Health Care Call to Action
How well do you know the presidential candidates' health care plans? If you're like most people, you probably know at least the basics: they want universal coverage or they don't. They favor tax breaks or government support.
Today, a group called the Aspen Institute Health Stewardship Project, co-chaired by former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, said they want to help us evaluate some of those plans in even greater detail. The group, during a press conference today, offered what they called "core principles" to guide health care reform.
One of the principles, for instance, is that while we must have accessible and affordable health care for everyone because it is "socially just," prevention must also be key. Another is that people need to take charge of their own health.
Leaders of the project, part of the nonpartisan Aspen Institute, said they will send their principles and detailed questionnaires to the presidential candidates to better evaluate their plans, and will publish their results on the site.
If it sounds pretty wonky, that's because it is. The fine print of health care reform surely makes most people's eyes glaze over. But, as Whitman pointed out during the press conference, the next president will have to deal with this issue. Since it's something that touches us all, we need to inform ourselves and understand their plans as best we can.
That is, of course, one of the goals of WebMD's election coverage. So take the time to look through our coverage to better understand what the candidates are proposing. And once the Aspen Institute has published the candidates' answers, we'll let you know about that, too.
Valarie Basheda
Managing Editor, WebMD
Jarret Cassaniti contributed to this report.
Today, a group called the Aspen Institute Health Stewardship Project, co-chaired by former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, said they want to help us evaluate some of those plans in even greater detail. The group, during a press conference today, offered what they called "core principles" to guide health care reform.
One of the principles, for instance, is that while we must have accessible and affordable health care for everyone because it is "socially just," prevention must also be key. Another is that people need to take charge of their own health.
Leaders of the project, part of the nonpartisan Aspen Institute, said they will send their principles and detailed questionnaires to the presidential candidates to better evaluate their plans, and will publish their results on the site.
If it sounds pretty wonky, that's because it is. The fine print of health care reform surely makes most people's eyes glaze over. But, as Whitman pointed out during the press conference, the next president will have to deal with this issue. Since it's something that touches us all, we need to inform ourselves and understand their plans as best we can.
That is, of course, one of the goals of WebMD's election coverage. So take the time to look through our coverage to better understand what the candidates are proposing. And once the Aspen Institute has published the candidates' answers, we'll let you know about that, too.
Valarie Basheda
Managing Editor, WebMD
Jarret Cassaniti contributed to this report.
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1 Comments:
Huckabee, by far, not only has the best health-care plan - of all of the candidates, and it's based on great theory as well as real life experiences. John McCain, has of late, started using Huckabee's health-care language & ideas, just gotta love it!
Dear John McCain,
Any GOP candidate who wants to "consolidate" the party, and who refuses to
use a nationally televised debate v. other GOP'ers to do so, is either:
1. too weak and/or too lame
2. giving lip service to the idea of "consolidating" the Party, and is so
foolish that he actually believes he can win the National Elec. w/o
consolidating it
3. is lying when he says he will out-campaign, out-debate and out-perform
the Dem's - if you can't do it in your own camp, you can't do it against
the opposition.
"Good luck" with your continued attempts to pressure the thinking American
public & smart Republicans into backing you without you doing the actual
work. BTW, I'm not an evangelical, I'm more of a New Age spiritualist who
disagrees w/Huckabee on his family values platform, so you've gotta ask
yourself, "Why isn't she voting for me?"
Maybe you should give me the decency and respect of telling me why I
should vote for you - in a debate v. your only true opponent - Huckabee -
without the Romney static. In my eyes, along with all of my friends - who
were former Rudy & Mitt supporters & who STILL don't like you & yet
believe Mike won't make it - you never won any of the debates.
John, if you fail in a Feb 08 GOP Debate, you sure as heck are going to
fail in the Fall. So, you might as well debate now and reach a conclusion
of:
1. You've got to improve your debating skills
OR
2. You've got to withdraw because you'll cause the Party to fail in Nov.
Think of it this way: If Huckabee should drop out now because he won't win
in upcoming primaries, or he won't win in a Contested RNC, then logically,
you should drop out now because you won't win in November - against either
Dem candidate. Hillary will out-debate you on substance, and Obama will
out-debate you as a communicator and inspirational speaker.
With regard to your debate style & discussion of substance beyond the
bullet points & national security - the line of "just ask my friend _____,
he'll tell you how tough I am on ____, " - As Dr. Phil says, "How's that
workin' for ya?"
Not too well for you, John, not too well for either you or the Party.
[And, woe to the "king" who is deluded by the "yes-men" with whom he
surrounds himself.]
Wishing the Great USA All the Best,
Theresa Markham, Esq.
[divorce atty]
Hamburg, NJ
--------------------------
BTW, in case you think John McCain would, in part, retort with the idea that he's not asking Huckabee to withdraw, here's a quote from an actual memo sent to his supporters on Feb. 12, 2008, from Rick Davis, his campaign manager, which, of course, is a blatant lie:
"With only 774 delegates left on the table after tonight, Governor Huckabee cannot win the Republican nomination for president."
A very loud, public retraction, complete with a copy to all of his supporters, is in order.
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