McCain Rips Obama’s ‘Pay or Play’ Health Plan

The news organizations are basically lazy. McCain says Obama changed his opinion. A halfway competent organization could have looked up the hours and hours of video they have on Obama to see if his position has changed. That would reek of effort.

McCain’s health care plan would give everyone a $2500 tax credit (or a check if they are too poor to pay income taxes) for the purchase of health insurance. A family would get $5000. He says that the problem starts with overly costly health care. he says that we need to slash these costs, to make room to cover those who have no health care. He would prioritize efforts to cut smoking and encourage healthy habits and would also focus on reducing health costs by efficiency and productivity. Then he would reinvest those savings in expanded care.

“While he promises a tax credit, how many of you pay 12,000/year in taxes?” Right on!!! Having paid well over $50K in taxes last year, I think that it is more than time for reason. Those people who want it need to actually go out and earn it for themselves. Those who earn it certainly didn’t work as hard as they have to give more and more to people they don’t know who continue to insist on doing less and less and less, and receive more handouts. Thanks for a great post! This country is not about socialism. It is about pride, self worth, and responsibiity.

Health care cost rosewith the demise of the family practice, replaced by the insurer’s HMO and its offspring. Lawsuits have little effect on health care costs. And what pray tell sort of health insurance can be purchased for $2500 per person? Some of you folks either are minors or still believe diner coffee is a dime…and tip accordingly.

when it comes to healh insurance and a person’s income and supporing a family think about the x amount of dollars that person earns and the amount he has to pay to put a roof over their heads and foodon the table and now to pay for the gas to get to that job what is left for health insurance unless your forunate enough to have an employer willing to pay for 90% of it. If a person could afford it he would have it.

barack is acting more like george bush than ever. He is also acting like john kerry with his flip flopping. who is this man? Democrat? Republican? Both? What a disaster barack has become. Loser.

I’m still trying to figure out why it is the government’s reponsibiity to pay for everyone’s health care too. Don’t any of you people take care of or want to take care of your own business? I say cut my taxes and let me decide where and what I need to spend my money on instead of redistributing my pay to those that are looking for a nanny at a grossly marked up margin price seeing as everytime the government gets involved fraud, waste, and abuse of systems especially concerning health care run rampant.

Yes I am supporting McCain over Obama…Obama must go for a large number of reasons.

McCain supporter here as well. I can’t trust Obama. I see now how many news organizations are vetting him and the “true” Obama is coming out, and he isn’t what America needs.
McCain 08!

rps1023 – there’s the matter of working for an employer, additionally owning one’s own companies for years, having other income properties and investments, and making the money do most of the work. We subscribed to “feed the pig” long before it was a cute ad campaign that we wish more people would look into. I need to fund no one other than myself and my family. That is the entire point. I’m not funding a McCain campaign and I certainly do not want to fund the masses that support Obama and want more of ours. Those premises are called “lose-lose”. I didn’t work this hard to lose.

Obama is better than McCain on foreign policy. McCain is better on spending. Why can’t either one get it right on both?

Not all company owners or execs are in it for just their families. I suppose if your business was solely a family run and operated but that would mean you are a farmer and farmers blog oh so differently. If you have employees you then have an extended family with inherent obligations which transcend your immediate family.
Sorry but I am not buying as I have been there, succeeded and turned my good fortune to those who never had the opportunities I was exposed to…And taxes are like death, both will not be evaded or avoided.

earthisnotflat – Obama policies will result in a $250 billion dollar increase on the budget over what it is now. I believe I saw this on abcnews or cnn several months ago. By comparison Hillary was $240 billion, McCain was $60 billion, and Ron Paul was -$150 billion. Since we need to greatly reduce spending, it doesn’t take a genius to see who is best here. Obama is worse. However since McCain wants to bomb Iran, I will take Obama over McCain. You Obama supporters really need to tell your candidate to reign in the spending. It will eventually sink us.

obama has only enjoyed his senate health care for a few short years, while supporting policies to get the same coverage for ALL americans, not just the corporate bought politicians like mccain… obama has a website that debunks all false accusations about him flip flopping…. but it’s not my job to refute every lie the republicans blog here or elsewhere… if you choose to believe the lies you’ve been fed, that’s your right as a typical american… luckily, most americans are not buying the BS any longer… that’s why mccain is behind in the polls and has an uphill fight to win… honestly, i believe his only chance of winning in november is if there is more voter fraud… but you go right ahead and vote for mccain, who is just another loser in the mold of george bush, you are way in the minority and if you choose to believe the false accusations you post here, that is your choice… the rest of the country is moving past that mentality

earthisnotflat – We can’t afford to give all Americans this coverage without borrowing from oversees. Ron Paul taught most people this. You need to get everyone on the bike to loose all the flub. That would be attacking the health crisis. The only candidate even to mention this in earnest was Huckabee.

Huh…I agree, McCain singing bomb bomb bomb, bomb Iran is lame and was a mistake. However, I think McCain is superior over Obama when it comes to foregn policy. Look at the escalation right now between Israel and Iran. This is going to get very ugly very quickly. America will need a President who is well versed in foreign policy to help diffuse this situation. If Obama were to be President, sitting down with the President of Iran, without preconditions, is the worse thing that could be done. Obama’s resume’ on foreign affairs, among many other things, is waaaaay to thin.

The escalation is between Iran and Israel. We need to tell each side to stand down much like we did with India and Pakistan. If not, we will watch missiles fly over our heads in Iraq. I totally disagree with you. Sitting down is the only thing to do.

Obama needs HRC to take care of healthcare. Well, come to think of it, he needs her to take care of EVERYTHING.

Iran’s president is not permitted to engage in international diplomacy, the presidency of Iran is a domestic office. Please name any accomplisment made by my senior senator from AZ. While you are researching that one perhaps you can look into his military record.

Huh, I disagree with you. McCain will take this election. The Obama camp is beginning to implode. They can’t handle criticism and vetting. Obama, is losing supporters because he’s becoming a centrist. His change in position has caused the “lefties” to become very nervous. He is even losing Hillary donor support now. Obama, who has accused McCain of pandering all along, is now doing just that…he’s pandering for votes. McCain is separating himself from Bush and Bush policies, while Obama is beginning to look more and more everyday like a clone of Bush. Obama has lost his identity and because he is not that well known, will lose the election. Americans want substance, something they are realizing they will not get with Obama.
However, I do appreciate your comments, I like talking to you. Thank you for your insight. I do agree, Huckabee has a lot going for him in his polictical analysis. Would be nice if he were McCain’s VP.

Neither candidate addresses fundamental problems like poor health choices and ever-increasing medical costs. Obama’s plan is most useful for capping big business losses on health premiums and McCain’s idiotic plan is most helpful for persisting the gluttonous hold insurance companies have over us.
As for the mideast, the proper way to “defuse” the issue is by being an honest broker; not by providing weapons and bombs that are used to kill civilians. Yes, Israel is our ally and needs to be defended, but they act like our kid brother throwing stones at the neighbor while hiding behind us. Time for them to grow up.

alpaig52 – you keep convincing yourself of all your rhetoric… personally i can’t wait for the debates and november… mccain is toast

Will – Well we will see come November. Whoever wins, I pray they do well by the people. I do believe our foreign adventure spending and entitlement spending are getting way out of control. Even if you believe in the Iraq war, the truth is that we are fighting it with borrowed money. This to me is suicidal policy.

Huh…huh? The point was directed to “Will” who fears that which he cannot comprehend therefore dumbing the entire blog with other’s talking points.

“if you have employees you then have an extended family”. No, I do not. I have employees. I pay salaries. I offer plans that I can get through the fact of having employees that they do not have access to without their employer. Same with the other types of insurance that I have access to through hard work, licenses, and the other things that go with owning businesses. And no, I am not a farmer.

alpaig52 : I agree, I think McCain has been sleepwalking, however, I think he’s awake now. With the hiring of Schmidt, McCain will be more proactive and will go after Obama. It’s going to be a different race in the next four months. I also agree, Obama thinks he’s a “rock star” and has the election already won. We want him to keep thinking like that! McCain 08!

Huh, ditto.

“perhaps you should take a long look at the products. services and the sense of community they deliver.” I grew up decades ago on reservations. There was and is no such thing as sense of community, there are the senses of survival and betterment or the sense of using the system. I have never had a complaint from either my own employer or any of those who work for me. I even teach seminars on how to get off the res, whether yours be an inner-city ghetto, a working man’s neighborhood, or a trailer park, or your parents’ basement. It is what you choose. I chose very differently after experiencing “government generosity” firsthand. As my father said, “Take care of yourself, no one else will.” I wish more people would adopt that plan.

First time here. Enjoyed reading the posts, except for the bash of Senator McCain personally. John McCain suffered terrible torture at the hands of the North Vietnamese. I’m amazed he’s alive. He’s one tough guy. Anybody that can endure torture like he endured is a strong person mentallly and emotionally and a true patriot. He loves this country. He may not always be as conservative as we would like, but he has earned the title of an American hero. B.O. is the opposite of John McCain. I can’t believe that Americans are even considering this novice nobody as the leader of the free world. Here is my question. When you work hard to succeed, and you make it, why do you get punished for that by the government? “You made it..now we want it, so hand it over for all the lazies and illegals who want it.” So where is the incentive anymore? Who wants to work their rears off just to get most of what they have taken away? On the other end, who wants to work when they know that the government is going to hand it over to them anyway for doing nothing? Isn’t this the end of capitalism? Isn’t this the beginning of socialism? Why do we think that’s better? It hasn’t worked for other countries. It won’t work for this country either. I might not be as smart as some of you political eggheads, but it doesn’t take a genius to see where this country is headed if the Dems have their way.

clas1…I would rather give more of what I earn to Uncle Sam than to give him any more of my freedoms. Think before you trash Senator Obama just stick to praising my senior Senator

clas1: And Bush has done a wonderful job!!! And Just because McCain is a War Hero then that qualifies him to be president? I seem to remember something about him breaking? Not that I would not have. it is just that lots of other soldiers were POW’s. He also graduated 4th or 6th to last in his class. He is really smart!!! And at 71 are we sure his is really the one that will run the country? This is the 3rd time he has had to reorganize his campaign. And what about the Public Funding he took during the primaries? He actually took a loan out using the public funding as colateral and then Turned around and changed his mind!!! I would not trust him to keep is word on public funding. First he is for No Drilling and now he is for drilling. The list goes on and on.

A lot of things have been said about Barack Obama in the past, and I’m not sure I agree with all of them, but one thing is beyond question: the man is a socialist. There is no argument there. Everything in his life up to this point has involved the advancement of socialism. The problem is, the US cannot afford to have a socialist president at this time. Our country is 9 trillion dollars in debt and the last thing we can afford to do is elect a president that is promising trillions in new spending. We have to go in the opposite direction. We have to cut back on spending so we can start paying down the enormous debt. It is also unfair to saddle future generations with debt to pay for social welfare programs for people today. If we continue down the path to full socialism at this time by implementing Obama’s socialist healthcare system, we will destroy any chance the nation has to balance the budget and pay down the debt. If we enact the oppressive tax increases that Obama is proposing, we will bring the economy to a screeching halt and people’s retirement funds will plummet in value. We just can’t afford any more socialism in America at this time.

Saul: have you even checked out Obama’s tax plan? I have! I am a small business owner and I prefer Obama’s Plan to McCain’s plan. There was a great article in the Wall Street Journal and on CNN:Money. They just gave you the particulars of each plan. But cutting corp taxes will not stimulate the economy. Nor will a 18cents a gallon gas tax holiday. All McCains stuff is more a gimmick than anything else. But, do! Check out the info. There is so much half info out there you need to beware!!

Iam4thiscountry, you must not live near many blacks. In every major US city where blacks have been elected to run the government, thriving downtown real estate has become burned-out, condemned buildings, good schools have become riddled with drugs and violence, and once-beautiful neighborhoods have become ganglands dotted with crack houses. Name for me ONE PLACE in the USA where blacks have improved the quality of life or modern civilization. As I stated before, any white American who votes for Obama is a cuckoo bird.

Iam4 – As a small businessperson, you should be scared that Obama is proposing to eliminate the limits on self employment tax. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to pay all that additional tax (it’s enormous). In addition, he is going to double the tax on capital gains. Wall Street is already getting ready for the huge sell off at the end of the year if Obama is elected. I don’t know who wrote the articles you are referencing, but they don’t know much about the economy. Obama will break us.

Hi. This is my first comment, hope I’m not interupting anything important. I think its not neccessary to insult one candidate to support another. McCain is a good man I beleive, although I don’t support his political party. Obama is also a good man. Enough said.
One observation I would like to make and see your response to is this: Why is it that people (like myself) who have done well in America and live a comfortable life seem to feel like they accomplished this solo? Why is there no recognition that it is the society we live in that has made this possible, not our individual superiority? Do CEO’s of major corporations really believe that if they were yanked out of this country and plopped down in East Timor they could earn millions so easily? The answer is obvious. So why is it so difficult to accept that if the society has made your wealth possible you are obligated to contribute proportionately to the betterment or your fellow citizens? This is very strange behaviour in my opinion.
One other point: isn’t the idea of “giving” thousands of dollars in tax revenue to people to be transferred to middleman insurance companies just another form of socialism?
Anyway, thats all I have. Cheers.

Saul: I am considered “Middle Class” I a pay alot in taxes already. But, Between my Husband and I we don’t even come close to 250 Thousand. That is upper upper middle class.

And, of course, it will be less in the future. But when that changes so will the limites change. Every year that you pay tax, you cannot use the tax guide from the previous year. Why is that? It is because they adjust the taxes every year. But that is like every thing else. The house I bought ten years ago is doubled in price. The loaf of bread i paid $2 last year is $4 this year.

Saul: 2 of the articles I read was in CNN:money and The Wall Street Journal. And I am not worried as a Small business owner. When I say small I mean small. Neither my employees or I make enough to have any changes in our taxes. And, since Obama is giving tax breaks to the Lower and Middle income people I will probably be paying less. I already pay both sides of Social Security and Medicare on my Paycheck and the Company side for my employees. What Obama is raising is the Cap(the amount were you stop paying)on Social Security and Medicare. Since None of us hit that cap to begin with it doesn’t worry me in the least.

Saul: Where or where do you get your info from: Double taxes on capital gain? No, he is raising them but not doubling them. Sorry, I was more interested in payroll taxes than I was in capital gains tax. But, I hope I have this right. Capital gain Tax cap is at 2mil next year no cap. following year back to 1 mil. Obama wants to make it 3mil. Short term investments taxed at your rate (i think) and Long term investments taxed at a higher rate (though not doubled) But, the bottom line is; unless you have lots of money you don’t need to worry about your taxes going up!!! I will try to find those articles again. They are bookmarked on my Laptop

Well the changes may sound expensive but remember it will mean health care for those who have nothing. So our youth don’t have to die because they didn’t get 100 dollar antibiotic they needed!

at the begining of this election I was so excited, now not so much. I am debating either staying home or holding my nose and voting for obama. I am so tired of this guy. Obama loves the sound of his voice. He loves his speeches were he just gets to talk at people. When he has small venues where people arent stitting down just listening to him he stammers worse than mccain. When will Obama grow a pair and actually debate mccain? I know that he hates debates cause he is no good at them but he needs to do it.

The smart thing to do on heath care would be to turn the entire governemnt heath care management activity, over to MEDEX. Tricare pays 75% of the medical bill overseas, but has no emergency evacuation plan. Getting the government out of heath insurance management, would save a lot of money and at the same time cut-out bureaucratic jobs and bureaucratic policy. I’m convinced, MEDEX would provide outstanding heath insuranc for everyone. Of course, all those able to do so, would have to pay into the plan.

If we were not paying for the health care for foreign nationals who are here illegally, the costs needed to be paid by the taxpayer would be much less. As for Obama’s “plan”, it isn’t really one. Just wait for congress to do something good.

John Kerry is more of a war hero than McCain? First sign of Marxism – LOSS OF THE TRUTH!! JOHN MCCAIN IS NOT IN THE N.VIETNAM HALL OF FAME – KERRY IS!!

I now know why I am VOTING McCain!
Proposed changes in taxes after 2008 General election:
CAPITAL GAINS TAX
MCCAIN
0% on home sales up to $500,000
per home (couples) McCain does not
propose any change in existing
home sales income tax.
OBAMA
28% on profit from ALL home sales
How does this affect you?
If you sell your home and make a profit, you
will pay 28% of your gain on taxes.
If you are heading toward retirement
and would like to down-size your
home or move into a retirement
community, 28% of the money you
make from your home will go to taxes. This
proposal will adversely affect the
elderly who are counting on the income
from their homes as part of their retirement income.
DIVIDEND TAX
MCCAIN 15% (no change)
OBAMA 39.6%
How will this affect you?
If you have any money invested in stock
market, IRA, mutual funds,
college funds, life insurance, retirement
accounts, or anything that pays
or reinvests dividends, you will now
be paying nearly 40% of the money
earned on taxes if Obama become president.
The experts predict that ‘higher
tax rates on dividends and capital gains
would crash the stock market yet
do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.
INCOME TAX
MCCAIN (no changes)
Single making 30K – tax $4,500
Single making 50K – tax $12,500
Single making 75K – tax $18,750
Married making 60K- tax $9,000
Married making 75K – tax $18,750
Married making 125K – tax $31,250
OBAMA
(reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts)
Single making 30K – tax $8,400
Single making 50K – tax $14,000
Single making 75K – tax $23,250
Married making 60K – tax $16,800
Married making 75K – tax $21,000
Married making 125K – tax $38,750
Under Obama your taxes will
more than double!
How does this affect you? No explanation
needed. This is pretty
straight forward.
INHERITANCE TAX
MCCAIN 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)
OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax
How does this affect you? Many families
have lost businesses,
farms and ranches, and homes
that have
been in their families
for generations because they could not
afford the inheritance tax.
Those willing their assets to loved
ones will not only lose them to
these taxes.
NEW TAXES BEING PROPOSED BY OBAMA
* New government taxes proposed on
homes that are more than
2400 square feet
* New gasoline taxes (as if
gas weren’t high enough already)
* New taxes on natural resources
consumption (heating
gas, water, electricity)
AVOID THE PAIN VOTE MCCAIN!

Someone correct me in my way of thinking here if I’m wrong, but I’ve always thought of healthcare that was provided by employers as a perk. Just like retirement accounts, vacation time, employee shared profits, etc. It was provided as a way to entice and keep employees. I can think of several small business here in my community where the owners make a modest income, but I can’t see them being able to afford $6,000 to 12,000 x 5 employees a year extra. Will all employers be required to provide healthcare?

seah–get the lawyers out of healthcare and the cost will drop dramaticly—i am truly sick of the ambulance chasers on tv.— and the dummies running to them are making them rich and at our expense

I am a small business owner and i pay for my employees health care but the cost just keep going up and i may not be able to do it much longer. That being said, I know dozens of small business that cannot afford it for the owners much less their employees. If this form of socilised healthcare happens it would absoutly devestate the economy and put a lot of people out of business. In addition everyone else had better get ready to pay a lot more for everything you buy that is made in this country.

billy bob
i own a small business 5 employees —family- and there is no way we can afford health insurance—even liability insurance has gone thru the ceiling—-all insurance has gone crazy–but my agent is buliding his second big building—

Instead of the government taxing to subsidize outrageous medical expenses, they should fix the root cause.

Say what you want about the lawyers causing healthcare to go up, they aren’t the problem. There are too many caps on settlements anyway. This is the problem:
1. Insurance companies themselves. Theya re as rotten and greedy as it comes. They would be much happier if you died than if they had to pay for healthcare. It is a rotten system that is built on greed and profit only. There are a million stories to back this up.
2. The physicians themselves. Another very greedy group, that protects it’s almighty dollar above all. 500K/year is not enough for them, they want Bill Gaits kinda money. 98% of them care way more about how much they can make off of you than your well being. They will hang their hat on, “I have to do this test, or I will get sued”. Total stool, millions of unnecessary procedures done for one reason only. THey charge for them.
3. Hospitals- Another group that compete with each other and drive the cost of care through the roof. THey are constantly looking at how to do more procedures, even if unnecessary. It’s sick people. I live in it daily.
We need a major overhaul of another corrupt system that is run by lobbyists in Washington.

an after thought—LAWS ARE MADE BY LAWERS AND FOR LAWYERS—-JUST THAT SIMPLE

I’ll be the first to admit that both candidates could use a course in health care finance 101.
But to slam your opponent for something you know is lying, is a joke.
The problem with health care is nothing to do with what is mentioned in the article or in any of the reponses listed here.
Until politics and the politicians mature enough to examine the situation clearly, without the back stabbing, childishness that politics is noted for, we’ll never improve the problem or the bottom line.
In some ways I truly believe that politics has retarded the advancement of America as a whole.

SOME BUM OFF THE STREET THAT WOULD NEVER MAKE MORE THAN A FEW THOUSAND IN HIS LIFE can go to hospital –and for any silly mistake could end up getting millions—and of course his attorney will get a great portion of it—–AND GUESS WHAT YOU AND I CAN PAY THE BILL IN HIGHER RATES—SOMEONE BETTER STOP THE AMBULANCE CHASERS.THESE GUYS ARE MAKING MILLIONS AT OUR EXPENSE

I have grown to really, really despise Obama and his deceitful pandering.
He’s for public campaign financing…..no wait, he’s against it. He’s against nuclear energy…no wait, he’s for it. He supports the DC gun ban, but wait, he commends the Supreme Court for voting it down. He’s against gay marriage yesterday, and for it today when speaking to a gay rights group. Obama is one of the most contrived and deceitful candidates to slide down the garbage chute in years.
Obama is hollow. He stands for nothing.

MCCAIN: OBAMACARE IS A JOB KILLER

John McCain has finally pointed out what should be obvious to anyone with a rudimentary understanding of economics:
Small businesses are the job engine of America, and I will make it easier for them to grow and create more jobs my opponent want…

Obama was for public financing and now he is against it. He was for removing troops from Iraq now he is wait and see. How can I believe anything he says on health care? I’d like to see Hillary Clinton back in the race.
========================================
What does Obama stand for? Who knows?
========================================

LOL
mccain complained about congress taking a july 4th recess
LOL
he has been absent for 367 votes LOL!!!!
he is the most absent member of congress….
how pathetic

Do you all know what kind of country we will have if Obama becomes President?
An Obamanation!!!

Universal healthcare is going to bankrupt this country, and who will be hurt the most? The ones in the middle as usual. If people think they are paying a lot now for their premiums now, hang on they are going to soar if Obama’s plan goes through.
I’m tired of working three jobs so others don’t have to.

I think I might be confused. How on Gods’ green earth is the federal government going to pay for all the things promised if we can’t take care of it ourselves. I for one don’t want the government taking care of my personal business. That’s what I work for. Taxes would skyrocket and then what. Sounds like Obama wants total control of our lives. I don’t call that freedom or hope. Sounds like mindless change and hopelessness.

What ever happen to the good ole days when you went to work, paid your taxes, social security, and health insurance. Government needs to get control of insurance companies and health professionals and hospitals. That’s what is out of control. All employers should offer health insurance with the employee and the employer paying their part. I worked a one company for 6 years and every year the insurance company was changed due to large increases. That meant finding a new doctor and meds would be changed due to not being covered. I’m no longer working and am paying a large amount for state funded insurance. Can’t find a doctor who accepts it, none of my meds are covered and allowed a few visits a year with a maximum allowance of 25m a year. So federal funded health insurance doesn’t sound too appealing to me. Everything is out of control so who has the solution. I don’t think it is Obama. I’m not concerned for myself so much as I am for my kids and grandkids.

People need to get a grip on health care.
There is no free lunch as the Socialist Democrats would have you believe.
If health care is provided, then someone will have to pay for it.
If health care is provided under the Obama plan, taxpayers will pay for it.
But, that is the Obama plan for almost everything–MORE AND/OR HIGHER TAXES FOR EVERYONE.

i believe if they start rasing tarrifffs to all goods comming in and double tarriff any company leaving the usa that will help the job situation maybe employers will think twice about outsourcing to other countries. so they can ruin there water pollute another country because of epa standards , and greedy ceos that think they need billions more and turn your backs on the usa and last but not least say you are going to outsource take your wholre company and move how many ceos would want to move too china , the large companies can provide ins since they take jobs out of their own country

It is difficult to have an intelligent conversation with anyone who does not read the issues and stop believing everything the McCain puts out; one thing is certain most Obama supporters are informed voters