Iraq Issue Sparks Hottest Exchanges Yet Between Hil & Rudy
BY JOHN TOSCANO

Clinton

The major eruption last week between Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton was not over their opposite views on the Iraq War, but about the leading Republican candidate's charge that she questioned the honesty of General David Petraeus when he stated his position on the controversial war.

Hardly a week later, Clinton, who still enjoys a comfortable lead over Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, her closest pursuer in the Democratic presidential field, was again stealing the headlines with her coverage-for-all health insurance plan.

Meanwhile, despite a lethargic start by Fred Thompson following his late entry into the GOP candidate mix, the lanky Tennessean made an excellent showing in the first major poll after becoming an official candidate.

The NBC/Wall Street Journal survey released last Wednesday, showed Thompson narrowing Giuliani's lead by 32-26 percent, representing a 6 percent gain by Thompson from the poll taken six weeks before.

By contrast, Clinton made a much better showing in the same poll, leading Obama by 44 to 23 percent and maintaining the same 21 percent lead over her Senate colleague.

Giuliani

The Clinton health plan's main thrust was providing coverage for 47 million presently uninsured Americans without disrupting the coverage for those under 65 years old already in the nation's healthcare system.

Politically, the plan would appear to be favorably received by the targeted group- the middle class. The plan would mandate everyone to acquire insurance, either by creating options for individuals to purchase policies at affordable rates, or through coverage offered by an employer who would receive tax credits to offset the cost or pay into a coverage pool. It is estimated to cost $110 billion a year, but this would be covered mainly by rolling back President George W. Bush's tax cuts for those earning over $250,000 a year.

Clinton explained: "This is not government run. There will be no new bureaucracy. You can keep the doctors you know and trust. You keep the insurance you have, if you like that. But this plan expands personal choice and keeps costs down."

Reaction from her rivals was negative, as expected. Briefly, Obama called the plan "a weak copycat", saying it was similar to a plan he had already released. Senator John Edwards said Clinton had learned from her initial healthcare experience 15 years ago, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

Giuliani stated, "Government command and control only increases costs and decreases quality." And Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney offered, "The last thing we need is 'Hillary Care'."

Giuliani's response to Clinton's new healthcare plan was far more muted than his reaction to her saying Petraeus' pro- Bush assessment of the Iraq situation required "the willing suspension of disbelief".

Giuliani shot back that Clinton was spouting "political venom" on Iraq and disrespecting a U.S. military leader by intimating Petraeus "isn't telling the truth".

But their tiff was only a prelude to what followed when Move On, the radical antiwar group ran a full-page advertisement in the New York Times which, Giuliani charged, engaged in character assassination against Petraeus.

Giuliani also criticized the Times for giving Move On a discounted rate and ran a full-size ad as a response to the anti-war group that included a slap at Clinton, too.

Senator John McCain also criticized Clinton, saying she wasn't "tough enough to be president" because she didn't repudiate Move On's ad.

Move On followed up with another ad on the Internet which attacked Giuliani for quitting the Iraq Study Group in 2006 and missing a chance to do something about the war.

The high decibel, vitriolic exchange between the two leading contenders for their parties' nominations will probably advance the prospect of both facing each other in all-New York battle for the presidency.