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I have already seen benefits from the the Obama health care plan (just want to counter the notion that there have been no reforms yet).
First, last week got a check from the insurance company reimbursing me for the cost of a January mammogram (preventative testing apparently must be covered as of 2011). Hadn't happened in five years with this work-provided insurance company (they covered certain mammogram providers, sadly I had bad experience with the two I tried). Second example: college graduates (maybe all children?) can be covered on parents' insurance until age 27.

Isn't compromise the very foundation of our democracy? The Constitution, itself, is a compromise. Washington, D.C. is our capital because of a compromise. C'mon Congress get it together!

Definition of ENTITLEMENT
1a : the state or condition of being entitled : right b : a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract
2: a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group; also : funds supporting or distributed by such a program
3: belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges

Dear Brian,.
I heard you use this word in relation to SS and Medicare. I would hardly call these programs "entitlements." As a recipient and a contributor to these Programs for many years during my working life, I still contribute monthly to Medicare which is deducted from my SS plus paying deductibles--over $1000 for the first night of a hospital stay and 20% of all my doctor bills. I would hardly call this an entitlement. I greatly resent the use of this word.

The interview with Nan Hayworth was disgusting. My god, Brian, she was incapable of saying ANYTHING, not a bloody word, that was not prefaced by "Uh" or couched in utterly vacuous political, insulting platitudes. It was contemptible. She spoke that way because she is incapable of speaking honestly or of expressing herself with clarity and originality. WHY? Because once elected, the people we elect to office cease to speak or act like decent, articulate human beings, with very few exceptions. Peter DeFazio is one exception, Ron Wyden and Dennis Kucinich are others.

You asked question after question --without follow-up (as demanded by your professional code of honor, one would suppose) but all she did was duck and spew, evading substance or depth with her damnable double speak. God, it was like listening to Hillary Clinton or Dick "go f**k yourself" Cheney. In short, it was one of the most horrible displays of dishonesty by an interviewer and an interlocutor I've ever had the misfortune to hear.

Shame on you, Brian. Give us some truth!

Dorothy from Manhattan -- Let's hope it's not because of federal funding, which is only around $5 million (which could easily be raised in one day of national fundraising), and not nearly enough to be worth going easy on some rich political hack's rear end.

What a disappointing interview! Hayworth, the Republican millionaire, cries crocodile tears about the deficit. As I recall, her prez, George W. Bush, entered office with a budget surplus and left with the worst deficit in living memory. He started two wars on Chinese credit cards while cutting taxes for the rich, the first time in our country's history this has ever been done.

And now according to the Republican playbook, the poor and middle class must bear the burden for Dubya's profligacy, while Hayworth and her ilk try to "drown the government in a bathtub."

And Brian just lobs her softball questions. This is why after over 20 years as WNYC contributor, I canceled my membership. I only tuned in today because I live in the 19th CD and wanted to see if anything had changed at WNYC. If today's interview is any indication, sadly it has not.

A much stronger approach is needed to smoke out Hayworth and her GOP hypocrites.

Anyone notice that this segment was called Democracy Now on the web site . If this was "Democracy Now", Amy Goodman would have challenged all of Hayworth's empty platitudes and exposed the congresswoman's narrow/close-minded thinking.

Come on, Brian. If you want us to keep listening you are going to have to do better than letting someone as vacuous as Nan Hayworth state broad, inaccurate statements without a strong challenge. The segment should have been called "Democracy Now Lite"

Many have noted Brian's softball questions - I wonder if it's just that Brian wants to be loved or if it's a WNYC management decision that the best way to keep federal funding for NPR is to avoid making any waves.

I'm going back to listen to Dr. Hayworth after the interview is put online -- I didn't understand any of her babble about Medicare - I wanted to call and ask her how I'm to go about getting a knee replacement through Medicare.

Why does she bother to come to a format that is Q & A based when she clearly has no intention of taking part in that kind of discourse? Is she that confident that the audience doesn't understand that she is unwilling to/incapable of having a cogent thought that actually addresses the question?
Oh...right, that's the constituency she/they appealed to in order to get elected in the first place! Well...I guess it's the old saw...be careful what you ask for, 'cause you got it!

What a disturbing interview. Hayworth refused to answer questions and just spouted republican talking points. And Brian failed to follow up when she failed to answer his questions, just let her blather to her heart's content. What a tragedy that she replaced John Hall! What a disappointment that Brian interviewed her so weakly.

I'd really like to know if the show has different ground rules for interviews with members of Congress. If so, could Brian talk about them on the air?

It was like listening to Palin.

Blah, blah, common sense, blah, blah.

What a joke.

I know that the reason that BL doesn't try to nail her is that

1) he does not want to be seen as partisan -- and this is one of the reasons that so many love his show -- so I don't hold that against him; and

2) there would be no point in trying to pin her down. Like Michele Bachman, Nan will never give a straight answer, so why bother.

So discouraging that this is what passes for discourse.

~

Is Nan Hayworth simply so ridiculous that she's not worth challenging? Or does the show have a different standard for interviews with candidates or members of Congress? There were so many instances in this interview where Brian would have much more aggressively challenged someone from a think tank making the same point.

very disappointed in brian on this segment. suddenly his backbone disappeared to ask some pointed questions and to expose typical political double-talk and non-truths. this is our health, our livelihood, and our future you are discussing here.

SHAME ON YOU, BRIAN! i hope you or your staff read these comments because we all feel the same: she's incompetent and you coddled her. when will we have people of integrity and intelligence running this country?

I'm with some of the others-if I hear the phrases "the American people" and "common
sense solutions" again it will be much too soon. It drives me nuts.
Are these some of those Frank Luntz talking points that all Republicans are required to say?

What a bag of hot air! She spent at least 20 minutes saying nothing. The same old talking points we keep hearing from Tea Party types about government being the culprit for all of our ills. She was asked her position about the nuclear plant at Indian Point and all she had to say was that she had spoken to plant operators and asked questions. Did she even tell us about what she asked the operators? No! Nothing.

I feel better after reading Tom's ( @10"29) comment. Will Hayworth be back on Monday to actually answer a question?

Gary from Warwick, you should have listened to Hayworth's pre-election interview on the BL Show last year. It was exactly the same as the one today, i.e. useless, and had you heard it might have known she had nothing to offer, before the election.

Gee, Brian, way to softball a weasel. I listened till I couldn't stomach any more. It didn't take long.

On the Media can use this segment in it's argument that NPR is not tilting toward the left ;)

Hi Brian, I work at home and have WNYC on all day. I really like your show, although something is increasingly bothering me. In listening to your conversation with Nan Hayworth, I realize that she isn't answering a single question with anything specific. It's all rhetoric. This isn't just the case with Rep. Hayworth (or with Republicans) - it is true for pretty much every politician you have on the show. I have to say, I tune out after a while because I know that no one is going to speak to your questions with honesty and courage. So what I propose is that you give these guests one chance. If they appear on your show and waffle around, they will not be invited back. Make that part of the deal when you ask them for the interview. Answer the question? You can come back. Campaign for office ? Find another arena. We need you to play hardball, Brian.

Just to state for the record, again, Dr. Hayworth is an ophthalmologist (like freshman Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY).

Thanks for the April Fools joke.

The comments here are extremely astute. Much more so than the softballs lobbed at Hayworth by Brian Lehrer. If he had asked even one of the questions the smart listeners have, we might have had a worthwhile interview, not a waste of 15 minutes filled with unrealistic Republican talking point nonssense.

What's the point?

Another softball interview from Brian Lehrer, who always lets idealogues spew their usual stuff and not actually answer his questions, as lots of commenters above have noticed.

Health savings accounts: Personnally, I would rather have a national system or even my for-profit Aetna system decide what a proceedure is worth and not negotiate with the opthamologist on my own about the price of reattaching my retina with a laser. I guess I could always go around the corner and get it done at Acme Cut Rate Eye Surgery. HSA's are a way to reserve quality health care for the wealthy who can afford it, who can even save money as long as they don't actually need health care. Not that Brian Lehrer actually ever questioned her brilliant idea to switch everyone to this great free enterprise health care concept.

I have to agree with many other commenters regarding Brian's interviewing recently. Though I will add that he let's liberals off the hook too easily as well. This has been a disappointing trend over the last year or two on the BL Show. What does it say about out country when the only people who will ask direct questions and demand direct answers are John Stewart and the ladies on The View?

I voted for new people into the political scene in November , I resent the fact that the the AMA which is a Union, pays people like Hayworth person off. She is a doctor in a district populated by doctors and is part of the problem not the soluton.
Conservative ...Hayworth is a RINO. THe AMA is as much to blame for the mess in healthcare as anyone else. Doctors are not our friends when it comes to shutting down healthcare costs. I saw this finagling in DC first hand.

Medicare will never "work" because commercial insurance cherry picks the "healthy-wealthy" for profit and dumps the high cost / loss very poor, very old, very sick, mentally ill and war veterans on the State (Medicaid/medicare).

If Medicare cared for ALL Americans, there would be plenty of money. Just no profits.

There is a for profit elephant in the room.

Good lord, what a complete waste of time. 15 minutes of platitudes and party line talking points.

Specifics? Congresswoman Hayworth is talking in very high concept generalities that mean nothing to me - I want to hear about how she is going to bring jobs to NY19, fix our broken roads and bridges, improve our education system, and ensure the safety of our nuclear plant.

She said Nothing Specific at all. We need to know specifically what she is going to do for us in NY19!

Such a politician. And she said she would be different.

I should have known when I voted for her I was getting the same old stuff.

Brian, I'm so disappointed in you. No questions from callers? No questions from posters? There are at least a half dozen points on this comment page, that I would love to have heard presented to her.
But nothing.

@Susan from Yorktown: Thank you. It doesn't look better from here but I'm a long way from CD 19.

I am so tired of hearing Rep talking about heath saving plans as a means or reducing government. That is the biggest load of crap I have every heard.

"Liberate the people from an overly invasive federal government" Really?

Ask her why she voted to maintain subsidies for oil companies.

When dealing with such complex issues, leaning on "common sense" is just not good enough.

Well, I got NOTHING from this conversation. She really is the same old troll again.

Michael from Peekskill - "Is there a realistic evacuation plan?"

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Have you ever tried to get over the Hudson from Manhattan to Jersey during rush hour?

LH beat me to it. I'm so tired of hearing Republicans talk about what "the American people" want as if they'd won much more than barely 1/2 of the popular vote. Hayworth says the budget issues are "multifaceted" but talks as though the country's entire population is monolithic.

Oh, yea.. doubtful NYC will have an earthquake the likes of Japan sees.. but we are America's #1 terrorist target. I guess Indian Point is safe.

Who on earth got her elected?

what are the "common sense" solutions that she's referring to so much (beyond HSAs which already exist and have solved nothing) - and why is brian not asking her to stop speaking in orwellian newspeak... her comments on medicare are, technically speaking, empty and without meaning...?

I can't believe what im hearing
I love Brian Lerher's show and he'a an astute and exceptional host
But why, O why when you get these very right wing polititions. does he give them such a by on on holding their feet to the fire.
I have heard such inaccuracies and to, put it politely, non truths in her comments that I can't believe that he wont chalange her over her inaccuracies. Krugman has callled her
republican economic expert a down and out know-nothing. Liberate the American people? Say something already!

What double-talk. Not a straight answer to any question. Cut everything but don't tax the rich! Jobs, jobs, jobs, but if the cuts cause lay-offs of teachers, that's OK. "Taxpayers want..." Teachers, firemen...aren't they taxpayers? Compromise? They don't know the meaning of the word. It's their way or the highway. And by all means, let's build more NUclear power plants. No concerns about Indian Point! AUGGHHHH!

Does she EVER, EVER answer a question without simply spouting her recorded party line?

EVER answer ANY QUESTION!??

Another conservative troll successfully whitewashed by WNYC.
BRAVO!
This woman sounds woefully incompetent.

NY's own Sarah Palin?

Common sense could walk all over the Congresswoman and she wouldn't recognize it. And empty platitude, well, that she would.

And as an American, she is not speaking or working for me. She needs to stop assuming she does.

So glad that such a "newbie" sounds like she's been in Washington for decades already.

Hayworth's simplistic "common sense" solutions to the health care crisis in this country should invalidate virtually everything she has to say. And BL's softball-lobbing is really wearing thin. He sounds like a sophomore reporter from a high school newspaper.

Does she EVER, EVER answer a question without simply spouting her recorded party line?

EVER answer ANY QUESTION!??

Is anyone else hearing the babble about "intelligent people" when speaking about the electorate? That is how they dupe people. Sounds disengenuous to me. (oh my spelling)

The 1st couple of questions asked to the Rep. were completely avoided. This is why most people can't stand politicians they don't speak the truth instead they use talking points. I was a tea party supporter, but they are driving me back towards Obama. We need another party for honest people if there are any left in politics!

Health Care Savings ACcounts? It can be done? Really? Because you say so Nan Hayworth? People are supposed to save hundreds of thousands of dollars and set them aside for when they get sick?

It Can Be Done? How, Nan Hayworth? Maybe on your and your husbands grotesque salaries, and your Westchester district, not by the 99.99999999% of the rest of the country.

What is the point of filling air time with 'proposals' that are completely unrealistic and have been long disproven and discredited? Must be Fair and Balanced, right, even if the other side is a lunatic.

Can she not answer a direct question?
I guess not.

2 things:
1. if you're such a budget cutter, what do you & the other repubs think about not taking your federal taxpayer paid for health care AFTER you leave congress, i.e., are no longer actively serving as a member of congress?
from what i understand, former members of congress get lifetime coverage courtesy of the american taxpayers. doesn't seem...efficient.

2. the fact that you deny any splits means that there are.

You will never need Medicare--you are rich.

Please challenge her BS about the "American people" demanding these cuts. The majority of Americans did not vote for this. Thousands of people in the 19th did not vote for her. She does not speak for the majority. She is a representative of the 1% of Americans who own 25% of this nation's wealth.

"Regulation is crippling the economy" and then she mentions the "burden on the financial industry"?!?!?!
Lack of regulation put us here to begin with!!!! Get a clue!!!!
And independent experts during the health care debate have determined malpractice reform would only account for a 2% reduction in health care costs.
She is spewing typical campaign lines. She might be a good doctor but she is a lousy politician. At least some of her Republican colleages know how to spin the BS after a couple decades in the DC trough.

Nan Hayworth,
what a moron,
spewing misinformation and doublespeak...

An answer from CD 19 to CD 10 to the question, " Are you happier so far with Hayworth than you were with John Hall:"

Dear God, no!

2 things:
1. if you're such a budget cutter, what do you & the other repubs think about not taking your federal taxpayer paid for health care AFTER you leave congress, i.e., are no longer actively serving as a member of congress?
from what i understand, former members of congress get lifetime coverage courtesy of the american taxpayers. doesn't seem...efficient.

2. the fact that you deny any splits means that there are.

This is a smart woman!!
Can you imagine a conversation with Cong. Nydia Velasquez at this level of sophistication ??!!
LOL!!!!!!

Brian--your guest, Rep Hayworth--is on her way to becoming the best (i.e., worst) politician she can be. She did not answer any of your initial questions on the budget--merely sidestepped and obfuscated.
PIN HER DOWN! Reward your listeners with something of value, not empty verbiage.

None of these Republican talking points can be backed up by honest statistics. Which is a nice way of saying Congresswoman Hayworth is lying every time she opens her mouth.

Cut the rhetorical 'The American People' nonsense.

Why are you making cuts that effect the poor and lower middle class folks but not making cuts to the monies Oil companies receive from the Federal government while they are making Billions, or cuts to the millitary budget, or cuts to big farm companys that receive Federal aid? Why are the cuts on the backs of the poor?

How is the 2.5 trillion dollars owed to Social Security going to be payed back? Those payroll taxes were included in the budget and used in lieu of Income taxes. Don't those debts have to be paid before we talk about cutting SS? Since they were used to replace general revenue taxes, should general revenue taxes be used to pay those debts?

It's not so much the amount of the cuts, but rather that republicans only want to cut democratic-supported programs that republicans never liked anyway for ideological reasons, i.e. NPR.

Relieving the burdens of regulation? Does that include Wall Street? The banking industry? Mortgage companies? Here's an idea to fix our economic mess- Do away with the tax cuts for the rich.

Question from CD 10 to CD 19: Are you happier so far with Hayworth than you were with John Hall?

Isn't the CEO of GE, Imelt, a big "Friend of Barack"?
A weak President awash in crony capitalism.

Your sole prescription for improving the economy seems to be cutting taxes for the rich. Can you cite quantitative evidence demonstrating that cutting taxes for rich people has reduced the deficit or fostered economic growth to a greater degree than raising taxes on the rich?

Where are the jobs???? Why is that not what they last election was about????

What have you done to get jobs to the 19th.
Congressional district?

You have said “To me, the best thing the federal government can do is stop trying to create jobs.” Our local private industry is heavily dependent on government provided services and infrastructure, which you have voted to cut. Yet you also voted in favor of Federal benefits to businesses who send jobs overseas. How do these specific votes improve our local economy and lives of the people of the 19th CD?

Last December, Representative Spencer Bachus, now chair of the House Financial Services Committee on which you serve, remarked "In Washington, the view is that the banks are to be regulated, and my view is that Washington and the regulators are there to serve the banks."

Does that statement reflect your views? Please explain how it either does or does not."

Like many Americans, I was outraged to learn last week that GE paid zero taxes on 14.2 billion in profit last year. Do you think this is fair to teachers, firefighters and other middle-class workers who are being asked to "sacrifice" for the sake of the federal budget deficit? What specific steps would you take to ensure that large corporations like GE pay their fair share?

I'm taking bets. What is the chance that, if asked, Hayworth will give a direct, clear and concise answer to any of these posted questions?

Dr. Hayworth has stated her intention to do away with “Obamacare” and I’m sure she believes she can make impartial decisions regarding health care in the United States. But considering her close ties to Mt. Kisco Medical Group (her husband is CEO) I question her ability to do so. Over the past few years, MKMG has bought up the majority of medical practices in her congressional district. You can’t get much closer to a monopoly. This is a business that receives millions of dollars annually from both insurance companies and the federal government for providing medical services. In addition, Dr. Hayworth received most of her campaign funds from medical PACS , insurance companies, HMO’s and the health care industry. Please ask her to quell the fear of her constituents that she will base her decisions regarding health on her relationship with this medical monopoly and insurance companies, and not on concern for those seeking a sane national health care policy

Congresswoman Hayworth: First, you pledged (at your Orange County swearing-in ceremony) to serve District 19 in a bipartisan way; please show evidence of this, as your voting record belies your pledge. Second, as you voted against earmarks, are you using phonemarks and lettermarks to help bring resources to District 19? Thank you.

Given that three of the 5 counties in your district are in the top 5 of mortgage foreclosures in the state (with Putnam #1), and given your membership on the Financial Services committee of the House, what specific steps have you taken in Congress to address this problem?

Our education system is lagging behind the rest of the world - especially in math and science - which is one reason we are losing jobs - what specifically is Congresswoman Hayworth doing for NY19 to improve our educational system as well as retrain our workforce with the skills needed for us to grow jobs here?

Infrastructure - What specifically is Rep. Hayworth doing for NY19 to improve our infrastructure? She mentioned the Tappan Zee bridge as being 'held together with duct tape' at a recent town hall, when can we expect to see some action from her on this?

US unemployment drops to 8.8; 218,000 new jobs created; 230,000 private sector; Unemployment in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam drops to 7.2%. Dutchess dropped from 8.5 to 8.3%. Orange dropped from 8.7% to 8.5%. source

What does Congresswoman Hayworth think about a clear recovery trend in job creation in the US and in her district? Who deserves credit for this positive trend?

Indian Point - Cuomo asked for it to be shutdown. It has a history of sloppiness. It is on an earthquake fault. Of the 104 plants in the US, rated the least safe of all. Is it safe? Is there a realistic evacuation plan?

Please ask Rep. Hayworth her opinion of the Supreme Court's “Citizens United” decision.

The median income of Hayworth’s constituency is $64,337. She and her campaign donors are millionaires. What specific budget cuts does she propose/support that well affect her quality of life in the same way they will impact the lives of those living in her district?

Does Rep Hayworth have any proposals for ensuring that Indian Point will be run in a more responsible way in the future. Many of her constituants live in it's shadow and haven't heard her comment on this.