Bill Clinton: “Let me say--you heard what Mrs. Silk said about Medicare--I think we're mostly talking about this prescription drug…”

“Let me say--you heard what Mrs. Silk said about Medicare--I think we're mostly talking about this prescription drug issue today. But don't forget, as important as it is, the most important thing that we're doing is securing Medicare for 27 years. We've got to get--the basic program has to be secure, because that would literally, as many people as are terrifically burdened by this prescription drug benefit, if anything happens to the solvency of Medicare, or we have to adopt some draconian changes that raise the cost of the program so much that it's as out of reach as the drugs are now for people, the consequences would be disastrous. So let's not forget we have two things to do. We've got to stabilize and modernize and secure the Medicare program itself for the next 27 years as well as add this drug benefit. And you made that point very eloquently, and I thank you. [Participant Dorothy Silk asked the President what citizens could do to help him persuade the Congress to accept his plan.]”