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Why Hillary Clinton has Always Been a Republican In the first of a series of profiles, Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair chart the formative years of Hillary Clinton. Watch her as she zigzags from Nixon campaigner and vote-fraud investigator in 1960 to Goldwater Girl and President of Young Republicans at Wellesley to her internship for Gerald Ford and campaigner for Nelson Rockefeller. Witness her reaction to the student protests at Yale and the demonstrations at Grant Park during the Democratic Convention in 1968. Learn how she and Bill vowed to "remake" the Democratic Party--using the Nixon model HRC learned about as a member of the House impeachment staff. And much more! Plus: David Price on anthropologist Andre Gunder Frank, the FBI and the Bureaucratic Exile of a Critical Mind.
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Today's Stories July 19, 2007 Patrick
Cockburn July 18, 2007 Brenda
Norrell Col.
Dan Smith Martha
Rosenberg Conn
Hallinan Binoy
Kampmark Patrick
Bond / Tom
Johnson Paul
Craig Roberts Bob
Quellos Felice
Pace Robert
Weissman CP
Newswire Website
of the Day
July 17, 2007 Patrick
Cockburn Marjorie
Cohn Evelyn
Pringle David
Rosen Susan
Miller Franklin
Lamb Don
Monkerud Harvey
Wasserman Russell
Hoffman Dave
Lindorff Dave
Zirin Website
of the Day
July 16, 2007 Gary
Leupp Ellen
Cantarow Paul
Craig Roberts Allan
J. Lichtman Dan
Bacher Patrick
Cockburn Manuel
Garcia, Jr. James
Brooks Liaquat
Ali Khan Julie
Flint Website
of the Day
July 14 / 15. 2007 Alexander
Cockburn Andy
Worthington Ralph
Nader Robert
Fantina Ron
Jacobs Joshua
Frank Conn
Hallinan Dr.
Susan Rosenthal, MD John
Ross Fred
Gardner Rannie
Amiri Charles
Modiano Anthony
DiMaggio China
Hand Missy
Comley Beattie Dr.
James J. Murtagh, Jr. Kenneth
Rexroth Poets'
Basement Website
of the Weekend
July 13, 2007 Patrick
Cockburn Winslow
T. Wheeler Imran
Khan Todd
Chretien Sam
Husseini Dr.
Herman Mindshaftgap Anthony
Papa D.
K. Wilson David
Michael Green Website
of the Day
July 12, 2007 Paul
Craig Roberts Robert Jensen Dr. Susan Block Joshua Frank John Chuckman Corporate Crime
Reporter Mike Whitney Nicola Nasser Richard Rhames William S.
Lind Website of the Day
July 11, 2007 Patrick
Cockburn Richard
Neville Debra
McNutt John
V. Walsh Scott
Liebertz George
C. Wilson James
McEnteer Philip
Rizk Johnny
Hazard Dave
Lindorff Website
of the Day
July 10, 2007 James
Ridgeway Tariq
Ali Javed
Hussein William
Blum Ralph
Nader Jay
Arena Anthony
DiMaggio Eva
Liddell Jerry
Kroth Alice
Woodward Nikolas
Kozloff Paul
Shannon Website
of the Day
July 9, 2007 Fidel
Castro Diana
Johnstone John
Walsh Uri
Avnery Ramzy
Baroud John
Ripton Stephen
Lendman Bruce
Jackson Michael
Donnelly Doug
Giebel Website
of the Day
Saul
Landau Ismael
Hossein-zadeh Fawzia
Afzal-Khan John
Ross Pat
Williams Rannie
Amiri Farzana
Versey Bart
Gruzalski Paul
Rockwell Reza
Fiyouzat Monica
Benderman Kenneth
Couesbouc Dave
Lindorff Charles
Modiano Missy
Beattie Dal
LaMagna Jean
Gerard Anne
Dachel Ron
Jacobs Poets'
Basement Website
of the Day
Daniel
Ellsberg Gary
Leupp Harvey
Wasserman Omer
Subhani Marjorie
Cohn Christopher
Brauchli David
Michael Green China
Hand Renee
Saucedo Corporate
Crime Reporter Website
of the Day
July 5, 2007 Andy
Worthington Mike
Stark Norman
Solomon Michael
Schwartz Susie
Day Jacob
Hornberger Bill
Hatch Don
Fitz John
Wright Website
of the Day
July 4, 2007 St.
Clair / Frank Vijay
Prashad Carl
G. Estabrook Ron
Jacobs David
R. Dow Claudia
Johnson William
S. Lind Gregory
Afghani Paul
Edwards D.
K. Wilson Niranjan
Ramakrishnan Thomas
Jefferson Cindy
Sheehan Website
of the Day
Bill
Quigley Gary
Leupp Lynda
Brayer Richard
Thieme Helen
Redmond David
Swanson Jacob
Hornberger Ayesha
Ijaz Khan Franklin
Lamb Ray
McGovern Kevin
Zeese Dave
Lindorff Website
of the Day
Andy
Worthington Nina
Serrano Jack
Hirschman Paul
Craig Roberts Bill
Williams Anthony
Papa Sonja
Karkar Louay
Safi Anthony
Gregory Monica
Benderman Website
of the Day
June 30 / July 1, 2007 John
Ross Alan
Farago Peter
Quinn Christopher
Brauchli Robert
Fisk Uri
Avnery Judith
Siers-Poisson Saul
Landau Abbas
Zaidi Ron
Jacobs Ralph
Nader Donald
Worster Mike
Whitney Jacob
Hill Kenneth
Couesbouc Missy
Beattie Mohammad
Kamaali Ramzy
Baroud Leonard
Peltier Phyllis
Pollack Poets'
Basement Website
of the Weekend
June 29, 2007 St.
Clair / Frank Brian
Cloughley Patrick
Cockburn Gilad
Atzmon Dave
Lindorff Jennifer
Matsui / Kevin
Zeese Daniel
Klimek David
Michael Green John
Chuckman Website
of the Day
June 28, 2007 Bill
Quigley Vijay
Prashad Margaret
Kimberley Winslow
T. Wheeler Philip
Rizk D.
K. Wilson Bill
Williams Mahmoud
El-Yousseph Richard
Rhames Paul
Krassner Website
of the Day
Marjorie
Cohn Dr.
Susan Rosenthal, MD Alan
Farago Carla
Blank Matthew
Abraham Sunsara
Taylor Russell
D. Hoffman Robert
Weissman Sen.
Russ Feingold Paul
Buchheit Website
of the Day
June 26, 2007 Jonathan
Cook Ralph
Nader Corporate
Crime Reporter Ron
Jacobs Martha
Rosenberg John
Chuckman Denny
Haldeman Anthony
DiMaggio Stephen
Fleischman William
S. Lind Website
of the Day
Paul
Craig Roberts Jennifer
Loewenstein Bob
Anderson Robert
Pollin Patrick
Cockburn Eva
Liddell Dan
Bacher Larry
Atkins Mark
Brenner James
Rothenberg Website
of the Day June 23 / 24, 2007 Alexander
Cockburn Jeff
Taylor Oren
Ben-Dor Gary
Leupp Robert
Fisk David
Rosen Russell
Mokhiber Alison
Weir Robert
Fantina D.
K. Wilson Nicole
Colson Stephen
Soldz, Steven Reisner and Brad Olson Dave
Lindorff Benjamin
Dangl Michael
Dickinson Poets'
Basement Website
of the Weekend
June 22, 2007 Andy
Worthington Sherwood
Ross Eliana
Monteforte Robert
Weissman Richard
Rhames Christopher
Brauchli Ramzy
Baroud Ehud
Krinis, David Shulman and Neve Gordon David
Michael Green Kathryn
Webber Website
of the Day
June 21, 2007 Peter
Linebaugh Natsu
Saito Ron
Jacobs Saree
Makdisi John
Stauber Scott
Liebertz Tom
Clifford Robert
Jensen Michael
J. Smith Jeb
Sprague Website
of the Day
Omar
Barghouti Andy
Worthington Margaret
Kimberley Robert
Weissman Russell
D. Hoffman Rannie
Amiri Stephen
Lendman Dave
Lindorff David
Swanson Anne
Dachel Website
of the Day
June 19, 2007 Ralph
Nader Dr.
Shepherd Bliss Bill
and Kathleen Christison Jeff
Leys Dave
Zirin Chris
Floyd Ben
Terrall Anthony
Papa VIPS Linda Flores Website
of the Day
John
Ross Paul
Craig Roberts Martha
Rosenberg Norman
Solomon Don
Santina Isabella
Kenfield James
Brooks Eva
Liddell Sam
Husseini Akiva
Eldar Website
of the Day
Alexander
Cockburn John
Halle Robert
Fisk Andy
Worthington Uri
Avnery Fred
Gardner Saul
Landau P.
Sainath Missy
Comley Beattie Alan
Gregory Walter
Brasch Website
of the Weekend
June 15, 2007 Alan
Farago Andy
Worthington Michael
Simmons Franklin
Lamb Gary
Leupp John
Ross Website
of the Day
June 14, 2007 Michael
Donnelly
Faisal
Kutty Harry
Browne Charles
Jonkel Steven
Higgs Bruce
Dixon Bruce
K. Gagnon
Website
of the Day June 13, 2007 Glen Ford Marjorie Cohn Bill Christison Charles Jonkel Silvia Cattori Richard Gott Firmin DeBrabander William S. Lind Keith Rosenthal Website of the Day June 12, 2007 Jeffrey St.
Clair Paul Craig
Roberts P. Sainath Ralph Nader Omar Waraich Dave Lindorff Harvey Wasserman Malini Johar
Schueller Ramzy Baroud Website of
the Day
June 11, 2007 Patrick Cockburn Paul Craig
Roberts Uri Avnery Norman Solomon Eva Liddell Rannie Amiri Rachel Voss Christopher
Brauchli D. K. Wilson Website of
the Day
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July 19, 2007 Behind the RhetoricHealth Care and the DemocratsBy SHARON SMITH What do Democratic presidential hopefuls John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have in common with Republican rival Mitt Romney? Edwards' and Obama's proposals for universal healthcare differ little from the former Massachusetts governor's "bipartisan" experiment in state healthcare reform, signed into law last year -- which in turn embraces key elements of Senator Clinton's failed 1993 healthcare overhaul. As the Washington Post noted on July 10, "To move toward universal coverage, Edwards, Clinton and Obama have approaches that borrow from the Massachusetts model. That plan, regarded as one of the nation's most innovative, took key elements of the 1993 Clinton plan and made them practical politically -- so practical that the plan was enacted in 2006 by a Democratic legislature with support from a Republican governor, 2008 presidential candidate Mitt Romney." This commonality is not obvious from these candidates' stated intentions, of course. Edwards unveiled his universal healthcare plan by declaring his empathy with the nation's 47 million uninsured, in a studied populist flourish: "We have to stop letting the health insurance companies and the big pharmaceutical concerns decide our nation's healthcare policy," Edwards told the Democratic National Committee on February 2nd. Clinton has yet to detail her
own healthcare proposal. But her website now extols that 1993
colossal failure as a badge of honor: "As First Lady, Hillary
introduced a plan to provide full coverage for all Americans,
which was Obama boldly informed Time magazine in May, "We'll investigate and prosecute the monopolization of the insurance industry," adding, "And where we do find places where insurance companies aren't competitive, we will make them pay a reasonable share of their profits on the patients they should be caring for in the first place." Romney has predictably accused his Democratic competitors of embracing "socialized medicine" while he relies on "market forces" to correct healthcare disparities.
But the partisan rhetoric blurs the bipartisan approach. The healthcare proposals of all of the leading presidential candidates offer a cash cow to the insurance and pharmaceutical industries in new enrollments -- while requiring no compromise on profits in return. The working poor, meanwhile, would shoulder the expense of substandard insurance policies with enormous out-of-pocket costs. The Massachusetts healthcare reform experiment looms large as a model for the nation's future among these politicians. But how have Massachusetts' residents fared under this widely touted plan? Beginning July 1st, the law required all taxpayers to enroll in a health insurance plan. Those who fail to enroll by December 31st will be penalized on next year's tax returns. Also, while individuals are allowed to enroll in a lower-cost, substandard insurance policy this year, everyone will be required to pay for a policy that includes drug coverage by January 2009, or face further penalties. At first, the penalty will be relatively small -- forfeiting the annual $219 state exemption. But the penalty grows much steeper over the next few years, reaching up to half of a monthly insurance premium for each month a person is uninsured. The health care premiums on offer are far from affordable. The Liam Maguire's Irish Pub and Restaurant in Falmouth, for example, now offers its employees a bare-bones policy for $42 per week. By July 1st, just 10 of its 30 workers opted to take up the offer, according to the New York Times. Although they cannot afford these high premiums, however, they are ineligible for state-subsidized health insurance simply because their employer has offered them any plan at all, however expensive. A healthy 37-year-old earning $35,000 a year is required to pay an annual premium of around $2,100 under the least-expensive plans on offer. But such plans also have deductibles of about $2,000 a year, or roughly 12 percent of the patient's annual income, before any benefits kick in. Massachusetts is marketing another set of lower-cost insurance policies to its relatively healthy 19-26 year-old population, with monthly premiums ranging between $106 and $220 per month. But many of these plans cap annual benefits at $50,000 -- leaving the insured a car accident or illness away from destitution. Premiums and deductibles for older people, couples, and families are much higher. Not surprisingly, the July 1st deadline came and went with only 130,000 Massachusetts residents, mainly the poor and previously uninsured, newly enrolled in insurance policies -- nearly all in the free or state-subsidized plans. The working poor voted with their feet in non-compliance. Massachusetts' employers, meanwhile, have no pressing financial incentive to offer healthcare insurance to their employees. They have the option of paying thousands of dollars annually for healthcare premiums or opting out of coverage, with an annual penalty of just $295 per employee -- a much smaller price than their uninsured workers will pay for ignoring the healthcare mandate. Business leader Sandy Reynolds remarked that business owners could simply reduce their workers' hours to less than 35-hours per week to escape the insurance requirement for full-time workers. Nationally, employers have another weapon at their disposal to battle state healthcare reform. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (Erisa), enacted in 1974, frees the healthcare plans of multi-state corporations that assume the cost of their workers' health costs (so-called "self-insured" companies) from compliance with state laws. According to the Wall Street Journal, such corporations cover roughly 70 million U.S. workers -- half of all workers with employer-provided medical benefits. As the Journal noted, "Industry groups say Erisa serves a vital function in assuring that business doesn't have to meet varying state rules. 'Erisa pre-emption [of state laws] is the crown jewel of health-care coverage by employers,' says Mark Ugoretz, president of the ERISA Industry Committee, a Washington-based trade group that represents big employers He argues that Erisa bars any state levies that are large enough to force employers to offer benefits." But no employers have chosen thus far to use Erisa to sue Massachusetts for its new employee healthcare requirements, "possibly reflecting the small size of the penalty," the Journal commented. The rising chorus for single-payer "Healthcare for all" has become the mantra of the moment for Democrats, but candidates from both parties lag far behind popular consensus on resolving the healthcare crisis. "There's not a lot of untested political ideas out there," Harvard health policy professor Robert Blendon recently observed of the 2008 candidates' healthcare plans. In a CBS News/New York Times poll released on March 1st, 90 percent of those polled believed fixing the U.S. healthcare system will require at least "fundamental" changes, including 36 percent who thought it would require a "complete overhaul." In the same poll, two-thirds said the federal government should be responsible for guaranteeing that all Americans have health insurance. Most would be willing to see the cost of their own care go up to achieve this goal. In addition, 59 percent said they were very dissatisfied with the cost of health care in the U.S. overall and another 22 percent were somewhat dissatisfied. One fourth of insured respondents reported that they have decided to forego a medical test or treatment because their health plan did not cover it. And 47 percent of those polled said they would prefer a single-payer program administered by the government to cover all Americans, compared with 38 percent who prefer to keep the current system. To be sure, there are minor differences between the Democratic candidates. "Obama's plan does not require adults to obtain health insurance, a distinction that Edwards has tried to exploit because his aides say that without such a requirement, Obama's plan would not ensure coverage for everyone," the Post noted. On the contrary, Edwards' proposal to require individuals to buy health insurance places more of the burden on working-class people facing falling real wages and rising healthcare costs. According to the Kaiser Foundation, average health insurance premiums have risen 87 percent since 2000, while workers' earnings have risen just 20 percent. But the differences are minor, given the scale of the healthcare crisis. The pendulum is swinging left toward single-payer, and neither major political party -- for both are beholden to healthcare conglomerates' campaign dollars -- is prepared to address the urgency of popular sentiment. Only a grassroots movement can force them to do so. Sharon Smith is the author of Women
and Socialism and Subterranean
Fire: a History of Working-Class Radicalism in the United States.
She can be reached at: sharon@internationalsocialist.org 
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