Obama to Unveil Health Care Plan Next Week

For those who think Barack Obama is just an empty suit without the brains to be president, get the crow out.
Next week in Iowa City, Iowa, Barack Obama will be unveiling his Health Care Plan.  This will be one of his biggest proposals yet and comes on the heels of the energy proposals he recently has made.  Obama has been conducting small meetings with supporters to get their concerns and ideas on health care as well as asking people to submit them on this web site.

This is from a local Iowa newpaper talking about the upcoming unveiling:

http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.d ll/article?AID=/20070522/NEWS01/70522003 /1079/NEWS01

"Presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. will come to Iowa City next week to announce his health care plan, his campaign confirmed today.

A stop at University Hospitals on May 29 is the candidate's second in Iowa City and ninth in Iowa since announcing his run for president. Obama drew a crowd of almost 10,000 to the University of Iowa Pentacrest on Earth Day.

"The speech comes on the heels of a lot of forums on health care from across the country," said Tommy Vietor, a campaign spokesman in Des Moines.

The time and specific place of the health care announcement have not been determined, Vietor said.

Vietor said Obama has been hosting health care forums, including one in Mason City on April 5, to get feedback from voters on what they would like to see in his plan.

"It is a chance for him to hear from Iowa on what is working and what is not," he said.

Sarah Swisher, state director of Iowa for Health Care, said it is no surprise Obama would choose Iowa City for this announcement.

"This is the health care capital of the state," she said.

Iowa for Health Care is a project of Service Employees International Union, a health care workers' union with a chapter in Iowa City. The project, with more than 20,000 members across the state and based in Iowa City, is pushing all the 2008 presidential candidates to announce health care plans by Aug. 1.

Iowa for Health Care worked to bring Obama to the area next week, Swisher said. Obama is the second candidate to announce a health care plan, following former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, she said.

The campaign started five years ago, before the 2004 presidential election, Swisher said. During presidential election cycles, the group works to make quality, affordable and accessible health care an issue in campaigns. In other years, Swisher said the group works with the state Legislature to pass health care initiatives, such as the cigarette tax.

"This isn't a campaign that disappears," she said. "It does when everyone has health care."

Starting Friday, Iowa for Healthcare will launch its 2008 presidential campaign work. On Friday, the organization's members will meet in Iowa City with Congressman Dave Loebsack, Iowa Rep. Ro Foege, D-Mount Vernon and Sen. Robert Dvorsky, D-Coralville, to talk about SCHIP funding. The Iowa Legislature recently expanded the program to offer health care coverage to 15,000 more low-income children and their parents, but needs matching federal funds.

On May 31, Iowa for Health Care will join Gov. Chet Culver on the steps of the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines to publicly announce their effort to push presidential candidates to make health care plans, Swisher said."



Display:


Re: Obama to Unveil Health Care Plan Next Week (none / 0)

No way.  Obama has no substance.  This Diary is a sham.  ;-)


by JeremiahTheMessiah on Tue May 22, 2007 at 08:47:15 PM EST

Re: Obama to Unveil Health Care Plan Next Week (none / 0)

Go Obama!!!!!


Obama Citizen Ad Videos
by lovingj on Tue May 22, 2007 at 09:06:47 PM EST

Right On Time (none / 0)

He's right on time. I told people who complained in March that he would have a Heath Plan in two months. Because I have actually done the research, I know Obama's record so I wasn't ever really worried about it. I look forward to combing through it when it comes out.


"I don't believe in this can't do, won't do, won't even try style of politics. Yes We Can!" ~ Barack Obama
by ObamaEdwards2008 on Tue May 22, 2007 at 09:48:57 PM EST

Re: Obama to Unveil Health Care Plan Next Week (none / 0)

Slowly but surely he's going unveil each part of his program. I just hope it's worth the wait and not too early. And that people listen.
The MSM has christened Mrs.Clinton the eventual winner. Some because they're on her side. Most because, what better headlines than "Clinton v. ?"
They don't want change. They want the same old battles from before.
I,for one,am sick of the baton passing from one wrinkled set of hands to another.
by g1967 on Tue May 22, 2007 at 09:52:52 PM EST

Re: Obama to Unveil Health Care Plan Next Week (none / 0)

don't know why Jerimiah thinks this is a sham.  really!
Yes, OE08, I know how he takes his time and waits until he has it right and the way he likes and then will unveil legislation, ect.  He will not be rushed.
this is sign of maturity and sound thinking.
Being a grown up.
by vwcat on Tue May 22, 2007 at 10:00:04 PM EST

Re: Obama to Unveil Health Care Plan Next Week (none / 0)

I love ya, but please learn your way around sarcasm and snark.


http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!
by yitbos96bb on Wed May 23, 2007 at 11:19:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Turning Cynical (none / 0)

I hope Obama reveals a bold single-payer health care plan.  A bold plan can really change the conversation and set himself apart from the rest of the presidential field.  I think it could help Obama start gaining on Hillary instead of his slight dip of late.  It would attract a lot of supporters and stop the blurring, as Chris Bowers puts it, of the major candidates.

Instead, If I had to place a bet, it would be that he's going to come out with some mealy mouth 10 point plan. It'll give all children under [insert random age here] health care, and all non-insured people subsidized through the existing for-profit industry.  That way, all of our government money can go to the insurers instead of the doctors and medicines that our patients need.

I really truly hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it...  I can feel myself turning into a cynical curmudgeon, and I'm only 24!!!


by maddogg on Tue May 22, 2007 at 10:01:25 PM EST

Re: Turning Cynical (none / 0)

I am with you.

I look forward to seeing what he comes out with - but my bet would be that it will be something in-between Edwards' and Hillary's plan - nothing new or innovative - kind of like his Energy proposals.


by DuncanB on Wed May 23, 2007 at 12:28:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama to Unveil Health Care Plan Next Week (none / 0)

I personally think it is great he is unveiling this but, I just want the gist.  I am not a detail person.  I am not one to get hot and bothered by policy proposals.
I am glad he is doing this to clam up the people who cannot get enough of such a boring topic.  Policy details put me to sleep.
by vwcat on Wed May 23, 2007 at 12:06:06 AM EST

Re: Obama to Unveil Health Care Plan Next Week (none / 0)

exactly..Obama should put up his plan and move on..At the end of the day,Clinton/obama/edwards plan will not get clean passage through the congress if they were to be president..There is a great chance that it would be drastically changed going trough the senate and house before being signed into law.


by JaeHood on Wed May 23, 2007 at 05:47:44 AM EST


You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.