Barack Obama

www.barackobama.com

The bolded Divided We Fail principle is listed first, then the statement we identified for the candidate. In some cases, we may not have identified a statement for the corresponding principle.

We believe all Americans should have access to affordable health care, including prescription drugs, and these costs should not burden future generations.

My plan begins by covering every American. No one will be turned away because of a preexisting condition. . . . Everyone will be able buy into a new health insurance plan that's similar to the one that every federal employee [has]. If you cannot afford this insurance, you will receive a subsidy to pay for it... If you change jobs, your insurance will go with you. We will make generic drugs more available . . . and will tell the drug companies that their days of forcing affordable prescription drugs out of the market are over.

I have a universal health care plan that will…cut the cost of a typical family's premiums by up to $2500 a year. (Speech in Iowa City, IA, 5/29/07; Speech in Washington, D.C., 6/19/07).

We believe wellness and prevention efforts, including changes in personal behavior such as diet and exercise, should be top national priorities.

We all know the saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But today we're nowhere close to that ounce... The problem is, there's currently no financial incentive for health care providers to offer services that will encourage patients to eat right or exercise or go for annual check-ups... The real profit today is made in treating diseases, not preventing them. That's wrong, which is why in our new national health care plan… we will require coverage of evidence-based, preventive care services, and make sure they are paid for. But in the end, prevention only works if we take responsibility for our own health and make the right decisions in our own lives. (Speech in Iowa City, IA, 5/29/07).

We believe Americans should have choices when it comes to long-term care - allowing them to maintain their independence at home or in their communities with expanded and affordable financing options.

The long-term care system is heavily biased towards institutional care-even though most would rather remain at home-and the quality of care is often poor. Long-term care is very expensive, and Medicare coverage is limited, making catastrophic expenses routine.

Barack Obama will work to give seniors choices about their care. He will honor and support the family members who take care of their elders. He will work to reform the financing of long term care to protect seniors and families from impoverishment.

He will improve the quality of elder care by giving our long-term care workforce the support it deserves, training more health care workers in geriatrics, and researching better ways to manage pain.
(Campaign website, http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/seniorsFactSheet.pdf)

We believe our children and grandchildren should have an adequate quality of life when they retire. Social Security must be strengthened without burdening future generations

"First, I believe privatization is dangerous (because it subjects) a secure retirement to the whims of the market. . . .

"Second, we don't need to cut benefits or raise the retirement age. There are a number of ways we can make Social Security solvent that do not involve forcing seniors to bear a heavier burden.

"The best option. . . is to ask the highest income Americans to contribute a little more by raising the ceiling that's currently put on the amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax. . . .

"Over the long term, we need to stop borrowing billions from the Social Security trust fund. That's why I'll stand for a return to fiscal responsibility as president." (Speech in Cedar Rapids 10/29/2007)

We believe workers should be provided with financial incentives to save, should have access to effective retirement plans, and should be able to keep working and contributing to society regardless of age.

Secure Hard-Earned Pensions: Obama will insist that companies keep the promises they make to employees. Eliminate Income Taxes for Seniors Making Less Than $50,000: For many seniors, this will eliminate the need to file taxes…Obama supports automatic enrollment in IRAs and improving the Saver's Tax Credit so more households can save for retirement…Expand programs like Senior Corps to provide more volunteer opportunities for older Americans to serve…Some employers refuse to hire older workers or push them to retire. Obama supports fighting job discrimination for aging employees. He supports strengthening the Age Discrimination in Employment Act…
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/seniors/
http://www.barackobama.com/2007/09/21/obama_..._t.php
http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/seniorsFactSheet.pdf

We believe Americans of all ages should have access to tools to help manage their finances, and save for the future and better, easy to understand information to help them increase their financial literacy and manage their money wisely.

Obama has introduced the STOP FRAUD Act to provide the first federal definition of mortgage fraud, increase funding for federal and state law enforcement programs, create new criminal penalties for mortgage professionals found guilty of fraud, and require industry insiders to report suspicious activity. Barack Obama will enact laws to ensure that all prospective homebuyers have access to accurate and complete information about their mortgage options. Obama will create a Homeowner Obligation Made Explicit (HOME) score, which will … allow individuals to easily compare various mortgage products and understand the full cost of the loan.
(Campaign website, November 1, 2007) http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/SubprimeFactSheet.pdf

Republicans Mike Huckabee John McCain Ron Paul Mitt Romney

Democrats Hillary Clinton Barack Obama