Clinton regrets '93 healthcare approach

Posted: Friday, November 13, 2009 3:14 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: State Dept.

From NBC's Sue Kroll
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said today in Manila, if she could change any decision in the past it would be on healthcare.

Speaking to university students at town hall style event Clinton said, " I wish that we had taken a different approach or been more successful back in 1993 and 1994. Hindsight is 20/20."

Clinton has returned to Singapore, where she will meet with the Foreign Minister tomorrow and join President Obama for the meeting of APEC leaders

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Comments

Hillary truly did 'find her voice'...

I cannot think of anyone who would do a better job as SOS than she is!

Many of you know I NEVER supported her in the primaries (sorry Pam!) but I can't tell you how impressed I am at the job she's doing!

What an inspiration to the young girls of today... unlike Klonike Barbie who's the perpetual VICTIM!

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:21 PM)

If I were her, I'd have a few more regrets. Seriously. Some of those pantsuits were just BAD judgement. And she really should have sh!tcanned Mark Penn FAR SOONER. Of course, it is easy to pick from the cheap seats; but sticking with Billy Boy after the Monica event really downgraded her in my esteem, and she shouldn't have fudged on Ireland and Snipergate. Yeah,...there are way more regrets; but I don't want to quibble. Sorry, Pam, I know she's your gal; but I really grew to despise her.

Hats off to her, though - she is doing a great job as SOS.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:23 PM)

First of all, people acted as though the sky was falling when then President Clinton said he was putting a woman in charge of HCR, OMG!! No matter what Hillary Clinton did or did not do, the recent tea bagger protests, the vitriol, and the very SAME lies told in 1993, tell the story of what she was up against!! Kudos to the SOS for trying as hard as she did back then; we see today that no matter what approach she “could” have taken, the GOP would have acted in the same despicable manner it did; we are seeing it today!!

Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:24 PM)

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 9:55 AM): "Jonathan Turley knows what he's talking about. The neocons like you don't. You never get anything right."

Is that so? From Turley's appearance on Rachel Maddow last night: ""Terrorism is more than just killing people. We're becoming a nation where we want to define everything as terrorism.... We have a shooting of an abortion doctor, it's terrorism.... A hate crime is terrorism. Well, it's not. It's murder."

And: "Terrorism is when you not just murder someone but you're murdering someone to coerce or intimidate a government or society,"

Fine, that's Mr Turley's opinion and I respect that opinion. But that doesn't make him right nor does it diminish the opinions of others who think his definition of terrorism is too narrow. In fact, even some lefties who want violence at abortion clinics characterized as terrorism have taken issue with Mr. Turley's views.

So rather than being a necon who never gets anything right, I'm just one of those who disagrees with Mr. Turley. Pardon me for committing such an egregious transgression. But nice try, and thanks for reading.

Bill, Fairfax, VA (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:26 PM)

Hindsight is never 20/20, could you all stop repeating that stupidity? Until all the facts about our past are revealed to everyone, HINDSIGHT will always be based on a partial understanding of what was going on. Partial understanding does not equate to 20/20 vision of reality.

Paul Independence, Va. (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:31 PM)

Is there any particualr reason the Democratic party keeps fossils around like Clinton and Carter? Old feeble, and out of touch, the both of them.

Dino Saures (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:31 PM)

Well, Harry Truman called for some form of universal healthcare coverage and that was 60ish years ago. So Hill shouldn't be upset. Part of the time there were Republicans in charge of the Congress also for some reason people didn't take it seriously. Had she been a legislator rather than First Lady she might have had more influence but all this is water under the bridge. Us it as a lesson and move on. This time the legislation WILL pass and President Obama will sign it.

eagle1776 (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:31 PM)

There is a reason the government has not nationalized health care in the United States in over 200 years. The people don't want them to!!!

T. Jefferson, Virginia (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:33 PM)

This time will be very different because of the willingness to compromise - hopefully not too much though

Saint Dick, Dallas, TX (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:37 PM)

Hillary truly did 'find her voice'...

I cannot think of anyone who would do a better job as SOS than she is!

++++++++++++++++

Dead people could do a better job then Hillary.

Don't Get Out Much Do You (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:37 PM)

And yet the Democrats are making the same mistake again in 2009. It's not that the Democrats were punished in the 1994 elections because they didn't pass government run health care. It's the fact that the Democrats even brought up that they wanted to take health care over that killed them off in 1994!

For the Democrats - Failure Is An Option (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:38 PM)

Bill: You're welcome. Have a nice weekend.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:38 PM)

CLINTON REGRETS '93 HEALTHCARE APPROACH

We regret it too Hillary. And we regret the knuckle-headed Democrats trying it again in 2009. We'll show you how much next November.

The Voters (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:40 PM)

Hillary Clinton knows first hand the mistakes made as did Ted Kennedy in the 70's. That's why it was important for former Pres Clinton to chat with democratic senators this week. It is so close now, and as we've heard so often lately, democrats cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. If they do, another 44,000 Americans will die next year and the next because they can't afford health care. That's the point that needs to be made to Stupak and the blue dogs, if they are "pro-life" that term does not just refer to unborn babies.

Tired of hearing the right wingers claim HCR is government run. It is NOT. A public option will be part of the selection of private companies available; people who have employer health care through private companies will still have it. What the GOP and big insurance companies are afraid of is that We the People might discover their dirty little secret--we're slaves to private health insurance companies whose purpose is to make a profit while in 1 of 5 cases denying care to those whose premiums pay their wages, just as senior citizens found out--we might actually like government run plans better. That's why the closer we get to HCR passing, the louder and shriller the GOP and insurance companies protest. People might just like medicare for all.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:40 PM)

Bill, Fairfax

That's the whole point, DEFINITION. Terrorism is defined already in the legal system. Turley is telling you a fact which is not an opinion. Hasan was a disgruntled employee whose gripe with his bosses could have easily been defused. He had no intent to get our Government to change its geopolitical strategy.

Paul Independence,Va. (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:41 PM)

Hmmm -- I wonder which "more successful" approach Hillary is referring to -- maybe..... the CURRENT (HRH Reid's/Pelosi's) approach! Perhaps -- and once this approach falls on its face in the Senate (as it almost did in the House) -- or passes and then proves itself to be a disaster for the country, she'll again say: "I wish that we had taken a different approach or been more successful back in 2009 and 2010. Hindsight is 20/20." Too convenient -- talk about being the in driver's seat on ones road to political success (maybe even driving the bus meant to be for whoever needs to take one for you -- perhaps her husband or daughter next time).

And why not, for Hillary EVERYTHING is (so conveniently) hindsight.

Greg in WA (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:42 PM)

Wait a minute. Hillary is in Singapore, and Bill is in Washington DC. So who's feeding the dog up in NY?

Petco Lanes (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:44 PM)

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:21 PM)
Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:23 PM)

No worries my friends; I know we're on the same side!! I just see her differently than you do, but no offense taken!! Thanks for thinking of me!!

Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:44 PM)

The Democrats and Obama are well on their war to take the deficit spending record away from Bush. Bush ran up $5 trillion dollars of debt in 8 years. Obama will do the same in about 3.

Maybe they'll give Barack a Nobel Peace Prize in Economics for his efforts.

Trendy (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:47 PM)

Is there any particualr reason the Democratic party keeps fossils around like Clinton and Carter? Old feeble, and out of touch, the both of them.
Dino Saures (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:31 PM)

Really? I bet Bush would LOVE Clinton's approval rating!! LOL!! Mr. 24% Bush destroyed the GOP!! Do keeping drooling now!!

Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize, as did President Obama!! I bet Bush would love that, instead, he's sitting in Texas and every single republican running for office runs as far away from him as possible!!

Heck of a job Dumbya!!

Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:50 PM)

Is there any particualr reason the Democratic party keeps fossils around like Clinton and Carter? Old feeble, and out of touch, the both of them.
Dino Saures (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:31 PM)

------------------------------------------------

Because, unlike the GOP, the Democrats don't have to hide from the past.

Wasn't 2008 a footrace for the GOP to see how far they could get away from W?

Aren't we all reminded how much we don't like Darth Cheney whenever he comes out of hiding?

Sofa King Wee Todd Did (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:53 PM)

Is there any particualr reason the Democratic party keeps fossils around like Clinton and Carter? Old feeble, and out of touch, the both of them.
Dino Saures (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:31 PM

To cleanup the carnage around the World from Republican adminstration of yore.

To the Circuit clerk Clown from a previous post:

Was ramzi useff an American citizen when he was tried for the 1st World Trade Center Bombing ? He still sits in the American Prison system. Aww shucks, who cares, that was 15 years ago, different day, different fight, huh ?

Keep up the great work SOS Clinton, you have found your voice, we'll pass that along to merle when he comes out from the Bunker.

Rick,Ky (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:59 PM)

Bill: I'm afraid you are losing it. Your conservative thinking is becoming as crazy as Glen Beck. With regart to your conserce regarding our loss of freedom: Americans lost more freedom during the Bush 43 administration when the government suspended habeas corpus and passed the patriot act.

Wise men do not argue undefendable positons. Turley is one of the best legal minds in the country; in a different league that either of us.

Ron Indiana (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 4:01 PM)

The point Mr. Turley was making is that too many people, left and right, have a tendency to label every incident as terrorism. Since 9/11, we've become much too quick at using the word terrorist to define any incident that occurs involving someone of the Muslim faith yet regard equally horrible mass killings by christians as criminal acts. Any act involving mass killings or woundings is terrorizing for the victims but not everyone is a terrorist regardless of the religious views they have which may influence their behavior. It's time to let the investigation continue and let the military court decide the case instead of everyone grandstanding about whether or not Hasan is a terrorist.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 4:02 PM)

eagle1776 (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 3:31 PM)

FDR actually wanted Universal Healthcare in The New Deal, but backed away from it!! He fought a tough enough battle to establish Social Security and the battles go on today!! Same opponents, Obama is just up against a new and uglier GOP!!

Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 4:03 PM)

"If the gov't had a better health care system in the '90's maybe Vincent Foster would be alive today."

HRC Little Rock, AR (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 4:04 PM)

Americans lost more freedom during the Bush 43 administration when the government suspended habeas corpus and passed the patriot act. Wise men do not argue undefendable positons.

Ron Indiana (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 4:01 PM)

Ron, Sounds like your Positon is undefendable since Obama extended the Patriot Act.

By the way, why is Obama going to have a job summit now. Shouldn't he have done that before the porkulus bill? Oh, I forgot , that was just a political payback to the lemmings who voted him in.

Positon Hoosier (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 4:09 PM)

Those that like to blame the GOP for everything should take a more careful look into history. During the Truman administration Democrats were in power. Back in 1974 a health reform plan was devised by then President Nixon, yes Nixon, that would have even surpassed the current plan that just passed in the House. Then Senator Kennedy and many of the unions complained that in didn't go far enough and they wanted passed while a Democrat was President. It should be noted that Senator Kennedy later remarked that that was one of the deepest regrets that he ever had.

Hillary Clinton's main problem is that she would not compromise. Back in '93 their were quite a few moderate Republicans, compromises could possibly have been made but they would have none of it.

President Obama has learned the wrong lesson from the Clinton failure. President Obama has chosen to give broad generalities not anything that can be discribed as a real plan. Instead of having a Health Care plan tied to a very popular president it has been tied to a very unpopular Rep Polosi and Senator Reid. How can President Obama truely campaign for something when even he cannot say exactly what it is going to be. If this goes down in failure this mistake may be just as much to blame as the Republicans.

David, Haymarket, VA (Sent Friday, November 13, 2009 4:12 PM)

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