Bill Moyers: Every American should have 'Cheneycare' David Edwards and Mike Sheehan

Published: Monday May 12, 2008



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Print This Email This Esteemed veteran news broadcaster Bill Moyers takes aim at health care in his latest report for PBS. "You don't need me to tell you that 47 million Americans are uninsured, and it's not news to you that medical costs are increasing faster than the rate of inflation, or that more Americans than ever are afraid a single major illness could bankrupt them," says Moyers. "It's little wonder that when the Gallup poll asked people on the eve of this election year to name the most important thing that can be done to cope with health care, 63% mentioned universal coverage." Moyers reports that nurses are now among those at the forefront of the battle for affordable health care for all Americans. The report cites the high quality, condition-free medical insurance enjoyed by the likes of Vice President Dick Cheney, who, despite four major heart attacks and other serious coronary issues, "can't be denied health insurance no matter how serious his heart condition is" because he is a U.S. government employee. The California Nurses Association (CNA) criticizes such "Cadillac healthcare" favoritism and contrasts it to the limited options afforded to the majority of Americans. The CNA has launched an ad campaign saying that "if Cheney were just a regular American, he'd probably be dead by now." The CNA's executive director rues the "double standard," saying, "There should be an excellence in care that applies to all people. We, as the public, pay for Dick Cheney's care. ... Why is the government not providing the same type of care to all Americans?" This video is from PBS's Bill Moyers Journal, broadcast May 9, 2008. More on the story here.

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