Bush ad criticizes Kerry's health ideas

updated 10:22 a.m. ET Sept. 14, 2004

President Bush criticizes the “liberals in Congress” and Democratic Sen. John Kerry, arguing that they want “a government-run” health care plan in a new television ad the campaign rolled out Monday.

“Big government in charge. Not you. Not your doctor,” the Bush-Cheney campaign claims in the commercial set to air in 17 battleground states beginning Tuesday.

While Bush leads his Democratic rival in polls on the issue of national security, the Republican incumbent has trailed Kerry on domestic issues, including health care. The release of the latest commercial came on the same day Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney criticized Kerry on health care in separate campaign appearances in Michigan and Iowa.

'A practical plan'
“President Bush and our leaders in Congress have a practical plan: Allow small businesses to join together to get lower insurance rates big companies get. Stop frivolous lawsuits against doctors. Health coverage you can take with you,” the ad says.

Then, it continues: “The liberals in Congress and Kerry’s plan: Washington bureaucrats in control. A government-run health care plan. 1.5 trillion dollar price tag.”

The Kerry campaign dismissed the Republican’s criticism, with spokesman Chad Clanton saying, “George W. Bush doesn’t have a dime’s worth of credibility on health care. He’s chosen to help his insurance company friends instead of cutting health care costs for ordinary Americans. As a result, health care costs have increased 64 percent and 5 million more people have lost their health insurance.”

The Bush ad also reminds voters that Republicans control not only the White House but also Congress. In that sense, it sends a message not only to re-elect Bush but to ensure that the GOP maintains majority control of the House and Senate.