quinta-feira, outubro 21, 2004
Candidates Hit Crucial Swing States of Ohio and Pennsylvania
By MARIA NEWMAN
The New York Times
President Bush asserted today that Senator John Kerry's health care plan would amount to "the largest expansion of government health care in American history,'' while the widow of Christopher Reeve announced that she had decided to speak out for Mr. Kerry because he supports embryonic stem cell research that promises progress on intractable health problems.
As the campaigns count down to the Nov. 2 presidential election, Mr. Bush and Mr. Kerry spent the day in swing states, pounding away at some of the shorthand themes that each candidate believes will win over undecided voters or hold on to his base: Mr. Bush tried to paint Mr. Kerry as a proponent of big government out of step with mainstream America, while his opponent said the president had "an extreme political agenda that slows instead of advances science.''
The president's address to an invited audience in Downingtown, Pa., was billed as being about medical liability reform. But Mr. Bush managed to weave in his refrain that Mr. Kerry's health plan would lead to higher costs and more federal involvement, a charge the Kerry campaign rejects.
"The federal government's going to become like an insurance company, a reinsurer, which sounds fine on the surface, except remember this, when the federal government writes the check, the federal government also writes the rules,'' Mr. Bush said.
The president said that in his second term, he wanted to make health care more affordable and accessible, while preserving the system of private care in this country. He also said he wanted to help families and individuals afford health insurance by setting up health savings accounts.
He said that Mr. Kerry's health care plan would add 22 million more Americans to the government system, and that he would make Medicaid a program so large that employers would be moved to drop private coverage.
But Mr. Bush did not mention that the Medicare law he signed would, by the administration's own estimate, move nine million more people into Medicare H.M.O.'s and other managed-care plans.
Also, during the last four years, the number of uninsured Americans increased by five million. Last month, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that Medicare premiums would increase in January by 17 percent.
The president said Mr. Kerry had voted 10 times as a senator against reforms in the area of medical liability. He said there were too many "junk lawsuits'' against doctors.
"We want our doctors focused on fighting illness, not on having to fight lawsuits,'' he said.
The Bush campaign wants to limit medical malpractice awards to save $60 billion to $108 billion annually in health care costs. The Kerry campaign favors limits on medical malpractice premium increases, sanctions for frivolous lawsuits, and nonbinding mediation in all states.
At a news conference arranged to coincide with President Bush's 40th visit to Pennsylvania, Gov. Ed Rendell , a Democrat, said Mr. Bush was raising the malpractice issue to distract attention from increasing numbers of people losing health care coverage and the rising costs of coverage.
"This is a typical response by the president's campaign, taking a problem that exists but is on its way to being solved by other people and blowing it up in an effort to scare the voters," Mr. Rendell said, according to The Associated Press.
Mr. Kerry, speaking in Columbus, Ohio, said the president's limits on embryonic stem cell research puts him at odds with most Americans, who believe such research should be encouraged and unhindered.
"You get the feeling that if George Bush had been president during other periods in American history, he would have sided with the candle lobby against electricity, the buggymakers against cars and typewriter companies against computers,'' Mr. Kerry said.
Mr. Kerry was introduced by Dana Reeve, whose husband, Christopher, an actor, gained fame both as "Superman'' and as a forceful advocate for spinal cord research after a fall from a horse left him a quadriplegic nine years ago. Perhaps the foremost cause for Mr. Reeve, who died on Oct. 10, was the loosening of restrictions on stem cell research.
Mr. Reeve and Mr. Kerry knew each other for about 15 years, and the actor supported Mr. Kerry's positions on stem cell research.
"My inclination would be to remain private for a good long while," Mrs. Reeve said today, her voice sometimes breaking with emotion. "But I came here today in support of John Kerry because this is so important. This is what Chris wanted.''
She said her husband had spent much of his time researching the latest scientific advances and encouraging such research to find cures for illnesses.
"He was tireless,'' she said. "He talked to researchers almost every day. He challenged scientists to move from the lab to the patient.
"Most importantly, he joined the majority of Americans in believing that the promise of embryonic stem cell research is the key to unlocking life-saving treatments and cures,'' she said to loud and sustained applause.
Mr. Kerry began the day by going hunting, emerging from an Ohio cornfield wearing camouflage gear and carrying a 12-gauge shotgun. One of the several men with him carried a goose that the senator said he had shot.
Mr. Kerry made only brief remarks, saying he had stayed up late to watch the Boston Red Sox defeat the New York Yankees last night to clinch the American League pennant.
"I'm still giddy over the Red Sox,'' Mr. Kerry said to reporters at the field, according to The Associated Press. "It was hard to focus.''
Mr. Kerry, whose home base is Boston, had joined campaign aides and other supporters to cheer his team to victory. He then woke up early for the 7 a.m. hunting event at a supporter's farm.
In the meantime, the National Rifle Association bought a full-page ad in today's Youngstown newspaper, The Vindicator, saying Mr. Kerry was posing as a sportsman while opposing gun-owners' rights. The organization, which claims four million members, endorsed Mr. Bush last week. Mr. Kerry disputes the N.R.A.'s contention that he wants to "take away" guns, although he did support the ban on assault-type weapons and legislation requiring background checks at gun shows.
"If John Kerry thinks the Second Amendment is about photo ops, he's Daffy," the ad said.
The New York Times
President Bush asserted today that Senator John Kerry's health care plan would amount to "the largest expansion of government health care in American history,'' while the widow of Christopher Reeve announced that she had decided to speak out for Mr. Kerry because he supports embryonic stem cell research that promises progress on intractable health problems.
As the campaigns count down to the Nov. 2 presidential election, Mr. Bush and Mr. Kerry spent the day in swing states, pounding away at some of the shorthand themes that each candidate believes will win over undecided voters or hold on to his base: Mr. Bush tried to paint Mr. Kerry as a proponent of big government out of step with mainstream America, while his opponent said the president had "an extreme political agenda that slows instead of advances science.''
The president's address to an invited audience in Downingtown, Pa., was billed as being about medical liability reform. But Mr. Bush managed to weave in his refrain that Mr. Kerry's health plan would lead to higher costs and more federal involvement, a charge the Kerry campaign rejects.
"The federal government's going to become like an insurance company, a reinsurer, which sounds fine on the surface, except remember this, when the federal government writes the check, the federal government also writes the rules,'' Mr. Bush said.
The president said that in his second term, he wanted to make health care more affordable and accessible, while preserving the system of private care in this country. He also said he wanted to help families and individuals afford health insurance by setting up health savings accounts.
He said that Mr. Kerry's health care plan would add 22 million more Americans to the government system, and that he would make Medicaid a program so large that employers would be moved to drop private coverage.
But Mr. Bush did not mention that the Medicare law he signed would, by the administration's own estimate, move nine million more people into Medicare H.M.O.'s and other managed-care plans.
Also, during the last four years, the number of uninsured Americans increased by five million. Last month, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that Medicare premiums would increase in January by 17 percent.
The president said Mr. Kerry had voted 10 times as a senator against reforms in the area of medical liability. He said there were too many "junk lawsuits'' against doctors.
"We want our doctors focused on fighting illness, not on having to fight lawsuits,'' he said.
The Bush campaign wants to limit medical malpractice awards to save $60 billion to $108 billion annually in health care costs. The Kerry campaign favors limits on medical malpractice premium increases, sanctions for frivolous lawsuits, and nonbinding mediation in all states.
At a news conference arranged to coincide with President Bush's 40th visit to Pennsylvania, Gov. Ed Rendell , a Democrat, said Mr. Bush was raising the malpractice issue to distract attention from increasing numbers of people losing health care coverage and the rising costs of coverage.
"This is a typical response by the president's campaign, taking a problem that exists but is on its way to being solved by other people and blowing it up in an effort to scare the voters," Mr. Rendell said, according to The Associated Press.
Mr. Kerry, speaking in Columbus, Ohio, said the president's limits on embryonic stem cell research puts him at odds with most Americans, who believe such research should be encouraged and unhindered.
"You get the feeling that if George Bush had been president during other periods in American history, he would have sided with the candle lobby against electricity, the buggymakers against cars and typewriter companies against computers,'' Mr. Kerry said.
Mr. Kerry was introduced by Dana Reeve, whose husband, Christopher, an actor, gained fame both as "Superman'' and as a forceful advocate for spinal cord research after a fall from a horse left him a quadriplegic nine years ago. Perhaps the foremost cause for Mr. Reeve, who died on Oct. 10, was the loosening of restrictions on stem cell research.
Mr. Reeve and Mr. Kerry knew each other for about 15 years, and the actor supported Mr. Kerry's positions on stem cell research.
"My inclination would be to remain private for a good long while," Mrs. Reeve said today, her voice sometimes breaking with emotion. "But I came here today in support of John Kerry because this is so important. This is what Chris wanted.''
She said her husband had spent much of his time researching the latest scientific advances and encouraging such research to find cures for illnesses.
"He was tireless,'' she said. "He talked to researchers almost every day. He challenged scientists to move from the lab to the patient.
"Most importantly, he joined the majority of Americans in believing that the promise of embryonic stem cell research is the key to unlocking life-saving treatments and cures,'' she said to loud and sustained applause.
Mr. Kerry began the day by going hunting, emerging from an Ohio cornfield wearing camouflage gear and carrying a 12-gauge shotgun. One of the several men with him carried a goose that the senator said he had shot.
Mr. Kerry made only brief remarks, saying he had stayed up late to watch the Boston Red Sox defeat the New York Yankees last night to clinch the American League pennant.
"I'm still giddy over the Red Sox,'' Mr. Kerry said to reporters at the field, according to The Associated Press. "It was hard to focus.''
Mr. Kerry, whose home base is Boston, had joined campaign aides and other supporters to cheer his team to victory. He then woke up early for the 7 a.m. hunting event at a supporter's farm.
In the meantime, the National Rifle Association bought a full-page ad in today's Youngstown newspaper, The Vindicator, saying Mr. Kerry was posing as a sportsman while opposing gun-owners' rights. The organization, which claims four million members, endorsed Mr. Bush last week. Mr. Kerry disputes the N.R.A.'s contention that he wants to "take away" guns, although he did support the ban on assault-type weapons and legislation requiring background checks at gun shows.
"If John Kerry thinks the Second Amendment is about photo ops, he's Daffy," the ad said.
# posted by Rui Ferreira @ 4:43 da tarde 
