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Bill O'Reilly Endorses Public Option in Health Care Reform
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by Scott Wu | September 17, 2009 at 03:04 pm
4160 views | 44 Recommendations | 19 comments
Bill O'Reilly, who used to call public option "socialism", now seem to have turned around and supported a government health insurance plan for the poor.
In an interview with Nina Owcharenko of Heritage Foundation, O'Reilly said he thought if government could provide cheaper insurance, it would be a plus for the folks. He said Americans should put ideology aside if the government can do a good job.
Here is a short transcript of the interview:
O’REILLY: The public option now is done. We discussed this, it’s not going to happen. But you say that this little marketplace that they’re going to set up, whereby the federal government would subsidize insurance for some Americans, that is, in your opinion, a public option?
OWCHARENKO: Well, it has massive new federal regulation. So you don’t necessarily need a public option if the federal government is going to control and regulate the type of health insurance that Americans can buy.
O’REILLY: But you know, I want that, Ms. Owcharenko. I want that. I want, not for personally for me, but for working Americans, to have a option, that if they don’t like their health insurance, if it’s too expensive, they can’t afford it, if the government can cobble together a cheaper insurance policy that gives the same benefits, I see that as a plus for the folks.
Watch the complete interview of Bill O'Reilly with Nina Owcharenko.
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Recommendations (44)
Rory Cripps
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Blue Crush
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (19)
at 15:08 on September 17th, 2009
I am speechless.
Are you sure this is true?
at 15:59 on September 17th, 2009
Me too. I hope so. If it is it will change the level of acceptance. Then again, there may end up serious backlash against him.
Come to think of it I'm not too shocked, out of all the conservative media hosts, O'Reilly has always been the least of an extremist and the one with the most mental capacity.
at 16:46 on September 18th, 2009
WTF? Mental Capacity??? For christ'sake - go get an education. Another Moron on the right, brought to you by Home Schoolin' and Bible-bilgin'
at 11:46 on September 19th, 2009
Are you talkng about me? If so go read some more of my posts-- one I'm not too ardent on religion, two I definitely am not being home schooled (don't know of any parents teaching over three thousand kids at once), and I am certainly not right-winged.
Hell, if that's what you think youre the one in need of an education.
Furthermore, I said he is the most reasonable esp when compared to extremists such as Limbaugh and Beck. That is undeniable.
at 16:12 on September 17th, 2009
Why do so many people think that Bill O'Reilly is a super conservative.right winger on par with the likes of Limbaugh, Beck, and Hannity? He's not and he never has been. He's just got an abrasiveness about him at times and he can get angry.
at 18:13 on September 17th, 2009
He is not super conserative. He is however a bit more than just a tad to the right of center-right thinkings. So his advocacy of such a plan does stand for something.
at 16:16 on September 17th, 2009
Proof that alien abduction is real and that they are swapping mind transfers with humans!!!!!!!!!!!
at 17:42 on September 17th, 2009
Yeah yeah yeah!
at 16:24 on September 17th, 2009
Rory,
Most of his views are Republican Conservative, and I would not put him in the same category as Olympia Snowe just yet.
But this is great news.
at 16:25 on September 17th, 2009
Actually O'Reilly has changed since he first interviewed Obama. He tried to be the tough guy but the smooth talker won.
at 17:41 on September 17th, 2009
I don't believe that O'Reilly is a capital R Republican. I recall him saying at one time that he's an Independent. Who really knows for sure? He often makes reference to the "Kool Aide drinkers" and the "Bomb Throwers" on the left though, so I can see how someone would believe that he's a Republican. On the other hand he also mentions "crazies on the right". BTW: How often do you and some of the others that have commented here listen to and/or watch O'Reilly and how familiar are you with his views? Also, do you believe that most registered Republicans are "super conservative right wingers"?
at 16:27 on September 17th, 2009
Hannity is next lol
at 17:51 on September 17th, 2009
Many people of moderately conservative persuasion and many conservatives want MedicAid, the program for the poor, extended to the working poor.
That is where most of the uninsured are.
You don't need to overhaul the whole system, however, to do this.
Actually, since most get their help at county hospitals, we would simply be reorganizing it.
What we don't want is the federal government mandating a monopoly and squeezing Blue Cross and Blue Shield and other well-run insurance companies out of business. They are non-profits by the way.
O'Reilly does a lot of charity work and the profits of his peripheral businesses, his hats, caps and shirts, for example, all goes to charity.
at 11:18 on September 18th, 2009
Can't you see that Bill O'Reilly is working real hard to get the Obama interview on Fox? He'll say anything.
at 12:53 on September 18th, 2009
It appears O'reilly has gotten some bad kool aid. He says if the government can run it successfully and economically. They have a constant history of not being able to do either. Most of their junk comes in at 4 and 5 times more money to the taxpayer and all you have to do is look at medicare and veterans hospitals to see their total lack of ability to run a medical program. I have not seen anything in the column that says they can run this and I am not willing to hand it over to them.
at 16:24 on September 18th, 2009
I know it's anecdotal, but I have never had a complaint about my father's VA benefits. The doctor there saved his life not just with medicine, but also with care. When I see someone like 7papa7 say the government isn't able to run anything successfully, I have two words: Hoover Dam. Or Grand Coulee Dam. Or, hell, World War II. Apollo 11. Hubble. It is a fallacy that the U.S. Government is clueless. If Papa O'Reilly can turn around a few of the more extreme pinheads, that would be great. It amuses me when people who are rich and successful, like Hannity or Beck, don't want to lend a hand to those in need. What are they afraid of? It also amuses me when crowds of ignorant "ism-screamers" want the government out of their Medicare. The President is trying to do the right thing, dare we say even the Christian thing, reaching out to help those in our society who need it. Yet the far Right calls him a Muslim, a Nazi, a Fascist...Isn't that what you want in a leader? Or should he just do nothing? Or worse, pander to the rich?
at 16:28 on September 18th, 2009
Keep reading this drivel...you people should stand up for yourselves... Bill Oreily does NOT support a government run public option. He supports a PRIVATE run group that will help groups get cheaper insurance. KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF OUR LIVES
at 06:03 on September 19th, 2009
Would O'Riley's public option cover mental/physical torture of innocent kids by priests? O'Riley is just another right-wing blowhard.
at 18:29 on September 20th, 2009
I laugh at the idea that various projects were better handled by the US gov'tHoover Dam - was built by 6 private companies Grand Coulee Dam - was built by 5 private companies - mainly the David H. Ryan Co and Roland Construction CompanyApollo 11 - the Saturn rocket was built by Boeing, Douglas Aircraft company, IBM and North American Aviation. WWII - was mainly run through the private sector constructing war materials. Truly govt run businesses.... The Post Office.. the DMV, Ginnie and Fannie Mae.