"Health care didn't pass in 1994 if I recall."

[russian33]

Sun columnist Jon Ralston breaks some news about Obama coming back Sunday and Monday. Also, Sen. John Kerry, who endorsed Obama today, cold-called Ralston today. J.R. summarized the conversation to readers of his e-mail newsletter:

So why Obama instead of his former running mate and the former first lady?

"The times are different," Kerry said. "The times demand different things."

He said Obama's race will not be an impediment to "most Americans....This is 2008...I think most Americans are way beyond that."

But what about Clinton's argument that talking change is different than producing change? Listen to this, dear Flashees:

"He produced one of the most significant ethics reform bills we passed. He has been a legislator longer than Hillary Clinton." And then this zinger: "Health care didn't pass in 1994 if I recall."

I would love to be on the Senate floor when they all get back.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/early-line/2008/jan/10/obama-upping-nevada-stakes-kerry-kicks-clinton/

oh brother...that's just stupid, Senator...with all due respect and all

[papau]

1. Obama and Kerry - and media ignore facts about ethics bill - its not O's baby

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/17/AR2007011702443.html

The bill was to be the Democratic-controlled Senate's first piece of legislation, a statement of bipartisanship and a break from the scandals that helped return the party to power. Instead, a measure that began with Reid and McConnell as co-sponsors was chased from the floor in a partisan showdown when Republicans prevented the Democratic leadership from bringing it to a vote. The 51 to 46 vote was nowhere close to the two-thirds majority needed to break the Republican filibuster.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/17/AR2007011702443.html

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:s.02349:
January 9, 2007
S. 1 — Legislative Transparency and
Accountability Act of 2007
Calendar No. 1 Sponsor Senator Reid
Read the second time, and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar on January 4, 2007.
• The Senate will begin consideration of S. 1, the Legislative Transparency and Accountability
Act of 2007 on Tuesday, January 9 at 11 a.m. The unanimous consent agreement does not
address amendments or time constraints, but the Majority Leader stated his intention that the
Senate complete its work on the bill no later than Friday, January 19.
• The bill amends the Senate rules to enhance disclosure of legislative earmarks as well as of
travel and meals provided to Members and staff by lobbyists. The bill also modifies statutes
governing the disclosure of lobbying activities, limitations imposed on travel and meals
provided by lobbyists, and post-employment restrictions for Members and staff.
• The language of S. 1 is identical to that of S. 2349 (S.2349 Title: To provide greater transparency with respect to lobbying activities, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to clarify when organizations described in section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 must register as political committees, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Lott, Trent) as it passed the Senate on March 29, 2006 by a vote of 90-8. Senate conferees were named, but no conference took place before the adjournment of the 109t Congress.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1

[karynnj]

36. Obama got some very significant amendments into the bill

If you want to play that game then maybe HRC should stop claiming that her "change" was the S-Chip bill. Her role was not to initiate, create, design or write it. Her role was to lobby the Democratic President she was married to to support it being in the bill.

Senator Kerry knows this - he and Dodd were the co-sponsors to Kennedy and Hatch's S-CHIP bill. That bill told major parts of the bill Kerry introduced with Kennedy modeled in part on a MA program passed over Weld's veto. (Yes, the same Weld Bill Clinton thought would be a good addition to the Senate, but decided that he needed Kerry's experience on technology and the environment - per Clinton's July 2004 book.)

The media played the game you did with Kerry's real legislative accomplishments - but you can't have it both ways. If things Obama got into the bill don't count, apply the same decision rules for HRC.

[papau]

50. below is Obama's contribution to the final bill - a letter to Reid

une 21, 2007

The Honorable Harry Reid
Majority Leader

The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Minority Leader

The Honorable Dianne Feinstein
Chairman
Committee on Rules and Administration

The Honorable Robert Bennett
Ranking Member
Committee on Rules and Administration

The Honorable Joseph Lieberman
Chairman
Committee on Homeland Security & Government Affairs

The Honorable Susan Collins
Ranking Member
Committee on Homeland Security & Government Affairs

Dear Senators Reid, McConnell, Feinstein, Bennett, Lieberman, and Collins,

At the beginning of the 110th Congress, the Senate worked diligently in a bipartisan fashion to pass a strong lobbying and ethics reform bill aimed at changing the culture of political Washington. That bill, known as S. 1, included several provisions that we view as vital. We urge you to ensure that the Senate conferees on S. 1 champion these Senate-passed provisions and seek to include them in the final bill brought back to the Senate floor.

In particular, we believe that the following provisions must be included in the final bill if the Congress is to fulfill its promise to deliver to the American people a lobbying and ethics reform measure that constitutes real reform and will lead to real change.

* A strong lobbyist gift ban – The Senate bill includes a modification to the Senate Rules to prohibit lobbyists and organizations that employ or retain lobbyists from giving gifts, including free meals and tickets, to members of Congress and their staffs. This provision must not be weakened.
* Restrictions on corporate jet flights – The Senate bill requires Senators to pay the charter rate when flying on corporate jets for personal, campaign, or official purposes. All components of this provision must be retained. The changes to the Federal Election Campaign Act included in the Senate bill, but not the House bill, are essential so that incumbents and challengers in congressional races are treated equally.
* Disclosure of political contributions and bundling by lobbyists – With gifts banned, the Senate bill requires disclosure of the various ways that lobbyists can legally provide financial assistance to elected officials. This includes contributions to campaign committees, lawmaker’s charities or entities designated by a lawmaker, Presidential libraries, inaugural committees, and events to honor or educate elected officials. To make sure the public has a complete picture of the financial ties between legislators and lobbyists, the provision requiring disclosure of participation in fundraising events and of contributions collected or arranged for lawmakers must also be included.
* Revolving door amendments – Current revolving door restrictions have proven ineffective in preventing members of Congress from profiting on their public service and gaining undue lobbying access to their former colleagues. The Senate bill increases the “cooling off period” for members of Congress from one year to two years. (By contrast, the House bill does not change the current cooling off period.) The Senate bill also expands the activities that former members must refrain from during that period. Finally, senior staff are prohibited for one year from making lobbying contacts with the entire house of Congress for which they worked, instead of just the employing office. All three of these components are important to restoring public confidence in Congress and should be included in the conference report.
* Limits on privately funded travel – Following the lead of the House, which significantly changed its travel rules in January, the Senate bill includes provisions designed to ensure that lobbyists and organizations that employ lobbyists do not pay for multi-day trips that the public often sees as boondoggles. The Senate bill permits legitimate educational trips paid for by groups that do not lobby and one day trips to give speeches or attend events related to official business. Elaborate trips were central to the Jack Abramoff scandal, and these new rules must not be weakened in conference.
* Lavish convention parties – The Senate bill contains a rule change that prohibits Senators from attending events held in their honor and paid for by lobbyists or entities that employ or retain lobbyists at the national party conventions. These events have come to symbolize both the excess and the access of some lobbyist-lawmaker relationships. This provision should be included in the conference report.
* Greater transparency in the legislative process – The Senate bill contains a number of provisions to open the legislative process to greater public scrutiny and understanding, including ending the practice of secret Senate holds, making conference reports available on the Internet at least 48 hours before voting on them, providing a 60 vote point of order against conference report items outside the scope of the conference, prohibiting “dead of night” additions to conference reports, and earmark reforms. These provisions must be retained in the final bill.

We believe that a strong lobbying and ethics reform bill can help change the way politics is conducted and policy is pursued in Washington, thereby increasing public confidence in Congress. The Senate’s work in January gave the public hope that real reform could actually occur on a bipartisan basis. We strongly urge you to make sure that those hopes aren’t dashed in this last stage of the legislative process. We look forward to working with you to pass a final bill of which the Senate, and the public, can be proud.

Sincerely,

Russ Feingold (D-WI)
Barack Obama (D-IL)
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Bob Casey (D-PA)
Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Jon Tester (D-MT)
Jim Webb (D-VA)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

[Big Blue Marble]

2. Please explain what you think is stupid abut Kerry's remarks.

Not only did the HillaaryCare fail, it cost the Democrats the Congress in 94. Of all my issues with the Clintons, and
there are many, the lost of Congress was the most disastrous to this country.

[russian33]

3. last i checked

the plan failed due to the "united" democratic congress...and if we're going to bring up things that failed, lets talk about Kerry's presidential bid...

[Big Blue Marble]

25. Let's not.

And as for the failed plan, the Clintons want credit for the few things they did right. And never take responsibility for whatever went wrong. That is always someone else's fault. How convenient. I will restate the Clintons lost the Congress and we just got it back last
year...sorta.

[karynnj]

39. It failed because HRC did not work with Congress

She did not consult with many of the Senators and she initially refused to say who she and Magaziner met with. The bill even per her autobiography had problems. After it failed. Bill Bradley and other Senators, tried to get support from the Clinton's for a less ambitious program, but they were not interested.

[ccpup]

4. if you had the Insurance Companies

-- you know, the same ones Obama wants to sit down and sip tea with? -- mount a multi-million dollar campaign against any change in health care and most of the repugs are in their pockets, the chances of it failing and -- due to the media's hunger for fresh meat and a salacious story -- failing miserably were pretty damn high.

What has Obama done to get health care for people since he's been in the Senate? You know, when he's actually there doing his job?

[Big Blue Marble]

31. Where did Obama say he wanted to sip tea with the insurance companies?

The only person who is running on real healthcare reform is DK. The rest of these plans including Obama's suck.
So unless you are a DK supporter, do not criticize Obama's plan, because your candidate wants to make nice with
the insurance industry too.

[karynnj]

40. He passed healthcare insurance in Illinois

In the US Senate, he is doing what every Democrat did - voting for the expanded version of the S-CHIP program that HRC claims - but which Kennedy and Hatch,(with Kerry and Dodd as cosponsors) wrote using a Kerry/Kennedy bill introduced the previous year as the starting point. It was modified to give the state's more flexability and to not make it an entitlement.

[terisan]

5. Have Kerry and Obama just passed their health care bill since 2006 with Dem majority

What is holding them up! We need it now!

[Bluerthanblue]

14. well, for a start- they aren't in the white house- Bill and Hillary were-

and while I can hardly place the entire blame on them for the failure of Health Care Reform- I have learned to keep my expectations about what a candidate promises to achieve (particularly when those promises sound too good to be true) low.

The promise of health care failed under the Clinton Administration. Hillary's promises aren't any less vunerable, even with a slim Democratic majority in the house.

Does everything have to become an opportunity to destroy our own????

What incridible immaturity:shrug:!

[terisan]

21. I am responding to Kerry's comment about H Clinton not being able to pass health care in 1994. Was

he using an "opportunity to destroy our own."

Clinton was unable to achieve success in health care legislation in 1994 as an activist but Washington-inexperienced "First Lady" with a portfolio nor has he during a long politcal career in the Senate.

[Bluerthanblue]

22. please say this

again for me- I have a difficult time understanding things at times.

Your last sentence stumps me.
Hillary attacked Obama's health care plan during the debate, did you catch it? She tried to say that her successes trumped him- And used this to try and establish her ...'superioty' to Obama- The statement that Sen. Kerry is replying to with his comment about Hillary not being able to enact a successful health care plan in 1994 is in response to this- in my view. And it is quite appropriate.

If I'm just not 'getting it' I'd really appreciate you helping me understand-

thanks!
:hi:
blu

[karynnj]

42. That is not a personal attack

Kerry did play a very significant role on S-CHIP, a bill he was co-sponsor on. (Kennedy/Hatch) The bill used a large part of the Kerry/Kennedy bill introduced in 1996. So, Kerry actually wrote significant parts of the largest expansion of federal healthcare.

[Big Blue Marble]

23. That is easy. Bush and the filibuster

[karynnj]

41. Has HRC?

[sandnsea]

45. Kerry decided "Kids First", and yes he did pass SCHIP expansion n/t

[regnaD kciN]

6. You're right -- it's absolutely relevant...

As long as Hillary is defining herself as the one who has actually accomplished change, the fact that she failed at the one major example where she was entrusted with being an "agent for change" is very much pertinent. Someone needs to point this out, and ask the further question "what 'change' has Hillary ever accomplished, short of changing her outlook on the Middle East to match that of the Commander-in-Chimp?"

[Big Blue Marble]

26. Yes I remember Hillary as First lady kissing Mrs. Arafat.

It seemed like a courageous act at the time. But when she decided to run for the Senate from New York, she sure changed
her position on the Middle East.

[karynnj]

43. The interesting thing is that the change HRC actually claimed was S-CHIP

Kennedy, Hatch and Kerry all have some right to claim credit.

[rox63]

54. If HRC is claiming Bill's accomplishments as her own

Let's stick her with DOMA, Don't ask don't tell, and NAFTA. Let's see what she says about those "accomplishments". :sarcasm:

[terisan]

7. In 1992 H and B Clinton were as inexperienced as Obama is now.

[wyldwolf]

11. Bill had served several terms as a State Governor. No comparison

[terisan]

12. My comparison is to Washington politics. Obama has 2 years in the Senate. B Clinton had none

and H Clinton had her work on the Impeachment of Nixon only.

[russian33]

13. i'm pretty sure H.Clinton has a few years in the Senate too, no?

[terisan]

17. My stated reference above was to experience before B. Clinton election to presidency

and how Clintons' lack of experience in Washington was a factor in the initial lack of effectiveness in addressing health care.

[wyldwolf]

16. so you believe the outsider candidate's strength is his insider experience?

[terisan]

19. I believe that Washington politics are complex and the inexperienced are ineffective in achieving

positive change until they attain a level of experience.

Jimmy Carter is an example.

[Big Blue Marble]

29. You would argue that the governorship of a small state like Arkansas

is that more significant than serving in the state senate of a large and important state of Illinois?
Obama also by the way has been elected to the Senate of the USA from that populous state of Illinois.

The truth is that Clinton' international credibility prior to election was much weaker than Obama's and how did you
like Bill's foreign policy. I personally thought it was pretty damn good.

[wyldwolf]

32. I would argue that the governorship of a small state like Arkansas...

... is way more significant than serving PART TIME in the state senate of Illinois.

Bill Clinton, by the way, was elected Attorney General of Arkansas and Governor of Arkansas... what... six times?

And you are aware the similar ties in job responsibilities between Governors and Presidents... right?

The truth is that Clinton' international credibility prior to election was much weaker than Obama's

Good thing US presidents aren't elected internationally.

[Big Blue Marble]

33. Please do not state a Hillary talking point to demean Obama's service

in the Illinois Senate. He was a full time legislator. And was an activist in the legislator as well as on the Southside.

And as for Bill, no matter how many times he was elected, it was still Arkansas. And if you are old enough to remember
the first two years of Bill's administration, they sure were not any fun. He and Hillary seemed very incompetent in Washington D.C.
First they lost the Congress. Then to save the presidency in 96, they brought in gawd awful Dick Morris to rescue them and
started babbling about school uniforms. Do you remember any of that mess? They sure did not seem ready to govern this country
to me.

[wyldwolf]

44. I didn't. The Illinois state legistlature is a part-time position. Quote from Obama:

Asked why he ran for the Senate in a state where rank-and-file lawmakers have been called “mushrooms” (because they are kept in the dark and fed, uh, manure), Mr. Obama said: “Part of it was that the seat opened up. I was living in the district, and the state legislature was a part-time position. It allowed me to get my feet wet in politics and test out whether I could get something done.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html?pagewanted=all

And was an activist in the legislator as well as on the Southside.

So?

And as for Bill, no matter how many times he was elected, it was still Arkansas.

And he was still elected governor multiple times, a position that outflanks a part-time state senator

And if you are old enough to remember the first two years of Bill's administration, they sure were not any fun. He and Hillary seemed very incompetent in Washington D.C.

That's how he got his budget passed without a single republican vote, in route to growing the biggest economic expansion in a generation.

First they lost the Congress.

"Progressives"* continually fall back on this post hoc ergo propter hoc (after this, therefore because of this) logical fallacy, really no different than the assumption that George Bush’s foreign policy has thwarted Jihadist Terrorism because there have been no strikes on the U.S. since 9/11. The fact is, the Democratic party's dominance had been weakening for years, starting in the late 60s. The Democrats lost 5 House seats in 1968, 12 seats in 1972, 15 seats in 1978, 35 seats in 1980, 16 seats in 1984, and 9 seats in 1992. We also lost control of the Senate for six years in 1980.

If this is going to be our weekly DU revisit to 1994, I'll tell you now the facts of that year have not changed. There was years of pent-up popular frustration with a Democratic-dominated Congress, skillfully exploited by the GOP’s dishonest but resolute alliance with the term-limits and balanced-budget movements.

If "progressives"* didn't rely on simple-simon agenda driven explanations contained in the OP, their memories would clear and they'd remember the early 90s gave us...

* ... an unpopular embrace of traditional liberal issues like gun control, health care, and gay rights that had Clinton's popularity plummeting.

* ... rubbergate.

* ... a huge number of Democratic retirements in conservative districts.

* ... racial gerrymandering that guaranteed big southern losses in the House

* ... the first big mobilization of the Christian Right...

Then to save the presidency in 96, they brought in gawd awful Dick Morris to rescue them and
started babbling about school uniforms.

LOL! Dick Morris joined up with Clinton in 1994. Clinton ran as a centrist Democrat. Demeaning his agenda by reducing it to school uniforms is silly.

Do you remember any of that mess?

I obviously remember it better than you because I haven't bought into "progressive"* revisionism on it like you have.

[Big Blue Marble]

49. I fully and thoroughly understand that the Clintons were not the only

reason that Congress was lost. Their behavior in the first two years in office certainly was the capstone of incompetence
that finished off the Dem Congress hard and fast. And I never saw them bring much energy during the remaining six
years of Bill's administration to regain it.

You make the same revisionist argument about the nineties' economy that you accuse me of making with the loss of congress.
Yes the Clinton tax reform helped because it signaled Wall Street that the deficit would be stabilized and reduced.
Many other major factors converged in the nineties, to create that booming economy. Hillary supporters are going to
be very disappointed if they extrapolate the economic successes of the nineties, to the next four years.

And as to your LOL about Dick. I am well aware that he came in 94 as I said to save the 96 election. And the school uniforms
that was big part of his policy whether you think it is silly or not. Actually, back then I thought it was ridiculous.
And while we are on the subject of the 96 election, let us talk of welfare reform. Remember that was the big enchilada of
the Republicans, that Bill was so very happy to oblige as he move to the electable middle while selling out the underclass.
Oh and he did promise to repair some of the damage when he was re-elected. Never even brought it up to that Republican
Congress again. They got what they wanted, trash the poor and he got what he wanted to be re-elected.
Did you ever read Barbara Ehrenright's book " Nickle And Dimed." As far as I am concerned that is a major part of
Bill Clinton's legacy.

[wyldwolf]

51. fully and thoroughly understand that Obama was a part-time state senator?

Their behavior in the first two years in office certainly were the capstone of incompetence
that finished off the Dem Congress hard and fast.

What behavior? You have examples?

You make the same revisionist argument about the nineties' economy that you accuse me of making with the loss of congress. Yes the Clinton tax reform helped because it signaled Wall Street that the deficit would be stabilized and reduced. Many other major factors converged in the nineties, to create that booming economy.

Sure, not only Clinton's budget, but supporting Alan Greenspan as chairman of the Federal Reserve, appointing Robert Rubin as Treasury secretary, backing his strong dollar policy, signing the capital gains tax cut, funding for something called "the internet," etc.

And as to your LOL about Dick. I am well aware that he came in 94 as I said to save the 96 election.

Uh, no, he came in in '94 to save the '94 election.

And while we are on the subject of the 96 election, let us talk of welfare reform. Remember that was the big enchilada of the Republicans, that Bill was so very happy to oblige as he move to the electable middle while selling out the underclass.

No, dude. Bill Clinton ran on welfare reform. He enacted welfare reform in Arkansas. He turned down several bills on it sent by the Congress. And this is the same welfare reform that Al Gore pressured the Clinton's to do and the same welfare reform Barack Obama agrees with in "Audacity of Hope."

Oh and he did promise to repair some of the damage when he was re-elected. Never even brought it up to that Republican Congress again.

Really? The welfare reform package was enacted in 1996. What re-election was he referring to?

[Big Blue Marble]

52. The welfare reform package was passed prior to the election.

"The welfare reform movement reached its apex on August 22, 1996, when President Clinton signed a welfare reform bill, officially titled the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. The bill was hammered out in a compromise with the Republican-controlled Congress, and many Democrats were critical of Clinton's decision to sign the bill, saying it was much the same as the two previous welfare reform bills he had vetoed. In fact, it emerged as one of the most controversial issues for Clinton within his own party." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare_reform#Welfare_before_welfare_reform

Just in time to run as a centrist.

You did not answer my question about Ehrenright's book. Maybe you saw Bowling for Columbine. Either way, that so called welfare reform hurt and is still hurting a lot of people. And he did throw the bone during the election, that he would fix it. He never
did.

And as to Dick Morris you maybe a little confused there as well.
"Clinton's communications director George Stephanopoulos has said that "Over the course of the first nine months of 1995, no single person had more power over the president, and therefore over the government, than Dick Morris, no question about it." Morris went on to become Campaign manager of Bill Clinton's successful 1996 bid for re-election to the office of President of the United States."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Morris

According to wiki, they spoke in secret in 94. Can you give a link to evidence it was Bill's concern for Congress that drove
him to confer with such a despicable person at that time?

As to the incompetency thing early in the Clinton administration, I do not ever remember such incompetence as Bill's decision
to put that gays in the military question at the beginning of his term. That was red meat for the Republicans. I remember grimacing
over and over again. And it all ended so stupidly. Nothing was gained for the gays while Bill lost his honeymoon. And Lani Granier,
remember what the Clintons did to her. But what defined Bill's first two year was the failed health care legislation. And by the way, I was so grateful it failed. It was a major giveaway to the insurance companies.

[wyldwolf]

53. "You did not answer my question about Ehrenright's book."

Well, hell, you've been avoiding all kinds of things from my posts.

Was Obama lying when he said he was a part-time Senator?
Do you have examples of incompetent behavior by the Clintons in his first two years in office?
Do you have a link supporting your claim Clinton would make up for welfare reform after his re-election?
No comment on Gore pushing for it or Obama admiring it?

I do not ever remember such incompetence as Bill's decision
to put that Gays in the military question at the beginning of his term.

As has been said, it was a transitional policy. But it was less incompetence and more pandering to the left and special interests. Same with health care. Same with gun control. Clinton tried to push through traditional liberal demands and paid for it.

[Big Blue Marble]

55. The incompetency thing.

I listed 3 politically clumsy and incompetent actions Bill took in his first term.
Those are the ones that stood out to me then and now. They are the ones you are so quick to excuse.
Let me say I voted for the guy twice but I was never that thrilled about it.

The 96 welfare reform reform promise:
http://www-tech.mit.edu/V116/N31/clinton.31w.html
That was easy to find:
"Thursday, he labeled the measure "far from perfect," criticizing provisions that reduce spending on food stamps and deny aid to many legal immigrants. But he offered an explanation why he was signing it. "We can change what is wrong," Clinton said. "We should not have passed this historic opportunity to do what is right."

As for Gore and Obama's support. I do not like that either. The poor have fallen off the charts in political discourse in this
country.

I cede your point that the state legislature is part time in session. As far as I know all state legislatures are. In no way does
that affect his level of fitness for presidential office. Again I turn to wiki:

Obama was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996 from the state's 13th District in the south-side Chicago neighborhood of Hyde Park.<32> In 2000, he made an unsuccessful Democratic primary run for the U.S. House of Representatives seat held by four-term incumbent candidate Bobby Rush.<33> He was reelected to the Illinois Senate in 1998 and 2002, officially resigning in November 2004 following his election to the U.S. Senate.<34><35> As a state legislator, Obama worked with both Democrats and Republicans in drafting successful legislation on ethics and health care reform.<36> He sponsored a law enhancing tax credits for low-income workers, negotiated welfare reform, and promoted increased subsidies for child care.<37> Obama also led the passage of legislation mandating videotaping of homicide interrogations, and a law to monitor racial profiling by requiring police to record the race of drivers they stopped.<37><38> During his 2004 general election campaign for U.S. Senate, Obama won the endorsement of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, whose president credited him with having been "immensely helpful in working with police organizations" on death penalty reform.<39> He was criticized by a rival pro-choice candidate in the Democratic primary and by his Republican pro-life opponent in the general election for having voted either "present" or "no" on the Illinois Born Alive Infants Protection Act.<36><40>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#State_legislature

Pretty busy for a part time job, don't you think?

[wyldwolf]

56. except they were not incompetent

But whatever.

And, actually, no he didn't look too busy for being a part-time job.

[terisan]

8. Uh Don't you remember Newt Gingrich and the Republican Contract with America?

[Big Blue Marble]

27. Of course I do. Why do you think it worked so well?

[papau]

10. Stupid is the claim of authorship of Senate ethics bill by Obama -and now Kerry

[wyldwolf]

9. why didn't it pass in 1994, Sen. Kerry?

Conservatives, libertarians, and the insurance industry staged a campaign against it. Democrats, instead of uniting behind the President's original proposal, offered a number of competing plans of their own. Some criticized the plan from the left, preferring a Canadian-style single payer system. (Like THAT would have ever passed!)

[Bluerthanblue]

18. All the reasons you cite are

still going to face ANY universal health care plan that comes up again.

The claim by Hillary, that the plan she is currently championing is somehow 'better' than those of Obama, or any other candidate fall flat when the REALITY of having to work within this system of ours is factored in.

THAT is where I feel the need to smack down the phony pie in the sky campaign promises that are held over other candidates heads, as if there is any real reason to believe they could become a reality. When Obama said that single payer health care wasn't practical at this time- he was stating the sad reality. His plan is to have health care available to everyone. That in itself would be an improvement. As things stand now, there are people like myself, with no access to health care, not even the promise of medicare.

This country couldn't even override *'s SCHIP veto- you really think her health care plan stands a ghost of a chance???

[BootinUp]

28. Keep in mind

that Bill Clinton never campaigned on Universal Healthcare or Universal Insurance or anything that resembles it. It was not a Clinton admin centerpiece or failed promise.

[Bluerthanblue]

34. He may not have called it "universal" but he did indeed

promise that all would be able to have coverage.

I know this because our family was dealing with some major health issues, and desperate for hope. I really believed that Clinton was going to do something positive. He tried, but nothing positive happened.

here is a link to an article -
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE1DD163BF931A2575BC0A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

and here are a few quotes, I don't have any campaign paraphenalia to point you to- but "health care reform" was very much a part of his campaign. I heard him speak to it right here in NH-
"Under our health care system, all Americans will have access to quality and affordable health care through coverage from their employer, or if they're unemployed, through their government." - W.J. Clinton, Jersey City, NJ, October 29, 1992
"I would bring in all the players within the first 60 days and tell them to develop a national health care plan." - Bill Clinton, "Dallas Morning News" October 7, 1991
peace~
blu

[BootinUp]

35. well I stand corrected

I must of lost a few brain cells.

[Bluerthanblue]

37. na, it's just

an old scab of mine-

Hope I didn't sound to snappy- It's a sore subject.

Peace~
blu

[karynnj]

46. They offered competing plans because that is what the Senate often does

There is a problem with a bill that no one on the Finance Committee was on record willing to vote for. Bill Clinton ended up not even pushing to have HRC's plan brought to the floor for a vote - per both their autobiographies it had problems.

[Bitwit1234]

15. Health care did not pass because

I think most people here have read the memo that was leaked. It was to all REPUBLICANS, who had the majority in the house that under no circumstances was the health bill mostly put together by Hillary Clinton be allowed to pass. That no health bill should be allowed to pass. That no health bill, retooled or not. I will find the memo if google hasn't taken it off and post a link.

[HeraldSquare212]

20. So we don't just have to support Clinton, we have to ensure

large majorities in the Senate and the House, in order for her to deliver on her promises?

[Bluerthanblue]

24. At that rate any of the candidates stand a damn good chance

of getting their platforms in the works-

:hi:

Campaign promises are rarely kept- IM experience.

[Big Blue Marble]

30. It is hard to remember that far back, but the Congress was totally controlled

by Democrats. It was in 1994 that the Republicans took over. And the main wedge that they used to win was
the incompetently managed healthcare reform legislation. Oh and the gays in the military thing helped too.

[karynnj]

47. In 1994, before the election - the Republicans controlled the House?

[killbotfactory]

38. Not only did her health care reform fail

It set back health care reform for over a decade because they didn't want to revisit it.

[Radical Activist]

48. One of many changes that didn't happen during the Clinton years.

Although the loss of manufacturing jobs and the consolidation of the media were some big changes we saw during those years.