CLINTON AD ASSERTION #1

Hillary’s Ad Asserts She Will Fix Health Care Problems:

Clinton: "You know, if you’re a family that is struggling, and you don’t have health care well you are invisible to this President." (Hillary Clinton For President Exploratory Committee, "Clinton Campaign To Begin First Television Ad In Iowa," Press Release, 8/13/07)

Health Care Reform Called The Biggest Policy Failure In Clinton’s Presidency:

"The Biggest Policy Failure Of Bill Clinton’s Presidency, His Health Care Reform Plan, Has Been Blamed In Large Part On Hillary Clinton, Who Headed The Task Force That Drafted The Proposal." ("Behind The Scenes, First Ladies Are First Advisers," USA Today, 6/14/04)

"Mrs. Clinton Attributed The Failure Of Her Plan To Its Complexity And A Long History Of Difficulty In Passing Health Care Reform." (Ron Fournier, "First Lady Concedes Only Modest Health Care Changes Possible," The Associated Press, 11/29/94)

* The First Lady’s Health Care Task Force Had "A Mandate To Produce A Plan For Universal Coverage." (Helen Thomas, "Clinton Puts Wife In Charge Of Health Care Package," United Press International, 1/25/93)

Des Moines Register: "The Shadow Of Hillary Clinton’s 1,342-Page Plan To Reform Health Care Still Looms." (Editorial, "Health Care: Let Change Begin," The Des Moines Register, 8/10/03)

Former Clinton Policy Advisor And DLC Founder Al From: "It Is Impossible To Underestimate The Amount Of Damage The Health-Care Bill Did In Shaping The Image Of President Clinton As A Big Government Proponent." (Al From, Press Conference, Washington, DC, 11/17/94; Democrat Leadership Council Website, http://www.ndol.org <http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=86&subid=191&contentid=1131> , Accessed 2/15/07)

* "DLC Leaders Flatly Rejected The Government-Run Plan Crafted By First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Saying It Was An Old Liberal Proposal That Could Not Pass." (Donald Lambro, "Clinton Put On Notice By DLC," The Washington Times, 11/20/94)

Hillary Has Once Again Vowed To Create National Health Care System:

Clinton: "We’re Going To Have Universal Health Care Coverage." "’I have some goals. One of them is we’re going to have universal health care coverage,’ the New York senator said, prompting loud cheers from the capacity crowd on the Dubuque campus. Clinton’s tone about health insurance for all Americans was more aggressive than five weeks ago …" (Thomas Beaumont, "Clinton Urges Health Care For All," Des Moines Register, 3/5/07)

"Democratic Presidential Hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton Vowed … To Create A Universal Health Care System If Elected, Saying She ‘Learned A Lot’ During The Failed Health Care Effort Of Her Husband’s Presidency." (Mike Glover, "Clinton Promises Universal Health If Elected," The Associated Press, 3/26/07)

Clinton Has Outlined A Health Care Plan "Which Borrows Heavily" From The Failed Universal Health Care Proposal She Led During Her Husbands Administration. "Like Obama, Clinton hasn’t yet unveiled a new policy on health care. But she outlined her plan, which borrows heavily from her earlier efforts, that would include a hybrid of direct, opt-in government assistance akin to Medicare; incentives for preventive care; and a $200-million electronic medical records system. She didn’t shy away from supporting mandates that employers offer insurance, which galvanized opposition to her original plan in the 1990s. ‘And people are going to have to take better care of themselves,’ she added. ‘We cannot afford all the illness that folks are bringing on themselves. … We need to start working on that, myself included.’" (Glenn Thrush, "Hillary Tries To Reclaim Universal Health Care," Newsday, 3/24/07)

And Hillary Has Refused To Say She Would Not Raise Taxes To Pay For Health Care Agenda:

But Clinton Refused To Say She Would Not Raise Taxes. ABC’s Robin Roberts: "Universal health care, Senator Edwards has said he’ll have to raise taxes. He says anybody who said they can get to universal health care and not raise taxes is not telling the full truth. Would you raise taxes to get there?" Clinton: "I’m not prepared to say …" (Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, ABC’s "Good Morning America," 3/26/07)

"Mrs. Clinton And Mr. Obama Have Neither Committed To Nor Ruled Out Raising Taxes." (Russell Berman, "Key Difference Emerges Between Health Proposals of Clinton, Obama," New York Sun, 3/27/07)

Earlier Hillary Health Care Proposals Included Tax Increase Option:

"Clinton, A Democratic Presidential Candidate, Said [Her Proposed Children’s Health First Act] Is ‘A Step Toward Universal Coverage For Everyone.’ As First Lady In The Early 1990s, She Led A Push For Universal Health Coverage." (Bob Dart, "Clinton, Dingell Offer Kids’ Health Care Bill," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/15/07)

CLINTON AD ASSERTION #2

Hillary’s Ad Asserts She Will Solve Child Care Issues:

Clinton: "If you’re a single mom trying to find affordable child care so you can go to work, well you’re invisible too." (Hillary Clinton For President Exploratory Committee, "Clinton Campaign To Begin First Television Ad In Iowa," Press Release, 8/13/07)

But In The Senate, Hillary Voted Against Tax Cuts That Benefit Children And Families:

Clinton Voted Against The Child Tax Credit. (H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #86: Adopted 65-35: R 50-0; D 15-35, 4/6/01, Clinton Voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #98: Adopted 53-47: R 48-2; D 5-45, 5/10/01, Clinton Voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #165: Passed 62-38: R 50-0; D 12-38, 5/23/01, Clinton Voted Nay; S. Con. Res. 23, CQ Vote #108: Adopted 56-44: R 50-1; D 6-42; I 0-1, 3/26/03, Clinton Voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 95, CQ Vote #134: Adopted 51-50: R 49-2; D 1-47; I 0-1, With Vice President Cheney Casting A "Yea" Vote, 4/11/03, Clinton Voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #179: Passed 51-49: R 48-3; D 3-45; I 0-1, 5/15/03, Clinton Voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #196: Adopted 50-50: R 48-3; D 2-46; I 0-1, With Vice P resident Cheney Casting A "Yea" Vote, 5/23/03, Clinton Voted Nay)

Clinton Voted Against The 2001 And 2003 Tax Relief For Which Increased The Child Tax Credit For 290,000 Iowans. (H.R. 2, CQ Vote #196: Adopted: 50-50: R 48-3; D 2-46; I 0-1, With Vice President Cheney Casting A "Yea" Vote, 5/23/03, Clinton Voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #179: Passed 51-49: R 48-3; D 3-45; I 0-1, 5/15/03, Clinton Voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #170: Adopted 58-33: R 46-2; D 12-31, 5/26/01, Clinton Voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #165: Passed 62-38: R 50-0; D 12-38, 5/23/01, Clinton Voted Nay; United States Department Of The Treasury, Office Of Tax Policy, "Tax Relief Kit," 3/20/07)

CLINTON AD ASSERTION #3

Hillary’s Ad Asserts She Will Work For Soldiers:

Clinton: "And I never thought I would see that our soldiers who serve in Iraq and Afghanistan would be treated as though they were invisible as well." (Hillary Clinton For President Exploratory Committee, "Clinton Campaign To Begin First Television Ad In Iowa," Press Release, 8/13/07)

But Hillary Bowed To Pressure From Left And Voted Against Troop Funding:

Clinton Voted Against Providing Funds For The Troops Contained In The Iraq Supplemental Spending Bill. (H.R. 2206, CQ Vote #181: Passed 80-14: R 42-3; D 37-10; I 1-1, 5/24/07, Obama and Clinton Voted Nay)

* "Courting The Anti-War Constituency, Democratic Presidential Rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton And Barack Obama Both Voted Against Legislation That Pays For The Iraq War But Lacks A Timeline For Troop Withdrawal." (Liz Sidoti, "Clinton, Obama Vote ‘No’ On Iraq Bill," The Associated Press, 5/25/07)

MoveOn.org Threatened Democrats Who Did Not Vote Against The War Funding Bill: "MoveOn.org, a leading antiwar group, rallied its 3.2 million members in an e-mail alert … that declared that ‘every single Democrat must oppose this bill.’ The group warned that it would consider backing primary challengers to Democrats who vote yes. Other organizations issued similar angry threats." (Shailagh Murray, "Antiwar Groups Press Democrats To Vote Against Iraq Bill," The Washington Post, 5/24/07)

* The Democrat Candidates Are Trying To "Outmaneuver" Each Other For Left-Wing Endorsements. "[C]linton and Obama as well as former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina have sought for months to outmaneuver one another in showcasing opposition to the war in hopes of gaining the support of groups such as MoveOn.org ." (David Espo, "Senate’s Iraq Vote Likely To Test Clinton, Obama," The Associated Press, 5/15/07)

Clinton Feels Need For "Flamboyant Anti-Warism" To "Match" Obama And Edwards. "Hillary Clinton apparently felt the need for these swiftly escalating efforts at flamboyant anti-warism to match the ‘bring the troops home within months’ proposals of her two strongest challengers: former Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Obama." (Tony Blankley, Op-Ed, "Hillary Lurches Leftward," The Washington Times, 2/7/07)

But Earlier Clinton Said "Of Course" She Would Support Funding For The Troops. "Clinton said she ‘of course’ eventually will support a measure paying for the troops …" (Mike Glover, "Clinton Won’t Set Early Fund Restriction," The Associated Press, 5/7/07)

* "[Clinton] Declined To Say What Restrictions Should Be Included In New Stopgap Legislation To Pay For The Troops, But Made Clear She Supports Providing The Money Needed." (Mike Glover, "Clinton Won’t Set Early Fund Restriction," The Associated Press, 5/7/07)

CLINTON AD ASSERTION #4

Hillary’s Ad Asserts She Will Represent The Middle Class:

Clinton: "Americans from all walks of life across our country may be invisible to this President, but they’re not invisible to me and they won’t be invisible to the next President of the United States." (Hillary Clinton For President Exploratory Committee, "Clinton Campaign To Begin First Television Ad In Iowa," Press Release, 8/13/07)

But In The Senate, Hillary Voted Against Tax Relief For Middle Class Families And Small Businesses:

Clinton Voted Against The Historic 2001 And 2003 Tax Relief For Working Families. (H.R. 2, CQ Vote #196: Adopted: 50-50: R 48-3; D 2-46; I 0-1, With Vice President Cheney Casting A ‘Yea’ Vote, 5/23/03, Clinton Voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #179: Passed 51-49: R 48-3; D 3-45; I 0-1, 5/15/03, Clinton Voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #170: Adopted 58-33: R 46-2; D 12-31, 5/26/01, Clinton Voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #165: Passed 62-38: R 50-0; D 12-38, 5/23/01, Clinton Voted Nay)

* Just Last Month Clinton Voted In Favor A Budget That Included The Largest Tax Increase In U.S. History. (S.Con.Res.21, CQ Vote #172: Adopted 52-40: R 2 - 40; D 48 - 0; I 2 - 0, 5/17/07, Clinton Voted Yea)

Clinton Voted Against Marriage Penalty Relief. (H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #79: Adopted 50-50: R 49-1; D 1-49, With Vice President Cheney Casting A "Yea" Vote, 4/5/01, Clinton Voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #165: Passed 62-38: R 50-0; D 12-38, 5/23/01, Clinton Voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #170: Adopted 58-33: R 46-2; D 12-31, 5/26/01, Clinton Voted Nay)

Clinton Voted Against Repealing The 1993 Tax Increase On Social Security. (S. Con. Res. 18, CQ Vote #74: Adopted 55-45: R 50-5; D 5-39; I 0-1, 3/17/05, Clinton Voted Nay; S. Con. Res. 23, CQ Vote #94: Rejected 48-51: R 48-3; D 0-47; I 0-1, 3/25/03, Clinton Voted Nay)

Clinton Voted Against Repeal Of The Death Tax. (H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #134: Motion Rejected 30-69: R 0-49; D 30-20, 5/22/01, Clinton Voted Yea; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #158: Rejected 42-57: R 2-48; D 40-9, 5/22/01, Clinton Voted Yea; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #165: Passed 62-38: R 50-0; D 12-38, 5/23/01, Clinton Voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #170: Adopted 58-33: R 46-2; D 12-31, 5/26/01, Clinton Voted Nay)

* If Not Repealed, Small Businesses And Other Estates Would Be Subject To A Maximum 55% Death Tax Beginning In 2011. "Under current law (pl 107-16), the estate tax is being phased out and will disappear in 2010. But it would revert to pre-2001 levels in 2011 without congressional action, with a maximum levy of 55 percent." (Rachel Van Dongen, "Estate Tax Package Generates Conservatives’ Support — With A Few Caveats," CQ Today, 6/22/06)

* And The National Federation Of Independent Business Supports Death Tax Repeal. "The federal death tax, or ‘estate tax,’ affects all Americans, especially small-business owners. … Until the death tax is permanently repealed, it will continue to kill small businesses." (National Federation Of Independent Business Website, http://www.nfib.com <http://www.nfib.com/page/deathTaxRepeal.html> , Accessed 8/31/06)

Hillary Even Voted Against Extending Billions In Tax Cuts:

Clinton Opposed Making The Tax Cut Permanent And Voted Against Extending Billions In Tax Cuts. "All of them, [Kerry, Daschle and Lieberman] along with Clinton, said they oppose making the Bush tax cut permanent but, although they said it was a mistake, they declined to call for repeal of the president’s tax cut." (Deborah Orin, "Life-Of-The-Party Hill A Thrill For Fellow Dems," The New York Post, 7/30/02; HR 4297, CQ Vote #118: Adopted 54-44: R 51-3; D 3-40; I 0-1, 5/11/06; Clinton Voted Nay)

If The Tax Cuts Are Not Made Permanent, A Family Of Four Making $50,000 Today Will Experience A Tax Increase Of $2,092 - A Tax Bill 132% Higher Than What They Pay Now. "Without permanent tax relief, millions of Americans will see their taxes go up by billions of dollars in 2011. A Family of Four with Two Children…$50k annual income today ($56,300 in 2011) = $2,092 increase (from $1,583 to $3,675 tax bill) = 132% higher tax bill; or $60k annual income today ($67,600 in 2011) = $1,858 increase (from $3,207 with to $5,065) = 58% higher tax bill.

Tax Increases On Average…

- 115 million taxpayers - $1,716 increase;

- 84 million women - $1,970 increase;

- 48 million married couples - $2,726 increase;

- 42 million families with children - $2,084 increase;

- 12 million single women with children - $1,062 increase;

- 17 million seniors - $2,034 increase; and

- 26 million small business owners -$3,637 increase."

(United States Department Of The Treasury, "Fact Sheet - 2011 Taxes: Millions Could See Billions In Increases," <http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/reports/2011taxesmillions.pdf> http://www.treasury.gov, 8/25/06)

Small Business Owners Will Experience An Average Annual Tax Increase Of $3,637. (United States Department Of The Treasury, "Fact Sheet - 2011 Taxes: Millions Could See Billions In Increases," http://www.treasury.gov <http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/reports/2011taxesmillions.pdf> , 8/25/06)

"91 Percent [Of Small Businesses] Pay Personal Rather Than Corporate Income Taxes." (Raymond J. Keating, Op-Ed, "A Good Year," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1/6/04)

* "[T]he Vast Majority Of Farmers And Ranchers Pay Taxes As Individuals." (Kiran Johl Black, "President’s Tax Cut Is Good For Family Farmers And Ranchers," Ag Alert, California Farm Bureau Federation, 6/4/03)

Over 97 Percent Of Iowa Businesses Are Small Businesses. "The state had an estimated total of 257,800 small businesses based on the most recent data. Firms with employees numbered 70,566 in 2005, of which an estimated 97.6 percent or 68,872 were small firms (fewer than 500 employees)." (Small Business Administration Office Of Advocacy Website, "2006 Small Business Profile: Iowa," http://www.sba.gov <http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/profiles/06ia.pdf> , Accessed 3/5/07)

Hillary’s "Invisible" Line Echoes A "Popular Theme" Of Her Husband’s 1992 Campaign:

Clinton: "America’s middle class, and working families, have become the invisible Americans." (Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Remarks At New Hampshire Democrat Party’s ‘100 Club’ Dinner, Nashua, NH, 3/10/07)

Hillary Is "Echoing" A "Popular Theme" Of Bill Clinton’s 1992 Presidential Campaign. "Echoing her husband’s 1992 presidential campaign message about the ‘forgotten middle class,’ Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton accused the Bush administration on Saturday night of turning the middle class and working families into ‘invisible Americans’… .The divide between the haves and have-nots was a popular theme of Mrs. Clinton’s husband, Bill, as a candidate for president in 1992. He spoke frequently about the ‘forgotten middle class’…" (Patrick Healy, "Clinton Vows Middle Class Will Not Be ‘Invisible’ to Her," The New York Times, 3/11/07)

"The Return Of So Many Of Bill’s Top Guns Also Runs The Risk Of Making Hillary Sound Like A Stand-In, Lip-Syncing The Same Old Lines." (Tim Dickinson, "The Enemy Within," Rolling Stone, 3/26/07)

Source: Iowa Politics