NBC's First Read: Obama on Mandates, Bill Clinton

[flpoljunkie]

Obama on Mandates, Bill Clinton

Wednesday, November 28, 2007 2:54 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan

Obama once again questioned Clinton’s health-care plan, saying that her criticisms of own his plan, which does not mandate health insurance for all Americans, overlook the costs of health care. And he criticized her for not explaining how she would mandate coverage. “Unfortunately she hasn’t told anybody how she would enforce this mandate,” Obama said.

“Until she clarifies what she would do to enforce this mandate, is she going to fine people or take other steps to enforce this? It’s more of a political point she’s trying to make a than a real point,” he added.

Regarding President Bill Clinton’s statement yesterday that he had opposed the Iraq war, Obama chuckled, “If he did I don’t think most of us heard about it.” Obama wouldn’t comment further on the issue, simply saying, “All I know is that I opposed the war. Senator Clinton made a different decision. My understanding was that Senator Clinton and President Clinton were talking frequently, and you’ll have to ask them about that.”

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/28/485042.aspx

[rinsd]

1. Obama on mandates, then and now

From your article - In a conference call to announce the personal endorsement of Linda Nelson, president of the Iowa State Education Association, Obama said that he would “fine parents” in order to enforce the mandate in his health insurance plan that all children be covered.

“I would sign them up in school in the same way they would get inoculated. I would fine parents if form some reason they refused. I am happy to be very clear on how we would enforce the mandate,” Obama said. He went on to say that he believed that the vast majority of American parents wanted to ensure that their children did receive health coverage."

All of 4 days ago

"Health care insurance should not become a government mandate, Barack Obama said here today, referencing plans posed by John Edwards and Hillary Clinton.

Obama said such mandates for health care coverage is a wrong step. He told a crowd of about 350 people at Thomas Jefferson High School that his plan would lower costs on average by about $2,500 per family, making health care affordable for all without placing demands."

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071124/NEWS/71124004

[flpoljunkie]

4. Obama's plan mandates healthcare for children, not adults.

[rinsd]

6. So he does favor government mandates on healthcare

His logic goes like this.

When attacking Clinton & Edwards

Mandates are bad because people do not forgo insurance because they do not want it but because they cannot afford it The 2nd part is true though he is mischaracterizing both plans to make his point.

When touting his own plan,

Mandates when applied to children are good regardless of people ability to afford the insurance or the subsequent fines under my plan for not insuring them.

[flpoljunkie]

9. For children, yes.

[cuke]

11. He does, except when he doesn't

[flpoljunkie]

14. Obama has always mandated healthcare for children, cuke.

[cuke]

16. Like I said, Obama supports mandates, except when he doesnt

[AtomicKitten]

2. The candidates are being baited by the media to talk trash about each other.

I am pleased Obama is answering the questions and keeping the snark on the down low.

K&R :hi:

[flpoljunkie]

3. Awesome photo, AK!

[AtomicKitten]

5. I am fired up and ready to go!

[bunnies]

7. Yeah. That whole mandate thing is working out really well for MA.

:sarcasm:

[Bitwit1234]

8. I think the first thing he should do before he goes off half-cocked

trying to flame Hillary --- IS GET THE DAMN FACTS STRAIGHT.

[Bitwit1234]

10. No what Obama ought to do is get someone who knows how to search

for the facts, and get them straight.

[TeamJordan23]

12. He is right on both issues. nm

[ClarkUSA]

13. Furthermore, Hillary has yet to say how she would enforce her health care mandate.

However, a surrogate of hers, Rep. Frank Pallone of NJ, said on MSNBC today to Norah O'Donnell that there would be a "penalty" for
people who didn't sign up, "just like in Massachusetts."

So iClinton is basing her health care plan mandate enofrcement on MittCare, which is a flop.

[rinsd]

15. Psssst Obama has stated he will be fining parents who do not cooperate with his healthcare plan (nt)

[flpoljunkie]

17. Hillary's toothless plan has no provision for insuring folks buy her mandated healthcare coverage

[BeyondGeography]

18. Pssssst, he says what he will do to make his plan happen, she doesn't

[cuke]

19. He says he'll do what he criticizes Hillary for doing

forcing families to buy insurance even if they can't afford it. And if they don't buy insurance they can't afford, Obama is going to make it more affordable by punishing the parents.

[Evergreen Emerald]

20. Dang--he apparently has not been listening.

HillaryClinton.com

Most Savings Come Through Lowering Spending Due to Quality and Modernization: Over half the savings come from the public savings generated from Senator Clinton’s broader agenda to modernize the heath systems and reduce wasteful health spending.

A Net Tax Cut for American Taxpayers: The plan offers tens of millions of Americans a new tax credit to make premiums affordable-which more than offsets the increased revenues from the Plan’s provisions to limit the employer tax exclusion for health care and discontinue portions of the Bush tax cuts for those making over $250,000. Thus, the plan provides a net tax cut for American taxpayers.

Making the Employer Tax Exclusion for Health Care Fairer: The plan protects the current exclusion from taxes of employer-provided health premiums, but limits the exclusion for the high-end portion of very generous plans for those making over $250,000.


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