Bill Clinton: Would Be "Tragic If The Democratic Party Walked Away From Universal Health Care"

Dallas Morning News:

Former President Clinton on Friday offered voters an image of his wife as the only Democratic presidential candidate with a plan to offer universal health care....

... "It would be truly tragic if the Democratic Party walked away from universal health care for the first time in 60 years when we finally got the business community and the medical community in line behind us," Clinton said, drawing applause.

Read the whole story: Dallas Morning News

Comments

[dykalg]

The Obama healthcare proposal is PRO CHOICE.
The Hilary plan is compulsory.
Obama will make it affordable...so you will WANT it and BUY it.
Hilary will force you to buy it, and dock your salary.

OK Wisconsin, Texas; Ohio, Pennsylvania......Choose your Healthcare plan while there is still time.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

Sorry, but universal healthcare is no better than what is out there today. Millions still will go uncovered and there is still pre exsisting condition that will block them from ever getting any coverage at all. Its a con job. Unless and until we get single payer healthcare in this country, people are going to be no better off than they are today. Fact, every other country has single payer healthcare, and it works, and nobody bitches about having to pay a bit more in taxes to have it. Why? Peace of mind is everything to them. Why in this country do we care more about that little bit, than we do about our own peace of mind? It tells me, the public would rather suffer, die needlessly, go without healthcare, medical tests, treatment, and bitch about it, than to pay a bit more, to have coverage for all. Folks, you cannot have it both ways. Universal coverage is a crock, great for politicians who have money invested, kickbacks, horriffic for the rest of us. Get Real here.

[Troubledwawa]

I agree with Bill Clinton that having the business and medical communities on board makes it easier to get a universal national health care plan passed.

But I'm skeptical on if it would last, everyone covered that is.

If the goal is to get universal health care legislation passed the Congress and POTUS, yes that is very probable, but might not be a high enough level of law to ensure that everyone stays covered.

As an example, Medicare and Social Security both were passed in this fashion, by the Congress and POTUS. But, there are exemptions. Here is an IRS Form that speaks to that - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4029.pdf

A brief history for the Social Security (I'm not sure exactly when Medicare exemptions started, or if they were already included in the original legislation) dates back to the late 1950's and early 1960's when the legislation of the Congress and POTUS in the early 1930's was overturned. In other words, they began allowing exemptions.

Yes, you can always go back and say to the citizens who opted out "you're not covered", but I don't see that happening with national health care - it's not like you can turn them away if they find themselves in a mess.

From what I can understand about universal health care, everyone's participation is paramount for it's best chance of success.

The higher law I'm referring to is the Constitutional Amendment process. As of right now, I believe we have 27 amendments with only one having been repealed - prohibition.

The advantage of the amendment process to universal health care speaks for itself in that it's highly unlikely the "everyone is covered - regardless" issue, most likely won't be messed with over a large amount of time. And obviously, it's a more difficult process to get passed.

I am for a national health care plan myself. It's complete bs that the society that has the most advanced medical care on this planet only allows a segment of it's population access after they have already payed into it. I want this to succeed, too.

[watchingthings]

He had his shot at it and he blew it. His wife tried too and couldn't do it. I think it's time he shut up and give someone else a chance.

[Rubyfoo]

Perhaps Bill and Bush could take up bocce ball together.

[Tankan]

Did Barack Obama actually say that or was it Bill Clinton?

Bill, I'm a poor boy, come to greatness, so it follows that I cannot tell a lie, Clinton!

On the road again, out of control again, Insisting that the world still spins the Clinton way
Just can't wait to get blabbing once again!

[savertime]

The MSM is allowing Bill Clinton to call his wife's proposal Universal Health Care. It is not. Mandating that everyone purchase health insurance is not Universal health care, people.
This sounds like a boon for the insurance industry: you must buy our overpriced insurance and if you can't afford it, the government will subsidize the CHEAPEST COVERAGE AVAILABLE. This sounds like the insurance industry wrote Hillary's proposal. Too many people are buying health insurance now, only to find out that their insurance won't cover them if a catastropic illness strikes. Then they have to go into debt, mortgage their homes to pay what the insurance doesn't cover, even file bankruptcy.

We are currently entitled to the health care for which we can afford to pay. This is not Univeral health care or single-payer health insurance.

[riverhouse]

Hillary's idea of universal health care is mandatory big profits for insurance companies at the expense of American taxpayers who will find one more mandatory deduction coming out of their paycheck whether they can afford it or not. This is just a repeat of her past failed attempt during the Clinton administration when she pandered to the profits of insurance companies who, as we all know, own Hillary Clinton.

[angelbravo]

Is Bill really part of the us when it comes to universal health care. I seriously doubt it.

[apresdeluge]

The Obamatrons hatred of Hillary & Bill Clinton is proof of their cult-like way of thinking. How is it that we forget that Bill Clinton was the first Democratic president since WWII to win 2 terms. He left office with a 65% approval rating; the highest of ANY president since FDR.

Obama supporters are caught up in this wave of madness. Either support our messiah or you are a racist, uneducated, poor, corrupt, etc etc. Barak & Michelle have become the poster children for divisive politics at its worst. My advise: go "unite" somewhere else.

[barackoblogger]

how about the fact that that was a long time ago and the world has changed since then?

[angelbravo]

Everybody knows who she is. Half of the country hates her. Now you claim half of her party that supports Obama hates her. So how can she win???? You tell me????

[RichardD]

Every time Bill opens his mouth, the chances of Hilliary being the Democratic nominee diminish.
He has no idea how badly a "co-presidency" possibility plays in the minds of electors - and especially when he personifies the "co-" part.

[samuraijack]

Listen you bulbous nosed bubba. You had your chance, eight years- what makes you think your understudy can get done what you could not?

[Dahveed]

The longer Bill stumps for himself...er, his wife, the more he will continue to rankle and divide, divide, divide, and lessen HC's chances of winning. Yes!!

[SEQUOIABISON]

You are grossly mistaken Bill, it is you and the other half of the two for one deal you promised us that failed to give the country Universal Healthcare.

Your behind closed door meetings and your unethical conduct in the white house that distracted the country for years and your lack of courage to push anything progressive thru congress is what stalled Healthcare.

Now you want us to give you another chance? Why?

Fool me once.

Obama is the only candidate running that has the charisma and the gravitas to get things accomplished.

[KQuark]

BOTTOM LINE ON HEALTH CARE

-WE WOULD HAVE HEATH CARE NOW IF NOT FOR THE FATAL FLAW IN HILLARY'S LOGIC PROCESS THAT MAKES HER THINK THAT SHE KNOWS BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE. DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS DURING THE TIME OF HER DEVELOPING HER HEATH CARE PLAN MET WITH HER AND TOLD HER THAT THE SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM SHE WAS PUSHING WOULD NEVER GET THROUGH. THEY SUGGESTED THAT HER PLAN USE BOTH GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES USING CURRENT INSURANCE COMPANIES AND A SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM. I HEARD ONE CONGRESS WOMAN SAY THAT HILLARY WOULD NOT EVEN LISTEN TO THEM. NOW HILLARY IS TRYING TO OFFER A SIMILAR PLAN TO THE ONE CONGRESS TRIED TO GET HER TO LISTEN TO OVER 15 YEARS AGO, SO YES SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE NOT HAVING CARE NOW.

-CLINTON'S PLAN WILL COST MORE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY BE A BOOM FOR THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY SINCE THE MANDATES WILL ARTIFICIALLY RAISE DEMAND. IT'S ECONOMICS 101 IF DEMAND INCREASES DRAMATICALLY PRICE INCREASES DRAMATICALLY. WHILE OBAMA'S PLAN WILL REDUCE COSTS BY NOT HAVING MANDATES AND EMPHASIZING WELLNESS CARE.

-MANDATING HEALTH CARE WILL BE SEEN AS UN-AMERICAN BY MANY IF NOT MOST AMERICANS. AMERICANS WANT CHOICE EVEN IF THEY KNOW RISK IS INVOLVED. THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN BUILT ON THE CHOICES PEOPLE HAVE MADE EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW THE RISKS INVOLVED.

-MUCH LESS THAN 15MM WILL BE UNINSURED WITH OBAMA'S PLAN. OBAMA'S PLAN WILL OFFER BIG INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE IF THEY WANT INSURANCE AFTER THE OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIODS IT WILL COST MORE FOR MAKING THAT CHOICE. IF PEOPLE USE THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND ARE NOT INSURED THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY PAST PREMIUMS. RISK REWARD SYSTEMS HAVE ALWAYS WORKED BETTER THAN MANDATES IN MOST GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS LIKE FHA AND THE LIKES.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Ya lost me at "WE WOULD HAVE HEATH CARE NOW IF NOT FOR THE FATAL FLAW IN HILLARY'S LOGIC PROCESS."

And I'm NOT talking about your stuck Caps Lock key.

Because there was, and has been, so much clamor otherwise.

Fercrissakes.

[pesfb]

There goes the old hag, talking through Billy's ass again. This is what he resorts to when he's denied his daily BJ.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Flagged for wasting electrons.

[Seafarer61]

Obama's plan is like a ladder missing 14 rungs. It won't get us to where we need to be. It's not UNIVERSAL health care for pete's sake, if it's not UNIVERSAL. Leaving out 14 million people? Who the hell is going to PAY for those 14 million Barack? Clinton wants to penalize those who chose to go WITHOUT health care because nine times out of 10 they can afford it but would rather let the emergency room be their clinic and let the American taxpayers foot the bill. Barack sides with these folks...maybe he should walk past their house with the kids running around barefoot while there's a sat dish on the house and a $40K SUV in the driveway.

[barackoblogger]

I guess that's why the Wall Street Journal preferred Barack's over Hillary's

Wall Street Journal preferred Obama's healthcare plan over Hillary Clinton's

http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB120234937353949449.html

[KQuark]

Great article I especially agree with the last paragraph where Hillary Care will give much ammunition to the McCrazy campaign.

"The political lesson that Mrs. Clinton learned in 1994 wasn't about compromise or market forces. It was that a government health-care takeover can only be achieved gradually and by stealth. Her individual mandate is an attempt to force everyone to buy into a highly regulated and price-controlled system where government redistributes income and dictates coverage. We assume the McCain campaign is paying attention."