Bush takes spotlight off Medicare drug benefit

[shawn703]

WASHINGTON -- President Bush signed the bill adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare last December in a Constitution Hall packed with seniors thrilled by the prospect of the federal government stepping in to help them cope with the soaring cost of medicine.


White House aides seized on the image of a Republican president demonstrating his oft-noted compassionate conservatism and asserting some credibility on an issue Democrats had long used to their political advantage.

But when Bush traveled to Ohio and Tennessee and talked about the prescription drug bill last week, some political observers were surprised -- because he has talked about it so infrequently during the past five months. A Globe survey of Bush's and Vice President Dick Cheney's remarks indicate 22 mentions in December and January, four in February, five in March, one in April, and three in May.

The reason seems clear: The Medicare expansion, once viewed as a crucial link between Bush and seniors, is now a subject of intense scorn among many seniors. Some health-care specialists and members of Congress, including some Republicans, say the law is a bad piece of legislation that could do the president more harm than good as he campaigns for support among older voters, whose higher turnout makes them a critical part of the electorate.


more...

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/05/31/bush_takes_spotlight_off_medicare_drug_benefit/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Bush has shown even more of his amazing "compassion"

with this blatantly insulting legislation he rammed down the country's throat under grotesque circumstances.

From the article:

A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released in April indicated that seniors have gone from supporting the changes Bush signed into law to opposing them. In December, 46 percent of those 65 and older said they supported the law and only 39 percent were opposed. By late March, those numbers had switched to 48 percent opposing the changes with 36 percent favoring them.
(snip)

Representative Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat who voted against the prescription drug bill, said he has held numerous forums with seniors in his district, many of whom travel to Canada to buy medicine for a lower price than they can find in this country.

''People are puzzled by it," Brown said of the law. ''There is an intuitive understanding that this bill was written by the drug and insurance industries."
(snip)

''What we've learned from this experience is, the more seniors learn about the new Medicare law, the more unhappy they are," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA.
(snip)

Thanks, shawn703, great article.

You've brought a moment of awe to the forum with your stunning portrait of our own dear pResident. We are not worthy! :hi:

[radfringe]

2. my partner's mom is 85

she lives in Florida (yup, broward county)

She attended a informational meeting regarding the medicare drug benefit a couple of months ago

after the "presenter" left, most of those who attended hung around and were discussing the "benefit" -- none saw any improvement over what they currently had and most thought this "benefit" was a rip-off

a few people, who are computer savy, offered to assist people to buy their meds on-line from Canadian sources. Many many many people took them up on their offer

[dusty64]

3. Lets keep bring up the 500 BILLION

dollar giveaway to his corporate donors. They can run but they CAN'T hide.