General Wesley K. Clark Endorses U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health, and Iraq Accountability Act March 14, 2007
Posted by jenmarie in health care, military, national security, national service, veterans.comments closed
General Wesley K. Clark Endorses U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health, and Iraq Accountability Act
Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 5:25 PM
Washington, D.C. – Retired General and Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley K. Clark today endorsed the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health, and Iraq Accountability Act and issued the following statement:
“House Democrats have offered a responsible approach that protects our Armed Forces, the troops and their families, and encourages both the Iraqis and the Bush Administration to work more effectively to salvage some success in ending what has been a tragically mistaken and failing mission. This conflict must be resolved politically – military efforts alone are insufficient – and this legislation strongly promotes that political solution. This legislation is the product of the kind of responsible legislative leadership that the American people voted for in 2006, and I wholeheartedly support this bill.”
Wes Clark Wants Single Payer Health Care January 31, 2006
Posted by faithinwes in health care.comments closed
This section of Clark’s “Real State of the Union” speech yesterday is catching the attention of bloggers today. Nice, because his domestic policy ideas generally get short shrift everywhere and maybe people will start listening up.
In health care, we need to take better advantage of modern technology to practice evidence-based medicine, in which treatments and practices are based on statistically proven results – not commercial advertising – and doctors and hospitals are held accountable for their performance, not just by the threat of malpractice but by the day-to-day quality of their results. We need to harness the innovation of our biotech, pharmaceutical, and health insurance industries better to serve the public good, not just the private gain of shareholders. No child in America should grow up without regular medical check-ups and care – or regular exercise and physical fitness – and every adult should be provided access to the kinds of diagnostic testing and preventive treatments which can slow the onset of aging diseases like diabetes, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer’s. Additional insurance coverage should be directed to catastrophic illness and injuries, the kind that wreck families and shatter productive lives. And inevitably this will mean transitioning over time from a work place centered, private payer system toward greater reliance on some form of single-payer system to ease administrative burdens and reduce costs.
Partial birth ban ok if exceptions made for woman’s health January 23, 2004
Posted by faithinwes in civil liberties, health care.comments closed
Clark said he supports a woman’s right to an abortion within the confines of a Supreme Court ruling that allows states to impose limited restrictions on when the procedure can occur. Clark’s remarks appeared to refine those he made earlier this month, when he suggested that there should be no time limit imposed on a woman seeking an abortion. In his latest statement, Clark repeated that he supported “Roe v. Wade as modified by Casey,” a reference to a 1992 ruling that allows states to impose limited restrictions. Asked when Roe v. Wade stipulates that life begins, Clark said: “I’m not going to get into a debate on viability. Viability is a standard determined by a doctor, and I’m not going to get into a specific time frame.” Clark also said he would support legislation banning partial birth abortions as long as an exception is included based on the health of the woman. Earlier this month, Clark suggested that no time limit should be placed on a woman’s right to an abortion.
Source: Paul Schwartzman, Washington Post, Page A10 Jan 23, 2004
Abortion: An issue of human rights, not of Catholic doctrine January 22, 2004
Posted by faithinwes in civil liberties, faith and spirit, health care.comments closed
Q: As a Catholic, can you clarify your pro-choice position on abortion and describe how you reconcile that with Catholic doctrine?
CLARK: I reconcile it with my own beliefs. And I do believe in the right of conscience. And I support a woman’s right to choose protected by law. I fought for human rights in Bosnia. I fought for human rights in Kosovo. And I will fight for human rights in America. And no one is going to take away a woman’s right to choose when I’m president of the United States. It’s that simple.
Q: Can you clarify how you reconcile that with Catholic doctrine?
CLARK: I understand what the Catholic doctrine is. But I have freedom of conscience. I believe that the right to choose is a right that should be protected by law. I believe the decision about issues like this are the issues that have to be worked between a woman and her family, her god, her doctor. And as much as I respect the opinion of the Catholic Church, in this case, I don’t support it. It’s that simple.
Source: Democratic 2004 Primary Debate at St. Anselm College Jan 22, 2004
Let a woman and her doctors decide about reproductive health November 25, 2003
Posted by faithinwes in 2004 platform, civil liberties, health care.comments closed
On reproductive freedom: Every woman deserves complete information about and access to birth control so that families can be planned and so that every child is a wanted child. I will oppose measures that interfere with the ability of a woman and her doctors to make choices about her reproductive health.
Source: Campaign website, Clark04.com, “An Agenda for Women” Nov 25, 2003
