GOP Candidates Unanimous: No Government Role in Health Care

Whatever the differences between the Democratic presidential candidates, all of them are talking seriously about some form of universal health care. The 10 Republicans running? Not even kids in need of medical care tug at their heart strings.

Every one of the Republicans said in a Sunday morning debate Aug. 5 that they oppose expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program, as the Senate recently voted to do. The AFL-CIO said the candidates "spent nearly all of their (debate) time advocating a smaller federal role, leaving coverage to the market and to private insurers."

While they had varying approaches, their bottom line was that it's not the government's problem. "It's not the responsibility of the federal government," said Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo. "It's unhealthy to have a government health care plan in America."

The irony, given that he and the other members of Congress have the best government health plan ever imagined, apparently was lost on him.