Patterico's Pontifications

11/28/2009

Obama’s Associates: Dr. Quentin Young

Filed under: Health Care,Obama — DRJ @ 2:46 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

GatewayPundit and New Zealand blogger New Zeal report that, as a novice Chicago politician, Barack Obama was influenced by his neighbor, confidante, and physician Dr. Quentin Young — described as a committed Marxist who favors a single-payer health care system. I’ll leave it up to you to review the links and evaluate the allegations that Dr. Young is a Marxist, but below the fold is a recent interview that clearly shows Dr. Young is a strong proponent of single-payer health care.

It’s also interesting to recall that Dr. Young was one of a select group of people invited to the Chicago home of William Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn where, in 1995, Barack Obama was introduced as Senator Alice Palmer’s political heir apparent:

“In 1995, State Senator Alice Palmer introduced her chosen successor, Barack Obama, to a few of the district’s influential liberals at the home of two well known figures on the local left: William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn.

While Ayers and Dohrn may be thought of in Hyde Park as local activists, they’re better known nationally as two of the most notorious — and unrepentant — figures from the violent fringe of the 1960s anti-war movement.

Now, as Obama runs for president, what two guests recall as an unremarkable gathering on the road to a minor elected office stands as a symbol of how swiftly he has risen from a man in the Hyde Park left to one closing in fast on the Democratic nomination for president.

“I can remember being one of a small group of people who came to Bill Ayers’ house to learn that Alice Palmer was stepping down from the senate and running for Congress,” said Dr. Quentin Young, a prominent Chicago physician and advocate for single-payer health care, of the informal gathering at the home of Ayers and his wife, Dohrn. “[Palmer] identified [Obama] as her successor.”

Obama and Palmer “were both there,” he said.”

Dr. Young is not happy with Obama’s failure to implement his single-payer health care promise. For space reasons, I’ve included excerpts from Dr. Young’s March 2009 interview below the “More” link.

— DRJ

In a March 2009 interview of “longtime Obama confidante” Dr. Quentin Young, Young articulates his and Obama’s initial commitment to a single-payer health care system:

DR. QUENTIN YOUNG: “Well, Barack Obama, as we know, was a community organizer, a very lofty calling, in my book, and he made the decision, when the opportunity came, that he could get more done politically, and he accepted the nomination for the seat in the State Senate. It’s not that long ago, really. It’s about a six, eight years ago.

Barack Obama, in those early days—influenced, I hope, by me and others—categorically said single payer was the best way, and he would inaugurate it if he could get the support, meaning majorities in both houses, which he’s got, and the presidency, which he’s got. And he said that on more than one occasion, and it represented the very high-grade intelligence we all know Barack has.

However, as his political fortunes went upward, including the campaign for presidency, the nomination and, finally, the election, he qualified his position from saying it’s the best system, but that given the past American history with employment-based healthcare, he would have a plan that—and he has put one forward—that encompasses other incremental approaches.”

Dr. Young describes his disappointment that, as President, Obama has backed away from his commitment to single-payer health care. Instead, Obama says he is willing to “build off the system that we’ve got.” This is Dr. Young’s response:

DR. QUENTIN YOUNG:Well, it’s one of the few times when Barack has been dishonest. He knows and all America knows that our experience with employment-based insurance and these other Mickey Mouse things have been increasingly a total disaster. You have a $2.5 trillion industry with vested interests—the private hospitals that are for profit, the HMOs, the health insurance industry—making billions upon billions, and things getting worse. He knows and should act on the fact that time is running out.”

— DRJ

38 Responses to “Obama’s Associates: Dr. Quentin Young”

  1. Well, it looks like Dr.Young picks up where Frank Marshall Davis left off.

    AD - RtR/OS! (764e2c)

  2. It would be easier to count how many of Obama’s friends are not committed marxists or socialists, race pimps, Palestinian apologists, convicted or indicted felons, tax cheats, radical environmentalists and other complete nutjobs.

    I enjoyed the link that follows which compares the private sector experience of Obama’s cabinet picks with those of other presidents.

    http://blog.american.com/?p=7572

    daleyrocks (718861)

  3. If Dr Young keeps calling Obama “dishonest” on healthcare, he just might join his old pals from Chicago under the bus.

    ropelight (92a6ea)

  4. I’m not totally sure that Quentin is upset. Both Obama and our family go to the Young practice group. It’s a perfect balance of black/white/Hispanic/male/female doctors who are very good, kind, and caring. However, to a person they are in favor of single-payer and have for as long as I have known them. Members of the practice have been on national news representing the pro-healthcare reform POV. As far as local politics go, they are not aligned with the University, but had been with a local, now failed, HMO. So it makes it funny that Michelle headed up the University Hospital out-sourcing of patients program, with no protests from the group. Part of the omerta.

    Obama's Neighbor (f28dac)

  5. Omerta is the perfect word for that entire groupthink.

    Dmac (a964d5)

  6. Comment by Obama’s Neighbor — 11/28/2009 @ 3:54 pm
    Doesn’t the fact that their single-payer system (the HMO) failed give them pause that a Nationwide system would be any better (other than it would be “Too Big To Fail”)?
    Don’t they express any misgivings about Medicare?
    Or, are they so embedded with a dream, that facts just don’t matter?

    AD - RtR/OS! (764e2c)

  7. ropelight @ #3: He’s gonna need a larger bus; getting very crowded under there.

    Old Coot (166f79)

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  10. I know a number of physicians who are dedicated to single payer. One of them, who I’ve known for 30 years, is now president (I think) of the Physicians for a National Health Plan. One thing about him that is not that common among these advocates is the fact that he had a largely Medicaid practice for many years in San Clemente. Most of these advocates, like Himmelstein and Woolhandler, are professors on nice salaries with tenure.

    My friend and I were always going to write an op-ed for the LA Times together but he got very angry about 2006 over Bush and Iraq and we couldn’t really talk anymore.

    What is ironic is that a real single payer, or even a hybrid system like the French, could be enacted without destroying private insurance. The present legislation is a Democrat jobs bill, not health reform. It will bankrupt the country and create a pig-in-a-poke system that no one knows what it will become. All we know is that it will add 500,000 federal jobs and break the country.

    John Derbyshire, at the end of his excellent book, “We Are Doomed,” suggests that, if we want our children to have a comfortable life, encourage them to get a government job. I understand the irony but think it is not good advice. My son has a government job as a firefighter and I worry about his pension. California is going broke and the federal government, if Obama is not stopped, will default on its debt and that will mean pensions, too.

    Mike K (addb13)

  11. AD #6: In the March 2009 interview link, Dr. Young says Medicare proves how well single-payer health care works.

    DRJ (dee47d)

  12. Comment by DRJ — 11/28/2009 @ 4:42 pm

    The only comment that I can come up with is:

    Some people are blinded by reality!

    He is an accolate for a religion, one that he wishes to impose on all of us, notwithstanding the provisions of the 1st Amendment.

    May all Zealots burn in Hell, or at the stake first!

    AD - RtR/OS! (764e2c)

  13. Re comment 6: I was a patient in Quentin Young’s practice, Hyde Park Medical Associates. The HMO ran into difficulties, I recall, because of links to Michael Reese Hospital, nothing to do with the excellent quality of physician care in his practice. Note how much money is still being spent by opponents of a single-payer system (I liked the suggestion to call it Medicare-E)in spite of overwhelming public support. I’m now in Montreal, QC: Canada’s system was initially opposed by the same corporate/political interests we see in the U.S. It’s nothing short of criminal that with U.S. technology and expertise in the medical field, that we can’t lead the world in health care, instead of finding ourselves far down in world standings. CJK

    Claire Jeane Kuhne (7db8da)

  14. Au Contraire, Claire Jeane.
    The U.S. does lead the world in the quality of its’ medical care, the argument is over HealthCare Insurance.
    And, if it wasn’t for the ‘States, where would Canada’s waiting list go for care before they are consigned to the morgue?

    AD - RtR/OS! (764e2c)

  15. The dingbat “Dr.” Quentin Young complains: “…You have a $2.5 trillion industry with vested interests—the private hospitals that are for profit, the HMOs, the health insurance industry—making billions upon billions…”

    Isn’t that REALLY what’s ailing “Dr.Young”, that Capitalism exists and Capitalists actually own property and make profits from their use of that property? Isn’t it just really all that’s bugging “Dr. Young,” that there even ARE such things as “private” property (“hospitals” among that)?

    These Communists who are hellbent on wrecking the U.S.A. (that includes Obama) always seem to relate back or currently to Castro, they all have some sort of connectivity to Castro’s evil source as also that of Karl Marx (among others) and what do these all have in common?

    They USE “poor people” and “healthcare” to further political goals (Communism). Castro (as also Hugo Chavez) have entire “healthcare” “personnel” on “missions” in various nations, all armed and ready to take up any commanded miltiary objective. Oh, and they also apply bandages and wear nice uniforms.

    The point I’m making is that this is more stealth methodology for Communist Dictators/Communism otherwise to gradually but rather permanently grab ‘hold of other peoples by using their suffering to gain traction in their lives. After traction’s established, their lives are not important, only the ‘conquering’ “healthcare” stealthy Communist government remains.

    People may get bandaged up and an overnight stay on a cot for typhus or measles, but their overall PERSON is not improved upon, their lives are not less miserable, they are not ‘liberated from suffering’ afterward — quite the contrary. They’ve become more underfoot than ever before — take a look at Communist nations, the ovarall quality of life for the average person is low and miserable. Oh, but they get bandaged up after waiting a while in a line, like they get some bread after waiting in another one.

    I loathe and detest Communism. As also Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez and this evil man, “Dr. Young.” I hope more information is provided and repeatedly so to counter act the awful plans these Communists have for the ruin of everyone else’s lives. They claim to “care” while they knife you in the back.

    Fresh_Water (475854)

  16. Comment by Obama’s Neighbor — 11/28/2009 @ 3:54 pm

    A perfect example of the banality of evil.

    It’s all “neighborhood” people getting together, nice, “well mixed” just fine and dandy, talking about ruination and subjugation of vast millions of people including the Capitalism defined by the Constitution as our U.S. economic model. Nothing to see, it’s “just neighbors” “getting together”…

    This is the primary lie that Communism deploys, just as it does with ACORN (“just community organizing,” “helping people”), just as Obama has used to hoodwink the vulnerable.

    What’s wrong with Chicago is there are far too many willing fools living there. The rest of us should examine the incentives.

    Fresh_Water (475854)

  17. Oh, right, and Bill Ayers is “just another guy in the neighborhood” and “the year’s best teacher,” riiigght.

    Fresh_Water (475854)

  18. Speaking of Community Organizers….
    wouldn’t that include the various militia movements?

    AD - RtR/OS! (764e2c)

  19. Claire Jeane – What makes you think the U.S. does not lead the world in health care apart from some rigged surveys?

    How much are the supporters of single payer health care spending, by the way?

    daleyrocks (718861)

  20. that we can’t lead the world in health care, instead of finding ourselves far down in world standings. CJK

    Under your adopted country’s plan not only would I have been diagnosed hopelessly late, but by the time they got around to treating me I’d be a cold slab on a steel table. Don’t agree? Just ask Liam Neeson about the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death.

    Dmac (a964d5)

  21. Comment by Dmac — 11/28/2009 @ 6:17 pm

    Well, and poignantly, said!

    AD - RtR/OS! (764e2c)

  22. Obama’s Neighbor:

    I’m not totally sure that Quentin is upset.

    I agree he doesn’t sound upset with Obama. It sounds more like the way you feel when a special person — a close friend or family member — does something you doesn’t like. Even if you understand why, you’re still disappointed and feel especially let down.

    DRJ (dee47d)

  23. “Oh, right, and Bill Ayers is “just another guy in the neighborhood” and “the year’s best teacher,” riiigght.”

    If the Truth were his posterior, he could not find it with both hands.

    gary gulrud (75a696)

  24. Response of voters: yawn.

    However, I think the independents are waking up.

    Patricia (b05e7f)

  25. One thing that I have not understood is why David Axelrod’s background has not received a thorough going over. He has some hard core left wingers in his family like his mother and yet this never gets discussed. Listen to the pod cast of the August 2008 interview of Stanley Kurtz by Milt Rosenberg on WGN Radio Chicago. Either a caller to the show or an on line guest comments on Axelrod’s left wing ties.

    The person who commented calls himself a man of the left so it did not come from someone outside the fold. From what I have seen, there is almost no discussion of Axelrod’s background. He is a much more important figure in BO’s life than Quentin Young.

    BT (74cbec)

  26. Also, BT, why is it not evil that Axelrod, the campaign operative, is in the White House when it was evil that Rove the campaign operative was in the White House?

    Only the MSM knows for sure…

    Patricia (b05e7f)

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