Oregon Public Broadcasting

Surrogates for the McCain and Obama campaigns explained their candidates' philosophies at a forum on health care policy in Salem on Thursday. Many arguments revealed a clear philosophical split.

Democratic Congressman Peter Defazio stood in for Barack Obama's campaign. He says Obama would negotiate lower drug prices for seniors on Medicare, and take on the structure of the insurance industry.

Defazio: "His idea is to build on the existing structure. There are some would want to go and  convert immediately to single payer or something like that. But he’s saying 'How about an incremental approach that would give the opportunity to all Americans t have adequate health care coverage?'"

Republican State Representative Ron Maurer presented John McCain's case. Maurer owns a rural health clinic. He drew the audience’s attention to a point made in the second presidential debate.

Maurer: "The question was asked, is health care a right, a responsibility, or a privilege. Senator McCain said it was a responsibility. Senator Obama says it was a right."

Maurer says that's unrealistic, and that McCain's plans for health care are in touch with the realities of the system.

The forum, organized by Oregonians for Health Security, was blue-heavy. Democratic candidates Jeff Merkley and Kurt Schrader attended. Their Republican competitors, Gordon Smith and Mike Erickson, weren't there.