Gephardt has them fainting in the aisles

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Rep. Richard Gephardt's campaign stump speech contains a healthy dose of criticism for the Bush administration's health-care policies. Usually, he touches on the high cost of prescription drugs.

But on Monday, before about 70 people in Atlantic, Iowa, he paid a backhanded compliment to the pharmaceutical industry's advertising.

"I don't need to see people running through flowers at the top of a mountain because they took Claritin or something," the Missouri congressman said. "I mean, you know, these ads are so good I almost want to buy these drugs."

Hours later, health care gained new importance to Gephardt in Council Bluffs when a supporter fainted briefly. As paramedics helped her to her feet, Gephardt said, "Gee, I hope it wasn't my speech."
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