Obama presents system of universal health care coverage

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Saturday officially announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination during a speech in Illinois, the Washington Post reports.

Obama presented an agenda that includes instituting a system of universal health care coverage, ending U.S. involvement in Iraq and eliminating poverty, the Post reports (Balz/Kornblut, Washington Post, 2/11). Obama said he would aim to provide universal health care by the end of his first term, although he offered "no specific remedies" on how he would do so, the Wall Street Journal reports. Obama and his campaign aides said that specific proposals would be forthcoming, reiterating that his campaign had just begun, according to the Journal. Obama said that progress in universal health care coverage and in other policy areas would be impossible "until we bring this ill-conceived war in Iraq to a close" (Calmes, Wall Street Journal, 2/12). At his announcement, Obama also criticized the current political atmosphere, saying, "What's stopped us is the failure of leadership, the smallness of our politics, the ease with which we're distracted by the petty and trivial, our chronic avoidance of tough decisions, our preference for scoring cheap political points. The time for that kind of politics is over. It's time to turn the page" (Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 2/11). According to the New York Times, presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) "offered a hint" of future challenges to Obama, saying, "I haven't seen a plan from him. Have you all?"(Nagourney/Zeleny, New York Times, 2/11). Following his candidacy announcement, Obama planned to travel to Iowa on Saturday and to New Hampshire on Monday for a town hall meeting (Marre, The Hill, 2/12).

Rodham Clinton Appears in N.H.

In related news, presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) during a campaign visit to New Hampshire this weekend discussed several policy issues, including health care. During a town hall meeting, Clinton "veered away from drawing simple conclusions" on solving the nation's health care problems, the Washington Post reports. During the meeting, Clinton "pointedly refused to offer a comprehensive proposal" on health care, "instead theorizing on how the current system is failing and criticizing those who she said believe that throwing more money at the problem will solve it," according to the Post (Cillizza, Washington Post, 2/12). Clinton said, "I am going to be right back up on that horse of universal health care coverage, and we are going to ride" (Cillizza, Washington Post, 2/11). She also said, "I am looking for answers that will not have us spend more money. I am convinced we can do that" (Washington Post, 2/12).

Broadcast Coverage

NPR's "All Things Considered" on Saturday reported on Obama's announcement. The segment includes comments from Obama (Liasson/Elliot, "All Things Considered," NPR, 2/10). Audio of the segment and expanded NPR coverage is available online.

In addition, NPR's "Morning Edition" on Monday reported on Obama's announcement. The segment includes comments from the senator and supporters who attended his speech in Illinois (Liasson, "Morning Edition," NPR, 2/12). Audio of the segment and expanded NPR coverage is available online.