Obama unveils his “universal” health care plan

Barack Obama has become the second candidate to outline a specific health care plan, behind fellow Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards. The Obama plan aims to provide subsidies to Americans who cannot afford insurance on their own, with the subsidy amount dependent on income. While Obama’s plan is to make health care affordable for all Americans, whether or not it is “universal” is still in question. Merely making health care affordable is no guarantee that everyone will buy it, even with a subsidy. In contrast, the Edwards plan makes health insurance a requirement, much like auto insurance is a requirement drivers. At the moment the Obama proposal does not go that far but he has pledged to reevaluate in a year or two and revise the plan if some Americans are still without coverage. According to the article,

Obama’s first promise as a presidential candidate was that he would sign a universal health care plan into law by the end of his firm term in the White House.

-Ben

Republicans vs Democrats

Once again a division has been set between the Republicans and Democrats. While Clinton and Obama team up, John McCain and Mitt Romney join hands to fight against the Democrats.

-Young

Obama’s Memorial Day statements

Barack Obama would like everyone to know that Memorial Day is not a day for politics.

That being said, he laid a wreath at a war monument in Littleton, N.H. (photo op?) and made various statements about the war in Iraq and supporting the troops.

Article from The Guardian is here.

– Blythe

Obama’s wife quits Wal-Mart supplier

Michelle Obama, wife of Barack Obama, steps down as director of TreeHouse foods, in order to stop doing business with Walmart and possible damage to her husband’s campaign.

-Sean A

“Mrs. Obama sees campaign role as wife”

This is an article about Michelle Obama, wife of Barack Obama,  and her role as a wife during the 2008 presidential campaign.

-Young

Netizens

While Barack Obama’s MySpace mess has been covered previously, this article talks a little more about the new technology-empowered political activist.

-Posted by ???

Edwards, Giuliani report multimillion-dollar incomes for 2006

This article was written by Dan Morain for the Los Angeles Times.

Three top contenders for president — including Romney, the richest — have yet to submit financial disclosure statements. The Obamas made nearly $1 million…Republican presidential candidate Rudolph W. Giuliani earned $16 million last year — including $11.4 million in speaking fees — and Democratic contender John Edwards’ income topped $7 million, the candidates’ financial disclosure statements released Wednesday show.

-Katie

Clinton, Obama to Back Vote to Cut Off Funding for Troops in Iraq

An article from the Washington Post stated that,

Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) announced yesterday that they will support a symbolic vote to cut off funding for combat troops in Iraq within a year, an important shift for both Democratic presidential candidates as the war debate on Capitol Hill intensifies.

-Ashley

It’s always about Hillary and Obama

Senate’s Iraq vote likely to test Clinton, Obama. Read the AP story.
-Colleen

Michelle Obama expresses her doubts about political life

USA Today’s slightly dour profile of Michelle Obama can be found here. She’s painted as a fairly outspoken woman who warns that her husband is not “the next messiah, who’s going to fix it all.”

She’s also fairly candid about her lack of political aspirations and the fact that his campaigning has put a strain on their marriage in the past.

– Blythe