Obama To Team Up With Elizabeth Edwards On Health Care Reform
By Logan Murphy Sunday Jun 08, 2008 8:00pm
Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, kicked off his two week, swing state tour today in Raleigh, NC. In a speech about economics, Senator Obama made clear the differences between his health care platform and the failed Bush/McCain policies that cater to the "healthy and wealthy" and have left some 47 million Americans without health insurance.
Obama pledged to make it easier for every American to get good health care, do away with exemptions for pre-existing conditions, stop drug companies from price gouging, and then said something that was greeted with great enthusiasm by the crowd:
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"By the way, I'm going to be partnering up with Elizabeth Edwards, we're going to be figuring all this out."
Obama is smart to enlist Elizabeth Edwards, who backed Hillary Clinton's health care plan earlier in the primary season. I believe that together, they will come up with a health care plan with mass appeal that is so strong it will put the issue out of McCain's reach this fall.
Very smart move for Obama. He is extremely intelligent and kind.\
Obama should make John Edwards Atty. General. Watch the corporate creeps then!
Enact a single payer program!
As a symbolic gesture, Obama should refuse his government paid health insurance policy, then buy his insurance on the open market, and challenge McCain to do the same.
So now that he stole the election from Hillary he's now going to steal her ideas? Very original.
[Pick a handle and stick with it, 'Bud,' 'will wait and see'-Sitemonitor]
OT, but:
"A few moments ago, (approximately 7:30 p.m. EDT), Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich took to the floor of the House of Representatives to present 35 Articles of Impeachment against George W. Bush. The House session is being televised live on C-SPAN."
Wait wait - I thought Hillary owned healthcare reform?
This certainly sounds good....
Me?
I'm behind the good Senator if, if, he's for not-for-profit single payer similar, I said similar so STFU!, to what much of the EU. And I'm a guy who doesn't think much of Ol' Magic Man.
But....
His proposal be a good, sold one. Not perfect but NOT-FOR-PROFIT He gets my vote.
Hmmm @ 4:
Obama owns Diebold?
Excellent! I figured the Edwards' plan on healthcare made the most sense (coming from an admittedly biased Canadian). And Obama has the smarts to recognize that.
Next?... I think he should start talking about enlisting someone like Richardson to talk to Venezuela's Chavez about helping to alleviate the energy crisis...
Hmmm @ 4:
Grow up, you turd.
Hmmm @ 4:
Jesus. I hope he doesn't take on any part of her health care plan. It's fuckin' awful.
Boring Scott @ 6:
I thought EE was backing HRC's health care initiative
baby jesus heard something.
Elizabeth Edwards is good at it; she is a first hand witness to what's wrong with our health system ; she is very articulate,she will be a good representative to Obama on this issue,which she and her husband John are passionate about .
She will also attract millions of women to the cause.
Good move by Obama.
Dennis Kucinich is on CSPAN on the House Floor reading articles of impeachment for GW Bush RIGHT NOW!
baby jesus @ 13:
baby farts?
That is exactly the reason why john Edwards doesn't want to be Obama's VP running mate. He wants the Attorney General position. If that happens, look out!
Randy @ 14:
No she's not. She's wealthy and has had continuous coverage. She'll have anecdotal info.
Now I'VE got deep first hand experience with what's wrong with the health care system...
#4 Hmmmm,
I did not know that Hillary has a patent in her name on health issues.
Please grow up.
The Health Care-Health Insurance racket can implode in my opinion.
Since the field Medicine was taken over by Corporate Profiteers.
Boring Scott @ 6:
Ahem... it's HealthCare Reform™. And now, you have to pay her 23.7c for saying that phrase.
Great to have Obama and E.E. working together on this!
Also, reports out today from Patrick Kennedy are that his father, Senator Ted, is going to make it a priority to begin drafting health care legislation so that it's ready to go when Obama becomes President.
And yes, though Hillary Clinton tried to make health care one of her signature issues this campaign (kudos to her for her efforts), others (like Ted Kennedy) have been working on health care reform FAR longer and with far more engagement.
Hmmm @ 4:
Grow up and get over yourself.
Who cares where good ideas come from? The idea is what is important.
The source of the idea is for the history books.
Blue Taliban Osama Buddha @ 21:
That and a $88.00 co-pay will get you a 12 minute visit with a GP.
Hmmm @ 4:
I was going to say that since it came from the Clinton camp it must have the Corporate $eal of approval. Just so long as everyone gets paid.
I have to say I am impressed w/ the man many right wingers say is the anti-Christ.
Item number one:
Require Medicare to bargain with drug companies. Using the prices the VA pays is a good start. We pay retail for drugs to subsidize what the rest of the world pays.
baby jesus @ 13:
Hi BJ!
What you might have heard was me saying that the future president of the United States makes another good decision. Elizabeth said at one time that she liked Hillary's plan best but not that it was the right one.
OT
BREAKING: KUCINICH PRESENTS 35 ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST PRESIDENT BUSH
http://www.rawstory.com/
Boring Scott @ 24:
you got 12 minutes with a gp hang on to that plan
miss_kitty @ 18:
Yeah, uhm...I'm picturing you as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and everything's cool until Rush gives you a nickname (I'll tell you that later), and you end up in jail for kicking him in the balls....Steer clear. We need ya here!
Arizona @ 22:
Let's address the sub par "care" we receive while we are at it. Removing the deadlines and profit incentives would help also.
This bullshit of running $35,000 worth of tests just to find out you have exhaustion is way out of line.
nwmuse @ 15:
Oh Sh1t!!!
BlueKnuckle @ 33:
Hasn't he done this before?
aangus @ 29:
Holy Shit!
aangus, you da man!
baby jesus is pro fist bump-- anti old angry white guy.
drgreenbrain @ 26:
many how many??? just curious
pissed off patricia @ 34:
I think you're right. And it won't pass, but it's still fucking awesome.
Andy K Jong Il @ 31:
'Numbnuts' Limbaugh? He'd never feel it. :D
baby jesus @ 36:
I've decided that I'm fist-bumping everything and anything bump-able between now and January 20, 2017.
Hey guys, Daily Kos has some big breaking and long overdue news--Kucinich is on the floor now bringing up articles of impeachment against Bush. Fuckin' 'bout time!
pissed off patricia @ 34:
Cynthia McKinney filed as her last act in office.
I'm sorry, but mandated coverage of adults is NOT going to fly. I'm not even a Republican and I don't like the idea of being required to buy healthcare I either don't want or don't need. They need to pass Obama's version first, and just amend it later if need be after people like me soften up to it.
randomstranger @ 41:
We be watchin'
Mister Anderson @ 43:
that's how i felt about mandated auto insurance
randomstranger @ 41:
It's like two years too late. This nation is not in the mood for an impeachment. The only thing that will be accomplished is agitating the Republicans so they actually show up and support McCain in November. Anything short of putting these guys in jail is worthless.
OBAMA made a good decision to work with Elizabeth Edwards. For this he is pulling me his way to vote for him in November 2008.
Obama still need to prove himself worthy that he will faithfully execute the US Constitution. America must not forget the past actions of the current Bush/Cheney Administration.
OBAMA is either will stand by and honor the US Constitution and the AMERICAN people who have faithfully defended and preserved it.
This his defining MOMENT. IT TAKES A GREAT LEADER to resist the temptation to abuse POWER and it takes a GREAT discipline to act according to the LAW and great Character to know the difference.
Senator Obama, You will be the first US PRESIDENT of Color. Please Do NOT fail us. You are expected to a very HIGH STANDARD. You will be respected ONLY when YOU listen to your people; for it is the people of United States that will determine your fate.
Mister Anderson @ 46:
My concern, rather than GOP base agitation, is the scandal fatigue backlash phenomenon among independents. It's criminal that it's seen as negative and counterproductive to criminalize their crimes. I don't see how we get past it without legal action.
karl @ 45:
We don't have mandated auto insurance in Wisconsin either. Yeah, we probably pay a slightly higher rate than the rest of the nation, and it sucks getting hit by a uninsured driver if you don't have uninsured driver coverage, but still, I'd rather pay the higher rate then be fined for not having any coverage on the off chance I couldn't afford it with the cost of everything else rising.
Proud American @ 47:
well said..........let's not fail him
Nothing to figure out.
Like Clinton said, take their (Senator's) health care plan and make it available to 300 million Americans.
All competitor's welcome to keep the price down.
Kucunich filed articles on cheney that went nowhere.
Mister Anderson @ 49:
your neighbor minnesota does....if you don't mandate auto insurance some people don't get it and put the cost on others i know that for a fact as my auto ins. has doubled why.......uninsured motorists many from south of the border my agent told me that
Proud American @ 47:
Barrys inheriting a barrel of shit you need to keep that in mind also.
Mister Anderson @ 43:
Can't put my finger on what, exactly, makes me think so, but mandatory insurance makes me think it's a boondoggle for the insurance companies.
karl @ 50:
Obama, by his very nature, knows the importance and significance of his candidacy. He knows the scrutiny he and his legacy will invite.
He is not a frat-boy who by birthright feels entitled to the reins of power.
I have great faith in Mr. Obama. Great trust.
Mister Anderson @ 43:
You mean you want to wait until you become seriously injured or ill, then you want it but you want to backdate the contracts. I'm sorry, but we all need it before something happens.
Lollimom @ 5:
heres the man who should be president!
BlueKnuckle @ 48:
The problem I have is that a impeachment is not really criminalizing the Bush administration. I mean Bill Clinton was impeached, and he went on to make over $100 million dollars to date and is the most famous living politician in the world. No one goes to jail over an impeachment. And he'll be out of office by the end of the year no matter what now.
I like the idea floated by Obama that he will allow for investigations of the Bush administration if he is elected President, and hopefully he will strip them of Executive privilege when it comes to testifying and having REAL charges pressed against them whether they are foreign or domestic.
I wish we'd have Nader's single-payer system.
[Link? Site Monitor]
L.A. Confidential @ 53:
Yeah, but he can't afford (nor can we) to use Cheney-type methods to fix the problems. The Constitution needs to be returned to its pragmatic pedestal.
Andy K Jong Il @ 54:
No it's not. Why would the insurance companies be unhappy with a populace forced by law to buy their crap?
They'll be celebrating.
Mister Anderson @ 58:
That sounds good, too.
Gezundheit, Kucinich.
We ALL should be covered through Medicare. the end.
karl @ 52:
I admit that we pay higher rates then does who do mandate. But I'll pay the premium to have the freedom of not having mandates hanging over my head. Outside of taxes, I have a serious issue of the government telling me how to spend my money.
BlueKnuckle @ 48:
What are you saying? Their crimes were criminalized when they committed them.
I'm glad it's her and not her husband, or John would make him lose the election like he did with Kerry.
BlueKnuckle @ 60:
that's why he'll be a two term president
Ron @ 66:
Clearly they were not. Are they criminal in some nebulous theoretical way? Sure. Where are the prosecutions, indictments, investigations. If a tree falls in the woods, my friend.
miss_kitty @ 64:
that or open up the congress health plan you know the social plan mccain has been under his entire life
miss_kitty @ 64:
I agree, or some cheaper variation of it. McCain is against universal healthcare when he has government controlled healthcare his ENTIRE life. His father was in the military, he was in the military, and now he's in the Senate. If it's good enough for a Presidential candidate, it's good enough for me. The $12 billion a month we're spending in Iraq on a credit card can buy A LOT of aspirin!
How bout these g*d damn politicians start asking the PEOPLE what they want. Instead of slapping proposals drafted up by Corporate Medicine lawyers on the table.
BlueKnuckle @ 69:
Doesn't mean a crime was not committed. The problem is he is President and immune to prosecution as president. After his term is over, he can be charged.
the republicans/neocons no a one payor plan universal healthcare will work that's the dilemma they don't want it to work.....keep people broke and co-dependent
BlueKnuckle @ 69:
I think we can all agree that Bush and his administration did many illegal things to date. The problem is getting around executive privilege and finding a charge that will stick. They were trying to launch a class action lawsuit because of the wiretapping. But the problem is proving that you were illegally wiretapped without a whistleblower coming forward first.
Ron @ 73:
And I, like you, hope that the spine exists to do so when the time comes.
Ron @ 73:
I agree. It's easier to prosecute a former President than a sitting President. But what's the legal precedent?
Mister Anderson @ 75:
they had their defenses calculated before they did anything illegal........three steps ahead of us
Mister Anderson @ 77:
That's a great question. Where's a Constitutional law professor or lawyer when you need one?!
L.A. Confidential @ 61:
boondoggleswindlebaby jesus loves Vincent Bugliosi
I'm getting a kick out of Kucinich... I don't know about anybody else but I sure am in the mood for some impeach pie!
HEY! I KNOW THAT I'M BADLY O.T. BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO DO THIS. DENNIS KUCINICH HAS BEGUN THE READING OF 35 ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AGAINST SHRUBYA AND DARTH CHENEY!
[MICK, WE KNOW! YOU'RE THE 3RD OR 4TH PERSON TO BREAK THE NEWS! PLEASE DON'T POST IN ALL CAPS-IT'S CONSIDERED SHOUTING! THANK YOU! SITE MONITOR]
Mister Anderson @ 77:
The prosecutor who wrote helter skelter was on the radio today and wrote a book about how it should be done. Buy the book.
Mick Fowler @ 83:
karl @ 78:
they had their defenses calculated before they did anything illegal........three steps ahead of us
Exactly. Just ask any homeowner who has fought off foreclosure three times because the company attempting to foreclose can't prove they own the mortgage.
[ sorry but I have to do it. Deleted, refers to deleted post. Site Monitor]
Haha. Eyes upwards to #15.
But I dig your passion.
miss_kitty @ 64:
As I understand it, that will be an insurance option, and I'm certain the premiums will be made affordable to all.
I fully anticipate that the Obama administration will disentangle the private insurance companys' interference with Medicare. They and the phamas designed the current system, and it has caused untold grief among the elderly, it is so complicated. Michael Moore's Sicko touched on this. And my parents are living proof of the turmoil it has caused in their lives.
I am extremely hopeful with this news. Now we need Grampa McSame to instill fear and terror in us, and tell us that he promises healthcare for all WORKING people via their employers.
L.A. Confidential @ 86:
Exactly. Just ask any homeowner who has fought off foreclosure three times because the company attempting to foreclose can't prove they own the mortgage.
these people let the dark side run their life...pass the kool-aid
BlueKnuckle @ 55:
The question is not whether Obama will stand up and recognize the importance of this moment. The question is whether we, the people, will stand up and recognize it. I will vote for Obama with great pride and hope, but the president is not a king, and we cannot simply put our hopes into him to do all that is needed to make this union strong again. It takes a strong president, congress, judicial, local and state government, a healthy skeptical media, and most importantly an engaged and informed populace. Obviously, one step at a time, though, and I cannot think of a better first step than Barack Obama.