NYT: Medicare Costs New Focus for Candidates(new ad blames increase on JK)

[DeepModem Mom]

Medicare Costs Are New Focus for Candidates
By ROBERT PEAR and CARL HULSE

Published: September 12, 2004


WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 - Medicare has suddenly emerged as a volatile issue in this year's elections, as Democrats are vowing to roll back a sharp increase in premiums announced this month and the Bush campaign is seeking to blame lawmakers, including Senator John Kerry, for the rise.

The trading of accusations reflects efforts by both parties to seek advantage with older voters.

Democrats, hoping to reclaim an issue central to their success in past elections, said they would try to block the 17.4 percent increase that will come out of Social Security checks next year.

But in a new television advertisement and in official statements, President Bush's campaign is trying to pin the responsibility for the increase on Congress and on Mr. Kerry, the Democrats' presidential nominee.

Republicans said the increase in premiums was automatic, and they attributed it to a formula over which the White House had no control. Moreover, they pointed out that Mr. Kerry had voted for the law that established the formula in 1997 as a way to bolster the finances of Medicare....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/12/politics/campaign/12medicare.html

[DeepModem Mom]

1. Shameless kick at the sheer gall of the Bushies, blaming Kerry...

for the Medicare increase!

[CookieD]

2. I'm surprised they didn't blame Bill Clinton! (sarcasm)

n/t.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. LOL! (And, dear God, I love that pic -- Tom DeLay's bitch) nt

[Cocoa]

4. blaming someone in the minority party?

wow, Kerry must be quite the effective senator (contradicting the Bush spin that he was ineffectual) if he can exert such an effect from within the minority party.