Democratic Primary Debate at The Citadel, sponsored by YouTube and CNN: on Health Care


Barack Obama: Reform failed in ‘90s because of drug company lobbying

[All of the candidates] are going to have a plan [for universal coverage]. I’ve got a plan. But we’ve had plan before, under a Democratic president in the ‘90s and a Democratic Congress. We couldn’t get it done because the drug and insurance companies are spending $1 billion over the last decade on lobbying. And that’s why we’ve got to have a president who is willing to fight to make sure that they don’t have veto power.
Source: 2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC Jul 23, 2007

Barack Obama: No need to mandate coverage; just let people afford it

Q: [to Obama]: Sen. Edwards says your plan doesn’t really provide universal coverage. Does it?

OBAMA: Absolutely it does. John and I have a disagreement. John thinks that the only way we get universal coverage is to mandate coverage. I think that the problem is not that people are trying to avoid getting health care coverage. It is folks like that who are desperately in desire of it, but they can can’t afford it.

Q: [to Edwards]: Does Sen. Obama provide universal coverage

EDWARDS: No, because the only way to provide universal coverage is to mandate that everyone be covered. Sen. Obama’s made a very serious proposal, and I’m not casting aspersions on his plan. It just doesn’t cover everybody. The only way to cover everybody is to mandate it. We have talked about it too long. We have got to stand up to the insurance companies and the drug companies. It is the only way we’re ever going to bring about real change. We should be outraged by these stories.

Source: 2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC Jul 23, 2007

Bill Richardson: Cover undocumented workers under health plan

Q: Does your health care plan cover undocumented workers?

A: Yes, it would. It should cover everybody. In this country, no matter who you are, whether you’re a ditch-digger, you’re a teacher, you’re a CEO, you’re a waiter, you’re a maid, every American deserves the right to the best possible quality health care. That would be part of my plan.

Source: 2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC Jul 23, 2007

Bill Richardson: FactCheck: Correct that 33% of Medicare is diabetes

Richardson asserted, “Medicare: 33% of it is diabetes.” That surprisingly high figure turns out to be reasonably accurate. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services said, “about 18% of Medicare beneficiaries have diabetes, yet they account for 32% of Medicare spending.” To be strictly accurate Richardson should have said that diabetics account for the large share of Medicare spending, not diabetes. The disease is usually accompanied by a variety of other ailments that also require treatment.
Source: FactCheck on 2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate Jul 23, 2007

Chris Dodd: Cover undocumented workers & their kids under health plan

Q: Does your health care plan cover undocumented workers?

A: It would. People who live in this country--[regardless of their immigration status, their] children certainly would be covered. And I’m in support of the immigration policy here that requires them to contribute so that.

Q: So that’s a yes?

A: If they’re paying part of that thing, then they also get covered. Because, frankly, I don’t want them contributing disease problems and health issues to the rest of the...

Source: 2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC Jul 23, 2007

John Edwards: For universal coverage, must mandate everyone be covered

Q: [to Obama]: Sen. Edwards says your plan doesn’t really provide universal coverage. Does it?

OBAMA: Absolutely it does. John and I have a disagreement. John thinks that the only way we get universal coverage is to mandate coverage. I think that the problem is not that people are trying to avoid getting health care coverage. It is folks like that who are desperately in desire of it, but they can can’t afford it.

Q: [to Edwards]: Does Sen. Obama provide universal coverage

EDWARDS: No, because the only way to provide universal coverage is to mandate that everyone be covered. Sen. Obama’s made a very serious proposal, and I’m not casting aspersions on his plan. It just doesn’t cover everybody. The only way to cover everybody is to mandate it. We have talked about it too long. We have got to stand up to the insurance companies and the drug companies. It is the only way we’re ever going to bring about real change. We should be outraged by these stories.

Source: [X-ref Obama] 2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate Jul 23, 2007

  • The above quotations are from 2007 Democratic Primary Debate at The Citadel, in Charleston, South Carolina, July 23, 2007, sponsored by YouTube and CNN.
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2016 Presidential contenders on Health Care:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
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Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI) 		Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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