George W. Bush: Medicare"When George W. Bush signed the law expanding Medicare coverage to prescription drugs [in December 2003], he called it a 'victory for all of America's seniors.' To many in the White House, the law seemed a brilliant political coup. It would appeal to older voters, allow Republicans to boast about success on the traditionally Democratic turf of health care and prove that Mr Bush could get things done. Of course, it was expensive — but cheap pills were a sure route to getting grandma's vote.
"Nine months later... Medicare had become one of the nastier domestic issues in the campaign... One day after Mr Bush bragged at the Republican convention that he would 'honour America's seniors' by helping them with their drug bills, the administration announced that Medicare premiums would rise by 17.4% next year, the biggest annual increase ever."
[John Kerry promptly aired ads promising to roll back the premium rise and accusing Bush of "broken promises." Bush countered with ads accusing Kerry of "Medicare hypocrisy." Why? The premium increases were defined by a formula set in a 1997 balanced-budget law - which Kerry had supported!]
Bush, George Walker [George Bush, Jr] [Dubya] (1946- ) American politician, Texas governor (1995-2000), 43rd President of the United States (2001- )
[Sources: The Economist, Sep 23rd 2004]More George Bush anecdotesRelated Anecdote Keywords:
Politics Presidential Elections Lies Health
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