More Edwards Obfuscation and Flip Floppery...

[SaveElmer]

As Johnny tries to run from his record as quickly as he possibly can...

2003-2004 on his healthcare proposal which was far from universal...criticizing Gephardt for his Universal proposal...

ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: Former senator John Edwards, D-N.C., has made universal health coverage a cornerstone of his presidential campaign, and has bragged about being the first 2008 candidate to offer his plan for universal coverage.

On Monday, Edwards hammered Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., for having failed to shepherd universal healthcare into law in the early 1990s.

"The cost of failure 14 years ago isn't anybody's scars or political fortune, it's the millions of Americans who have now gone without health care for more than 14 years and the millions more still crushed by the costs," Edwards said.

"So I'm glad that, today, the architect of the 1993 plan has another care proposal -- and if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then I'm flattered."

But Edwards wasn't always a fan of having the government provide universal health coverage. In 2003 and 2004, during his first campaign for president, he backed a far more modest proposal that was estimated to cover about half of those who lacked health insurance -- and criticized rivals who had universal plans for what he portrayed as fiscal irresponsibility.

"What we ought to be doing is something that number one is achievable and number two is responsible," Edwards said in July 2003, in reference to then-rep. Richard Gephardt's, D-Mo., universal healthcare plan, according to The Washington Post.

Late in the Democratic primary fight, when Edwards was trying to topple Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., he contrasted his plan with Kerry's by pointing out that it was less expensive. He said at the time that his $53 billion healthcare plan would cover about 21 million people, including all children under age 21; Kerry's plan was pitched as costing $72 billion, to cover 27 million people.

"We will be able to attract the support we need to get my plan actually done, so we don't spend 15 or 20 years debating the issue," Edwards said in February 2004.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/09/edwards-healthc.html

[mother earth]

1. What a difference a few years makes. I don't think this is

"flip-floppery", I think this is a wise candidate who has grown a bit since his last go round and is all the wiser.

The "flip-floppery" is an adjective or verb I'd attribute to the republicans who insist they are being fiscally responsible whilst they spend millions and billions, now on bomb systems that can now attack from space or into space, not sure which is so damned awful needed for our security!???!!! While everyday Americans struggle to keep jobs and provide for their families, not even factoring in paying for health insurance.

Why the attack on Edwards, SaveElmer? Are there no bigger issues to deal with? Shame on you, Edwards is in my estimation, THE candidate to back. We will not win with either of the two so called and media ordained frontrunners.

[rinsd]

4. We're not gonna win with a one term Senator who pretends that little experience never happened.

[SaveElmer]

5. Edwards is a hypocrite

And populist wannabe...running from his past while criticizing others on theirs...

He has a pretty big ball sack to whine about Hillary making the effort to get universal care installed at a time when he would have opposed such an effort...

[Joe the Revelator]

22. More proof that Team Hillary is republican-lite

Flip-floppery? For serious?

Talk about swift boating...

[geek tragedy]

2. When he first ran for Senate, he supported Right to Work

laws.

Now he's Mr. Labor.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

8. But he did

apologize for his entire Senate career. Should that count ?

[geek tragedy]

12. Is he admitting he was in the Senate?

I thought he was trying to get people to forget he was in the Senate.

[bpeale]

3. i don't think this is flip-flopping. he's just matured as a man & a father

people grow & change and so has John Edwards. i admire him greatly for the things he has matured in.

NO HILLARY ... EVER!!

[rinsd]

6. So this was a youthful indiscretion?

:evilgrin:

[bpeale]

17. what really makes hillary supporters mad

is that cannot effect any change to her with other voters. we simply laugh at you.

[rinsd]

21. There are far more Hillary supporters now on DU than 10 months ago.

I would say the merry little band of Hillary supporters has done quite well even in a hostile environment.

[bpeale]

23. i'm not hostile. i just don't want to hear anything they have to say.

[SaveElmer]

7. Please...

Criticizing Hillary for her efforts on universal care in the early 90's when he would have opposed such a proposal himself...

He is a hypocrite running from his past while criticizing others on theirs...

[zalinda]

9. And Clinton voting for Kyl/Lieberman is what?

IMO, she didn't learn her lesson. I'm much more willing to have a President who learns from their mistakes.

zalinda

[SaveElmer]

13. I reject your characterization of that vote...

Therefore as far as I am concerned your point is...well..pointless...

[Broke Dad]

10. Re: I'll take a trial lawyer to a member of the Rose Law Firm any day!

Hillary drones:

At least your "Girl" has always served the people with money. She's consistent!

Hillary was a partner in the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock while Big Dog was Governor. Go to the Rose Law Firm's website and look at their practice areas. Specifically look at "Labor." They state that they represent "Management" in all areas of litigation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964. So if you are discriminated against in Arkansas, Hillary's old firm will do their best to see that your employer can continue to discriminate. . . . and union bust . . . and maim.

Then look at the firms located in Arkansas . . .

Hillary represented the oppressors . . . because it paid better than representing the oppressed. John Edwards has always represented the oppressed. Hillary said on more than one occasion that somebody in the family had to make the money because the Governor of Arkansas made so little salary.

Both John Edwards and Hillary's Senate careers have been brief parts of their lives. Their legal careers have spanned all of their adult lives. John Edwards has been the equivalent of a Jedi Knight and Hillary has been the equivalent of the captain of the Death Star.

For all your advocacy for Hillary, you cannot point to a "victory" that she has achieved against the powerful interests that she represented in the Rose Law Firm or has taken money from for her Senate and Presidential campaigns. As the gospel of St. Luke says, 'You cannot love two masters. You will either love the one and hate the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Luke: 16:13 Hillary has chosen to love and serve the money.

At least she is consistent!

[bpeale]

16. nothing you can say or do will change my vote FOR edwards

i know in my heart he is the right candidate to change america. she is not & never will be. and she is the ONLY democratic candidate running who i can say with absolute certainty i will not vote for, no matter what.

[Cameron27]

11. Ah, his glass house is starting to get stoned.

Foolish man thought he could attack at will without being called out.

[Edgeoforever]

14. Record vs rhetoric - they call it "learning from his mistakes"

Whether is sponsoring war, failing to vote against drug companies medicare bill or against the federap ban on "partial abortions" we are supposed to salute these changes as "improvemennts" and buy it that words are more reliable than senate votes.

[Bluebear]

15. You forgot your other code word: "Waffling"

:scared:

[surfermaw]

18. Has it occured to you that there are MANY MORE Americans now without health cre

When in hells bells, is it a fault to change when the times change!

[surfermaw]

19. SOME ONE IS GETTING MORE AFRAID OF EDWARDS

He is going to win IOwa... is that the problem?

[bpeale]

24. thats it exactly

because they can't change our minds they try to change us by outscreaming us ... only we won't play.

[Cameron27]

25. He certainly does scare me,

that's the truth. Reading over his senate record has that very effect on me.

[Cameron27]

20. What does that have to do with the

basic premise of universal health care as a right for every American whether they can afford it or not?