access 2004
u.s. chamber of commerce small business summit
Elections
The November elections and their potential effects on business were also a hot topic. A debate pitting former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and CNN Crossfire Co-Host Paul Begala laid out the political parties’ contrasting visions on health care, the situation in Iraq, and the war on terrorism.
Gingrich, a recognized expert on health care reform, said that health savings accounts (HSAs) can make “a big difference … and so can small businesses being able to go online and buy health insurance nationwide—competition in these markets at last!” Begala agreed that health care was a huge issue for voters, but one that would ultimately cut against Bush. “Voters care about the economy and health care, and this means the president has a tough job. He must talk up the economy, but it is dicey when the numbers are soft and real family income has been frozen.”
On terrorism and the war in Iraq, Gingrich urged the audience to keep three things in mind: “First, the terrorists want a world on their terms without nations and other religions, and they won’t compromise, will not negotiate, and want to kill all of us. Second, we must change the Middle East, or the terrorists will eventually control the oil, money, and power of the region. And third, the process of making this change in the Middle East, as we are finding out in Iraq, is messy, costly, and painful. But we can’t leave before we win.” Begala agreed that we “must find a way to kill these terrorists, but going to Afghanistan was right but not Iraq … our diversion to Iraq was like FDR invading Mexico after the attack on Pearl Harbor!”
Both panelists ended the session on a high note. Begala concluded, “It is important that we don’t believe the cynicism of the media. There is still magic in this country … our biggest problem is overcoming the growing cynicism.” Gingrich urged the audience to keep in mind the tremendous progress we have made in the last 200 years and not to get discouraged. “The American people will not give up.”
