Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, criticized New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's healthcare plan after unveiling his own Thursday in Des Moines.
DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) - Drawing comparisons between New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's current healthcare plan and the one she championed in 1993, Arizona Sen. John McCain joked Thursday, "I think they put some lipstick on the pig, but it's still a pig."
"There are many things that concern me about [Clinton's plan]," the Republican presidential candidate said. "It's.... eerily reminiscent of what they tried back in 1993."
McCain also said he traveled around the country that year "trying to make people aware of the catastrophic consequences that would ensue if we had enacted that healthcare plan."
"It is the liberal outlook. Let government do it. That's the ultimate solution," McCain added. "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."
The presidential hopeful said the plan from 1993 was met with "a lot of support from big business." He argued that large businesses favor government-run healthcare because "they don't want to pay for it themselves."
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Most find McCain "still a pig". Where's your argument?
Typical liberal – insult the PERSON because McCain is against Hillary's health care PROPOSAL.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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?
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!
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'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.
Honestly Mr. McCain why aren't you promoting your own ideas rather than trying to put Senator Clinton's down.
McCain's iraq plan is "still a skunk.'
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.
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.
KEEP BIG BROTHER OUT OF MY LIFE HILLARY AND DUMMYCRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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.
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.
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.
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..
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.
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
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.
And so is McCain.
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!