Elizabeth Edwards Responds To McCain Over Healthcare "Cheap Shot"

John McCain accused me of taking a "cheap shot" on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" yesterday for noting that people with preexisting conditions, such as he and I have, would not be able to get health care under his plan -- and that he perhaps was not as sensitive to this problem as he should be since he has been in government health care his whole life.

Sen. McCain noted that he was not receiving government health care for the six years he was in captivity. That is true. But it has nothing to do with my point -- which is that the problem with Sen. McCain's health care plan is not how it affects us -- but how it affects the tens of millions of Americans with preexisting conditions who, unlike Sen. McCain and myself, do not have the resources to pay for quality health care.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[AjicNYC]

Hillary/Edwards in the talk

[BlueAsh]

Please go away, Mrs. Edwards. I am sorry I supported your husband.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

OK, so you are sorry you supported John Edwards. What has that got to do with Elizabeth Edwards using her voice to offer a reasoned criticism of John McCain?

[Colmore]

So McCain did not receive government health care for 6 years? What about the other 66 years that he HAS?

[disgustedbyitall]

It's pathetic that the Dems are still so busy shredding each other that this woman with incurable cancer has to do battle with the senile, temperamental, asinine GOP candidate until this endless primary is done.

Wake me up when it's over.

[TurgidCaterwauling]

McCain's years as a POW are certainly worthy of a nation's thanks and respect; however, those years served as a POW make him no better qualified to run this nation than the next candidate.

[mamacat]

It is very illuminating that even though his father and grandfather were four star admirals, and he demostrated very admirable bravery in combat and as a POW, he was unable to rise higher than the rank of Captain. With all of his family tradition, he still couldn't get promoted to flag rank. His bio says it was because of his physical disabilities that he suffered because of torture at the hands of the Vietnamese. It makes more sense that he was not considered intellectually or emotionally qualified for further promotion, although it will never be proved without opening up sealed records.

[BigLib]

You old man are bitter idiot.

[BitterInPA]

He did denounce America under torture. So does that mean torture works? I would probably say it is an example of how people will say anything under torture. But the straight talking maverick flip-flopped and now sides with those who believe torture is a useful tool.

[NtFourSale]

She's one classy lady, bold enough to disallow McCain from changing the subject to his favorite "poor me" when he's losing an argument. You sure don't ever hear Elizabeth Edwards crying "poor me." She's the REAL warrior.

[mamacat]

I imagine his handlers cringed when he used that reply. He will no doubt be cautioned not to use that excuse too often, especially out of context.

[GeoLee]

Absolutely on the spot response from my favorite candidate for First Lady. She is at least one candidate's spouse who knows how to target in without all the nastiness or subtle various ___isms type responses of the two remaining Dems spouses. Straight forward and very consistent with what she believed before ever encountering a lige threatening condition. I think of how she compares with, for example, Arlen Spectot and his votes regarding health care issues. So sad we won't get her in the White House next January and will have to put up what we will now have to choose from.

[Boadicea]

I love Elizabeth Edwards. She's so easy to respect, even when you disagree with her. If she'd been the first woman to have a shot at a nomination, she'd have won, no question.

[skepticalindenver]

What Elizabeth Edwards thinks about health care is pretty much irrelevant. She didn't like that Obama didn't suck up enough, so she decided to take pot shots from the peanut gallery (injecting herself into the healthcare debate). So what if McCain took a pot shot at her, I have no sympathy for her regarding politics. If Edwards believed in half of what he said he stood for, he would have endorsed Obama without hesitation. Another double talking politician....get over it Elizabeth, John lost.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

Elizabeth Edwards is a public personality with her own serious health issues and that qualifies her to speak her mind. By the way, I am for Obama.

[skepticalindenver]

We all have serious health concerns. Myself, I have a chronic life-limiting condition and my wife is a cancer survivor. Public figure? What office was she elected to? Oh I forgot, none. Being married to a failed presidential hopeful is a pathetic excuse to say she is a public figure. Why don't we ask Britney Spears what she thinks.....she's a public figure. She hasn't done a damn thing to convince me that she really cares about people's healthcare plight....or knows anything about the nuances in achieving maximum healthcare for Americans. Her views are rather unsophisticated......bless her heart.

[BrighterStar]

Edwards" point on preexisting conditions is kind of dumb. If insurance companies were forced to take people with preexisting conditions on the same bases as others there would be no reason for anyone to pay for medical insurance. All you would have to do is wait until you get sick and then sign up for the insurance. It would be kind of like forcing auto insurance companies to pay for accidents that happened before you signed up for the insurance.

[Mekarri]

Brighterstar get a grip. What is dumb is that in one of the riches country in the world there are million of Americans dying because they can't afford insurance. We pay for car insurance year after year and although you didn't have an accident, you still don't get your money back. I think the insurance companies and the rest of corporate American have made enough money taking advantage of the people. John Mcain is an old fool ,as they say there is no fool like an old fool. He is always throwing out there that he was a POW. Personally, I wish they would have kept him. Cruel, I know but if he become our next president, we all will be wishing the same thing. Our country will not survive Mccain, hell, I'm not so sure we are going to survive bush.

[BitterInPA]

Briefly... Insurance companies cherry pick the health people so they rig the system in their favor. A true insurance system would be one of shared risk, spread over the entire population. Anyone over the age of forty has some preexisting condition (or they will find one to deny your claim).

The next big scam is the HSA. See Consumers Report...
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/aboutus/mission/viewpoint/falsepromisesconsumerdrivenhealthplans0605/

[BrighterStar]

Insurance companies can make money on any group of people if they charge enough in premiums. The point of my comment is that if you want to expand the number of people who are insured you should not create a disincentive for people to acquire insurance. If insurance companies are overcharging the free market will be able to cure that. Throughout history free markets have been able to deliver better quality goods and services at a lower price than has government. If you want a successful healthcare system you need to incorporate the power of the free market system.

[Myshkin57]

Why don't we have private firefighter services and police services? The answer is that they tried and the free market doesn't work for many things. When you get sick, do you shop around for the cheapest doctor? Probably not. People who worship the myth of the free market tend not to understand free market forces and to what extent they work and on what.

[GeoLee]

Well, brighter star, you just described Obama's health plan....except the people might have to pay some sort of penalty for waiting.

[totalliberal]

That is possibly the stupidest argument ever. So when your kids grow up and have to apply for their own insurance but have juvenile diabetes they should be just left to die? Precisely why our system doesn't work.
Plus people don't 'have' to drive cars.

[Rockwell]

Keep fighting for us Elizabeth and don't back down to corporate hacks like McCain. I love McCain's response "I wasn't covered under government health when I was a POW." What a stupid nonsequitar. What he's really saying is "I was a POW, therefore I should never be critisized." What a douche.

[celticjag]

Most health care plans are capped at $100,000 per calendar year, so if you have a catastrophic illness you are f**ked! That is why so many people file bankruptcy over medical bills, even though they have insurance. I think it is a crime to have "for profit" health care. I know that all the Francophobes will start screaming, but the health care system in France is excellent, though not perfect. It is a disgrace that the richest country in the world,USA, has one of the worst health care systems amongst the industrialized nations.

[filo]

I read the whole article and all I can say is Bravo!!!

She doesn't take McCain's BS.

[cblcar]

Elizabeth Edwards supports Hillary's health plan over Obama's.

Hillary '08

[Softnsweet]

Elizabeth did not say that Hillary's plan includes garnishment of wages if you don't pick up Hillary's plan. When did she become an authority on healthcare? Obama's plan includes mandates but it is if you do not have your children covered.

[groucho]

I miss Elizabeth and John so much. This country would have benefitted by such a caring, intelligent couple. Too bad MSM decided...no.

[whatfreshhellisthis]

Groucho, you are right on target.. The MSM killed John Edwards' campaign with utter neglect. I can't decide whether it was done intentionally and maliciously, or if they were just completely enthralled by the novelty of a black man and a white woman running for president, and couldn't pay attention to anyone else. I'd be lot more comfortable if Edwards were going to be on the ballot in November.

[Noracharles1995]

As would I, had he been our nominee, the Dems would be ahead of McCain with room to spare, not the other way around.

Thanks alot, MSM

[mamacat]

Thanks to Mrs. Edwards for her well thought out comments.
I watched Sen. McCain trying to spin an answer that avoided the fact that he has been receiving socialised health care all of his life. His comment that he was not eligible for U.S. government healthcare while a prisoner of the Vietnamese completely misses the point. No one is seriously questioning his patriotism or bravery, only his understanding of the health care system, and the sad hypocrisy of someone in his position taking a stance that hurts the average voter. For him to call Mrs. Edwards' statements a cheap shot is, in my opinion, nothing more than further evidence of his lack of qualification for the office of President.

Why is he unable to admit that he, first as the child of an active duty military, then as active duty military himself, then as retired military, then as a member of the House, and now as a member of the Senate, has been receiving government controlled (socialised) healthcare all of his life?

[Pammy1151]

I love both Elizabeth and John Edwards however I don't agree with them about universal healthcare. I have excellent halthcare and it is free because I earned it working 30 years and my job. If Hillary wins I lose. It is that simple. I would have to pay and it would be sub-standard care. One small reason I am for Obama. If Elizabeth can guarentee me the same level of health care even if I have to pay a little I might consider her plan. But I would be stupid if I oted for Hillary's.

[totalliberal]

Let's hope your company doesn't go out of business or your health care provider refuses to pay. Nice, I'm alright Jack attitude by the way.

And by the way again, how do you know single payer systems provide sub-standard service? They don't.

[Noracharles1995]

Also, you can't take it for granted that you'll continue to have free healthcare through your job. I'm a union rep at my org and trust me, after the next contract negotiation your firm has, you may either start paying for care or start having conditions or meds quit getting covered even if your man wins the election. My org goes into negotiations in a couple of years and we will have the fight of our lives to keep from paying for our health care premiums - right now the company pays.

[JacobSinger]

One thing that we forget about the UHC issue is that it is more tied to congress than it is to a presidential candidate; they use it for the PR, but it isn't realistic to think that they won't be dependent on congress to pass ANY UHC plan.

For the best plan to be offered yet, check out Conyers' HR 676 bill:

http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_health_care.htm

Universal, single-payer healthcare for all Americans.

[Syco]

IF she ran for president i would vote for her

[aliceblue]

I have admired Elizabeth Edwards since I saw her
command a huge crowd, speaking for more than
an hour without notes. At top speed. The woman
is brilliant, she is among the brainiest of the Dems.
She could handle any cabinet office, she'd make
a great president. She's all about facts and evidence,
there's no posing as Empress of the Roman Empire
in her.

And the Europeans spell Elisabeth with a 's.' I believe
Mrs. Edwards is Greek.

[disgustedbyitall]

and to all those ridiculous Clinton fans who insist that anyone who doesn't support their candidate is sexist:

No, we're not. We just don't like Hillary Clinton because she has a horrible record and promises a worse future. I don't think she's completely right to support Clinton just for this one issue, but I have a deep respect for her intellect and--more important--her integrity.

I'm not convinced Senator Clinton believes integrity is anything more than just an option in life. She makes my skin crawl and I plan to work against her in her bid to be reelected to the senate.

[noel711]

Elizabeth,
We miss you, and we love you and wish we could vote for you for president.
You would make a smashing First Woman President!
Please stay well, and when you can, stay true to the fight for justice!

[ljsfolly]

Universal Healthcare that Hillary wants and McCains version neither one are what we need now.