Kerry: Bush Aims to 'Bamboozle,' Hide Medicare News

[Nambe]

AKRON, Ohio (Reuters)

Democrat John Kerry rebuked President Bush on Saturday for trying to "bamboozle" U.S. voters and burying the largest increase in Medicare history with an announcement at the start of a long holiday weekend amid a rush of news at home and abroad.

Kerry questioned the timing of the Bush administration's announcement late on Friday that older Americans will have to pay about 17 percent more next year for their government-run health insurance, the largest increase in Medicare's history. ..

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[olddem43]

1. I'm worried that this may be a campaign ploy by Bush

It seems odd that it could come out right now. Could it be that he had the notice intentionally issued now just so that he can demand it's repeal, and thereby claim that he "saved" the seniors?

[asjr]

4. He will try anything. He hasn't helped us seniors, nor does he intend

to. Before this new prescription card came out I was in a program for seniors on limited income whereby I received some medications free and some for $15.00 per drug monthly. I have been notified that will cease. I must enter the program i order to receive "savings." I looked at the drugs covered and the listed retail prices. Guess what? The drug prices had been raised, some of them, by 200% and naturally they were the ones seniors need most. If no one thought before that this is primarily helping pharmaceutical companies, they think it now. I have spoken to too many seniors who are outraged by it. That damn compassionate conservatism will get you every time.

[Prodemsouth]

5. Well then Kerry can claim that Bush didn't do anything about it till he

made it a campaign issue

[Daisey Mae]

2. These people are awful......

[Chicago Democrat]

3. EVERYONE on Medicare should be a Democrat!!

Or else they are an idiot. (or a millionaire, but hell even millionaires like medicare and should be DEMOCRATS!)

Republicans want to END MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY! BOOOO!!!

[Supply Side Jesus]

6. DROP THE GLOVES JOHN!!!

Now wail on Bush for the obvious payoff the pharms got with this 'reform' windfall, and how the poor working class and elderly get it in the rear. Pounce John pounce!!

[napi21]

7. This was on the front page of the AJC today!

The writer made statements like "Announced the day after the Republican Convention, during a warning of a terrible hurricane, and on Friday afternoon, so no one will notice!"

I didn't see it in our local paper (The Gainesville Times) so I wrote a LTTE today to point out just how damaging this is to fixed income seniors, and how it was feebly disguised in the midst of several other attention getters in hopes no one would notice!

http://www.ajc.com/today/content/epaper/editions/today/news_14934626f4e8124f007c.html

[sandraj]

8. more good quotes from Kerry

"The news is hidden but it isn't going to be hidden for long on Americans, because what they did yesterday was this president made history twice," Kerry said.

"They're trying to fake it to the American people," he said. "They're trying to bamboozle you and throw around so much mud that you can't really break through and grab onto the things that are real in your lives."

"And ... medical premiums go up for senior citizens 17 percent, the largest increase in Medicare premiums for 40 years," Kerry said. "Who are they going to send the bill to? They're going to send the bill to our senior citizens, they're going to send the bill to all of you."