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Giving Hillary Credit for SCHIP
So, we've reviewed the Globe story, and the record. The newspaper account quotes a political foe, Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, as saying she doesn't deserve credit for the legislation. Hatch cosponsored the legislation and has endorsed the GOP's presumptive nominee, John McCain. The newspaper also said that "privately, some lawmakers and staff members are fuming" over Clinton's claim but didn't name any of them. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who cosponsored the 1997 legislation that eventually led to the creation of SCHIP, was asked whether Clinton was exaggerating her role. The Globe said he wouldn't criticize Clinton "directly" but said: "Facts are stubborn things ... I think we ought to stay with the facts."
What the Record Shows
Kennedy, of course, is now backing Clinton's rival, Barack Obama, for the nomination. But last year, before that endorsement, he was quoted by the Associated Press as saying something quite different, which the Globe did not note in its story:
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Oct. 6, 2007: The children's health program wouldn't be in existence today if we didn't have Hillary pushing for it from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.
In that same story, The AP's Beth Fouhy concluded, "While Kennedy is widely viewed as the driving force behind the program, by all accounts the former first lady's pressure was crucial." She quoted Nick Littlefield, who had been a senior health adviser to Kennedy, as saying, "we relied on her, worked with her and she was pivotal in encouraging the White House to do it."
The AP's assessment is backed up by others we consulted. Adam Clymer, former chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, covered the legislative maneuvering and also wrote about it in a 1999 book, "Edward M. Kennedy: A Biography." Clymer wrote that Kennedy "worked with" Hillary Clinton to get White House support for a Senate measure to grant $24 billion for the new program, rather than the $16 billion approved by the House. "With strong administration support, the $24 billion stayed in," he wrote. Then, when the bill finally passed, Kennedy "credited the President, the First Lady, [Senate Democratic Leader Tom] Daschle, Marian Wright Edelman, head of the Children's Defense Fun, and Hatch. ..."
Clymer, in an exchange of e-mails, told FactCheck.org:
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Member Comments
Posted By: nana01 @ 04/17/2008 12:02:38 PM
Comment: I think Hillary Clinton has done a wonderful job getting insurance for these children because we are sending aid to other countries when we need help right here in our own country America. Lets help America first before we start handing money to other countries. We also need to provide insurance to Adults here in America that work and have no insurance and can't afford to go to the doctor because of the expense is so high and the medications are so expenses and when they only make $7.00 hr. you can't afford it. I have a sister in Indiana who is severly ill right now and can't go to the doctor and the free clinic won't help her because the told her she makes $11.00 to much on the year. Now I think that is a down right shame for our country to treat our people like that, When I know that you people in the higher government don't care because you make big money and you have insurance and you could care less what happens to our people and whether they get care for or not. But you sure do make sure money get sent to Africa and Iraq etc. Look at our people here that is living in pure hell holes and are starving to death and you know one is out there helping them. I give Hillary credit. Credit needs to be given where Credit is Due. Now lets See about doing something about giving some insurance for the Adults who are at least trying to help themselves and even if they don't have any money . There are alot of people out there in America that our loosing their jobs daily. We need to help our economy Now and Stop helping others at this time. Lets get our country back in shape first.
C. Owens
Riverview, FL
Posted By: Boogie22 @ 04/04/2008 2:16:35 PM
Comment: In response to Iceman52. Obama won Texas and IL.
Posted By: SCLucie @ 04/03/2008 12:24:28 AM
Comment: RussElba: I thought I was the only one in the country who would say Brooks Jackson was full of baloney or question the source. If Fackcheck.org is an independent, unbiased resource, why in the world are they printing this in Newsweek? Someone needs to be fact-checking FactCheck.org. Hillary Clinton did not bring health care to millions of American children. I really believe that she wished that she had - but she didn't. And I think it says a lot that everyone else involved with the SCHIPS program has had the generosity to give credit to anyone involved - except Hillary Clinton - who mentions no one except herself.