Sen. Obama's Shifting Positions On Health Care For All

wyldwolf

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Sun Nov-25-07 09:56 PM
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Sen. Obama's Shifting Positions On Health Care For All

During this presidential campaign, Sen. Obama has had a variety of explanations for why his health care plan leaves 15 million people uninsured. Here's a sample �

Sen. Obama claimed his health care plan 'guarantees coverage for every American':

"Today I want to lay out the details of that plan - a plan that not only guarantees coverage for every American, but also brings down the cost of health care." (Sen. Obama Remarks, 5/29/07)

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/05/29/cutting_costs_and_covering_ame.php

THEN Sen. Obama admitted his health care plan would not provide coverage for every American:

"During his speech, Obama said, 'I will sign a universal health care plan into law by the end of my first term in office.' But after his speech today, Obama told me his plan really isn't 'universal.' He said it's 'virtually universal.'" (MSNBC's First Read, 5/29/07)

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/29/206916.aspx

THEN his spokesman said Sen. Obama believed the decision to require coverage should be left to the states:

"An Obama spokesman, Bill Burton, said that the senator now believes that the issue of mandates should be left to the states to decide, while the federal government focuses on bringing down healthcare costs for everyone. 'As he looked into healthcare, he saw that a mandate was not the answer,' Burton said. 'Good things are happening in the states. The federal government should not stunt what's going on with the states.'" (ABC's Political Radar, 5/31/07)

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/05/obama_healthcar.html

THEN Sen. Obama's advisors said they considered mandates; decided it was too ambitious and unpopular with middle class voters:

"Like so many in the Democratic Party, Obama's advisers remember all too well how excessive ambition killed the Clinton plan politically. They don't want to make that mistake again. They fear a mandate sounds scarier to the public, particularly middle-class voters." (The New Republic, 6/3/07)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/01/opinion/main2876886_page2.shtml

THEN Sen. Obama said his plan provides health care for everyone:

"Well, let's talk about health care right now because the fact of the matter is -- the fact of the matter is that I do provide universal health care." (CNN, 11/15/07)

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0711/15/se.02.html

THEN Sen. Obama admitted his plan does not cover everyone, said he would be 'happy to consider a mandate' later:

"Now, the argument they�ll make is there�s going to be maybe a handful of people who even if it�s affordable still won�t buy it. And my attitude is, you know what, I�m happy to consider a mandate once we get to affordability." (New Hampshire Public Radio, 11/21/07)

THEN Sen. Obama said he'll figure out how to cover everyone later:

"If we see there are people who are still not covered when we make it affordable, then we will figure out how to make sure that everybody's got coverage. Period." (Des Moines Register, 11/25/07)

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071125/NEWS09/711250336/-1/caucus[/div