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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