Other than Dennis Kucinich, what presidential candidate(s) have declared healthcare as a right?

[antigop]

http://www.americanprogressaction.org/events/healthforum/kucinich_transcript.html

>>
If we take that money away from the insurance companies and use it for the American people, well, guess what, we have enough money for vision care, dental care, mental health, prescription drugs and long-term care. I'm going to call on the American people to stand up for their rights. Health care is a right, not a privilege.
>>

Healthcare is a right, not a privilege.

Thank you,Dennis.

[gateley]

1. I'm guessing Gravel shares that -- correct -- belief. nt

[antigop]

2. Link-- I'd like to know -- really. Do you have proof? n/t

[rjones2818]

5. Here's what's on his issues page:

Here's what's on his issues page:

Universal Healthcare Vouchers
Senator Gravel advocates a universal healthcare system that provides equal medical services to all citizens, paid for by a retail sales tax (a portion of the Progressive Fair tax). Citizens would pay nothing for health benefits.

http://www.gravel2008.us/issues.php

[gateley]

7. No - that's why I prefaced it with "I'm guessing". But I'll go look if you're

really interested. I AM pretty sure Gravel feels the same way as Kucinich does, but don't know if he's used that exact phrase.

I'm not attacking Kucinich, by the way, just giving Gravel credit because I think he's the only other candidate running who's for the single payer non profit approach.

I'll see what I can find out -- now you've got me curious.

[eridani]

16. No, Gravel goes for the voucher idiocy n/t

[Cameron27]

3. I don't think any of them do.

I could be wrong so I'll kick for more answers.

[riona]

4. Somebody posted this link on issues - hope it helps on some things

http://www.2decide.com/table.htm

[gateley]

8. Wow -- what a great site! Thanks so much. I wish they had the dems

clumped together, though. This is VERY helpful.

[sandnsea]

6. Kerry did

but he can't run because he told a bad joke.

[AZBlue]

9. K&R

[Desertrose]

10. We are already paying for it yet we got....

NOTHING.

[Dawgs]

11. Obama

"I...believe that every American has the right to affordable health care. I believe that the millions of Americans who can't take their children to a doctor when they get sick have that right...We now face an opportunity - and an obligation - to turn the page on the failed politics of yesterday's health care debates. It's time to bring together businesses, the medical community, and members of both parties around a comprehensive solution to this crisis, and it's time to let the drug and insurance industries know that while they'll get a seat at the table, they don't get to buy every chair."

-Barack Obama, Speech in Iowa City, IA, 5/27/07

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/

[antigop]

12. Thank you for that! Good for Obama! I wish all the candidates would make that declaration, though

I would argue with the "affordable" part. I would like to see it funded so "affordability" doesn't enter into it. I'm not sure what "affordable" means to people inside the beltway.

[GreenArrow]

13. Elizabeth Edwards

apparently thinks it "ought to be a right" but her husband's plan make buying health care mandatory, which seems a funny way of championing a "right". Of course, her opinions are her own and are in no way intended to be taken as representative of her husband's.

http://www.mercurynews.com/politics/ci_7044806?nclick_check=1

(Edited to add link)

[cosmicdot]

14. DK doesn't qualify that right with words such as "affordable"

or "access to" or "affordable health insurance"

He doesn't say, affordable health care is a right.
He states it simply: health care is a right, not a privilege.

[antigop]

15. I agree. See post #12. n/t

[Naturyl]

17. Kucinich alone supports real health care

The others all have schemes to prop up the insurance companies or provide only "affordable" health care. "Affordable" is a term so vague it should set off alarm bells immediately. HMO's all claim to be "affordable," too.

Kucinich is for health care that doesn't require bringing a wallet, checkbook, credit card, or insurance card to the doctor. Period.

[superkia]

18. Its sad that only one candidate feels we should have it as a right.

There is one candidate that wants it for everyone while cutting out the profits of the insurance corporations and he is the only one looked at as unelectable. LOL! You have to laugh at that, Americans say he cant lead but he is the only one that is leading in the fight for non profit health care for us the people. We act like we know what a good leader is and we vote in the best career politicians to look out for us, while ignoring the ones that try to stand up for us. I will vote Dennis Kucinich in the primaries and hope for a miracle because I would love to see my mother be able to have health care when her COBRA option has left the table and we cant afford to get her insurance after that.

[ericgtr]

19. Excellent Post

You couldn't be more right IMO. So far I haven't found a thing about DK that I disagree with, electable or not he's become my number one candidate and will get my vote. I hope more people see the light about him, the politicians are all pandering toward big insurance. Obama has a pretty realistic view also but I would like to see the entire thing overhauled, that's real change but with the exception of Kucinich none of them have the balls to run on that premise.