Daily Democratic Talking Points

[Pixsurguy]

This talking points edition includes recent false claims by Senator Mitch McConnell (senior Senator from Kentucky) and Fact Checking John McCain's healthcare claims

McConnell on "Change" McConnell said: "...In a year when people are interested in change, McCain can now make an even stronger argument he's for change, too, and they can have an argument about what kind of change."



McConnell has acknowledged "...people are interested in change." Bruce Lunsford (contesting for McConnell's seat in the Senate) and Democrats couldn't agree more. After 24 years of Mitch McConnell in Washington, it is certainly time for change. Both Barack Obama and John McCain can see that and are campaigning on that platform. Mitch McConnell can't, because he represents the old way and everything that is wrong with Washington.


McCain - McConnell relationship:

Now that John McCain is the GOP nominee for president, Mitch McConnell is trying to con Kentucky into thinking they are old friends. The truth is they're known for having a rocky history and couldn't disagree more on several important issues from government spending to campaign finance reform. Read more here and here and here

Check out New McCONjob website The McCON Job - End The Error Of Mitch McConnell

This site features the latest news, videos and photos demonstrating the many, many ways Mitch McConnell is letting the people of Kentucky down. I encourage you all to take a look and sign up for action alerts.

FALSE MCCAIN CLAIM: "My health care plan will make it easier for more Americans to find and keep good health care insurance."

FACTS: MCCAIN'S HEALTH CARE PLAN DOES LITTLE TO REDUCE THE RANKS OF AMERICA'S UNINSURED AND WOULD ERODE EMPLOYER-BASED HEALTH SYSTEM

Under McCain's Plan, Health Insurance Benefits Would be Taxed For The First Time, Resulting In A $3.6 Trillion Tax Increase On Working Families. McCain's health care plan would eliminate the payroll deduction on health care benefits, which would have the effect of raising taxes on working families by $3.6 trillion. [New York Times, 5/1/08]
McCain's Plan Undermines The Employer-Based Health Care System And Will Lead To Workers Losing Coverage. McCain's health care plan would begin to dismantle the employer-based health care system, removing the incentives employers have to provide health care coverage, resulting in employees losing their health care. [New York Times, 4/30/08; Washington Post, 4/30/08]


The Health Care Tax Credit McCain Offers Would Cover Less Than Half The Cost Of An Average Health Care Plan. The McCain health plan would give families a $5,000 tax credit to purchase health insurance. However, in 2007, the average family health insurance plan cost $12,000 - more than double the value of McCain's health care tax credit. ["Employer Health Benefits 2007 Annual Survey," Kaiser Family Foundation, 9/11/07; "'Call To Action' On Health Care Reform," John McCain 2008 press release, 4/29/08; Wall Street Journal, 10/11/07]


McCain's Health Care Plan Does Little to Help America's Uninsured. McCain's plan does not focus on "reducing the ranks of the uninsured," of which there are about 47 million, or one in seven Americans. According to the New York Times, "The McCain campaign has no estimate of how many of America's 47 million uninsured would likely gain coverage under its plan." It "has been estimated to reduce the number of uninsured in the U.S.by three to nine million." [Wall Street Journal, 10/11/2007, 4/30/2008; New York Times, 3/2/2008]

McCain's Erosion Of Employer System Would Take Away Millions of Americans' Insurance. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, "158 million people nationally" had "employer-sponsored health insurance" in 2007. McCain's elimination of the employer tax incentive to provide coverage would put these 158 million Americans' coverage in jeopardy. According to an analysis conducted by the Center For American Progress, "business owners would no longer need to cover their workers to get tax benefits for their own coverage.The entire employer health insurance system could unravel, ending this as an option for Americans who prefer it." In addition, the McCain plan "would not require insurers to provide health coverage to people with pre-existing conditions." [Kaiser Family Foundation, "Employer Health Benefits 2007 Annual Survey; Center For American Progress Action Fund, "Analysis of McCain's Health Care Announcement," 4/29/2008; New York Times Political Blog, "The Caucus," 4/29/2008,]

[Itsnotgonnaspankitself...]

I like this...haha...but I'll have to come back and read it later when I get home from the studio, and have more time...