Dr. Ronald Berwick, President Obama’s choice to oversee Medicare and Medicaid, will run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services without any vetting by the Senate. That is because Obama decided to bypass the Senate before even one hearing was held, by using his power to make recess appointments while the Senate is on vacation.
The New York Times applauded Obama’s move and accused Dr. Berwick’s critics of distorting his record. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs mocked a reporter from CNS who asked Gibbs about Berwick’s past statements concerning health care rationing and redistribution. But Berwick’s supporters, try as they might, cannot wipe away the truth about the dangerous socialist policies that Berwick has advocated and will now be in a position to institute while administering huge swaths of Obamacare.
For example, Berwick had this to say about Britain’s single-payer system, which he admits he loves:
Excellent health care is by definition redistributional. Britain, you chose well
Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck have played the videos of such remarks on their Fox News shows. They have also quoted Berwick’s statement about health care rationing that Gibbs glibly said was so similar to Republican Congressman Paul Ryan’s comments in the context of the health care legislation debate.
