Won't any health care plan Hillary tries to pass be dubbed "Hillarycare" and thus politically DOA?

[calmblueocean]

"Hillarycare" is one of those old standbys of the right wing, a reliable buzzword they can use to play to their base and keep their Congressional seats secure. Given that, I'm just feeling a little skeptical that Hillary can be successful in getting any sort of health care reform passed if she does become president. Talk radio will whip their listeners into another 1994-style paroxysm of rage, and Republican Senators and Representatives know that any support of "Hillarycare" will be a huge albatross around their necks during their next election.

To me, it seems like Hillary's name is toxic to the chances of any healthcare reform actually passing, and a substantial reason to support her opposition. I'd like to get a sense of how many other people think similarly, or reasons that I'm totally in the wrong here.

[Mojorabbit]

1. I am pessimistic

I think if the economy continues to tank that there will be no money for much in the way of social programs. I hope I am wrong.

[sandnsea]

2. Yep, that's all they need to say n/t

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

21. if we lose congress due to HIllary on ticket, then there won't be any health care legislation

Having a "democratic" president in the Whitehouse isn't enough.

You need a strong solid majority of Dems in the House and Senate.

YOU can't get that with Hillary, and in fact many states could lose their democratic
majorities in their state legislatures.

[newmajority]

3. Actually, her current plan is more like Romneycare.

But Mitt isn't using it anymore, so he won't mind.

[laconicsax]

5. There are probably friendlier names to give it

"Mittens for all" for example.

[OzarkDem]

6. Actually, that's Obama's plan

Clinton's is universal care with a government option instead of private insurance only.

[OzarkDem]

4. People are now hurting from being uninsured

Gimmicky media labels aren't going to trick them anymore. They're more likely to wonder why they didn't back it the first time around.

[bellasgrams]

12. She was the first to have a healthcare program and at a time

when it wasn't popular. She saw the need for it before anyone else.

[caligirl]

30. I would have to disagree with the last sentence, as the medical

community I was involved in during the 1970's saw the need then. They saw the writing on the wall.

[calmblueocean]

13. So you think Republicans are going to call Republican Senators to tell them to vote for Hillarycare?

God, that subject line sounds obnoxious, but the question is valid. I don't see Hillary having broad coattails and sweeping in enough new Dems in the Congress to make Republican support a non-issue, and I don't see Repubs getting behind any of her healthcare initiatives because the word "Hillarycare" will be political poison for them at home.

It may sound overly simplistic, but politics is just that simple sometimes.

[OzarkDem]

15. I think Obama has even less strength in that department

"Bipartisansip" in this case will buy you another 6 years or so without health care reform. Plenty of time for another $40 million to lose health insurance.

[calmblueocean]

19. I disagree, and here's why.

First, I think Obama, if he is the nominee, very likely will have coattails and will bring more Dems into Congress with him.

Second, Obama's plan doesn't include a mandate, which makes it less controversial and easier to pass. I'd rather have HR 676, but I'm realistic.

Third, Obama is not the historically divisive figure Hillary is, and doesn't bring the baggage Hillary does to the process.

All three of these dynamics working together make me feel that Obama is likely to make progress on health care where Hillary will find it difficult.

[Hoof Hearted]

24. With my own ears I heard Obama say he wanted to move on healthcare by the END of his first term.

That doesn't sound like a priority to me.

That's not quick enough for me.

Stopping short and leaving millions of people behind and uninsured is thoroughly uninspiring to me.

That's why although I like them both, I support Hillary first.

[napi21]

7. I don't see a problem. Hillary Care was more than people were willing to accept

in the early 90's, but it's different now. EVERYBODY is hurting now, either from high premiums, high copays, or the inability to afford to pay for insurance at all. I voted for Obama on Tuesday, but I prefer Hillary's hc plan.

[LiberalHeart]

8. No. Any more questions?

[HughMoran]

9. Will Obamacare be any better?

We need to elect a Democratic President AND expand our majority in Congress so we can pass stuff like this with the help of a few Republicans who are from more liberal regions of the country. It doesn't matter who is elected so long as it's a Democrat.

[Neshanic]

10. Compared to Obama Cigna Humana United BlueCross care?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

11. hahaha .....you're cute....is'nt it fun to feel like you belong

[calmblueocean]

14. I get that you think I'm trolling. I'm not. If you've got good reasons, I want to hear them.

Maybe I'm wrong. I'm open to being convinced. Insulting me doesn't help.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

16. the difference ; Clinton achieving Universal Health Care - her key goal and....

Obama's falling far short

Really I am sorry if I insulted you,forgive me. T

hings are pretty tense around here lately, especially with all the new cicadas popping in this month reeking havoc on the boards.

[calmblueocean]

25. I appreciate the apology. I had to apologize to someone the other day.

Tensions are running high, I know.

As far as universal health care goes, I'd rather have HR 676, Expanded and Improved Medicare for all, but I'm realistic. Any progress is better than no progress at this point. I think it's fair to make the point that Obama's plan isn't universal, but I also think the mandate is one of the most politically contentious aspects of health care reform, and can be tackled seperately at a later date. The most important thing to me is that coverage is available for everyone, regardless of pre-conditions, and that it is not dependent on your employer. I also like the fact that Obama's plan will legalize importing medication from Canada and other nations where it is lower priced. This is significant to me.

Hillary's plan is fine with me, too, but the mandate and her history make it hard for me to see how she will get it through. I listen to talk radio throughout the day and hear the power the word "Hillarycare" still has with their base.

Anyway, that's my opinion, but I'm open to hearing others. Hillary is an amazingly strong campaigner, and I respect her tenacity. If she's the nominee, I want to be able to convince others that she can get healthcare passed, too.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

27. that's what Clinton is doing...her plan is set up to make the transition into a UHC quickly and....

cost effective...which is no cost....she is a very smart women and knows what she is doing :) BTW we don't need their "base" is disgusted with the GOP anyway.

[area51]

17. GingrichCare.

Her plan should be called GingrichCare, because years ago, Gingrich spoke of having a law forcing people to buy into private insurance plans. How interesting that HRC should borrow a healthcare idea from a member of the nazi party. Maybe she's in the wrong party.

[nonconformist]

20. You can get government care, if you choose.

You really should read the plan, if you're going to criticize it.

Single payer is best. But out of the two plans, hers is vastly superior.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/opinion/04krugman.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

[ElsewheresDaughter]

23. Gingrich?!? was the headhunter that brought in Frist to attack Hillary's health care plan...

Frist the Physician who had NEVER in his life cared enough to even register to vote and cast his first vote ever for himself....god I loathe the rethuglicans

[nonconformist]

18. Fuck that. I haven't had insurance in years.

I NEED insurance, desperately. Do you think I'm alone here? There are millions of us hurting.

The PEOPLE really want universal healthcare now - that's the biggest difference.

[sandnsea]

26. We really wanted it then too

but people didn't want mandates and they aren't going to want mandates now.

Obama, on the other hand, knows you desperately want insurance. He knows he doesn't have to mandate you to have it. He knows you just need a program to buy into, a reasonable price, or subsidies if you are low income. That's the proposal. That will pass.

[nonconformist]

29. Not like now. It's different.

Employers don't offer benefits like they used to. A LOT of people who had no problems with insurance in the early 90's are in dire straits NOW.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/opinion/04krugman.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

We HAVE to have mandates. It's the only way to get everyone (or as close to that as possible) covered. I KNOW this is one of Clinton's biggest issues, I know she's going to move on it right away. I don't have that confidence in Obama. I think he'll fold on it.

[sandnsea]

31. She doesn't promise it until her SECOND Term

She isn't going to move on it right away at all, it'll risk a second term and she knows it. Obama is the one who introduced a state amendment to make health care a right. He's the one whose mother had to deal with insurance companies on her death bed. He's the one who said he'd tackle it in his first term.

[nonconformist]

32. And she was instrumental in getting SCHIP

Which, thankfully, provides my children with health insurance.

You can never convince me that Obama is more of a champion of health care than Hillary.

[sandnsea]

33. Kerry wrote the original SCHIP, Kennedy-Hatch tweaked it

and got it passed. She told Bill it was a good idea and to fund it. Obama extended health care to children in Illinois. He enacted the Hospital Report Card which measures the quality of care in Illinois. His legislation to create a commission to implement a universal health plan in Illinois passed after he got into the Senate. His plan to provide real subsidies, not just tax credits, is the one working people need. What good would your SCHIP be if you had to wait for a tax credit to offset the full cost of the insurance? That's Hillary's plan.

Obama has an excellent health care plan and has introduced good health care proposals already.

http://obama.senate.gov/issues/health_care/

[nonconformist]

34. Hillary is STRONGER on heath care. nt

[sandnsea]

35. That's called Kool-Aid n/t

[nonconformist]

36. No, that's called my opinion, and the opinion of people I respect.

Like Krugman.

You just aren't going to convince me.

[sandnsea]

37. I see, you're a Krugman Kultist n/t

[Jed Dilligan]

22. Running on past failures doesn't seem particularly smart.

[OHdem10]

28. Relity Check -- GOP Legislators are more conservative than

their consituents. Yes, there are some Conservatives who will
attack Hilary's plan . They will just as ferociously attack
Obama's plan. Hilary is prepared to deal with them. She
has been through the experience.