Here's the question from Wolf Blitzer at a recent debate:
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MR. BLITZER: Senator Obama, let me just fine-tune the question, because I know you want to respond. On this issue of mandates, those who don't, whether it's 10 million or 15 million, those who can afford it but don't wind up buying health insurance for one reason or another -- they wind up getting sick; they go to an emergency room. All of us wind up paying for their health care. That's the biggest criticism that's been leveled at your plan.
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And here's Obama's response:
SEN. OBAMA: If people are gaming the system, there are ways that we can address that, by for example making them pay some of the back premiums for not having gotten it in the first place.
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Get that?
Barack Obama says he is against mandatory insurance, but then he goes on to say that if people don't buy health insurance, but get sick and go to the emergency room where we pick up the tab, Obama considers that "gaming the system" and he would PUNISH those people by "making them pay some of the back premiums for not having gotten
in the first place."
Hillary says that in her healthcare plan, there would be subsidies available for those who cannot afford to pay for health insurance, and Obama thinks it's terrible that she would require everyone to be insured. But then Obama goes on to say that (according to his plan) if people do not buy health insurance -- but get sick and go to the emergency room -- he would punish them by making them pay back premium payments.
But, Obama, you just got through telling us you think it is unfair to require people to have health insurance -- now you would penalize those who don't? Maybe you need to go back and consult with your lobbyist friends in the insurance industry and see what they want you to do now.
You can read the debate transcript here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/us/politics/31text-debate.html
And you can read about Barack Obama's friendly insurance company obbyists here: "In Illinois, Obama dealt with lobbyists. But as candidate, he faults Clinton for ties"
by Scott Helman-The Boston Globe
September 23, 2007 Read this at: http://tinyurl.com/28br65
And read about Obama's "Harry and Louise"-like ad (maybe Karl Rove is on the Obama team now) at:
http://mydd.com/story/2008/2/1/125123/1714