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IowaPolitics.com: Bill Clinton takes blame for '93 health care failure
11/8/2007

By Chris Dorsey
IowaPolitics.com

GLENWOOD -- Former President Bill Clinton today accepted responsibility for the failure to get a universal health care bill passed in 1993.

Speaking in front of a crowd of more than 250 people, Clinton said his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, caught the grief that should have been directed toward him and his administration.

The New York senator headed up the former president's universal health care initiative 14 years ago. The measure could not gain traction in Washington, D.C., but that was not the former first lady's fault, Clinton said Thursday morning during his first solo trip to Iowa this election season.

"It was more my fault than hers," the former president said. "We couldn't raise the money."

Universal health care has been a popular topic among Democratic presidential candidates in 2007 in Iowa. And, the former president said the likelihood of the proposed legislation passing is greater today than it was in 1993.

"The opposition is less intense," Clinton said. "The need is more apparent."

Clinton praised his wife's plan and stressed it is different than the health care plan proposed during his first term.

"Hillary has options we didn't have before," the former president said. "There are no employer mandates this time. This system has fewer mandates and more flexibility than last time. She passionately cares about this."

Physicians and health care professionals are also more supportive of universal health care proposals than they were in 1993, Clinton added.

He also addressed polls showing some people say they would not vote for a woman for president after the issue was raised by an audience member.

"There probably are still some people who won't vote for a woman for president," Clinton said. "But what the experience of other countries is, the prejudice lingers as long as it remains under the surface. When there is a national choice, and the woman seems better qualified, she tends to win."

Germany, Argentina and Chile have female leaders and countries in south Asia and Europe have seen a woman run their government, Clinton said.

"It is hard to believe America is more sexist than Argentina," the former president said. "In a way I am kinda surprised America is lagging so far behind given the political activism of women."

Clinton said if Hillary can win the Democratic nomination that he believes she can win the general election -- and by a good margin.

"I think (her stances on the issues) would be an asset in the general election," he said.

Clinton's health care comments Thursday were music to Karen Todd's ears. The Silver City woman is a respiratory therapist in Omaha and said the health care situation concerns her.

"I enjoyed listening to her ideas for health care since it is what I do for a living," Todd said.

Todd is an avid supporter of the former president, and is beginning to lean toward supporting Hillary Clinton on caucus night.

"I have been up 24 hours in order to see him," said Todd, who works nights. "I always loved Bill. I was undecided, but am now leaning toward Hillary after hearing him. They are both just brilliant. You get two for the price of one."

Shirley Peterson of Mineola had never seen President Clinton in person before so she was excited to be among the hundreds to listen to him speak Thursday. Peterson, however, did take her children to Washington, D.C. three years ago and sat in on Senate hearing about veterans rights. It was that day she became a fan of Hillary Clinton.

"She knew three years ago how they were dumping on our veterans," Peterson said. "She stood her ground. It was really awesome. I think she has a backbone. She holds up under pressure."

Peterson also discussed how she enjoyed the eight years Bill Clinton served as president.

"My checkbook was better off when he was president," she said.

Bill Clinton also visited Onawa Thursday afternoon on Hillary Clinton's behalf.
IowaPolitics.com: Listen to audio of the Clinton event


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