From The Road
February 1, 2008 7:01 PM

Clinton Hits Obama on Health Care Plan Differences

By
Fernando Suarez
Topics
Hillary Clinton
(CBS)
From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

SAN DIEGO -- Hillary Clinton, who leads by double digits in California, criticized Barack Obama's health care plan during a rally in San Diego today.

"The most important difference that you heard was that between myself and Senator Obama over whether or not we should attempt to, work for, make a commitment to achieving universal health care in America," she said, referring to the health care discussion during last night's Democratic debate in Los Angeles. "You see, I believe with all my heart that it is a moral right for people to have quality affordable health care. That is why I put forth a plan to cover everyone."

In an attempt to single herself out as the nominee to stand against the Republicans on the issue of universal health care Clinton added, "One of the most important issues separating Democrats and Republicans is that when we stand on a stage against whomever the Republicans nominate, we are standing there 100% committed to universal health care as soon as we can possibly achieve it."

Clinton asked the crowd of around 7,000 at San Diego State University what they thought of the debate.

"How many of you watched that debate last night? Wasn't that exciting? And isn't it thrilling to know that one of the people on the stage last night will make history as our 2008 Democratic candidate? And if we work together, you are looking at the next president of the United States!" The crowd erupted into loud cheers.

At one point during her remarks, when discussing her policy toward Iraq, two young men stood behind Clinton and in front of her campaign sign holding a large, red banner that read "Nepotist Tyrant, Hands Off Iran!"

Clinton seemed not to notice. Campaign staffers came over and asked the protestors to leave. Soon a couple large gentlemen wearing Hillary T-shirts came over and tore down the sign and the protestors were ushered out quietly.

Add a Comment
by tonym2111 February 4, 2008 1:25 PM EST
Obama''s healthcare plan to reduce insurance costs is much better than Clinton''s and Edwards mandatory healthcare plans. What happens if I fail to purchase healthcare? Will my income taxes be garnished the next year, as some have suggested? Clinton doesn''t speak on it. I think the vast majority of people would purchase healthcare if they could afford it! Current insurance company premiums are ridiculously high! For those people who cannot afford healthcare, namely the underclass and lowerclass, healthcare can be provided just as food stamps are. But to penalize citizens for not getting healthcare that might be unaffordable, seems unfair.
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by americanking February 2, 2008 10:40 PM EST
I think America needs a total NEW VISION. WHAT new vision you may ask? I think social security tax should be for everyone. I mean Every working citizen, even the president, congresS, senators, city, county and state workers.ABSLUTELY NO EXEMPTIONS Why do the affluent, AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS get OUT of this tax, and get to have a better retirement than any other regular working american? Yet they get to decide how the money will be spent and how high the tax will be. Perhaps the government, the President, congress and senate would work for real reform and solutions if thy were going to get only social security and "what ever they could save" like most Americans will get. I think they would get busy fast and get a better more fair system IF THEY HAD TO ACTUALLY BE PART OF IT INSTED THEY ARE EXEMPT, they get their "own plan" that makes their retirement rich and confortable. JUST LIKE WHEN THEY WERE IN OFFICE AND SO THEY NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT THE REST ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND with NO HEALTH CARE IN AMERICA.
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by americanking February 2, 2008 10:24 PM EST
It is so amazing to me that in this affluent America, we care more about money than anything else! It amazes me that people who work hard but develop a chronic illness cannot get the healthcare they need, because it is NOT going to kill them TODAY. Yet, if they were shot with a gun, ANY Emergency room would treat them, as they might die that DAY, with or without insurence! All Americans should have the basic right of heathcare treatment not just the rich or the very poor or the children, IN THIS COUNTRY. Every human life is vital to America and we need a truely affordable system than garantees each American to health care services not just "emergency healthcare". Otherwise, Americans who are diagnosed with a chronic diease should be exempt from all taxes in Federal and their own State since they are not treated fairly in this affluent America, why should they continue to pay taxes to a government that will not help them in their time of need and just continues to take their tax dollars until they die of that chronic diease? We are the only developed nation that does not care for it''s tax paying citizens. America needs to wake up and start supporting it''s tax paying citizens here in this country before wasting our tax dollars, in other countries. How many Americans could have had health care and for how long IF THAT MONEY WE HAVE SPENT ON IRAC WAS EARMARKED TO HEALTH CARE FOR THE TAX PAYING CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT NATION!?
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by joydad5 February 2, 2008 9:50 PM EST
Why doesn''t Senator Obama say that he thinks John Edwards is wrong on healthcare? Or is he wanting to have it both ways? Sounds unethical to me.
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by joydad5 February 2, 2008 9:49 PM EST
Why doesn''t Senator Obama say that he thinks John Edwards is wrong on healthcare? Or is he wanting to have it both ways? Sounds unethical to me.
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by katharine9 February 2, 2008 6:30 AM EST
Clinton''s insurance plan is unworkable and unmanageable. Forcing everyone to buy insurance from the upstart will only benefit insurance companies, who will then charge anything they want. But then, maybe Hillary knows that? Obama''s plan will stop the gouging by insurance companies, and not penalize those who can''t afford the insurance, while bringing down costs so that more people can afford it. Under Obama''s plan ANYONE who wants insurance will be given enough subsidy to afford it. His plan is smart and fair. Hers is the equivalent of solving the problem with a sledge hammer and letting the fallout go where it may. Look closely at both plans and you see the managemant style, judgement, and level of compassion of each candidate. Vote for Obama- integrity and compassion!!
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by rluceroism February 2, 2008 3:12 AM EST
And I am sure that before Bill Clinton eliminated our National Debt to $0.00 you may have well said that was impossible and that he is crazy. Obama ''s ideas are not that solid either and trust me there is no easy, one answer. No matter who starts National health care there will be bumps and many!
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by rluceroism February 2, 2008 3:11 AM EST
And I am sure that before Bill Clinton eliminated our National Debt to $0.00 you may have well said that was impossible and that he is crazy. We have to start somewhere with Healthcare and to start somewhere is better than not starting at all. Obama ''s ideas are not that solid either and trust me there is no easy, one answer. No matter who starts National healthcare there will be bumbs and many!
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by jaykay221 February 2, 2008 2:42 AM EST
Thanks for making that point dinsic. She assumes that income based subsidies will be sufficient to ensure all people will be able to purchase the insurance - however, income level is a very crude measure of a person''s or families capacity. Imagine if there is a couple with a mortgage paying off two student loans, imagine that they have an income level $20,000 higher than a couple with a mortgage and no student loans? Personal circumstances could easily make it the case that the couple on the lower income had $10,000 more in disposable income than the couple earning $20,000 more than them. So the first couple, on the higher income, have less money available yet the other couple with more money available get higher subsidies. With so many people below the poverty line, enforcement of health insurance purchase will lead to increased pressure for these people.
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by dinslc February 2, 2008 1:31 AM EST
I CANNOT BELIEVE you would just reprint part of Clinton''s stump speech with out actually pointing out the fact that her plan is to force everyone without insurance to go buy it themselves. That''s what an "individual mandate" is, folks.
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