That debate was horrible!
I am still waiting for these candidates to stop working the populist angle so hard -- it is really starting to ring false at this point.

I don't see how Hilary can attack Obama's healthcare plan. She says he isnt providing for everyone, and he is. The only differences in their plans are that:

1.) Obama addresses the need for the drug companies to be regulated, and that Medicare needs to have the option of using generic drugs. The rise in cost of prescription medicine is one of the HUGE PROBLEMS in healthcare today (that and the fact that Drug companies bribe doctors and pass the expense on to patients). The fact that Hilary ignores it ompletely makes me think she is under the thumb of drug companies.

2.) The Clinton and Edwards plans penalize the people that don't have health insurance. I don't see this as being productive. If you can't afford health insurance, who are we helping by charging you even more money for that?

I agree the debate was terrible. Every thing they said sounded like a 15 second TV ad. I am all for universal health care if you can account for the funding, but none of them have. They all claim they can, but fail to provide any concrete details of how these plans will work and how funding will be secured (i.e. how much is my already 35% income tax going to sky rocket?). I am all for ending poverty in America, but how are you going to do that John Edwards? All abstract rhetoric, no real plans. All fluff, no substance. Same as always. If you really want a "change" start with transparency as to the details of your plans, not just grandoise moral ideals that are easy to commit to.

The person that has the most experience at this is Hillary. She would not fall under the pressure of the insurance and pharmaceutical companies last time but had to pull back due to the pressure of the republicans. She did not hesitate or stutter while articulating her planlast night. Which Obama continually does because he is so new at this strategy. It was obvious that Obama just has fluff and not a lot of depth. That is why he had to come out swinging and throwing mud to begin with which just hurts everyone. All in all John Edwards was above the mud slinging and really sincere and articulate his plans for this country.

Hillary does not have to hesitate with any of her discussions because she is experienced and prepared.

Obama has a very detailed health care plan on his website. Very detailed and hardly fluff.

Hilary HAS fallen to pressure from the Pharmecutical companies because she fails to mention the terrible impact drug companies have on our medical system, and how she would address them. Her plan 100% completely ignores the drug companies. Allowing Medicare and Medicaid to use generic drugs alone would save our country billions.

We all know Hillary is a good worker. The problem is her hard work never produces good results.

I guess you would say that the Family and Medical Leave Act, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancies, which established and achieved a goal of reducing teen pregnancies by one-third between 1996 and 2005, the legalizing of plan b to be available over the counter and the voice she has around the world of condemning discriminatory acts around the world has just been nothing. These are only a few of the things she has done. Also, let's not forget that Barack had a single payer plan when he first began campaigning but let's face it he loves Joe Lieberman and will be a Joe Lieberman as president. Funny that Joe the turn coat is supporting a republican McCain. That is only because he realizes that Obama is to inexperienced to really be president.

If you watched the debate last night you would also see how Hillary spoke to the horrible hold the pharmaceutical and insurance companies have on this country. She does not mince words about how deplorable this industry is and the hindrance it has been to providing universal health.

She should do more than just "speak" about pharmaceutical companies. Talk is cheap, you know? I feel that Obama has put far more thought into this issue than Clinton. She has been working on health care for years, which has allowed lobbying groups to get to her. To get you to see what I mean, here are portions from the Clinton and Obama Health Care plans regarding prescription drugs:

Clinton:
"while drug companies will offer fair prices and accurate information."

Obama:
"Lower prescription drug costs. The second-fastest growing type of health expenses is prescription drugs. Pharmaceutical companies are selling the exact same drugs in Europe and Canada but charging Americans more than double the price. Obama will allow Americans to buy their medicines from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and prices are lower outside the U.S. Obama will also repeal the ban that prevents the government from negotiating with drug companies, which could result in savings as high as $30 billion. Finally, Obama will work to increase the use of generic drugs in Medicare, Medicaid, and FEHBP and prohibit big name drug companies from keeping generics out of markets"

I do not know why the Obama supporters and campaign promotes and destroys one of the greatest advocate of health care and rights for women. It is pathetic and desperate. They should really get over it and start acting like a unified party. The hyperbole is unbecoming and really causes Obama to loose a lot of respect.

I am not "destroying" Hilary. I am just disappointed that she has failed to address a key component of the health care issue. I don't think it is "pathetic" to want answers to very valid questions.

I do, however, think it is very sad that you are chosing to resort to responses like that...instead of just addressing the issue.

Here is the link to Hillary's health care plan. http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/healthcareplan/summary.aspx

You are distorting the facts and just like Obama not giving her credit. So, if you want to go head to head on issues - use the facts and do not promote lies that she is taking money from the pharmeceutical companies. Is the Obama campaign so desperate that they are now resorting to mudslinging and lies. Really sad. If you watched the debates or really read what she is proposing you would not be out there spreading falsehoods.

you have done this many times so I do not trust what you are writing.

You say I distort facts and lie...

But what I posted was from her site!!! Yes, if you click on that link you posted, you will see what I posted can be found under Part 3, the first bulletin.

I don't know if she is taking money from pharmecutical companies...but the fact that she ignores the drug industry completely except for 1 fraction of sentance in her health care plan really says something to me. I like 85% of Hilary...I just don't understand how someone could work on health care that long and not address this MASSIVE issue. You don't find it a tiny bit odd?

She doesn't explain how she will lower drug costs, she just says it will happen. I find Obama's answer more satisfying because he specifically lists the POLICY change that will need to happen in order to get different results. Drug companies are literally bribing our doctors and our policy. It has to change. Has to.

I guess you did not read her health care plan because if you did you would see that on page 9 and 11 she addresses the pharmaceutical companies by capping the cost and removing the restrictions for generic drugs. A reduction of $4 billion to the industry. You took one peice and distorted the facts. So, if you want to talk issues - you need to study them.

She also speaks to removing the barriers to having comparative information for all drugs for consumers and doctors. She is not cowtowing to the drug companies but taking them head on.

Kays, I have been really disappointed in my discussion with you. I listed what were my perceived distinctions in their plans, and you retort that Obama is all fluff with out depth. Have you read HIS plan?

I don't have the ability to read pdf on my computer as part of a sercurity issue. So yes, I missed part of her plan, but I did go to her site and read everything I could see available. In the begining of this discussion, I specifically said what I was questioning. The fact that you skirted my concern, and instead threw personal attacks against myself and Obama is sad. You and I are both democrats, after all. Both of our candidates agree in many ways. I don't see the need to throw out terms like, "pathetic", "desperate", and "Lieberman". I had a valid concern, and I am not going to apologize for those concerns.

Obama has a reputation for a lot of charisma, but the ideas behind the presentation are even more impressive. You should check out Obama's site sometime and see where he REALLY stands on the issues. Not everyone who isn't Hilary is an enemy.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

If you click on the title of each issue, a very detailed explanation pops up.

I think all of the democrats want to reform the broken health care system, but their approaches are vastly different. I think it is important that the differences can be discussed without insulting each other. I agree with Jillness that using harsh language against each other and the candidates is not called for. Even if you don't agree with someone, there's no need to get nasty.

Ladies, if you think that bursting your Obama Kool-aid high is harsh wait until the republican machine gets ahold of him. I just tell it like I see it and do not suffer fools to well. You should not get upset when false statements are called out. Stick to the truth and facts and there is no problem. We all want what is best for our country and now is the time to continue to vet out the factual issues - because when the Presidential campaign begins that is when it will really get rough.

OK, can I just chime in here and raise a more serious issue? Why oh why does Jillness not have Adobe Acrobat Reader? she states, "I don't have the ability to read pdf on my computer as part of a sercurity issue." What is that? Adobe is the most secure form of digital media out there... Jillness, do you work for the Pentagon?

Oh and by the way, no one commented on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the recent events of the Israeli's cutting off supply lines to Gaza. It is a shame that the Palestinians continue to choose leadership that does not recognize Israel as a state promotes suicide bombers that cross those open boarders to blow up innocent Israeli's. Hopefully, the Palestinian people recognize Israels right to exist and democratically elects leadership that speaks for the people.

Kays, sticking to the facts would have required you to address the very specific concern I pointed out over and over and over. You didn't. Instead you chose to side step this issue and throw around baseles claims like calling Senator Obama, Lieberman. Makes me wonder why you would wait until so late in the game to bring up facts. That is all I was searching for. I tried to make nice...too bad you aren't mature enough to take me up on it.

Microchip Joel, I am not going to explain my computer situation to you. I do work in an office with extraordinarily high security, but no, it is not the Pentagon.