Obama Heath Care Interview With Journalist Kathy Wray Coleman
By Kathy Wray Coleman
(National and Cleveland, Ohio Area News)
Posted September 6, 2009
(Originally published in the Call & Post Newspaper, Ohio's Black Press with distributions in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, Oh, where Coleman served in the capacity of a freelance journalist. It is being reprinted below for a closer look since the issues that the president promoted when campaigning in Cleveland last year during the Democratic Primary are now a part of the president's controversial push for universal health care for all Americans)
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama spoke with the Call & Post last Thursday about his health care plan and its impact on the American community, the Black community in particular. Obama said that he would finance the comprehensive plan by rolling back Bush tax cuts on families making $250,000 or more annually and keeping the estate tax at its 2009 level.
The first Black presidential nominee of a major American political party has made the middle class, minorities and poor people a central focus of his health care plan, an unprecedented gesture that reveals the significance of having a person like Obama in a position of power at the national level and as the nation's chief political leader.
Highlights of the Obama-Biden health care plan include requiring insurance companies to insure people with preexisting conditions such as cancer or heart disease, mandating access to coverage for all Americans, diversifying the health care work force and monitoring insurance companies and other health care affiliates relative to potential disparities. Data is explicit in noting that African-Americans are disproportionately affected by cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other serious ailments.
“Generally systems as a whole aren't treating folks with the same degree of care so what we need to do is get that information and start teaching,” Obama told the Call & Post emphasizing the need for mechanisms to monitor disparities in the health care sector.
During the 20- minute interview the presidential hopeful touched on specifics of his health care initiative, which is designed to ultimately provide a cross section of Americans with affordable medical prescriptions and equal access to quality health care, regardless of race, ethnicity gender or socioeconomic status. He did not hesitate in calling for a diversified work force, saying that outreach programs must be increased and enhanced, and that educational institutions at all levels must play a more viable role in efforts to bring more
minorities into the lucrative field of health care.
“With respect to having more doctors and nurses who are African-American, or Hispanic or Native American, the biggest area there has do with helping with medical school which is very expensive,and setting up career tracks as early as elementary and middle school so that young African-Americans and Latinos are getting the kinds of AP courses and science courses that they need in order to be able to enter into medical school,” said Obama.
The interview concluded with almost a somber appeal from Obama to the American public as to the historical significance of this presidential election.
"Just one more reason as to why this is a critical election,” Obama added. “We have been long overdue in creating a health care system that works for all Americans.”
(National and Cleveland, Ohio Area News)
Posted September 6, 2009
(Originally published in the Call & Post Newspaper, Ohio's Black Press with distributions in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, Oh, where Coleman served in the capacity of a freelance journalist. It is being reprinted below for a closer look since the issues that the president promoted when campaigning in Cleveland last year during the Democratic Primary are now a part of the president's controversial push for universal health care for all Americans)
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama spoke with the Call & Post last Thursday about his health care plan and its impact on the American community, the Black community in particular. Obama said that he would finance the comprehensive plan by rolling back Bush tax cuts on families making $250,000 or more annually and keeping the estate tax at its 2009 level.
The first Black presidential nominee of a major American political party has made the middle class, minorities and poor people a central focus of his health care plan, an unprecedented gesture that reveals the significance of having a person like Obama in a position of power at the national level and as the nation's chief political leader.
Highlights of the Obama-Biden health care plan include requiring insurance companies to insure people with preexisting conditions such as cancer or heart disease, mandating access to coverage for all Americans, diversifying the health care work force and monitoring insurance companies and other health care affiliates relative to potential disparities. Data is explicit in noting that African-Americans are disproportionately affected by cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other serious ailments.
“Generally systems as a whole aren't treating folks with the same degree of care so what we need to do is get that information and start teaching,” Obama told the Call & Post emphasizing the need for mechanisms to monitor disparities in the health care sector.
During the 20- minute interview the presidential hopeful touched on specifics of his health care initiative, which is designed to ultimately provide a cross section of Americans with affordable medical prescriptions and equal access to quality health care, regardless of race, ethnicity gender or socioeconomic status. He did not hesitate in calling for a diversified work force, saying that outreach programs must be increased and enhanced, and that educational institutions at all levels must play a more viable role in efforts to bring more
minorities into the lucrative field of health care.
“With respect to having more doctors and nurses who are African-American, or Hispanic or Native American, the biggest area there has do with helping with medical school which is very expensive,and setting up career tracks as early as elementary and middle school so that young African-Americans and Latinos are getting the kinds of AP courses and science courses that they need in order to be able to enter into medical school,” said Obama.
The interview concluded with almost a somber appeal from Obama to the American public as to the historical significance of this presidential election.
"Just one more reason as to why this is a critical election,” Obama added. “We have been long overdue in creating a health care system that works for all Americans.”
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