Adwatch: Clinton health care ad

2/12/2008, 2:55 p.m. ET The Associated Press

 

(AP) — TITLE: "Obligation"

LENGTH: 30 seconds.

AIRING: Statewide in Wisconsin.

SCRIPT: Male announcer: "She fought for universal health care, long before it was popular. Got health insurance for 6 million kids and expanded access to health care for the National Guard. Now, she's the only candidate for president with a plan to provide health care for every American. A top economist calls Hillary's plan, 'the difference between achieving universal health coverage and falling far short.' If you believe health care is America's moral obligation, join her. Tuesday. Hillary Clinton."

Clinton: "I'm Hillary Clinton and I approved this message."

KEY IMAGES: Clinton talking to medical workers. Clinton smiling, surrounded by young people. Clinton listening to a veteran. Clinton in a hospital visiting a sick girl and her parents. An elderly woman in a hospital bed putting her hand on Clinton's face. The ad ends with Clinton holding a baby with the words "Vote Tuesday, Feb. 19" on the screen.

ANALYSIS: The ad tries to make the case that Clinton has a better plan for universal health care than rival Barack Obama, without mentioning him by name. Clinton has argued that Obama's plan could leave as many as 15 million Americans without insurance because, unlike Clinton's, it would not require the public to obtain health insurance.

Obama says he opposes a mandate because, to enforce it, the government would likely have to fine or otherwise penalize those who do not have insurance. Clinton said this month she would enforce a mandate only on workers who can afford insurance but refuse to buy it and a number of mechanisms were possible, including "going after people's wages, automatic enrollment."

Obama argues it is more important to reduce the cost of insurance so everyone who wants it can afford it.

The two have spent a lot of time debating this point.

In an ad that began running in Wisconsin over the weekend, Obama said he has a plan "to cut costs and cover everyone" and that health care reform can be achieved only by ending partisan division and limiting lobbyists' influence.

Both Clinton and Obama would raise taxes on wealthier families to pay for their plans. Clinton has said her plan would cost an estimated $110 billion per year. Obama estimated his would cost about $65 million a year after unspecified savings from making the system more efficient.

Clinton's ad reminds voters that she has more experience on the issue, noting she unsuccessfully fought for universal coverage in the 1990s and helped expand coverage to children and National Guard members.

Obama has touted his experience helping expand health care for children while he was a state lawmaker in Illinois.

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Analysis by Associated Press writer by Ryan J. Foley.