Wow. That’s a statement I can get behind.
So we’re back to arguing about John Edwards’ plan to strip members of Congress of their health care if they don’t pass comprehensive reform. I’m always astonished at how bizarrely literally pundits act when they approach this idea. It’s true that, in the strong form, its; unconstitutional. Edwards cannot, with his pen, deprive anyone of their health care. The Edwards Campaign, by contrast, says that it will take the form of a bill sent to Congress, which seems constitutional, though everyone says it would be impossible to pass.
But would it be? That’s the part I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t the Democratic leadership want to use this legislation to hammer away at Republicans? To force them to go on the record about the importance of their own health care? The idea behind this bill is that it will ratchet up political pressure for change, creating a situation in which Congressmen come to the table because they fear losing their seats if they don’t. It’s a strategy based on the application of political pressure, not legislative finesse. And while not a surefire winner, it’s certainly a plausible theory of reform.
Meanwhile, I find the liberal outrage and bewilderment over this bit of populist symbolism to be very unsettling. At base, Edwards is doing something very simple: Dramatizing the inequities in our health care system. Most liberals would have you believe that dramatizing, and fixing, the inequities in our health care system is their primary political goal. But not like this, I guess.
What Edwards’ stunt does is dramatize how much Congressmen like the health care they currently receive. How far they’ll go to defend it. And how hollow the inevitable protestations of dangerous, socialized medicine really are. If Congress wants to block this bill, the follow-up point, which can be made in a speech to the nation, is “if your health care is so good, why shouldn’t every American be allowed to have it?” What Edwards wants to do isn’t take away the health care of Congress, but expand it to the country.
Filed Under: Campaigns/Elections, Election 08, John Edwards, The House, The Senate, Universal Health Care
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Frist! Bold Statement.
Whether he could carry it out or not, I think Edwards has put a sharp point on this issue. It might sink into the minds of a lot of people when they realize their tax money is buying insurance and health care for the people in the Senate even though they can’t afford it for themselves or their family.
Cut the bull and pass HR 676. This is exactly why Edwards et al are the same bull shit and Kucinich represents the people and progressive change.
Elected members of representational government should receive no more income, annually, than the average person within their region of representation. If they want more, then they should do more for the people they represent.
“It might sink into the minds of a lot of people when they realize their tax money is buying insurance and health care for the people in the Senate even though they can’t afford it for themselves or their family.”
You think they don’t know this already?
I might vote for a candidate that promises to bring universal health care to us all. The next president and congress will have that power.
Will they use it?
I’ve been saying this for years now…….Wanna’ bet that the Democrats somehow fuck this up instead of showing the hypocrisy of Republicans (as well as alot of moronic Dems) when it comes to their free health care?
It’s simple really, not for socialized single payer health care for all Americans? Then get rid of yours and go buy some of that awesome private insurance you tout. No way? That’s what I thought.
Edwards has my vote. Well so far he does.
I know that You support Hillary or Edwards. That is always clear. You ignored last weekends JJ dinner, Completely !! This Edwards ad is unconstitutional and desperate ! Take a look at Edwards’ senate record. Which is the real Edwards , The one in 1998, 2004 or now ? And just once put up something about Barack ! No , I don’t count your rant (great !!) against False rumors from Fox, etc. Because I am just about ready to dive up my visits to this page.
John Edwards would do well in highlighting his populist agenda by repeating this and his other stands on middle class issues whenever and wherever he speaks. This one in particular resonates well with the base…
AMEN EDWARDS! Stick it to those damn hypocrites.
I’d rather pay for another half of a war than be able to have everyone go to the doctor when they need to. Why should we save poor kids from dying from dental maladies when we can blow up furriners?
“You think they don’t know this already?”
I’m betting a lot of people don’t know it already. Seems if they did they would be raising a lot more hell than they are.
This is a good issue for Edwards to hammer on. I hope he gets traction.
I just can’t figure out how this guy is getting his ass kicked by Clinton.
I’m less concerned about access to expensive disease care, when my options for providing my body with nutrition is at risk from Pharma-whores. You might think you get nutrition from a balanced diet, but many of us are genetically disposed to lucrative health problems unless we supplement our diet.
All these guys will have enough money to access nutritional supplements when they become prescription “drugs,” while my access is choked of by pharma-whores, elected ones in government and non-elected ones in the FDA working in WHO CODEX meetings to undermine US law, the expressed grass-roots will of the people, DSHEA.
Obama’s speech at the JJ dinner last weekend was outstanding. Just a little note to MsCiara, Paris. I watched a rerun of it yesterday on c-span. He’s such a good speaker.
MsCiara, Paris @ 9:
We are not endorsing any candidate. Period. Full stop. It cannot be made any more plain.
No matter what we put up, we have people complain that we’re not showing enough of their favorite candidate.
Here’s the deal. I am on the mailing list of every Democratic candidate and a couple of the Republican ones as well. I have made contact with the internet liaison of each Democratic candidate so that they know what site I represent. IF I get something post-worthy from the candidate, I put it up.
I have no idea what the “JJ dinner” is, and if it is something Barack Obama attended, he did not see fit to send any info on it to us.
And for the record, Edwards proposal is NOT unconstitutional. Thanks for playing.
The problem is no matter what kind of sense this guy or anybody else makes, Clinton has been anointed and we have no say. Thanks to the press and the DLC. This is the most depressing election ever.
Too bad. I’d like to vote for Edwards.
“Meanwhile, I find the liberal outrage and bewilderment over this bit of populist symbolism to be very unsettling.”
what “liberal outrage” over this is he speaking of? i read this site and kos daily, and this is first i have heard of this, and it seems rather well received here.
me, I all for it
Jeff @ 15:
Hillary is a political insider Representing the interests of New York City that’s how.
Sen. Kerry’s proposal to get every American the same Health Care package that Senators get fell like a rock. He kept repeating it.
Tell ya what Johny boy, next time you want one of them there fancy haircuts, come over to my aunt’s place. She cut hair for 42 years. Pay half the price of one of your fancy do’s and she can then afford her medicine for a month.
I applaud John Edwards for highlighting such hypocrisy….
I do know that Ron Paul does not partake in the healthcare that Congress offers, and refuses to receive it. It is high time that these blistering fools be exposed for their hypocrisy….Then again, the United States government is in decline as a major hegemonic power, and has all but forgotten its domestic concerns.
Would being a closet pedophile be considered a pre-existing condition when applying for a new health insurance policy?
Give them hell John Edwards!
Show them what a great haircut can do for a Liberal!
John Edwards keeps getting my vote.
I’ve been thinking an Edwards/Kucinich ticket just might work.
Nicole,
I don’t know what your possision with C&L’s is, but JJ Dinner is the Jefferson Jackson dinner in Iowa that was featured on EVERY national and international press ! Even here in Paris ! Six of the democratic candidates spoke , surely you heard about it. I am not asking for endorsement. I am asking for acknowledgment…… that is fair. I have heard from several news reports that the proposal by Edwards to take away medical insurance from congress in not constitutional . And I think it is fair to look in the back grounds of ALL who are running. We should NOT just do it to the republican (I LOVE IT WHEN C&L HOLDS THE REBS FEET TO THE FIRE !) But it should be done to all people in power ! I am a staunch liberal democrat, but I don’t believe the there are no C&L among democrats. Please !
Jeff @ 15:
Its all about Iowa…Keep your fingers crossed.
CD @ 21:
Nice. “…interests of New York City…”.
Anti-semitic code words.
Troll.
MsCiara, Paris @ 9:
I would be interested in hearing about how the Constitution covers ads. Perhaps you can dazzle us with a few more examples of ads which are not Constitutional.
Blue Lensman @ 24:
Nope. You’re in the clear.
Blue Lensman @ 24:
You should really contact your provider for questions such as this.
Edwards is great on health care and trade. Kudos to him
ot but god hit mich mcconell in the face with an ugly stupid face stick!
In case anyone, I won’t call out names on this thread ’cause there’s enough of that going on already, wants the facts on what Americans think on this issue check this out:
The American people know something is rotten….and they have for fifteen years.
For extra bonus points, worth absolutely nothing, which ‘Democratic’ Senator received the most cash from Big Pharma last cycle?
I’ll take my answer in the comments.
MsCiara, Paris @ 27:
Someone is very desperate for attention.
Edwards for President.
Johnny2Bad @ 28:
If never see you here before troll.
And since when is calling saying a Senator who represents New York a Represenative of all the powers that be in that city Anti-semitic?
That’s what I thought STFU and go back to ready Chomsky.
Johnny2Bad @ 28:
I believe Mark Twain spoke most eloquently to this when he said:
.
If never see you here before troll.
And since when is calling saying a Senator who represents New York a Represenative of all the powers that be in that city Anti-semitic?
That’s what I thought STFU and go back to ready Chomsky.
A semi-literate troll, no less.
Johnny2Bad @ 30:
I was expressing concern for many in congress that might soon be looking for individual policies.
I do have several existing conditions of my own, fortunately I’m already covered.
ashton @ 39:
If never see you here before troll.
And since when is calling saying a Senator who represents New York a Represenative of all the powers that be in that city Anti-semitic?
That’s what I thought STFU and go back to ready Chomsky.
A semi-literate troll, no less.
I’ve never seen you here either troll.
I often wonder what the suits would do if they didn’t have all that tax payer money to pay their bills and buy their food their health care and their hookers. It’s like having a bunch of unruly trust fund brats living on your dime and you don’t have the freaking AUTHORITY to tell them it’s OVER.
To Mr. John Edwards,
I don’t want “Universal” Health Care. I want Single Payer Not-for-Profit Healthcare. We need Kucinich/Conyer’s HR 676. Its that simple.
Doesn’t the Congress get taxpayer (”socialized”) funded healthcare? If you’re saying, Mr. Edwards, that the people deserve the Healthcare Congress receives then we should have “socialized” healthcare too.
Mr. Edwards, if you want to close the gap between you and Hillary you can start by not insulting us with semantic games. We know the difference between corporate welfare insurance company healthcare and healthcare for the public benefit.
Just a suggestion,
don’t hate me
Carter–peanut farmer—$5.00 for a jar of peanut butter
Bush/Chenny/Rise oiltankers–gas in Califonia–$5.00/gallon ++++
Edwards–Ambulance chaser—Like in canada—can’t find a docter to accept new patients
Hillary-Rothchild stoogie–A military Draft in the works
No-one man can clean out the rot.
While the debate over the health care crisis in America remains focused on the expansion of S-CHIP and the competing proposals of the 2008 presidential candidates, a new study revealed the continuing and steady decline of employer-based health coverage in the United States. Once the lynchpin of the U.S. health care system, workplace health insurance now covers only 59.7% of Americans, down from 64.2% in 2000. And making matters worse, surging health care costs, insurance premiums and employees’ own contributions continue to exceed inflation and the growth in wages.
For the details, see:
“Employer-Provided Health Coverage Continues to Decline.”
cristalyn @ 26:
Yes.
I know I’ve said it before… but Edwards is the real deal (his wife is pretty damn sharp as well).
Didn’t he try to do something like this when he was in the Senate, and the Dems treated him like a pariah from then on out? I don’t blame him a bit for getting out of the corrupt system to change it from the outside.
don’t hate me @ 43:
Mr. Edwards stepped down from the Senate. In fact, he’s the only serious Dem that ISN’T gaming the system by running while a Seanator… so your comments would be better directed to Hillary, Obama, Dodd, Biden, and Kucinich.
Personally, ANY start at revising healthcare is a good one in my book. We won’t get EVERYTHING we want all at once — life just isn’t like that. It will take many years, and many iterations of getting closer and closer to the goal to achieve such a big change in our society.