Rush Limbaugh accidentally endorses Obamacare
Image by Getty Images via Daylife
When word came that Rush Limbaugh had been spirited off to the hospital with chest pains, I had to think for a moment about how I felt about his misfortune. It didn’t take long to realize that I was actually experiencing some concern for his health and hoped he would be all right.
Whether it was the holiday season, a suspicion that he might have a relative somewhere who could actually care about him or just the simpatico experienced by one who has been there for another whom might have to share the unpleasant experience, I just couldn’t wish the guy ill.
The warm and fuzzies didn’t last long.
Released from the hospital with a clean bill of health, Rush instantly took the opportunity to take a shot at the effort to reform the health care system while effusively praising the Hawaiian hospital that had taken such good care of him.
I don’t think there’s one thing wrong with the American health care system. I got no special treatment other than what anybody else that would have called 911 and had been brought in with the same kinds of symptoms.
Via USA Today
Now, I suspect old Rush has a pretty good health insurance policy, even if he does smoke cigars like a chimney and carry around about 100 extra pounds. So I wondered if Limbaugh could bring himself to give some thought as to how it might have gone for someone who was not so fortunate as to have quality health insurance coverage.
Then, it hit me. Limbaugh was actually right. He was telling the truth when he said he did not receive special treatment because, since 1974 when mandated health insurance was instituted in Hawaii, pretty much everyone in Hawaii has the same health care access afforded to Rush.
It turns out that Limbaugh has not been keeping up with his current events. If he was, he might have known he was lavishing praise on the most socialistic medical system in the United States.
Not only is Hawaii the closest thing to a socialist health care system in the nation, it was actually the model for the Clinton Administration’s failed effort to institute universal health coverage back in the early 1990’s. Despite the fact that the state has the highest costs in the country for just about everything – due to the necessity of shipping everything to the islands from the mainland- Hawaiian comprehensive health insurance comes with some of the smallest co-pays and premium charges in the country. What’s more, the costs per Medicare beneficiary is the lowest in the United States.
Oops.
With everyone covered by primary care, emergency room visits tend to be for real emergencies, not the non-emergent care mainland ERs dispense for people without coverage. That reduces the costs of ERs and the costs of non-emergent medicine since patients can be handled less expensively and more effectively by their primary doctors. Hospitals have not overbuilt, acquiring expensive machines to compete with their neighbors for patients. Insurance companies have instituted screening and other measures to improve wellness among their covered populations.
Via Fox4 TV Kansas City
And yet, there was Limbaugh standing before the cameras extolling the virtues of his Hawaiian health care. No complaints about long waiting times to see a doctor. No complaints about slow emergency room care. No complaints about waiting lists to receive important tests. No complaints about aged or inadequate technology.
Quite the contrary. It seems that, from Limbaugh’s point of view, the socialistic Hawaiian medical system, in practice now for over three decades, was as good as it gets.
This is not something that we can afford to allow Limbaugh to forget just as we cannot allow Rush to get away with not speaking to this massive change of heart (no transplant required.)
Let’s make the old blowhard cop to this. And should Limbaugh’s conversion to a socialistic system of medical care causes his clogged arteries to really explode – tough luck. Holidays are over and I’m willing to risk it.
Besides, to have a heart attack you actually have to have a heart. I’d say that puts Rush in the decidedly low risk category.
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Great find, Rick- Hope he is asked to explain
somebody has to bust him on this.
In response to another comment. See in context »You saw the test results for Oxycotton? haha.
In response to another comment. See in context »[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by rickungar, Tweets Tube. Tweets Tube said: Rush Limbaugh accidentally endorses Obamacare http://bit.ly/6wJbNj [...]
apparently, the hotel workers (first responders) are union workers. the nurses who cared for him are union workers.
(all links to the above info here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/1/2/821229/-Limbaugh-in-Hawai%60ia-view-*from*-Hawai%60i )
that ought to make his head explode!
here’s the link again
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/1/2/821229/-Limbaugh-in-Hawai%60ia-view-*from*-Hawai%60i
WE ARE ALL PRINCIPALS INSOFAR AS WHAT WILL BE THE OUTCOME OF THE HEALTH REFORM DEBATE.
NONETHELESS, THE FOLLOWING IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE.
IT IS TO BE TAKEN AS POSSIBLE REASON TO CONSULT AN ATTORNEY FOR ANY CAUSE(S) OF ACTION THAT MAY / MAY NOT LIE.
Hawaii’s mandatory participation is welcome precedent but admittedly not tonight known by me whether tested in the highest forum.
Of course, once exclusions (the shell game) are prohibited, mandatory participation has to occur; otherwise, one could skip buying premiums until he/she is seriously ill.
Earlier Rivkin and Casey argued, in addition to the issue of mandatory participation, as to a lack of stipulated power, short of the Interstate Commerce Clause. EverNewEcoN speculated that a health insurance cartel accepting premiums but systematically angling to avoid taking on the risk of those likely to get sick does in fact involve interstate commerce.
It’s remarkable that President Obama is former Constitutional Law Professor at the University of Chicago.
possible workaround: No Medicare participation to be available absent participation in the new program. EXCEPT: uncovered costs that go unreimbursed typically are avoidably oversized (the emergency room is the clinical entry point;) and, they’ll get shifted to you and me anyway (cost shifting works by way of bandages charged several hundred percent above cost and built into paying insureds’ premiums.)
If the constitutional challengers don’t get with the program (the health insurance cartel in fact WANTS the taxpayer to pay the premiums of those formerly covered who’ve lost their jobs and their coverage, and doctors also won’t get paid absent someone footing their bill.)
So, some possibilities:
So the challenge might go unprosecuted.
An amendment could be established before ObamaCare is scheduled by its terms to go into effect.
The nuclear option: repeal the health insurance cartel’s immunity to enforcement of the antitrust laws.
And perhaps: some class action firms would consider launching cases as to fraud as regards how a handful of companies simultaneously systematically isolate clusters of covered’s for the sake to separating their policies out from those that are marketed so as to institute premium death spirals, where their computers indicate that those groupings present a greater threat of having to pay for sick people.
EverNewEcoN
http://sites.google.com/site/evernewecon
Any chance you might want to comment without the drama? Since nobody has a clue who you are (I don’t think “evernewecon” is a legal name or advertisement on behalf of an attorney) I think you can skip the whole warning at the front and just say what’s on your mind. By the way – are you an attorney? Based on what you appear to be saying, i think not as you’ve skipped the whole state regulation of insurance companies thing.
In response to another comment. See in context »art of proofreading?
(1: don’t submit tired after 9 pm)
simply change
“So, some possibilities:”
to
“Then, some possibilities:”
This despicable piece of ordure will see no contradiction at all in continuing to try to undermine Obama and the government while acknowledging that he got good health care. His view would be that any health care system anywhere in the world would put itself out for the likes of him, because he is intrinsically worth saving. Regrettably, there are others who agree. He and Palin ought to get together and develop a plan to privatize the Hawaiian health care system. With intellects like theirs on the case the results would be stupendous.
The world is luffing at the health care reform; what of you? Are you ready to let the people go on and endorse this so called health reform. Think it through, what if life gets to a point were competition isn’t allowed anymore, as this “care” system would lower the standards of all Americans…think it through; you need not have a system where all have the same benefits, call me evil but, life has shown that competition rivals any known free system.
http://cliveshome.blogspot.com
I hope you are getting some financial assistance with your medication.
In response to another comment. See in context »Competition is a very good mechanism to regulate supply and demand in purely discretionary markets, such as children’s toys, or fashion apparel.
Outside that it is one of the most destructive and distorting influences known. In health care competition kills millions of people every year, and it drives costs up and quality down. Statistics show that people who cannot see this also believe in God.
Clive- if you read my many months of posts you would know that I do support and recommend the health care legislation.
Competition is important in how we do things and, when properly and fairly executed, does tend to produce a better product.
But there is no competition among health insurance providers and if you think there is, you’re just drinking the cool-aid and not doing your homework. The health insurers have an anti-trust exemption, which means they are exempt from following the rules of competition. If you track this on a state by state basis, which is how health insurance is sold, you will find remarkably little competition with, typically, two or three large companies controlling the market. Yes, I know, allow health insurance companies to sell across state lines and life will be grand. Great! But maybe you can tell me why this is the case because I spend a lot of time following these arguments and nobody has shown me yet.
If you can deliver a system where there is true competition (which won’t happen because keeping medical costs under control is a function of massive bargaining power by the insurer- not competition producing more options for customers but less power for the insurer), I’m in. But don’t you think you might want to really think this through and do you homework so you can back up your assertions with the facts? I went to your website and it’s all about having knowledge. May I respectfully suggest you take your own advice and beef up your knowledge in this area?
In response to another comment. See in context »If hawaiis health care system is so great….then I assume somewhere in the health bill Hawaii is exempt from forced Obamacare?
Actually Rush has dropped 100 pounds….you are showing an out of date picture….
Well, getting his weight wrong just spoils the entire post because that is what was important in the content. Do you ever have anything to say worth listening to?
In response to another comment. See in context »I did say something useful…if hawaiis health care system is a great as you claim….then why do they need obamacare?
In response to another comment. See in context »Rush is still morbidly obese.
Why would Hawaii want to continue something that isn’t as GOOD as what YOU are calling Obamacare anyway?
cliveshome: apparently you are evil if you support the current system.
The truth is this will actually improve the overall quality of care in the USA. Perhaps we can get out of 37th place some day now.
210lbs is ‘morbidly obese’?
In response to another comment. See in context »Does it strike anyone else that the debate seems to boil down to two positions?
1) my health care is god enough, so don’t change anything for anybody, or I may be worse off somehow
2) my health care coverage is inadequate or nonexistent, so the whole system needs to change.
Both lines of argument are an absolute recipe for disaster in sustainability of the system.
The former speaks for itself. The latter has the sound of someone looking for a free ride. This example, of the lowest health care costs in one of the most costly states in the nation is a good start to the debate. We all owe Rush a thank you for inadvertently changing the debate towards the benefits of wellness, shifts away from ER care for the uninsured, and the wastes of the current “medical-industrial complex” arms race mentality of competing hospitals.
The 800-lb gorilla cannot be ignored here!
“good enough”- my keyboard stuck.
In response to another comment. See in context »Ah…if only people will notice and it does change the debate!
In response to another comment. See in context »This is great. I really wish I knew someone who could get a call into Limbaugh to tell him to read this.
[...] Hell freezes over!!! [...]
Rush has recently lost 90 pounds and currently weighs about 210 lbs but you took a cheap shot by calling 100 pounds overweight and used an old picture. How can you expect any credibility when you let your personal bias glare like that?
nokomisfl-
In response to another comment. See in context »If you think that using an old picture and ‘mistating’ Limbaugh’s weight is what’s important about this piece, then I think I have more to worry about than what you feel is determinative of credibility.
Further, there is nothing about what I do here that promises objectivity. This is an opinion post. If it were a news post, I would have simply reported that Limbaugh was released from the hospital and included his quotes – without further comment.
I think the ship has sailed on my feelings about Rush Limbaugh. Sorry.
By the way, I suppose you often call into Limbaugh’s show complaining about his lack of objectivity too, yes?
Let me see if i understand your point. You don’t have to be credable about anything in your articles except the main point? Or is it, Rush is dispicably unobjective but since he does it no one can complain when you do it?
In response to another comment. See in context »Frankly, unobjectivity is always fine regardless if its from either side. It isn’t too hard to see when any writer/entertainer is stretching because of bias and to take that into consideration in evaluating an article. Its refreshing however when a writer takes responsibility for their bias rather than trying to excuse it…..which isn’t you.
I would say you are completely missing the point.
Sadly, I am unable to follow Rush around with a scale in order to get his most up to date weight at any given moment.
But let’s dig a bit deeper. Here is the actual line from the post that is so troubling to you -
“Now, I suspect old Rush has a pretty good health insurance policy, even if he does smoke cigars like a chimney and carry around about 100 extra pounds.”
Notice that I specifically say that I “suspect” that Rush has a pretty good health insurance policy. As I am not his insurance agent, I really don’t know this for sure – which is why I suspect it.
Do you deny that Rush is known to smoke cigars on a regular basis? The most current information I have is that he does – although it is certainly possible he quit this morning, or last week or whenever without bothering to call and tell me.
Do you deny that Rush has often carried around quite a bit of extra weight? I know that he does not deny it. What does he weight at this moment. Sorry – I don’t know. Yet you are prepared to rely on a commenter who tells us that Limbaugh has lost 90 pounds. Maybe he has. Maybe he’s lost 100 pounds or 200 pounds or gained 20. Are you suggesting that this commenter knows this information? And if you would be willing to admit that he probably does not, why are your suggeting that my credibility is at issue instead of his or hers?
Finally – and most importantly – why in the world are you wasting your time – and mine- talking about something that his wholly irrelevant to the point of the article. Take out the sentence that is so troubling and credibility challenging. Now, if you want to say that I have mistaken or misrepresented the health care system of Hawaii, then you would have cause to challenge my credibility. If you believe i have misquoted what Limbaugh said then you would have cause to challenge credibility.
But by picking on the sentence that you have will convince nobody that you have any point worth stating — it is a diversion and, finally, silly.
You may comment more on this if you feel the need but I’m done. If you have something to say about the substance of the piece, I’ll be happy to respond in kind.
Now the point – rea
In response to another comment. See in context »Sadly, I am unable to follow Rush around with a scale in order to get his most up to date weight at any given moment.
True Fact: There is a person who actually does this for a living.
In response to another comment. See in context »[...] he wafted quite eloquently, in saying this: I don’t think there’s one thing wrong with the American health care system. I got no special [...]
LIMBAUGH DEAD of ANAL CYST at 58
St Petersburg Times/Gazzette
January 1, 2010
Rush Limbaugh, the popular conservative talk show host, has been pronounced dead today at the age of 58. Doctors have determined the cause of death to be complications from sitting on an anal cyst for over 20 years. Doctors also said other factors related to his death, like eating massive amounts of transfats, consuming massive amounts of saturated fats, excessive smoking and addiction to oxycontin, hydrocodone and Viagra.
Dr Arnold Bladen, the hospital’s Chief of Dittology, said when paramedics brought him to the hospital Mr. Limbaugh was constantly spewing verbal puss they have never seen before. They believe this diarrhea of the mouth aggrevated his anal cyst because the same color discharge came from both his mouth and anus, and both smelled just as bad.
Mr Limbaugh’s anal cyst, or butt wart, has often served to Mr. Limbaugh’s benefit, because it allowed him to avoid serving in the Vietnam War. During that war Mr. Limbaugh was a war hawk who loved to send others to die in a useless war, but who cowardly used his ass wart to get out of serving.
Amor Onwinger, a spokesman for Mr Limbaugh, said funeral arrangements will be forthcoming, and further stated that to move Rush’s body from the hospital will require the use of heavy lifting equipment that is often used on Hawaii’s beaches to clear them of beached whales. He went on to say, “Because burial would require such a huge plot of land that Mr. Limbaugh’s body would be dragged out to sea just as dead whales are disposed of when they are found dead on beaches”.
Mr. Limbaugh had three children, all of whom seem eager to continue their daddy’s business. Little Glenn Beck Limbaugh, Baby Hannity Limbaugh and Tantrum OReilly Limbaugh all said they feel nothing but happiness because now they will have less competition so they can market their hatred, anger, racism and lies to even more right wing freaks. Mr. Limbaugh’s five ex-wives refused to comment on Mr. Limbaugh’s death, probably in fear they would violate terms of their divorces with Mr. Limbaugh and lose millions.
Copyright 2009, St Petersburg Times/Gazzette, All Rights Reserved
Reference: Rush Limbaugh’s Ass Wart can be found at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilonidal_cyst
[...] Limbaugh is probably too stupid to realize is that Hawaii has the most “socialist” health insurance system of all the states. Health insurance coverage is mandated in that state (and has been since 1974), which is one of the [...]
Michael-
Who pays Rush’s weight monitor for performing what will now join my list as one of the worst jobs in the world?
Dear God, give up on the petty semantics please. Limbaugh is HEAVY in every sense of the word. Even if his weight is going down, owing to being infected with AIDS, he is getting heavier in other respects with every passing day.
He is one of those people who, when he identifies something that is successful and publicly owned and funded, immediately wants it transferred into private hands so that its success can make someone rich. The evidence of course, is, that as soon as the public asset is privatized it gets corrupted and turns to shit, and has to be bailed out.
“It turns out that Limbaugh has not been keeping up with his current events. If he was, he might have known he was lavishing praise on the most socialistic medical system in the United States.”
HA!
Brilliant piece Rick
[...] now have Rush Limbaugh touting Socialized medicine, not once, but twice! After his hospital stay in Hawaii, he was sweet enough to tell us how great their health care [...]