| Check out the interview below of Max Baucus by the Great Falls Tribune's John Adams, who asks the Senator very tough questions about health care reform. At one point, Baucus tells Adams, "don't get too confrontational here" (at the 4:00 mark), and a staffer vainly tries to interrupt the interview twice.
During the interview, Adams asks Baucus about why single-payer health care isn't being considered, and if the contributions from the health-care industry isn't unduly influencing his policy, to which, much to Baucus' credit, after some hemming and hawing the Senator gives some clear answers.
To wit, after Adams asked, "...why not at least let [single-payer system] be part of the discussion?" Baucus at first gave a long, diplomatic answer that skirted the question. The closest Baucus came to answering was when he said, "to be successful, we have to work with what we have," and proceeded to say the president's stance against single-payer health care precluded that as a solution.
Then:
ADAMS: Why not at least let them take part of the discussion...? If we're talking about reforming the health care system, then why not allow single payer to come in and have the debate publicly and let Americans decide for themselves whether or not they think single payer's a good idea...?
BAUCUS: Well...(laughs, long pause)...uh...(pause)...it's...uh...Basically we are. In fact I'm meeting with advocates of single payer (unintelligible) in Washington...and we'll soon meet with them in Montana....
ADAMS: Who will you be meeting with?
BAUCUS: Oh...don't get too confrontational here...(CROSSTALK)...well, the tone of your voice is very telling....
After that exchange, Baucus then said this:
To be very candid with you, very few people in Washington, members of the House and Senate, advocate single payer. A vast, vast majority do not. I don't think, I may be wrong, I don't think a single single-payer bill has been introduced in the Senate. There may be some in the House, but I don't think there's any in the Senate...
That's got to tell you something. And it tells me that if I go down that road, it's not going to be successful. It's not going to pass. It's not going to pass the Congress.
I've got to use the resources that we have, and the time we have, in the best way possible. To reform our system in the best way we can.
A direct and honest answer after some badgering by Adams.
When Adams confronted Baucus with his campaign contributions from the health-care industry, Baucus said this:
Money means nothing to me. I pay no attention to campaign contributions. Nothing. Makes no difference.
About as forceful an answer I've ever heard Baucus give.
All-in-all, a very entertaining interview that highlights Adams' no-nonsense style of dogged questioning (which I've experienced first-hand), and Baucus handling of Adams and answering some questions candidly...
Interviews below the fold... |
