It's not surprising that Betsy McCaughey thinks Dylan Ratigan is a disgrace to journalism, he did something no real journalist is supposed to do. He got a Republican, McCaughey, to answer a tough question. And what an answer she gave, we now know the Republican solution to the healthcare crisis, raise the age of eligibility for medicare. It's now time to take this message and run with it. The public now has a pretty clear choice, the Republican option, raise the age of eligibility for Medicare, or the Public Option. This is a choice everyone can understand.
I'm sure most here have read the Recommended Diary on the smackdown of Betsy McCaughey by Dylan Ratigan. It was an impressive exhibition. But what McCaughey said should not be lost in the fireworks. McCaughey wanted to repeat the standard Republican talking points, particularly that healthcare reform was going to be accomplished at the expense of medicare recipients. Even when Ratigan and Weiner talk about competition from the Public Option leading to lower insurance costs, McCaughey's response is that, they "are missing the major issue, that these bills are an assault on seniors". But Ratigan was insistent on getting an answer to how McCaughey was going to contain costs, and when he finally got her to answer, it was startling.
Ms. McCaughey was, as they say, hoisted on her own petard. If she had intended to use the interview to scare seniors about the effects of the Democratic healthcare reform proposals, she may have instead opened senior's eyes to what should be their real concern, Republican designs on Medicare. This needs to now be hung around every Republican's neck.
From this point on, whenever a Republican says that the Democrats will reduce funding for Medicare, they should be reminded of this interview. What do the Republicans really want? Is raising the age of eligibility for Medicare really the Republican's first step toward eliminating it altogether? This is something seniors need to hear, especially as the midterm elections approach. Who should they really fear? This is a message everyone can understand. As I say, hang it around their necks, make them own it. Which do you prefer, a Public Option, or a rise in the age of eligibility for medicare?