John McCain's Continuing Hypocrisy On Healthcare

Roger Hickey has a great post [1] on the "dangerous fraud" that is John McCain's healthcare plan. As I point out ad nauseam in my recently released book, The Real McCain [2], if McCain's positions were simply fraudulent that would be bad enough. Yet, They are almost never limited to simple dishonesty. Much much more often, they come buttered up with a nice helping of hypocrisy on the side. And this time is no different.

First read the email The McCain Campaign sent out today on this issue:

My Friends,

Today, there are 47 million uninsured individuals in the U.S., and nearly a quarter of them are children. High costs and limited access are the underlying, fundamental problems in our healthcare system.

As you know, both Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are touting outrageously expensive and unrealistic universal health care plans - a government monopoly over health care.

Unlike my opponents, I do not believe that all of our nation's problems can be solved by turning control over to our government, with all the tax increases, new mandates and government regulation that come with that idea.

Today, our campaign began running a television ad focused on health care - that you can view by following this link - to ensure all Americans hear the truth about how I plan to tackle the challenges facing our nation's health care system. To ensure this important ad is aired in as many markets as possible, I'm asking for your immediate financial assistance.

I believe the key to real reform is to restore control over our health care system to the patients themselves. Americans need new choices beyond those offered in employment-based coverage.

That's why, as president, I will seek to encourage and expand the benefits of Health Savings Accounts, tax-preferred accounts that are used to pay insurance premiums and other health costs. These accounts put the family in charge of what they pay for.

In addition, I will reform the tax code to provide every family the option of receiving a direct, refundable tax deposit - effectively $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 cash for families to offset the cost of insurance.

The reality is that both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama, in their haste to garner support for their so-called "solutions," are promising more than they can deliver. And, once again, they are simply out-of-touch with the real problems facing our health care system and how to solve them.

Here are the facts: Under the Democrats' plan, we will have all the problems, and more, of the current health care system - rigid rules, long waits and lack of choices - and we risk degrading the system's great strengths and advantages, including the innovation and life-saving technology that make American medicine the most advanced in the world.

My friends, this is not my definition of real reform. I hope you will join me in my fight to tackle the real problems facing our nation's health care system by making a contribution of $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, or $2,300 to help fund this important ad.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

John McCain

A good rule of thumb is that the moment John McCain says "my friends," you should prepare to dive into a bomb shelter. It usually means he is about to slug you literally or at least figuratively. And this time it's no different.

The man who has been on government healthcare HIS ENTIRE LIFE (daddy was an Admiral)--that would be seven decades--dares deride it by saying, "Unlike my opponents, I do not believe that all of our nation's problems can be solved by turning control over to our government... ."

No, he only believes it in his own life.

Government healthcare is good enough to pay Sir McCain's hospital bills--with your "taxes" to quote him--just not good enough for the rest of us...oh and by the way, can you spare $1000 "my friends?" That is what passes for "straight-talk" and "reform" from a guy who lounges at 8 houses on his wife's dime but calls others elitist.

With straight talk like that, who needs mendacity.

Cliff Schecter is the author of The Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don't Trust Him And Why Independents Shouldn't [2]. Every time you buy a copy (for only $10!), an angel gets their wings.