Although most of last night’s debate was devoted to crawfishing about Iraq, the various candidates did take a few moments to avoid questions about “universal health care.” Here, for example, is how Senator Obama responded to the moderator’s question about how he would pay for his plan:
I think we should have a national pool that people can buy into if they don’t have health insurance … And we can provide subsidies for those who can’t afford the group rates that are available.
Senator Clinton answered the question with this cryptic effusion:
We can save money within the existing system. I am not ready to put new money into a system that doesn’t work until we’ve tried to figure out how to get the best outcomes from the money we already have.
The nearest thing to an honest answer came from John Edwards, who at least admits that he’ll raise taxes:
I would get rid of George Bush’s tax cuts for people who make over $200,000 a year.
One of these people may well become President, and they are all committed to “universal health care.” The reason they won’t talk about cost is that they want their brainless supporters to go on thinking everyone is going to get free health care. But it won’t be free, folks.
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