2/05/2008

Do a little digging ...

The truth is out there!

This post addresses readers’ comments to yesterday’s post regarding Hillary Clinton’s 22-state town hall meeting last night:

FACT CHECK #1:

COMMENT:

“I will have to think about how to pose my question when Clinton has said garnishing wages is how health care will be paid for. I thought the healthcare industry was to undergo a change, not the people.”

FACTS:

Senator Clinton has no plans to garnish the wages of Americans. This remark was made by Senator Barack Obama in the most recent Democratic debate:

OBAMA: You can mandate it (health-care coverage), but there's still going to be people who can't afford it. And, if they cannot afford it, then the question is, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to fine them? Are you going to garnish their wages?

Senator Clinton then went into detail about how health-care coverage would be made affordable.

Later:

BLITZER: Senator Obama, let me just fine-tune the question, because I know you want to respond. On this issue of mandates, those who don't, whether it's 10 million or 15 million, those who could afford it but don't wind up buying health insurance for one reason or another, they wind up getting sick, they go to an emergency room, all of us wind up paying for their health care. That's the biggest criticism that's been leveled at your plan.

OBAMA: If people are gaming the system, there are ways we can address that. By, for example, making them pay some of the back premiums for not having gotten it in the first place.

BJ: So, is Obama suggesting retro-mandatory?

I have put the “health-care coverage” section of the debate transcript in “Expand Your Mind: The Reading Room” for anyone interested in what was said in context: LINK

UPDATES:

“On Healthcare, Primary Opponents Differ Less Than Parties Do,” U. S. News, 4 February 2008, LINK

“In Health Debate, Clinton Remains Vague on Penalties,” New York Times, 4 February 2008, LINK

FACT CHECK #2:

COMMENT:

“This one was filmed in my home town of Worcester, MA today!!! I wasn't able to make it to it but it was all over the local media over the weekend.”

FACTS:

“Hillary Clinton hosts a roundtable in New Haven, Connecticut, a rally in Worcester, Massachusetts, and a nationwide town hall from New York City.” Report, CNN, 4 February 2008: LINK

BJ: I believe the commenter honestly confused the rally with the live town hall meeting, but the comment left the impression that the Clinton camp had LIED about the broadcast being "live.” Clinton appeared at a rally at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. The “Voices Across America” town hall was broadcast live from New York City.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I appreciate the information! But I do have to say that George Stephanopoulus asked the question of Clinton 3 times, and the last time she answered. It was reported over and over on the Net, but I only found who asked the question by going to google.

It's not the largest issue at stake, so I hate to "fix" on it, but she did say these things in so many words.

I'm glued to the coverage on the computer, now's another day I could enjoy TV.

Anonymous said...

Yes, as I sit idly waiting primary results, I've read and read--your links and other articles, and I'm impressed by the fact that there is no statement so concrete that anyone knows the last detail of how this reform will come about.

Here's one you will like, and I enjoyed it too: Clinton, Obama, Insurance by Paul Krugman, NYT. He basically says with Clinton's program we'll have a program, with Obama's we will not.

And then there's Huckabee. I thought he was gone, here he is winning. Still there!

B.J. said...

Ah, fair Eowyn! The difference in you and so many visitors is you actually read the researched links provided. For that I am grateful. I will seek out and read Krugman. Thank you! If PREVENTION were the thrust of universal health care, enough money would be saved in the long term to pay for one and all. Many people wait until they are almost deed to go to an emergency room, because they know can't afford what's coming.

Anonymous said...

You know, what a good point. I have, all my life, taken care of my teeth--and they've taken a lot of care. Many of those years were covered by insurance, many were not. But what got me into the "mode" was the preventative care payment. Health insurance could be the same, but for at LEAST the past decade I have understood NOT to see a doctor or I will establish an "exclusion." Yes, reliable unbroken health care would be very nice. I've always thought that, like to think it again!

Oh! but I wouldn't have read the links had they not been provided! I like finding them here. On into the night, we wait to see what's next.

Papamoka said...

Ouch BJ! Still love ya but Ouch! See the Telegram article from Worcester... Ouch!

I erred and it was her other stint so duh is me. Good point though.

B.J. said...

I know, Papamoka. Just a reaction to everybody and his brother hammering Hillary Clinton. It is time to take her seriously. (See my Wednesday, 6th, post). I know your heart is for America, as is mine.