Gary MacDougal on Barack Obama and Health Insurance:Cable and Streaming
Jeff Berkowitz: Extremely intelligent? Perhaps [Obama is] one of the most intelligent state senators you encountered? Maybe the most intelligent state senator you encountered in the state of Illinois?
Former State GOP Chairman Gary MacDougal: In the State of Illinois? I will have to think back a bit. He is definitely intelligent. I remember testifying in front of his committee in Springfield and saying, “Whoa, where did this guy come from?” His questions were articulate, thoughtful—I think he means well. He is naïve, though. Another evidence of Obama's naiveté is—he has done business with ...and [ ] is going to bring down [Governor] Blagojevich.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Tell us what you would do. I understand you have a criticism of Governor Blagojevich [on health insurance], but what would you do as a Republican to deal with those 1.5 million people in Illinois who are uninsured?
****************************************************
Tonight's City of Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," features former State GOP Chairman Gary MacDougal discussing and debating Gov. Blagojevich's approach to spending, taxes and health care; MacDougal's suggestion that the State GOP develop a "Contract with Illinois"; assessments of Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, Bob Kjellander and much, more with show host and legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz.You may also [Go Here to watch the "Public Affairs," show with Gary MacDougal, this week's suburban "Public Affairs," rumble between Cook County Commissioners Peraica [R] and Quigley [D] as well as other shows with such notables as Schakowsky, Obama, McCain, Giuliani, Barrett, Syverson and many others on your computer; .
******************************************
Go here for more about tonight's show topics and for an additional partial transcript of tonight's show.
*************************************************
The "Public Affairs," cinema page gives you a choice of more than twenty-five episodes of “Public Affairs," to watch on your computer , including interviews, discussions or remarks with or by U. S. Senators John McCain and Barack Obama, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani and many, many more pols on our video podcast page[Go Here to Watch the Shows on your computer; you can drag the dial on the bottom of the screen to watch only portions of the thirty minute shows].
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Jeff Berkowitz: Your knock on Barack Obama is that in your perception, he is too liberal for America
Former State GOP Chairman Gary MacDougal: He is too liberal—
Jeff Berkowitz: But, you would say the same thing about Hillary Clinton, right?
Gary MacDougal: Yes, Yes.
Jeff Berkowitz: And, perhaps about John Edwards.
Gary MacDougal: I would.
Jeff Berkowitz: Other than that, what do you think of Barack Obama? You would say he is an intelligent guy?
Gary MacDougal: Absolutely, I think he is—
Jeff Berkowitz: Extremely intelligent? Perhaps one of the most intelligent state senators you encountered? Maybe the most intelligent state senator you encountered in the state of Illinois?
Gary MacDougal: In the State of Illinois? I will have to think back a bit. He is definitely intelligent. I remember testifying in front of his committee in Springfield and saying, “Whoa, where did this guy come from?” His questions were articulate, thoughtful—I think he means well. He is naïve, though. Another evidence of his naiveté is—he has done business with [Tony] Rezko on several levels. Rezko is the guy who has already been indicted and is going to bring down [Governor] Blagojevich.
Jeff Berkowitz: Well, almost every [pol] in Illinois has done business with Tony Rezko, with the exception perhaps of—
Former State GOP Chairman Gary MacDougal: I have never done business with Tony Rezko. I wouldn’t touch—
Jeff Berkowitz: Gary MacDougal. And, we want to thank Gary MacDougal for coming on the show tonight…and we’re going to continue to speak as the credits roll…so you tied Barack Obama to Tony Rezko, but … it’s a pretty weak tie. He [Obama] knew him way back [when], but Tony Rezko has known everybody way back, that’s how he operated, he got to know pols--
Gary MacDougal: But, he [Obama] just bought this house not so long ago, and it’s not evidence that it is a great corrupt incident—
Jeff Berkowitz: Rezko bought [on the same day and from the same seller to Barack Obama] the side lot, adjacent property to a house that Barack Obama bought. There is no indication that there was any corruption, anything wrong there—
Gary MacDougal: Well, it could be that Rezko paid full price for his and Obama got a discount
Jeff Berkowitz: But, Obama said he did that because there was an offer at that price [the price Rezko paid], Rezko had to match it. That was [apparently] not true for the Obama purchase of Obama’s house.
Gary MacDougal: I’m just saying that it isn’t good judgment to have anything to do with a guy like Tony Rezko, who is clearly a shady character.
*****************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Tell us what you would do. I understand you have a criticism of Blagojevich [on health insurance], but what would you do as a Republican to deal with those 1.5 million people in Illinois who are uninsured?
Former State GOP Chairman Gary MacDougal: I think that we have to come up with a market based solution. And, I think the President has a good idea on that. What he is doing is removing the tax deduction that employers get and giving individuals a tax deduction. It is really kind of a variant of a voucher scheme so that there is no miss-match, no second class citizens in terms of those of us who don’t have a corporation that we work for, so we can buy insurance.
Jeff Berkowitz: But, don’t a lot of those folks who are uninsured not pay any [income] tax because they either have no income or a very low income. Most people who earn less than $50,000 don’t pay any federal taxes, do they? And so, giving them a tax deduction, how does that help them?
Gary MacDougal: Let me go to your first point. It is the very poor that do have insurance because it is Medicaid. Medicaid—one of the problems we had in getting people to leave welfare is that they would leave [or lose] Medicaid, so the very—there is a misconception here because the very poorest people do have health insurance and it is the group above that, those that you might call the working poor, that is the issue.
Jeff Berkowitz: And, those people you are saying would benefit from that tax deduction both on the state and federal level—
Gary MacDougal: That’s right.
Jeff Berkowitz: Which they are currently not getting. They then would be persuaded or induced to buy health insurance. So, you’re saying that people voluntarily are not buying health insurance now because it is not economic.
Former State GOP Chairman Gary MacDougal: You’ve got to improve the economics for individual choice. And, the thing you’ve got to be careful of—the Blagojevich plan will put a mandate on insurance companies which may cause them to leave the state or choose not to insure [those in] the state-- and also [the Blagojevich administration may put a] mandate on employers. Anytime you’re doing an employer mandate, watch out, because employers can move across the state border.
***************************************************
Gary MacDougal, as is airing tonight on Public Affairs [8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21, CANTV] on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs. The show was recorded on March 11, 2007. You may also[watch the show with former State GOP Chairman MacDougal here].
***************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
******************
Former State GOP Chairman Gary MacDougal: In the State of Illinois? I will have to think back a bit. He is definitely intelligent. I remember testifying in front of his committee in Springfield and saying, “Whoa, where did this guy come from?” His questions were articulate, thoughtful—I think he means well. He is naïve, though. Another evidence of Obama's naiveté is—he has done business with ...and [ ] is going to bring down [Governor] Blagojevich.
*********************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Tell us what you would do. I understand you have a criticism of Governor Blagojevich [on health insurance], but what would you do as a Republican to deal with those 1.5 million people in Illinois who are uninsured?
****************************************************
Tonight's City of Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," features former State GOP Chairman Gary MacDougal discussing and debating Gov. Blagojevich's approach to spending, taxes and health care; MacDougal's suggestion that the State GOP develop a "Contract with Illinois"; assessments of Barack Obama, Tony Rezko, Bob Kjellander and much, more with show host and legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz.You may also [Go Here to watch the "Public Affairs," show with Gary MacDougal, this week's suburban "Public Affairs," rumble between Cook County Commissioners Peraica [R] and Quigley [D] as well as other shows with such notables as Schakowsky, Obama, McCain, Giuliani, Barrett, Syverson and many others on your computer; .
******************************************
Go here for more about tonight's show topics and for an additional partial transcript of tonight's show.
*************************************************
The "Public Affairs," cinema page gives you a choice of more than twenty-five episodes of “Public Affairs," to watch on your computer , including interviews, discussions or remarks with or by U. S. Senators John McCain and Barack Obama, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani and many, many more pols on our video podcast page[Go Here to Watch the Shows on your computer; you can drag the dial on the bottom of the screen to watch only portions of the thirty minute shows].
***************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Your knock on Barack Obama is that in your perception, he is too liberal for America
Former State GOP Chairman Gary MacDougal: He is too liberal—
Jeff Berkowitz: But, you would say the same thing about Hillary Clinton, right?
Gary MacDougal: Yes, Yes.
Jeff Berkowitz: And, perhaps about John Edwards.
Gary MacDougal: I would.
Jeff Berkowitz: Other than that, what do you think of Barack Obama? You would say he is an intelligent guy?
Gary MacDougal: Absolutely, I think he is—
Jeff Berkowitz: Extremely intelligent? Perhaps one of the most intelligent state senators you encountered? Maybe the most intelligent state senator you encountered in the state of Illinois?
Gary MacDougal: In the State of Illinois? I will have to think back a bit. He is definitely intelligent. I remember testifying in front of his committee in Springfield and saying, “Whoa, where did this guy come from?” His questions were articulate, thoughtful—I think he means well. He is naïve, though. Another evidence of his naiveté is—he has done business with [Tony] Rezko on several levels. Rezko is the guy who has already been indicted and is going to bring down [Governor] Blagojevich.
Jeff Berkowitz: Well, almost every [pol] in Illinois has done business with Tony Rezko, with the exception perhaps of—
Former State GOP Chairman Gary MacDougal: I have never done business with Tony Rezko. I wouldn’t touch—
Jeff Berkowitz: Gary MacDougal. And, we want to thank Gary MacDougal for coming on the show tonight…and we’re going to continue to speak as the credits roll…so you tied Barack Obama to Tony Rezko, but … it’s a pretty weak tie. He [Obama] knew him way back [when], but Tony Rezko has known everybody way back, that’s how he operated, he got to know pols--
Gary MacDougal: But, he [Obama] just bought this house not so long ago, and it’s not evidence that it is a great corrupt incident—
Jeff Berkowitz: Rezko bought [on the same day and from the same seller to Barack Obama] the side lot, adjacent property to a house that Barack Obama bought. There is no indication that there was any corruption, anything wrong there—
Gary MacDougal: Well, it could be that Rezko paid full price for his and Obama got a discount
Jeff Berkowitz: But, Obama said he did that because there was an offer at that price [the price Rezko paid], Rezko had to match it. That was [apparently] not true for the Obama purchase of Obama’s house.
Gary MacDougal: I’m just saying that it isn’t good judgment to have anything to do with a guy like Tony Rezko, who is clearly a shady character.
*****************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Tell us what you would do. I understand you have a criticism of Blagojevich [on health insurance], but what would you do as a Republican to deal with those 1.5 million people in Illinois who are uninsured?
Former State GOP Chairman Gary MacDougal: I think that we have to come up with a market based solution. And, I think the President has a good idea on that. What he is doing is removing the tax deduction that employers get and giving individuals a tax deduction. It is really kind of a variant of a voucher scheme so that there is no miss-match, no second class citizens in terms of those of us who don’t have a corporation that we work for, so we can buy insurance.
Jeff Berkowitz: But, don’t a lot of those folks who are uninsured not pay any [income] tax because they either have no income or a very low income. Most people who earn less than $50,000 don’t pay any federal taxes, do they? And so, giving them a tax deduction, how does that help them?
Gary MacDougal: Let me go to your first point. It is the very poor that do have insurance because it is Medicaid. Medicaid—one of the problems we had in getting people to leave welfare is that they would leave [or lose] Medicaid, so the very—there is a misconception here because the very poorest people do have health insurance and it is the group above that, those that you might call the working poor, that is the issue.
Jeff Berkowitz: And, those people you are saying would benefit from that tax deduction both on the state and federal level—
Gary MacDougal: That’s right.
Jeff Berkowitz: Which they are currently not getting. They then would be persuaded or induced to buy health insurance. So, you’re saying that people voluntarily are not buying health insurance now because it is not economic.
Former State GOP Chairman Gary MacDougal: You’ve got to improve the economics for individual choice. And, the thing you’ve got to be careful of—the Blagojevich plan will put a mandate on insurance companies which may cause them to leave the state or choose not to insure [those in] the state-- and also [the Blagojevich administration may put a] mandate on employers. Anytime you’re doing an employer mandate, watch out, because employers can move across the state border.
***************************************************
Gary MacDougal, as is airing tonight on Public Affairs [8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21, CANTV] on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs. The show was recorded on March 11, 2007. You may also[watch the show with former State GOP Chairman MacDougal here].
***************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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