Democrats joust for Iowa's elderly

Candidates clash over Medicare, Social Security

By Sarah Schweitzer, Globe Staff, 10/16/2003


DES MOINES -- Six Democratic presidential hopefuls yesterday debated Medicare and Social Security in a two-hour exchange that turned alternately testy and sentimental before an audience of seniors, a crucial constituency particularly in early voting states such as Iowa.

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Three candidates who have polled poorly in Iowa -- the Rev. Al Sharpton, retired general Wesley K. Clark, and Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut -- opted not to attend the event.

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Except for Dean, the candidates who participated -- including Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, former Illinois senator Carol Moseley Braun and Representative Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio -- told personal stories about health care to make their cases to the audience, which included many elderly women.

"My mother was 95 when she passed away about five months ago. In the last few months, she had a very high prescription drug bill," Gephardt said, noting that he was able to help her financially. Other seniors, he said, were not so lucky: "I saw some of her friends were cutting pills in half or doing without."

Kerry also spoke about his parents' health problems. "I lost both my parents in the last few years," he said. "I've had more than my fill of the health care system." He also noted that he had suffered from prostate cancer and recovered.

Dean sought attention instead with edgy Republican-aimed barbs. Saying his election would also result in Democrats winning control of Congress, Dean added, "And we won't have to worry about Tom DeLay. He'll be back in Houston exterminating cockroaches, where he belongs." He was referring to the House majority leader, who owned a pest exterminator business before being elected to Congress.

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http://www.boston.com/news/politics/primaries/iowa/articles/2003/10/16/democrats_joust_for_iowas_elderly/

gives all people in the pest control business a bad name.

(Tom, you were supposed to keep a lid on the Dursban and not drink it for breakfast!)

I'd be kind of scared.

It's the events leading up to it, and yes it's scary and that's why it is so important to talk about it openly and honestly.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/reuters20031015_504.html

Kerry was the first to raise a recurring criticism of Dean for siding in 1995 with congressional Republicans, led by House speaker Newt Gingrich, who were trying to cut the growth of Medicare by $270 billion, drawing groans from the audience.

"I'm sorry, but he did," Kerry persisted. Gephardt later joined in to say he had fought for Medicare in Congress and to call Dean's position "wrong."

Hahahahahahaha...

bwaahahahahahahahhh

are almost completely ignored by the media? And DK is for rolling back the retirement age to 65, and THAT'S not important? Let's let the media choose our Presidential nominee, why don't we?

SOOOOO SICK!!