Edwards shares message of hope
By Stephen Elliott--Quad-Cities Online
Monday, November 19, 2007----
DAVENPORT -- He stood backstage in a black sport coat and blue jeans, a group of middle-aged admirers lined up, waiting for his autograph.
But the group wasn't waiting for presidential candidate John Edwards, who spoke to a full auditorium at Davenport's North High School Monday afternoon. They were there for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer/songwriter Jackson Browne, who along with fellow Hall of Famer Bonnie Raitt performed before Mr. Edwards took the stage.
"It was a very warm reception," Mr. Browne said as he signed old vinyl record and compact disc covers. "I can't tell how many have already decided (on Edwards) or are still shopping in Iowa.
"I think there's a great deal of hope in his message," Mr. Browne said. "Because he's going to take the fight to the insurance interests. Because he's willing to say that's what has to change in this country. It gives people hope."
(...)
Like former President Harry Truman,
Mr. Edwards talked about "giving hell" to special interests and lobbyists and a system he said is not helping the poor.
He spoke about providing universal health care, raising taxable income caps to help fund Social Security and bringing troops home from Iraq. "The American people are up for this challenge," Mr. Edwards said to applause from the audience. "The great thing is we never take the easy way out. That's not us. That's not who we are. But, we have a fight in front of us. We have to be ready for that fight."
(....)
As she was walking out of the auditorium, Merredyth Beno, of Eldridge, was talking to her sister on her cell phone.
"This is the best event in the world," she said. "We're going to be John Edwards groupies the rest of our lives."
Ms. Beno, who had her picture taken with Jackson Browne and the senator, said she has seen all of Mr. Browne's concerts within a 60-mile radius.
"And to be 5 feet in front of him," she laughed, adding about Mr. Edwards, "There's nothing phony about him. He's genuine. To have them here together is a dream come true."
Some proposals outlined by John Edwards during his Davenport campaign stop Monday:
--End the war in Iraq. He supports immediately drawing down 40,000 to 50,000 combat troops. Said the 2002 authorization didn't give President George W. Bush the power to use U.S. troops to police a civil war.
--Expand college opportunities to everyone. Wants to make college more affordable for millions of students. Said students would be required to take part-time jobs and offered to reform student loans to eliminate bank subsidies.
--Social Security. Said he is against privatizing, cutting benefits and raising the retirement age. Wants to raise the cap taxable income for Social Security from the current $97,000.
--Wants universal health care. Would make private insurers compete with a public plan available through Health Care Markets. These markets would give families and businesses purchasing power and choice of plans, including one public plan.
"I've had people come to (his wife) Elizabeth and me and tell us they have breast cancer," he said. "But, unlike Elizabeth, they have no health-care coverage. And you can see the fear in their eyes as a result."
http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=363272
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