Bill Clinton Slams Health Care Obstructionists: "They're At It Again"

In an email sent out by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee this morning, President Bill Clinton slams Republicans and special interests for "waging a fierce assault" on a "historic opportunity" to overhaul health care, saying "we urgently need it now."

Read Clinton's letter:

Friend --

It seems like the 1993 health care debate all over again. Back then, I led the charge for comprehensive health insurance reform. I fought tooth and nail to get it done, keenly aware that millions of Americans were living in fear that a serious illness or injury could spell economic disaster for their families. Americans needed health care reform then and we urgently need it now.

But, just as I did in 1993, President Obama has run into a buzz saw of special interest opposition to his top domestic policy priority -- health care reform. He is facing off against some of the most powerful special interests in Washington who've launched a furious campaign to preserve the status quo.

Simply put, they're at it again. That's why I'm calling on you to stand with President Obama and the DCCC in fighting for change right now. The DCCC is united in their Health Care Reform Now campaign and is trying to raise $250,000 in grassroots donations before their deadline at midnight tonight.

Contribute $5, $10, or more tonight before our deadline at MIDNIGHT and your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

Legislation that would lower health care costs for everyone, improve the quality of care, preserve choice and provide more coverage options for American families was introduced in the House last month - just as Speaker Pelosi promised.

But a U.S. health care system that makes quality care affordable for everyone is going to take a lot of hard work from all of us.

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Your immediate response is essential because Republicans are waging a fierce assault on President Obama's health care initiative and on Democratic Members of Congress fighting to reform health care now.

Contribute $5, $10, or more tonight before our deadline at MIDNIGHT and your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

Republicans have made a political calculation that they'd rather attack Congressional Democrats with sound bites and misleading characterizations of the President's health care reform plan than work on behalf of the American people.

It's up to us to prevent the Republican Party and their special interest backers from doing whatever they can to prevent this historic opportunity to make quality health care affordable and accessible to all.

Please make your next contribution to the DCCC a generous one...and please be sure to give before midnight tonight.

Thank you,
Bill Clinton

P.S. Remember that any size contribution you can make to the DCCC will be matched dollar-for-dollar. So, if you are able, now is an ideal time to step up your support of President Obama's change agenda.

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Comments

[Lee Andrew]

Our life expectancy is ranked number 50 or so among nations.

Out HEATLH CARE system is ranked THIRTY-NINE in the world.

Contray to REPUBLICAN LIARS WE DO NOT HAVE THE BEST SYSTEM IN THE WORLD

(Sorry to burst that delussional bubble)

[Dale Larson]

Single Payer system is a pro-business solution:

* Slashes at least 30% of costs off the top by removing private insurance overhead.
* Companies take health care expenses off their books. Stock value increases. They would be able to better compete internationally.
* Small companies could have access to higher skilled workers because previously they couldn't compete in the labor market by offering similar benefits.
* More entrepreneurial ventures will launch since they have more money and less unrelated risk.
* Dramatic drop in bankruptcies.
* Dramatic drop in lawsuits. Most of these lawsuits are simply to obtain money to cover health care if something interrupts their coverage.
* Reduced system complexity. Better efficiency due to fewer regulations.
* Savings from employees not having to fight with their insurers during work hours.
* HSA and HSP dollars flow back into the economy for goods and services.
* Additional money to spend from not having to carry "uninsured motorist coverage" on your auto policy.
* Contract employment is more viable for workers since they are guaranteed access to health care.
* People are covered when unemployed. No chance of being wiped out financially if you lose your job.

This helps all businesses except health insurers and lawyers.

[delta7777]

-This helps all businesses except health insurers and lawyers-

MOST OF ALL, IT HELPS THE PEOPLE

SINGLE PAYER IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM

.

[Promote]

We The People , Change You Can Believe In !
Thank You BILL C. & PRESIDENT OBAMA , Yes We Can !
HEALTH CARE FOR the PEOPLE !

[CarbonCreditSeller]

If Bill, Rahm, and Obama take the insurance program they are proposing for us, I'm all for it. As it stands now, we the people will have a different insurance program than they will have.

[Artemis34]

They already have government run health care along with congress.

[CarbonCreditSeller]

Yea Bill, the self proclaimed first black president.

[onenvrnos]

Please just lose that old language. Thanks.

[miketothad]

Ummmm no... that wasn't self proclaimed.
those darned black people, eh.

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

Universal Health coverage could be helped along by taxing our so-called religious factions ( like C Street Family House) and other so-called "Religious­/Instituti­ons" that operate mostly to not pay the taxes they milk from us real taxpayers.

The fake/quasi­/religious factions and the fake non-for-profits are the rich and lobbyist-connected form of Socialism ,Fascism and Communism, where only the elected few and their cohorts reap the monetary and/or the power benifits of the political seats they hold on to with white knuckled tenacity.

The lobbyists pay these people out of pocket, pay-to-play with the "big boys", and of course by "proper" political donation methods.

This is not about Dems VS Repubs nor any other party...

This is about American Citizens VS Corporate Interests!

Your either "With Us (the American people) or Against us!

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

"Your either WITH us or Against us"- ... as one "staunch Amererican" once reminded us. - The Shrub.

[miketothad]

Righteaux!

[marvm]

gee thank bill OBAMA need your help and advice go for it we as a country need this bill passed

[miketothad]

Attempting to legitimize the claim the Pres. was born in Kenya, when it is one of many lies already legally disproved. Decades of supporting legislators who care more about corporations than "the troops". Voting against their own economic interests, in the interest of bigotry, and subscribing to a notion that the rich, Fox, or Rush Limbaugh give half a crap about them. Worst of all, supporting a party responsible for making the country less safe, pushed us to the brink of economic ruin, and is patently unwilling to help us by doing their jobs. The entirety of the health care reform debate is the the peeling away of the final layer of the basic legislative stupidity of the Republican base.

[ldjnews]

Money of the people for this fight should go to grassroots organization calling for a single-payer system and promising to use the money to put together mass rallies across the country.

It's time to stop the addiction to the wait and see attitude. We have to take control of the debate.
We have to be louder than Congress in drawing a line in the sand: single-payer within 6 months. Let Congress and the insurance companies step up to our line. We'll negotiate from there.

Be smart. March, march, march. Put up placards everywhere. Be smarter than the insurance companies: Protect your interest first not theirs. Be smarter than Congress: Don't compromise your health care. You have one body. Take care of it.

[whatizz]

It is all about money. Big health care has only the mighty dollar to win or lose on this issue. They are betting that the dollars they are passing out to Congress is going to rule the day. We,the American people, have to let our Congressional representatives know that we are looking top them to "represent" us in the battle for health care reform. I think also that our former President could give his honorium from three or so speeches to the cause.

[huffingt]

Knock Knock . Who is there? The obstructionists -
They're at it again. - get the he ck out from here.
Knock knock - who is there? Silent-
GOP- Gone Out of Power

[whoknew42]

He should know - he's been there, done that!

[huffingt]

happy birthday Mr. President. God bless you.
God bless Clinton.

[AngieMom57]

http://dccc.org/blog/archives/nineteen_ninety_three/

on the middle of the page: "Donations matched dollar for dollar... ".

[bascombe]

bill did his own part to make the corporate interests the pre-eminent force in american politics. he set up the DLC and I'm sure he helped with the DSCC and DCCC. so screw him. he rolls with bu(ll)sh(it) these days. he gets no credibility from this progressive.

[socalgal38]

Universal coverage could be financed with a 7 percent payroll tax, a 2 percent income tax, and current federal payments for Medicare, Medicaid, and other state and federal government insurance programs. A 2 percent income tax would offset all other out-of-pocket health spending for individuals. “For the typical, middle income household, taxes would rise by $731 annually. For fully 60% of households, the increase would average about $1,600...c­osts would be redistributed from the sick to the healthy, from the low and middle-income house-holds to those with higher incomes, and from businesses currently providing health benefits to those that do not.

[bascombe]

how about ending tax breaks for the wealthiest and both of the wars-based-on-lies.