Can McCain Even Say "Health Care"?

Senator John McCain's acceptance speech for the Republican party's presidential nomination hit alot of notes, but health care was not one of them. Senator McCain did not even mention health care, suggesting that it won't be a central part of the debate between the two candidates for president unless Senator Obama makes it part of the debate. (Check out the cool NY Times interactive record of the speech which lets you watch and read along in the same frame )

McCain's plan on health care is to give insurers more flexibillity to sell policies across state lines without adhering to state rules. It's similar to a proposal defeated in the US Senate a few years ago that would have let health insurers dodge state regulation of policies, which ensure adequate benefits and coverage. The concern was about "junk health insurance" policies becoming the norm if the tough state rules passed during the HMO patients rights movement of the last decade no longer apply under the federal policies.

Families USA just put out a new report "Health Care and the 2008 Election: Comparing the Candidates' Positions On Health Care" that runs through where Obama and McCain part company. Summed up, Obama: regulation and health insurance coverage options for all McCain: Not Well, maybe that's why McCain might rather not have this debate.