Obama Hits Palin's Debate Performance In Ad (VIDEO)

Barack Obama's campaign is already out with an ad based on the vice presidential debate -- specifically, Sarah Palin's inability to defend John McCain's health care plan. The clip uses Joe Biden's line that the McCain-Palin health care plan is a "bridge to nowhere." Watch:

The Politico reports that the ad is part of a broader health-care focused strategy:

Obama's aides said the campaign would key in not on something Palin said, but rather on what she didn't: Her failure to offer a detailed defense of McCain's plan to finance a $5,000 healthcare tax credit by treating employers' healthcare payments as taxable - something Democrats relish hitting both as a "radical" healthcare scheme and a tax hike.

The campaign had already decided to attack McCain's healthcare plan, and the debate exchange will help drive that focus, they said.

"We're on a big offensive on John McCain's healthcare plan," said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe. "I think Sen. Biden did a terrific job today of describing why middle class families should fear John McCain's health care plan. She didn't answer the attack."

Palin's silence - she attacked Obama's plan as "government run," but didn't return to McCain's - was "a huge missed opportunity," Plouffe said, "because I will assure you this: Every voter in every battleground state is going to know that John McCain is taxing healthcare for the very first time. Twenty-one million people lose their healthcare because small businesses will drop it."

Read more about the new ad ">here.

Comments

[justhope]

McCain's plan is deceitful to benefit large insurance companies and do little for the insured. C-SPAN had a forum dissecting both plans. It was revealed that again, McCain favours little oversight of the insurance industry . McCain wants them to sell cross border Insurance which is risky AND WANTS TO LESSEN REGULATIONS TO FACILITATE THIS. SURPRISE MR DEREGULATOR AT IT AGAIN! This allows Insurance Companies to be headquartered only in regions with the least rules and and ignore rules and protections of your state. Many states have very loose insurance regulations that benefit only the insurance companies. One would have little to no recourse from their own state's insurance czar. McCain wants this deregulation tactic applied so insurance companies can decide which state they want to hide under while squeezing insurers in another without protection for the insured. As a democrat I voted for Crist in Florida as he assured he would crack down on insurance companies and he did. State Farm was recently stopped from writing policies HERE when they don't adhere to his recent strict rules. Statefarm wanted to reap the benefits of car and health insurance while putting a moratorium on homeowners insurance. They must take the good with the bad or no deal. MCCAIN'S PLAN WOULD LEAVE THE INSURED UP A CREEK WITHOUT THE PROVERBIAL PADDLE OF PROTECTIONS ALLOWED BY THEIR STATE. Thanks to Barack’s grassroots movement, the electorate is more involved hence more informed in this election with a lot more tools at our disposal.

[Lagniappe]

MCCAIN'S PLAN WOULD LEAVE THE INSURED" UP A CREEK TO NOWHERE" WITHOUT THE PROVERBIAL PADDLE OF PROTECTIONS ALLOWED BY THEIR STATE.

[Vermontah]

So with abortion rights, we should leave it to the states, right, Sarah? Ok, then let's leave the insurance to the states like it is now. Funny how the Repulsives always crow about states' rights except when it comes to protecting corporations.

[minkia]

Had Biden treated Palin with the same disdain she showed how the faux-feminists would have had him strung up by the gonads on that stage before the debate was over. I was retorting her comments the whole time zinger for zinger and I wish Joe would have too. Like calling her out for saying she has only been at it for five weeks, "well Gov. Palin that would make it understandable that you would confuse a Civil War general with the current general in Afghanistan".

[troika]

He knew that people watching the debate would figure that out. Also Biden was graceful on the stage. McCain/Palin are both ignorant on various issues. One because of age and the other for lack of competency.

[wisemonkey]

I understand Biden's son is going to Iraq as a Trial Lawyer. Why didn't Palen bring that up. Not exactly on the battlefront.

[peterperfect]

It's 'Palin'. And she was already on shaky ground and that soundbite wasn't in her notes. Anywhere in Iraq is dangerous, too. Unless you're McCain with a bullet-proof vest and hundreds of soldiers and hum-vees and tanks to help you go for a walk in the markets.

[troika]

If you are walking through the streets of Baghdad with your fellow republican Mike Pence,with a host of soldiers around you with guns and helicopters hovering above, of course it will be like walking through a flea market in Indiana. Now Palin adds that we gained VICTORY in Iraq, when Gen. Patreus has warned us of not using the term VICTORY. Palin DOESN'T GET IT..

[ssezer62]

Any kind of service in the army is a service. Are you telling me a General is not serving because a general doesnt fire a gun? All those service man and woman who is serving but not in the battleground is not serving? comment but think first.

[Ofactor]

It does not matter what form you choose to serve your country in...#1 unless you are in the service you should not be talking. My sister is a pharmacist in the military and she in not on the front lines but her services are still needed there. Would you rather they sent her home to work at CVS...I think the troops are happy that she is there to help them get the medicine that they need. Go sit under a rock for a while and come back when you have something meaningful to say.

[maddie0001]

Not everybody gets to be cannon fodder.

[PS4OBAMA]

There needs to be a trial lawyer over there; with PSTD one soldier killed his superior and another brother in arms.....i­t's a very sad situation, and we should not be in this war for oil. So, if you continue to believe that we need to stay in Iraq and you side with Sarah Palin about the "white flag of defeat" for a country we occupy, then go ahead and waste your vote on the McCain/Palin ticket....­but I caution everyone that votes for these two idiots...d­on't bi_ch when they alone turn this country into a third world nation.

[who38]

How about "keying in" on how she said it? Did anyone count how many times, Sarah said "We have got to (whatever). Her first question was "Can I call you Joe?". Biden didn't point that error out either. I thought that Sarah had a degree in Journalism; wasn't the use of appropriate English grammar part of her curriculum? Guess not.

[Sseb]

The $5,000 credit would not come anywhere close to buying coverage for a family. The average annual premium is $12,000 per year, and that is a group rate; individual families seeking coverage will pay upwards of $20,000.

Those who are getting some of their health insurance paid for by their employers don't get a dime more income, but would pay tax on the $12,000 in coverage they're getting. That's $1,800-$3,000 more tax that McCain's plan would cost a family. What would eventually happen is that families would not be able to afford the additional tax, and waive their coverage. The McCain plan is ultimately designed to eliminate employer-paid health coverage.

McCain's plan benefits businesses at the expense of working Americans.

[LizM]

And, that's why this scheme is the ultimate equivalent of the 'bridge to nowhere". A more apt description for this McCain/Palin maverick healthcare reform, there is not!

[MourningDude]

Why can't they get more income?

If your employer can maintain the exact same level of insurance benefits on your behalf while paying the insurance company $5,000 less, why can't they return all or part of that to you in the form of either a raise or paying those additional taxes on your behalf?

If your company made an agreement with you to give you a pay package worth X amount in salary and benefits, I think employees would have every right to demand that same X amount in both salary and benefits, and thus demand a raise.

Why should the company complain? It doesn't cost them anything to do so. They would have paid that money to the insurance company anyway, and I would guess that almost all employees would prefer to pay their employees more rather than paying the insurance company more in the first place.

[PS4OBAMA]

It doesn't work that way; the $5,000 would be included in your paycheck as INCOME and you will pay taxes on it. It goes directly to the insurance company. For instance, while checking for an insurance policy for my daughter, Blue Shield offered a "plan" for $5,000; but here is what you get. You pay the premiums; but for a family of 4 each of you can only go to the doctor ONCE A YEAR,. and does not cover prescriptions or anything else. McCain has money ..... do you think he gives a crap about THE PEOPLE of this country??? Seriously.­......

[tmartin1]

HUH??!! WHAT??!! My brain hurts ... ok, ultimately, you're having to pay more income tax because you income increases, yet your benefits are the same.

Plus, you really think in these economic times, you can just go in and demand a huge raise huh? And all companies will just give everyone a raise because the government will tax your benefits? Dream on.

[maddie0001]

Here in the real world the company's going to keep the difference as profit. That's why the plan is written that way, that's who wrote it.

[rivrgrrl]

To solve the health care crisis, remove the profit incentive. Not only from a monetary standpoint, but I've always felt there was something inherently wrong with profiting off of the ill health of people. A legalized Dead Pool.

Health insurance companies provide no needed service. They are simply middlemen who take our health care dollars, skim off 30% for themselves and pay the doctors what's left. By eliminating profits from health care dollars, it would be affordable for everyone who can pay and manageable for those who can't.

There is a reason that Canada voted as their most influential person the man who created their health care system.

[MourningDude]

You do realize that Medicare is single payer, right?

You do realize that the various levels of government already pays more than 50% of all health care costs nationwide, right?

And yet, is Medicare a stable system? Not by any stretch of the imagination. They've "driven out the profit", and yet they face a $75 TRILLION shortfall over the long term as health care inflation outpaces demographic growth.

If Medicare isn't able to drive out the profit now, what makes you believe that a single payer system could do so?

The Medical lobby is one of the most powerful lobbies in the country. Just think about what they're given for a second. They're handed a monopoly on the ability to prescribe drugs, for one. That alone is one of the biggest cash cows in the health care system. Why can't a medical assistant prescribe garden variety prescription drugs? Well, they say, a medical assistant hasn't had the training in pharmacology that a doctor has. Well then, why can't a pharmacist prescribe garden variety prescription drugs? Well, they say, a pharmacist can't diagnose someone.

The fix is in. And if you don't believe it, I myself heard a Medical poltical action committee representative make an hour long presentation and make those exact arguments to medical students in normal class time to convince them to give them money to lobby the government on their behalf.

[PS4OBAMA]

Research the Canada's healthcare system; France, etc. THEIR INCOME TAX RATES ARE EXTREMELY HIGH....th­us your healthcare system....­.....just google it.

[Beci]

This source of information from the VP debate gives me hope for everyone to realize what the Republican really want to do with this Nation of ours. -Carry on with the Bush Administration.

[Kjamin]

Oh yeah Palin! So sensitive to Americans. After hearing Joe Bidens compelling not so much as an "I understand or that must have been hard"! wink wink baby! Are they kidding? This has got to be a joke, the woman is DUMB!

[who38]

Didn't you have a vision of Sarah winking at Putin or Ahmadinejad? Or maybe the head of the Saudi goverrnmen­t... What she needed was a pole and higher heels.

[roshni]

Awesome! A lot of people have begun realizing for the first time that their health care benefits will be taxed under McCain and they will actually have to pay more out of pocket for their health care.

[Richard22]

Palin lying about Alaska's Sudan investments - despicable!

http://richardhine.blogspot.com/2008/10/worst-palin-lie-of-all.html

[Pat15]

palin/Mac talk about hard working americans & productivity ...These are the people who never worked in their lives & use the american worker for their as if they are proud of us ..Far from it they want us to work hard and make minimum wages so as to help their rich friends ...working hard in america will not get you anywhere ..It is the crooked CEO at the companies who make the money & both Mac/Bush put even more money in their pockets ... What a joke these 2 are? who are you kidding... Amen

[Cogs]

Would the Palin family be able to find health care coverage for a special needs child? I understand that that these children often have serious health complications. I wish McCain would explain that he promised his corporate cronies that if he elected he would shift the entire cost of health care to thier employees. There are voters who are supporting McCain who have no idea what he's got up his sleeve. The same people who are delighted with Palin's "plain talk" likely don't realize that she would force a pregnant 11 year old girl to carry to full term. That is a death sentence for her .

[MourningDude]

Obama's plan covers a few of the uninsured, but it costs billions to do so, leaving us less able to do take the NEXT step to cover more.

McCain's plan is revenue neutral, which gives us many more options about what else to implement.

I believe that there needs to be a national umbrella policy that covers every citizen. It would have an annual cap on health care costs, as well as a lifetime cap. Once you exceed that cap over the course of 1 year, or over the course of your life, the government pays 100% of the rest of your qualifying medical bills.

That sort of umbrella coverage is relatively cheap to provide, and could easily be put in place on top of McCain's plan.

Frankly, that should be enacted today, regardless of who takes office.

[klimtone]

McCain's Helth Care plan is not "revenue neutral" for my family if the health insurance I receive from my employer is taxed as income! This would be catastrophic.

[ScoutandBuckGoodDogs]

Nothing the Republicans does is "revenue neutral."

[Audrey704]

It isn't revenue neutral for families..­..it is a loss for us via taxes...pu­shing our incomes up into the alternative minimum tax guidelines­...may cost even more....it is a boon for the government as it is a hidden tax hike....or at least McCain/Palin would like it to be....5,00­0 dollars you would be lucky to get 6 months of coverage..­..if that...
Another bad idea...

[chitown8]

I heard Obama endorse the Conyers Bill!

At the Black Caucus meeting last week!

[PS4OBAMA]

You have not researched this and McCain is WAY WRONG; this is not "relatively cheap to provide"..­....NOW, LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS - this is HMO insurance at worst.

[LCLiberal]

Obama can't make this race about Palin again. He must focus on keeping cool about the economy and letting people know how bad McCain is/would handle it.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

[roshni]

This ad is about McCain's health care plan - and Palin's cluelessness.

[edwarvir]

LCLiberal You are right. She wants him to address her.. He needs
to ignore her and let Senator Biden handle her.. She is confused and Mc
better look out she thinks she is president.

[MourningDude]

Obama and Biden first need to apologize for misleading the voters and then set the record straight. The analysis the quote is horribly flawed.

To arrive at the "20 million dropped" number, they looked at two previous studies, which only looked at the effect of repealing the health insurance tax exemption. They never considered what would happen if you reversed the exemption and then offset that by offering a government tax credit that would go directly to the insurance company to defray the extra tax cost incurred.

So, they weren't looking at McCain's proposal, they were looking only a one isolated part of McCain's proposal in a vacuum. And then the two studies found wildly different conclusions, one saying it would be as low as 8-10 million, and the other saying it would be almost 30 million.

They simply averaged those two numbers and came up with 20 million.

If you did simply repeal the health insurance tax exemption, of course some businesses would stop offering it. But that's not what John McCain is proposing. And his bill offers NO ADDITIONAL incentives for cutting health insurance coverage for employers.

If Obama want to prey on the ignorance of the voters with this disinformation campaign based on a fundamentally flawed analysis, they don't have the ethical foundation necessary to lead this country.

[Merckx]

You're joking right? So then by your standards, McCain/Palin should be in prison.

[herhonor]

This posting is what will now be known a VooDoo Heath Care. I haven't seen such a bunch of fictious c--p since a first year law student tried to justify alcohol in the classroom.­..otherwis­e anotherresponse would be...HUH?

[MourningDude]

Hey, I can play that game too.

Let's look at Obama's green energy initiative, for instance.

It has multiple parts.

1) Borrow $150 billion from China.
2) Spend it on energy research and development.

Now, if I took the Obama/Biden approach to analyzing this, I could just ignore part #2 and look at part #1 in isolation and conclude that their plan is harmful and pointless, and will destroy XXX thousand jobs, devalue our currency, and burden future generations.

And I could even say that analysis proves that their plan does all those horrible things.

Of course, that would be dishonest, because step 2 would counteract many of those effects.

They made a very dishonest attempt to mischaracterize McCain's plan citing a flawed analysis that does that kind of hatchet job to what McCain is actually proposing.

[YellowPanties]

Up is down! Right is wrong! Night is day!

[PS4OBAMA]

YOU WORK FOR MCCAIN? MCCAIN STATED SEVERAL TIMES THAT HE WOULD MANDATE HEALTHCARE AND TAX IT. HE SAID IT WHEN HE WAS OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL...AN­D THEN DEREGULATE - I would never vote for anything that McCain/Palin has up their sleeves...­.consideri­ng the amount of lies that roll so easily off their tongues...­..

[SpeakFreely]

If you want to see where the "dumbing-down" of America starts, look no further than the phrase "hard-working American". I work a blue collar job and work as hard as I possibly can at it. However...­. the phrase "hard-working American" highlights the notion that working hard will bring you your dreams and fortune. That is simply not an honest depiction of reality. If it were true, then only the richest are hard working and we know that is not the case.
The truth is, education is the main reason why people succeed or fail. Most people in America - by almost any standard - are not well educated. So you can't substitute "well educated Americans" for "hard working Americans" without committing professional suicide. I'm not bashing hard work or Americans who do it. It sounds nice and in a Disney-like version of reality it could almost be true. However, if you want to get ahead - you have to get an education.
So when you hear someone talk about "hard working Americans", they talking to people who have to work harder to compensate for their lack of education. Sorry, but it has to be said. I am one of those people. I wasted my college years. I didn't get the degree I wanted. Now I'm fighting and sweating to stay ahead. My boss went to the school, got the degree I didn't, but graduated 5 years later. Hard work keeps me afloat, but my incomplete education keeps me down.

[herhonor]

Don't take it so hard, with this economy let me assure you , that even with that degree , there are NO jobs out there. I know lawyers that have been delivering pizzas...a­nd even MDs taking jobs in remote areas they never even thought of before.

[barbzee]

OBAMA/08

[MarkieBee]

thanks for your honesty and a point well made. Go back to school. You write well, which speaks to a certain intelligence level, so I'm sure the degree you want is within reach. There's no excuse. It took me 20 years to finally get my BA. I had a kid, a fulltime job, blah, blah blah...all excuses for not getting it sooner.

[who38]

Please, please post this statement on all of the sites that teens read. Volunteer to speak at Middle Schools. Also, please add a statement regarding the need for students to have professional goals beginning at an early age. Unfortunately, many people involved in schools, undermine the idea of setting early goals, seeing it as too limiting for a student. They never focus on the upside which is that goal directed behavior tends to move people ahead at a faster rate. It's not just college years that get wasted.