In an online chat today with several media outlets, the GOP gubernatorial candidate and former Health Insurance Company Executive stated that he supported the repeal of he recently singed into law health care reform. While spewing tired and used GOP taking points such as ” I was sorry to see the federal government take such an enormous financial gamble with my kids’ and grandkid’s future”, he failed to address what he would to the thousands of sick kids who would have their future stolen from them due to health care industry abuses such as denying children care due to pre-existing conditions.
Its no wonder that Mr. Baker’s campaign is still ducking questions regarding his tenure at Harvard Pilgrim and what the Herald recently reported in that Baker’s salary rose from $548,351 in 1999 to of $1.7 million in 2008 while premiums where jacked up 200%. A campaign that has pocketed in excess of $260,000 from health-care industry special interests according to the Globe, is not an honest practice in civil participation but an exercise in corporatist manipulation of what is in the best interest of Massachusetts working families.
Most recently Baker falsely and laughably asserted that Governor Patrick’s decision to reject rate increases by the state’s health insurers would hurt small businesses because they would actually have to include a prescription drug benefit. A spin so incredibly ridiculous, that most of the state’s small business trade groups have issued press releases praising Governor Patrick’s leadership. Mr. Baker had the opportunity early on to decidedly tell the people of Massachusetts whose side he is on and he chose his colleagues in the executive boardroom rather struggling small business on main st.
Running for Governor of Massachusetts in 2010 is about economic issues. Social issues are not going to be on the table in this race.
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p>Ignore Baker’s words, look at his interests and actions.
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p>He is wealthy, and he is the CEO of a health insurance company. He doesn’t like that HCR denies his company the chance to cherry pick the 18-25 year old, slim and fit nonsmokers with no health problems to insure, while sending all others away.
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p>Oh, boo-hoo. Mean old federal government is going to make insurance actually pay out money for treatments for collecting premiums. So tragic, get me a hanky, I want to cry. NOT!!!!
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p>Political support for Baker will come from suburbanites who blame the problems on major minorities in city slums and not corporate fat cats. That is a view of the world that I just don’t buy.
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p>The last thing that this state needs is a rich CEO type governor ranting about “big red socialism” while ruling for the fat cats.
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p>He’s all in with the crazies and Palin on repeal. I think this is going to bite him. Watch him try to tip toe around this later.
When I saw this quote:
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p>”I was sorry to see the federal government take such an enormous financial gamble with my kids’ and grandkid’s future”
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p>My first thought was emphasis on “my”. I other words, this may very well be a detriment to the inheritence of his own children and grandchildren.