Basically, the conservative talking head admits to Jon Stewart that government run health care is better, and then says only soldiers deserve it. You can see the video through this link. Here’s a partial transcript:
Stewart: Why no health care, Why no health care reform for Americans because the military fighting for us, gave it up. Why do you hate America?
Stewart: Why not? Why shouldn’t the government provide some sort of care to the 50 million that are uninsured?
Kristol: No, well the military has a different health system than the rest of Americans.
Stewart: It’s a public system, no?
Kristol: Yea, they don’t have an option they’re all in the military.
Stewart: Why don’t we go with that?
Kristol: I don’t know. Is military health care what you really…first of all it’s really expensive, they deserve it, the military…
Stewart: But people in public do not?
Kristol: No, the American public do not deserve the same…
Stewart: Are you saying Americans shouldn’t have access to the same plan health care that we give the soldiers?
Kristol: Yes, to our soldiers? Absolutely.
Stewart: Really?
Kristol: I think the one thing if you become a soldier…
Stewart: So you just said, Bill Kristol just said that the government can run a first class health care system.
Kristol: Sure it can.
Stewart: A government run health care system is better than the private health care system. You just said that…
Kristol: I don’t know if it’s better.
Stewart: No, you just said it was better.
Kristol: I didn’t say it was better all around.
Stewart: No, you said it was better. You said it’s the best, it’s a little more expensive, but it’s better. I just want to write this down. The government runs the best health care…
Stewart: I understand that so what you are suggesting is that the government could run the best health care system for Americans, but it’s a little too costly so we should have the shitty insurance companies health care.
Kristol: I’m suggesting our soldiers deserve better health care…
Stewart: They deserve the best. They have the best government run health care money can buy.
4 comments
Comments feed for this article
July 29, 2009 at 8:32 am
Anonymous
They (vets) have the best government run health care money can buy?
Jon Stewart might want to check with a few veterans about that statement.
July 29, 2009 at 9:15 am
Cristina
It really wasn’t Stewart’s thought; it was Kristol’s.
The interview is damning and amazing. I just about blew my wine out my nose.
July 29, 2009 at 11:45 am
Bruce Ross
It is not, on its face, crazy to offer an above-average health care system to soldiers and veterans, who willingly risk their lives and health for the rest of us.
Of course, back in the mid-’90s, 4 our of 5 visits to an Army doctor would get you a bottle of 800-milligram Motrin. They military doesn’t do a bad job, but I’m unaware of the system being so outstanding.
The VA, on the other hand, seems to have earned a pretty good rep in recent years.
July 29, 2009 at 11:48 am
Eric Kirk
Certainly Bruce, but the point is that Kristol and others have argued consistently that government health care is by definition inferior. If private care is indeed superior then shouldn’t the military simply be given premium private insurance plans? We don’t do that because we don’t want our soldiers having to suffer through the maze of private coverage. For very good reason.