Obama Officials In 2010: 93 Million Americans Will Be Unable To Keep Their Health Plans Under Obamacare”. HE LIED!!!
ReplyDeleteYou and your left wing crazy Kool-Aid drinking followers were quick to say President Bush lied in his State of the Union speech "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." He did not lie, the British Government stood behind the statement and I believe still does. But what do you expect from a party that accepts "I did not have sexual relations with that woman” as a truth, the US Legal definition of sexual relations is the following: “Sexual relations refer to physical sexual activity that does not necessarily end up in an intercourse. It involves touching another person in his/her private parts” . Once again drink the Kool-Aid and bow down to King Barack, the most inept administration, the most dishonest administration maybe in the history of this country!
Since you did not identify yourself by name - or even as a male or female - I will merely say - sir or madame...you have no clue as to what a "FACT" is...because everything you have stated is clearly untrue. If you feel so inclined to believe and spew whatever it is that you THINK is a FACT, you have that right in America to do that...but it's a shame that you do feel the way you do because TRUE FACTS will contradict everything you have stated. First of all...President Obama did NOT lie about the Affordable Care Act. I have explained why over and over again in my commentaries so I will not take the time to do so with this reply to your remarks. As for your accusation that President Clinton lied...well...that is so far-fetched and so untrue that you must be one of those "haters" I have talked about in earlier columns. The "fact" of the matter is that a United States District Court Judge ruled that President Clinton (or anybody else for that matter) is NOT "having sex" with another person when that other person is performing oral sex on - in this case - a man. You quote in your comment above that President Clinton said, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky." The court has ruled that although a woman - in this instance, Monica Lewinsky, touched the President's genitals (and did whatever else she did with them - keeping my comment here rated PG), President Clinton did NOT touch the sex organs of Miss Lewinsky. The court has ruled that a man MUST be in contact with a woman's genitals - or even her breast - in order for the man to have "had sex" with the woman. Therefore, since President Clinton NEVER touched anything sexual on Monica Lewinsky's body - which Miss Lewinsky admitted to under oath - then the President did not lie under oath and he did not perjur himself...because he did NOT have "sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky." You even noted in your definition above that "sexual relations involves touching another person in his or her private parts." President Clinton never touched any private parts of Monica Lewinsky. Only SHE touched his. As for your comment about President George W. Bush not lying when he stated, "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sough significant quantities of uranium from Africa"..."those words haunt the Bush administration. Former Secretary of State and retired General Colin Powell has stated that the uranium charge was "unreliable." There was no solid evidence that Saddam Hussein ever sought quantities of uranium so therefore there was no evidence that he had a nuclear bomb or any weapons of mass destruction. Many such claims were never proven. It is obvious that President Bush went to war with Iraq after 911 - even though Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with the attacks of September 11th, 2001 - to get back at Hussein for what he did to "Daddy President Bush" in the first Gulf War. Too many British officials have stated categorically that President Bush's remark was untrue and according to an article in The New York Times..."Bush advisers concede that the President should never have included the charge" of uranium in his speech. So sir...or madame...you can believe what you want...but facts are facts...and you are NOT correct...as what you have written...are NOT facts. GBD
DeleteFirst off I am a male American that does state the facts, I am not a “Hater”, I know you are as so many on the far left are name callers and you do that well when the Facts don’t go your way. He did lie, he said you can keep your policy if you like it, period , that was a lie, he knew it wasn’t true and he said it and said over and over again. As for Bill Clinton, your statement that he was not "having sex" is correct but that is not what he said to the American people he said “I didn’t have sexual relations with that women” the US Justice Department legal guide defines sexual relations “ When two or more persons are involved as: Sexual relations refer to physical sexual activity that does not necessarily end up in an intercourse. It involves touching another person in his/her private parts” . He was in a SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP! No court has ever said he did not lie to the American people. What a court did say was “U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright of Arkansas said Clinton gave "false, misleading and evasive answers that were designed to obstruct the judicial process" in Jones's sexual harassment lawsuit. She specifically cited Clinton's assertions that he was never alone with Lewinsky and that he did not have a sexual relationship with the former White House intern.” She found Clinton in Contempt of Court for his false statements . Those are the facts on Clinton, he lied. As for George W. Bush’s statement on Iraq and Niger, Tony Blair Prime Minister of the UK personally assured the President on the accuracy of that information before the President made the statement. At the time President Bush believed the statement to be correct. So he did not lie. What may have been found out after the fact doesn’t make it a lie. As for your statement of “Daddy Bush” this is your haters way of belittling a man that kept you safe for 7 and half years. To go back to the current President he is sounding more and more like Richard Nixon with David Frost "Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal," I guess if you can back Obama you must have been a Nixon backer? They both lied.
ReplyDeleteSir, your response is laughable. First of all, I am certainly NOT a "hater." I engage in political discussions with many, many Republicans who are to the far, far right and, therefore, opposite my left-wing liberal Democratic views. And although they may disagree with my thoughts, they DO KNOW THE FACTS and they understand them. You have totally misinterpreted Judge Wright's decision. Her ruling clearly states that President Clinton nor anybody else has "sexual relations" unless both parties touch each other's genitals. In the case of President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, only Miss Lewinsky touched the President's "junk." As for President George W. Bush, even members of his own administration have been quoted as saying that the President should not have made the statement about uranium, and the British have denied that an official statement was ever made. As for President George H. W. Bush - I did not call him "Daddy Bush" - as you have referenced me as saying. I gave the President the respect he deserves AS PRESIDENT and used the name "Daddy President Bush" - which is what he is - in order to indicate a difference between the two Bush Presidents. As for your statement about President Richard Nixon to broadcaster and journalist, David Frost - and that you compared President Obama to President Nixon - all I can say is that I am sitting at my computer shaking my head with disbelief at your ludicrous and ridiculous remark. The bottom line - neither President Clinton or President Obama have lied. But I'm not going to change your mind - and THAT TOO...IS A FACT. GBD
DeleteFrom the New York Times dated April 13, 1999: “In a scathing 32-page ruling, Judge Susan Webber Wright said Mr. Clinton testified falsely in a Jan. 17, 1998, deposition that he had not had sexual relations with Ms. Lewinsky. Judge Wright, of Federal District Court in Little Rock, Ark., said the President's actions had subverted the rule of law and violated Ms. Jones's right to information relevant to her case. [Excerpts, page A20.].” Falsely testified means he lied. As for President Bush it may have been incorrect what was said but President Bush had it assured to him by the Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair that the information was correct, that’s not lying and your comment of getting even for father was laughable. The next thing you’ll say is that the US government was responsible for 911. As for my David Frost comment President Obama has changed laws without congressional approval, refused to enforce laws passed by Congress and signed by the President and waved parts of laws to certain groups all without any legal or constitutional authority to do it. So my comment being “Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal," is correct! You should get your facts correct before writing your commentary!
DeleteRegarding President Clinton...you have completely misinterpreted Judge Wright...so I have nothing further to say on that. As for Prime Minister Tony Blair..the British government's official statement is not what you claim...so I have nothing further to say on that. I won't even comment on your "laughable" note...so I have nothing further to say on that. My earlier replies stand with regards to your David Frost comment and your reference to President Obama...so I have nothing further to say on that. BUT...your new comment - "The next thing you’ll say is that the US government was responsible for 911," well sir...that doesn't even deserve any reply whatsoever, but you should be ashamed for writing those words...or even thinking it. GBD
DeleteThere is nothing to misinterpret she said he "FALSELY" testified when he said he had not had sexual relations with Ms Lewinsk, nothing to interpret he lied. He was held in contempt of court for it, he lied. As for your claim that the British Government claims something different as of July 15, 2003 the BBC reported the following from the British Government :
Delete" The British Government has stood by its assertion, saying the forged documents were not the only evidence used to reach its conclusion that Saddam Hussein tried to buy uranium from Africa.
On Tuesday Mr Blair defended the assessment, telling a committee of MPs that it was not a "fantasy" and that the intelligence services themselves stood by the allegation.
"The evidence that we had that the Iraqi Government had gone back to try to purchase further amounts of uranium from Niger did not come from these so-called 'forged' documents, they came from separate intelligence," Mr Blair said.
However, Mr Blair did not specify what that separate intelligence was." That was a statement from the British Government, once again get your fact right!
As for Obama I stand by my David Frost statement. and my statement about 911 many left wing nuts have made these type statement I am glad you don't think that way.
My comments stand - as they do. There were no lies spoken by President Clinton. As for your remarks with regards to the British government, I have already stated my thoughts - which are the facts. GBD
Deletelets keep it simple: obama said i could keep my healthcare plan if i liked it. that is what he said and theres no debating it. now I'm told that my plan doesn't meet his standards so i can't keep it. Period.
ReplyDelete1. "If you like your current plan you can keep it."
2. "You can't keep your current plan because it doesn't meet the new standards."
So he lied. End of story. I like my current plan but now I can't keep it. There's no disputing that.
There is no sense debating this issue with you or anybody else anymore. President Obama did not lie. True, he did make the statement that you quote. We all know that. I - and the rest of the United States - saw the President speak the words. President Obama realizes that he remarked in that fashion. But to say that the President "lied" is ludicrous. He did NOT lie...because - as I stated in my commentary of November 10th, 2013..."by definition...a lie...is a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive. Deliberate intent to deceive? President Obama did nothing of the sort." My answer remains the same. The President did NOT deliberately intend to deceive. Therefore HE DID NOT LIE. GBD
DeleteThe purpose of the statement was to deliberately deceive so nobody would know what was going to happen before the 2012 election. He did lie and that is what the American people are finally seeing.
DeleteYour comment is so far-fetched that it doesn't deserve a reply. You actually believe that the President of the United States "deliberately deceived" the American people "before the 2012 election?" I feel sorry for you. I truly do. President Obama did NOT lie...and as to what the "American people are finally seeing" will be a country with a national healthcare system that will prove to be beneficial for the entire nation. Watch and see. It won't be too long before you'll be eating your words. GBD
Delete