i like hillary
by Cameron Contois
Published: January 18, 2008
No matter what anyone says, I like Hillary Clinton. Yes, most of my Dem friends shun me when I tell them this. “She isn’t electable,” they say. They sport their new Obama t-shirts and brag about his historic Iowa win. The night before the New Hampshire primary, I put up an away message: “Hillary Clinton ‘08.” I received a barrage of instant messages from my conservative and liberal friends alike, ranging from disbelief to disgust: “What?” “Nerd.” And, although I’m a guy, my friend Johnnie called me a lesbian.
I’ll admit, after her third place finish in Iowa, I started having second thoughts.
Obama’s talk of dreams, respect and change gave me warm fuzzy feelings, and his refusal to get negative was refreshing. Had my idolization of Bill clouded my judgment? Had nostalgia for my high school days, The Notorious B.I.G., “My So-Called Life,” the Clinton presidency and everything else 90s made me blind?
Then I slapped myself. I do like Hillary.
Her Universal Health Care Plan is way superior to Obama’s, and that makes her the better candidate. Her plan mandates that every American citizen purchase health insurance. Until that’s required, people, many of them children, will go uninsured. Covertheuninsured.org reports that in 2006, 47 million Americans were uninsured, including 8.7 million children. For people suffering from diseases like diabetes, being uninsured can equal death. This is a life or death issue.
Under Clinton’s plan, businesses would be required to make health care available to employees. That’s sweet. I wish my boss would provide health insurance options, but he doesn’t because he’s greedy. Most bosses are greedy - and evil. Laws must be passed to force bosses to give employees health insurance or at least to provide affordable options. Otherwise it just ain’t gonna happen.
Clinton’s plan also includes “default enrollment.” Let’s say you meant to sign up for a plan but didn’t. Under her plan you would automatically be enrolled into a health care plan through your job or school.
That’s a smart idea.
Right now, there are cynics out there saying, “Presidential elections won’t be won on Health Care Plans.” Regardless, Clinton is still the best candidate. The Clintons know how to play the political game and they play it well. Clinton’s win is a guarantee that things will get done in Washington. No, I’m not playing the “Obama’s too inexperienced” card; I’m saying that for real change in national policy, Clinton is a sure bet.
When Clinton was first lady, she was a major reason the State Children’s Health Care Initiative, which insures many children who otherwise could not afford it, passed into law. While Ted Kennedy was the main force behind it, he admits “the children’s health program wouldn’t be in existence today if we didn’t have Hillary pushing for it from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.” (qtd in Fouhy, Beth. “Clinton Claims Credit for Child Program.” The Associated Press. 6th Oct. 2007.) She also created the Adoption and Safe Families act, which Bill Clinton signed into law.
Anyone who naively claims Clinton’s eight years as first lady gave her no political experience ignores her accomplishments during her husband’s presidency. Unlike Obama, she has experience at a presidential level.
In “How Tomorrow Became Yesterday,” which appeared in the January 14th edition of Newsweek, Jonathan Alter coins the term “‘Clinton Irrelevance’ - where Bill is beloved as an elder statesman… and Hillary settles in as a widely respected senator.” Hillary is “as much a unifier as Obama - but of Republicans.”
Mr. Alter, you’re wrong. Clinton’s first place finish in New Hampshire means she’s still in the game. I just hope, before all my Democrat friends, swing voters and disillusioned Republicans check Barack on their ballot and kneel before the alter of Obama, they give Clinton a real chance.
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