Barack Obama is not letting up. In Harrisonburg, Virginia, this afternoon, he's taking advantage of the McCain Campaign's latest screw up/admission:
Senator McCain doesn't like to talk about this plan all that much. But this morning, we were offered a stunning bit of straight talk – an October surprise – from his top economic advisor, who actually said that the health insurance people currently get from their employer is – and I quote – "way better" than the health care they would get if John McCain becomes President.
Time: Excerpt of Remarks of Senator Barack Obama—as prepared for delivery
More, after the fold. (also, video update with Barack deliverng the key lines at Update I below)
Today, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, McCain's senior economic policy advisor, admitted that McCain's health care plan does little to help people:
Younger, healthier workers likely wouldn't abandon their company-sponsored plans, said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, McCain's senior economic policy adviser.
"Why would they leave?" said Holtz-Eakin. "What they are getting from their employer is way better than what they could get with the credit."
cnn: Election: Your health insurance at stake
Anne Marie Cox, on Time Swampland, quoting her father who is an actuary, explained the real problem:
The problem, of course, isn't that employees would "leave," it's that employers would.
Flashback:
Only about 60% of employers provide health care coverage. McCain's program removes the incentive for employers to provide it so I expect a lot of them will stop providing it. More Americans will be on their own, those with preexisting conditions will not get insurance. And it provides no incentive for employers to start covering employees. For small businesses, the situation is worse - only about 45% provide health benefits.
Time Swampland: McCain Campaign Says Your Health Care Plan Is Better Than Theirs
Barack Obama today on McCain's health care plan:
Now, to be fair, there is one thing he'll change – and that's our health care system. But he won't change it in a good way. Senator McCain's health care plan would tax your benefits for the first time in history. Independent studies say that under his plan, at least 20 million Americans would lose the insurance they currently rely on and be forced to buy health care coverage on the individual market. For all this, he'd only give your family a $5,000 tax credit when the average plan costs over $12,000.
Senator McCain doesn't like to talk about this plan all that much. But this morning, we were offered a stunning bit of straight talk – an October surprise – from his top economic advisor, who actually said that the health insurance people currently get from their employer is – and I quote – "way better" than the health care they would get if John McCain becomes President.
Now this is the point I've been making since Senator McCain unveiled his plan. It took until the last seven days of this election for his campaign to finally admit the truth. But hey, better late than never.
And the truth is, John McCain's health care plan is radical, it's unaffordable, and it's not the change we need right now.
Time: Excerpt of Remarks of Senator Barack Obama—as prepared for delivery
Meanwhile, Palin and McCain aides undercut their respective candidates:
Allies of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin are now trying to throw McCain aide Nicolle Wallace under the proverbial bus, and as they do so those in McCain’s circle are wary of the impact on Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., himself.
snip
And some Republicans are starting to now say they should have seen this coming, since Palin has a reputation for making friends who can help her and then screwing them over.
Abcnews, Jake Tapper, Political Punch: Ooooooh, Barracuda!
What's Barack got cooking? Smells like victory to me, if we keep working. No let up. As McCain and Palin sink into petty fights and start smearing each other, throw them an anvil! Perhaps we'll see mailers from McCain soon on Palin's associates? :-)
Update I: From my friend NCDemAmy, in the comments, video of Barack delivering the key lines today on health care: