Drug Topics - October 13, 2008 - (Page 36)

36 08 DRUG TOPICS Oct. 13, 2008 www.drugtopics.com Special Report 08 their political views. Seventy-two percent describe themselves as “moderate” or “conservative” in their outlook, compared to 14.6 percent describing themselves as “very liberal” or “liberal.” Backers of McCain and the Republicans cite his experience, his stand on the issues, and their opposition to Obama as reasons for support. “I like his straightforwardness and honesty. I trust him more than Obama,” wrote Greg Hines, a pharmacy owner in Bowling Green, Ky. Gary Raines, a pharmacy owner in White Bear Lake, Minn., said, “He stands for more of the values I believe in. I don’t like Obama’s stance on social issues and taxing the so-called rich to redistribute our country’s wealth. His foreign policy is lacking as well.” A director of pharmacy services in the Los Angeles area wrote, “Although Sen. McCain has some positions I have a problem with, there is no way I can vote for his opponent. Sen. McCain’s experience in all matters of government far outweighs Sen. Obama’s. There is no perfect candidate at any time, but my feelings are that we have no choice but to elect McCain for the best future of our country.” “He is more closely aligned with my values and beliefs. He is for less government, less taxes, hard work, and a strong country,” wrote a pharmacy manager from New Mexico. “He is believable, trustworthy, and doesn’t change his position every day like Obama does.” Obama supporters focus on what they perceive as the failings of the Bush administration and the change of direction a Democrat would represent. “I am fed up with the Republicans,” said Max Allen, a general pharmacist in Peoria, Ariz. “I don’t know if the Democrat can do better but I want to give him the chance. I want change. After being a registered Republican all my life (67 yrs.), I have registered Democrat this year.” “Democrats need to take a new leadership role in government in order to correctly move our country forward,” said Gary Hoerchner, of Madison, Wis. Phil Burgess, national director of pharmacy affairs for Walgreens and a Drug Topics advistory Board member believes that Obama is more likely to bring about change on issues of importance to pharmacists, ranging from encouraging use of electronic medical records to guaranteeing greater access to generic drugs to eliminating the “donut hole” in PRESIDENTIAL POLL 2008 Medicare Part D coverage. “Sen. Obama understands the need for incentives to look at driving down overall healthcare costs by using technology, by giving providers incentives to make decisions that take into account the big picture, and maximizing resources so as to set up programs to benefit uninsured Americans,” he said. Some respondents who were initially undecided said they decided to vote Republican after Sarah Palin’s selection as the party’s vice presidential nominee. Typical was the response of Rich Kantor, a general pharmacist in rural California, who said, “The choice of Sarah Palin for John McCain’s VP strikes me as the right choice of youth, experience, independence and rebelliousness at the right time. If I were voting today, I’d vote for McCain/Palin. Maybe together they can fix a broken system.” Republican respondents to the survey were more loyal to their candidate than were the Democrats. Eighty-five percent of Republicans said they will vote for McCain, with 5 percent planning to vote for Obama. Only 67 percent of Democrats intended to vote for Obama, with 17 percent voting for McCain. Geographic support for McCain is highest (31.7 percent) in the reliably Republican southeastern part of the country, and lowest (4.2 percent) in the northwest. Perhaps reflecting his midwestern roots, the largest share of Obama’s backers (31.4 percent) is in that region of the country, with the smallest share (5 percent) in the northwest. The northeastern part of the country is home to the largest share of both undecided voters (31.6 percent) and those intending to vote neither Democrat nor Republican (32.4 percent). Nationally, men and women have increasingly split along partisan lines in recent presidential elections, and pharmacists are no exception. McCain garners the backing of 56 percent of the men responding to the survey, with 29.4 percent intending to vote for Obama. Women respondents prefer Obama, 48.5 percent to 29.6 percent. Twenty percent of women were undecided, while only 12 percent of men had yet to make up their minds. Respondents were roughly comparable in predicting how their candidates would affect pharmacy if elected Respondents said the top issue facing pharmacy is Medicaid rate cuts. http://www.drugtopics.com

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Drug Topics - October 13, 2008 Contents Latebreakers Letters Kansas Pharmacists Partner with Law Enforcement to Fight Meth Use Pharmacy Board to Oversee Med Distribution at West Virginia Free Clinics Rx Care JP�at Large Celebrating Community Special Report Self-Care Government and Law Newer Treatment Option for Type 2 Diabetes New Products Advertisers Index Technology Classified Viewpoint:�Pharmacists Must Change our Ways

Drug Topics - October 13, 2008

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