Reply #21: Obama was asked if it would succeed - he said no [View All]

[karynnj]

Kerry and Kennedy, from their initial DKos messages said it would be a long shot, but one they had to take. Kerry did not say that he and Obama led the fight. If this is wrong, then what of HRC saying she "created" or "initiated" SCHIP or that it was the change she already created. This was a Senate created bill, that started in 1996 as a Kerry/Kennedy bill that took an idea that MA had used for its program that passed over a veto by Clinton friend, Weld. About a half year later, Kennedy accepted some major modifications requested by Hatch- giving the states more latitude and making it a 5 year bill that had to be renewed rather than an entitlement. This gave became the Kennedy/Hatch bill that passed the Senate. HRC's contribution was to push BC to keep it in the budget. If Kerry is exaggerating in that sentence, then HRC is surely exaggerating in hers.