President Addresses Allegations of Mishandling Flu Vaccine Program, Social Security
By Dana Milbank and Lois Romano
(snip)
The two men dueled similarly over this season's shortage of influenza vaccines. "If you can't get flu vaccines to Americans, how are you going to protect them against bioterrorism?" Kerry said in an interview aired Tuesday on National Public Radio. "If you can't get flu vaccines to Americans, what kind of health care program are you running?"
(snip)
On a bus tour through western and central Florida -- an area traveled heavily by both campaigns -- Bush kept up his charges, unveiled during the debate, that Kerry is a liberal trying to escape his 20-year Senate record.
He turned his jab during the debates, that Kerry could run from his record but not hide, into a chant. Bush used the phrase "he can run but he cannot hide" five times here alone and four more times in New Port Richey, and Bush crowds have sometimes been coached to join in the chant.It is unclear how potent an issue the loss of half of the nation's supply of flu vaccine will be. The shortage was caused by manufacturing problems at one of two suppliers. Kerry has tried to link the crisis to an overall problem with health care coverage and has charged that Bush ignored warnings that could have prevented the shortage. Bush has tied the chronic vaccine problem to the fear of excessive medical liability lawsuits.
(snip)
Still, Bush was markedly more defensive on domestic matters such as Social Security. Ending his day before thousands of listeners at a retirement village here, Bush said: "Nobody is going to take away the checks of those who are now on Social Security, and baby boomers like me, we're in pretty good shape when it comes to Social Security, but we need to worry about our children and grandchildren."
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44787-2004Oct19.html
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