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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Polarization Poisons Healthcare Debate

    Healthcare is one of the issues citied as most important by potential voters of both parties.  Presidential candidates all trumpet their plans. But Democrats and Republicans sound as if they're in different worlds. One side advocates "universal healthcare" while the other warns against "government interference" and "socialized medicine."

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Healthcare is one of the issues citied as most important by potential voters of both parties. Presidential candidates all trumpet their plans. But Democrats and Republicans sound as if they're in different worlds. One side advocates "universal healthcare" while the other warns against "government interference" and "socialized medicine." In last night's Democratic debate, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama had a nasty exchange about whose healthcare plan covers the most people. In his campaign, Republican Mitt Romney has moved away from a comprehensive healthcare plan he signed while Governor of Massachusetts. Comparisons between the US and British medical systems made by Rudy Giuliani in radio ads about his battle with prostate cancer have been attacked as inaccurate. Are candidates' plans as different as they sound? When the election finally is over, what are the chances of bridging the gap? Will necessary compromise fall victim to political polarization on Capitol Hill?

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Healthcare Reform and the Presidential Campaign
    1. 1:40Iraq War Funding Bill Stalls in Senate
    2. 7:46Polarization Poisons Healthcare DebateYou’re reading this
    3. 42:44Are Automakers 'Greenwashing' at the LA Car Show?
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Ron Brownstein

      Senior Editor, The Atlantic; political analyst, CNN; author

    • KCRW placeholder

      Robert Blendon

      Professor of Health Policy, Harvard University

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michael Tomasky

      Newsweek / Daily Beast

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Healthcare Reform and the Presidential Campaign
    1. 1:40Iraq War Funding Bill Stalls in Senate
    2. 7:46Polarization Poisons Healthcare DebateYou’re reading this
    3. 42:44Are Automakers 'Greenwashing' at the LA Car Show?
    Back to To the Point