In their latest assault on President Obama’s health care plans, Republicans aimed yesterday for a vulnerable spot: seniors who fear that their care will get worse or more costly.
“Republicans want reform that should, first, do no harm, especially to our seniors,’’ said Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, in announcing a “Seniors’ Health Care Bill of Rights.’’
It includes protecting Medicare from major cuts, preserving the doctor-patient relationship, banning any rationing of care or interference in end-of-life decisions, guaranteeing that seniors can keep their current coverage, and protecting current veterans’ health care programs.
Democrats expect substantial savings in Medicare, but maintain that those changes would not mean lesser care. They also support more research to determine the most cost-effective treatments, but deny that would lead to rationing of care - which they contend is already being done by private insurers.
“Obama has shown that he is beholden to his party’s left-wing ideologues. It’s not too late for him to honor his pledges for bipartisan health care reform. Reversing course and joining Republicans in support of health care for our nation’s senior citizens is a good place to start,’’ Steele wrote in yesterday’s
The Democratic National Committee responded to Steele by saying that the health overhaul would help seniors by holding down costs and closing the so-called doughnut hole in prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D. It also said that Republicans are continuing to mislead the public in their attempt to kill the overhaul.
“It should be no surprise that the Republican Party - which whipped many Americans into a frenzy at town hall meetings on health care this month by spreading one lie about reform after another - has now taken to scaring seniors who have nothing to fear and much to gain from reform,’’ Brad Woodhouse, spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, said in a statement.
GLOBE STAFF
Activists had hoped Obama would take a tougher line and focus more than the Bush administration did on Darfur, where conflict has led to the deaths of up to 300,000 people and the displacement of 2.7 million.
Advertisements purchased in newspapers to begin running today highlight past statements on Sudan by Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and urge the officials to live up to their words. They are signed by Humanity United, Save Darfur, the Genocide Intervention Network, I Act, Enough! and Investors against Genocide.
The groups purchased ad space in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and two papers on Martha’s Vineyard, where Obama is vacationing.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
