Barack Obama’s campaign is already running television ads that make the case against John McCain on health care.
Today they will send volunteers out knocking on doors in ten Iowa cities to “talk about the differences between the Obama plan to make health care affordable and the McCain plan to tax employees’ health benefits.”
SUNDAY: Obama Iowa Campaign for Change to Hold “Health Care Canvasses” Across Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa – On Sunday, October 5th, 2008, the Obama Iowa Campaign for Change will hold “health care canvasses” across the state to talk directly to Iowans about the choice they face this election when it comes to health care. Senator Obama has outlined a detailed plan to stand up to the big drug and insurance companies and make quality, affordable health care available to every American. His plan lowers premiums by up to $2,500 per family per year and reduces costs for business and their workers.
In contrast, Senator McCain’s plan will tax the health benefits that workers receive from their employers for the first time in history. His plan will make it more likely that your employer drops your health care plan because of rising costs. Independent analyses show that employers will drop at least 20 million people from coverage and force them to seek insurance in the individual market, where costs are higher, quality is lower, and coverage more uncertain.
“Affordable health care is one of the most important issues facing Iowa working families,” said Jackie Norris, Iowa State Director for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. “There is an enormous difference between the two candidates when it comes to health care. Senator Obama has a detailed plan to cover every American and lower costs for families by $2,500. This is in stark contrast to Senator McCain’s radical plan, which will do nothing to reduce the number of uninsured and will tax health care benefits for the first time in history. Iowans can’t afford four more years of health care policies that leave families at the mercy of insurance companies.”
The details of the canvasses are after the jump.
I think it’s smart for the Obama campaign to be pushing this point about McCain wanting to tax health care benefits, but don’t imagine that this is the only thing wrong with McCain’s health care plan.
Elizabeth Edwards made a strong case against other aspects of McCain’s plan this spring (see also this article about her speech to the annual meeting of the Association of Health Care Journalists). One of the biggest problems with McCain’s plan is that insurers could continue to exclude people with pre-existing conditions, including cancer survivors like McCain and Elizabeth Edwards.
Whether or not you canvass today, you may want to bring up these points as well as the tax issue if you talk with undecided voters about the difference between Obama and McCain on health care reform.
UPDATE: We were out today, but the Obama volunteers in Windsor Heights left a “vote early for change” door-hanger at our house. Thanks, I will!
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, 2008
Cedar Falls
12:00 PM (noon)
Health Care Canvass
Obama Iowa Campaign for Change office
2512 Whitetail Dr. Ste. #201
Cedar Falls, IowaCedar Rapids
12:00 PM (noon)
Health Care Canvass
Obama Iowa Campaign for Change office
1229 1st Ave SE
Cedar Rapids, IowaCouncil Bluffs
12:00 PM (noon)
Health Care Canvass
Obama Iowa Campaign for Change office
117 N 16th St.
Council Bluffs, IowaDavenport
12:00 PM (noon)
Health Care Canvass
Obama Iowa Campaign for Change office
901 E. Kimberly Rd. – Unit 22
Davenport, IowaDes Moines
12:00 PM (noon)
Health Care Canvass
Obama Iowa Campaign for Change office
1408 Locust St.
Des Moines, IowaDubuque
12:00 PM (noon)
Health Care Canvass
Obama Iowa Campaign for Change office
2600 Dodge St. – Ste B4
Dubuque, IowaIowa City
12:00 PM (noon)
Health Care Canvass
Obama Iowa Campaign for Change office
625 S. Dubuque St.
Iowa City, IowaMason City
12:00 PM (noon)
Health Care Canvass
Obama Iowa Campaign for Change office
517 1st NW
Mason City, IowaOttumwa
12:00 PM (noon)
Health Care Canvass
Obama Iowa Campaign for Change office
226 W Main – Suite 203
Ottumwa, IowaSioux City
12:00 PM (noon)
Health Care Canvass
Obama Iowa Campaign for Change office
506 Nebraska St.
Sioux City, Iowa