Role Reversal
John Carney had a good week. Perhaps the best of his campaign. He was lauded for his work in brokering a deal between Bluewater Wind and Delmarva. So Jack Markell is trying to get back into the game with universal healthcare:
“[Markell’s] purpose Friday was to persuade voters that Delaware residents should have universal access to quality health care sooner, not later.
He would start such a program immediately if he wins the state’s highest elected office, he said.
…
“Those who want to take incremental steps and who say that we can’t afford to expand coverage to every Delawarean are simply wrong,” Markell said.
Markell’s plan to cover the state’s uninsured residents would cost $111 million a year. John Carney wants universal healthcare too, but his proposals would phase in coverage and would not mandate coverage. See if this sounds familiar:
Carney said the approach to expanding care must be realistic. He believes Markell forces too much too soon.
“Forcing people to pay for health insurance when they can’t afford it is reckless and wrong,” Carney said in the statement. “We all want universal health care coverage, but placing mandates on individuals and businesses when they’re already struggling with a sluggish national economy and $4 a gallon gas prices is the last thing we want to do. My plan makes health care more affordable and expands access as we move to universal health care.”
Even though both candidates endorsed Obama, I always felt Markell was the proxy for Obama and Carney for Clinton in this primary battle. Outsider v. Establishment. Markell was definitely more friendly to the netroots and the grassroots,and his Jack Packs are not unlike Obamaniacs. Yet here, Carney is parroting Obama in this healthcare debate, and Markell is parroting Clinton. I don’t know if it means anything, for Obama was against mandates consistently, when he was ahead and behind, and Clinton was for immediate universal coverage, with mandates, when she was ahead and behind.
Kinda off topic but an observation I’d like to share anyway . . .
If you believe the BlueWater executives then Carney is our next Governor and DeLuca is our next Pro Tem. BlueWater is going to need friends in high places as they build the windfarm and they are obviously betting on Carney and DeLuca. Otherwise, why are they buying huge campaign ads for these two in the WNJ and on WDEL? No mention that Jack was the first statewide elected to back up BlueWater. No mention that DeLuca gave McDowell the money to bring in a hired-gun from D.C. to kill the deal. That’s all past history, and BlueWater is looking to the future when they need help from Carney and DeLuca. Nice.
I’m more than a little disturbed by the Bluewater suck-up to Carney and DeLuca. I’m surprised they didn’t throw in McDowel’s name as one of the forces to bring about the BWW success. I don’t know if these ads are considered campaign contributions to Carney and DeLuca, but they sure as hell should be! Jack Markell was, in fact, the first statewide official to get behind BWW. Carney had to hold his finger in the air to see which way RAM’s wind was blowing before he could get on board. As for DeLuca, there’s nothing I can say except that the reason his suits are so shiny is becasue he slithers around like a snake looking for someone to inject with his venom. BWW ads, if they were genuine and sincere, would be lauding two legislators…Kowalko and Peterson. Those two individuals kept pumping air into the BWW arguement and kept it alive until DeLuca’s brain cells (both of them) engaged themselves.
Markell made the right decision here. He is not mirroring Clinton. I found his suggestions more like a unique American solution as opposed to any of the others. It is impressive. I like both candidates so it really just a matter of preference; I think Markell’s plan is more effective.
It is not so much Markell mirroring Clinton, but is Carney mirroring Obama. If Carney’s quote was anonymous, you would swear it was said by Obama during the debates.
Very interesting post.
Everyone that I respect wanted Clinton’s plan. At the EschaCon ’08, Echidne of the Snakes talked about the different plans in a panel discusison and the room seemed to agree. Same with Elizabeth Edwards’s position, the one that kept her from endorsement of Obama.
You should take the panicked attack on Jack’s plan offered by the Carney camp and balance it with these folks:
“Jack Markell’s health care plan is bold, comprehensive, and affordable,” said Dr. Michael S. Katz, an anesthesiologist, of Wilmington. “Markell accomplishes major cost savings in Delaware’s health care system by implementing immediate coverage for our uninsured, from our youngest patients to our seniors. Our patients will be able to have their own doctor who will provide quality disease management and prevention. Healthier people and lifestyles will mean lower health care costs. This plan is just plain smart!”
Dr. Ganesh R. Balu of Dover, a specialist in pain medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, added that “Jack’s plans will reduce costs and make it possible for there to be quality affordable healthcare for all Delawareans. More than 100,000 Delawareans don’t have health insurance and thousands more are struggling to pay for it. Jack is the only candidate for governor with a plan to end that right away–not decades from now.”
Said Rich Kenney, co-owner of ShopRites of Delaware: “Jack Markell’s business perspective and bold vision are clearly at work in his health care plans. As a business owner here in Delaware, I know how important it is to cut health care costs and make health care more affordable. Jack’s priorities are in line both with what I need as a business owner and what I need as a consumer of health care services.”
selander
“Jack Markell’s health care plan is bold, comprehensive, and affordable,”
How much for a fmaily plan and what;’s the deductible ?
Kilroy, great question. Can’t wait to hear Selander’s answer.
Hey Selander, you hack. You want a list of all the doctors in Massachusetts who said the same things before Markell’s plan failed there?
Nice strategy, stealing your healthcare plan from a wingnut and trying to win a Democratic primary with it.
Last thing. Markell sure talks a good game, but he’ll need to get the bills through the Legislature. That’s got as much a chance of happening as I do of voting for that fake.
So, Selander, do your job and try to convince these people that your boss isn’t a phony.
Depends on the family, depends on the plan, depends on the choices you want to make in your own coverage.
The health plan I chose for my young family recently has different premiums, co-pays and deductibles than the one I chose nine years ago when I was single and in my early 20s.
Under Jack’s plan, I keep those choices.
But under Jack’s plan, the administration can no longer look the other way at 100,000 uninsured Delawareans who will cost us all $127M by 2010 in emergency room visits and other crisis care.
That’s far more than the $111M plan Jack proposes to be sure everyone is actually covered.
And I’m off-line until tomorrow to enjoy the weekend.
UnionGal – I started typing the last answer before I saw yours. I’ll get to it tomorrow.
Jack’s not my boss. I’m just a supporter who thinks Delaware can do better than it has been.
Actually, since you’re calling him names while not even using your own, I’m not going to bother .
Brian,
I’m with you on that one. I love anonymous commenters, but the fools who spout such ridiculousness AND won’t offer their name deserve little to no response.
Anytime UnionGal wants to go out for a drink, I’d be more than happy to oblige.
I’ve been around these stupid blogs long enough to know when someone refuses to answer a question, it’s because they can’t.
Mike Matthews — I’ll have a drink with you. Should I ask you Mom first?
John Carney is a realist with a real plan that can really happen. Markell is preying on the majority of people who don’t know enough to know his whole schtick is bull. I would think that you super bloggers would know enough to know the difference. But he’s got you under his spell, too.
BabyDoll,
Mother has already granted her permission and she’s freshly powdered and diapered my ass. I’m all yours. Name the time and the place.
UnionGal
“John Carney is a realist with a real plan that can really happen. Markell is preying on the majority of people who don’t know enough to know his whole schtick is bull. ”
I’ll buy you that drink and what the hell. Mike and his mom can come along! Mike drinks Iea Tea with extra lemon like the way mom makes it.
Markell is a great businessman but we need a political leaders who knows the ropes and the palyers. Markell splits the D party and no doubt with divide the people.
Give these rookie kids a slice of pizza and Jack becomes the Pied-Piper for the youth of Delaware. They gravitate to Jack’s pot of money like when their parents come home on payday! All the money Jack has in his war chest and he suckers these kids $25.00 for a slice of pizza and a bottle of pop! Why is he still raising money if he is such a sure thing?