Both presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) get announced "elaborated -- just very different -- wellness care plans," the Chicago Tribune reports.
In recent weeks, Obama and McCain have focused on other issues -- such as the state of war in Iraq, the economy, gasoline prices and home security -- and some polls have found that health care is "languishing far behind" other issues as top concerns for voters, according to the Tribune. While health forethought appeared as "daily cannon fodder in the debate all over which prospect would do a better job as president" during the Democratic presidential elementary campaign, the Tribune reports that the "silence is deafening" on the egress during the general election campaign.
Reaction
Obama interpreter Bill Burton said, "The issue of health care may be getting less attention than it deserves from the media, only it's still a top concern for voters and among the top issues that Sen. Obama talks about on the campaign trail."
Tucker Bounds, a spokesperson for McCain, acknowledges that, although health upkeep issues have not standard a large amount of attention in the general election movement, they "could hardly escape the conversation each prospect will have with voters" because of the "complete contrast" in their proposals.
Anna Greenberg, a Democratic pollster, aforementioned, "For a lot of people wHO have health insurance, they are paid more for health care, but it may not show up as concretely as compensable $70 to fill their gas tank."
According to Republican pollster Gary Ferguson, world Health Organization specializes in health care, despite the lack of attention to health fear, the issue remains part of boilers suit economic concerns.
Drew Altman, president and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation, said that, although gas prices are the "canary in the coal mine" for economic concerns, "when you probe, when you ask people what's bothering you about the thriftiness right now, in economic downturns -- problems paying for health care and health insurance policy really loom large." He added, "After people's fixations paying for gas prices, problems gainful for wellness care are right at the big top with job issues."
In Congress, Democratic and Republican staffers have begun to meet in preparation for the consideration of health care legislation following year, regardless of which candidate becomes president. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), chair of the House Democratic Caucus, added that health care is an important issue in House races nationwide and that he expects Obama to address the effect next calendar week during the Democratic National Convention in Denver (Zuckman, Chicago Tribune, 8/21).
Editorial Addresses Obama Comments on Single-Payer System
A recent statement by Obama that he would "'probably go forrader with a single-payer'" health care system if he was "'designing a scheme from scratch'" indicated his support for the "idea of a health care market -- or nonmarket -- only run by the government," a Wall Street Journal editorial states. According to the editorial, most "liberals support single-payer, aka 'Medicare for All,' because it would eliminate the profit motive, which by their lights is the reason Americans ar uninsured."
Obama "takes a more moderate campaign line, though we suppose exactly about everything is 'moderate' compared to a total government takeover," the editorial states. "Obama's health forethought plan includes a taxpayer-funded insurance programme, much wish Medicare simply open to everyone," and seeks to "displace current private coverage and replacement people to the default option government alternative," according to the editorial.
The editorial states, "What's young is Mr. Obama's drum sander political publicity." The editorial states, "With good reason, critics oftentimes call this a backdoor route to a centrally planned wellness care bureaucracy," adding, "For all his lawyerly qualifications, Mr. Obama has fundamentally admitted that his proposal is very the front door" (Wall Street Journal, 8/21).
Broadcast Coverage
NBC's "Nightly News" on Wednesday included analysis from NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd on a recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal crown on the presidential election. Among former results, the poll plant that 48% of voters believe Obama would direct health care more efficaciously, compared with 27% wHO believe McCain would address the number more in effect (Curry, "Nightly News," NBC, 8/20).
In addition, NPR's "Morning Edition" on Wednesday reported on how both candidates this week discussed health care and early concerns for veterans during the annual Veterans of Foreign Wars convention (Horsley, "Morning Edition," NPR, 8/20).
Reprinted with kind license from hTTP://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the integral Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or signboard up for email rescue at hTTP://www.kaisernetwork.
