Democratic presidential front runner Hillary Clinton on Friday called on rival Barack Obama — who has been closing the gap with her in key early-voting states — to stop airing his television advertisement on health care because she says it contains false promises about providing universal coverage.
“Even Senator Obama himself has admitted that his plan would not cover everyone, calling the plan ‘virtually universal,’” Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle said in a letter to Obama campaign manager David Plouffe. Clinton has proposed a plan that would require all Americans to get health insurance.
The Clinton camp cited an opinion piece by New York Times columnist Paul Krugman that criticized Obama’s plan: “He shied away from doing what was necessary to make his claim true.”
Obama spokesman Bill Burton shot back that the advertisement has been out for a month, “and the only thing that’s changed since then is the poll numbers.”
“The truth is, Barack Obama would offer health coverage to every single American who can’t afford it, and he’ll do it by bringing Republicans and Democrats together like he’s done before,” Burton said.
– Photo credit: Steve Marcus
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9 comments so far
Neither of their plans are truly universal, but at least Obama’s plan places the burden of reform on the insurance companies, rather that on the backs of individuals, as is the case with both the Clinton and Edwards plans. Because Obama’s plan sets insurance reform in motion, I would think it has the best chance of eventually leading to universal coverage, down the road. As with her foreign policy, Clinton seems to advocate an all sticks and no carrots approach, and Krugman is intellectually sloppy, in that he works from unfounded assumptions regarding both the implementation and effectiveness of the plans he is analyzing. Obama is proving to be pragmatic in the sense that he is interested in the kinds of ideas and approaches that have historically produced the best results.
- Posted by MW CookWhy doesn’t anyone point out that Hillary Clintons plan is just to make everyone buy insurance?
Hillary’s plan doesn’t “cover” anyone. Her plan just tells everyone to “cover” themselves by buying insurance.
- Posted by jdsNeither Mrs. Clinton nor Obama are considering a truly Single Payer system (AKA HR-676) therefore their efforts can only result in ultimate failure.
However, we will no doubt adopt some stupid for-profit/insurance mandated/government subsidized hybrid monster… for a while, until the damage wrought by that perverse system leaves no other choice but to resort to a truly single payer system.
Why not do the right thing NOW? Oh yeah, greed, I forgot about that. Sorry!
- Posted by InsuranceTeaseDotComAffordability, accessibility, and quality are the foundation of Senator Obama’s plan.
And the most important question is “Who has the best chance of getting the ball rolling on the healthcare / health insurance issue?”
Senator Obama has a proven record of being able to get folks who are locked in ideological battle to turn their faces toward finding common ground and making a better future. While in the Illnois state senate Obama worked on successful healthcare legislation. He understands the need for respectful listening, building relationship and building trust. He’s proven himself to be an exceptional leader.
Senator Obama has the right kind of plan and the right kind of experience to get this done!
For more info check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmyBar8Lw eo
And, for a detailed description of Obama’s plan:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/health care/
Thank you.
- Posted by EJ Butler[...] campaign issue of the week seems to be the fight over whose health care plan is the most universal — that is, who would do the best job of ensuring that everybody is covered. There are three [...]
- Posted by New Hampshire Primary 2008 » Blog Archive » Putting the “Universal” in Health CareEdit spelling !
- Posted by BrianClarkeNUJUniversal Healthcare ?. As I understand it ,its President of the USA not the Universe. Most other countries have healthcare for their citizens, don’t you people understand, your Presidents are spending all your trillions of Tax Dollars on killing people obverseas including your own, not taking care of your own citizens like any modern civilzed country. Your society is positively barabric. Universal Healthcare ?, you must be joking ! Like thats as relevant as, Hitler didn’t smoke !
Every person has the right to live and be healthy, why should we continue down the road of “have” and “have not” thereby only allowing medicine to be available only to those who can afford it. “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” begins with LIFE! A medical corps should be incorporated into our social structure like the branches of the military, with a designed pay scale, benefit structure, retirement plan, etc.
- Posted by EegemonClinton’s plan is simply to mandate the purchase of insurance: anyone who doesn’t buy his own insurance will be fined. Obama somehow expects to make insurance cheap enough so that everyone will want to buy it.
Health care costs money. The only question is whether society would rather pay by buying insurance and donating to charities, or by paying taxes to a massively inefficient government system.
- Posted by Joe WhiteAre either of their plans really “universal”?
- Posted by trademark registration