Gephardt Ad Quotes Dean Out of Context via Factcheck.org

[Clark4Prez]

http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docID=128

Text of Gephardt Ad:

“Know”

How much do you really know about Howard Dean? Did you know Howard Dean called Medicare ‘one of the worst federal programs ever?’ Did you know he supported the Republican plan to cut Medicare by $270 billion? And did you know Howard Dean supported cutting Social Security retirement benefits to balance the budget?

Gephardt: I will be a president who will fight to protect Medicare and Social Security. I’m Dick Gephardt. That’s why I approved this message.


FactCheck's response:

Here’s the problem: the ad doesn’t give the full Dean quote. What Dean really said makes clear he was attacking the Medicare bureaucracy and red tape, not the benefits paid to seniors.

The full quote from a 1993 San Francisco Chronicle story:

"I think it's one of the worst federal programs ever and is a living advertisement for why the federal government should never administer a national health care program."

To be sure, Dean could have avoided the problem had he been more careful in his phrasing. For example, had he said "the administration of Medicare makes it the worst," then Gephardt could not so easily attack. But a full reading of Dean's comments makes his meaning clear.

<snip> The site also offers a quote from The Today Show:

"It is a bureaucratic disaster, and I don't make any apologies for that. I--when my father passed away two years ago, I couldn't figure out what was in his--in his bill. And many other Americans face the same problem. Small town doctors, which I was before I got into politics, are harassed by the folks who run Medicare and Medicaid. That doesn't mean it's--the program is a bad program. It's a terrific program for seniors . . . . It's not very well run. And one of the things I promise is that somebody who's actually taking care of patients is going to run Medicare and Medicaid should I become president of the United States."

A more complete rebuttal is found at the link above.

[Cuban_Liberal]

1. Gephardt has run the most negative campaign, period.

He has the most to lose in Iowa, and he's throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Kerry and Dean, hoping it will 'save' his campaign.

[Clark4Prez]

2. Gep is the only candidate to have anti-Dean site linked on his main page

It is www.deanfacts.com

I couldn't find any other major candidate who did the same as Gep.