John Carney had a good week. Perhaps the best of his campaign. He was lauded for his work in brokering a deal between Bluewater Wind and Delmarva. So Jack Markell is trying to get back into the game with universal healthcare:
“[Markell’s] purpose Friday was to persuade voters that Delaware residents should have universal access to quality health care sooner, not later.
He would start such a program immediately if he wins the state’s highest elected office, he said.
…
“Those who want to take incremental steps and who say that we can’t afford to expand coverage to every Delawarean are simply wrong,” Markell said.
Markell’s plan to cover the state’s uninsured residents would cost $111 million a year. John Carney wants universal healthcare too, but his proposals would phase in coverage and would not mandate coverage. See if this sounds familiar:
Carney said the approach to expanding care must be realistic. He believes Markell forces too much too soon.
“Forcing people to pay for health insurance when they can’t afford it is reckless and wrong,” Carney said in the statement. “We all want universal health care coverage, but placing mandates on individuals and businesses when they’re already struggling with a sluggish national economy and $4 a gallon gas prices is the last thing we want to do. My plan makes health care more affordable and expands access as we move to universal health care.”
Even though both candidates endorsed Obama, I always felt Markell was the proxy for Obama and Carney for Clinton in this primary battle. Outsider v. Establishment. Markell was definitely more friendly to the netroots and the grassroots,and his Jack Packs are not unlike Obamaniacs. Yet here, Carney is parroting Obama in this healthcare debate, and Markell is parroting Clinton. I don’t know if it means anything, for Obama was against mandates consistently, when he was ahead and behind, and Clinton was for immediate universal coverage, with mandates, when she was ahead and behind.