The Association of State Green PartiesMEDIA ADVISORY Behind Al Gore's populist rhetoric: weak promises of Health Care and Campaign Finance Reform Tuesday, August 22, 2000 Home | Press |
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Contacts: Behind Al Gore's populist rhetoric: weak promises of Health Care and Campaign Finance Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Vice President Al Gore, in his nomination acceptance speech deliveredbefore the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles on August 17, declared the Republicans "are for the powerful, we're for the people." But behind the populist rhetoric and promise to "turn a new page" and "write a new chapter" -- some of which was calculated to win back voters considering Green Party candidate Ralph Nader -- the Gore platform repackages Clinton policies friendly to the corporate interests that have funded both of their political careers. Democratic conventioneers heard constant promises of health care reform, from speeches by Sen. Ted Kennedy and Bill Bradley to Mr. Gore's acceptance speech. But Mr. Gore and his platform only offer minor steps towards an undefined "universal health care" goal. Bill Clinton, in his 1993 health care reform plan and 1996 reelection platform, discarded the Democratic Party's pledge since 1948 to enact national health insurance. The Gore platform does not revive this pledge, and Mr. Gore's program for HMO reform and limited plan to assist children and older Americans guarantees no onethe kind of quality medical care available in every other democratic nation. According to the National Campaign to Protect,
Improve, and Expand Medicare, "neither side is talking about the
one thing they have in common -- that they would not come close to
providing the level of drug coverage most insured people under age 65
have" (American Health Line, August Only Ralph Nader and the Green Party support single-payer national health insurance in 2000. National health coverage would cover every American regardless of income, residence, age, prior medical condition, or ability to pay. It would cost most Americans less than private coverage, cover all prescription medicine for every American, and allow choice of physician. The mainstream Democratic Party, like Republicans, have refused to consider such a plan because of the overwhelming influence, through contributions and the power of lobbyists, of insurance, HMO, and pharmaceutical corporations. Mr. Gore's close personal advisors and fundraisers have included David Beier (lobbyist for Genentech), Tony Podesta (Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association), Tom Downey ( Merck), and Peter Knight (Schering-Plough). Sen. Lieberman is the highest recipient of insurance company money in Congress. Mr. Gore's own political career was built on corporate donations; his questionable fundraising practices in 1996 are now under investigation. Before we believe Mr. Gore's vow to reform campaign financing, we should remember the agreement over a handshake by President Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich, at a rally in New Hampshire in March, 1995, to undertake the same reforms -- which came to nothing. The Green Party and its candidates accept no corporate funding, and have called for public financing of political campaigns. More information: search: spol, elct |