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Clinton Calls on Nurses to Back Obama

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June 26, 2008 12:48 PM

ABC News' John Santucci Reports: In her first public event since losing the Democratic primary, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton attacked the healthcare plan proposed by Sen. John McCain, and promised she would continue to fight for healthcare reform.

"It is absolutely unbelievable that the healthcare plan he has proposed would cause millions of hardworking Americans to lose the coverage they already have," Clinton said during a speech to the American Nurses Association convention in Washington, DC on Thursday. "So what ever issue you care about, what ever your passion may be, we have to join together and present a united front."

Hundreds of nurses cheered Clinton and held "Hillary for President" signs and wore "Hillary" pins.

During the primary campaign Clinton proposed mandated universal healthcare coverage for all Americans, and bashed then-rival Sen. Barack Obama's plan to create a national health insurance program for those who do not have employer-provided health, and mandate coverage for children. McCain has proposed "market-based solutions" to move away from employer-based coverage to insurance bought by individuals.

Clinton said many nurses came to her presidential campaign events. "Time and time again I expressed my appreciation to our nurses," she said. "While you and those you represent are working hard for us I don’t think we in Washington are working nearly hard enough for you."

The former first lady called on the group that had originally endorsed her "to do everything you can to help elect Barack Obama."  The ANA has not officially endorsed Obama. 

"I have seen his passion and determination and his grip and his grace, and in his own life he has lived the American dream," she said of Obama.

Clinton will be campaigning with the presumptive Democratic nominee Friday in Unity, New Hampshire, a town name she called "very appropriate."

"It is so remarkable and I am very proud of the Democratic Party and I'm very proud of my country that an African American and a woman were competing," she said.   

The New York senator promised the group she would continue to be an advocate for healthcare reform.

"I've been actively involved in America's politics in one way or another for, I'd hate to confess, 40 years.  Please, call out ask me how old I am?"

June 26, 2008 in Bush, George W., Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Veepstakes | Permalink | User Comments (122)

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Badger1, I totally agree with your post to patriot lady. If there is not a change in leadership, I will become an Independant before the next election.

Posted by: Ron | Jun 26, 2008 3:52:48 PM

Ron - it is an unfortunate situation all the way around., and because of that, I think alot of people are beginning to think "Independant" .

Posted by: Badger1 | Jun 26, 2008 4:05:58 PM

In the Primary, Hillary kept repeating that Obama's plan was not universal and would leave out 15 milliion people. What has changed? The "change" artist?

Posted by: georgia | Jun 26, 2008 4:36:48 PM

I think the title should have read.."Clinton Called On to Nurse Back Obama"

Posted by: Manny | Jun 26, 2008 4:58:17 PM

McCain supporters, give it up. There's no way in you-no-what you're going to convince any of us to vote for someone that should be fishing from his rocking chair. Would you want your grandparent running the country? Even seniors don't think he should be win.

Posted by: voter100 | Jun 26, 2008 4:59:48 PM

This is one nurse who will not vote for Obama. John McCain should pick the Govener of Louisiana for his Vice President. he want's child molester's casterated but prefer's lethal injection..but i think he is a smart man..

Posted by: Jeanette | Jun 26, 2008 5:17:05 PM

I'm also a former supporter of Clinton who's upset that she's throwing her weight behind Obama. The reasons I voted for her and against Obama haven't changed. While I think Obama is a decent person and means well, I don't believe his under 4 years experience in the US Senate demonstrates to us what we can expect of him.

I get a kick out of people thinking their candidate is above lying to win the WH. Yes, we've seen it from Obama too people.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4375665

Posted by: MajorTom | Jun 26, 2008 7:01:40 PM

I notice alot of people are referencing McCains age in a negative stereotypical way.Does this mean that it is ok to reference Obamas race in a negative stereotypical way? What is the difference? Race discrimination, age discrimination? They are both wrong.

Posted by: Badger1 | Jun 26, 2008 7:39:20 PM

Nurses need to vote McCain, his healthcare plan was similar to Hillary's in that it does not leave out 15 million Americans. Do nurses really want to help put a pro-partial birth abortion candidate into office? I should think not, absolutely not. With Obama's plan to register women in the draft, do nurses support this - just say no and vote McCain!

Posted by: Dollie | Jun 26, 2008 7:47:26 PM

Please Hillary step aside. The county needs this election and you are just distracting the message!!

Posted by: Steve | Jun 26, 2008 7:59:30 PM

McCain also flip-flopped om the campaign funding issue or do some of yuu just choose to ignore that little tidbit? What's actually disturbing is the Swift Boat Media's complete indifference to McCain's bald-faced hypocrisy on the same issue. Amidst all the attacks on Obama's "flip-flop," how much have you read in the MSM about the fact that McCain has "completely reversed himself" on public financing -- and is currently breaking the law on a daily basis, making a mockery out of a campaign finance system he helped create?

In the fall of 2007, McCain opted into the public financing system for the GOP primaries, which meant he'd later receive just over $5 million in public funds in exchange for agreeing to a fundraising limit of around $54 million for the entire primary process, which ends when he accepts the nomination at the Republican National Convention in September.

By late November, his campaign was practically broke, so McCain took out a pair of $1 million loans, using the public funds he would receive as collateral.

Cut to Super Tuesday, when McCain had the Republican nomination all but wrapped up. Suddenly, he didn't want to be bound by that $54 million limit, so his campaign did a 180 and opted back out of the public financing system.

But as David Mason, the Republican-appointed chair of the FEC, has pointed out, you can't just unilaterally opt out -- especially after securing a loan based on having opted in. The response of the McCain campaign is quite simply to ignore Mason. And because the FEC currently lacks a quorum (thanks to stalling tactics by that human roadblock to reform, Mitch McConnell) that's where things stand, pending a ruling on a lawsuit filed by the DNC.

Posted by: sandy | Jun 26, 2008 8:04:36 PM

Would someone please tell me what the Party is? Who cares about the party!! Vote for the person best suited for the job. The party care nothing about you except for your money. How can anybody trust Obama. I just don't understand.

Posted by: C Good | Jun 26, 2008 8:16:33 PM

C Good,

At this point, who's best suited?

Posted by: BruhMan | Jun 26, 2008 8:21:45 PM

sandy - Funny how everytime your candidate gets exposed, you all point fingers back. NEWSFLASH SANDY!!! Obama is supposed to be the "NEW KIND OF POLITICIAN". He is supposed to be the "CHANGE WE CAN ALL BELIEVE IN" guy. He is the self annointed "SOUND JUDGEMENT" candidate.Unfortunately for Obama, Pastor Wright, Father Pfleger, and Tony Rezko, put that fairytale to rest. Sandy, please stop blindly following this wolf in wolves clothing. This guy is the epitome of slimebag politician. He is nothing but a persuasive talker, charmer, until you take away that teleprompter, and start asking the tough questions in an environment not controlled by the Obama camp.

Posted by: Badger1 | Jun 26, 2008 8:25:10 PM

Ron - The Clintons have plenty of money, plenty of investments, and plenty of rich friends. If she is selling her soul to the Obama campaign for money to pay off a debt, then she is no better than he. She should stand strong in her conviction, and principles. Instead she is pimping her self out to a lying, dangerous, sexist, racist politician, all to help pay off a debt? As Bill Clinton would say, "GIVE ME A BREAK, This whole thing a fairytale". The last person she should be trying to help is Barack Hussein (the creep) Obama.
Posted by: Badger1 | Jun 26, 2008 3:08:14 PM

Ummm, is this proof that you are a Rethug troll trying to cause your own little version of Operation Chaos? You don't like O and, apparently, you don't like Hill.

Posted by: KSKATTY | Jun 26, 2008 8:26:12 PM

Sorry, Badger, but seems you can point fingers but cannot take them pointing back at you. Immaturity at its best.

Posted by: sandy | Jun 26, 2008 8:29:47 PM

Did I read this article right? It is, "Clinton Calls on Nurses to Back Obama", right? Why is there any mention of Rev. Wright, Father Pfleger, or Rezko? Rev. Wright is a RETIRED pastor, Pfleger was a VISITING preacher, and Rezko gave donations to all major candidates.

Posted by: BruhMan | Jun 26, 2008 8:31:06 PM

KSKATTY - great observation! :)

Posted by: sandy | Jun 26, 2008 8:32:00 PM

This is one nurse who will not vote for Obama. John McCain should pick the Govener of Louisiana for his Vice President. he want's child molester's casterated but prefer's lethal injection..but i think he is a smart man..
Posted by: Jeanette | Jun 26, 2008 5:17:05 PM

You may want to check out www.2theadvocate.com, we're about to recall old Booby Jindal, along with the legislators that just DOUBLED their pay and Booby refuses to veto the bill.

Posted by: Jan | Jun 26, 2008 8:33:19 PM

I guess PUMA is clinging to Maxi-pads, pantyhose, and lipstick!!!

Posted by: BruhMan | Jun 26, 2008 8:33:28 PM

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