CNN Disparages GOP ObamaCare Replacement: 'Rich People Will Like It'

March 7th, 2017 10:51 AM

The panel on CNN's New Day Tuesday disucssed the criticisms behind the just-released Republican Party proposal to replace ObamaCare. In discussing the content -- or "the broccoli," as co-host Alisyn Camerota called it -- the panel's opposition, excluding Washington Examiner columnist David Drucker, ranged from labeling it as benefiting the wealthy to citing a new poll showing Americans' satisfaction with their health care.

"We also know -- it's very difficult to predict exactly how this would play out. One thing you know for sure, this is a big tax cut for wealthy people. Period. There's no doubt about that," New Yorker columnist Jeffrey Toobin said. "The coverage issues are a lot more complicated to predict how they will play out. But the tax cut is beyond dispute." "So rich people will like it," Camerota replied.

"Everybody else may not like it. Chris and I talk about this all the time. The density of things, we call that the broccoli. We've gone through the broccoli," Camerota said. 

<<< Please support MRC's NewsBusters team with a tax-deductible contribution today. >>>

She added, "Now there's also the emotions around it. I mean, there's also -- you know, get beyond the wonkiness of it. You see those town halls where people are coming in and out droves to either say I've always hated ObamaCare or saying I like my coverage. Don't touch this."

In response to Daily Beast columnist Jackie Kucinich's analysis that the replacement proposal will be met with resistance from Americans, Cuomo said, "Of course they do. One concern for the citizen is listen to the hype, sales pitches and critics. You won't know what's true unless you do your homework."

Camerota cited a new CNN/ORC poll to show that most Americans are satisfied with their health insurance. This part of the poll does not say whether those polled are insured under ObamaCare. Camerota omitted that the poll also shows 49% of Americans oppose it, while 46% favor it.

The poll was conducted between March 1-4 among a sample of 1,025 adults, and a sampling margin of error plus or minus three percentage points.

Here is the March 7th exchange:

New Day

03/7/2017

6:09:06 AM – 6:10:23 AM

JEFFREY TOOBIN: We also know -- it's very difficult to predict exactly how this would play out. One thing you know for sure, this is a big tax cut for wealthy people. Period. There's no doubt about that. The coverage issues are a lot more complicated to predict how they will play out. But the tax cut is beyond dispute. 

ALISYN CAMEROTA: So rich people will like it. 

TOOBIN: There you go.

CAMEROTA: Everybody else may not like it. Chris and I talk about this all the time. The density of things, we call that the broccoli. We've gone through the broccoli. Now there's also the emotions around it. I mean, there's also -- you know, get beyond the wonkiness of it. You see those town halls where people are coming in and out droves to either say I've always hated ObamaCare or saying I like my coverage. Don't touch this. 

JACKIE KUCINICH: And those aren't going to stop. It will just get more intense. This summer will be filled with -- it wouldn't surprise me if it's like the summer of 2010 where we saw massive rallies, a lot of emotions and stories. People have to read this stuff for themselves.

CHRIS CUOMO: Of course they do. One concern for the citizen is listen to the hype, sales pitches and critics. You won't know what's true unless you do your homework. 

CAMEROTA: In terms of satisfaction with your health care new CNN/ORC poll shows quality of care, 78% people feel satisfied with. That's down from 2009 which was 82%. Insurance coverage, are you satisfied? 68%, down from 73. Out-of-pocket costs only 46% are satisfied, down from 52. Cost of U.S. Healthcare only 14% satisfied down from 23. What does that tell us?