President Obama delivers an impassioned plea for his vision of health care reform. So will the President’s address to a rare joint session of Congress prove to be a turning point in what has become the signature issue of the Obama Administration? The initial reaction from Capitol Hill broke along familiar partisan lines, but some lawmakers hold out hope that a compromise can be met. This week Fox News Sunday tackles health care reform when Chris Wallace speaks with a panel of influential lawmakers.
Segment 1 Guests: Sen. Kent Conrad, (D) North Dakota / Chairman, Senate Budget Cmte.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, (R) Utah / Senate Finance Committee
Sen. Claire McCaskill, (D) Missouri
Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina / Budget Committee
“You Lie!” That outburst during President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress rocked the nation’s Capital. South Carolina Republican Congressman Joe Wilson called the White House and issued an apology, but that concession has done little to quiet the furor that’s erupted on Capitol Hill. Some Republicans are even using the remark as a rallying cry in their attempts to defeat President Obama’s plan for health care reform. This week Chris Wallace finds out why the comment was made when he talks with Congressman Joe Wilson in an interview you’ll find only on Fox News Sunday.
Segment 2: Rep. Joe Wilson, (R) South Carolina
Plus our Sunday Panel:
Brit Hume – Fox News Senior Political Analyst
Mara Liasson – National Public Radio & Fox News
Bill Kristol – Weekly Standard & Fox News
Juan Williams – National Public Radio & Fox News
And Chris Wallace sits down for a rare interview with one of labor’s most powerful voices.
Segment 4 Guest: Andy Stern, President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
My husband Rob and I marched in 9/12 DC protest. It was not just about healthcare, but higher taxes, bailouts. Chris
you and other journalists don't get it. Obama says healthcare won't include illegal aliens but he intends to push amnesty through I bet by spring so in effect they will be covered sometime after citizenship which could be immediately through before the 2010 elections. GET IT.
The rally in DC yesterday & the many tea parties across the country are not only in opposition to health care reform. We are against the stimulus, deficit spending, cap & trade, illegal immigration, czars, the refusal to drill for oil & natural gas in our own country, the corruption in our government. The list goes on. We are against the march to socialism & have just begun to fight!!!! Hopefully, the members of Congress will hear & understand the message.
I was very offended when Senator McCaskill said mobility scooters were an example of medical spending waste. As a person with MS I use a scooter to help avoid being being a shut-in.
The Senator's comments are reminiscent of the callousness attributed to Marie Antoinette when she said "Let them eat cake".
To the Senator this is "waste" while to those who have medical need this is rationing of benefits.
Juan, I have to correct you on one other statement you made today because it offended me :O(; but I took it as a cry of frustration, so I forgive you! Your comment that the people only understand the ‘death panels’ discussion under the proposed HC bill is so wrong. You totally underestimate what the ordinary Joe American understands about this HC bill. …and it’s not just the HC bill they are upset about. …they understand very well that they do NOT want a government run plan or big goverment.
What has gotten into our Juanie lately?! He’s become so defensive. We know you loves our President! We love you too, Juan, but you don’t always have your facts straight in defense of what the President supports today vs. what he supported on his campaign or even several weeks ago for that matter. Several of the statements you make that the President no longer supports in these bills are not because he doesn’t or never supported them, he just didn’t get away with supporting them. He listened to the people! I thought our Juan needed a hug today?
Joe Wilson should NOT have to apologize again before Congress. He graciously and immediately apologized to the President and it was graciously accepted. While his behavior was wrong, I believe it was an outburst of frustration. I didn’t know him before all this, but he seems like a very honorable man. I understand from reports today that he is a military man and has two or three sons currently serving. This will backfire on the House Democrats if they make more out of this than what it is, a cry of frustration.
I certainly applaud Joe Wilson and his sentiments 100%! If you go to www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2337604/posts and click on CQ Politics underscored at the top, it will take you to their article that states "A spokesman for Wilson says he's had a post-outburst fundraising boost as well, that has topped $700,000." As of this morning it's at $1,000,000.00 or more. That speaks for itself. The Obama Occupation is the disgrace. Obama is a radical extremist who is trying to destroy the United States from within. Socialism is the transition between Capitalism and Communism. What Obama deserves is to be run out of Washington on a rail. The sooner the better.
I wonder how much Juan Williams makes a year. Whatever he is being paid, it's too much. The man is totally out of touch with the American people. If he doesn't know what they were doing in Washington yesterday, he should just go home and hand it up. He doesn't get what's going on in the country right now. Doesn't have a clue!!
Brit was right on the money calling on Juan's outrage at the "You Lie" comments, but seems to be AOK with all the yelling of "Bush Lied, People Died" in the past. Juan's response to Brit was lacking in his defense.
Mara saying that the President was talking about what he "wanted" to see in the bill in the Presidents address to the Congress was crazy talk. Everyone heard the President talking about what IS in the bill. There are many bills so which one is the President referring too ??
President Obama acknowledges that private insurance companies are administrative heavy, but at the same time making profits. He then says that Medicare is alot less expensive to administer. But then he says that there is waste and fraud in Medicare. Perhaps Obama needs to connect the dots. Instead of cutting Medicare budgets, they need to be beefed up to increase oversight. It actually might result in something new to government...ROI.
Regarding the panel's discussion of yesterday's DC tea party:
I was shocked and disappointed to hear the panels comments today. They just don't get it!. Fiscal responsibility, limited government, and free markets are the core values of the tea party groups. Yesterday's protest was not about health-care, but about the expansion of big government. Once again media are out of touch with the American people.
You have got to be kidding Sen Lindsey Graham and Sen Orrin Hatch. These are what I call the usual suspects who are out of touch with the american people. The Republican Party doesn't deserve respect until they get rid of politicians kike this.
I admire Juan Williams. I am also a fellow Hispanic.
Juan, what are you thinking about to insult those people who took time to protest the Obama administration and radical democrats on spending and a bad health care bill?
Juan said "we do not know what we are protesting" Maybe we need to paint our hair pink, yell and destroy property so he can think more of us?
Shame on you Juan. We everyday people can voice our opinion and we do read and are very well informed.
It's a shame even your panel doesn't get what the tea parties are about. The people are tired of Washington elite taking over our lives.
It's not just about health care its the corruption in Washington and we are going to take back our country and our lives.
These people in Washington have no idea what 2010 will bring, both the Dems and Replican are all on the way out.
Carroll
The interview of Joe Wilson by Chris wallace was not
journalism by any stretch of the imagination. It just shows Chris's bias as a Pelosi want to be....
i don't know how ,on your Sunday show, you can say that comments by the outraged are based on no facts. The town hall debates that I saw had citizens commenting that had read the bill and cited specific sections.
I also believe that the congress is the new elite in the US.
They pass laws that they exempt themselves from.
Will they be paying the taxes that they are placing on the wealthy who earn hundreds of thousands of dollars? They certainly earn more money than the majority of us.
would u press someone to explain how there will be individual penalties for people who are without insurance? If u are self-employed, or without employment? My wife works
Chris Wallace is the host of FOX News Sunday, which airs on the FOX News Channel on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET and on your local FOX affiliate. Check here for listings.
This blog is a place for our viewers to interact with us, go behind the scenes with our guests, and get to know our host. You can also follow us on Twitter and on Facebook!
Patricia Friedrich
My husband Rob and I marched in 9/12 DC protest. It was not just about healthcare, but higher taxes, bailouts. Chris you and other journalists don't get it. Obama says healthcare won't include illegal aliens but he intends to push amnesty through I bet by spring so in effect they will be covered sometime after citizenship which could be immediately through before the 2010 elections. GET IT.
carl johnson
Your interview with with Joe Wilson was especially disgusting. As he said the action to discipline was "politics"
Marylynn Hemmis
The rally in DC yesterday & the many tea parties across the country are not only in opposition to health care reform. We are against the stimulus, deficit spending, cap & trade, illegal immigration, czars, the refusal to drill for oil & natural gas in our own country, the corruption in our government. The list goes on. We are against the march to socialism & have just begun to fight!!!! Hopefully, the members of Congress will hear & understand the message.
Cal Campbell
Apparently you really don't want a "discussion". 500 characters are not nearly enough.
Ray Tilly
I was very offended when Senator McCaskill said mobility scooters were an example of medical spending waste. As a person with MS I use a scooter to help avoid being being a shut-in. The Senator's comments are reminiscent of the callousness attributed to Marie Antoinette when she said "Let them eat cake". To the Senator this is "waste" while to those who have medical need this is rationing of benefits.
Pauline
Juan, I have to correct you on one other statement you made today because it offended me :O(; but I took it as a cry of frustration, so I forgive you! Your comment that the people only understand the ‘death panels’ discussion under the proposed HC bill is so wrong. You totally underestimate what the ordinary Joe American understands about this HC bill. …and it’s not just the HC bill they are upset about. …they understand very well that they do NOT want a government run plan or big goverment.
Pauline
What has gotten into our Juanie lately?! He’s become so defensive. We know you loves our President! We love you too, Juan, but you don’t always have your facts straight in defense of what the President supports today vs. what he supported on his campaign or even several weeks ago for that matter. Several of the statements you make that the President no longer supports in these bills are not because he doesn’t or never supported them, he just didn’t get away with supporting them. He listened to the people! I thought our Juan needed a hug today?
Pauline
Joe Wilson should NOT have to apologize again before Congress. He graciously and immediately apologized to the President and it was graciously accepted. While his behavior was wrong, I believe it was an outburst of frustration. I didn’t know him before all this, but he seems like a very honorable man. I understand from reports today that he is a military man and has two or three sons currently serving. This will backfire on the House Democrats if they make more out of this than what it is, a cry of frustration.
L. M.
I certainly applaud Joe Wilson and his sentiments 100%! If you go to www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2337604/posts and click on CQ Politics underscored at the top, it will take you to their article that states "A spokesman for Wilson says he's had a post-outburst fundraising boost as well, that has topped $700,000." As of this morning it's at $1,000,000.00 or more. That speaks for itself. The Obama Occupation is the disgrace. Obama is a radical extremist who is trying to destroy the United States from within. Socialism is the transition between Capitalism and Communism. What Obama deserves is to be run out of Washington on a rail. The sooner the better.
Samantha Burdick
I wonder how much Juan Williams makes a year. Whatever he is being paid, it's too much. The man is totally out of touch with the American people. If he doesn't know what they were doing in Washington yesterday, he should just go home and hand it up. He doesn't get what's going on in the country right now. Doesn't have a clue!!
Bill_in_Atlanta
Brit was right on the money calling on Juan's outrage at the "You Lie" comments, but seems to be AOK with all the yelling of "Bush Lied, People Died" in the past. Juan's response to Brit was lacking in his defense. Mara saying that the President was talking about what he "wanted" to see in the bill in the Presidents address to the Congress was crazy talk. Everyone heard the President talking about what IS in the bill. There are many bills so which one is the President referring too ??
William Walker
Dear Chris Wallace, I've always wondered who give credence to the mindless drivel that Maureen Dowd is able to put into print. Now I know.
NB
President Obama acknowledges that private insurance companies are administrative heavy, but at the same time making profits. He then says that Medicare is alot less expensive to administer. But then he says that there is waste and fraud in Medicare. Perhaps Obama needs to connect the dots. Instead of cutting Medicare budgets, they need to be beefed up to increase oversight. It actually might result in something new to government...ROI.
Cheryl Keitel
Regarding the panel's discussion of yesterday's DC tea party: I was shocked and disappointed to hear the panels comments today. They just don't get it!. Fiscal responsibility, limited government, and free markets are the core values of the tea party groups. Yesterday's protest was not about health-care, but about the expansion of big government. Once again media are out of touch with the American people.
tom from oakdale
You have got to be kidding Sen Lindsey Graham and Sen Orrin Hatch. These are what I call the usual suspects who are out of touch with the american people. The Republican Party doesn't deserve respect until they get rid of politicians kike this.
Antonio
I admire Juan Williams. I am also a fellow Hispanic. Juan, what are you thinking about to insult those people who took time to protest the Obama administration and radical democrats on spending and a bad health care bill? Juan said "we do not know what we are protesting" Maybe we need to paint our hair pink, yell and destroy property so he can think more of us? Shame on you Juan. We everyday people can voice our opinion and we do read and are very well informed.
Carroll
It's a shame even your panel doesn't get what the tea parties are about. The people are tired of Washington elite taking over our lives. It's not just about health care its the corruption in Washington and we are going to take back our country and our lives. These people in Washington have no idea what 2010 will bring, both the Dems and Replican are all on the way out. Carroll
Linda Ford
The interview of Joe Wilson by Chris wallace was not journalism by any stretch of the imagination. It just shows Chris's bias as a Pelosi want to be....
Rachel Elson-Canfield
i don't know how ,on your Sunday show, you can say that comments by the outraged are based on no facts. The town hall debates that I saw had citizens commenting that had read the bill and cited specific sections. I also believe that the congress is the new elite in the US. They pass laws that they exempt themselves from. Will they be paying the taxes that they are placing on the wealthy who earn hundreds of thousands of dollars? They certainly earn more money than the majority of us.
jim smith
would u press someone to explain how there will be individual penalties for people who are without insurance? If u are self-employed, or without employment? My wife works