Via email from Sandie at the USDemocrat Yahoo Group

Here’s the most recent debate between Obama and Clinton on YouTube in its entirety.  IT IS WORTH WATCHING.  Let me repeat that:  IT IS WORTH WATCHING.

Some of the answers will no doubt surprise you.  As the field is narrowed down to these two (gee, what a surprise…) it is more important than ever to look closely at each Democratic candidate.

Basically, on HEALTHCARE –

Clinton favors universal mandate as a path to universal healthcare.  Those who are happy with status quo can stay where they’re at.  Would open up Congressional healthcare plan to everyone; create subsidies for those who couldn’t afford coverage.  “Shared responsibility” are the words she uses.  Would lower prices, fight drug and insurance companies to lower costs and mandate universal coverage (i.e., cannot deny coverage for pre-existing conditions, etc.)

Obama mandates children must be covered; parents must cover children up to 25 years old.  Clean up waste & fraud.  No mention of subsidies for the poor.  Said that most people couldn’t afford healthcare because of pre-existing conditions.

IMMIGRATION –

Clinton – acknowledges illegal immigrants have impact on unemployment, especially in construction and agribusiness.  Must enforce immigration laws; illegal immigrants who are criminals must be deported.  Path to legalization – pay fine & back taxes (payment plan), learn English (gov will help), & wait in line behind legal applicants.  Americans need to acknowledge illegal immigration is a problem & must talk about it seriously.  Must insist other countries take responsibility for their country’s economic conditions, create jobs, help curtail illegal immigration, take care of their own people.

Obama – Favors path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.  States illegal immigration has NO IMPACT on joblessness, unemployment, etc., regardless of type of business or geographic location in U.S.  Favors drivers licenses for illegals.

IRAQ -

Clinton – Begin to withdraw within 60 days, with most troops out within 1 yr.  Press Pentagan for withdrawal strategy, timeline.  Concern for remaining America civilians & Iraqi citizens.  Iraqis must take responsibility for own gov’t, etc.

Obama – Most troops out within 16 mos.  No permanent bases.  Will protect American civilians and Iraqi citizens; keep strike force, but no troops to blunt Iranian influence.  Not just end war, but mindset that got us there.

Other questions:

1.  Noting Romney’s statement that he would be the best “CEO” for America, and to run America like a business:

Clinton – Disagree we should run America like a business; Bush as example.

Obama – Better “management style” than Romney.

2.  Kennedy’s endorsement of Obama:

Clinton – has [three of] Bobby Kennedy’s kids’ endorsement; change about American people – jobs, healthcare, economy, education, housing, U.S. being able to be proud world leader again.  Each voter must examine what they think country needs in a leader, as well as each person’s own beliefs and which candidate meets them.  “Took a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush, and it might take another Clinton to clean up after this one [Bush].

Obama – Bringing in younger voters; call on American people to aim higher & not accept the unacceptable.  Obama is the one who can “work the levers of power more effectively”, engage the American people, and reduce influence of lobbyists.

My response

One thing to think about is that we Illinois progressives sent Obama to the U.S. Senate, where he promptly joined the Joe Lieberman wing of the Democratic Party.

His economic advisors are very conservative, from the University of Chicago-Milton Friedman school of economics. My favorite economist, Paul Krugman, caught Obama using right-wing talking points on what to do about Social Security and about his health care plan.

I’m not saying that Clinton is perfect, but I am saying that her proposals are more progressive than Obama’s.  And that’s why I’ll be voting for her on Tuesday.