Coming Up on ‘This Week’: Exclusive Health Care Debate
EmailComing up…. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
The Senate produces a 2,000 page health care bill, but will the Democrats get to 60 votes? And a government panel tells millions of women to skip their yearly mammograms leaving many confused and outraged. How will the debate over mammograms influence the debate over health care reform?
We’ll take these issues on with our exclusive panel: Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson, the man who may hold the 60th vote for health care reform, the Senate’s top doctor, Republican Senator Tom Coburn, breast cancer survivor Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Rep. Marsha Blackburn.
And our powerhouse roundtable of George Will, Robert Reich, Liz Cheney and Walter Isaacson from the Aspen Institute debate the President’s imminent decision on troops for Afghanistan, his Asia trip and Sarah Palin’s "Going Rogue" road trip.
You won’t want to miss it. See you Sunday.
–George Stephanopoulos
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
Why now that women should not get exam for ten years later than the accepted age could it have to do with not wanting to pay for this in this supposed health care overhaul, do it on the cheap no matter how many women suffer.
Posted by: earl | November 20, 2009, 8:45 am 8:45 am
Well, there may not be a specif reference to ‘death panels’ in any of these bills. However, D.C. is an inventor of new words, reword, new packaging. Skip mammograms and cervical tests for a while. Someone says they are not needed for now. Look at the whole picture and see a pattern starting to emerge. Guess the health bill will ‘decide’ to incorporate these ‘other’ health recommendations. ??????
Posted by: James L. | November 20, 2009, 10:08 am 10:08 am
Skip mammograms and cervical tests for a while. Someone says they are not needed for now.>>>> Then you dont need that flu shot. Or in Obama’s own words maybe grandma should take a pill. If the mortaility rate goes UP the cost for medicare social security and medical care goes down. Hows that change working for you. Take a PILL Grandma Obama needs your CASH.
Posted by: ChicagoBob | November 20, 2009, 10:34 am 10:34 am
Real balanced there, George. Three Republicans (including Ben Nelson) and 1 Democrat.
And what exactly has Liz Cheney done to warrant such lavish attention in the national media spotlight?
Your liberal media…hard at work again.
Yeah…I think I will want to miss it.
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Posted by: Bill in Portland | November 20, 2009, 11:07 am 11:07 am
Liz Cheney? What’s her qualifiction? I’ll watch this weekend but frankly I think this program has been losing relevance for some time. I’m pretty close to turning it off forever. George Will and Cokie Roberts I’ll listen to but Liz Cheney. If she goes off on some rampage it will be your fault George and I’ll be done with you.
Posted by: harold | November 20, 2009, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
Why not Mary Cheney in the spotlight? Wait, never mind….more neo con family values hard at work!
Posted by: Denise | November 20, 2009, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm
Liz Cheney is horrible. This Week usually has the best roundtables of the Sundays Shows. It shouldn´t compete with Fox News Sunday on that.
Posted by: André Kenji | November 20, 2009, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm
earl and ChicagoBob: don’t you know that women outlive men, that will have to be corrected even if it costs their lives.
Posted by: Lizzie | November 20, 2009, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
I hate when you bring in someone who is extremely right (like Liz) or too left like (Katrina). These people tend to be extremely combative and the discussion suffers.
Posted by: Stuart | November 20, 2009, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
George, I love your show but some things are hard to take.
I live in OK & Tom Coburn is my senator, although I did not vote for him. He seems to have a lot of respect here in OK, primarily because OK is the redest state in the US. I don’t think like the norm in OK. I don’t trust Tom Coburn …. we’ve had a few letters to the editor about his town hall meetings where he would not call on anyone, or at least the person who wrote the letter, who was for health care reform. He also is currently causing some trouble with veterans benefits. On top of all this, as I’m sure you’re away, he brokered a financial deal for a plitician who was cheating on his wife. I don’t like the guy, but I’m not the only person in the US & others may enjoy hearing from him, which is unfortunate.
Secondly, it’s a tie as to who annoys me most, Sarah Palin or Liz Cheney.
I suspect I’m not going to like what anybody has to say on your upcoming show & doubt that the Liz will let anybody who thinks differently from her talk.
Posted by: Linda | November 20, 2009, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
I meant “as I’m sure you are aware” …
Posted by: Linda | November 20, 2009, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
George…please! I echo Lizzie’s comments: whether right (Liz) or left (Katrina), their participation devolves the conversation. Way too much heat and precious little light.
Posted by: jmotroni | November 20, 2009, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
George, I am removing this program from my book marks because you continue inclusion of Liz C.
Posted by: Claude bugenis | November 20, 2009, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
I think health care reform is needed, but this whole thing is going in the wrong direction. We’ve got the Mammogram deal going on now, and the senate all excited as they are going to attack the middle class who happen to have halfway decent health plans.My health plan is taking a dump so that we can make a “sacrifice” to protect our CEO’s salary, which in 1 day equals my years pay. This is in a very successful company. Now, the government wants to hit us with what may cost thousands. This will be a great help to someones economy. Not for anyone in the middle class.
Posted by: Gary | November 20, 2009, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
George please tell us what props does Liz Cheney have to discuss anything, when we all know her AGENDA? Won’t be watching……will be watching John King
Posted by: sara | November 20, 2009, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm
Matter of Fact George…….Healthcare? SHE’S HAD “SOCIALIST” HEALTHCARE PAID FOR BY THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS ALL HER LIFE….WHAT IN THE HELL DOES SHE KNOW ABOUT ME, WITHOUT FREAKING HEALTHCARE AT 58 YEARS OLD AFTER WORKING 40 YEARS AND RAISING 3 CHILDREN. I AM SICK OF THESE FREAKING MAGGOTS AND LEACHES OF SOCIETY…..
Posted by: sara | November 20, 2009, 6:27 pm 6:27 pm
I HOPE SOMEONE ELSE CAN TALK, SINCE SHE THINKS SHE’S THE CENTER OF EVERYONE’S UNIVERSE…..PLEASE DON’T ALLOW HER TO “OVER TALK” THE OTHER GUEST, AND GIVE THEM RESPECT.
Posted by: sara | November 20, 2009, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES UNDER ALL ADMINISTRATIONS…..HOWEVER, THERE’S A REPUBLICAN MAGGOT IN THAT “INDEPENDENT” OFFICE THAT STATED THESE “STUPID” RECOMMENDATIONS. LET’S BE CLEAR ON THIS. This is a government ran office, that IS NOT working with CDC or any other governmental body that did this study.
Posted by: sara | November 20, 2009, 6:34 pm 6:34 pm
Health care has been rationed for ever by the insurance companies themselves – they are the original “Death Panels”. These corporations have been screwing us forever! But that’s ok with the Republican side because screwing the public is what they do best!
Posted by: Sentinel | November 20, 2009, 8:39 pm 8:39 pm
Nobody is trying to silence the “conservatives”, we are just trying to counter the lies and slander from the right.
Posted by: Sentinel | November 20, 2009, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
Reply to Sentinel-It would be wise to know what truth is before you try to counter conservatives view points with opinions rather then facts.
Self ego is blind to truth and you sure got a big ego!!!
Posted by: John Demeter | November 21, 2009, 12:03 am 12:03 am
Liberals don’t get it! Obama’s health care bill is a pitch for Government control where every one will be controled by the government. This happens gradually as the years pass by.
Its really a take over with out a revolution or a shot fired.Obama is a student of Saul Alinsky a Markist professer. It is from Alinsky’s rule book That Obama is governing America.
Posted by: John Demeter | November 21, 2009, 12:27 am 12:27 am
Debate ? You’re all really missing the point. The fundamental problem is that your elected office holders have abdicated their role in what used to be known as government by the people and for the people, as was evidenced by 42 Representatives in the House having their staffs submit statements written by Genentech’s attorneys, on the Congressional Record, re: health care bill. Different statements were written for each party. This is “business” as usual. You cannot reach 60 or even 70 senators and you couldn’t reach 1 congressmen/women if their pockets weren’t greased often by lobbyists on top of lobbyists on top of lawyers on top of lobbyists for the lawyers on top of subsidiary companies where lobbyists were for Genentech, a wholly owned by Roche, a multi national corp. You cannot constrain every individual in the United States with a plan written by few behind closed doors and with congressmen taking obscene money, bribes, and whatever is necessary, to garner a vote.
Talk about how sinful it would be for everyone in this country get suckered in on something that’s need’s fixing, but not a complete overhaul, where we are being lied to daily, about the costs on the overall impact. Worse however, is that your elected officials could not care less of what happens to any one of the vast middle class. How much will my $800 a month health insurance bill go down ? You must be kidding ? I have no faith on a government take over, when it couldn’t get preconditions denials waived or the option to by insurance in a different state. Sorry, but I don’t think the entire country should get taxed with a spanking new socialized medicine program when the margin between yea and nay, even in our corrupt government, is 50.1 % to 49.9%, and that’s with so many votes being made by 1 of the 1,000,000 lobbyists or their staff or the staff of the congressmen.
How dare this continue to happen on the American public.
By the way, is Nidal Malik Hasan still the alleged terrorist, otherwise known as the gunmen, or have they gotten past alleged. Is he still a suspect ? or is he an Islamic terrorist that slaughtered close to 50 U.S. soldiers ?
I’m a retired attorney, but this alleged or suspected verbiage gives the wrong impression when there is absolutely no doubt of who committed these terrorist acts ?
Yes, I’m also terribly opposed to allowing the terrorists behind 9/11 to be tried in a Federal Court, let alone N.Y.C. where there’s a good possibility his lawyer (he already went in that direction) will get a change in venue. Does anyone think there will be 6 people that can say they won’t have any predisposition ? Neither do I.
goodnight.
Posted by: andrew | November 21, 2009, 12:52 am 12:52 am
James L. wrote: “Skip mammograms and cervical tests for a while. Someone says they are not needed for now. Look at the whole picture and see a pattern starting to emerge. Guess the health bill will ‘decide’ to incorporate these ‘other’ health recommendations.”
James, are you so blind as to miss the fact that PRIVATE insurance companies can’t wait to “incorporate these ‘other’ health recommendations.”?
The panel that says skip mammograms is the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. It was set up by the Reagan Administration in 1984. Since then, it has been in GOP Presidents’ budgets and/or funded by GOP Congresses in 1984-92 and 1995-2008. So which party is primarily responsible for it?
I have two friends who died of colon cancer and live in Central MD, where the incidence of it is higher than normal. But, because of this Reagan panel, my BCBS (and virtually every other insurer) will NOT pay for a follow-up colonoscopy for TEN years because I had no polyps on the last one, even though many studies recommend one every five years.
A “pattern starting to emerge”? Give me a break! This is a pattern created by a panel set up protect the PRIVATE insurance industry, and kept in motion by the Congressmen of both parties whose campaign chests are lined with insurance company money.
Posted by: The_Mick | November 21, 2009, 9:49 am 9:49 am
Being a weekly viewer there has become, based on last appearance, one guest, Liz Cheney, that will cause me not to watch the show whenever she is scheduled. What ordinarily is an informative, interesting panel segment, it is turned into a worthless segment with Liz Cheney’s rudeness and lack of willingness for a real discussion and issue debate.
Posted by: Virginia | November 21, 2009, 11:35 am 11:35 am
George – really???? really! Liz Chaney???? The last time she was on your show, I changed channels. I am a tree-hugging liberal and a regualr viewer; I always look forward to hearing a balanced debate and insite from the right – which G Will provides so well…..but Liz Chaney is rude, arrogant and adds nothing of value to any topic. Surely you can find another conservative voice!!!! I’ll spend my time elsewhere while Liz is on your show.
Posted by: Tunetowngirl | November 21, 2009, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
I love to watch George’s program and I like spirited debates. But, I will not watch when Liz Cheney is on the show, because she’s rude and talks over the others. Either George needs to be more assertive in preventing this behavior or she shouldn’t be invited to participate. If I want rude, thoughtless conversations I’ll watch Fox.
Posted by: Jim | November 21, 2009, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
I can’t for a minute imagine why Liz Chaney would have to be on any program where her distorted views and limited intellect would add anything of substance to the subject at hand. Was there a vacuum of potential guests or did she pay her way in trhrough a favor owed to someone?
Posted by: clever bob | November 21, 2009, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
I see you have scheduled Liz Cheney again on Sunday, November 22. That will leave me with no other option than to tune your program out.
Posted by: James P. Williams | November 21, 2009, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
I watch George’s show as often as I can and I must say it has been one of the best. I haven’t happened to hear much from Liz Cheney on talk shows, but to summarize the negative comments I’ve read (on this blog) about inviting her to appear on tomorrow’s show, it sounds like she must be related to her father! And that pretty much says it all.
Posted by: Carol | November 22, 2009, 12:19 am 12:19 am
The Dems will NEVER get the required 60 votes needed to “limit” debate…book it! And Reid is simply pathetic…
Posted by: TRS | November 22, 2009, 3:30 am 3:30 am
Can we get medical marijuana covered as a prescription drug under the new plan?
Posted by: scott jeffries | November 22, 2009, 8:18 am 8:18 am
In my opinion, Nelson’s bought and paid for. Coburn’s nuts. From the ideological point of view, the panel has 3 republicans and one possibly moderate democrat. That is not a balanced presentation.
Throw Liz Cheney in the mix and as others have already said, “I won’t be watching.”
Posted by: jan | November 22, 2009, 8:26 am 8:26 am
Rep Wasserman-Shultz is a woman with an attitude! She does not respect ANYONE else’s opinion on anything, she is disreprectful while others speak with a voice different than hers YET doesn’t like it at all when it happens to her. Clearly, Wasserman-Shultz is all about making a name for herself. Watching her discuss/debate anything – whether I am of the same opinion as she or not, is painful! She needs to be sent back to her office and back to Florida to better learn how to behave!
Posted by: Dawn | November 22, 2009, 9:22 am 9:22 am
What makes me sick is the constant whining and lying of the Republicans.
The Republicans are hypocrites and don’t care about the American people, they only care about their company donors- “The Health Industry”.
Democrats are for the people, and Republicans are for themselves or Corporations. Where were the Republicans on spending a trillion dollars for an illegal war in Iraq? They were lining up at the “kickback counter”.
Posted by: Geo_S | November 22, 2009, 9:22 am 9:22 am
Excellent segment just now! While I typically align with the democrats, it was very refreshing to see someone who actually read the bill, comment on the possible outcomes. It added huge clarity to my understanding of the one small component they discussed. It sure beats the conjecture that seems to go on day in, day out.
More of this type of dicussion!!! Also, I appreciate one of the women representatives (i don’t know which one) was willing to offer to co-sponsor changes to the bill to reflect their common disagreement with the task force recommendations becoming law. Please pass along to them that they should DEFINITELY do that. It’s that kind of bi-partisanship that the American people want.
Great Show!
Posted by: Kris L | November 22, 2009, 9:31 am 9:31 am
Actually, the health care plan as presented by the democrats is an attempt to capture the insurance lobby’s stack of campaign funds. That’s why the repubs are so angry about it.
In their attempt to capture the insurance lobby’s campaign funds, the democrats have turned on one of the main pillars of their party; women. Historically, that doesn’t bode well for future chances of getting the majority of votes and I don’t think women are going to forget this betrayal any time soon.
Posted by: jan | November 22, 2009, 9:31 am 9:31 am
How many times do you have to shush Ms. Blackburn. Tell her to stick a sock in it.
Posted by: Chuck in NJ | November 22, 2009, 10:21 am 10:21 am
Please give Representative Schultz a chance to speak. As the only person representing the majority of the majority party, she should be heard. She is getting shouted down continually. George, you need to get a spine and stop the interruptions.
Posted by: Bob | November 22, 2009, 10:21 am 10:21 am
That was a great discussion. Debbie W-S against two official Republicans and one conservative Democrat who contributed nothing to the show except disdain for health care reform. How about some balance? How about some advocates for the health care bill?
It’s not that Debbie W-S can’t take on those three by herself intellectually, but the number of voices against her was just totally unfair.
You should do better in presenting a balanced view to the American people.
Posted by: artb | November 22, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, her constant interuptions and attempts to monopolize the converstion took away from the other 3 participants who also seemed credible and reasonalbe when discussing the very important topic of healthcare. Her message was lost in rude behavoir and it was an ineffective roundtable.
Posted by: Ronnie Poucher | November 22, 2009, 10:29 am 10:29 am
George:
How fair and balanced your show it today. It is just like watching FOX NEWS! [gag]!
You essentially put on three republicans to debate one democrat [usually a fair fight given the quality of the GOP] but then you join in and attack the dem trying to help the GOP defeat healthcare [you must have been real helpful when Bill Clinton used healthcare as a phony way to get elected].
US Senator Tom [C street] Coburn{R} says we cannot afford healthcare it is just too expensive [not for the Senators ,though]BUT we can afford war. War is profitable and those 45,000 people who die every year from lack of healthcare are expendable.
And people wonder why I say the GOP=Greed Over Principle. Go figure.
Posted by: Donald | November 22, 2009, 10:34 am 10:34 am
Why Liz Cheney – again? Who cares what she thinks? What are her qualifications to comment on ANYTHING, especially since she’s still carrying water for her father’s crimes?
Is America now an aristocracy, where you ascend to positions of power and influence by virtue of your parentage? (Wait, don’t answer that. It was a rhetorical question.)
Posted by: Susie Madrak | November 22, 2009, 10:50 am 10:50 am
Liz Cheney doesn’t even qualify as a political hack, she is little more than the daughter of a discredited Political Hack. So now we know, Darth Vader had a daughter too.
Posted by: Jim Angle | November 22, 2009, 10:57 am 10:57 am
Can’t believe that Liz Cheney is back. : (
Right when I’d convinced my friends that she would never be allowed on This Week, there she is. Please, please quit booking this rude and “truthy” person.
Posted by: Catherine Harding | November 22, 2009, 11:00 am 11:00 am
Wow George…you must have put the fear of God into Liz Cheney, or she’s back on her Meds…no histrionics, no interruptions or insane distortion of facts. I could actually sit thru it all!
Posted by: marta lee | November 22, 2009, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
Well, there you have it. Schultz & Blackburn are the poster children for what is so troubling about our political discourse. Neither one listening to the other…talking over each other…and just being obnoxious. I guess being cival with each other would be too much for them. But the moderator bares a lot of the responsibility her…so with that in mind…
Repeat after me George…”One at a time”
Posted by: Stephen | November 22, 2009, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
I learned a lot about Obama and the Democrat’s in Washingto over this health care bill. I learned you can not call Democrat’s lyers because they don’t know what truth is. This health care bill is a ponzie scheme. Madof went to jail for the same scheme the Democrat’s are palming off to the public.
Posted by: John Demeter | November 22, 2009, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
I agree with Motroni comment! Please do not
invite Liz Cheney on any of your panels.
There are many of us who find her a person whose ideological views are obscene and “canned” Republicn cant.
You can do better, George.
Blanche Premo-Hopkins
blanchep@usca.edu
Posted by: Blanche Premo Hopkins | November 22, 2009, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
I believe Will said that medicare refuses (in effect) twice as many pre-existing conditions as insurance co.’s. I brought this up in an argument and I need t find where this statistice came from, some documentation. Refering to this program is not enough as he’s been criticized on other statistics. Can someone help me?
Posted by: joseph deutsch | November 24, 2009, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm