[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/07/16/art.mccain.wed.ap.jpg
caption="McCain said Obama's health care plan amounts to a government takeover."]
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (CNN) - John McCain devoted a substantial chunk of his town hall meeting Thursday to drawing contrasts with Barack Obama on health care policy, stressing his opposition to the presumptive Democratic nominee's health care plan and noting the "great difference" between them on abortion.
McCain's strongest denunciation of Obama came when discussing the Democrat's health care plan, which would cost $50-65 billion per year but would not mandate insurance coverage for all adults, only children.
"My friends, we've seen this movie before," McCain said. "It was called 'HillaryCare' back in 1993, and we're not going to do it again. We're not going to have the government take over the health care system in America."
At a later moment in the town hall, when stressing his own bipartisan record, McCain accused Obama of generally having "the most extreme record of any member of the United States Senate."
McCain also went out of his way early in the event to trumpet his opposition to abortion rights and a called partial-birth abortion a "hideous procedure that should never be allowed anywhere on earth." He promised "active advocacy for the rights of the unborn."
McCain struck a more moderate tone when taking a question about federal funding for stem cell research, which he supports. The Arizona senator argued the government should fund research on stem cells - especially skin cells - because of their "incredible potential" to combat diseases. However, the presumptive Republican nominee avoided using the term "embryonic" when discussing the matter Thursday.
hey thats great for your PUMAs...wow im sure they gonna like thats...
Good luck pulling in the Hillary supporters.
I watched his speech today and I can say that I didn't come away with one plan McCain actually has. He spends so much time talking about what is wrong with Obama's plans while not even talking about his own. Is that b/c if we actually payed attention to his plans we would forget we were watching a town hall meeting and think SNL was on. He seems to be the one that's all talk or criticism and no plans.
Just to be clear...McCain has been actively seeking Hillary's supporters and he basically endorses Obama to Hillary's legion by saying that his healthcare plan is akin to hers?! This one is just too easy!!!!!
McCain = McSame = McClueless!!!
The GVT can't even run the plans they have in place now .... Leave health care out of the hands of the GVT!! The last thing we need is GVT provided health care.
Well PUMA here is your candiate.
I think that his McCain's voting record for Veterans is far more extreme than Obama's.
McCain: ‘I Received The Highest Award From Literally Every Veterans Organization In America"
The recognition McCain has received from veterans groups is not "high awards" but failing grades:
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a grade of D for his record of voting against veterans. (By contrast, Obama got a B+.)
Disabled Veterans of America noted McCain’s dismal 20 percent voting record on veterans’ issues. (Obama had an 80 percent.)
In a list of "Key Votes," Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) notes McCain "Voted Against Us" 15 times and "Voted For Us" only 8. (Obama voted for VVA 12 times, and against only once.)
There's your man once again PUMAs, he is now mocking Hillary's universal health care plan and acknowldges that Obama wants to deliver it....again I ask: how can any sane democrat vote for this guy? It would be an insult to Hillary herself, the man has no regard for her policy positions whatsoever.
the richest nation on planet earth cant take care of its own citizens medical issues how are we suppost to lead the world mr McBush? i wonder how much did he got paid to say " We're not going to have the government take over the health care system in America." Another Reason why America hates washington.
Since he doesn't have any sensible policies of his own, all he can do is keep attacking Obama on his policies.
Its so hard being respectful to this senor citizen. I know he's trying to be president, but can he bring up a subject on his own?
Why is his only chance to be president is to make Barack look bad?
Hey Americans....let's shock the world and hire the smart guy this time.
We should be so lucky to have Obama share ideas with Hillary!
You P.U.M.A.S Better choose carefully!
Go BAMA!
That seems like a smack in the face to all you hillary supporters who are supporting McSane...
DEMOCRATS PLEASE UNITE
We just can't afford to waste this election by voting for another Republican.
I thought he was trying to court hillary supporters?????
Aparently the McCain campaign is very confused about how to label Obama. Yesterday, they compared Obama to George Bush, and earlier today, they tied him to Rumsfeld. Now he is being compared to Hillary? What they failed to realize is that with each perjorative comparison, they alienate sympathisers of the people with whom they are comparing Obama.
Well. I hope this shows those PUMA idiots how John McCain really feels about their girl.
Amusing to say that he 'avoided' the word Embryonic when talking stem cells. I dont think it was intentional, its just doubtful that he could pronounce it.
Regardless, McCain knows that there's no better way to get the Right-wing-talk-radio crowd fired up than to connect something to "Hillary" in some way. He could tell them that she sleeps in a coffin during the day and they'd believe him – or that she supports health insurance for little kids, and they'd vote against it.
There's no honor in pandering to the already-brainwashed.
Save yourselves! Study the issues and vote your conscience!
And this old mans solution to our failing health care system is more of the same!
McSame = WRONG on:
Health care
Iraq
SCHIP
Abortion
Minimum wage
Torture
Trade
most important issues out there!
McBush = WRONG FOR AMERICA!
How does he know what Obama's record was in the Senate when he can't even remember his own record! Like saying that he voted for something and then come to find out he didn't vote on it at all. Which votes does he consider extreme? He blusters but doesn't have the facts to back it up. Let's hear specifics. And at least Hillary tried to tackle the health care system, something the Republicans haven't done yet!
PUMA is fake, they are nasty republicans !!!
Ok, you are trying to pull the Hillary supporters to you by belittling Hillary? Excellent logic, McAdvancedInAge.
That's right Obama's policies are similar to Hilary's that why many of her "supporters" are gonna vote against their interests and vote fore Mcsame in Nov. Please.....
McSame is gonna get a spanking in Nov.
Obama 08 & 12
This coming from someone whose idea of health care is giving each family a $5000 tax credit? Yeah, good luck trying to get anything meaningful with all insurance companies stuck on "pre-existing condition" exclusion mode. Better take care of that nagging cold today... while you can still afford to.
The Arizona senator argued the government should fund research on stem cells — especially skin cells
Mccain for every thing that would benefit him think about the above statement "especially skin cells", this would benefit him for his skin cancer.