Regrettable But Quotable: Reform Politics and the AMA

“As President Obama delivers yet another speech on his healthcare debacle-this one on the 6 month anniversary of the bill's passage- he may notice some of the people who won't be clapping: members of his own party. Like aristocrats aboard a sinking steamship, Congressional Democrats are madly scrambling for whatever life vests they can find.”

“Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, one of the architects of the healthcare insurance mandates, has voiced second thoughts, saying "I would like to explore the possibility of Oregon moving forward with a federal waiver (on mandates)" Another Democrat, Mississippi Congressman Gene Taylor, has broken ranks and joined with 171 Republicans in signing petition #11 which calls for a vote to repeal Obamacare.”

““Not to be outdone, the American Medical Association (AMA) became the latest turncoat on Obamacare when they announced their support of Tea Party favorite, Pat Toomey for senator of Pennsylvania. The irony is that Toomey is a devotee of the troika: defund-repeal-replace while the AMA was a staunch supporter of the Affordable Care Act in order to protect their government sanctioned medical coding system monopoly which provides as much as $100 million annually and its passage without their support was questionable. Unfortunately, they wield more influence than should be the case for an organization that represents so few doctors- only 17% of the doctors in the US - and a large percentage of this group are medical students, residents in training, retired doctors and academicians who are often removed from patient care issues. As they embark on a campaign to bolster their dwindling numbers by offering a half price membership sale, their efforts are proving futile because they are as out of touch with their constituency as is the current resident of the White House with his. Instead of a mea culpa, they offer suggestions on how to cope and prosper under Obamacare.”

Hal Scherz, “Democrats Flee as Obama Speaks,” Real Clear Politics, September 22, 2010