"The idea that these people are going to give in without a fight is a fantasy"

[bigtree]

1/7/2008

Edwards' Drawl and Message Not Out of Place in N.H.

Derry, N.H. — John Edwards, Democrat of North Carolina, is standing in the middle of a white-painted high school cafeteria with a microphone, trying to tap a vein of populist indignation as tender and angry as a Bruce Springsteen song.

The conventional wisdom — the “national media,” as he puts it — says Edwards is at best a foil now. Having banked years and dollars in the state of Iowa only to come up short in the Democratic caucus there, facing a pair of foes with $200 million raised between them, the theory goes this man has little hope of converting the flinty New Hampshire independents to his stated cause: fighting for the life of the middle class.

And yet, with a little more than 30 hours until the New Hampshire polls will open, the stylish lawyer/crusader with the sweet drawl has a room of roughly 500 people held stone silent as he unveils a catalogue of awful truths.

The 47 million people who will go to sleep that night uninsured and terrified of falling ill.

The 300,000 veterans who will “go to sleep under a bridge, or on a grate.”

Edwards will have none of the talk of conciliation with “special interests” that has peppered the speeches of Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, the apparent leader in New Hampshire.

“My view is that you can't just negotiate and hope that these drug companies and oil companies and insurance companies will give away their power,” Edwards said Sunday night. “I don't think they will. I think we have an epic fight on our hands for the future of this country and the future of the middle class in America.”

“The idea that these people are going to give in without a fight is a fantasy,” Edwards said. “We have to take them on. We have to be willing to take them on.


http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=45321aa4-f9fc-42de-84e2-79f1d85bc006

[ananda]

1. Keep that message out there, John!

nt

[begin_within]

2. Go John Go!

The real voice of change (along with Kucinich).

[midnight]

3. I want someone who will fight against the idea that being in pain

does not have to be covered by insurance co. because they say it is not medically neccessary. Take them on John!!!

[Naturyl]

4. He's right, and kudos to him for hammering on this. (n/t)

[SammyWinstonJack]

5. K&R!

[samdogmom]

6. He's my first choice!

But, if he falls short of winning the nomination, I'll settle for Attorney General! Go get them, John!

[GalleryGod]

8. The thought of an A.G. Edwards sends GOPers

looking for "Attends"

[nancyharris]

7. John Edwards'

health care proposal is not single-payer universal health care. He proposes to cover those 47 million uninsured with subsidized private health insurance. This is similar to Mitt Romney's plan instituted in Massachusetts. People will still be required to buy heath insurance.

[FogerRox]

11. And the second part of the plan is ......... ?

Even Obama wouldnt say that about JRE.

[nancyharris]

13. And the second part of the plan is

what?

[FogerRox]

16. You only included the first 1/2, wheres the second half

[nancyharris]

20. Sorry, but

there is no "second half". His "universal" health plan is to get everyone to buy health insurance (ala Mitt Romney). Perhaps you are uninformed of his health care position. It is fully explained on his web site.

[Yuugal]

21. here is your second half

If you can't afford to buy the policy you don't have to pay. People up to 100k will get assistance. Poor and working class people won't pay a dime.

[nancyharris]

22. You've been led to believe something that simply isn't true.

Nowhere on the Edwards' web site does he claim that "working class people won't have to pay a dime" for their health care. Why would you believe such a thing?

[Yuugal]

23. I believe it because he said it on 12/30 when asked to clarify

Someone from the audience asked Edwards why would it be a good thing to force everyone to buy something they can't afford now. His response:

"Everyone gets coverage
If you can't afford it you will get the coverage anyway
No pre-existing conditions bs
Dental and Eyecare too
Assistance with paying for it will extend up to earnings of 100k
You can keep what you have now if you like
It will cost 120 billion(first realistic cost estimate I've ever heard any candidate have the courage to admit)
Edwards will pay for the program by repealing Bush's lavish tax cuts for Richie Rich"

For the poor, working class , and middle class, this is the best deal we are ever going to get. If you think hes a liar, I understand. People either believe his recent conversion to populism or they don't. I believe him though. Its better than vague hopes or corporate-sponsored promises IMHO.

[Blackhatjack]

9. It is THE MESSAGE that is resonating with people across the country....

... and is the reason that Edwards has held his own with the million dollar rivals by spending substantially less than they have and outworking them on the campaign trail.

THanks for keeping the message front and center for those who still have not made the connection.

[The Stranger]

10. He is absolutely right on target with this and this is why we need Edwards as P or VP on the ticket.

We cannot make it without him.

[Ignis]

19. I could live with him in either slot.

But of course I'd prefer the P.

:hi:

[Richard Steele]

12. K&R

[killbotfactory]

14. Who says anyone is going to give in without a fight?

Did I miss that memo?

[The Stranger]

15. Maybe you've missed the whole recent Democratic-led Congress.

To put the current Democratic Congressional leadership and the word "fight" in the same sentence would be laughable -- if only it rose to such a level.

[AzDar]

17. The antidote to Bush, I'm convinced, is JRE.

That's a helluva mess he's going to have to clean up.

[balantz]

18. Damn he's a fighter!

Will America see the message of what is really at stake here through the media blackout? Are Americans aware enough to see through the programming by the corporate M$M mouthpiece to see which candidates are being propped up by them as "safe" for the survival of corporate domination, or which of the top three candidates is the one who is a threat to their powerful stranglehold on us and treated by them as if he didn't exist?

[onehandle]

24. Kick! nt