How Obama And McCain Differ On Medicare

CBS Evening News: How The Candidates Propose To Fix The Ailing Program

(CBS)  To help you make an informed decision in the presidential election, CBS News is devoting a large part of our broadcasts until Nov. 4 to telling you where the candidates stand on major issues - from the war in Iraq to health insurance to education … and a lot more. Each piece is an in-depth look at the issues facing the 44th president.

In this installment, CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes reports on how the proposed Medicare policies of Barack Obama and John McCain would affect you and your community.

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The Issue

Ruth Louise Schindle owes her life to a government program she never thought she would even need.

"I am 88," she said. "I've had cancer, I have heart problems and I go to dialysis."

She takes 11 different drugs. Her monthly medical bills are in the thousands - paid for, mostly, by Medicare.

"Where would you be without Medicare?" Cordes asked.

Schindle said: "Only God knows that. I don't know."

She lost her private health insurance in 2003, after the once-mighty Bethlehem Steel, her late husband's lifelong employer, went belly-up.

"It's just like pulling the rug out from under ya," Schindle said.

But for her daughters, Medicare is a mixed bag.

Ruthie Schindle signed up two years ago, when she became eligible at 65.

"I thought Medicare was just gonna take care of everything," she said.

She was stunned by the 20 percent co-pays.

"Everybody that has worked, has paid into the system and the fat cats get fatter - where's all this money going to?" she asked.

Mostly, it's gone to pay the rising cost of health care.

Medicare spending has increased 40 percent in the past four years - from $309 billion in 2003 to $431 billion in 2007.

At this rate, the trust fund for Medicare "Part A," which covers hospitalizations and is funded by payroll taxes, is set to go broke by 2019.

That's right around the time Ruthie Schindle's 56-year-old sister, Donna, becomes eligible.

"It might not be there! You know, you just never know," she said.

What can you do to prepare for that possibility?

"Just do a lot of praying," Donna said.

Jump down a generation, and 38-year-old Debbie, who handles most of her grandmother's Medicare bills, is even more pessimistic.

"Medicare is obviously going to have a new face when I get there and I know that," Debbie said.

Debbie said she doesn't understand where Barack Obama and John McCain stand when it comes to Medicare.

Donna added: "No. They keep flippin', changing the subject."

The Candidates

Both Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain concede Medicare is in trouble.

"By 2019, there will be no money left!" McCain has said.

He blames bloated bureaucracy. Arguing doctors and clinics should get lump-sum payments for quality care, instead of being paid for individual tests and treatments.

"What about the idea of saying, 'OK,' to a healthcare provider. 'A heart transplant is going to be based on the overall outcome and care that you provide for that patient,'" he said.

Obama sees waste in the private plans that contract with Medicare to manage the treatment of a quarter of its recipients - about 10 million seniors. Studies show those plans cost the government roughly 13 percent more than traditional medicine.

"It doesn't help seniors get any better. It's not improving our health care system. It's just a give-away," Obama said.

A major area of contrast is prescription drug coverage, also known as Medicare Part D, which Congress passed in 2003. McCain opposed it then, saying "we didn't have a single way of paying for it."

Now he argues Medicare could save $2 billion a year by making wealthier recipients - say, those making more than $80,000, pay for a larger share of their own drugs.

"People like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, don't need their prescriptions ... underwritten by taxpayers," McCain said.

Obama, on the other hand, wants to authorize Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to bring down drug prices - like the Veterans Administration does. He also thinks Medicare could save in the long run by covering more preventative care up front.

"I mean we will decline to give reimbursements for you to go to a dietician to lose weight, but we'll pay the $30,000 for the foot amputation when you get diabetes," Obama said.

The Impact

So, what would all those changes mean for Ruth and her family?

Allowing Medicare to negotiate with the drug giants, as Obama proposes, would likely lower prices, and, in turn, Ruth's expenses. For example:

Medicare currently pays $82 a bottle for her heart drug, Diovan. That's nearly double the negotiated price the VA pays.

"What do you think about the fact that Medicare can't negotiate currently with the drug companies?" Cordes asked.

"I think it stinks! I think they should be able to," she said.

The McCain campaign says its proposal to charge wealthy Americans more for prescription drug coverage would only impact the richest 5 percent - not the Shindle family.

Welcome news to a woman whose premiums are rising - fast.

"In 2005, for example, she was paying $153 a month for her supplement for health care," Debbie said.

And in 2007, she was paying $176.50. Now this year the fee has gone up her premium has gone up to $184.25 a month.

When it comes to patient care the family worries that McCain's idea to pay for treatment with one lump sum, rather than per visit, would limit their treatment options.

And they like Obama's plan to pay for prevention.

"Get it before you're too sick to take care of it. So I would have to go with Obama on that," Donna said.

Whoever wins, experts say, the next president can't afford to wait until his second term to fix Medicare's finances.

Not with the first of 78 million baby boomers set to become eligible in the next two years.

[fondofgooch]

Ruth and several of her family members have an obvious obesity issue which contributes to her need for medications plus her heart disease and cancer. Overweight females have a much greater chance of these two conditions, especially breast cancer, than a woman of normal weight. I would rather that they spend their $$ on an exercise program and diet therapy. But only THEY can make that choice--not the government. We, the taxpayers, will keep footing the bill for those who do not choose prevention. Like the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". So sad Katie did not point out the obvious....

[daisyduke13]

THIS NONSENSE OF OBAMA BEING A HATER OF JEWISH PEOPLE IS A LIE THE RIGHT WING NUTS HAVE PUT OUT THERE!! IM AM A JEW AND I CAN''T WAIT FOR OBAMA TO GET IN OFFICE! HE''LL MAKE SURE NOTHING HAPPENS TO MY MEDICARE AND SAVINGS. MCCAIN ONLY CARES ABOUT MCCAIN, SAME AS BUSH AND YOU SEE WHERE THAT GOT US!! ITS TIME THIS COUNTRY GETS CHANGE AND WE SURE THE HECK NEED IT!!

[lmartink]

Obama''s got it right.

Medicare has contracted with for-profit, outside contractors and bean counters who cross off millions of dollars worth of claims, and refuse to pay.

It would not surpise me if Blackwater wasn''t one of them.

Who suffers? Our people, and the healthcare organizations who help them with their pain and suffering. It''s the healthcare crisis in a nutshell. And our standard of care in this country contiues to spiral down while compared to other countries.

How bad off will it be when you need help?

[onarollagain]

This is worth listening to:
http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=207473

[fbla1805]

Regarding Medicare / Medicaid, McCain has conveniently been hiding his true plans from seniors. But the pro-Republican Wall Street Journal of Oct. 6, 2008 shined some light on McCain%u2019s radical plans for Medicare / Medicaid.

In an interview with WSJ reporters on October 6th*, McCain economic advisor Doug Holtz-Eakin openly stated they intend to pay for their health insurance tax credits through $1.3 trillion in cuts in Medicare and Medicaid over 10 years. That would mean reductions in benefits for Medicare and Medicaid of nearly 30% each year for 10 years, starting in January.

You might ask: Why did McCain wait until October 6th to spring this surprise on retirees with fixed incomes? And why is this plan only to be found in the Wall Street Journal %u2013 why is McCain not talking to us about his plan in the debates, or in his campaign speeches? But the answer to that question is obvious: to prevent seniors, and people getting close to retirement, from learning the truth about his plan before the election next week!

These massive Medicare cuts, which McCain economic advisor Doug Holtz-Eakin openly said McCain will make the tax credits, will effectively destroy these programs! In other words, seniors on fixed incomes can literally say goodbye to their healthcare benefits under McCain/Palin. But McCain never liked Medicare anyway %u2013 he and his buddies have been trying to kill this program for years!

[fbla1805]

John McCain%u2019s health care plans will destroy employer-based health insurance. For the millions of Americans that have it, that insurance is worth about $12,000. a year! After destroying this, McCain will offer instead $5,000. in tax credits! That%u2019s $7,000. per family per year that McCain%u2019s plan will steal from American families.

Even worse, McCain%u2019s plan will throw us out of group insurance rates, and instead force us all onto the market as lonely individuals, with no market power, facing the powerful, unregulated health-insurance industry giants. And anyone with a precondition will not get any insurance coverage at all!

Who will benefit from the McCain Plan, may I ask?

In fact, the only choice for people:

who now have employer-based health insurance, or

who want a comprehensive family health insurance policy they can afford, or

who want to have Medicare still around when they retire,

is to vote for Obama/Biden!

John McCain%u2019s plans will destroy all chances for middle class people to ever get decent family health insurance coverage!

The Democrats, with Obama/Biden, are the only ones who intend to make health insurance affordable for middle class people!

(* read the full WSJ article at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122315505846605217.html)

[fbla1805]

The two recently apprehended skinheads planned to take the hatred and vindictiveness of the McCain/Palin campaign to its final, logical step.

That would be the one step further that Ashley Todd, the white woman campaign operative who made up the story of being mugged and brutalized by a black Obama supporter just three news cycles ago, had also been willing to provoke. (Remember Ashley? PITTSBURGH, Oct. 24 - McCain Worker Made Up Attack Story - To Be Charged With Making False Report).

Rogue actors, sure!

But they have been shown the way, and incited to their actions, by the rhetoric of Sarah Palin and John McCain, - who%u2019s gutter campaign tactics have been bringing just this element to the surface at their rallies these past weeks.

And that is the point.

This McCain-style campaign from the gutter must not be rewarded with victory at the polls, but rather, must be soundly defeated on election day, Nov 4th, just 7 days from today!

[lelia8]

Explain to me why McCain calls Obama''s tax plan a "restribution of wealth or socialism", yet, what does he consider his solution to medicare prescription drugs? Would this not be redistribution of wealth also by charging wealthier American''s more for their prescription drug coverage? You can''t have it both ways McCain--which means you are a socialist too.

[fbla1805]

By the way...

Remember Republicans posting about "Berg vs. Obama, Civil Action No. 08-cv-4083", seeking a Declaratory Judgment and an Injunction that Obama does not meet the qualifications to be President of the United States?

Let me pass on to the readers of this blog the following info:

This lawsuit has been thrown out of court (i.e., dismissed) as "frivolous and not worthy of discussion", as of Oct. 25th.

If there are more of these bogus law suits floating around in other courts, this decision will become the precedent for tossing them out, too.

Too bad for McCain, but as the old saying goes, when something appears too good to be true, it''s not - same with McCain''s chances this would ever save him from his well-deserved election thrashing in just 7 days.

By the way, this frivilous, now dismissed law suit was based on the "Obama''s a muslim" garbage these right-wing extremists have been spewing all thru this election. I wish they''d decide how they want it! Obama is a muslim - bad Obama. Or: the Christian preacher Rev. Wright is bad, and Obama is also bad for getting married by him and being a member of his Christian church for 20 years.

So wackos, which will it be? Both? I thought so!

[concernedus]

Please watch this video regarding tainted milk from China in our food and Halloween candy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUB79WJ9ktQ

[nearl4511]

Socialism, shmocialism. During election campaigns ALL politicians are socialists. They ALL want to be Santa Claus make sure YOu believe you are the receivee........even neoliberals play Santa during campaign season......oh yeah and the other guy is the Grinch.

[dude1961-2009]

VOTE NO - OBAMA IS A BAD CANDIDATE - VOTE NO
------------------------------
Obama has a 100% ANT-GUN voting record
Obama has a 100% Pro-PORK spending record
Obama wants GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH CARE
Obama thinks ''LIFE IS ABOVE HIS PAY GRADE''
Obama WILL TAKE FROM YOU
Obama WILL GIVE TO SOMEONE ELSE
Obama WILL INCREASE GOVERNMENT IN YOUR LIVES
------------------------------
VOTE NO - Mr Government OBAMA - VOTE NO

[dude1961-2009]

VOTE YES - JOHN McCAIN & SARAH PALINE - VOTE YES

--------------------------
PRO GUN RIGHTS - "Believes gun laws do not reduce crime"

LOW TAXES FOR EVERYONE - "do not raise taxes on anyone"

PRO AMERICAN VALUES - supports the present Constitution. Does not believe it is ''flawed'' like Mr.Government does

PRACTICES SOUND GOVERNANCE - he has never asked for Earmarks (Pork) in 26 years.

PEOPLE DRIVEN HEALTH CARE - supports private health care not run by the Government
--------------------------

VOTE YES - JOHN McCain & SARAH PALIN - VOTE YES

[missandi-2009]

enlightening..........................................http://www.viddler.com/explore/ATLAHWorldwide/videos/27

[gig15]

"We cannot expect the Americans to jump from capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving Americans small doses of socialism until they suddenly awake to find they have Communism." - Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev, 1959. OneAmerican7, thanks to you voting for Bush.Cheney, and reads like you will for the opponent of Obama, then we only can thank you, Bush.Cheney.McCain.Palin for the Communistic Republican Right regime. We are already there. Obvious you don''t understand Communism. First, the Communist Leaders get the most, the Communist members get next, and whatever is left over, the bottom gets. Sounds familiar? McCain.Palin want to continue distributing the wealth to the rich and rich corporations. Sounds like England and why we left to establish a new world.

[gig15]

If you have parents or grandparents who are receiving Medicare now. You need to hold onto your savings because McCain.Palin are going to reduce seniors allotments, and you the child will have to pay for your parents or grandparents health care and medications. I currently care for my aging parents, and Medicare pays for their health care and they have supplemental insurance. It''s expensive, and you have to be the advocate for your parents/grandparents to make sure benefits are paid. With McCain.Palin, they will take from the seniors and give to you for your health care, leaving you with a $5,000.00 health care check (my health care if over $7,500.00 per year with out of pocket, and 100% deductible. I pay for eyecare and eyewear, dental, and hearing. So, mine is higher. That $5,000.00 check from McCain won''t even cover you and your family. So good luck in covering the health care cost for you and make tough decisions for your parents and grandparents. McCain.Palin are for the rich and rich corporations. They are heartless for anyone else except Communist Republicans. You vote for McCain.Palin, you just nailed Communism in America.

[mr_sisko]

WHITE PICKET FENCES: It%u2019s noted that Sen. Obama plans to utilize the 700 billion dollar bailout to convert suburban homes recently acquired by the government (due to failed mortgages) to Section 8 low-income houses for inner-city families. Despite stereotypical fears of crime, school deterioration, and plummeting property values, arguably a low-income relocation program to suburbia enhances social equity for poor inner-city families, integrates the suburbs, and affirmatively spreads the wealth.

[mr_sisko]

WHITE PICKET FENCES: It%u2019s noted that Sen. Obama plans to utilize the 700 billion dollar bailout to convert suburban homes recently acquired by the government (due to failed mortgages) to Section 8 low-income houses for inner-city families. Despite stereotypical fears of crime, school deterioration, and plummeting property values, arguably a low-income relocation program to suburbia enhances social equity for poor inner-city families, integrates the suburbs, and affirmatively spreads the wealth.

[andylance1]

There is huge fraud in the Medicare programs. Doctors, clinics, DME (medical equipment) and pharmacies scam the system and steal billions. Government oversight is a joke and very few get caught. The bigger it gets the more fraud will grow prosper. Obama''s ideas will just make it worse. The whole system needs reform and tough oversight... and the crooks need to be jailed for a long long time.

[cozzicon]

Ahhh... I love the smell of hyperbole in the morning- it smells like...
Um..

It just smells.

I love how uneducated, mis informed, dogmatic party types just go apetastic at the end of an election cycle that might be a pretty good mandate for a large change in the way our government does business.

It is enjoyable and entertaining.

I love this country so much! At least we don''t pick up guns to settle differences. And the resultant pandering and hyperbole is entertaining. We indeed all live in the best of the best countries, with the biggest of the biggest set of idiots.

[bigsk8fan]

isn''t medicare and medicaid programs part of the ''socialism'' that mccain and palin now reject? we need obama to protect our senior years.

[irmcvet97]

Posted by NEEDERBAUR at 12:58 AM : Oct 29, 2008
Please seek HELP! You post the same tired old things time after time and NONE of it makes any sense!

[irmcvet97]

Posted by olivia4441 at 07:16 AM : Oct 29, 2008

So? Be SCARED of the INTELLIGENT BLACK MAN people... be VERY SCARED! Be so SCARED that you will BELIEVE the LIES and Distortions posted and IGNORE the AMERICAN CITIZENS, like me, who have LIVED with and KNOW Obama for decades! These are truly the WORST among us and they need to be pitted but NOT listened too.

[gippybear]

Senator Stinky is Swift Boating HIMSELF!

LOL

[gippybear]

Now you''ll get a tax cut if you make less than 150,000 dollars a year!

What happened to $250,000?

LOL

What a DOLT

[gippybear]

I love the quotes about the Constitution being "Fundamentlly Flawed"!

Question: When being swarn in as Prez., which part of the Constitution will he NOT be able to uphold?

Idiot! LOL

[johnedwards6]

I don''t understand how anyone can be undecided. You have a replublican vs. the most liberal egotistic unexperienced candidate in US history. They are not similar. How can anyone not have made up their minds yet. Are these people brain dead. I suppose these are the kind of people that will watch 1 debate after having paid no attention to politics and make their decision based on that. Oh well......

[keepontopic]

At JohnEdwards6, McCain and the GOP are the ones that brain dead to the problems confronting the middle class. These simpletons with their discredited rich folks first creed need to pay the price for politcal failure and be voted out.

[keepontopic]

NEEDERBAUR, are you still cut and pasting the same old drivel? - you seriously need to go to school or get a job man.

[keepontopic]

At Gippybear, nice to see you DONT know how to use factcheck.org or any web based tool for adequate research.
Where are the semi-smart GOP trolls tonight? - perhaps they have seen the light and converted to DEM - LOL...
All the GOP tards are here though - so i''ll bust them up for awhile...hehhe
...INCOMING....;)

[flvixen]

I don''t think anyone really understands the health care that either one of them is talking about but from what i gather McCain is putting a 5,000 dollar limit on health care and taxing it. Not good for the Medical field at all cause i think that would put more ppl in debt than they already are. Some ppl are sicker than others. Now Obama is trying to help everyone and giving small businesses help so they can afford to get the coverage for their workers. Anyone that really complains when he specifically said that they would not have to pay for it with all their own money just don''t want to have give more money than they have to. Its all about greed. How much money u can keep in ur pocket. GET READY TO JUMP FOR JOY FOR UR NEW PREZ BARACK OBAMA

[keepontopic]

At Afactjack, you need to change your name to nofactsjack - The night of the longknives is when the Hitler lead SS and the Gestapo purged the Rohm lead SA in July 1923. Very few Jews where involved in the process on either side.
So are you capapble of rationally putting forward a GOP viewpoint or - yawn - just another GOP ****?

[keepontopic]

At flvixen, Yes BO''s health care reforms are aimed at the middle class. The health care plan revison by BO is well thought out and should adress alot of the problems. Particularly I like the pharmaceutical pricing reductions and his attitude that the health care industry needs to be cleaned up. I suspect why the GOP are so threatened and angry with BO is that he bypasses their traditional taken-for-granted base on main street and they despise him because of it.

[johnedwards6]

Olivia. If this is true, than you are brilliant. You are my hero. Best thing i''ve read on this commie site in a long time

[keepontopic]

I am looking forward to Obama winning next week. The policies of greed, fear, division and deceit are coming to an end. The GOP took the policies of Reaganism from the late 80''s and subverted them towards nazism over the last 8 years. If it was not for the two terms of Clinton administration in the 90''s with the supreme court nuetral and a then record surplus, the USA would already be the fifth reich. I expect Obama to govern as a moderate like clinton - basically take a middle of the road profile to ensure that he gets the job of reforming done with the minimum of drama.

[keepontopic]

Olivia, well it is funny but not relevant anecdote. This is for the following reason - we pay taxes as part of our due as members of a decent law abiding democracy. Note that the tax rate under Obama will actually be less than under the Clinton presidency for those betweem the 250K to 400K tax bracket.
So have you used the tax calculator readily available online to verify this fact?
Plus is or is not the recent bailout of Wall Street -also agreed to by McCain - another example of spreading the wealth around?

[johnedwards6]

Olivia. If you don''t mind. I am going to print your comment and show it to my liberal friends. That is a perfect example.

[olivia4441]

Be my guest, share with everyone you know. It was defintely an eye awakening experiment. The people who do not understand the concept really must learn quickly, there is little time left. God Bless.

[kittykatty2]

Hmmmm, Olivia, I think you''re a liar. But that is only in keeping with the Republican party. In fact, I will go so far as to qualify you as greedy liars. Your example is meaningless, but that is to be expected from Republicans, you talk a lot of chit, make things up and then feign surprise when you''re called on it.

[keepontopic]

Ho Hum - more cut and past from KathySun

..lets se if I can craft something from scratch in response...

1. Party of the CEO.
2. Party of the CEO.
3. Oh wait...alomost stuck on stupid like some of these GOP tards...
4. Party of the right wing nuts
5. Party of the right wing nuts
6. drat I keep repeating myself...
7. Keating 5, Abrahamoff, Stevens....
8. Keating 5, Abrahamoff, Stevens....
9. ARGH - my mind is being pollute by GOP cutNpaste - must - fight -back
10. Trickle down / voodoo economics
11. Trickle down / voodoo economics
12...whirl...clump reboot applied....okaY!
13. Palin.
14. MCain.
15. Joe the whatever....
16...
17..

hehhehe

[msimamaji]

Obama''s plan is superior in all respects.
First, it gets rid of subsidies for private plans, which are more expensive than regular medicare. I might add, that the cost of those private plans will keep increasing until they cannibalize the entire system.
Second, it lowers the cost of prescription medicines by allowing Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceuticals.
Third, it emphasizes preventative care. That''s the big cost cutter. Incidentally, I should add that environmental protection, OSHA, and SCHIPS make a lot of cents (in terms of dollars and cents.) The more we reduce childhood illnesses, the more we reduce illnesses caused by pollution and bad workng conditions, the more money we save down the road. Obama understands this. McCain, like all Republicans, just doesn''t get it.
A really great way to save Medicare would be to allow anyone to enroll in Medicare at any age. Then Medicare would have a pool of younger, healthy clients, a pool that would reduce the cost for everyone.
People should ask themselves, "Will we be better of 4,8 or 12 years down the road?"
For that reason alone, we need to elect Obama and his Democratic allies.

[homespunlady]

You know, I WAS concerned about WHERE this nation would be able to come up with the money for Medicare and Medicaid. 300 to 400 plus Billion is a LOT of money.

BUT, then came WALL STREET...

Our "fearless leaders LED by a THREE PAGE DEMAND from King George DEMANDED American TAXPAYERS COUGH UP 700 BILLION PLUS and according to the current ESTIMATES that WALL STREET PONZI ROBBERY is REALLY going to cost somewhere between FIVE TO TEN TRILLION DOLLARS!!!!

AND NOW...King GEORGE has to PLEAD with the PIRATES TO STOP HOARDING the "BAILOUT" ROBBERY MONEY????

THE "BAILOUT BUNCH" is "HOARDING" the cash so THEY CAN CRASH the nation further with the IDEA that once the US is TOTALLY "BANKRUPT" from PAYING THE PIRATES they can then SWOOP IN and "RAID" the REST of whatever is left solvent!!!

They''re ALREADY announcing plans to "BUY UP" (at BARGAIN PRICES) the "solvent" banks and businesses that THE PIRATES are RUNNING INTO TROUBLE by manipulating (DENYING) the CASH FLOW to them!!!

FEUDALISM here we come!!!!

and the RESULT of the NEOCON Government TAKEOVER?

WELFARE "BAILOUT" PAYOUTS for the WEALTHY
FEUDAL SERFDOM for the growing number of POOR
EXTINCTION for the shrinking Middle Class

YEP, REAL BRILLIANT.... let the PIRATE CRONIES that LOBBIED for Financial CHAOS and CONNED this nation into PAYING for their ORGY OF GREED have MORE POWER to financially ROB, RAPE and PILLAGE our Nation!!!

[jubrown3]

Most small businesses do make over 250.000 a doctor makes over 250.000, but he has to pay his employees and give them medical insurance. How is the doctor who is going to be given rates by the government and taxed by OBAMA going to stay in business. Resturant owners cannot afford insurance and will be given a penalty , with higher taxes under OBAMA. So the guy who got stiffed on the tip, wearing the OBAMA badge won''t have a job. The dominoe effect from OBAMA''s plan will shut all small business''s down. This is what Joe the plumber was trying to get you all to understand. But you just keep putting a deaf ear to him and listening to the BS the golden boy has been selling to you. I plan on keeping my 401 and my money I earned away from all the people who want to sit home and do nothing for a buck. I want to earn my money the honest AMERICAN way not the Russia, Iran way with BARAK. OBAMA''s plan is a polite way of saying he is robbing the honest working and giving to the people who do not want to go out and get a job. But that is ok because he will be eliminating alot of jobs. There are no big companies left thanks to the Dems in Congress..like the leftist Senator. Peace out and GOOD luck At least my conscience will be clear when i vote. After you pull that lever for a socialist government there is not turning back. And believe me i will be the first to say i told you so. But hopefully the smart people will prevail.

[keepontopic]

AtOneAmerica7, Buddy you would not know Socialism or Communism if it hit you on the behind on the way out the door. Seriously the GOP are border line fascist - especially after the last 8 years - by international political standards. By the same standards Obama is centre left of international political standards rather like a good moderate politician in Australia or Canada. Obama is way to the right of socialism let alone communism.
Have you have enough of the cut N paste GOP rhetoric yet?
Do you know your mind can still be saved if you give it up now and you wont go blind.

[msimamaji]

I also agree with KeepOnTopic. Obama''s philosophy of leadership is not really news. The magazine American Prospect discussed it at length months ago. Ideologues, especially on the far left will be disappointed. Obama tends to be cautious and pragmatic. He tends to weigh in all the facts before making a decision. He favors compromise and consensus. He is far more middle of the road than the GOP and the right wing ideologues can imagine.

[johnedwards6]

I hope i see a waiter with an Obama button on before the election. I will do the experiment. Although in my neighborhood, no one is anywhere near homeless or poor. I will still figure out a way to do it.


thanks

[keepontopic]

msimamaji and homespunlady, nice and relevant posts about the problems affecting the families living on main street. The Obama health care plan is a well thought out plan and should make a real difference.
Also hopefully Obama will curtail the worse excesses of the crooks on Wall Street.

[keepontopic]

jubrown3 - Seriously none of the stuff you posted is accurate. You need to go and do some real research - the information is out there - whether it is the online tax calculator, the Obama tax and economics plans or factcheck.org...
So why would a moderate president with a large popular backing and a superbly organised set of economic plans want to disrupt the whole process by seeing Joe from main street out of work??
Also I assume from the length of your post that you are NOT a low information voter?

[johnedwards6]

kittykatty2 - you and your liberal buddies are too brainwashed and uninformed to admit that oliva''s post is 100% true

[homespunlady]

Posted by olivia4441 at 10:00 AM : Oct 29, 2008

I''ve seen this Rush Limbaugh "REVENGE" scenario printed repeatedly by other people also.

Interesting that this OBVIOUSLY well-off PETULANT person USES STIFFING the person that SERVED this person to INCITE ANGER then BRAGS about it.

For wait staff, their PAY is often REDUCED ALREADY by MANAGEMENT because they ASSUME the TIPS will be part of it. (to management''s advantage)

So this bit of SELF-SERVING CRUELTY and the encouragement of OTHER PIRATES to use this EXCUSE is tantamount to PUNISHING the INNOCENT to INSTILL FEAR and FORCE COMPLIANCE with their AGENDA rather than what is FAIR.

Bet the WAITER "doesn''t take care" of olivia4441''s food and drink the NEXT time this SELFISH DOLT comes in! The SERVANTS this PIRATE abuses have "ways" of "fixing" abusive DOLTS.