October 17, 2008
Posted: October 17th, 2008 03:00 PM ET

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Sen. Obama's new tv ad attacks Sen. McCain's health care reform plan.
Sen. Obama's new tv ad attacks Sen. McCain's health care reform plan.

(CNN) – Barack Obama launched a new television ad Friday that echoes his latest campaign trail attack on John McCain’s health care proposal: that the Republican nominee’s plan would major cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.

“It Gets Worse,” a 30-second spot, follows up on a string of recent Obama ads about health care - all of which highlighted the tax implications of McCain’s plan.

The new ad suggests that, in addition to changing the historical tax treatment of employer-provided health care benefits, McCain’s plan would also involve significant cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, two of the federal governments largest entitlement programs. “Eight hundred and eighty-two billion from Medicare alone,” the ad says.

McCain-Palin spokesman Tucker Bounds called the charges, which Obama repeated on the trail Friday, “absurd”: “Unlike Barack Obama’s risky plan, John McCain’s plans for health care do not punish struggling businesses with fines and taxes, and they certainly do not cut a single benefit for Medicare or Medicaid – Obama is simply lying,” he said.

“It Gets Worse,” will air in “key states” across the country, according to the Obama campaign.

(Full script after the jump)

Full script for “It Gets Worse,” 30 seconds, Airing in “key states”

ANNCR: John McCain’s health care plan … first we learned he’s going to tax health care benefits to pay for part of it.

ANNCR: Now the Wall Street Journal reports John McCain would pay for the rest of his health care plan “with major reductions to Medicare and Medicaid.”

ANNCR: Eight hundred and eighty-two billion from Medicare alone.

ANNCR: “Requiring cuts in benefits, eligibility, or both.”

ANNCR: John McCain … Taxing Health Benefits … Cutting Medicare. We Can’t Afford John McCain.

Obama: I’m Barack Obama and I approved this message.

Filed under: Barack Obama • Health care • John McCain • Political ads


George Dulo   October 18th, 2008 7:46 am ET

Its time for well meaning americans to bring negative rhetoric,paid for by mc.cain and his running mate sarah palin to an end!its not the party r.n.c its those two negative name calling partners. They ought to have bought decorum or clear sense with their money,either they tell americans what they intend to do or they shut up.

Danny   October 17th, 2008 8:38 pm ET

PUNISH DIVISIVE HATE MONGERS WITH YOUR VOTE!

McCain-Palin have given up on talking about issues because their faulty policies do not match Obama-Biden. So they are showing how dishonorable they are and labeling everybody that does not belive in their policy.

Any American and i repeat ANY...who belives that all other Americans are UN-AMERICAN because they dont buy his or her ideas ideology or beliefs is the real TERRORIST! They are not any different from
sick Islamic extreemist that we seek to bring to justice.

OBAMA-BIDEN 08'

shay   October 17th, 2008 8:14 pm ET

I like Obama plan better than McCain. I believe his idea of spread the wealth around is plus for the little guy in America, especially for seniors who need it the most. Seniors deserve it more than me. They have done their time and now it's time for us to make sure they are covered and do not have to worry about health care. We will get old some day and want that to be in place and not be taken away. .

I also like the idea of getting off oil addiction and invest in new energy. I am kind of worried about nuclear plants because I do not want it anywhere near by to hurt anyone should something bad happen.

the medical is important to me and for Americans who do not have medical and I care about making sure children are covered even if the parents are not.

Plus Obama temperment and composure brought it to a close on the last debate. He allowed McCain to say what he had to get out and then hit him hard in a dignified and positive manner. He did not waiver anything. McCain decided to go negative which was a turn off. I worry on McCain because of his temperment and dealing with foreign countries. Did you see all the faces he made at the debate?

Palin has so many things going against her. I would rather not even talk about her. The only thing I see in Palin is that she is a parrot. A parrot can memorize anything but doesn't have a clue of the meaning of what it is saying. She is only good at memorizing things like a parrot when it is cued to say something.

NC for Obama   October 17th, 2008 8:11 pm ET

McCain and Palin are liars and keep getting caught. Why does the media keep repeating their lies and then not point out what the truth is.

-McCain's heathcare plan is a disaster for Americans. By why should McCain care? With his wife's money, he can afford to pay for all he needs without insurance. McCain has been saying all along he plans to cut Social Security and Medicare. People are you not listening?

-McCain wants to stay in Iraq and has said he will bring back the Draft. So are you willing to send your sons and daughters to die for McCain's obsessive need to "win" a war we have already lost?

-McCain has no plan for anything that is really workable. So you won't notice, he throw out distractions to keep you from reading the fine print of how McCain would destroy what is left of your healthcare, housing, and savings.

-Ayers and Obama barely know each other and were brought together on an educational board by two Republicans
-Rev Wright – who even remembers what he said – Obama was not even attending the church when he made whatever statements the McCain is exaggerating. Obama was in Washington. not at the church.
-ACORN is a McCain supported group. McCain just spoke at an ACORN meeting prasing their work and suddenly this is an Obama group? More lies.
-Joe the Plumber was a McCain gimmick. The guy is not a plumber and his name is not Joe. He has no money to buy his employer's business, which by the way, is not for sale. Whatever this McCain plant's real name is, only makes 40K a year and admitted he would benefit under Obama's tax plan. Now McCain is trying to pretend Obama is trying to smear an "average American". Obama was not the one who made this whole lie. Obama was the not one who harped on this lie during the whole debate. The news media discovered this whole "Joe the Plumber" farce was a total lie so McCain is desperately trying to tie Obama to it. McCain is such a liar.
-McCain and Palin are inciting hate-crime level language at their rallies and when the nuts in the crowd start yelling racist and violent language McCain and Palin do nothing to stop. McCain is a liar. He has never called down any crowd for their remarks like he claims. He said something to one nutty woman at one rally and it was a very lame comment at that. McCain and Palin are intentionally out there telling lies and stirring their base to violence.

McCain and Palin tell nothing but lies and never discuss a single issue. They have to throw out outrageous lies and smears against Obama because they have nothing else to say. They are both dangerous and reckless and pathetic.

For all you Republican sheep who fall for their junk – the Party announced today they are not going to give McCain any more money. They know he is going to lose huge and are now going to focus their efforts on trying to keep Republican seats in Congress.

Obama is an intellligent, good an decent man with nothing radical in his past or in his present life. He is honest, has real workable plans for America and has shown incredible grace under the McCain/Palin disgustingly untrue smears.

CNN – you need to stop reporting the McCain/Palin lies they tell every day or you need to put in your article the fact check that their rhetoric is FALSE. No one should be allowed to get away with the lies these two dishonorable candidates are spreading. Call them on it!

I, my husband, and my neighbors went and did early voting yesterday here in NC. We all voted for Obama and it felt wonderful. NC is going for Obama this election. We know when we are being lied to and we reject it. We vote for true leadership and for real men of integrity and character....Obama/Biden all the way to the White House!

ilandking   October 17th, 2008 8:05 pm ET

Nothing Mccain has said really makes sense and Im suprised that more people arent concerned by the way he rushes into everything. Case in point how are you on one hand proposing a spending freeze, then on the other not only promise tax cuts for EVERYBODY but propose incentives for schools and energy. Obama called him out on it at the debate, I just wish he would call him out more and drown out this noise I keep hearing about Ayers. You have to respect that Obama is taking the chance and saying that he would actually be taxing the top 5% of Americans. Takes guts to do that in an Election, lets hope he doesnt lose for that....

Winnie Hussein.... in Montana   October 17th, 2008 8:01 pm ET

If McCain tries to take my employer paid healthcare, or to tax me on it, I will be screwed. That goes for a lot of other people out there. Do the math, folks.

McPain Pro America   October 17th, 2008 7:59 pm ET

At a fundraiser in Greensboro, North Carolina Thursday night, Palin told donors, “We believe that the best of America is not all in Washington, D.C. We believe that the best of America is in the small towns that we get to visit, and in the wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, very pro-America areas of this great nation.”

So if your not in one of those "little pockets".. then your not Pro-America, you are not Patriotic plus your Lazy.

Palin Leads again.. :P

ts   October 17th, 2008 7:59 pm ET

Govenor Palin calling from the Alaska 7-11 is still insisting that the signs in the sun, the moons, and the stars should be imminent.

Hopefully, McCain,72, will retire now.

Bill   October 17th, 2008 7:54 pm ET

Any and all proposals by either Candidate will get nowhere simply due to the obvious fact that the country will be bankrupt very shortly.....in what can only be described as a depression.

Anybody with money will leave the country including any and all smart business owners. So with unemployment at an all time high who will pay the taxes?

mb   October 17th, 2008 7:54 pm ET

The palin/mccain camp needs to be hit with everything the Dems have for them. I am a senior and I am not about to change my insurances. mccain is a big time gambler I have not worked all these years for him to gamble and lose everything I have.

Rob indetroit   October 17th, 2008 7:54 pm ET

Tucker bounds quit BS'n the american people JohnMCcain, quit BS'n the american people,Sarah Palin quit BS'n the american people, conservative Republican party Quit BS'n the american people,
MCbush lost vall honor Palin go &see what you witch DR. is up to.
MCcain how's your first wife,Palin how's your corupption case going.

Barbara   October 17th, 2008 7:53 pm ET

McCain needs to pick someone other than snooty Tucker Bounds as a spokesman. He's so annoying that I hit mute on my remote every time I see him on TV. What a weasel.

ready for change   October 17th, 2008 7:49 pm ET

IF IT WASN'T FOR MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HELPING ME WITH MY LIFE RIGHT NOW, I WOULD BE LIVING ON THE STREET. I THANK GOD FOR THEM, OBAMA IS OUR ONLY HOPE, MCCAIN HAS PROVEN HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP ANYONE EXCEPT HIS WALL-STREET FRIENDS, HE'S HAD THIS WHOLE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO HELP, HE'S DONE NOTHING. HE SHOULD APOLOGISE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR HIS HORRIBLE VP CHOICE, IF HE DOESN'T, AMERICA SHOULD DEMAND THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DO IT FOR HIM. WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THEIR SILLY STUNTS, AMERICA IS IN A CRISIS, AND ALL MCCAIN & PALIN THINK ABOUT IS SNL & STARTING MORE UNTRUE RUMORS. VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN

A Canadian Perspective   October 17th, 2008 7:46 pm ET

I very much hope that my American neighbours are able to improve the standards of their healthcare system. I am very sorry you are not currently receiving the same standard of care that we in Canada have. I am consistently astounded that so many people in America believe that if you affordable healthcare is available to everyone you will suddenly become a socialist nation (on a sidenote, if you are one of these people, please look up the term "socialist" and examine the policies of countries that currently identify as being socialist – when you imply that affordable healthcare will make you socialist, it makes you look ignorant and uneducated to the rest of the world).

America, please vote in Barack Obama, you deserve an affordable healthcare system.

Rob indetroit   October 17th, 2008 7:44 pm ET

Question why is it okay to spread the wealth when it comes to other country's but when it comes to other americans it's treated like a dirty word. the Republican party now Reminds me of Joseph MCcarthy,and the witch hunts he bvrought forht on law abiding citizen's,
in the 50's there was a term for it called the "Red-scare" i hope americans had learned from this Rebuke John MCsenile &the republican party.

VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN08'

my friends yes my friends   October 17th, 2008 7:42 pm ET

mmm jjaaj
dont you find it interesting that Mcsame knew all about JOE,
and not only that
but dont you find it intersting that CNN which loves focusing on brainless jane palin, has not ONCE made mentio of this GUY
who he is,
is he a real plumber
did he ask for a loan
did he pay his taxes
did he not talk to mcsame before about setting this up??
mm

I tell you my friend, no coincidences here

the thing is that Mcsame, wants yu to believe he is for the average JOE
average hockey mom, average all

WE AMERICANS FROM THE US ARE NOT JUST AVERAGE, WE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE HARD WORKERS, HONEST, WHO CAN SEE BEYOND FEAR, SMEARS, TACTICS OF RACISM, MANIPULATION BY REPUBLICANS

NO WAY NO HOW NO MCPALINJOE

Lesley   October 17th, 2008 7:34 pm ET

I agree with the spirit of spreading the wealth. Many wealthy individuals are philanthropists and no one condemns them for it. They also have a responsibility to pay their fair share of taxes. Under the Bush administration, the wealthiest received the top tax breaks. Loop holes that allow corporations to send money offshore to avoid taxes are culprits as well. The country is now drowning in debt and it affects everyone.

Gene   October 17th, 2008 7:33 pm ET

I'm sorry, I just don't see how you can cut over a trillion dollars out of Medicare without it affecting the services and the availability there of.

That's like owning a restaurant, and saying you're gonna cut expenses by 30%, and still serve the same amount of food for the same price. Something's gotta give... in that case it'll be much cheeper quality of food.

McCain's whole economic and medical plan is absolutely insane. He wants to cut everyones taxes even more, and he wants to continue the wars. How does he pay for this?

There's not enough "pork barrel spending" out there to pay for these things.. so he's taxing us where we don't feel it directly.. but will feel it in the end. Taxing health benefits, both employer based and medicare... if there's so much less money going to the medical field.. how long do you suppose it'll be before it affects the quality of the service provided?

bertha doucet   October 17th, 2008 7:32 pm ET

The american people that are wealthy Have worked hard and sacrificed for every penny that they have.Some people always looking for a hand out,they don't apply themselves,like finishing high school,takeing a trade or attending collage.I don't think that spread the wealth around is fair.Obama needs to start answereing these questions he is dodgeing,like acorn,etc. Houston Tx

Afraid For Americans   October 17th, 2008 7:32 pm ET

McCain want to give us $5,000.00 credit for health insurance but health insurance cost at least $15,000.00 and if you make $35,000.00 at the end of the year you have to claim $40,000.00 as your gross ($35,000.00 you made and $5,000.00 McCain gave you =$40,000.00) health insurance cost more than $5,000.00 what if you are sick and your spouse then what $5,000.00 is not enough for health insurance for a family.

Schneider (I) - CA   October 17th, 2008 7:32 pm ET

Cool, calm and elected

O08

john   October 17th, 2008 7:28 pm ET

Check the factcheck – not even true...

Payin' taxes in anti-American- you betcha!   October 17th, 2008 7:27 pm ET

We can't afford another Bush term. That's why this pro-American is voting for the "socialists."

Dave   October 17th, 2008 7:25 pm ET

The bottomline is that Obama has the better plan. McCain's plan is a joke. Who does he think he's fooling? Obviously the loyal diehard republican supporters don't mind getting used by McCain and stabbed in the back. I guess they don't need healthcare.

S. Boatman   October 17th, 2008 7:25 pm ET

Keep Telling The Truth About Mccain And His Plans Obama! Let All Of America Know What Mccain Will Do!

Stan   October 17th, 2008 7:23 pm ET

Mr. Bradley, you go right ahead and work hard every day and then hand over your money to Obama so he can give it to whomever he chooses. Let's spread your wealth around. By they way...I suggest you begin now to practice what you preach. Cut your fluff and give it to the government. Hum...Bet you won't.

mitch   October 17th, 2008 7:19 pm ET

republicans are trying to start a civil war.

Juge   October 17th, 2008 7:15 pm ET

I HATE negative ads – Just tell me your plan and that should be enough.

Happy in Arizona   October 17th, 2008 7:14 pm ET

Sit down and figure it out people. McCains health care would cost you more with less benefits. He is so wishy-washy that nothing he says will get done, just like the border fence.

Alexia of Colorado   October 17th, 2008 7:14 pm ET

GO OBAMA!!

ohio voter   October 17th, 2008 6:51 pm ET

I would really like to know where in the world you can buy an insurance policy for a family of 4 for $5000
The average cost is $10,000 to $12.000 and then McCain is going to tax that $5000 as income

Paul   October 17th, 2008 6:48 pm ET

Obama is the best candidate

We do not want another Bush-McCain administration, their policies have brought our nation to this recession. Thousands of people are losing their homes, jobs, and thousands more will lose their access to health care if we reward the GOP with a 3rd term.

Things need to move no in the right direction. We cannot play with our present and the future of our families.

Obama – Biden 08!!!

Barbara - 65 yr old white female in NC   October 17th, 2008 6:40 pm ET

Obama/Biden '08 for a lot of good reasons

(Former) Lifelong Republican for Obama, Columbia, TN   October 17th, 2008 6:40 pm ET

This is a good ad. McCain healthcare plan is not only stupid, it is dangerous!

Barbara - 65 yr old white female in NC   October 17th, 2008 6:38 pm ET

I had health insurance last year – $2510 up-front payments PLUS $3000 deductible, then paid 80% of SOME treatments.

Thanks, but no thanks.

Charlie Bradley   October 17th, 2008 6:34 pm ET

You Go Barack!!!!!!!!! Times are bad enough for those on Medicaid and Medicare as it is they have to watch EVERY penny they spend. Your opponent has accused you of "spread the wealth around" and I wholeheartedly think thats what the spirit of America is.. If there's an elder Bob or Betty out there that needs the help, don't be stingy with your wealth...HELP THEM.

j   October 17th, 2008 6:32 pm ET

I'm not sure either health care plan of either candidate will survive Congress in it's present form so when it comes to health care, I'll just wait and see what the new Congress does. It's not as important an issue to me as clean alternative energy, which I believe Obama will do a better job of delivering. I also prefer Obama's proposal for infrastructure. These are some of the issues that leads me to prefer Obama over McCain.

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