Bill Clinton: I’ll take the blame on HillaryCare’s failure
posted at 3:35 pm on November 9, 2007 by Bryan
Former President Clinton said Thursday that he is to blame for his administration’s failed health care plan, not his wife, who spearheaded the effort.
Clinton was asked about the plan during a campaign event, where he spoke to about 600 people crowded into a YMCA gymnasium. The health care effort was led by then-first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, now a New York senator and candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“She has taken the rap for some of the problems we had with health care the last time that were far more my fault than hers,” the former president said.
He said part of the problem was a lack of money to finance the health care expansion. Money could be available this time to pay for expanded health care, such as the universal health care plan Hillary Clinton has proposed.
“This time, when you let the tax cuts for upper-income people expire, it’ll create a pool of money that wasn’t there last time,” Bill Clinton said. “We told her she had to get to universal coverage and there would be no new money. She had to figure out how to do it.”
So now she has exactly no record to run on at all. Sen. Barack Obama has already noticed.
When asked by a reporter about the former president’s comments, Sen. Barack Obama, a rival for the presidential nomination, said Hillary Clinton shouldn’t tout her experience and then not take responsibility for the failures.
“If part of your basis for experience is the work you did on health care, then presumably when it didn’t work out, that’s part of the experience as well,” Obama said during a brief stop outside a convenience store and gas station in Albia.
I went dumpster diving on Hillary’s official site just to see what she might be currently saying about HillaryCare. To my surprise, she says absolutely nothing about it.
Nobody has worked harder or longer to improve health care than Hillary Clinton. From her time in Arkansas when she improved rural health care to her successful effort to create the SCHIP Children’s Health Insurance program which now covers six million children, Hillary has the strength and experience to ensure that every man, woman and child in America has quality, affordable health care.
Nothing about that debacle in 1993-94. That’s a glaring omission. I also noticed a glaring omission or two in the list of how her plan affects different populations on this page.
How about business owners? Run of the mill white guys? Her plan would affect us too. Do we not count in Hillary’s world?
Finally and apropos of not very much, I’d like to offer some unsolicited web design advice to Team Hillary. Split up the facebook and YouTube icons on your front page.
I kid you not, the first thing I noticed when I scanned that row was this juxtaposition.
Maybe it’s because I’m one of those white guys who’s left off Hillary’s list.
Blowback
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No,pretty sure she’s not real fond of white guys unless they can advance her career in some way. As for business, socialists never had any real love of anything that reeks of Capitalism.
bbz123 on November 9, 2007 at 3:42 PM
It will effect whites and business owners allright. Dig deep because “Auntie Sam” will want all your money.
saiga on November 9, 2007 at 3:43 PM
Heh — good catch, Bryan.
But as to Bill taking the blame, why is that fine with you, Bryan? Even if it were possible (no way the other Dems or the Republicans will let her off the hook), are you thinking no record is better than a bad record? Obama would disagree, and he’s rising in the polls.
Splashman on November 9, 2007 at 3:43 PM
Because it solidifies the idea that she’s not a leader, hasn’t successfully managed anything and giving her the presidency would amount to major OJT.
Bryan on November 9, 2007 at 3:45 PM
BJ’s just letting us all know how desperate he is to get back in the
intern grooveWhite House.fogw on November 9, 2007 at 3:45 PM
But will Rudolfo take the blame for Kerik, et all?
MB4 on November 9, 2007 at 3:53 PM
That’s pretty funny, but don’t feel left out Bryan, as a woman I feel that includes me as well. Hillary just seems to do that to people in general.
4shoes on November 9, 2007 at 3:53 PM
I’m starting to wonder, between the two of them which wants back in the White House the most.
4shoes on November 9, 2007 at 3:55 PM
Good catch with the icons….hehehe
Bill is salivating over the idea of being the First Gentleman. Question: How long can Bill keep little Willie locked up?
roux on November 9, 2007 at 3:57 PM
You don’t.
Says it all.
Kini on November 9, 2007 at 3:58 PM
The difference between Bill and Hillary is that Hillary doesn’t get caught. Between Bill and Rudy, not so much.
MB4 on November 9, 2007 at 3:59 PM
sunny on November 9, 2007 at 4:01 PM
It is really hard for a Texas boy like me to comprehend how that woman is the frontrunner. She scares the beejesus out of me. As a white business owner, I’m worried sick she will pull some bonehead tax move and choke the geese laying the golden eggs. Like Reagan said, more people riding in the wagon than pulling it. I can see it comming.
saiga on November 9, 2007 at 4:02 PM
OJT, on the job training
But she had 8 years plus under billybobs tutorship.
What she learned is that power is seductive and she has a hunger for that power.
To quote a cheesy line from the Highlander movie.
There can be only one, and I’m your girl!
Kini on November 9, 2007 at 4:02 PM
HAHAHAHAHA! F You!
Hillary was still responsible for a lot of the stuff that are bureaucratic nightmares. Her plan was the reason for HMO’s (Dole tried to highlight that in his presidential campaign when he asked who liked the HMO and nobody ever raised their hands).
She was also responsible for the HIPPA thing where nobody can know anything about anything if you go into the hospital. Not so good practically, but a boondoggle for lawyers.
All of these things affect your health care now. . . but doesn’t make anything better. She got control of things, but added to the costs by doing this. Nothing Hillary did with Health Care made the system better.
ThackerAgency on November 9, 2007 at 4:04 PM
So is there a thread you won’t hijack with your Rudy-hate?
We get it – Rudy is baaaad.
Slublog on November 9, 2007 at 4:05 PM
Oh, Bryan, that was great!
cjs1943 on November 9, 2007 at 4:08 PM
The one thing Hillary does really well is calculate all the political angles of every situation. I’d bet there was an angry phone call, Hill-to-Bill, about the perception of lack-of-experience this creates. She probably ended the call with “f You!”
eeyore on November 9, 2007 at 4:09 PM
Hey, it’s New York City. It runs kind of like J.Edgar Hoover where everybody has something bad on everybody. Just keep walking and don’t look anybody in the eyes and you will be OK.
saiga on November 9, 2007 at 4:09 PM
So was Hillary the co Pres. or not?
I think she was given a project to keep her of Bill’s back for a while so he could spend more quality sex predator time and the predictable Hillarycare commie abortion bill was the result.
Speakup on November 9, 2007 at 4:10 PM
I’m still waiting to see her in a miniskirt.
saiga on November 9, 2007 at 4:11 PM
What’s the matter, didn’t you like the shot of the cankles?
Kini on November 9, 2007 at 4:17 PM
The possibility of that control freak and her philandering stage prop of a husband being in charge of anything besides what they’re going to wear today is exactly why I want to move to Mars.
Wind Rider on November 9, 2007 at 4:18 PM
I don’t hate Rudolfo. I just tell the truth about him and I have got plenty of additional truth to tell about him too, but will save for a more apropos thread.
MB4 on November 9, 2007 at 4:19 PM
Yeesh, even Hillary’s shoes are revolting.
infidel4life on November 9, 2007 at 4:23 PM
BJ is insane. I notice so many libs think that letting the tax cuts for the “upper income holders” will create a pool of money, but what happens when that money dries up???These mentalk midgets seem to think that the money is a never ending fountain. Once us middle class white guys all file bankruptcy from the dems disasterouse funding fiasco their will be no more never ending fount of money.
Wyrd on November 9, 2007 at 4:26 PM
Me thinks that will be a disability if she becomes president.
MamaAJ on November 9, 2007 at 4:31 PM
Bill (and Little Willie) are angling for the ambassadorship to Argentina. We all know what the new Argentinian Head of STate looks like.
Qzsusy on November 9, 2007 at 4:33 PM
Maybe we just have to disagree. Obama believes he can win based on a very thin record — call it the benefit-of-the-doubt vote. “Hey, he can’t be worse than so-and-so.” Hillary is much more vulnerable if everyone knew her real record (ineffective and scandal-ridden), than if there was no record at all. She’s got a set of baggage that would make Samsonite envious, and I fully expect the Republican nominee to make use of it.
Splashman on November 9, 2007 at 4:44 PM
Dude, you’re not white. You’re chromatically challenged!
Mindcrime on November 9, 2007 at 4:45 PM
She blamed the insurance company for her failure, and didn’t mention that she was too far over her head. The Dems say anything they want and get a pass when it all falls through due to greedy White guys.
Hening on November 9, 2007 at 5:03 PM
People tend to forget that the right wing, and I mean the far and some not-quite-so-far right wingers, hated Klinton so viscerally that it helped spawn, expand, and motivate the so-called militia movement which is still largely in place today. Billery can point to whatever issue it wants, “universal health care”, “global warming”, “negotiating” with enemies who have for more than 1300 years reaffirmed its desire to convert, subjugate, or kill all who do not hold with their totalitarian/supremisist ideology, etc. It’s still weak and limp-wristed Socialism in the face of issues and enemies that do not, and will never, fit into their Socialistic paradigm no matter how hard they try.
As far as this issue goes, a realistic assessment of why Hillerycare failed, it was the triumph of realistic sanity over drug/power induced idealism.
BTW, if Billery gets back into the WH (now in a time of war), what do you think the militia movement is going to do? No, I’m not a militia member.
P. James Moriarty on November 9, 2007 at 5:05 PM
What he said.
“We told her she had to get to universal coverage and there would be no new money. She had to collectivize the income of the bourgeoisie by explaining it in terms of class warfare. The proletariat had to make demands. They had to rise up. The comrades had to demand change.”
OhEssYouCowboys on November 9, 2007 at 5:18 PM
What he really meant.
OhEssYouCowboys on November 9, 2007 at 5:19 PM
No, you don’t count because you’re not a minority. That FU was for the two groups, above. Ya should have left it alone. Why help those rats who’re gonna eat ya alive, one mm at a time?
Entelechy on November 9, 2007 at 5:54 PM
Re. topic – the Clintons must really think that all Americans are what Biden said.
Entelechy on November 9, 2007 at 5:55 PM
So, we’re taking in less money than before the cuts? Hmm, that’s not what the numbers show.
So, the economy went up due to the cuts and receivables went up, and removing them won’t hurt the economy at all. See, lowering taxes helps the economy (from what we’ve seen) and raising taxes doesn’t hurt anything (I guess from what Bill says).
So why not 125% taxes? That’d raise more money than the GNP right there. Heck, think what you could fund with that, and you wouldn’t hurt the economy at all.
That or his math may be questionable. I suspect his “pool of money” is going to be more like a puddle of debt by the time the Government starts making plans to spend it…
gekkobear on November 9, 2007 at 6:04 PM
And the damage control continues…
RMCS_USN on November 9, 2007 at 6:48 PM
While Hil is trying to run things, Bill will be in the back with some acquaintance in the Lincoln bedroom, and it will be a shambles with two of them in there, BIGTIME. We’ll be the laughing stock of the world and no one will give a damn about any policy we try to sell. Its common sense people. The two of them have been there. Just becuase they can legally get in there again doesnt mean we should put them there.
johnnyU on November 9, 2007 at 7:06 PM
Really, a very good question. Every step he’s taken so far has been a giant goose egg. Is Slick Willy that tone deaf?
thegreatbeast on November 9, 2007 at 8:17 PM
Just now on H&C Hillary campaign admits PLANTING A QUESTION IN IOWA. Surprised anyone? Rut-Roh, Iowans aren’t going to like this…
Countdown to Slick Willie’s defense of her in 3…2…1…
NightmareOnKStreet on November 9, 2007 at 9:06 PM
Another interesting thread, following a good post with great catches. We CAN’T allow those two back into any position of prominence. It’s bad enough they have the following they do… How does history keep repeating itself this way…? How do so many people get taken in by frauds and charlatans, while calling the heroes of civilization…, ‘villains’…? How can the need for abortion, gay marriage and the rape of the risk-takers and producers be so important to them that they can simply ignore violent crimes, perverted behavior and national sabotage…? Are we wrong in our tolerance…? Should we start protecting ourselves against Liberals through pre-emptive self defense…? After all…, even ZOMBIES are capable of winning, once their numbers become such that they block all exits and absorb our ammunition, including the last round which WAS intended for our OWN escape. Are we all doomed to be bitten and forced to join the ranks of the living dead…?
Rugged Individual on November 9, 2007 at 9:14 PM
Um, yes, uh, I mean no, eh, Im not really sure. All I can say is: dude, I want what you’re smokin’!
NightmareOnKStreet on November 9, 2007 at 9:44 PM
Maybe it’s because I’m one of those white guys who’s left off Hillary’s list.
posted at 3:35 pm on November 9, 2007 by Bryan
Thats because we white guy’s are on Hillary’s 8hit list.
sonnyspats1 on November 9, 2007 at 10:50 PM
There’s a great argument in the original play and movie “The Odd Couple” where Oscar complains about all the notes Felix leaves around the apartment, saying things like (paraphrasing) “‘Don’t forget to take out the trash. F-U.’ It took me weeks to realize that the ‘F-U’ meant ‘Felix Unger’!”
Now I have a whole new association for those letters. The Hillary quest…
Captain Scarlet on November 10, 2007 at 3:21 AM
You bet he does, he left a stash behind that he needs to collect so he can get his head straight. The street variety that he has to put up with since leaving office are cut with too much junk stuff.
So he wants to get his R&D stash that will allow him to actually remain sane when in Hiterly’s presence at anytime or anywhere even in what he calls the badroom.
MSGTAS on November 10, 2007 at 8:44 AM
Test
OakLeaf on November 12, 2007 at 3:55 AM