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Brody challenges candidates, media on health care reform
Issue date: 9/20/07
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The American health care system doesn't work - in fact, it doesn't even exist.
That's what University president William Brody told a gathering of the nation's most influential journalists at the prestigious National Press Club two weeks ago in Washington, D.C., in a speech that was in many ways designed to confront what Brody and his staff see as the failings of the mainstream media when it comes to covering the issue of health care.
"Health care is the number one domestic issue on voters minds," Brody said.
"The problem with big debates is that candidates get up and all they can say is a few generalities. We want to present a forum for candidates to share their specific views on health care."
Invitations to the discussions have been extended only to those presidential candidates who are polling at five percent or more. In response to the invitations, "no one has said no," Brody said.
"With the campaigns, it's obviously in a constant state of flux. If we get a couple [of candidates] to step up, the rest will come forward."
The contacted candidates on the Democratic side are Sen. Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.). The Republican candidate invitees are former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, former Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.), former Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.) and Sen. John McCain (Ariz.). None of the presidential campaigns returned attempts by the News-Letter for comment.
"We've extended the invitation, but no one has confirmed at this time … we're in close communication. No one will say no, but it's very hard to say yes," said Michael Field, an assistant to the president who has been involved with planning of the discussions.
"Candidates are busy running around raising money. They're trying to simultaneously shake hands with farmers in Iowa and schmooze at the town halls of New Hampshire," Field said.
Field also noted that the logistics of planning debates with high-demand politicians is extremely challenging.
That's what University president William Brody told a gathering of the nation's most influential journalists at the prestigious National Press Club two weeks ago in Washington, D.C., in a speech that was in many ways designed to confront what Brody and his staff see as the failings of the mainstream media when it comes to covering the issue of health care.
"Health care is the number one domestic issue on voters minds," Brody said.
"The problem with big debates is that candidates get up and all they can say is a few generalities. We want to present a forum for candidates to share their specific views on health care."
Invitations to the discussions have been extended only to those presidential candidates who are polling at five percent or more. In response to the invitations, "no one has said no," Brody said.
"With the campaigns, it's obviously in a constant state of flux. If we get a couple [of candidates] to step up, the rest will come forward."
The contacted candidates on the Democratic side are Sen. Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.). The Republican candidate invitees are former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, former Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.), former Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.) and Sen. John McCain (Ariz.). None of the presidential campaigns returned attempts by the News-Letter for comment.
"We've extended the invitation, but no one has confirmed at this time … we're in close communication. No one will say no, but it's very hard to say yes," said Michael Field, an assistant to the president who has been involved with planning of the discussions.
"Candidates are busy running around raising money. They're trying to simultaneously shake hands with farmers in Iowa and schmooze at the town halls of New Hampshire," Field said.
Field also noted that the logistics of planning debates with high-demand politicians is extremely challenging.
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