PHOTO: Clinton Endorses Ruiz

Former President Bill Clinton officially endorsed Dr. Raul Ruiz this week in his bid for congress, and now his campaign is making sure the public knows about this key supporter.

The doctor, who is running against Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (R-Palm Springs) for the seat in the 36th congressional district, was one of five Southern California congressional candidates endorsed by the democrat on Tuesday at UC Irivine.

"It was such an honor to receive President Clinton's endorsement and be on stage with him earlier this week," said Dr. Ruiz.  "I have always admired his commitment to fiscal responsibility, his devotion to growing the Middle Class, and his enduring legacy of commonsense problem solving. I know that his endorsement will energize voters and signal to the entire community that our campaign is on the path to victory."

The doctor's campaign sent out a photo Thursday from the event, since all local media were not able to attend.  They also provided this excerpt of Clinton's speech:

"Now I met Dr. Raul Ruiz about a year ago, when he started his long campaign, when a lot of people thought what a long shot he was, and now most polls say he is ahead," said Clinton. "And I like him for a lot of reasons. I like him, because like me, he went to Haiti to work after the earthquake and got an award from the 82nd Airborne Commission for doing it. And unlike me, he actually had usable skills that helped to save people’s lives after the earthquake. 

"[He] understands that we spend more money on Healthcare because people wait if they don’t have insurance; they go to the emergency room when they’re too sick, it costs more money, and they’re less likely to recover.  And he will be the first to tell you this bill cannot possibly be perfect. It will need to fixed and worked on, but the worst thing we can do is repeal it, go back to the status quo and create a situation where America is both economically uncompetitive and inhumane in its Healthcare policy. You need to send this man to Congress. 

"His opponent actually voted for the Ryan Medicare plan, which says we’re gonna privatize and voucherize Medicare, and hold it to a certain rate of inflation, which means that seniors on Medicare will pay $6400 a year more for less health care. Look, I’m not against trying to bring down health care costs, but that’s now what the Romney/Ryan/Mack proposal is. Their proposal is not to bring down health care costs, their proposal is to shift health care costs off the government books onto to senior’s backs. And there is a big difference."

Bono Mack is now in her eighth term as the congresswoman for the 45th district, first elected in 1998.  That district was recently redrawn to include not only the Coachella Valley, but the San Gorgonio Pass as well.