Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer Lauds Canadian single payer system at Obama Town Hall Meeting!

- And most of those in the town hall crowd roared in approval at his remarks! -

At Obama event, Schweitzer lauds Canadian health care system
By MIKE DENNISON of the Missoulian
August 14, 2009

BELGRADE - As Gov. Brian Schweitzer warmed up the crowd Friday for President Barack Obama, he paid a lengthy compliment to a health-care system that leading Democrats, including the president, have declared "off the table" as a reform here: the Canadian single-payer system.

"Did you know that, just 300 miles north of here, did you know they offered universal health care 62 years ago?" he said, referring to Canada's system of providing government-funded health insurance for all citizens.

Schweitzer, a Democrat, said he sometimes mentions the Canadian system when he hears people say that universal health coverage is a radical, new idea being rushed through the political process.

Quoting a Canadian journalist, Schweitzer said "there's more likelihood of a person in Canada being struck by lightning, then there is a likelihood of a Canadian going to the United States for their health care."

Most of the crowd of 1,300 in the Gallatin Field Airport hangar roared in approval.

Read on at:


http://www.missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_42fe639a-892f-11de-8992-001cc4c03286.html


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Schweitzer touts Canadian system
By JOHN S. ADAMS Tribune Capitol Bureau
Great Falls Tribune
August 15, 2009

BELGRADE — Gov. Brian Schweitzer drew wild cheers as he warmed up the 1,300 people who eagerly awaited President Barack Obama's health care speech and town hall meeting here Friday.


Schweitzer's speech — a ringing endorsement of Canada's universal health care system — was well received by the audience, though it seemed to deviate from the president's talking points.

"That's a bit off message," said national political analyst Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. "I don't think that's what the president is trying to sell. In fact, he's trying to convince people who are concerned that he is not trying to institute the Canadian style of health care."

Schweitzer told the crowd that the time has come for the United States to move toward a system of universal health care.

"Did you know that just 300 miles north of here they offered universal health care 62 years ago?" Schweitzer asked the crowd, drawing enthusiastic cheers.

Schweitzer told the crowd that Canadians recently selected former Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas — the "father" of Canada's single-payer health care system — as the greatest Canadian.

"He had a single proposition ... that we will cover every single person in Saskatchewan and elsewhere," Schweitzer said to another round of cheers.

Please read the complete article at:

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090815/NEWS01/908150310/Schweitzer-touts-Canadian-system

(repost of havocmom posting)

havocmom (1000+ posts) Sat Aug-15-09 08:25 AM

Few years back, when he ran for the Senate, he arranged a charter 'run for the border'


where Montana senior citizens would get on chartered buses for Canada, so they could fill their prescriptions for considerably less than they could in the US. He wanted to demonstrate, with the help of some elderly Montanans, that the drug companies were charging people in the US way more for the same drugs than was necessary.

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Senior+Citizens+Cross+the+Border+for+Drugs-a059270819

The federal government made him stop.

Brian Schweitzer is a sane, practical, kind, brilliant man. When he came to the Governor's Office, the state was a shambles after too many years of GOP administration. He has not had a very cooperative legislature, lots of partisan trash who oppose anything DEM even if it means screwing the people, but he has managed to turn a good deal of the problems around. A lot of us here know he is on the side of the citizens.

And a lot of us here are not the RW Militia loons Montana is too often tagged as being full of.

FDR had a very wise adviser from Butte, MT all those years ago. This place is not as red as most of the nation believes. There is a strong history of pro-labor populism here. It is bluer than most people think.

edited for clarity
And we have one of the best (if not THE best) governors in the nation at present. The wingers hate him, and he still works for their best interests anyway. He cares and he knows how to make a point.

This was part of the deal with Big Pharma.

Max?... Listen to your people constituencies in Montana, not your "corporate people" constituencies!

He looked way outta place in his home state. Not good.

Not a pleasant thought.

:shrug:

seems down to earth--populist progressive. Listens to the people and not afraid to speak up.

We already have a uniquely American system.