Face the Nation- Edwards explains how he would "cut off congress' healthcare"

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/15/ftn/main3510003.shtml

SNIP

SCHIEFFER: Let me ask you this, senator, about one of your recent ads. One of your ads says
that if you are president and Congress doesn't pass universal health care by July 2009, you are
going to use your power as president to take Congress' health care plan away from them. How do
you go about doing that?

Fmr. Sen. EDWARDS: Well, can I just add one thing?

SCHIEFFER: Sure.

Fmr. Sen. EDWARDS: There is another piece to that. I also say that I will take away--do--use my
power, the power that I have available to take away the health care for members of my
administration. And the basic idea is I don't think politicians in Washington should be protecting
their health care when we have 47 million people in this country who don't have health care
coverage.

But to answer your question, the most powerful tool that the president has is the bully pulpit. And
that means making the case to America, submitting legislation to support exactly what I just said,
and then making the case to America in any place--any congressional district or any state where a
senator is opposing it--saying `your senator, your congressman is defending their health care at
the same time that they're not providing health care for you.'

SCHIEFFER: So...

Fmr. Sen. EDWARDS: And I think that's the most powerful tool. But I would add to that, there
are other tools. I mean, the president of the United States has veto power over budgets. So there
are other tools available. But the most important thing is, Bob, wit--somebody's got to shake that
place up.

SCHIEFFER: Mm-hmm.

SEN. GRAHAM: I mean, people have gotten complacent. The politicians take care of
themselves, the lobbyists are everywhere, and I think we axe to--actually need to shake the place
up. And that's what I'm talking about doing.

SCHIEFFER: But what you're talking about here, you would actually propose legislation to force
Congress to give up its own health care and force them to vote on that? Is that--is that what
you're saying, if they don't come around to providing health care for the rest of the country?

Fmr. Sen. EDWARDS: That's exactly right. The whole point of this is not to take Congress'
health care away. The point of this is to get health care for America. And I actually believe every
Democratic member of Congress in the House and the Senate would vote for that, so it wouldn't
be an issue for them. And I suspect a lot of Republicans would, too, because they don't want to
have to go home and defend, in their congressional district, having supported their own health
care and not having supported health care for their constituents.

SCHIEFFER: All right. Well, senator, let's take a break here.


SNIP

John Edwards: Former senator or petulant child?

maybe it isn't important to you, but it is to 47 million without it.

Making the claim that he COULD override the constitution was dishonest, and highly consistent with his character.

Oh, never mind.

You know, lets just agree to disagree about this. Both of our minds are made up at this point, and you are only serving to make me really dislike your candidate.

"But if you don't pass universal health care by July of 2009 – in six months – I'm going to use my power as president to take your health care away from you."

You would think that a former U.S senator would know that the president doesn't have the power to do this.

He said something that many Americans feel - Congress should not have the best health care while many Americans do without. Congress should not have the best retirement while many Americans cannot afford to do so.

Does his mis-statement make Hillary any more progressive?

There are two possibilities:

#1) John Edwards had no idea that the president doesn't control the power of the purse, in which case one must question his competence.

OR, the more likely possibility

#2) John Edwards knew that the president doesn't control the power of the purse, in which case one must question his truthfulness.

Let's face it, John fucked up. Trying to deflect this issue toward Hillary (who, by the way, has a much more progressive voting record than Edwards), is ridiculous.

All they have to do is search your post for out of context attacks to use it against our nominee in the General, whether that's Obama or Edwards.

I found it disturbing that he would even say it. Kind of reminded me of Bush trying to bully congress now...

Why in the hell is this disturbing?

It's about time.

the constitution, whereas Bush HAS done that very thing.

another thread that you are a Canadian, please tell, how is our Constitution relevant to you? Your support for Clinton is suspect as well.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/190 /
From Politifact's Truth-o-Meter

What, as opposed to rolling over on everything and never getting his way (or the way of the people of America)?

No thanks. That's been the story of this pathetic congress we all had such high hopes for.

But then again Im one of those without insurance.

Pretty absurd if you ask me.

R&K for Edwards! :bounce:

to cut off their health-care, and of course the idea they they would vote for a bill to do it is ridiculous.

if the plan is great rally the people to put pressure on their reps. The idea of taking away insurance, if he could, from someone whose family member might be undergoing treatment for a chronic or life threatening illness or accident does not sit well with me.

For now enjoy the holiday with family and friends.

for misleading with his ad. After he was caught, Edwards came up with the tour of Congressional districts and holding up budgets. More of a far fetched explanation for his earlier falsehood than a plan. And nobody asked Edwards why he told a different story the first time around.

Even if Edwards made taking away health care from Congress his highest priority, which he'd have to do if he held up budgets and went on national tours, and even if he got Congress to take away their own health care, the 27th Amendment would still keep Edwards from succeeding. Edwards knows this.

The whole episode looked bad for Edward but he made it even worse by trying to deflect it all on Hillary, calling her the protector of health care benefits for Congress. Hillary can't be protecting something that is in no danger in the first place. Hillary's motivation for attacking Edwards was to attack Edwards, not protect Congress.

Edwards came out with a nice proposal today to expand the food stamp program. Perhaps he and the rest will go positive. It would be a big improvement.

transformational change.

No nibbling around the edges with Edwards.



Again, I dispute your assertion and your charge against how Edwards rolled out his plan.

His big picture statements and ad, were simple to the point and attention getting. They were meant to be provocative and attention getting...which leads to questioning. This is a very good thing for a candidate who is in 3rd place, and being out spent by his opponents by over 300%......a very good thing.

So when questioned, he provided detail.

Edwards clearly stated in more than one way, he would use the bully pulpit to do what ever he could, to insure that American finally got a health plan that works.


You expose your shallow assertions by advancing your argument with "After he was caught".....the use of the word "story" is the way you color your argument and use it in an accusatory manner.

Edwards is executing a brilliant campaign strategy. If he is successful, overcomes the $$$ and the polls, he will be a stellar President.

If he doesn't succeed, then so be it.

But I will continue to put time, energy and thought into challenging such responses as yours, because I will work hard and advocate for him, not giving up, not getting down, but just plugging ahead just like he does.

Theyve gone from one end of the spectrum to the other. But it's OK because he said "I'm sorry"

wouldn't achieve 1/2 of the promises it made getting elected.

At least he is talking about it. At least he plans to do something about it. I can't imagine anyone who doesn't have health insurance arguing against this. So am I to assume then that everyone snarking on JE here has insurance?

Take our America back, Vote Edwards.

and I have no insurance. How about you? I notice you didn't say

Nice.

Hillary thinks she deserves health care while she is not willing to provide the same for the country. And the same applies to all who would vote to keep their health care while not giving the country health care.

Edwards is still running his debunked TV commercial constantly in NH, canned applauase and all, apparently convinced that New Hampshire voters are too stupid to know his claim is bogus.

Link to the Congressional Quarterly's story debunking the Edwards TV ad:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/190/