McCain's body language was tense and confrontational, his voice tight and angry. All questions were framed in the form of a condescending dismissal and most replies were sharply interrupted. His demeanor was reminiscent of nothing so much as a lovelorn teenager's barely controlled confrontation with their crush's new girlfriend. It wasn't so much a conversation as a failed attempt at humiliation. Much of their exchange centered around the role of the employer in the health care system. But the back-and-forth was animated by McCain's efforts to relitigate the final months of the presidential campaign. "Would you agree," McCain asked, that executives of firms receive more lavish health benefits than their employees? "Well Senator," replied Sebelius, "I certainly agree that in the marketplace that the self employed or small employers are often priced out. There's no question that employer based health insurance is the backbone --" "My question," interrupted McCain, "is do you agree or disagree that employer based health insurance is much more generous to upper level management?" "I'm not familiar with the differentials in the health insurance system," Sebelius relied. "In a state employees system or a manufacturing operation workers have good benefits and they don't differ from the benefits of the executives in those systems." "Would you support removing the tax exclusion and substituting a removable tax credit of, say, $5,000 for families so they could go out and purchase their own health insurance in a policy of their choice?" "Well, Senator, I support what the President has articulated an--" "You know," McCain sharply interrupted, "we are asking for your views." "I support what the President has proposed," Sebelius icily replied. "That if Americans have health insurance that they like they should be able to keep it. Dismantling the current employer based system to me is not the most effective strategy for reaching full coverage given how many Americans currently rely on it." McCain's next round of questions played out much the same way: "Do you support a government-run health system," he demanded. Sebelius disputed the premise. McCain asked again. Sebelius asked him to clarify. McCain interrupted a third time. Finally, Sebelius ended the questioning. "If the question is do I support a public insurance option side by side in an insurance exchange with private options," she replied icily. "Then yes. I do."
