2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumCampaign Chair John Podesta’s Statement on Republicans Undermining Medicare
On the 50th anniversary of Medicare, Hillary for America Chair John Podesta released the following statement about Republican plans that undermine Medicare.
Medicare may not make it to its own 65th birthday if Republicans get their way. Just listen to what the Republicans running for president have to say. Jeb Bush said, "We need to figure out a way to phase out this program." Marco Rubio said programs like Medicare "weakened us as a people." Rand Paul even dismissed Medicare as "socialized medicine." And far too many Republicans running for President back a reckless plan in Congress that would end the Medicare guarantee, forcing seniors to pay more.
If there's a Republican president, they would join their colleagues in Congress to undermine Medicare and roll back its guarantee. That could mean higher premiums, more expensive prescription drugs, and thousands in new out-of-pocket costs for seniors.
Hillary Clinton is committed to preserving, protecting and strengthening Medicare for today's seniors and for future generations. Seniors have paid into Medicare for a lifetime, and they've earned those benefits when they retire.
https://www.hillaryclinton.com/p/briefing/statements/2015/07/30/republicans-undermine-medicare/
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,719 posts)We need one thousand more posts bashing Hillary
SARCASM
onehandle
(51,122 posts)...not to mention the New York Times at Democratic Underground to bash Democrats.
gobears10
(310 posts)It isn't enough to simply "defend" Medicare. It isn't good enough to vow to "protect" Medicare against Republican efforts to privatize it and turn it into a voucher program. The position held by President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and other establishment Democrats is just a band-aid solution to a festering wound. Even under the Affordable Care Act, over 30 million Americans remain uninsured or underinsured. Medical bankruptcies will continue to plague many, many Americans who can afford to purchase health insurance but can't afford to use it. Pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. can still charge sky high prices for prescription drugs with impunity, screwing the American public in the process.
The best way to celebrate Medicare's 50th birthday is to not only protect it, but to expand it. We need to expand Medicare to every American under a single-payer, national health insurance system. The Affordable Care Act, while a step in the right direction doesn't go nearly far enough. Medicare-for-all is the only way to cover everyone while substantially controlling healthcare costs. Through a government-financed program, we can guarantee healthcare to every American as a right instead of having it merely be a privilege to those who can afford it.
The AFL-CIO even made single-payer part of its policy agenda. And Bernie Sanders is the only POTUS candidate vowing to fight for single-payer.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)Interesting.
gobears10
(310 posts)Bernie Sanders >>>>>>>>> Hillary Clinton >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The GOP
Hillary's much better than the GOP, but Bernie is much better than Hillary. I'm not criticizing Hillary's statement because she bashed the GOP. That part was good. I'm criticizing Hillary for not going far enough in her policy prescriptions.
HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)Okay, but what does that mean? This is why I can't support Clinton. Her campaign revolves around generalities that don't actually say anything.
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,719 posts)onehandle
(51,122 posts)They will elect her nominee and then President.
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,719 posts)A majority is more than half, a plurality is just more than all the others.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)Damn. I missed that.
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,719 posts)The Donald leads all the other GOP clowns and is polling in the low to mid twenties. That's a plurality.
HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)I don't think her support is that solid though. It crumbled 8 years ago once people realized there was a viable alternative, and I think that could happen again. In my view, the main reason she's popular is because of her name and the fact that she's been around for 20+ years.