I am a nurse and universal healthcare will be extremely difficult because I see the unscrupolus waste and abuse by dope-head patients. Giving healthcare to children.. who cannot inherently make decisions for themselves is the best way and I'm for Obama's plan. Mandating..people dont understand that they will fine you for not wanting this stuff. Come on!!!

Evidence of uneven coverage, he didn't even know edwards name. Not only can it be quantified numerically in checking broadcasts it quantifies on the street talking to people.

I suspect he'll remember it after he watches the debate.

Tell hall he lives in another planet or he is one of those uneducated people who I feel bad about.

I would love to hear an update on what Hall thinks after watching the debate!

I am disgusted with your recent poll where you asked who would best solve the economic problems we are facing. You listed all the candidates that we could vote for. Where was Ron Paul's name? Is he not a candidate? He has been predicting this economic downfall for years! He has the only fiscal policy that actually realizes that we have only been putting a band-aid on the problem and not addressing the cause of the problems that we are now entrenched in.
Your side remark was that Fred Thompson was not on the list because he had just dropped out of the race. I think Ron Paul is still on the ballot , last I heard. I also beleive Ron Paul got more votes than Fred Thompson and Rudy Guliani. Does that not seem like an unbiased list that you presented? I think so. If you are going to allow us to vote for a list of canditates I think we should be allowed to vote for all of them.
Has CNN already decided who should win?
I thought it was up to the ordinary people to decide. I thought it was the news media's responsibility to cover all the candidates unbiased so that we could make up our own minds.
I beleive it is still one vote for each American.
If you don't cover all the candidates how will Americans be able to make an educated decision? I thought that was the duty of a news station.
It seems that I was wrong.

My explanation is simple: The Iraq war is casuing us spend 7 trillion a year, which will put the country in a great depression in teh near future. Fed is trying to delay this happening artificially by constantly lowering the interest rate, keeping the value of US$ low, which has a long term effect on the economy. We are going to face the worst depression ever.

Therefore, those who supported the war, and threw in the mess, should be held accountable. None of them should be given a chance to be a president. Therefore, Hillary is the first one out from my list….

I am sure I am NOT the only one wondering WHY this dunce had to have FOUR children that he CANNOT afford??
Get real.

I would like to see some wealthy person engage media owners who are currently avoiding equal news-hour time to each of the canididates. ALL of the TV stations I routinely watch have chosen to avoid any sound-bites of Obama. Many of the observations by folk who I have heard on the many talk shows don't even seem to recognize this tactic and are basing their voting decisions on a biased presentation of what the candidates have to say. If I could get a wealthy person to sponsor my efforts to seek plain old fairness during this election season, I would be more than happy to be a modern-day Ralph Nader.

Yes, take no money from the cooperations!!! But, can Edwards refund most of the funds he took from the cases he won on the back of "poor people?" We are talking here about millions and millions of dollars!!!

I guess, the strong advocate here is for "lawyers" who are good at fighting to line up their pockets with the spoils of the poor. It often reminds me of presidents who send other people's kids to war but send their kids to institutions of higher education or "charity work" only to claim that they are …..

Do not get me wrong, I have always been a supporter of Edwards. He should wait until Hillary loses to the Republicans and he can then sue the Republicans to help the dumb democrats who put Hillary out there as a nominee– got the picture?

Why no comments today from those who so vociferously decried the "boys piling on" in New Hampshire?

I haven't heard a peep from anyone today after Senator Clinton and Senator Edwards ruthlessly ganged up on Senator Obama last night.

Of course not. Nobody should be talking about it. That's life on the big stage. That's how it works in the crucible of Presidential politics.

But it was the same thing in New Hampshire when so many were crying about Edwards and Obama correctly drawing distinctions with Senator Clinton about where she gets her money from.

Shame on those who made it into something different when it was Senator Clinton being attacked. You always talk about double standards and yet bang the table for them when they suit your purpose.

America really needs to wake up..us Dem's..don't seem to really know whats going on..The Clinton's are really playing a game here..it will back fire in the general election…This is the way i see it as and American..The Clinton's are up to something no good..They will pitch blacks against Hispanics in the west and play the gender card with Hilliary..so that will depress the black vote…They also will pitch BO as the black candidate..That's call divide at what ever cost..just to win..they're not doing this for America..they are doing it for themselves..my question is..how come she can't stay in SC and ask for there vote just like BO campaigned in Iowa and NH and ask the whites for their votes..dirty politics..i don't want to hear she left Bill behind..its a game that wil cost us to loose..Remember we need every vote in the general to win this..ifs she's the nominee….This isn't good politics peoples..and it will cost us down the line..remember what i just said

This man is ready for the future, the only thing blocking him is stupid false emails. Obama is the candidate not only for this man but the United States.

I totally agree , its not that people don't want Insurance , its that they can't afford it.

Clinton and Edwards want to MANDATE there health plans , but if people don't have the money to buy there health plan and there forced to anyway , they will be losing there cars, homes , going hungry , etc.

Obama's plan for Health Insurance is based on lowering the cost , so more people CAN buy it.

Obama has the better Health Insurance Plan.

I feel for this man but I think we also need to address the plight of the under insured. I pay 10% of my income every month to insurance. For years I never used it because of the prohibitive copay but when my daughter severely burned herself and had to be hospitalized I stilled ended up with over $3000 dollars in bills I am responsible for. I think of the thousands I have paid in in the years I did not use my insurance and wonder if I would not have been better putting that money in a savings account or better yet invested in my childrens education and filed bankruptcy.

I think it would have been better to have the perspectives of a number of South Carolina voters, not just this one. I was left feeling that there wasn't a major point to this article. All it really tells us is that a middle aged man with a low paying job is afraid of Muslims, dislikes Hillary, and doesn't know who to vote for. So what? I'd much rather read an article about voter who is informed about the issues and the candidates, and actually has something interesting to contribute.

I feel fo rthis man but I also worry about the under insured as well. I have paid 10% of my income into insurance and yet when my daughter was briefly hospital, the copay completely has thrown off my financial plan. If I were to lose my job in the next year I would be homeless. Too many of us are living under this stress and another way must be found.

Increased use of electronic health/medical record technology could significantly contribute to both decreasing the costs of health care and to improving the quality of care. We need more national attention to interoperability between systems. So far only the health care information technology of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) delivers nationwide interoperability. While many patients of hospitals in the New Orleans area lost medical records during the Katrina disaster, not a single VA patient record was lost!

Everyone seems to forget about the UNDER-Insured. There are alot of people that are not insured that actually qualify for state insurance, but there are alot of people that cant afford their "employer" family insurance, and thefore the only option is to not insure the rest of their family or get individual insurance for them at a HIGH deductable. And not being able to pay for the inidivual premiums PRE-tax is just KILLING underinsured americans…

I think Hillary has a great plan for universal health care, and to my understanding one of the only plans that is "actually" universal. It covers everyone and helps people that can not get or afford insurance through their empolyer.

Alot of people dont realize that JUST because your employer offers health insurance, doesnt mean it is AFFORDABLE.

We need more choices, and we need pretax options that dont include just employer plans.

Let's not 'sugar-coat' this. I see no way the health care industry will ever be changed in this country. Look at it realistically. Personally, I have worked for many years. At one point, I had insurance that was paid for by my employer and didn't cost me a dime. Today, I pay a LARGE portion of my premium. Why? Simple. People take advantage of the situation. We have too many citizens that expect to be taken care of by someone else instead of getting out and doing an honest day's work. Don't give me the 'nobody will hire me' thing. Nobody will hire you only because you don't want to be hired. I have no idea what it's going to take to fix this country, but one thing is certain; not one of the candidates will be able to do it. This can't be fixed by government by itself.

I'm seldom anything but cynical so it feels a bit odd being sincere, but I sincerely respect Mr Hall. He's obviously on the ragged financial edge but rather than trying to demand that someone else pay his bills–something that an absurd percentage of the population expects–he's making every effort to take responsibility for himself and his family.

The country would be a whole lot better off if more people understood, as Mr Hall said, "Somebody is going to have to pay for it.” That's the fundamental fact that socialists like Clinton and Obama ignore and don't want the rest of us to realise. No government can ever create money. All it can do is shuffle money around, wasting a large fraction of it in the process, and playing politics and buying votes with it while it's in their possession.

About a third of the U.S. Federal budget falls into the "Somebody is going to have to pay for it" category–expenditures made on behalf of individuals who aren't paying their own bills. Another 8% goes to paying interest on the national debt, much of which was incurred by paying peoples' bills. All of this results in taxes that are already putting a strain on Mr Hall's wallet and providinging him no benefit at all.

This story like many can easily be seen as a thinly veiled attempt to bash Hillary and boost up Barack. I would go with he is no fan of Hillary but the "intrigued by Obama"? Is that a quote because it is not in quotation marks and based on what is quoted “His religion scares me,” wouldn't the word leery be just as appropriate.

I have tried very hard give the press the benefit of the doubt about the slanting they seem use but my patience is being tried.

Tina I agree I would much rather see more articles about informed people who are likely to vote.

Make having health insurance a mandate, its like having car insurance, if you don't have the minimum requirement for car insurance, they'll take away your driver's license, impound your vehicle and penalize you. We can do the same thing for health insurance.

There's no such thing as a free ride. People wanted to have health coverage, but human nature always find a way or excuse not paying for it. Make it into LAW, that's the only way to do it.

Hall and all others must realize that we need to pay for our healthcare whether you are poor or rich.

But if you are poor the Govt must provide some subsidy to buy at least the basic health coverage.

All catastrophic illness like cancer, neurological diseases, chronic diabetes etc must be covered by a National Health Fund formed by taxes, and gifts from private citizens.

Right now we cannot get rid of the Insurance Companies: they are profit seeking intermediates.

But slowly the Govt can take over the Healthcare Provider Status once the HillaryCare becomes successful. Profits should not have a place in Public Health.

I have to agree mostly with Tina and her comments. This person is NOT representative of the average voter…I HOPE!!! If he is foolish enough to vote for a Republican, who will lower corporate and wealthy individuals' taxes, he's gonna find himself in as bad or worse shape in 4 years. He'd be better off just staying home, rather than going out and voting blind and ignorant.

Why use the opinion of one person to make a headline? This is absolutlely bias reporting.

I agree with Bill. I don't care if Hillary Clinton does say she's going to cover all Americans with health care. What a waste of money. Alot of the people she will spend millions on, won't take advantage of the care and continue to live unhealthy lives by choice. Come on, how many brains does it take to 1. use a contraceptive if you don't want to get pregnant, 2. stop smoking if you want to reduce your chances of lung cancer, 2. stop eating crappy food (this is not a money issue, but a choice issue….beans, greens and whole grain rice aren't nearly so expensive as cheeseburgers and fries). No, I am not particularly interested in taking care of people who refuse to discipline their eating, smoking or drinking habits because they feel sorry for themselves or simply don't want to learn how to be healthier. I do belive in Obama's plan because we all know that children can't choose. And a child who is seen regularly by a Dr. has a much better chance of becoming a healthy adult than one who hasn't . Also, we know that folks will do things for their kids that they ignore for themselves. Obama's plan has a much greater possibility of success….without the dramatic expense that Hillary's has.

Hillary 08 She is the most capable and most aware candidate available. Obama is a loser!

I think bill that everybody that does not have health insurance just want a early grave right let us just call it as it is,i don't have health insurance my employer is to small i work and have hep-c if i change employers it will be two years for the insurance co will treat my liver.

I like what Hillary says she will make healthcare affordable. I already voted for her by mail.
But I may be willing to vote for Obama in November once I know more about him.

The one thing that all politicans care about, is getting elected to office and once in office staying in office.
When enough Americans who VOTE don't have health coverage, then you will see the mad dash by politicans to provide health care coverage for every American.
Why do you think the NRA is so strong, because their members vote.
Why do you think the poor get the shaft, because they don't vote.
Politicans respond to those that vote, and give lip service to those that don't.

If the Bushies can spend $1.5 TRILLION dollars on an illegal, lost and unnecessary war, universal health insurance money can be spent as well.

Instead of giving up on universal health care, just end the Iraq debacle and suddenly this country is prosperous again.

Without the government's help, we have to depend on health insurance companies to help out with the current exorbitant premiums.

Fat chance of that.

Are there others out there who feel CNN posts more favorable stories about Obama than any other candidate? Can we at least have some shred of journalistic objectivity here?!

Even if there was no war in Iraq the facts of the matter remain that:

"[T]he powers of the federal government are enumerated; it can only operate in certain cases; it has legislative powers on defined and limited objects, beyond which it cannot extend its jurisdiction."
– James Madison, Speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention [June 6, 1788]

These aren't the the words of some random madman but the man primarily responsible for penning our Constitution. If anyone should be dealing with healthcare it should be the states who understand the issues in regards to healthcare in their state far better then the lofty cronies residing in Washington. Not to mention that healthcare in it's entirety is a state issue except for possibly issues in which actual crimes are committed.

Healthcare is in no way a right unless an individual state feels it is. If the Democrats want to change that I suggest they do it by the appropriate channels and ammend the Constitution instead of constantly trying to buy up the votes of those who either can't afford healthcare (which has to be truly questioned since cable telivision and other non-essential items are readily found in the homes of those who claim to be poor) or are unwilling to put in the extra work to get it.

ZH, well said. I never find anything Hillary says to be true and should be accountable to her past, plain and simple. If Obama doesn't get a nod then I have an option to punish Hillary by voting republican!

I personally think Hillary brought fights in south carolina so that America will think black people voted for Obama for no good reasons just fluff. Well, the whole America is going downhill from it's economy to its morals. I really don't care what the clintons say but they have the darkest past!

Values, Insurance, the economy, education - those are my issues.
I have yet to see a 'plan' that Obama has put out for either of these - I am black and educated with several degrees - Hilary is 'wishy-washy' - voting to 'keep' the war in Iraq - Everyone, be informed - educate yourselves - A news clip or reel is not enough - Listen to the messages the candidates are putting forth -
Having Bill Clinton as a front runner for Hillary gives me goosebumps in a bad way - Could hurt her campaign - But this is how me and hubby are looking at this:
The republican party is 'hoping' that Barack wins the nomination - Why?
Because they know that America is thinking, "Do I want a black man for president?" Americans and this American are not that progressive just yet.
Then when Americans get to the polls in November - they are gonna have two choices - A black man or a white man - We see it that folks will abandon their party affiliation and vote behind that curtain their skin color - bottom line -
Another 4 years of pure hell and empy checking accounts, Ladies and gentlemen.
THanks for the opp to vent.

I hope that the next president will get some coaching from Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts on straightening out the mess left by GW Bush, Inc.

The painfully obvious ignorance of this story's subject - Mr. Hall - proves two things.

One, the writer was either lazy or on tight deadline.

Two, a man who doesn't recall a former Vice Presidential candidate, who drives cab and pizza and yet would STILL consider voting Republican probably needs help untying his own shoes before he's even considered to represent our electorate.

Give me a friggin' break!

How longer this thing drags on how more I get disappointed with CNN, seems like you guys are endorsing Obama! I have nothing against both candidates but please keep it a bit fair! I do would like to remind people of the good 8 years before the latest Bush admin. Add the good health care plan and we all are going to benefit the next 8 years.

Health care is not relative to me because I have it at a reasonable rate. The cost / co-pays continue to rise, and that does concern me. Lawsuits are one of the biggest expenses of the medical field. The problem, in my humble opinion, is how to hold the profession accountable without mega-million dollar law suits. Ask any Doctor what is the most costly insurance they pay, it is mal-practice. So, perhaps a medical mediator would be better. The big winners in all of this, are the insurance companies. A majority of doctors, are not going to cut off the wrong foot, yet they pay for those that do. The profits of insurance companies, need to be investigated. How much profit should we pay for? Make them accountable, they have the power to approve or deny a claim. The latter more often then not. The doctors take valuable time requesting approval for test and surgerys. Doctors may request un-necessary test to insure they don't get sued for mal-practice. My daughter works for a cardioglist in pre-authorization. Submit a request with one word/code wrong it gets denied, re-submit,re-submit. It can be a long, sometimes deadly, process. Ever tried to read an insurance contract? Workers comp. is among the worst, and there are many others.

Healthcare is a hugh concern for my family and me. My father was a miner and worked 16 hour days doing hard labor, and to this day, his body pays the consequences. That certainly comes to more than "a hard day's work". His employers did not give him healthcare, and he did not make enough to purchase independant healthcare. So, for my entire childhood, he was paying medical bills. Is that fair? A lot of folks say, "well, he could have found another job," but you and I both know that one job is hard to come by, much less having career options. Besides, coal provides over 50% of our nation's electricity, so I suppose that all of those miners could go find other jobs and half of you could sit in the dark for the rest of your lives.

I am a teacher, with health coverage from my district, but in order to have a baby, I would have to pay $5000 out of pocket expenses. How many teachers that you know of just have $5000 laying around?

America, the time has come for us to socialize medicine. Canada does it. England does it. France does it (and gives all parents–mother and father–paid leave for infant care). Why can't we? We socialize education. Why not healthcare?

Its a sad day when an illegal immigrant has the ability to go to our hospitals free of charge and our own citizens don't. Wake up!

Poor Gene can't afford to buy insurance and surly can't afford to be without it. I hope he doesn't need it.

Unfortunately, we all need medical industry protection. Some actually need medical care. Which one does our insurance cover, I think the industry.

I agree. Health care cost is out of reach. I don't want mandate that force me to buy things that I can't afford. Lower the health cost is the main aim for change.

I think Obama is a winner, he has the best vision and team and plans, hillary cant win with arguments so she and Bill started a dirty low campaign with lies and rumors and spindocters, and the worst thing is that Hilary copied every word and plan of Obama that seems to work with voters, and then later claimes she found her voice?
She says one thing , doest work, then just copies what Obama is campaigning and then tells people Obama is against those plans, she just copied. Blaming Obama with things she is guilty of herself, very dirty propaganda spindocter style.

Tina, keep in mind that LOTS of people vote who don't have time to pay attention to the issues, watch debates, etc., thus, it's very interesting to see what their perspective is.

I am 72 years old. I raised my children without health insurance. I kept them healthy and well through clean living and good, solid food and a blessing from the Lord. Why do Americans think they have to be 'covered' by insurances? The human body can heal itself without the help of expensive doctoring and drugs. A good old-fashioned infection from time to time actually makes us stronger when our bodies overcome it. Imagine: my parents and old timers didn't go to doctors all the time and their lives were more joyful and happy and they lived as long as we do today. Hillary thinks we are all stupid (except herself of course) that she needs to nanny us; that the government can take better care of us than we can do for ourselves. What nonsense! Don't swallow that.

Bill, I agree completely. There has to be personal responsibility when it comes to taking care of your family. Your first priority in life should be you and your family's health…NOT your net pay. If you really cared about yourself and your family, you'd take a lower paying job with better health care benefits…especially if you know you have health problems or are in a high-risk category. I also believe that the reason health care costs, including insurance, are so high is because people go to the doctor or emergency room for every little thing. A typical cold does not require an office visit…get some rest, stay away from others, and let it run its course. This is how your immune system exercises itself and stays healthy. A splinter does not require an emergency room visit…

when Hillary brings our troops home, then we will have money to work with. Ido not have health insurance either, and just spent almost two hundred yesterday to take my daughter to the doctor for antibiotics etc. HILLARY CLINTON is the only one in my opinion that can make this thing work, she has been there before and knows exactly what she needs this time to make it work. I do not want to gamble on this important decision!!!!!! That is why I will vote for HILLARY CLINTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2008

who asked this guy to reproduce? Oh I had a bunch of children now feel sorry for me!

The United States would be better off in the long run giving monthly checks to poor people who don't reproduce. Lets use some systems thinking.

I hate the way this issue is so overdramatized. There's a huge chunk (up to 50%) of the "uninsured" who could be insured, by buying that which is offered by their employers, but these employees don't because they prefer to have the money for cigarettes, electronic luxiries, etc. As a former HR employee, I was amazed how many simply opted not to have insurance until they got sick. No matter how much I stressed the importance of being covered against potential future illness or injury, these employees always signed a waiver of "no, thank you".

I don't think mandating them to be covered is the answer, either, but if a waiver is found to be on file with an employer offering insurance, then I think that "uninsured" should face the consequences of his choices and pay his own medical bills.

Having someone to look after your interests–is a lot different from having someon "take care of you".

There will be no substitute for training, education, experience in our modern economy. Small businessmen…like Taxi owners–must decide if their enterprise is making money–if not then move on.

Government can't cure all ills. Universal healthcare–promises to remove the superior quality of our nations healthcare–and will remove choices–particularly for those of us who strive to enjoy the extra conveniences, specialists, and premier heatlhcare that money can buy.

In order for healthcare competition to continue–we must continually provide service and quality like any other industry. When the incentive to compete is gone–the quality will decline…and eventually our faith and satisfaction with the healthcare system.

Rich people will be flying to Mexico for surgery…we'll be stuck with here.

"I am a teacher, with health coverage from my district, but in order to have a baby, I would have to pay $5000 out of pocket expenses. How many teachers that you know of just have $5000 laying around?"

If you can't afford to spend $5000 now, how in the world do you plan to pay for your baby's clothes, food, toys, school expenses, bicycles, baseball gloves, the bigger house you'll eventually need, increased car insurance when (s)he learns to drive, and college education? That $5000 is absolutely trivial compared to the cost of raising a kid. I know; I have three. And just keeping them fed, housed, and clothed costs many, many, thousands of dollars every year.

It's just plain irresponsible to have a kid you can't afford to take care of and raise.

"America, the time has come for us to socialize medicine. Canada does it. England does it."

If healthcare is so great in Canada, why do huge numbers of Canadians come to U.S. hospitals when they have serious medical problems? If it's so great in England, why do people have to wait months or years for necessary but not life-threatening medical treatment?

"We socialize education. Why not healthcare?"

Do you really want healthcare to become the bureaucratic, politicised, inefficient, ineffective, mess that American education has become? If you're a teacher, you know how balled up the school system is. Do you really want your hospitals run by the same collection of clowns that run your school system?

In every place it's tried, privatised schools–charter schools and the like–routinely out-perform the normal "socialised" schools in quality of education, reduced cost-per-student, and teacher satisfaction. (Not precisely on-topic, but the solution is to privatise education, not socialise medicine.)

"Its a sad day when an illegal immigrant has the ability to go to our hospitals free of charge and our own citizens don't.

Yep, it sure is. Which is why illegals should be sent home for their medical care.

A South Carolina Taxi/Pizza driver with 4 kids, that thinks of Hillary as squirrely, afraid of Obama's religion and doesn't even know who John Edwards is?? 10 to 1, Gene Hall is not even American.

Come on CNN… This was the guy that pick your reporter up at the airport.
Pleeeeessee..

If Gene makes less than 35,000 per year then his family qualifies for the SCHIP healthcare program. So evidently, Gene isn't smart enough to enroll in SCHIP, not an American or lying. Best team in politics? Yeah right..

FYI Henry. I can afford the $5000 because my husband and I are savers….but there are many people out there that do not have that kind of money. Don't call me irresponsible when you no nothing about me. When the health corporations can charge $18,000 for a thirty minute gallbladder surgery, then the system is corrupt. When the health coverage that you pay $400 a month for to cover two adults will not pay the total cost of childbirth, the system is corrupt. If you can't recognize that, then you are seriously out of touch.

Furthermore, how many folks from Cananda or England have you had conversations with? I have been told, first hand, that the healthcare in England and Argentina is very good. And, if you choose to purchase top-quality care, then you have the option to pay for a corporate upgrade. I don't know about you, but I would rather have mediocre healthcare than none!

I love the arguement that "I don't want to pay for someone else's care," and perhaps it is my religion that makes me resent this statement so much. Most of the time I hear this out of the mouths of fellow Christians…you know, those that are supposed to strive to be "Christ-like." Do you think Jesus would deny people healthcare? I seriously doubt it.

Oh—not to mention that fact that the healthcare here isn't all that great sometimes. I suffered for 3 years with severe pain and trouble eating. I went to several doctors, had tons of tests performed on me, and was told that it was all in my head. I was given an anti-anxiety medicine and told that it was probably acid reflux. It wasn't. It was a non-functioning gallbladder the entire time. If our healthcare system wants to have something to brag about and charge people an arm and a leg for, then maybe they need to have sheets on hosptial beds that don't have holes in them and do more for patients than tell them they are crazy.