Clinton camp: Obama ad inaccurate, dirty politics

I am quite confused about why it is "misleading." The plan does force everyone to get health insurance, and that is what the mailer focuses on.

The only other assertion is that the plan wouldn't lower costs enough, and that is debatable with scholarly and newspaper support coming down on both sides of that argument. There is nothing wrong with highlighting the side that agrees with you!

Do you seriously expect an honest campaign from one of "those people". Of course he calls for a total health plan. Almost none of "Those" people are privately insured. "They" rely on Federal and State benefits while continuing to have illegitimate children

The mailier is factually correct, so why is the Clinton campaign is upset? Just because she has spent months trying to convince voters that her plan was "universal health care", carefully leaving out the whole "penalty" part, did she really think that the truth would never come out?

THis is what Obama does he attacks and then when the Clintons respond he cries racism. How could anyone vote for this hypocrite who is not qaulified to run your local high school let alone the most important country in the world.

Dirty politics would be Obama saying, "I will never have sex with that woman, Monica Lewinsky, while I'm president." Anything other than that is pretty much fair game.

Seriously - the CLINTON campaign complains about a mailing they consider dirty politics. The truth hurts. The Clinton complaint is ridiculous, and especially hypocritical considering the Muslim e-mail their campaign forwarded in Iowa, and which is still being widely circulated.

Why is obvious to me that a President does not enact the billuntil it goes through a congressional process. I would think that anyone can figure out that the bill is going to go through a lot of review and revision, before the Congress or the president would be able to sign it.
It isn't magic and poff there is a bill. I am 58 and not a college graduate, but even I know that this is just another way to hype one candidate against another. Voer's beware

And the Obama foundation crumbles like any other...when the going gets tough, the inexperienced yield to tantrums, misinformation, bad behavior. I am firmly in the Democatic camp, I've been trying to figure out who I want to stand behind - Clinton or Obama. The events of the last week, and now this, tell me that despite his great message of hope, Obama seem more and more the junior politician, not yet ready for the Big Chair. I still like him.... may be next time... but the spoiled child bad behavior stuff has become too much to continue to ignore.

A few things, first, where does Obama cry racism? If anyone can point out a specific time where Obama (Not just any black guy but Obama) called someone who criticized him racist please point it out. Also, if this is "dirty politics" then what do you call trying to get Michigan votes to count when you were the only person on the ballot?

"It is as outrageous as having Nazis march through Skokie, Illinois," Nichols said. "I just find it disgusting that this kind of imagery is being used to attack the only way to get to universal coverage."

Later in the call, Len Nichols of the New America Foundation threw this line out: "I am personally outraged at the picture used in this mailing," he said.

Dr. Nichols was the Vice President of the Center for Studying Health System Change, a Principal Research Associate at the Urban Institute, and the Senior Advisor for Health Policy at the Office of Management and Budget during the Clinton reform efforts of 1993-94. He has testified frequently before Congress and state legislators and has published widely in a variety of health related journals.

Previously, Dr. Nichols was Chair of the Economics Department at Wellesley College, where he taught for 10 years.

I don't care about the mailer (which, btw, seems to be a fair, although still questionable interpretation)--what I care about is the constant venom and unbelievable hyperbole that erupts from Clinton's campaign advisors when something doesn't match up with their perspective. A picture of a couple puzzling over bills is as outrageous as Nazis marching through Illinois? Get a grip on reality! Seriously.

Why is obvious to me that a President does not enact the bill until it goes through a congressional process. I would think that anyone can figure out that the bill is going to go through a lot of review and revision, before the Congress or the president would be able to sign it.
It isn't magic and poff there is a bill. I am 58 and not a college graduate, but even I know that this is just another way to hype one candidate against another. Voer's beware

Everyone wants to start at the top and they feel so empowered to VOTE for a President, including me. I wonder how many political savy people know who represents them at State and Local levels and their Congressmen. The government is like and other business it gets fixed at the grassroots level. When we start to take an interest in the local and state politics we will start to have better elected officials. it's like any thing in life whether you are a baker, mechanic or accountant you only get quality if that is what you put into it. I only hope that what ever you want to check your recipe and make sure you out the right ingredients to get the best of whatever you are making.

I knew they would wipe the fake smiles off their faces.

What are they complaining about? Her health care plan is pretty much the same one people in Massachusetts are being forced into. The plan DOESN"T WORK. My mother lives in Mass and she pays more now for health insurance and says that it is worst, constantly. Clinton talks a good game, she thinks people only hear the surface of her arguments. And, why is, that every time the Clinton campaign has a complaint they must say something or have someone else say something that is offensive and rude? Who you do guys surround your selves with?

The Skokie reference is really dated. Anyone been there lately? Not like it was when the Blues Bros. was filmed. Anyway, mandated health care insurance would be just like mandated car insurance. You are required to have it are you not? So where is the misinformation? Sorry to see Edwards out of the race.

Let's not forget the issue that will put a Democrat over the top in November: Iraq. Clinton voted for war. Obama didn't. No Democrat is going to rally a coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents behind health care.

This shows that Obama is aggressivly against the universal healthcare proposal that both Edwards and Clinton support.

But it also shows how Obama is now trying to SCARE voters manipulatively. His misleading (and very short) attack mail-out is trying to demonize the Clinton/Edwards proposals. Just like Republicans. No Democrat should vote for Obama after this.

WHAT IS MISLEADING ABOUT THE AD??? Please, HRC supporters, explain this. You call it misleading, but it is completely factual. What is a mandate?

man·date
n.
1. An authoritative command or instruction.
2. To make mandatory, as by law; decree or require: mandated desegregation of public schools.

This means people are required to get health insurance. This means they will be financially penalized if they do not get insurance. This means that people who may not be able to afford it will be required to buy insurance or pay a penalty they may not be able to afford.

That's what a mandate means. That's what's in Hillary's plan. That's what makes Hillary's plan harder to pass. That's why Obama's route to health care is better: it's easier to pass. Duh!!!

Are you people just complete morons, or are you all HRC campaign officials? You can disagree about whether or not a mandate is a good thing. But please don't insult me by trying to tell me that a mandate is not a mandate.

But then... maybe that depends on what the definition of "is" is.

It's funny to see the crazy post on this site, with the fake names, probably Clinton staffers (jack jackson- yeah right; russell macdonald and vinny- racism?)

Oh yeah, the mailer told the truth, Obama said it last night on the debate, so this is not something new. With mandates there are penalties. People go to criminal court and at times arrested for driving without auto insurance + fines. What will we have with medical insurance mandates- jail, fines etc.

First mandated health insurance. Next, mandated life insurance. Then mandates regarding every choice you make. Am I alone here thinking that I resent somebody mandating my choices? I'm still waiting to hear Clinton answer a very basic question;how does she plan to enforce her mandate?

Yeah, what are they mad about? What is misleading?

I started reading this article thinking, "Oh good,they don't want to force people to buy insurance? ...i wonder what the plan is, then..." only to find....Hmm...nothing. Does Clinton deny what an "individual mandate" means? What am i not understanding?

Ok, i just took this directly from Hillary's website.

"Individuals: will be required to get and keep insurance in a system where insurance is affordable and accessible. "

Ok....so who is going to decide if i can work it into my budget, or not?

I know that in Mass. the so-called "affordable" premiums are still $200 a month for an individual. Is that supposed to be affordable?

Barack approaches the issue of healthcare in a way that will build consensus across party lines. Hilary’s approach polarizes and sets opponents against an open discussion to solve the problems of healthcare in the US. This article reports that a mailer sent out by the Obama campaign asserts that Hilary mandates that everyone have and pay for healthcare. Hilary, in the last couple of debates, has clearly outlined her plan to require everyone to participate – either keeping their insurance through one’s company or signing onto government-supplied healthcare. I find it laughable when the Clinton campaign accuses Obama of tactics when he is simply reporting the facts.

Fact is - they assume it will be affordable by providing subsidies by income level - but people - income level is only one indicator and is terribly crude. It does not take into account personal and environmental circumstances. Income level tells you NOTHING about a person's reasonable outgoings. With so many below the poverty line - this would end up doing harm to a lot of people. Now she also wants to halt mortgage foreclosures? Adding another mandatory expense into an already stretched situation is not going to help matters - people will lose their houses over it. Obama's plan is more pragmatic.

Further, even if someone is earning over $100,000 they might be one step away from bankruptcy.

The issues that need to be tackled is lowering people's perceptions of how ok it is to take on huge quantities of debt - and they have been lulled and socialized into that for profit. People have become wage slaves by their debt, working longer and longer hours, spending less time with their kids. Over-burdened they might turn to drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms or some just plain burnout - all with health implications.

On the other hand there are people who can't get jobs because so much has been shipped overseas and the infra-structure is so weak.

Then, of course, there is the fact that people are so over-stretched with mortgages that there are foreclosures left and right.

America has great capacity to be sustainable and create more jobs within its own borders. There is much potential in creating jobs through investing in domestic alternative energy sources.

Perhaps healthcare could be enforced for all at some point in the future - but when you look at the holistic picture as it stands now - forced payment could have very bad consequences for a lot of people.

So while Clinton and Edward's healthcare plans are good plans, they must be deployed into the right environment. Obama is right to not have it mandated for all at this point in time. Start with the children, move forward slowly and get the balance right.

It's all true...whats the problem? Trying to play the "POOR ME" card, again?

I think the mailer was inappropriate and "dirty" especially after Hillary Clinton explained the mandate in detail during the CNN debate Thursday. She also explained that it would be affordable through subsidies. And she's right when she say (along with John Edwards) that mandates are necessary or else there are increased costs to everyone when the uninsured go to emergency rooms or walk-in hospital clinics because they don't have a primary doctor.
Obama and his people are the ones throwing tantrums when Hillary scores points against him. To me he still acts as a "junior" leader who needs some experience. I see a "stubborn" trait and "I'm always right". He is a strong candidate and a great orator, but it takes more than words - it takes action based on knowledge and experience. You can't deny Hillary has both.

Judy

now i know obbima is a clown act .... shame

An open question to CNN & the rest of the media:
Why is the media so anti-Clinton? Don't you guys have a professional and moral responsibility to do what is right for the country and the world? Why is the medias commentators, pundits and anchors promoting Obama.When all is said and done, do you think that the regular folks will have any regard for the likes of Soledad O'Briens & Bernstein? I think it's time for the media to own up to their guilt and start to provide viewers with real good reporting. Obama might be the "darling" of the media....but remember many media darlings have come & gone without leaving any footprints on the sands of time. Wake up CNN.... smell the people's pulse and don't be carried away with the "new cult"mentality.

If experience was the defining characteristics for a good president, two-term governor George Bush would be your man. Experience is more of an issue if you're seeking a bureaucrat.
Leadership is a better defining characteristic. What's the difference between a leader and a bureaucrat? Someone follows a bureaucrat after he has lost inspiration: someone follows a leader when he has found inspiration. For a bureaucrat, good judgment is a hindsight: for a leader good judgement is a foresight.

Hillary had eight years to develop a comprehensive health plan. She failed. The consolation prize she touts as success (health insurance for some children) was the best one can expect from supporters who lost the inspiration to design the much celebrated comprehensive health plan. Even after a 16-year headstart, her plan still has flaws. No one wants to be forced to pay for health care insurance they can't afford. More importantly, no one believes she can inspire the kind of unity needed to pass a comprehensive plan into law. Hillary is more likely to inspire the Republicans to unite against her. Finally, whatever leadership skills Hillary may have possessed have been called into question when she dropped the ball on the Iraq war vote. I'm sure in hindsight she realized that supporting the war was not the best way to strengthen her resume as a moderate Democrat. It is clear, Hillary may be a good bureaucrat but she is not a good leader.

In contrast, Obama opposed the war from the beginning at a time when it was not popular to do so. For someone who is not credited with having enough experience (even though he has served for 11 years as an elected public official--4 years more than Hillary), Obama clearly demonstrated that he will exercise good judgement on matters of national importance. First, he had the foresight to oppose the war from day one. Second, Obama believes that no one should be forced to pay for health care they can't afford. So, he will make health care affordable for all. More importantly, Obama is the only one that can inspire unity among lawmakers to support universal health care. Finally, before the primary is over, Obama will have inspired millions to vote for the first time. A leader who inspires us--a leader who will exercise good judgement from day one is the kind of president America wants. Obama is that leader.

Well, I was a Hillary supporter. But I notice her followers and campaign aren't, for the most part, being forthright in giving compelling reasons to vote for her. For example, just saying, "Hillary is ready to lead. Obama isn't" might work in High School, but not for grown-ups who have to work and pay taxes. After looking at her record and policies, I have doubts about where and how she would lead. As for her health care policy, it looks to be "universal" in name only, and people would still be uncovered. It would definitely help insurance profits, and grown-ups can't help noticing that she is well funded by the insurance industry. As a middle class voter, I don't want to be used as a pawn.

Other than that, what is the difference between her and Obama? His position on the war and their years of experience are at issue. Well, his call on the war rightly anticipated the problem we're in now. As far as experience goes, he's been an ELECTED official at the state and national level 4 years longer than she has. Bill Clinton was a year younger than Obama when he ran for president and had no national or foreign policy experience, whereas Obama does.

Other than Obama, I think Huckabee is an interesting candidate. And, no, I am not an evangelist. (I am Christian, in the tradition of Jesus' teachings to love my neighbor as myself and to seek the kingdom of God). But what impresses me about Huckabee is that as Governor he always balanced the budget and improved schools, health care, and infrastructure.

On Tuesday, I'll be voting for Obama it turns out. I think it’s okay for a candidate to have brains and inspire people. I don’t hold it against him. If by chance Hillary wins the nomination for the ticket, I'm inclined to vote republican. But I'm leaving it open for the Hillary campaign to address some of the serious flaws of her record, associations, and platform.

If you don't know. Your to young to vote. Crack a book on what the REP did to Hillary to stop health care last time. They spent millions upon millions upon millions to destroy universal health care for everyone. And how many people have died since then because they didn't have health care? Obama is lying about Hillarys plan and he should lose the election over it.