Edwards: Fight, Not Negotiate, for Health Care

[JohnLocke]

Edwards: Fight, Not Negotiate, for Health Care
Posted by Domenico Montanaro--MSNBC "First Read"
Saturday, December 15, 2007
----
From NBC/NJ’s Tricia Miller

DUBUQUE, Iowa -- In a campaign event where Edwards shared top billing with actor Kevin Bacon, the former senator returned a shot from rival Obama.

The former senator noted that Obama referred to him, saying that negotiations need to be made to pass universal health care. Obama’s criticism came in a town hall in Independence this morning.

“He said, I think you have to bring these people to the table and negotiate with them, and that’s what it’s going to take to get the health care that we need in this country,” Edwards said. “I just fundamentally disagree. I think we have an epic fight in front of us. And I think if we’re not up for that fight -- if you don’t have a fighter as your nominee and your president the same thing’s going to happen next year and for the following year and the following year that’s happened for the last few decades. How long have the Democrats been talking about universal health care? It started with Harry Truman literally!”

Kevin Bacon and his band opened the day’s first event with a three-song set. He then introduced Rep. Bruce Braley, an Edwards endorser who represents Dubuque. The freshman congressman, in turn, introduced Elizabeth Edwards, who paved the way for her husband.

"Republicans should scare us in a lot of ways,” she told the audience at Loras College. “Right now, according to the Quad City Times, the leading Republican candidate is Mike Huckabee. Seems like a nice, charming guy -- doesn’t believe in evolution and has some nutty views about what it is we should do in terms of ending violence in our inner city. We should make sure all of our young people are armed. Republicans scare me.”

Edwards and Bacon have two more events today, the first in Cedar Falls and the second in Mason City.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/15/519168.aspx

[K Gardner]

1. LOL... "Republicans scare me", he's funny..

I just wish he'd change his insurance mandate plan, just a little. That's really the only gripe I have with JE.

[1corona4u]

2. Yep. Me too...

Don't like the wage garnishment, or the thought of bill collectors hassling people either...or the thought of having to pay with my taxes, which would mean I would have to come up with 3-4-5-6 thousand dollare MORE at tax time. Not a good idea.

[annie1]

3. i don't know how he would do it but i don't think it would come to that....

that being said, i am not crazy about a mandate either. these 2 (HRC and HE) better come up with a real palatable sell for their mandate.

[1corona4u]

5. It's on his website...

read the plan.

[Little Star]

4. Which of our candidates have a better plan? Do they have a...

snowballs chance in hell of getting the nod or winning the general?

[K Gardner]

6. That's why I said I wish he'd tweak his plan. n/t

[1corona4u]

7. Well, given that Biden's plan

would immediately cover all children, and the rest of it is in 4 steps to a universal plan, it's a heck of a lot better than ((BAM)), in your face plan...I think it has a better chance of surviving without too many fights or changes.

If you care to read it;

http://www.joebiden.com/issues?id=0003

[bobbolink]

9. How many adults (like me) die while we wait for children first?

CHILDREN, because they cost less.

Cynical.

[1corona4u]

10. Did you read the plan, or are you just bashing?

Go read it.

[bobbolink]

21. I'm objecting to it all being for children, and I can just go quietly die.

Maybe that doesn't matter to you.

[NC_Nurse]

8. You don't get to opt out of Social Security or Medicare taxes either.

That's the only way to make it work.

[OzarkDem]

11. And it will require a fight, a big one

Even the health care reform advocacy groups are talking about "incremental" reform inside the DC bubble. They've backed very far away from real reform. They still talk of "universal" health care, but what they're not saying is they're not going to ask for it for several more years.

Edwards plan is the best out there among the candidates and being willing to fight for it, and he'll have to, makes all the difference.

[K Gardner]

13. Incremental is being talked about quite a bit. For one, people are still basically uneducated about

true universal single payer and 2) I'm hearing a lot of talk about what would happen to the already fragile economy if we were to, essentially, put all insurance companies and HMOs out of business. I hadn't thought of it that way, and I hate to.. prop up bloodsuckers while people die.. but I hadn't thought about the economic fallout of single payer. I don't know if that's an excuse, or a red herring, or a legitimate issue ::shrugs:: but I agree, it will be several years down the road, at least. Best bet is to find the best interim plan..

[sandnsea]

14. Most of this is done

SCHIP just needs more money, everything else is in place. Lots of states also have programs to cover families, add money, and many of those people would be in too. After that, you evaluate which plan is most cost effective and reaches the most people and you expand that to everybody else. Hell Oregon has programs that anybody could join, if there was just enough money to cover everybody. Once we get everybody in, we can decide whether we want to go on to single payer or not. It honestly wouldn't take more than a year if we just put the money into it.

[K Gardner]

15. Point taken.. thanks for the insight :-) n/t

[OzarkDem]

16. They won't go out of business; single payer will help the economy

Medicare and Medicaid patients often participate in HMO plans, states often require it.

Many new jobs will also be created when Medicare is expanded. When everyone is included in health care coverage, lots of jobs will be created, employer costs will go down and US products will become more competitive with foreign producers.

[K Gardner]

19. Excellent point.. thanks ! n/t

[polichick]

12. imo the most attractive thing about John Edwards is...

...his willingness and ability to take on the bigs boys of corporate America. I think Hillary's already too comfortable with them and Obama would try to unite with them ~ either way, we're screwed. It WILL take a fighter!

[Little Star]

17. Sad day when the Des Moines Register thinks JRE is not ...

corporate enough for Iowa.

[polichick]

18. Definitely an interesting development. nt

[bvar22]

22. Yes. John Edwards cares too much for the "little people"...

who have to Work for a Living".


The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[JohnLocke]

20. Kick