Health plans don't impress Michael Moore

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. filmmaker Michael Moore criticized the two Democratic presidential hopefuls for not embracing government-financed health coverage.

"The two Democratic candidates don't quite get it," Moore said during a conference call with reporters. "I think in their hearts, they want to get it. But it's not just their hearts that's speaking, it's their wallets."

Moore, who directed the Oscar-nominated documentary, "Sicko," said Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama received more campaign contributions from healthcare interests than any other presidential candidates.

Sen. Clinton, D-N.Y., has proposed mandating all people purchase health insurance, while rival Sen. Obama, D-Ill., wants to make healthcare affordable for everyone, which Moore said would leave about 15 million people uninsured.

Clinton's campaign responded to Moore, criticizing his knowledge of the healthcare system, The Hill reported.

"His movie notwithstanding, Michael Moore clearly doesn't know a whole lot about how healthcare policy works," Clinton spokesman Jay Carson said in an e-mail to The Hill.

Moore said he favored a plan floated by Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., that would extend Medicare benefits to the entire U.S. population.