Democrats blast Bush veto

Democratic presidential contenders wasted no time jumping all over President Bush's veto today of an expansion of a children's health care program, using words like cruel and unconscionable.

"With the stroke of a pen, President Bush has robbed nearly four million uninsured children of the chance for a healthy start in life and the health coverage they need but can't afford," front-runner Hillary Clinton said in a statement. "These children are invisible to this president, but they aren't invisible to the American people or to the overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress -- and they aren't invisible to me."

Senator Chris Dodd tied the issue to the cost of the war in Iraq.

"With the resources it takes to execute just over three months of the Iraq war, we could fully fund the expansion of health care for needy children that Bush vetoed," he said in a statement. "Indeed, today's veto is another reminder that this war is not only adversely affecting our security but also adversely affecting our other top priorities, and it's time for Congress to do what it must do to end it."

The measure would provide $35 billion more over five years -- generated by raising cigarette taxes -- to add 10 million kids to the program.

Polls show the expansion is popular with the public, and many Republicans also supported it. But Bush says the expansion would go beyond the program's goal and would be a step toward government-run health care.

John Edwards said the veto shows that in the Bush administration, "corporate cronies and insurance industry allies always come first, while children's healthcare comes last."

He called on Congress to override the veto and also had harsh words for Republican presidential hopefuls -- including Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Mitt Romney -- who are supporting Bush's stand.

"Instead of threatening the health care of children, it's time for Bush, and Republicans like McCain, Giuliani, and Romney to start picking on someone their own size," he said in a statement.