Setting the Record Straight on Obama, Health Care and Unions

[Omaha Steve]

Note: I am an AFSCME member but am at odds with my International. I do not like the way Senator Obama has been treated in this affair at all. The author is our President. Here is the article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gerald-mcentee/setting-the-record-straig_b_78834.html

Bio: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gerald-mcentee/#blogger_bio

If you're following the politics of the Iowa Democratic caucus contest, you're familiar with the dust-up surrounding Barack Obama's health care plan, AFSCME's critique of it, his labeling of union's as "special interests" (as I read in a recent Paul Krugman column), the anti-government rhetoric the Senator has used to defend the absence of a mandate from his health insurance plan and the fact that it does not cover 15 million Americans.

Let's start with Obama's health insurance plan: it is the only "universal" health insurance proposal on the presidential trail that does not cover every American. The simple fact is that it leaves 15 million Americans without the medical care they need. Hillary Clinton and John Edwards' plans do not leave anyone behind. This is the difference that the AFSCME political action committee has pointed out in the direct mail piece that the Obama campaign has been complaining about in the media.

What's more, as Krugman has pointed out, Obama has used anti-government rhetoric to defend his position on health care and Social Security. In so doing, he makes the right-wing's argument about public services and unions. This is unacceptable, especially at a time when it is so important to promote a vibrant trade movement.

People can debate the details of the candidate's plans but the biggest difference that matters is that Barack Obama's plan does not cover 15 million people. There are clearly different policy ways to achieve the goals of controlling costs and providing quality health care for all. But you can't cover everyone if your plan does not even intend to do so.

AFSCME has fought for universal health care for decades. Our goal is simple: to protect and improve health care for those who have it, and to provide it for 47 million Americans who don't. And we are hardly a "special interest" when it comes to this or any issue. As most people know, union members have bargained hard for affordable health insurance that provides high quality care. Our members have fought for these benefits for years and their contracts have helped to set the standard for what every American should have.

When it comes to health care, our union and the labor movement in general are not a "special interest." We fight for the general interest. Our campaign for health care for all is about our commitment to a better America, and no one in America should go without the medical care they need as so many in our country do now.

FULL story at link.

[sandnsea]

1. Why post it if you know it's shit n/t

[Omaha Steve]

2. I post labor related stories

I post when union officials are arrested for any reason etc.. I don't sensor the union news, even when I don't agree with it. Many times one union may lobby Congress for a law, others lobby against. There is no single correct answer. This post allows opinions from BOTH sides to comment.

OS

[sandnsea]

3. Sometimes there isn't "both" sides

But a true side and a false side. As it is with this false 15 million claim. Have you posted the "other" side, rather, the truth?

[Omaha Steve]

4. If you have a link about the phantom 15 million from the Obama camp

This is the time to post it.

[sandnsea]

5. It's been posted, many times

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/05/us/politics/05truth.html?ref=politics

http://www.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/11/30/post_2.php

[Omaha Steve]

6. From Micheal Moore today

Edwards is the only one of the three front-runners who has a universal health care plan that will lead to the single-payer kind all other civilized countries have. His plan doesn't go as fast as I would like, but he is the only one who has correctly pointed out that the health insurance companies are the enemy and should not have a seat at the table.

I agree with Mike on this and more about Senator Edwards.

[sandnsea]

8. Yeah, he's wrong

Obama's plan has a public aspect to it as well.

Edwards can not possibly say he will keep for profit insurance companies, and then pretend he isn't going to have to talk to them when he constructs health policy.

You're a smart guy, I know you are. It's all a bunch of political bullshit.

[Omaha Steve]

7. From a cancer patient today...

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/02/elizabeth-edwards-takes-aim-at-obama/

January 2, 2008
Elizabeth Edwards takes aim at Obama
Posted: 12:22 PM ET

(CNN) – John Edwards' wife Elizabeth blasted Barack Obama’s health care plan today, telling voters at an Iowa campaign stop that it would not cover her.

“I did a radio interview today, and I heard a radio commercial for Sen. Obama that indicated where it said in there that his health care program covered more Americans than either Sen. Clinton or John. That is actually not true,” said Edwards.

“There’s 15 million people or so — I’d be one of those — the hardest to insure …who are left out of his system.
It’s just kind of a complete untruth.”

[sandnsea]

9. She's either uninformed or she lied

I posted his health plan link, go read it. Obama's plan creates a Health Insurance watchdog organization that will guarantee every person who applies is accepted and that the premiums are not based on health conditions.

[Omaha Steve]

10. From the times link fourth paragraph....

But while Mrs. Clinton is right that Mr. Obama’s plan would leave out millions,

[sandnsea]

11. They ALL would, SS does, auto ins mandates do

Nobody can force people to make the payments. That's the point of the article. They pulled a number out of the air and concocted campaign rhetoric around it. It's a big fat lie.

[Omaha Steve]

12. I promise to read more in the AM

I'm calling it a night before doing volunteer work in the morning for Edwards in the Iowa caucus.

OS