| Candidate |
Barack Obama |
John McCain |
| Party |
Democrat |
Republican |
| Website |
http://www.barackobama.com |
http://www.johnmccain.com |
| Political Experience |
US Senator
representing Illinois since 2005 |
US Senator representing Arizona
since 1987, US Representative 1983-1987 |
| Disabilities |
In
addition to reclaiming America's global leadership on this issue
by becoming a signatory to -- and having the Senate ratify --
the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
the plan has four parts, designed to provide lifelong supports
and resources to Americans with disabilities. They are as
follows: educational opportunities, end discrimination, increase
employment rate, encourage independent living.
Barack Obama is also committed to ensuring that disabled
Americans receive Medicaid and Medicare benefits in a low-cost,
effective and timely manner. |
none stated |
| Healthcare |
Obama has a plan to cover ALL Americans with quality,
affordable, portable healthcare by the end of his first term.
Eligibility is guaranteed. Coverage will only be
mandatory for children. The national health plan offered
will be similar to the plan Congress uses and will cover all
essential medical services including preventative care,
maternity care and mental health care. Federal subsidies
for those who need help paying premiums. The plan will
lower costs by modernizing the system and changing to electronic
health information systems.
Read More |
John McCain is willing to address
the fundamental problem: the rapidly rising cost of U.S. health
care. Bringing costs under control is the only way to stop the
erosion of affordable health insurance, save Medicare and
Medicaid, protect private health benefits for retirees, and
allow our companies to effectively compete around the world.
McCain will give a tax credit to help with the cost of health
insurance. The plan does not guarantee coverage for those
with pre-existing conditions, instead says that will be up to
the individual states to provide that coverage.
Read More |
| Stem Cell Research |
Barack Obama
believes that we owe it to the American public to explore the
potential of stem cells to treat the millions of people
suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Obama
is a co-sponsor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of
2007, which would allow research of human embryonic stem cells
derived from embryos donated (with consent) from in vitro
fertilization clinics. These embryos must be deemed in excess
and created based solely for the purpose of fertility treatment. |
Stem cell research offers tremendous hope for those suffering
from a variety of deadly diseases - hope for both cures and
life-extending treatments. However, the compassion to relieve
suffering and to cure deadly disease cannot erode moral and
ethical principles.
For this reason, John McCain opposes the intentional creation of
human embryos for research purposes. To that end, Senator McCain
voted to ban the practice of "fetal farming," making it a
federal crime for researchers to use cells or fetal tissue from
an embryo created for research purposes. Furthermore, he voted
to ban attempts to use or obtain human cells gestated in
animals. As president, John McCain will strongly support funding
for promising research programs, including amniotic fluid and
adult stem cell research and other types of scientific study
that do not involve the use of human embryos. Where federal
funds are used for stem cell research, Senator McCain believes
clear lines should be drawn that reflect a refusal to sacrifice
moral values and ethical principles for the sake of scientific
progress, and that any such research should be subject to strict
federal guidelines. |
| Drug Prices |
Obama's drug price
plan focuses primarily on seniors. He proposes allowing Medicare
to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices, importing
cheaper drugs from other industrialized nations, and increasing
the use and availability of generics. He also wants to close the
coverage gap (the "doughnut hole") in the Medicare Part D drug
plan. |
McCain supports allowing the
federal government to negotiate with drug companies for Medicare
drug prices. He also supports allowing Americans to legally
purchase medicines from Canada and other industrialized nations
where prescriptions can often be half the price. He also
supports making generic drugs widely available. |
| Medical Research |
As a result of
biomedical research the prevention, early detection and
treatment of diseases such as cancer and heart disease is better
today than any other time in history. Barack Obama has
consistently supported funding for the national institutes of
health and the national science foundation. Obama strongly
supports investments in biomedical research, as well as medical
education and training in health-related fields, because it
provides the foundation for new therapies and diagnostics. Obama
has been a champion of research in cancer, mental health, health
disparities, global health, women and children's health, and
veterans' health. As president, Obama will strengthen funding
for biomedical research, and better improve the efficiency of
that research by improving coordination both within government
and across government/private/non-profit partnerships. An Obama
administration will ensure that we translate scientific progress
into improved approaches to disease prevention, early detection
and therapy that is available for all Americans. |
"We should dedicate more federal research to caring and curing
chronic disease." |
| Prevention |
Obama advocates
managing chronic illnesses with public and private partnerships,
grants to organizations promoting healthy lifestyles, improved
school menus and expanded workplace wellness programs. He would
require all providers participating in his new public coverage
plan to provide chronic disease management programs. |
McCain recommends teaching
children about nutrition and fitness, encouraging individuals to
prevent chronic illness and deterring smoking. But he doesn't
detail how he will pay for the measures or whether they will be
public or private initiatives. |
| Medical Technology |
He'll spend $10
billion over five years to create a "standards-based" electronic
information system. After that time, all providers will be
required to use electronic records and Obama will use federal
funds to help make it happen. He will ensure that privacy is
protected, as most candidates claim. |
McCain supports deployment of
health information technology, but he has not issued specific
plans related to the issue. |
| Women's Health |
Heart disease is the
leading cause of death among women, accounting for nearly 39
percent of all female deaths. Studies show that after a first
heart attack, women are less likely than men to receive
diagnostic, therapeutic, and cardiac rehabilitation procedures,
and are more likely to die or have a second heart attack Women
are also more likely than men to report having arthritis,
asthma, autoimmune diseases, and depression. Health care
disparities among minority and poor women are especially
pervasive. Barack Obama has fought to maintain funding for the
Centers of Excellence in Women's Health at the Department of
Health and Human Services. He also supports legislation to
encourage research that will examine gender and health
disparities. The same legislation would establish community
outreach programs in underserved areas to help women access
health care and maintain healthy lifestyles. |
none stated |
| Medicaid & Medicare |
Obama will expand
eligibility for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs and ensure that
these programs continue to serve their critical safety net
function. |
"We must reform the payment systems in Medicaid and Medicare to
compensate providers for diagnosis, prevention and care
coordination. Medicaid and Medicare should not pay for
preventable medical errors or mismanagement." |
| Social Security |
Americans are
increasingly at risk of working their entire lives only to face
retirement in poverty. Barack Obama believes we need to preserve
the character of Social Security by stopping any efforts to
privatize social security. Obama also will work in a bipartisan
way to maintain Social Security’s solvency for future
generations. |
He
will fight to save the future of Social Security while meeting
our obligations to the retirees of today and the future without
raising taxes. John McCain supports supplementing the current
Social Security system with personal accounts – but not as a
substitute for addressing benefit promises that cannot be kept.
He will reach across the aisle, but if the Democrats do not act,
he will. John McCain will not leave office without fixing the
problems that threatens our future prosperity. |
| Co-Sponsor Lupus REACH
Amendments |
no
 Biden
was the first presidential candidate to co-sponsor this
legislation. |
no |
| Record on these Issues |
Health Insurance: In 2003,
Barack Obama sponsored and passed
legislation that expanded health care
coverage to 70,000 kids and 84,000 adults.
In the U.S. Senate, Obama cosponsored the
Healthy Kids Act of 2007 and the State
Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
Reauthorization Act of 2007 to ensure that
more American children have affordable
health care coverage.
Women's Health: Obama
worked to pass a number of laws in Illinois
and Washington to improve the health of
women. His accomplishments include creating
a task force on cervical cancer, providing
greater access to breast and cervical cancer
screenings, and helping improve prenatal and
premature birth services.
|
Has
a record of promoting prescription drug coverage for elderly and
expanded insurance for children but not universal coverage. |
| Endorsed by Cure4Lupus.org |
On 6/4/2008
Cure4Lupus.org endorsed Barack Obama based on his health care
plan, his support of ethical stem cell research and his
dedication to all health issues. |
not endorsed by Cure4Lupus.org
due to his position on healthcare, stem cell research and social
security. |
