Elizabeth Edwards Returns McCain's Fire, Demands 'Straight Talk'

Days ago, Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former nominee contender John Edwards, took aim at GOP nominee John McCain's health care plan, pointing out that, under the plan, insurance companies "wouldn't have to cover preexisting conditions like melanoma and breast cancer." That meant that she and McCain shared two common traits: both have been diagnosed with cancer, and "Neither one of us would be covered by his health policy."

Afterwards, McCain advisor Douglas Holtz-Eakin characterized Edwards' remarks as "disappointing" and scolded her for not fully grasping the Senator's plan. Via ThinkProgress:

Holtz-Eakin said McCain's policy would harness "the power of competition to produce greater coverage for Americans." Because McCain's plan would lower the cost of healthcare through competition, Holtz-Eakin said, it would reduce costs for consumers with or without preexisting conditions.

Naturally, you'd think that those powerful markets would have nigh been harnessed, seeing as how cancer isn't exactly a new affliction. Well, Elizabeth Edwards wasn't having any of it, and hit back hard in a guest post at ThinkProgress' Wonk Room:

I freely admit that I am confused about the role of overnight funding in repurchase markets in the collapse of Bear Stearns. What I am not confused about is John McCain's health care proposal. Apparently Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a senior policy advisor to McCain, thinks I do "not understand the comprehensive nature of the senator's proposal." The problem, Douglas, is that, despite fuzzy language and feel-good lines in the Senator's proposal, I do understand exactly how devastating it will be to people who have the health conditions with which the Senator and I are confronted (melanoma for him, breast cancer for me) but do not have the financial resources we have. In very unconfusing language: they are left outside the clinic doors.

But Edwards didn't leave the matter settled with a clever riposte, either, posing four substantive questions that she didn't think McCain would have the capacity to answer. The fourth was a coup de grace:

Isn't the type of competition you are talking about really a rush to the bottom? As long as you allow insurers to underwrite and deny access, you encourage insurers to offer plans that may be cheap, but that get that way by avoiding people with cancer or other high-cost diseases or by limiting benefits and treatments, particularly if the treatment is expensive or might be needed for a long time. We all live in the real world; those of us lucky enough to have health insurance have seen how insurers cut coverage and up co-pays or deny particular treatments. The insurance company makes money when it doesn't have to pay for our health care. (I suspect that if they could, they would write obstetrical-only policies for nuns.) Doesn't your plan really encourage insurers plans to compete to avoid people with cancer or other high-cost diseases? Don't you think that the kind of competition that starts with a decent level of required coverage, that doesn't exclude the care we actually need, would be better?

In related news: Is it too late to draft Ms. Edwards to run for President?

Comments

[blueshift]

She would make a fine secretary of health education and welfare....or any other office. While you're at it Obama, put John Edwards to work too. These are very bright people.

[orchidspin]

I wanted to vote for John Edwards and one of the main reason was because he is married to Elizabeth. I think she is the embodiment of grace and one of the most intellect women out there today. John Edwards should be the next attorney general no matter who ends up president. Loving Elizabeth!

[GeoLee]

Good for Elizabeth. Let's face it, the old Reagan Republican mantra that competition will reduce cost has resulted in my cable bill now costing 6 times more and with fewer channels, my health insurance cost having gone up by 5 times the amount I was paying when Reagan left office, My phone bill is quadrupled, and what I pay for gasoline is about five times more. My income is only about twice as much and that isprobably because I have an additional part time job I did not have then. Competition reducing costs flies in the face of reality in my lifetime experience. Does McCain have any credibility on anything he says about costs of anything? Probably ought to give him the old "How much gallon of milk or a loaf of bread cost, Senator? " test. Obama's health plan were not everyone would be required to be a part of the health plan is no better, either, really. Could we please have Elixabeth run for President...now, that is someone all of us could coalesce around.

[orianna]

HuffPost's Pick

Can anyone, for the life of me, tell me why we haven't figured out that eliminating the middle man of health care, i.e. insurance brokers, we get more mileage out of health care????

We could all pay into health care, like we do our taxes and social security (based on ability to pay) and we all get to go the doctor or hospital when we need to. We can even hire some of the insurance claims folks to oversee that doctors and the citizen of US don't do unnecessary surgeries (do people do that?).

That doesn't seem to be thinking outside of the box, really. Insurance companies are not necessary... they are expensive liabilities aimed at profiting from our fears of losing our shirts (homes.. those who still have them) to illness requiring health care.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

I think that is basically what Hillary proposed in 1993 and she got crucified for it.

[treadway123]

You got that wrong! Hillary wants to adopt the canada Health Care plan. Coverage would come out of your Pay check, rather it was meant for your rent or food for your kids wouldn't matter. Guess you move in with mom, or double with relatives. Seems a lot of people manage that way over there. But than that would triple the food stamps, and have red cross and human service trying to come up with rent money for millions of people. So, just what is it that we can with Hillary robbing pay checks to pay health care Ins. for us. I'm not sure if any Health care program will work, but kennedy an Hatch did the Chip health care for the children and it was a real success. So I feel if good guys like them put thier heads together with someone who will listen like obama, just maybe they can come up with something real good. No, the chips program was NOT Hillarys baby!

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

We need to get rid of HMOs entirely. They make money by denying essential and life saving care. That is patently immoral.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Well, then there is the 30% the HMOs pay in overhead, vs about 2-3% for Medicare...

[DoninJoisey]

Exactly. I liked Kucinich's plan best, because that's what he advocated.

I think Hillary's "everybody has to buy health insurance" is ludicrous - we could do that now, if we could afford it - what a windfall for the health insurance companies!!!!

Insurance companies should be brought up on fraud charges - they regularly deny valid claims - "oh, we make a mistake - resubmit it" - is VERY common.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

Hillary's plan forces insurance companies to accept everyone. It has premium caps so the premium can't go over a certain % of your income. It has subsidies and tax rebates to help lower income people afford it. It has subsidies for employers to help them provide insurance for their employees, especially small businesses. It has plans to implement electronic records for healthcare to help lower costs by eliminating wasted administrative costs. It includes plans to allow the medicare to bargain with drug companies for lower drug prices the same way that veterans care does.

He rplan isn't as you state - just go buy it.

[FirstBlowupDollLaura]

Kucinich and his single-payer plan were the only real solution to America's health care crisis.

Insurance profiteers are the middleman in health care that American can no longer afford. They're also the biggest-spending lobby, so good luck getting the powers that be to come up with any health care plan that excludes them.

Kucinich's plan for health care puts every one else's to shame.

[MinuteMan]

The problem with both Clinton's and Obama's plan is that they seem to leave the bulk of the population in about the same place. The only difference is that there might be some government subsidized plan as a fall back if you lose your job.

[Dyogenes]

Great idea! Everyone is served, like in public education and public libraries. We all pay into the Government (based on ability to pay), and the Government reimburses health care providers (based on patient need and contracted fees). Doctors chose to participate and negotiate fees for necessary medical services. How simple is that--cutting out all the BS overhead should reduce costs by 40--60%. At least until the Republicans take over once again, and privatize everything and Halliburton stops payment on all the Government checks.

[ahornick]

I would just change the term "middle man" to "profit motive" from the equation. We don't have a profit motive for police, firemen, teachers, water, national defense, etc., etc. because like all their services, health care is not elective. Everyone gets sick and dies. More often than we like to think, the health care you get can determine when.

And at the same time, while the conservatives try to scare us with the term "socialized medicine", they had no problem throwing our tax money at the banks to cover their bonus bloated asses.

[hillarysupporter]

This country needs to look at healthcare totally differently, and your comparisons to other
"services" is a very good start.

[Mariel]

I like this too. Yes, she was and is an important part of the Edwards' campaign. I would love to see her as president, too. She would need a strong VP in case she would die in office. But that is ALWAYS true of every president; he/she needs a strong VP in case death came. Hurray for Elizabeth. May God protect her health and her usefulness to her family and the nation.

[rrafiringa]

I'd vote for her long before I'd vote for Hillary.

[FirstBlowupDollLaura]

Now you're talking.

[jaypem]

For me, this was always one of the problems with the Edwards campaign, last time and this time. Elizabeth is way tougher and more substantive than her husband (remember when she and not John challenged Cheney's lie in the 2004 VP debate that he had never seen John spend a day working in the Senate?). But why is she left to do the "heavy lifting" out on the campaign trail in her condition? The whole thing diminishes her husband in my eyes, and makes me uneasy.

[mamamay]

I am glad to hear that Elizabeth E is doing ok. I miss tham on the campaigns. McC appears to be having more demential & Alzheimer moments. He is too hot headed and He doesnt care which war we fight, or we struggle to get out of, He appears to be struggling with PTDS, and doesnt realize the war going on when he was a POW is not Iraq Afganistan, Iran, etc. He need anger management classes to calm him down. He appears to be a ticking bomb ready to go off.. Folks leave the Edw's alone. Why are folks so nosy to want to interfere with who does the lifting in ones marriage. The Edw's appear to be doing just fine in their chosen roles. My husband and I do the jobs that need to be done as they are needed to be done, we don't wait to see who does what when. This is fine for us and it appears to be working for the Edwards. Let's dwell on issues. As we speak another person is battling with Bcancer. It was my neice two weeks ago, and it could be yours today. What are doing with Health Care? Obama has sold me on his concerns for HC and other Issues.

[DoninJoisey]

Disagree. Elizabeth has earned my respect, as has John. I admit I couldn't get past his southern twang - in my experience it's never been a sign of intelligence, but John is intelligent.

I respected Edwards when he admitted that he was wrong to have supported the war in Iraq - something Hillary won't do. I want a president that will admit a mistake - had enough of ones that deny reality or lie.

[ErnestineBass]

Lemme get dis right...your nick is "DoninJOISEY, and you gotta a problem wid a southern accent?

Good grief.

[iPolitics]

McCain is running for Secretary of Defense not president. You are going to make him angry if you keep bringing up the economy or healthcare. You won't like him when he's angry.

[GoreyFantod]

McCain no like poor sick people! McCain smash!

[PrdAmerican]

I can't wait to see him blow his top....that will be a YouTube coup, and, most likely, send his campaign down in flames.

[JuniorBug]

I don't like him now.

[Fitzy]

Good for you Elizabeth.
Now there's a woman to be proud of.

[Titonwan]

John wouldn't want the VP slot (can't blame him), but he needs to be placed somewhere important in President Obama's Cabinet. Strong and smart people, the Edwards.

[PlantGod72]

Frankly, after all his attempts to become the 'King/Queen-maker' in this race, and the snide remarks credited to him about Obama, I'd much rather see Elizabeth as the Edwards in President Obama's cabinet, if there were to be one.

EE has always been the more genuine, gutsy and courageous of the two.....which is why he could never gain any momentum as a candidate.

[drzoon]

he wouldn't back down to her on the "health care" issue.. and she got mad at him... and nothing has changed since. she feels strongly about the mandate issue... and he feels strongly that its not needed. to be brutally honest, he didn't kiss her ring... and she won't forget it. i respect that they both have strong feelings about the issue and won't give in for the sake of giving in. but its caused problems throughout the whole relationship now. he would have done better not to have gone to NC to begin with.

[mox]

Without skipping a beat, the next Republican candidate for president is pandering to the lowest common denominator. Did he not learn lessons from that same mistake that George W. Bush made throughout both of his terms? We may be a country with a 25% college educated electorate, but we're not stupid.
Thank you Elizabeth Edwards for standing up to the same idiot GOP policies that have brought this country down to a grinding halt. Your insight and willingness to connect with educated voters is resonating with Barack Obama's supporters.

[2008andbeyond]

Now that's a woman who would have gotten my attention for president. She is being specific, going after the GOP nominee on political grounds instead of her own party with personal attacks.She is also keeping whatever grievances she has toward Hillary and Barack private during this primary season. Seems seh knows how to play the game better than Hill and perhaps better than her husband.

I think she could teach a class on being couth and honest to Mrs. Rodham Clinton.

[Liberal2]

Exactly. Okay, howsabot Russ Feingold/Elizabeth Edwards Nov '08...if no one wins on the first convention vote.

[GeoLee]

Count me in!

[Jane]

Yes! Put her back on the campaign trail right now. Or hire her, or something. Someone needs to hit McCain over and over and she has the hgh profile and the smarts to do it.

[PlantGod72]

AND a genuine likeability and respect for her own life story!

[PrdAmerican]

Now that's how to HIT McLame....start TALKING....start going into policy, move past the niceties. McLame does not comprehend specifics and I am literally ITCHING to see his debates....be it Obama or Clinton either one will mop the floor with him!

I love Elisabeth Edwards, she's a strong woman who has had one hell of a year...re-­diagnosed, the election, and the loss of her father...and yet, there she is...still batting away for all us regular folk. I truly appreciate her work and words.

[MinuteMan]

Gore killed Bush in the debates but Bush "won" because he didn't come out looking like the complete idiot that everyone expected—more like a myna bird. Maybe McCain will be cocky enough to not stick to a script of predefined vague answers and really step in it, but I wouldn't bet on it. The place to take him to task is outside of the "debates".