No need for health care reform. 17 million Americans got insured last month.

[SavageOrangeJug]

Remember "over 47 million uninsured" last month?

Last night in the speech. "there are now more than 30 million American citizens who cannot get coverage".

What he said, and what he meant.

What he said: This is the plan I’m proposing. It’s a plan that incorporates ideas from many of the people in this room tonight – Democrats and Republicans. And I will continue to seek common ground in the weeks ahead. If you come to me with a serious set of proposals, I will be there to listen. My door is always open.

What he meant: Hey, Republicans – you know I won’t bite on your version of reform. So I’m not exactly worried about a GOP stampede to the Oval. But that doesn’t mean I won’t call my plan bipartisan. . . I’m extending my hand, and I’ll include a few GOP-sounding ideas here and there, like medical malpractice fixes. Voila, it’s bipartisan!

What he said: But know this: I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than improve it.

What he meant: I can pass this bill with 51 votes in the Senate, and don’t think I won’t do it.

What he said: That is why we cannot fail.

What he meant: Did I say we? That is why I cannot fail. I saw what happened to the last guy who dropped the ball on health care – President Clinton, meet Speaker Gingrich.

What he said: Well the time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed.

What he meant: I sure am glad August is over.

What he said: There are now more than thirty million American citizens who cannot get coverage.

What he meant: I know I said as recently as last month that there 47 million uninsured, but I’m changing the baseline.

Nope, 17 million people did not just find insurance in the last month. The adjusted figure is part of the White House’s effort to distance itself from claims that health reform will cover illegal immigrants. Census figures, which will be updated Thursday, show there are 47 million uninsured – but about 10 million are illegal immigrants. Another five to seven million are people who could go on Medicaid, but have not. That leaves about 30 million that the president needs to cover under the bill. Expect to hear this number instead of the larger figure from now on, according to White House aides.

What he said: I don't believe malpractice reform is a silver bullet, but I have talked to enough doctors to know that defensive medicine may be contributing to unnecessary costs. . . . I know that the Bush Administration considered authorizing demonstration projects in individual states to test these issues. It’s a good idea, and I am directing my Secretary of Health and Human Services to move forward on this initiative today.

What he meant: See, I’m not so bad – I’ll even do something George W. Bush wanted to do, right here, right now.

SOURCE: The speech: What he said, what he meant