Elizabeth Edwards: I'm Already Working With Obama's Team On Health Care

Elizabeth Edwards appeared on this morning's Good Morning America to discuss the Democratic Party's approach to universal health care. While Edwards had previously stated a preference for the health care proposal created by New York Senator Hillary Clinton over that of Senator Barack Obama, she told GMA host (and fellow cancer battler) Robin Roberts that she plans to "partner" with Obama on health care, and is "already working with this team with respect to health care."

[WATCH.]

ROBERTS: Last month when your husband endorsed Senator Obama many noted that you did not. They did not hear from you. And they have a feeling that maybe you did not back him like your husband did. Is that the case? And are you backing Senator Obama now?

EDWARDS: I'm backing Senator Obama. I expect to work as hard as I need to. As I'm called on to do to make certain that he is the next president. I'm already working with this team with respect to health care, trying to make certain that we get the message out about how much difference it will make in individual American's lives if we have a president with the ideas and the vision that Senator Obama has, as opposed to the same old same old, that Senator McCain is suggesting we can live with. I don't think we can.

ROBERTS: Recently, this is what Senator Obama said about McCain's health care plan and the possibility of working with you. This is what he said recently.

OBAMA: We cannot afford that. Not when 47 million Americans already are uninsured. A number that is growing by the day. By the way, I'm going to be partnering up with Elizabeth Edwards - we're going to be figuring all of this out.

ROBERTS: The last time I talked with you, Elizabeth, early April in Boston, you indicated at that time that you considered Senator clinton's health care plan to be a better plan. That had you concerns about Senator Obama's health care plan. Are you going to partner with him and do you still have the same concerns?

EDWARDS: I'm going to partner with him. The idea is, we want to get to universality. We want to make certain that every American is covered. You know, the mechanism for doing that, there's going to be disagreement about what that is. I expect that the final solution be worked out in Congress about how it is we get every American covered. Although I have my particular preferences, it makes -- it makes a huge difference whether or not, it's Senator Obama's plan or Senator McCain's plan. You know, I have cancer, you have cancer. With pre-existing conditions, if you have those kind of conditions, Senator Obama guarantees that you have coverage. Pre-existing conditions are covered. Senator McCain's is a lot more problematic and potentially enormously expensive. His latest suggestion about how it is we cover people with pre-existing conditions can be enormously expensive and, contrary to what Senator McCain says, a huge government-run program.

Comments

[3Gs]

Edwards is great, and his wife's help is appreciated. My only hope is that Bill Clinton completely retires, and Hillary is allowed to participate alone in the general election as a proud sponser of the democratic party. Being a devoted BO supporter, I am willing to set all bad feelings from the primaries aside and win this thing big. She should be stumping for all the close congressional races, as well. Call it penance. Call it working for the money we will be giving her to pay down her campaign debts. Call it 'what she needs to do'.

[WFV]

BO is surrounding himself with excellent female advisors and those who will work hard for his administration. I still don't trust the former candidate any further than I could throw her, and any involvement in his campaign should not translate to his administration. No way.

[ohmercy]

Penance?

Penance is something uyou do as a punishment, looking for forgiveness.
Why does she need to do penance?
The money "we" will be giving her.
What do you mean by we?
You aren't giving her money unless you donate to her specifically.
Don't you get how that works?
IF Obama supporters do collect/bundle money for her debt Obama will in fact get far more in return since Clinton has a General Election war chest worth far more millions of dollars than the debt. Further, Clinton does not want her personal debt paid by Obama supporters as she feels it is an investment she made.
On top of the war chest is her own donor list and big donors/bundlers worth many millions of dollars that will be going to Obama.

What she needs to do?

she doesn't "need" to do it. She wants to do it. This is who Hillary Clinton is despite how you and so many have smeared her. If you had bothered to research her you would have known that and so much more.
I'm actually very thankful that so many people on blogs were so hateful with their parroting of neocon lies and media garbage. It made me rethink Clinton and do a lot of research on her and Barack who had been my original candidate. What I found was a pretty amazing woman. Loyal, tough, disciplined, hard working, warm, kind, generous and scary smart. (and YES-- principled.)

[justobserve]

Let's face it: Hillary got to where she is today is no doubt due to Bill's help. Many women worked just as hard as Hillary but couldn't get to the height Hillary got. How could she get to be a NY senator when she didn't live there? How she can claim of experience to run for president? Didn't she herself used her WH years to credit her experience with? So she just can't cut him off after such a long time being dependent on him and his name to get what she wanted.

[lizr]

As a long time Clinton supporter who was very disappointed at the way that campaign was run, I'd say maybe Bill could take some time off and let Hillary have the spotlight herself with Obama.

Give us all a break, eh?

[Batwoman]

Why don't you people become more informed regarding campaign money and debt. Obama has tapped out his large donors and need an infusion of cash. Hillary needs her debt paid off, thus the 2 will have their "big donors and bundlers" meet. Obama's people will give to pay off her debt, her supporters will give to put more money in his campaign since he can also transfer this money to the general election. Presto !! each side has actually paid for there own candidate by smartly getting around McCain/Feingold. It's a little seamly but legal. Hillary has 23 million in the bank for the general election that she can not use since she was not selected as the nominee. IN ESSENCE OBAMA IS NOT PAYING OFF ANYTHING FOR HER. Let it go people, you are making people like me more angry every thime you mention this issue since you don't know the full scope of what you are talking about .

[Daisy1111]

Good points Batwoman.

You have to understand that H.P. is a place frequented by low information voters.

[speakingtruth2power]

The participation of this wonderful woman is very much needed

and I wish her good health for years to come. Getting to universal

care is a big step to the final liberal goal of single payer coverage.

[kellygrrrl]

agree!
I am thrilled to see EE on the O team!

[SPQR1052]

I think an Obama?Edwards or Obama/Wexler or Obama/Sellibus or Obama/ Webb or Obama/Biden or Obam/Richardson ticket would win. In fact I am not too certain that een an Obama/Clinton ticlet couldn't win BUT the negatives in my opinion out weight the positives and Obama should really really think hard about the latter. Anyway I am on the O train 100% regardless.

[Jamchinadian]

And I agree with you 100% - on everything you said!

[jwarrener]

One Classy Woman who would have made a great First Lady.
Stay well, Elizabeth and thanks for continue to fight for making things better for all Americans.

[Rosanneofpgh]

Elizabeth Edwards looks great! She obviously isnt letting her cancer get the better of her! She would have been an awesome First Lady. Too bad John Edwards had to drop out of the race due to financial considerations. They would have been a spectacular asset to this country.

I can accept Obama as president but if he's wise, he'll pick John Edwards for his veep. The Edwards and the Obamas could do much to reclaim some of the respect for the us that prez fucksupalot and the evil one has lost by their greed and warmongering.

[marymansour]

I am an Obama zealot from the gitgo but I agree with you about picking Edwards as his running mate. I think it would be a great ticket.

[lizr]

have always loved Edwards and it would help with the Southern White men problem.

[ofbbg]

Oh, swell - the blind leading the blind.

[chroipahtz]

Oh, swell - unfounded ad hominem attacks. I'm sure you just convinced a bunch of people with that gem.

[3Gs]

What are you?

[4wehttam]

I'm sure she's a nice person and all, but I don't know, there is just something about her that I just don't like. I've felt that way from the beginning, even when her husband was still in the race. Sorry if anyone is offended, but that's my two cents. Something is just missing, I don't know what it is though.

[Myshkin57]

You need to try to figure out what that is because it sounds like you don't have any reason for disliking her.

[4wehttam]

Alright, I'll give it some thought. Thanks for the objective response.

[bessie1]

It must be because you dislike white people.

[4wehttam]

That's the BEST you can come up with, despite the very possibility that I may be white myself? Next time instead of being flippant, you may want to leave the ignorance and lack of perspective at the door.

[MichaelGeneSullivan]

What, is there some law that says all progressives must like Elizabeth Edwards?

[jupitor]

I'm voteing Obama , and I wish mrs. Edwards well. I too find I don't care for her much. i think she may be one of those ruleing women. Who like to wear the pants in the family and thats the way she came accross to me on the campagne trail. although I really do like mr. Edwards a lot. O yes bessie1, I'm a white woman, who don't really care for this white woman much, but wish her god's speed in getting well! Don't make so much about what people say. Every one is worth listening to.

[Syco]

I know i do

[FACINGREALIT]

I am a 50 year old African American female who doesn't like Elizabeth for the very same reason I don't care too much for Hillary. They are both women of priviledge who try to pretend that they understand what it is like to be poor or disadvantaged. But I am an equal opportunity disliker for I also don't care to much for the poverty pimps of Jesse Jackson, Sr, Juan Williams and Al Sharpton. But I love me some Kathleen Sebelius.

So, I guess you can call me someone who have some people I just don't like regardless of race, creed or color!

[shelobo]

Keep THINKING ,I bet you find whats missing ,the best way to find what we think others lack ,is to look in a mirror ,then and only then do we find the truth.

[RI]

How uplifting! Even though of course she would have preferred to have John win the nomination, and has been previously reported and reiterated here, she has disagreed with Obama over the details of his health plans, she is willing to contribute to the eventual solution and she can also see and articulate the big differences with McCain’s plans.

Now, if she would speak to Hillary’s supporters, many of whom are still processing their anger and disappointment, that would be most helpful.

[bbrecht]

Yay! Smooches to Elizabeth Edwards! And to Obama for recognizing her leadership-