CNN

This will be my first time voting in a presidential election so I am desperately trying to pick the best candidate...I am not familiar with the healthcare plan introduced in 1993 discussed in this article. Anyone care to elaborate for me?
My sister, who recently acquired her own health insurance for the first time discovered that she will not have coverage until she meets a $1000 or $2000 deductible for the month...this will never happen unless she needs some sort of procedure. She had trouble getting insurance in the first place just because she has a preexisting condition (migraines..come on!). I think the present state of our healthcare is absolutely ridiculous.

By the way, government mandated healthcare will spell ruin for America. Capitalism is definitely the way to go. I'd say more, but I'm pretty sure others before me have made a good case for privatized health care.

First of all, I'm not really inclined to respect a person who obviously didn't go through sixth grade grammar. If you're going to insult McCain, the GOP front-runner and the one most likely to beat Billary or Obama, at least do it correctly.
...Just for the record, not even Pelosi denies that the surge–the one he's advocated for years, mind you–is working wonders.
Contrary to popular liberal belief, lowering troop levels before the war's over brings nothing but catastrophe and inevitable failure. That's one lesson we should learn from this and past conflicts.
Good luck finding anything beyond the oft-quoted "liberal rhetoric" to deny these points.
McCain, I wish you all the best! Here's one 18 year old who's got your back!

If you have lived in a foreign country (like Britain) with universal health care you wouldn't be supporting it. You have to wait for months to see a dentist or medical doctor. If you want a specialist, forget it. Yes it's free but 'you get what you pay for'. The U.S. medical system has problems but you have no idea how lucky we are to be able to go to the doctor of our choice and seek medical treatment TODAY if we need it and be knowledgeable in the fact that our doctor knows what he's doing. People who work should have the option to have independent health insurance.

Terry
Marxist – there was only one present candidate who sang the "benefits" of Saul Alinsky (a Marxist grassroots organizer) – that was Hillary – he liked his "student" so much that he asked her to join him in support of his radical leftist causes – read this quote and tell me if it doesn't remind you of someone
"That of course is to get power any way you can, including lying, cheating and stealing. The ultimate rule is that the ends justify the means." – Hillary is the socialist....and I am comfortable defending that....you?

"The liberal left is jumping up and down at their socialist candidates proposal." – Chris, Middletown CT

No Democrat has proposed a socialist program of any kind. Our political debate does not need the adjectives "socialist," "fascist," "communist" etc unless someone actually IS a socialist, etc. Words have meaning. Don't use these words if you don't know what the word means or if the meaning doesn't apply to the subject at hand.

I hope we don't hear any more logophobic rants from Chris.

there is alot of smart people in here. then again they are so stupid it scares me!!

"If France, England, and Canada, 3 countries that are like ours, but are very limited in resoucres can provide healthcare to everyone, why can't we?"

-

The economic conditions of Europe currently are:

$12 per gallon of gas ($3 here)
9% Unemployment (Under 5% here)
40-50% individual tax rate (0-30% depending on income here)

Universal Healthcare is another brick in the golden path of Socialism. The Federal government is HORRIBLE at managing social programs. Perhaps the directors at FEMA will be as successful in running your healthcare as they were Katrina relief.

McCain and the other Republicans leaders fail to acknowledge that one way or the other, we ALL pay for the current healthcare crisis. They are fine with the status quo because they don't need the help. They have good coverage.

America is supposed to be THE world leader – yet we can't seem to accomplish what almost all other industrialized nations have. We sold our national soul to profits and greed.

H OP KS, I think I know a little about the English national health system because I have an English husband. Like all productive people in Britain, he paid 8% of his pay to fund this system. Despite that, he had to go to a private dentist because the wait for the NHS one was too long. His NHS doctor suggested that he commit suicide if he couldn't stand the pain of an injury he suffered. Incidently, the NHS doctors misdiagnosed his symptoms for 18 years, and he finally found relief at the hands of a chiropractor, which is "alternative medicine" that NHS doesn't cover. His cousin, who has frequent bouts of dangerous skin cancer on his face, has to go to a private doctor because the wait for the NHS one is too long. (The fact that there are private doctors and dentists in England should tell you something.) While I was in England, I heard news reports of red ink and layoffs within the NHS because it's running out of money.

"The grass is always greener..." Maybe before we envy another country and the "benefits" that it gives its citizens, we better take a good look at "the pig in the poke."

We spend over $700,000,000,000 dollars for defense. Actually a lot of it is waisted. They pay $1200 for a meal that shouldn't cost more than $25 and similar out of norm spending. They pay Halliburton billions, and Halliburtron pockets most of it. The military industrial machine is getting as rich as the oil companies at the expense of us. The tax payers who elect the officials who kiss the butts of these corporations and not ours!
We can shave $200,000,000,000 a year from the $700B and I bet you all we won't sacrifice anything. We just cut the fat off the military spending. With that we can provide UNIVERSAL HEALTH for all Americans. We aleardy provide Medicare, Meidcade, and VA to a lot of Americans, this proves the government can manage it. The agrument that we don't want government to manage this is crazy! I rather government manage healtcare and we all have it than Blue Cross does it and we have a half A**ed coverage that gets more expensive each year and they don't even cover yearly check-up

Its time for America to get what it deserves. Total health care like France
If France, England, and Canada, 3 countries that are like ours, but are very limited in resoucres can provide healthcare to everyone, why can't we?
Our healthcare is a national security issue.
Don't vote for any presidential or poletition who is not willing to give us Universal Health

I am sick and tired of people who say Free Market will handle your health care issues

And furthermore, the tax insentives to provide healthcare through Insurance Industry is only good for the people who make money. Most of the people who don't have insurance 48,000,000 Americans don't have it because they can't afford it. A bit of tax cardit does nothing to bring them in Ms. Clinton!

Hillary's healthcare plan is reflective of Hillary. A pig wearing lipstick.
Sorry Hillary, that might work in Arkansas but it doesn't fly out here in the real world..

Funny...McCain is right. The liberal left is jumping up and down at their socialist candidates proposal. The anger that they must feel is overwelming – their inability to ever win an argument based on the facts (not the rhetoric they spew) – when you corner one of them...they always say "but we spent billions in Iraq" – then you point out that Hillary voted for it....then they never respond...the thing is...America will not pay the 50% tax rate it will take to get the subpar goverment insurance (ask Canada) – can you name a goverment program that is cost effective and well run? me either. Ask yourself....why is insurance so expensive...Insurance companies...and profits (thats called capitalism...) – and why do insurance companies need to charge so much....they are daily targets for scumbag lawyers suing them....why not address the underlying issues first....?? yet...no discussions of tort reform....as the Bar association (along with unions and other entitlist entities) are pouring money to the Democrats) – the tax dollars are ours....Giuliani 08

Calling me a pig and yet you don't know anything about me. Now who's the pig? I know all I need to know about McCain and he will NEVER receive a vote from me, my friends, my family, or my company. Actually, no one I know would even consider voting for him. I'm an attorney who works for a large law firm in Dallas so before you even start with some cheesy comeback of how I probably work in a McDonalds somewhere and my family is full of toothless hillbillies, I'll go ahead and lay that argument to rest. Living in Hollywood huh? You're probably some wannabe actor who works as a waiter till your "big" break comes. Your head is as much in the clouds about becoming famous as McCain's is to think he has a chance of becoming President.

"I haven't examined all the details of the plan, but it is the big government system with mandates, eventual mandates, as I read it."

Sounds to me like McCain has just contradicted himself.

Typical Republican- the government doesn't pay for anything except war and prostitution.

I am sure you are referring to the recent bill that Bush TOTALLY SUPPORTED until the Democrats for votes ONLY, started adding in 25 year olds and calling them "children" and then throwing in people that make way too much money that takes away the intent of the bill in the first place.

If it is just about the children, why do the Democrats not want to compromise on this bill like BUSH ASKED?

I quote Dumbya "Let's take care of the poor children first".

Nah, your party is in election mode and if they can make political points (with the help of the lying MSM) bleep the children right?

And NOBODY is more corporate than your beloved HILLARY and I quote "Lobbyists represent "real" American people".

How much of the health care industries money has she taken? Millions.

Think we will see this in an ad anytime down the road?

Count on it.

Government-run health care is a bad idea. There is no way I want my health care managed by government bureaucrats who are accountable to no one. If you don't believe that, try getting a government bureaucrat to correct a one-digit mistake (THEIR mistake) on a government document... and be prepared to wait AT LEAST half a year. What do you think will happen (or not happen) if you have a problem with your government-run health care? It's not like you'll be able to switch providers.

Further, I don't want my employer providing my health care either. I deeply resent the "paternalism" of Corporate America (as if Corporate America really cared about its employees). JUST PAY ME FOR MY WORK and let me make my OWN choices from a wide variety of providers IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

There is no doubt that rising health care costs are an issue. Was it an issue before the government got into the health care business in the mid-1960's?

Just wondering.

This woman doesn't understand truth.She called Barack naive and irresponsible about meetin with Iran w/o precondition hearings here is her quote on yesterday in NH

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5izJr4wFXhrXfr8mlCBthgtCZvMcwD8S7D9280

Clinton Says She'd Negotiate With Iran
By HOLLY RAMER – 7 hours ago

CANTERBURY, N.H. (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton called Barack Obama naive when he said he'd meet with the leaders of Iran without precondition. Now she says she'd do the same thing, too.

During a Democratic presidential debate in July, Obama said he would be willing to meet without precondition in the first year of his presidency with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea.

Standing with him on stage, Clinton said she would first send envoys to test the waters and called Obama's position irresponsible and naive.

But asked about it Thursday by a voter, the New York senator said twice that she, too, would negotiate with Iran "with no conditions."

"I would engage in negotiations with Iran, with no conditions, because we don't really understand how Iran works. We think we do, from the outside, but I think that is misleading," she said at an apple orchard.

She characterized her recent vote to label Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization as a way to gain leverage for those negotiations.

Obama and other rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination have been criticizing Clinton's vote late last month in favor of the resolution, comparing it to her 2002 vote authorizing the war in Iraq.

They have suggested that the Iran vote was the first step toward a military invasion there.

Now you tell me Who is the Leader and the follower.

Obama 08

I'm surprised the CNN moderators even allow distasteful comments like those from Mr Internet Tough Guy "Steve" on this blog. Oh wait, McCain's a Republican.

Like it or not, McCain is right on this issue. You can't get blood from a stone and that's what Hillary will try to do with her healthcare program. What makes anyone thing the government can pay for all of this when they can even fix our social security, education, or immigration problems? Take a look at "model" socialist healthcare systems like Canada's. They have to deal with long waits for routine visits and procedures and even send their pregnant women to the United States to have their babies.

Yeah, that what we all need. More layers ineffective "trust me, I'm with the government and I'm here to help."

It's really esay to be critical of someones ideas when you have none of your own.

"It is the liberal outlook. Let government do it. That's the ultimate solution," McCain added.

No, John. It's the conservative outlook. Let the private health industry gouge citizens with the complicity of the current Repub admin.

Now, go mow Bush's lawn, you stupid wimp. Mr. Vietnam Hero has turned into Political Wuss. What a coward. Why not attack more kids for wanting health insurance, you corporate butt crack licker.

In true CNN style, they "Iowa Producer", Chris Welch did not stress that McCain has no plan. The story only gives the impression that CNN agrees with McCain. McCain's plan, do nothing. Large corporations, who fund GOP candidates profit from our "private" healthcare system. He said that "large businesses favor government-run healthcare" when he knows that's a lie. Who were the one's screaming the loudest when Hillary tried to initiate a change in healthcare provisioning back in '93?

You're the Pig!! No No YOU'RE the pig!!
Thanks guys. You're what makes America's two party system work so well. Good stuff. Thanks.

Did John McCain actually find time to read Hillary's health plan? What's his?

And you are the real pig, Mr Rodney because either you are really fool like a pig that don't understand his comment or pretend to be fool. Either way you are the pig, sir.

Using the word 'pig' and 'lipstick' in the same sentence referring to a female candidate in ANY manner is not too bright. SOMEBODY is going to twist the words around even if it WASN'T meant as a sexist jibe. This is American politics: spin doctors live for this kind of quote!

And so is McCain.

I eat my words and apologize to McCain supporters. Sen. McCain is indeed proposing a new health plan and details will be released in a day or two. I look forward to reading about it and I hope it is a good plan.

John McCain is a good man and an honest man, but he is trapped in a failed philosophy.

Like all Republicans who oppose federal involvement in child health care, he does not deny the problem: many children do not receive the ecxellent health care that they deserve. He does not have an alternative proposal, except to let the free market, which has failed so far to make health care accessible to all children, continue to fail.

When will Conservatives understand that the free market is the problem, not the solution. If it was the solution, there would be no problem. Conservatives continue to ask Americans to vote against their own self-interest and to feel proud for doing so.

So if Clinton's plan is not a good one, what SHOULD we do about the problem. Let them eat cake?t

Gee, and what are we doing now? The government is spending our money on a war no one wants, and has plans to throw even more money and lives away over there. At least if we had national health care, our money would be doing some good! And the government has gotten mighty big the past 6 years, and the non-existent debt under the ":big government Democrats" is now totally out of control. I actually feel sorry for the Dems coming into this mess-Bush and Cheney have been a sorry excuse for an administration, and have done nothing but fear-monger to pad the pockets of their war machine buddies.

McCain is right. Big government systems with mandates always mean big fat tax burdens for low quality service. Please show me one current government system not reflective of this poor standard.

Sorry Hillary, that pig still won't fly..

Hey,John....don't gimme crap about Hillary's plan.............spell yours out .....in detail, please....methinks you are running a 90's campaign in the time of the 00 voters. It doesn't work, John.

Come on people.
We are the ONLY industrial country in the civilized world that does not have universal health care. The one country that does not take care of the sick poor.

What's wrong with us.

lol, I'm the 2nd poster on the McCain article.
Shows just how unrealevent he is in this race.
Give it up McCain, your time has come and gone.
Just be happy you are a military hero.

KEEP BIG BROTHER OUT OF MY LIFE HILLARY AND DUMMYCRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Republican health care plan will I am sure take care of all Republicans.How about the rest of us Sen McCain?I am sure in your attack on socialized medicine to be logically consistent you also plan to dismantle medicare and Veterans health care.A little straight talk Senator.

Senator McCain knows all about putting lipstick on a pig after he jumped the shark in a Baghdad market and made his plea to the Dobsonians by preferring a "Christian" President. I would prefer a Christian President, too, Senator, one who follows the real words of Christ: compassion, inclusion, love and tolerance. Your brand is greed, hate, intolerance and pre-emptive war.

McCain's iraq plan is "still a skunk.'

Honestly Mr. McCain why aren't you promoting your own ideas rather than trying to put Senator Clinton's down.

I'll tell you what's a pig McCain; YOU. GOP has lost touvh with the masses. Let the election come and let the poor GOP voters hear about free health care. They will vote for the other side en mass.

PIG.

Perhaps Senator McCain is not aware of the healthcare costs that Americans are experiencing; or perhaps he is unaware that the "Clinton healthcare plan' is a world class plan to provide UNIVERSAL coverage.
Is Senator McCain aware that Americans deserve a healthcare program that represents the best?
Apparently Senator McCain is using political rhetoric often used by Republicans that reflects their concerns about 'overspending'. I am not quite sure how they can justify the hundreds of billons of dollars that we are spending in an ill conceived Iraq conflict.
Is it possible that McCain is putting the lipstick on himself? We certainly do not have a world class healthcare program, as reported by the World Health Organization.
Is it the republican position that we want a world class government for Iraq, but a second class healthcare system for the United States?
Is there a double standard in their message – the 'best' for Iraq and 'something less' for the United States. The current political party don't seem to be accomplishing either objective.

I am glad to see that McCain is getting good-free heath care provided by the government-run healthcare system. No private plan for him or anyone of his buddies!
This sickens me to see how he can take this position, while the common people and businesses pay through the nose!
We know that he will get his "support" from from the big health insurance system and medication companies.
PEOPLE...your are seeing a wolf in sheep clothing!

Since Clinton's plan is not a government plan but is through private insurance, McCain is a complete liar on this subject. Doesn't anyone want to hold him accountable for his lies?

So, John, you are OK with our government spending hundreds of $billions to destroy another nation, but NOT OK for our government to protect the health of our children?

I pay approximately $40K in federal taxes per year. I would happily pay that and more IF the money went to healthcare and education rather than building wealth for oil tycoons.

Even as someone who is on the fence abut nationalized healthcare, I think its funny that democrats think republicans are in bed with big business when dems want national healthcare that is wanted by big business as well.

I am sick of the GOP.. there is not a worthy candidate in the entire bunch. Bush has run this country in the ground and regardless of who wins the white house, they are going to have a huge mess on their hands that will take years to straighten out. For the first time in my voting life, I am considering voting for the Democrats.

McCain and all the Republicans should start talking nicer to the Democrats. The Dems will be taking back our country in 08 and bring back our self respect to the eyes of the world.

I find McCain is a carbon copy of Bush-vote for McCain, vote for Bush-same policy-policy of war, fear, and protecting wealthy people by cutting taxes. He is wishy washy; he had his chance in 2000, and he lost. He should not run again. Period.

Typical liberal – insult the PERSON because McCain is against Hillary's health care PROPOSAL.

Most find McCain "still a pig". Where's your argument?