Realist Vs. Crusader: Health Care Tussle Reflects Divergent Leadership Styles Of Dem Candidates
This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations.
Hillary Clinton in recent days has fired up attacks on Bernie Sanders’ health care plan, but the battle goes deeper than a single policy issue. Some say it demonstrates what kind of governing style — pragmatism versus a political revolution — each would bring to the White House. In other news, the Republican field duked it out at Thursday’s debate, with Donald Trump and Ted Cruz exchanging the harshest volleys.
The Wall Street Journal: Health-Care Fight Bruises Both Hillary Clinton And Bernie Sanders
As the fight over health care between Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders grows nastier, both presidential candidates risk winding up on the wrong side of an issue Democrats care about deeply. So far, Mr. Sanders hasn’t released the details of his proposal for a single-payer health-care plan, where the government replaces insurers, and thus risks being seen as unwilling to explain or defend his ideas. He also hasn’t said how he would pay for his plan, estimated at some $15 trillion over 10 years. Mrs. Clinton, the former secretary of state and senator, risks being cast as an opponent of universal health care, a goal that has long been a top priority for her party. (Meckler, 1/14)
Los Angeles Times: Tightening Democratic Race Revives Party’s Old Debate Over Healthcare
The divergent views epitomize the differences between the candidates – Hillary Clinton as a battle-hardened realist, with Bernie Sanders the uncompromising crusader – and the healthcare debate has become one of the most rancorous parts of an increasingly competitive primary. Polls show Sanders closing the gap with Clinton in Iowa and leading her in New Hampshire, the states that hold the country’s first two nominating contests. (Megerian and Levey, 1/15)
NBC News: Clinton: Sanders Would “End All The Kinds Of Health Care We Know”
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said rival Bernie Sanders would “end all the kinds of health care we know” and criticized his new TV ad in an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Thursday night. (Seitz-Wald, 1/14)
CNN: Bernie Sanders Promises Health Care Details Before Iowa Caucuses
Bernie Sanders on Thursday stood by his pledge to outline his health care plan before the Iowa caucuses amid criticism from Hillary Clinton and conflicting statements from within the Vermont senator’s campaign about whether he will meet his own deadline. (LoBianco and Zelaney, 1/14)
Politico Pro: Clinton’s Health-Care Assault On Sanders Backfires
Hillary Clinton’s assault on Bernie Sanders for his support of a single-payer health system has stunned and irritated liberals who see it as an abandonment of core progressive principles. (Cook, 1/14)
The Washington Post: The Detente Between Trump And Cruz Is Definitely Over
The mutually beneficial campaign detente between Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) came to an end on the debate stage here Thursday. The two Republican presidential candidates, locked in a tight race to win the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses, argued over whether Cruz meets the constitutional requirements to serve as president and whether Trump is a trustworthy conservative or is tainted by what Cruz called “New York values.” … Trump brushed off criticism of his demeanor, saying, “I will gladly accept the mantle of anger.” “Our military is a disaster,” he said. “Our health care is a horror show. Obamacare, we’re going to repeal it and replace it. … Our country is being run by incompetent people. And yes, I am angry.” (Tumulty and Rucker, 1/15)
USA Today: Republican Hopefuls Brawl In Feisty Debate
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz exchanged their harshest attacks yet Thursday in the first Republican presidential debate of 2016, one that revealed three groups of candidates — those looking to win the early contests, finish strong or simply survive. … Two other candidates faring well in the polls also mixed it up during the feisty debate — Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey. Rubio said Christie supported President Obama’s agenda on education and guns and even “wrote a check to Planned Parenthood” — charges Christie rejected. “This is the difference between being a governor and being a senator,” Christie said. (Wolf and Jackson, 1/15)
