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6 Democratic Candidates Attack Medicare Measure

by Rachel L.Swarns, the New york Times

November 19, 2003


John Kerry, Senator of Massachusetts   

BEDFORD , N.H. , Nov. 18 — Six of the Democratic presidential candidates mounted a heated attack on the new Medicare bill on Tuesday at a forum sponsored by AARP. The contenders denounced the plan to provide drug benefits to the elderly as a Republican-led effort to privatize and undermine the federal insurance program.

Several hopefuls sharply criticized AARP, the powerful lobbying group for older Americans, for endorsing the bill on Monday. Hundreds of the elderly in the audience here applauded the criticism.

It was a rare display of unanimity among rivals who condemned the plan as a gift to pharmaceutical companies and insurers and a threat to elderly Americans. The chorus of criticism foreshadowed the battle ahead in Congress and in the presidential campaign.

"I think this bill's a mistake," Gen. Wesley K. Clark said in remarks that were echoed by former Gov. Howard Dean of Vermont , Representative Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri and Senators John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina . Senator Joseph I Lieberman of Connecticut was also critical, but said he had not decided how he would vote on the measure.

"This is a Trojan horse bill," General Clark said. "It's got provisions in it to undercut Medicare. I think the American people want their representatives and their association to stand up and be counted for senior citizens, and that means rejecting this bill."

The debate offered a hint of the fault lines likely to emerge as Democrats struggle to position themselves on an emotionally charged issue that carries great weight with their constituents. The bill includes provisions intended to inject market forces and more competition into Medicare, which Republicans say will lead to better, more cost-effective care. Many Democrats condemn such efforts as tantamount to privatizing the program.

But the bill, which would create the largest transformation of Medicare in its 38-year-history, would also significantly increase spending on the program and offer a prescription drug benefit that many Democrats had sought for years.

Mr. Lieberman criticized the authors of the bill for yielding to "right-wingers" in the House but added that he was still struggling about supporting it.

"There's not a politician in America who hasn't promised prescription drug benefits under Medicare to senior citizens for years and years," Mr. Lieberman said. "I want to take a few days. I'm not going to give a knee-jerk reflex reaction and say no way. Today I'm working with Ted Kennedy and other members of the Senate to see if I can make this better."

The pressures on wavering Democrats will be substantial. Previewing its lobbying effort, AARP displayed its first television commercial at the forum. The advertisement is part of the organization's $7 million campaign to rally Congressional and public support for the Medicare bill.

The commercial, which started on Tuesday on cable television stations, features elderly people talking about the need for the new plan and urging viewers to "tell Congress to keep their promise."

"Finally," the commercial says, "a bill is about to be voted on. While it's not perfect, we know there are millions of Americans who can't afford to wait for perfect."

AARP also plans to place advertisements in 50 daily newspapers this week. A spokeswoman, Lisa R. Davis, said AARP remained committed to the bill despite the criticism from the six Democratic contenders for the presidential nomination. The other three candidates — former Senator Carol Moseley Braun, Representative Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio and the Rev. Al Sharpton — did not participate in the forum.

"Our interest is to make sure there is a prescription bill that helps people," Ms. Davis said. "It's not a perfect bill. We know that. But it's something versus nothing."

The candidates also sparred on issues like Medicare, competing health insurance plans and campaign finance in the arena of the forum, which was organized to showcase the candidates' positions on issues of concern to the elderly.

But concerns about the Medicare bill and AARP endorsement dominated the scene.

"In this case," Dr. Dean said, "in the long run, something is worse than doing nothing. This bill ultimately will privatize a good piece of Medicare, which will make it more expensive for seniors. Medicare should be left alone."

Mr. Edwards said Republican lawmakers had bowed to the wishes of insurance and drug companies that had little interest in low drug costs. He said older Americans needed more generic drugs and the right to import cheaper drugs from Canada .

"We should have a real comprehensive drug benefit under Medicare," he said. "And we should keep the cost down to you and other taxpayers by standing up to the drug companies."

Mr. Gephardt accused the Republicans of trying to "drive seniors out of classical Medicare" into a privatized program.

Mr. Kerry said he was particularly disappointed that AARP was supporting the bill instead of fighting it.

"I wish AARP had chosen to oppose this bill," Mr. Kerry said. "And I wish AARP was spending its $7 million to help tell Americans what is wrong." 

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