3/7/16
This Letter Written by a Republican to President Obama Should Be Read By All Americans
http://thedailybanter.com/2016/03/this-letter-written-by-a-republican-to-president-obama-should-be-read-by-all-americans/
"Brown, who says he has voted Republican his entire life, was extremely critical of President Obama, and in particular the Affordable Care Act (ACA). That all changed when Brown was able to get treatment for a life threatening autoimmune disease through the ACA."
"Brown, who says he has voted Republican his entire life, was extremely critical of President Obama, and in particular the Affordable Care Act (ACA). That all changed when Brown was able to get treatment for a life threatening autoimmune disease through the ACA."
Young Republican Writes Obama To Thank Him For The ACA
Young Republican Writes Obama To Thank Him For The ACA
"The letter speaks for itself. To My President, I sincerely hope that this reaches you, as far too often praise is hard to come by. Apologies to people who deserve it perhaps even less so. I did not vote for you. Either time. I have voted Republican for the entirety of my life. I proudly wore pins and planted banners displaying my Republican loyalty. I was very vocal in my opposition to you–particularly the ACA. Before I briefly explain my story allow me to first say this: I am so very sorry. I understand written content cannot convey emotions very well–but my level of conviction has me in tears as I write this. I was so very wrong. So very very wrong. You saved my life. I want that to sink into your ears and mind. My President, you saved my life, and I am eternally grateful. I have a ‘pre-existing condition’ and so could never purchase health insurance. Only after the ACA came into being could I be covered. Put simply to not take up too much of your time if you are in fact taking the time to read this: I would not be alive without access to care I received due to your law. So thank you from a dumb young man who thought he knew it all and who said things about you that he now regrets. Thank you for serving me even when I didn’t vote for you. Thank you for being my President. Honored to have lived under your leadership and guidance, Brent Nathan Brown Watch President Obama's speech in Milwaukee below. He is introduced by the writer of the letter, and the intro is as good as the letter."
"The letter speaks for itself. To My President, I sincerely hope that this reaches you, as far too often praise is hard to come by. Apologies to people who deserve it perhaps even less so. I did not vote for you. Either time. I have voted Republican for the entirety of my life. I proudly wore pins and planted banners displaying my Republican loyalty. I was very vocal in my opposition to you–particularly the ACA. Before I briefly explain my story allow me to first say this: I am so very sorry. I understand written content cannot convey emotions very well–but my level of conviction has me in tears as I write this. I was so very wrong. So very very wrong. You saved my life. I want that to sink into your ears and mind. My President, you saved my life, and I am eternally grateful. I have a ‘pre-existing condition’ and so could never purchase health insurance. Only after the ACA came into being could I be covered. Put simply to not take up too much of your time if you are in fact taking the time to read this: I would not be alive without access to care I received due to your law. So thank you from a dumb young man who thought he knew it all and who said things about you that he now regrets. Thank you for serving me even when I didn’t vote for you. Thank you for being my President. Honored to have lived under your leadership and guidance, Brent Nathan Brown Watch President Obama's speech in Milwaukee below. He is introduced by the writer of the letter, and the intro is as good as the letter."
Trump Releases Health Care Plan, Promises To Reinstate Pre-Existing Conditions
Trump Releases Health Care Plan, Promises To Reinstate Pre-Existing Conditions
"Remember all that crap in the last debate/town hall about pre-existing conditions out of Trump's mouth?"
"Remember all that crap in the last debate/town hall about pre-existing conditions out of Trump's mouth?"
2/26/16
How an Army of Pharma Lobbyists in Washington Have Locked in One of the Biggest Corporate Ripoff Schemes in America @alternet
How an Army of Pharma Lobbyists in Washington Have Locked in One of the Biggest Corporate Ripoff Schemes in America @alternet:
"Drug companies have devised elaborate schemes for drug sales to states. The Texas attorney general's office charged Janssen with bribing Texas' mental health officials with trips, perks and kickbacks. Janssen also paid drug company-funded front groups, disguised to look like patients, to "give state mental health officials and lawmakers the perception that the drug had widespread support," reported Bloomberg. Many alleged patient groups agitating for approval of expensive new drugs or fighting so-called "barriers" to treatment and mental illness "stigma" are actually slick drug company marketing creations. Many are entrenched in schools and on college campuses to capture "psychiatric patients" at an early age, often ensuring decades of sales. In Texas, a Medicaid "decision tree" called the Texas Medical Algorithm Project was instituted that mandates doctors prescribe the newest and most expensive psychiatric drugs first. The program was funded, not surprisingly, by the Johnson & Johnson-linked Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Another tactic drug companies use is "helping" states buy their own brand-name drugs. No conflict of interest there! An Eli Lilly-backed company named Comprehensive Neuroscience "helped" 24 states use Zyprexa "properly," reported the New York Times."
"Drug companies have devised elaborate schemes for drug sales to states. The Texas attorney general's office charged Janssen with bribing Texas' mental health officials with trips, perks and kickbacks. Janssen also paid drug company-funded front groups, disguised to look like patients, to "give state mental health officials and lawmakers the perception that the drug had widespread support," reported Bloomberg. Many alleged patient groups agitating for approval of expensive new drugs or fighting so-called "barriers" to treatment and mental illness "stigma" are actually slick drug company marketing creations. Many are entrenched in schools and on college campuses to capture "psychiatric patients" at an early age, often ensuring decades of sales. In Texas, a Medicaid "decision tree" called the Texas Medical Algorithm Project was instituted that mandates doctors prescribe the newest and most expensive psychiatric drugs first. The program was funded, not surprisingly, by the Johnson & Johnson-linked Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Another tactic drug companies use is "helping" states buy their own brand-name drugs. No conflict of interest there! An Eli Lilly-backed company named Comprehensive Neuroscience "helped" 24 states use Zyprexa "properly," reported the New York Times."
Trump Vows To Terminate 22 Million Americans Healthcare In SC Victory Speech
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/02/20/trump-vows-terminate-22-million-americans-healthcare-south-carolina-victory-speech.html
"The election isn’t about a reality television star leading the Republican Party. 2016 is really about the unrelenting Republican quest to harm as many non-wealthy Americans as possible with a destructive agenda. For tens of millions of Americans, the 2016 election could be a matter of life and death."
"The election isn’t about a reality television star leading the Republican Party. 2016 is really about the unrelenting Republican quest to harm as many non-wealthy Americans as possible with a destructive agenda. For tens of millions of Americans, the 2016 election could be a matter of life and death."
2/13/16
Corporations Killed Medicine. Here's How to Take It Back
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/34784-corporations-killed-medicine-here-s-how-to-take-it-back
"Playing the role of modern-day lords of the manor are pharmaceutical corporations, which have taken a good that was once considered off-limits for private profiteering and turned it into an expensive commodity."
"Playing the role of modern-day lords of the manor are pharmaceutical corporations, which have taken a good that was once considered off-limits for private profiteering and turned it into an expensive commodity."
2/10/16
Despicable ‘Pharma Bro’ smirks his way through congressional grilling on drug price gouging
Despicable ‘Pharma Bro’ smirks his way through congressional grilling on drug price gouging
"Shkreli became widely hated when he raised the price of a life-saving drug used to fight infection in cancer and AIDS patients by 5,000 percent. He was arrested in December on federal securities fraud charges."
"Shkreli became widely hated when he raised the price of a life-saving drug used to fight infection in cancer and AIDS patients by 5,000 percent. He was arrested in December on federal securities fraud charges."
2/3/16
GOP Candidate's REAL 'Repeal And Replace' Is With Medicare
GOP Candidate's REAL 'Repeal And Replace' Is With Medicare
"It's clear from the Republican candidates statements and websites that replacing Medicare with a plan that forces senior citizens to buy health insurance continues to be Republican gospel. Please note that every candidate uses the canard that current retirees are unaffected by their proposals. (Unless they have 55 year old kids, who are screwed.) And none of the candidates address the specific impact on seniors of repealing Obamacare - covered wellness visits, closing the donut hole, etc. So yes, we are dealing with patent dishonesty as usual."
"It's clear from the Republican candidates statements and websites that replacing Medicare with a plan that forces senior citizens to buy health insurance continues to be Republican gospel. Please note that every candidate uses the canard that current retirees are unaffected by their proposals. (Unless they have 55 year old kids, who are screwed.) And none of the candidates address the specific impact on seniors of repealing Obamacare - covered wellness visits, closing the donut hole, etc. So yes, we are dealing with patent dishonesty as usual."
2/2/16
Fox News' Chris Wallace Crushes Ted Cruz on His Lies About the Economy Under Obama (Video)
Fox News' Chris Wallace Crushes Ted Cruz on His Lies About the Economy Under Obama (Video)
"Again, this is what Cruz does. He constantly tries to argue that reality isn’t reality and facts aren’t facts. And whenever he’s called out on his lies, he either attacks the person calling him out or the source being used to debunk whatever nonsense he’s trying to push. Ted Cruz is nothing but a propagandist and a con artist who built his entire career on lies, and I’m glad Chris Wallace called him out on one of them directly to his face."
"Again, this is what Cruz does. He constantly tries to argue that reality isn’t reality and facts aren’t facts. And whenever he’s called out on his lies, he either attacks the person calling him out or the source being used to debunk whatever nonsense he’s trying to push. Ted Cruz is nothing but a propagandist and a con artist who built his entire career on lies, and I’m glad Chris Wallace called him out on one of them directly to his face."
2/1/16
Ted Cruz fact checked by Fox News for Obamacare whopper: “There’s certainly no question that more people have jobs and more people have health insurance”
Ted Cruz fact checked by Fox News for Obamacare whopper: “There’s certainly no question that more people have jobs and more people have health insurance”
"The Texas senator and Tea Party hero repeated long debunked falsehoods about President Obama’s signature healthcare law"
"The Texas senator and Tea Party hero repeated long debunked falsehoods about President Obama’s signature healthcare law"
Fox Host Shreds Ted Cruz over Obamacare Falsehoods: 'More People Have Jobs and Health Insurance' @alternet
Fox Host Shreds Ted Cruz over Obamacare Falsehoods: 'More People Have Jobs and Health Insurance' @alternet:
"Cruz, however, argued that the fact checkers were wrong because they were biased."
"Cruz, however, argued that the fact checkers were wrong because they were biased."
1/30/16
Bernie Sanders Vows to Crack Down on Greedy Corporate Tax Dodgers
Bernie Sanders Vows to Crack Down on Greedy Corporate Tax Dodgers
"Singling out what he dubs the "top 10 corporate tax dodgers," Bernie Sanders on Friday pledged to close loopholes that let huge corporations avoid paying their fair share in taxes. The list (pdf) includes General Electric, Boeing, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Merck, and notes that several of the companies' CEOs, even as they sit on massive retirement savings, want to raise the eligibility age for—and make significant cuts to—social safety net programs like Medicare and Social Security."
"Singling out what he dubs the "top 10 corporate tax dodgers," Bernie Sanders on Friday pledged to close loopholes that let huge corporations avoid paying their fair share in taxes. The list (pdf) includes General Electric, Boeing, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Merck, and notes that several of the companies' CEOs, even as they sit on massive retirement savings, want to raise the eligibility age for—and make significant cuts to—social safety net programs like Medicare and Social Security."
1/26/16
1/23/16
Sorry Conservatives, Obamacare Isn’t Killing Jobs; In Fact, The Private Sector Is SOARING
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/01/14/sorry-conservatives-obamacare-isnt-killing-jobs-in-fact-the-private-sector-is-soaring/
"As Forbes’ Dan Diamond noted last week, since Obamacare was signed into law in March 2010 (or “Armageddon” as conservatives call it) the private sector hasn’t lost any jobs."
"As Forbes’ Dan Diamond noted last week, since Obamacare was signed into law in March 2010 (or “Armageddon” as conservatives call it) the private sector hasn’t lost any jobs."
1/9/16
Right-Wing Attack on Social Security Tries to Convince Us That Retirees Are Better off Than We Imagine @alternet
Right-Wing Attack on Social Security Tries to Convince Us That Retirees Are Better off Than We Imagine @alternet
"The right-wing war against Social Security has taken a turn into new heights of hyperbole and arrogance."
"The right-wing war against Social Security has taken a turn into new heights of hyperbole and arrogance."
1/8/16
PERRspectives: Bogus GOP 'Repeal' Bill Pockets Obamacare's Medicare Savings
PERRspectives: Bogus GOP 'Repeal' Bill Pockets Obamacare's Medicare Savings
"But the GOP's partial Obamacare repeal scam is even more sinister than it appears at first blush. After all, every GOP budget since 2010 has kept those same Medicare savings and used them to help fund a massive tax cut windfall for the wealthy. All of those Paul Ryan budgets also called for the voucherization of Medicare, de facto rationing that would dramatically shift health costs to future seniors"
"But the GOP's partial Obamacare repeal scam is even more sinister than it appears at first blush. After all, every GOP budget since 2010 has kept those same Medicare savings and used them to help fund a massive tax cut windfall for the wealthy. All of those Paul Ryan budgets also called for the voucherization of Medicare, de facto rationing that would dramatically shift health costs to future seniors"
House Republicans define insanity, vote to repeal Obamacare. Again.
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/1/6/1466740/-House-Republicans-define-insanity-vote-to-repeal-Obamacare-Again
"The effort is a promise as to what Republicans would do in 2017 if they keep the Senate and win the White House: throw millions of people off of their health insurance plans."
"The effort is a promise as to what Republicans would do in 2017 if they keep the Senate and win the White House: throw millions of people off of their health insurance plans."
Heartless House Republicans Vote To Take Health Care Away From 22 Million Americans
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/01/06/house-dooms-gop-2016-voting-repeal-obamacare-defund-planned-parenthood.html
"The key takeaway from today’s vote is that Republicans are showing every American what they plan to do if they win the White House and keep control of Congress."
"The key takeaway from today’s vote is that Republicans are showing every American what they plan to do if they win the White House and keep control of Congress."
Big Strides for Health-Care Reform
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/34292-big-strides-for-health-care-reform
"One of the remarkable aspects of the politics of health care reform in America is the way that conservatives - even relatively mild, seemingly informed conservatives - have managed to keep believing that the Affordable Care Act is unraveling, despite the repeated failure of disaster predictions to come true. Part of the way this works is that when it comes to Obamacare, the captive media and the right's pet "experts" hype every bit of bad news about the law, but go silent when the news is good (and, often, when the bad news turns out to be a false alarm). How many people will even hear about the news that enrollments are once again running above expectations, and that the enrollment pool is getting younger? Anyway, it's really helpful to have a new report from the Commonwealth Fund comparing the actual performance of the ACA with pre-implementation predictions. It turns out that premiums came in far below expectations. (The 2016 premium hikes rolled back some of this positive news, but overall costs still look very good.) On enrollments: Fewer people than expected signed up for the exchanges, but an important reason was that fewer employers than expected ended coverage and moved their employees into the individual market. Meanwhile, Medicaid expanded more than projected - and the overall reduction in the number of uninsured Americans was pretty much in line with forecasts. So the program is achieving its goals, albeit with a somewhat different mix of insurance types than was originally predicted, and doing so more cheaply than anticipated. That's a big success story - and remember, the critics scoffed at those expectations and prophesied utter disaster."
"One of the remarkable aspects of the politics of health care reform in America is the way that conservatives - even relatively mild, seemingly informed conservatives - have managed to keep believing that the Affordable Care Act is unraveling, despite the repeated failure of disaster predictions to come true. Part of the way this works is that when it comes to Obamacare, the captive media and the right's pet "experts" hype every bit of bad news about the law, but go silent when the news is good (and, often, when the bad news turns out to be a false alarm). How many people will even hear about the news that enrollments are once again running above expectations, and that the enrollment pool is getting younger? Anyway, it's really helpful to have a new report from the Commonwealth Fund comparing the actual performance of the ACA with pre-implementation predictions. It turns out that premiums came in far below expectations. (The 2016 premium hikes rolled back some of this positive news, but overall costs still look very good.) On enrollments: Fewer people than expected signed up for the exchanges, but an important reason was that fewer employers than expected ended coverage and moved their employees into the individual market. Meanwhile, Medicaid expanded more than projected - and the overall reduction in the number of uninsured Americans was pretty much in line with forecasts. So the program is achieving its goals, albeit with a somewhat different mix of insurance types than was originally predicted, and doing so more cheaply than anticipated. That's a big success story - and remember, the critics scoffed at those expectations and prophesied utter disaster."
Once Again, The Right Wing's ACA Part-Time Myth Falls Apart
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/01/05/once-again-the-right-wings-aca-part-time-myth-f/207785
"Despite being repeatedly debunked, right-wing pundits have continued to push the false claim that the Affordable Care Act would negatively effect American employment, claiming its enactment would drive losses in full-time jobs while increasing part-time employment -- though no data has supported this assertion."
"Despite being repeatedly debunked, right-wing pundits have continued to push the false claim that the Affordable Care Act would negatively effect American employment, claiming its enactment would drive losses in full-time jobs while increasing part-time employment -- though no data has supported this assertion."
1/1/16
Lack Of Public Options Is How The Economy Gets Rigged Against Us
Lack Of Public Options Is How The Economy Gets Rigged Against Us
"We are banned by law from buying into Medicare until we are 65 -- and Republicans are trying to get rid of that by turning Medicare into a limited voucher to buy private scam insurance. That rigs the health care game against We the People."
"We are banned by law from buying into Medicare until we are 65 -- and Republicans are trying to get rid of that by turning Medicare into a limited voucher to buy private scam insurance. That rigs the health care game against We the People."
How Marco Rubio’s Scheme To Hurt The Poor Became A Campaign Rallying Cry (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/12/23/how-marco-rubios-scheme-to-hurt-the-poor-became-a-campaign-rallying-cry-video/
"Even though it is illegal to coordinate with super PACs, the New York Times pointed out that as this new super PAC ad debuted, Rubio’s campaign sent out an email with the subject “Marco: The Only Candidate to Strike a Blow to Obamacare.” Stomping on the face of those simply trying to have insurance coverage to cover their health care costs has now become just another way for a Republican to be elected president."
"Even though it is illegal to coordinate with super PACs, the New York Times pointed out that as this new super PAC ad debuted, Rubio’s campaign sent out an email with the subject “Marco: The Only Candidate to Strike a Blow to Obamacare.” Stomping on the face of those simply trying to have insurance coverage to cover their health care costs has now become just another way for a Republican to be elected president."
12/25/15
State by State Increases in Number of Insured Americans, Thanks to Obamacare @alternet
State by State Increases in Number of Insured Americans, Thanks to Obamacare @alternet
"Republicans should stop their posturing and concede that the ACA is a success."
"Republicans should stop their posturing and concede that the ACA is a success."
12/24/15
PERRspectives: Sorry, GOP: Senate Obamacare 'Repeal' Does Not Reduce Deficits
PERRspectives: Sorry, GOP: Senate Obamacare 'Repeal' Does Not Reduce Deficits
"repealing Obamacare increases Uncle Sam's deficits. Unless, that is, you change what the meaning of "repeal" is. Which is precisely the shell game Republicans are playing now. And just like "death panels" and a "government takeover of health care" (Politifact's Lie of the Year for 2009 and 2010, respectively), the Senate's partial Obamacare repeal is just another of the GOP's killer lies on health care."
"repealing Obamacare increases Uncle Sam's deficits. Unless, that is, you change what the meaning of "repeal" is. Which is precisely the shell game Republicans are playing now. And just like "death panels" and a "government takeover of health care" (Politifact's Lie of the Year for 2009 and 2010, respectively), the Senate's partial Obamacare repeal is just another of the GOP's killer lies on health care."
12/12/15
SAVE Act Calls For One-Time Payment To Make Up For No COLA
SAVE Act Calls For One-Time Payment To Make Up For No COLA
"Today, United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai'i), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced legislation to boost Social Security and other critical benefits for seniors, veterans and other Americans following last month's announcement that there will be a zero cost-of-living adjustment in 2016."
"Today, United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai'i), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced legislation to boost Social Security and other critical benefits for seniors, veterans and other Americans following last month's announcement that there will be a zero cost-of-living adjustment in 2016."
12/6/15
Obamacare Is Saving Lives: Early Cancer Detection And Treatment For Young Women On The Rise
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/11/27/obamacare-is-saving-lives-early-cancer-detection-and-treatment-for-young-women-on-the-rise/
"A new study conducted by researchers at the American Cancer Society found that, since the Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as Obamacare) took effect, more women between the ages of 18 and 25 are being diagnosed with cervical cancer in the early stages, a time when treatment is more likely to be effective."
"A new study conducted by researchers at the American Cancer Society found that, since the Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as Obamacare) took effect, more women between the ages of 18 and 25 are being diagnosed with cervical cancer in the early stages, a time when treatment is more likely to be effective."
12/4/15
Republicans Celebrate Christmas By Voting To Take Healthcare Away From 17 Million Americans
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/12/03/republicans-celebrate-christmas-voting-healthcare-17-million-americans.html
"The fact that Senate Republicans chose to hold this vote during the holiday season spoke volumes about their priorities. Tonight’s vote was an advertisement for how Republicans intend to harm working people if they take back the White House."
"The fact that Senate Republicans chose to hold this vote during the holiday season spoke volumes about their priorities. Tonight’s vote was an advertisement for how Republicans intend to harm working people if they take back the White House."
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