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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBen Carson's Prescription: Abolish Medicare
Please, please, please, let him be their nominee.
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/ben-carson-medicare-medicaid-215055
Not Ben Carson. The former neurosurgeon acknowledges he would abolish the program altogether.
Carson, who now leads the GOP field in Iowa according to the latest Quinnipiac Poll, would eliminate the program that provides health care to 49 million senior citizens, as well as Medicaid, and replace it with a system of cradle-to-grave savings accounts which would be funded with $2,000 a year in government contributions. While rivals have been pummeled for proposing less radical changes, Carson hasn't faced the same scrutiny -- and his continued traction in polls has left GOP strategists and conservative health care wonks scratching their heads.
"This isnt a borderline issue. The politics of this are horrific," said Doug Holtz-Eakin, head of the American Action Forum and health care adviser to Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign.
Carson's stance on the third-rail issue of Medicare is especially risky given his strength among elderly voters. In Iowa, Carson draws a quarter of the senior vote -- more than double any other candidate except Donald Trump, with whom hes statistically tied among seniors. Carsons support is even higher among voters between the ages of 55 and 64, who are on the verge of Medicare eligibility. He draws 34 percent of that age group, double Trumps level of support, according to the Quinnipiac poll.
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)If you're going to flame out, do it big.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)spanone
(135,828 posts)their whole schtick is to take programs AWAY from needy voters.
Vogon_Glory
(9,117 posts)Ben Carson's position on this very critical strand of the limited American social safety net will doubtlessly be ignored by the sorry sacks of <bleep> who work for the corporate lame$tream media and have the gall to call themselves newspaper and media editors.
:hurl:
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Vogon_Glory
(9,117 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)I honestly think this guy is certifiably insane. Does he really think he can win with this shite?
red dog 1
(27,792 posts)God only knows what's going on inside this birdbrain's head.
(Great avatar!)
moondust
(19,974 posts)that he was prevented from gouging into bankruptcy and he's gonna change all that on behalf of supergreedy surgeons and insurance companies?
leftyladyfrommo
(18,868 posts)dollars.
The $2000 a year is good for 2 hours in a hospital.
What has he been smoking.
red dog 1
(27,792 posts)"While rivals have been pummeled for proposing less radical changes, Carson hasn't faced the same scrutiny.."
WHY hasn't Carson "faced the same scrutiny?