Which presidential candidates have the balls to oppose the Medicare Monstrosity? (Hint: Joe Lieberman is an idiot and John Kerry, although he opposes the bill, needs to punch up his speech.)

The current compromise is a BAD DEAL for Americans – it will be a windfall of profits for the drug industry charged to the pocketbooks of taxpayers and on the backs of seniors and people with disabilities.

Here’s what the Democratic Presidential Candidates had to say about the drug deal in Congress:

Gov. Howard Dean "The Republican Medicare drug bill is a real-life HMO: Huge Missed Opportunity. Instead of taking this opportunity to come together and provide a meaningful drug benefit seniors can count on, Republicans and the White House have put the interests of the drug industry and HMOs ahead of the best interests of older Americans.”

Rep. Richard Gephardt “This is a bad bill. It’s a Republican bill, therefore it’s a bad bill. Worst of all it was written by the pharmaceutical companies and the HMOs, that’s what you need to understand,’’ said Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt.

Sen. John Kerry “I believe we can and we should get a strong affordable prescription drug benefit this year. But we have to stand up and speak out against a plan that does more harm than good for America’s seniors. I hope you will join me in sending a message to the Congress and George W Bush that we can do better for America’s seniors and we can do it NOW.”

Sen. John Edwards “It gives billions of dollars in giveaways to HMOs, money that could in fact be used to provide a better benefit for seniors,’’ charged North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.

Sen. Joe Lieberman “I want to take a few days. I’m not going to give a knee-jerk, reflex action and say, ‘No way,’’’ Lieberman said.

Gen. Wesley Clark "The bill does nothing to curb the spiraling cost of prescription drugs. It amounts to a give-away to the HMOs. If the bill is not altered, two to three million seniors would be dropped from their current prescription drugs plans. Millions more would be forced into HMOs."

----------------------------------------- Visit the Institute for America's Future for more on the Campaign for Prescription Drugs and the Fight to Save Medicare.