Why Edwards Is Confident About Health Care Politics

According to his advisers:

(1) He was first out of the gate with a plan to insure everyone; Clinton's plan borrows heavily from Edwards's.

(2) Edwards has credibility with Iowa voters on domestic policy issues, like health care.

(3) Elizabeth Edwards's health worries provide a subtext and prevent Edwards's opponents from criticizing him too much.

(4) This mantra: "

Edwards said on the first day of his administration he would submit legislation that ends health care coverage for the president, all members of Congress, and all senior political appointees in both branches of government on July 20th, 2009 - unless universal health care legislation that meets four specific, non-negotiable principles has been passed by that date.

" -- In other words, Edwards is bolder than Obama.

Comments

Well, at least Edwards admits that he's using his wife for political gain.

Posted by james | September 17, 2007 1:26 PM

"using" her?

Nice sexism there, bub.

The post says that her illness isa subtext and others are unwilling to criticize him on that basis.

If you think he's "using" her, you don't know Elizabeth Edwards.

Posted by DrFrankLives | September 17, 2007 1:44 PM

"In other words, Edwards is bolder than Obama."

I think you miss the point here.

In other words, Edwards is running against the type of Washington insiders represented by Hillary Clinton.

Posted by Petey | September 17, 2007 1:46 PM

John Edwards has a very bold solution to almost every issue that we are facing. He is the real leader and he would destroy any of the republican flip-floppers like Romney, Giuliani, McCain, Thomson in a general election.

Posted by Matt | September 17, 2007 2:13 PM

Using someone isn't sexism - although it's cute of you to try. Using someone is cowardly - to stand behind his sick wife and say, no you can't attack me - look at cancer girl! Yeah, that's what a real leader does. As though EE's bout with cancer all of a sudden makes them experts on health care. Virtually every American in this country has had someone in their lives touched by this terrible disease. For them to use it as a political shield is disgusting, and it's not going to work.

Posted by james | September 17, 2007 2:30 PM

Get some brain guys and gals. There is no question of using EE as a shield or anything. Edward's wife has been politically active for a while now. Its not that JE started bringing her onto stage only after they discovered her health problem.

At the end of the day whats important is whose plan is more comprehensive and covers more Americans. Thats all. Taking cheap shots at spouses is a very cheap, below the belt republican tactic.

Posted by Mandi | September 17, 2007 3:01 PM

We need to fix the health care issue but we cannot fix it unless we know how it is broken. For the answer, please see http://www.InteliOrg.com/

Posted by Dr Coles | September 17, 2007 3:26 PM

The main point is that Edwards will really fight for universal health care and Hillary is unlikely too. She hasn't been willing to take on the interests that don't want it, nor would she have even made this proposal if Edwards wasn't pushing the issue. Something I think many Iowa and New Hampshire primary voters will grasp.

Posted by AJ | September 17, 2007 3:46 PM

Hillary is likely to fight for health care, and she'll have a much more sympathetic Congress than she had in what will have been 15 years earlier. Edwards is only dropping further in the polls as he and his backers continue the ad-nauseam attacks on Hillary. He's dropped 5 points in the last 3 weeks!

Posted by Keith | September 18, 2007 3:02 AM

If knowing what you're talking about on healthcare and taking a strong stand to ensure that all Americans can have the same care as your beloved family member is "using" that family member, then I would ask ALL candidates to PLEASE start "using" their family members. Pretty Please?

Regarding this particular proposal, I think it's great, and I love that Edwards is pointing out the glaring hypocrisy of those who are more than happy to take single-payer government health care for themselves while denying it to us.

Posted by anonymous | September 19, 2007 1:05 AM