Mother of 17 year old Natalie Sarkasian(Sp) is campaigning with Edwards and this isn't news?

[saracat]

Unbelievable.Natalie has only been dead a couple of weeks and her Mom is stumping for Edwards because he "gets" it about the insurance companies. This was on C-SPAN NH Rally today. Elizabeth Edwards made the point that is is a perfect example of what "negotiating " with these entities gets you.CIGNA only acquiesced when "threatened" and then it was too late.That is why "nicing " them doesn't work and we need a fighter! This story should be page one and it is not even being mentioned.Please contact the media and complain.MSM isn't even mentioning Edwards Debate performance last night.It is as if he wasn't there!

[AP]

1. Too much of an indictment of the insurance/health 'care' industry. MSM won't cover it.

[Jane Austin]

2. I believe if I were Edwards, I wouldn't be campaigning with them.

I think it could backfire as exploiting Nataline's death.

Hers is a compelling story, but I'm not sure any one candidate "owns" it.

[AP]

9. By that logic, the people who suffer the most because of bad policy shouldn't speak up about it?

[Jane Austin]

11. No, I didn't say that, and if he's going to use them in his campaign,

it will be good that they get all that publicity.

I just think it's a hard call to make, and it might backfire.

Edwards isn't my first choice, so maybe I'd better just shut up. :)

[AP]

14. "use them"? It sounds like they made the decision to go to NH to support Edwards

And I think people who suffer terrible loss and can see clearly the policy and the social reality that caused that loss are more entitled than anyone to go around and tell people what they think about the people and policies they think can prevent further misery.

[spooky3]

17. agree

:hi:

Hi, AP!

[Jane Austin]

18. Like I said, I should shut up.

Since Edwards is my second choice at this point, I should keep my own counsel on this.

[Hieronymus]

19. It's probably good therapy for the grieving family.

[unapatriciated]

36. agree -until you have walked in our shoes

and experienced unnecessary loss of life or crippling of a loved one at the hands of the Insurance Industry. You can not even begin to understand the frustration, helplessness and despair a parent feels when they can not provide treatment needed to save their child. Treatment that you know is covered but is denied by your Insurance Company. It's a game they play....called keeping the money for as long as they can. Their decision to support a candidate for true health care reform just might be what they need to lessen their pain. When my son became ill in 1991, my Insurance Company would play the game of denying, than approving (when forced), then "reviewing" (another form of denying)and finally providing treatment. I told our story to anyone who would listen, wrote letters to all members of The House and The Senate and several administrations(over and over again for years) asking for Health Care Reform. It gave me a release for all my frustrations, fears and despair and helped me keep my sanity.

[we can do it]

48. I Think Edwards Is Giving Them A "Voice"

[Luminous Animal]

20. They contacted the Edwards campaign.

So it is okay for billionaire Oprah to campaign for Obama but not okay for a family, the very sort of people on whose behalf Edwards is campaigning, to do the same for Edwards?

I hated the slimy criticism of Oprah's support for Obama and I am going to hate the slimy criticism of this family's support for Edwards.

[roguevalley]

44. then again, what a great channel for rage. bless them all.

[CTyankee]

10. I think a lot of people can identify, tho. This was an extreme example, but there have been other

horror stories I have heard from coworkers and even my own family. If John Edwards goes forward and competes in California, I hope my daughter will offer the story of my little grandson who was denied insurance because he needs glasses (he was only 2 1/2 at the time! A little kid!)

So I sure as hell get it. As a matter of fact it makes me so mad I might just contact the Edwards campaign myself and tell the story! The only thing that helped my little grandson was the S Chip program in CA.

[K Gardner]

23. Wow. They went to him after their daughter died.. to fulfill a promise to her and

to make certain no other child ever suffered the same fate. They spoke today, for the first time in public, at their own choice and with their own voice.. for all our children. They trusted John Edwards with that message and he let them speak for themselves. Should he have turned them away? Please, watch it.. listen to their own words before you accuse Edwards of exploitation.

[Jane Austin]

31. I understand that now, and wish I could take back what I said.

I was thinking out loud, and it came out like a concern troll. :(

[K Gardner]

32. LOL... don't worry about it. I do that all the time, it's all good !!

[Jane Austin]

34. Thanks.

When I think of all the times in my life I've said, "You don't have to say everything you think."!

I needed to say it at least one more time - to myself.

[glowing]

25. The parents chose him, not the other way around.. and they want to

use John to tell their story.. It was very clear... he gave them a huge amount of talking time today... He is letting Americans speak for Americans... I was crying listening to them... I don't think it backfires... they don't want her death to be in vain... and this is just one of the many examples John is talking about.

[fenriswolf]

39. it is when she goes to the candidate not vice versa

and from what i understand the mother came to edwards to help

[sandnsea]

45. Those people made their CHOICE, they're immigrants

They aer the embodiment of what this country is supposed to mean. They came here for the promise of America. They did everything right. Worked, bought insurance, raised wonderful children. And what did our system do? Killed their daughter. They have paid in blood for the right to say anything they want to say about anybody they want to say. As sure as any veteran of any war or civil rights fight in history. Why do we have to die in this country before we make the government do the right thing.

[JDPriestly]

47. Nataline's parents are probably campaigning as a form of tribute

to Nataline. You sound like a jealous Hillary supporter. Edwards speaks to the hearts of people who have been wronged by the corporatism that is now governing this country. Hillary represents the very corporatist interests that have wronged people like Nataline and her family. That is why Nataline's family is out there letting the world know they want John Edwards to be the next president of the United States.

[AndyA]

3. Edwards? Edwards who? Is John Edwards still running?

Wasn't he 10th in Iowa?

Isn't it Clinton and Obama, Obama and Clinton?

Who's this Edwards, and why would this woman want to campaign with him?

I'm sure ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Faux will get right on it with their top investigative reporting...you can depend on them for complete, uncensored news.

:sarcasm:

[frogmarch]

4. the MSM hates Edwards

He's the elephant in the room. They want to pretend he doesn't exist.

All we Edwards supporters can hope for is that lots of people heard the debate last night. John was electric!

[adnelson60087]

5. Obama is the golden boy

until the general election when McCain and Huckabee (who is just so LIKEABLE...) tear into his lack of legislative experience and rhetoric.

Natalie's story should be highlighted every freaking day on the news, but it nary gets a mention. How many Americans must die or receive poor quality care in the name of that merciless Free-Market god called Profit? It is a sad time for America.

[Hippo_Tron]

33. Agreed, this needs to be a bigger story

At the very least these companies should have incentive not to do this kind of shit because it could be a PR disaster.

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. God I hope not. I thought Jerry Lewis & Michael Moore held the last franchise

on that kind of thing. The potential for parody is too horrible to imagine.

[maximusveritas]

7. If they do cover it, they'll probably attack him

That's certainly the line coming from the Clinton camp:
"In order to be president, you need to do more than read articles about people who need help and talk about them," Carson said, saying Clinton was "somebody who's actually going to help people and not use them as talking points."

[Lucinda]

8. Other than a tiny amount of good press pre-Iowa they are totally ignoring JE

It's disgusting.

[flyarm]

13. and that ought to piss off every american!!! and scare every american that our elections are being

100% manipulated by the corporate media..and all corporations ..wake up america before you don't have a democracy!

today it's one candidate tommorrow another..

personally i think this is going to backfire..it is so noticable..that it is going to piss off many many dems and indy's..

fly

[Lucinda]

16. Yep. That's what is really scary.

Too many people seem to be willing to let it happen.

[midnight]

22. HOw interesting that they are autioning this very important position.

[unapatriciated]

37. I know it scares the hell out of me

frist they came for Gravel
then they came for Kucinich (my first choice)
now it is Edwards.
Whose to say they won't just call the whole thing off.

[weeve]

12. yes ...

... and she was one of the INSURED !!

18,000 Americans die yearly because they DON'T have health insurance. Compare that the the number of American deaths in Iraq, and then compare the amount of coverage each group recieves in the Corporate Media.

We really need John Edwards as our President.

[midnight]

15. Perfect person for those throughout the nation to see. They

need to hear first hand what negotiating gets you when you're in need of healthcare. Time for those who play god with our lifes to find another line of work.

[cali]

21. It's being covered in NH n/t

[K Gardner]

24. Good.. I'm glad to hear this.

[jenmito]

26. Edwards should be a talk show host-not president.

Let him have people on with sad stories, let him try to help them out if he wants. whatever. It just looks like exploitation at this point.

[K Gardner]

28. Why are you being so snarky today? Please re-read what you just wrote..

and then try to understand that the family went to him, not the other way around. No one is attacking you or your candidate. Or just watch the video of Nataline's mother today.. the family was thankful for the opportunity to speak to the nation about their daughter. There was no exploitation here.

[Andy823]

29. Sure

But if the shoe was on the other foot, and they had gone to Obama, as they did Edwards I am sure you would be saying something different! :eyes:

Why don't you stop attacking the other candidates, and tell us how Obama is going to "change" things. I have seen many posts on this site asking for Obama supporters to tell us all "why" we should switch to Obama, and to tell us "how" he is going to make the "change" happen, yet I am still waiting to read a reply. If I have missed it, please inform me?

[Luminous Animal]

30. Indeed, only milliaire talk show hosts and celebrities

should join campaigns.

Here is some sad stories murder by spreadsheet reality for you:


Natiowide Insurance Fraud and Vote for John Edwards by nyceve one of the greatest advocates of single-payer health care in the U.S.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/6/135653/8012/533/431694

Reporting on the rally and a diary chocked full of information by TomP (Edwards campaign worker) here:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/6/103755/8442/586/430632

More at DKos, this time from edgery: "Cigna killed my daughter" Grigot Sarkisyan at Edwards forum"
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/6/122335/8214/578/431641



To be sure, Grigot is no Oprah.

[surfermaw]

35. Fo sure he would be better at any thing, than what Dem + Republicans are picking

[unapatriciated]

38. I don't need or want sympathy

Sympathy won't give my son back his muscles or strength. If anyone is exploiting or using us it is the Insurance Industry. What we want is a real change in our health care system so others do not have to endure what we did because of the GREED of a profit driven system. The only way to accomplish that is to take the Insurance Industry out of the game.

[JohnLocke]

40. That's bogus.

[Triana]

27. M$M wants to keep the $tatu$-quo that keeps them in control of the national conversation...

...and who threaten their corprat control over the media - NOT someone who's going to threaten their power and control by breaking them up. (that would be Edwards)

[jillan]

41. I am so glad to hear that.

He keeps talking about her, and I was wondering what her family thought about it.

Erasing my bad thoughts as I type this. :)

[H2O Man]

42. That should be

on the front page of every newspaper in this country. John Lennon used to say that a conspiracy of silence speaks louder than words; this is the proof.

Nominated.

[MalloyLiberal]

43. CBS Evening News..sponsored by....CIGNA..fucking you up the ass hard every day

[sandnsea]

46. I saw that, they were wonderful people

I think we're going to have to have a movement with thousands of stories like this before people will accept change. They were terrific, very moving.