Other Candidates Again Target Dean

[DoveTurnedHawk]

Six Democratic presidential candidates wooed senior citizens with promises of prescription drug benefits, economic revival and a new Congress in an AARP forum here Wednesday.

As they have done in previous debates, Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (Mo.) and Sens. John F. Kerry (Mass.) and John Edwards (N.C.) singled out rival Howard Dean for their sharpest criticism. They accused the former Vermont governor of once supporting Medicare reductions and now endorsing a plan that would effectively raise taxes on the middle class.

"It was wrong, in my view, to agree with a Republican suggestion in 1995 for a $270 billion cut in Medicare to make the budget come out," Gephardt said. Kerry and Gephardt have resurrected newspaper clippings that suggest Dean was willing to limit the growth of the popular health program for retirees.

Dean says he has never condoned cuts to the program. Today, he tried to shift the discussion.

"I'm not going to get into debate with Dick Gephardt over who said what 15 years ago," he said. "The question is who's going to do what now."

<...>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32154-2003Oct15.html

DTH

[DoveTurnedHawk]

1. I Kinda Wish All These Guys Would Just Cut That Shit Out (eom)

DTH

[LoneStarLiberal]

2. Those Three Take Turns

If Dean is present and Clark isn't, DOGPILE ON DEAN!

If Clark is present and Dean isn't, DOGPILE ON CLARK! (don't know if this has actually happened yet or not...)

If Dean and Clark are present, TAKE TURNS!

[Demobrat]

3. Kerry got booed this time when he trotted out

his good old Dean = Gingrich routine. It will be interesting to see if he is able to dig up some more recent ammo or just keeps flogging the eight year old mediscare horse.

[sfecap]

4. Kerry votes to reduce Medicare spending

"Kerry and Gephardt have resurrected newspaper clippings that suggest Dean was willing to limit the growth of the popular health program for retirees."

Bill Number: HR 2015
Issue: Budget
Date: 07/31/1997
Sponsor:


Roll Call Number: 0209
Conference report adopted
Full Member List


Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.

Vote to adopt the conference report on a bill to provide for a balanced budget by 2002. The bill reduces spending by $270 billion over 5 years, including reductions of $115 billion in the rate of growth of Medicare spending, and $140 billion in discretionary spending reductions. The bill includes $24 billion in block grants to the states to provide health insurance to uninsured low income children, partially funded by an increase in the tobacco tax; restores Medicaid and SSI benefits to children as well as legal immigrants in the country before the passage of the welfare reform bill; expands Medicare preventive care coverage; and expands the type of health plans available to Medicare recipients including allowing some Medical Savings Accounts, among other provisions .

HR 2015: The Balanced Budget Act

Vote to adopt the joint House-Senate conference report of the bill to balance the budget by 2002 by reducing spending by $270 billion over five years. The bill includes provisions to reduce the rate of growth of Medicare spending by $130 billion over five years, mainly through reducing reimbursements to health care providers. It also increases Medicare preventive care coverage, including mammograms for women over 40, and expands the kind of health plans available to Medicare recipients, including allowing up to 390,000 people to choose Medical Savings Accounts. Over five years the bill increases Medicare Part B premiums up to $60 per month, provides $1.5 billion to help low income people pay their Medicare premiums, and reduces Medicaid spending by $13 billion. The bill provides $24 billion to the states for health insurance for low income uninsured children, partially financed by a gradual 15-cent increase in the tobacco tax. The bill restores SSI and Medicaid coverage to disabled children, and to legal immigrants who were in the country before the passage of the 1996 welfare reform act. The bill also requires discretionary spending reductions of $140 billion over five years, among other provisions.
(Conference report adopted 85-15 on 7/31/97)

Bill Status:
Bill Number: HR 2015 - 105th Congress (1997-98)
House Passage Vote: 06/25/97 - Outcome: Passed
Senate Passage Vote: 06/25/97 - Outcome: Passed
House Conference Report Vote: 07/30/97 - Outcome: Passed
Senate Conference Report Vote: 07/31/97 - Outcome: Passed
Presidential Action: Signed on 08/05/97
Public Law Number: 105-33 111 Stat. 251

http://vote-smart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?vote_id=1392&can_id=S0421103

[JaneQPublic]

5. Will this forum be re-aired on C-SPAN?

If anyone knows of any upcoming TV airings, I'd appreciate a heads-up.

[kwolf68]

6. I can't be against Dean here

--This coming from someone NOT for Dean

I am quite sure Howard Dean doesn't want to toss old people into the gutter.

The fact he isn't just towing the party line of every more spending he is questioned? Dean, at least on this issue, appears to have the understanding that the money government takes in isn't finite.

Mr. Dean I trust will entail much government action where it is needed and will certainly provide a credible safety net (as he did work for in Vermont); however, trotting out these same cliches' at him won't work.

WHAT IS WRONG with Dean wanting to limit the growth of a government program?

Us Liberals have to be for an active, yet effecient, frugal government. We have to promote free-markets and explain how corporations (and Republicans) actually HATE the free market. We should express that Liberal policies actually promote the integrity of the market while at the same time placing necessary checks against it.

Because Dean may have a different idea on health care than the same tired ideas Kerry (who I support) and Gephardt is one of the reasons he inspires confidence in his supporters.

[Voltaire99]

7. Blah blah blah - do they think anyone cares?

The group of Americans interested in this infighting consists of the staffs of the candidates and a few posters on DU.

Time for Kerry, Gephardt and Edwards to come up with more compelling reasons to care about them -- or remain lackluster non-entities.

[goforit]

8. They are just rolling out the royal carpet for the guy!!!.....LOL!!!!

Desperate people do desperate things!!!

Adios Senior Geptdhart y Senior Kerry!!!!

[depakid]

9. Gephardt should shut up and drop out

The man's a perenneal loser, he's purposefully distorting Dean's record, while his own record of actually showing up to vote on important issues (which is his duty as a congressman) is appalling.

If the man wasn't so arrogant and self-important, he'd realize that he has no chance whatsoever to get the nomination- even in the unlikely event that he carries Iowa.

[Rowdyboy]

10. Gephart, Kerry and Edwards should stop trying

to convince people not to vote for Dean and, instead, concentrate on why they should be elected. This is just pathetic-and Dean is not my first choice for the nomination. I'd resent tactics like this used against any of our candidates.