Daschle accuses Bush of propaganda on prescription drugs

Rapid City Journal ^ | 1/15/04 | Mark Sherman

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle accused the Bush administration on Wednesday of sending seniors propaganda rather than explanations about changes in the Medicare program.

Daschle was reacting to a two-page fact sheet that Health and Human Services Department officials said would be the basis of a letter sent to 40 million older and disabled Americans who participate in the government health insurance program.

The material generally contains details about the Medicare drug discount card that will be available later this year and the prescription drug benefit that begins in 2006. The fact sheet begins, however, with a preamble that provoked Daschle's ire.

"Recently, President Bush and Congress worked together to pass a new law to bring people with Medicare more choices in health care coverage and better health care benefits," the fact sheet says. "This new law preserves and strengthens the current Medicare program."

Daschle, D-S.D., challenged about every word in those sentences. "This is just a piece of propaganda that I believe has no business being paid for by the American taxpayer," he said.

Most Democrats fiercely opposed the legislation as too generous to drug companies and insurers and a threat to the Great Society-era Medicare program.

Daschle has been holding public meetings on Medicare across South Dakota this week. He said the vast majority of the 2,000 people who have attended oppose the new law. "There is extraordinary concern about this legislation. Seniors are confused, they're scared, and they're very disappointed," he said.

Republicans have complained that Democrats and opponents of the legislation are largely responsible for seniors' negative views.

Health and Human Services spokesman Bill Pierce said the mailing would be straightforward. "It will be about what this program means to you," Pierce said. "The rhetoric out there is from those who continue to oppose the program."

Pierce gave no timetable for when the letter would be sent, but said it would be the first in a series of communications with beneficiaries about the $400 billion law.

[A. Morgan]

The democraps are going CRAZY! :)

[erasmus605]

bump

[cavtrooper21]

My father-in-law and mother-in-law have enrolled in the new plan (this is what they have told me, anyway) with much trepidation. They use a lot of meds.
Cost per month on old med plan - almost 300.00 per month.
Cost per month on new plan (drumroll....please)

$34.25...shipped to the door.

I have one thing to say to Tommy Dashole..
..can your yap you little squealing butt weasel.

[FirstPrinciple]

I am glad about your in-laws. Do you think this will in any way affect their judgement about voting for Bush?

[zencat]

BTW, where the hell are Daschle and Pelosi lately?

[cavtrooper21]

Weellllll...

No.. Ed is a dyed-in-the-wool rock bottomed organized labor Democrat.
Although this might ease him over in "right" direction.

[FirstPrinciple]

Now if under some other plan, they paid no money whatsoever would they vote for the guy who had that plan?

[Cautor]

Tiny Tom, and his K Street super-lobbyist wife, will be history before you can say Democraps are liars and hypocrits.

[cavtrooper21]

If he was UAW approved...you bet. If not, well, thats up in the air.

[FirstPrinciple]

So, you are saying money do buy votes and the President is using tax-payers money to get votes.

[cavtrooper21]

Nope, I'm saying that my father in law is not likely to move away from the UAW line no matter who does what.
:^)

[Howlin]

Let's just make it easier on them, okay?

GENERIC FORM:

Senate (_______________) Democratic leader Tom Daschle (______________) accused the Bush administration on Wednesday (_____________) of (___________________)

[cavtrooper21]

Hmmmm, looks like the right form to me.

[jagrmeister]

I would love to see Bush fly into South Dakota in 6 months and debunk all the lies of Tom Daschle. Question his patriotism for attacking us on the eve of war, lying about medicare, failing on ethanol, etc. Daschle wants to lure Thune into defending Bush, put Thune on the defensive and get Thune off message. Instead, Bush should just attack Daschle directly and urge him to stop lying to the people of South Dakota, who deserve better.

[TASMANIANRED]

Daschle should be stuffed in a puppy crate until he is house broken. He is sure acting like Cartman's "Polly Pissy Pants"

[erasmus605]

Guess it doesn't matter that this plan is larger than the one Clinton proposed.

BTW, I work for a pharmaceutical company, and they encouraged us to send in emails supporting the president's prescription drug plan.

[COBOL2Java]

Tiny Tom is not saddened!