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Crist says he would not scrap Dem health care reform, can’t identify part worth keeping

by Michael C. Bender | February 27th, 2010

Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate, told The Palm Beach Post editorial board on Friday that, unlike many Republicans in Washington, he didn’t think President Obama should scrap his health care reform proposal:

“There may be parts of it that you don’t have to scrap. There are three parts of it that I would like to see scrapped: It would raise taxes significantly, it would raise rates significantly and it would take half-a-trillion dollars out of Medicare.

“I think the real issue here, as it relates to health care, is that people want it to not cost so much and people want to have access to it. I think there is a consensus of agreement that the health care that is delivered in America is good. But it’s not easy to get it and it’s too expensive when you do get it.”

Asked if there were any parts of the bill he liked, Crist said:

“I don’t think a whole lot. Watching the discussion yesterday (Thursday) you get a chance to sort of see more of it be ferreted out. You know, I’m the kind of guy … I’m pragmatic. The stimulus is a great example. We needed the money. Every other Republican governor took it, too. I was just maybe a little more honest and straight forward about it. Well, shame on me for being honest. But, you know, as it relates to health care, if there are good ideas, I’m willing to look at them. And I would take that same approach to any issue in Washington.”

Asked again if there were any parts he liked he said:

“Not at present. No.”

Not one good idea?

“There may be. There may be. You know, I’m pretty focused on Florida right now. I mean, after the session I’ll be more focused on the issues in Washington. But I’ve got to do my first job first.”

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29 Responses to “Crist says he would not scrap Dem health care reform, can’t identify part worth keeping”

  1. Marion D. Thorpe, Jr. MD MPH Says:

    The present Health Care “reform” proposal is a travesty. It does not address true measures needed for Health Care reform nor Health Insurance reform. Additionally, it places a tremendous tax burden on our generation and an even greater burden on our children and future generations. Categorically, it is fiscally irresponsible to move forward with the present proposal. Furthermore, it is clinically unsound legislation that will lead to poor outcomes for Patients.

  2. Dr. Sleiburgh Says:

    Dr. Thorpe,

    Please put your personal agenda to the side. You can’t honestly tell me that the insurance companies we work with have one ounce of care for our patients. The system is broken plain and simple. The plan, although not perfect, is a step in the right direction. I would like to see more TORT in there because I can’t stand defensive medicine but overall it is a very good, first step. I have no idea how you can say it will lead to poor outcomes when we have millions without care or those with it who are constantly denied services, certain procedures, medications, etc. Remember the hipocratic oath my colleague.

  3. Joe Says:

    Dr. Sleiburgh must be an SEIU plant. He cannot even spell hippocratic correctly.

  4. Frank Says:

    I am a Democrat and I applaud our Republican Governor for keeping an open mind and not goose-stepping to “The Party’s” obstructionist agenda. Politics has always been a game of give and take, but the current Republican Party is so rabidly anti-Obama that it is willing to screw the American people just to deny Obama any opportunity at progress. If we had more politicians like President Obama and Governor Christ, our government might actually make some progress on any number of issues.
    Governeor Christ… you’ve got MY VOTE.

  5. Dr. Joe Says:

    Does putting Dr. before my name make me sound more credible Dr. Sleiburgh? A google search of your name only comes back to this page. Does ACORN or SEIU give you a dollar for every one of these posts?

  6. Hot Air » Blog Archive » Crist: Don’t scrap ObamaCare, even though I can’t name anything good about it Says:

    [...] than gainsay to make an argument for moderate positions.  Call this a Kirk Watson moment; when the Palm Beach Post challenged Crist’s insistence that he wouldn’t scrap ObamaCare by asking him to [...]

  7. Marion D. Thorpe, Jr. MD MPH Says:

    Dr. Sleiburgh,

    I welcome the opportunity for earnest discussion. While it is true that I am running for US Senate in Florida, I am by no means a career politician. That being said, it appears that the present proposal will place unsustainable stressors on our Health Care delivery systems. We simply do not have adequate manpower nor infrastructure at this juncture. As for the insurance companies, by re-centering the Patient-Doctor relationship as the core decision-making unit, we can “train” the companies to compete for our business (versus the poor treatment that many of us now receive from insurance companies).

    In my humble opinion, we should start over by delineating Heath Care Reform measures (eg, Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, Preventive Medicine protocols) and Health Insurance reform measures (eg, Portability, Tort reform, Health Savings Accounts)… then we can proceed in an orderly and logical manner as we address each issue. With this stepwise and methodical approach, we have a golden opportunity to truly heal America’s Health Care delivery system.

    Thank you for considering my points. I look forward to further discussion with you.

  8. joey Says:

    This whole string of comments by Crist shows perfectly how he is NOTHING but a fence straddler with NO BACKBONE. He’s a completely empty suit with no substance whatsoever. America needs leadership not more waffling idiots!! Crist is NOT a leader. He’s a politician who only looks out for himself. Comments like these show the true CC and that’s why Rubio is going to beat him soundly.

  9. Demlican Says:

    CharLIE Crist supporting Obamacare should not suprise anyone. After all he hugged Obama and publically supported the stimulus in Fort Myers, before he was against it. Now he is for it again. After all he is a Demlican (Dem Lick An)
    By the way to all you doctors or want to be doctors, it has always been known medical doctors are the worlds worst businessmen. do the doctoring and leave the business to people who know what they are talking about.

  10. race42008.com » Blog Archive » I Have Nothing Against Moderates, But This Is Ridiculous Says:

    [...] since his main opponent, Marco Rubio is attempting to lock up the conservative vote. However, this cannot help. From the Palm Beach Post: Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate, told The Palm [...]

  11. TexasDude Says:

    ” Remember the hipocratic oath my colleague.”

    The oath was trivialized by the US Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade. Didn’t you hear? It was just some weird non-conformist notion by a small sect of Greeks that everyone ignored.

  12. Charlie Crist: Don't Scrap Obamacare, But He Can't Name One Part Worth Keeping | American Conservative Values Journal Says:

    [...] Home Page Gov. Charlie Crist, a moderate (RINO) Republican, running for the U.S. Senate told the Palm Beach Post on Friday that, unlike many Republicans in Washington, he didn’t think President Obama should [...]

  13. race42008.com » Blog Archive » Still Think Charlie’s Staying in the GOP? Says:

    [...] yourself of that notion right now: Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate, told The Palm Beach Post editorial board [...]

  14. Charlie Crist Says He’d Keep the Democrats’ Health Care Deform Plan - Erick’s blog - RedState Says:

    [...] to scrap their health care plan and start over — a view shared by the majority of Americans — Charlie Crist says he’d keep the Democrats’ plan. Mind you, he can’t think of a part worth saving, but he says he’d keep it anyway and [...]

  15. Charlie Crist Says He’d Keep the Democrats’ Health Care Deform Plan - Erick’s blog - RedState Says:

    [...] to scrap their health care plan and start over — a view shared by the majority of Americans — Charlie Crist says he’d keep the Democrats’ plan. Mind you, he can’t think of a part worth saving, but he says he’d keep it anyway and [...]

  16. Wellescent Health Politics Says:

    Crist sounds more like he is senile than anything with his contradictory stance. However, it is interesting that some people interpret him as the worst form of Republican while others give him credit for being open. He really deserves neither as he is only advocating inaction.

    He really should decide which of the constituents he supports rather than supporting none by taking such an undefined stance.

  17. Sick of RINOs Says:

    Frank @ 11:53 – Its a good thing that FL is a closed Primary state and as a democrat you cannot vote in a republican primary.

    RUBIO!!

  18. ER White Says:

    Here is my Take:

    http://www.bloggybayou.com/2010/02/charlie-crist-goes-for-jugularwinds-up.html

    Cheers

  19. Kenny Solomon Says:

    So Charlie says he’s gonna keep Obama’s hugs and kisses, the death panels and build a bureaucracy to dwarf anything ever created.

    Who says we’re gonna keep Charlie ?

    Kenny Solomon
    DC Works For Us
    http://www.dcworksforus.com
    A South Florida-based patriots organization.

  20. Charlie Crist Opens Mouth, Inserts Foot : The Other McCain Says:

    [...] Opens Mouth, Inserts FootPosted on | February 27, 2010 | No CommentsAgain. The headline says it all:Crist says he would not scrap Dem health care reform, can’t identify part worth keepingTrying to turn “bipartisan” and “moderate” into a matter of political [...]

  21. PoP « Sister Toldjah Says:

    [...] Crist says he would not scrap Dem health care reform, can’t identify part worth keeping [...]

  22. Charlie Crist Doesn’t Want to Scrap Obamacare, But Can’t Name one Part Worth Keeping | Florida Pundit Says:

    [...] deserve support from conservatives and Tea Party independents. In an interview with the Palm Beach Post he stated President Obama should not scrap the current health care proposal and then is unable to [...]

  23. Charlie Crist: Don’t Scrap Obamacare … But I Can’t Name One Part Worth Keeping | America Watches Obama Says:

    [...] Comments From the Palm Beach Post, this is classic Charlie Crist: Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate, told The [...]

  24. Sally Says:

    Democrats for Obama and Charlie Crist. Thank’s Governor for doing whats right!

  25. Charlie Crist Says He’d Keep the Democrats’ Health Care Deform Plan | WTF?! Obama Says:

    [...] to scrap their health care plan and start over — a view shared by the majority of Americans — Charlie Crist says he’d keep the Democrats’ plan. Mind you, he can’t think of a part worth saving, but he says he’d keep it anyway and [...]

  26. Charlie Crist: Don't Scrap Obamacare ... But I Can't Name One Part Worth Keeping - Semiauto Rifles Says:

    [...] Don’t Scrap Obamacare … But I Can’t Name One Part Worth Keeping | The Weekly Standard From the Palm Beach Post, this is classic Charlie Crist:Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate, told The [...]

  27. Rubio responds to Crist’s visit to Palm Beach Post editorial board | Post on Politics Says:

    [...] he wouldn’t completely scrap President Obama’s health care reform. Crist, however, also refused to identify any parts of the reform that he would [...]

  28. Maryalice Portney Says:

    Good blogpost, I bookmarked your blog post so I can visit again in the near future, All the Best

  29. Drucilla Guster Says:

    You can not believe how long ive been searching for something like this. Went through 7 pages of Google results without finding anything. Very first page on Bing. There this is…. Gotta start using that more often

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