Edwards criticizes lobbyist in N.H. ad

PHILIP ELLIOTT
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071203/ap_on_el_pr/edwards_ad

Presidential hopeful John Edwards on Monday planned to air a television ad in New Hampshire that blames lobbyists for keeping 47 millions Americans without health insurance.

The ad dovetails with his criticism of his chief rivals' health care plans in recent weeks. The former North Carolina senator says there is no way to ensure health care for all citizens without fundamentally changing how Washington works.

"You're going to sit at a table with drug companies and oil companies and they're going to give away their power. Right," Edwards says as the ad shows voters laughing at his sarcasm. "You have to take their power away from them. There's nothing we can't do — if we do it together."

Edwards trails Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama in New Hampshire and remains in a tight race with them in Iowa. He has been campaigning heavily in the early states, packing serial town hall-style meetings into his schedule.

Is that the only thing you have?

A lot of people, me included, were a bit crazy back then. While that may be the biggest issue for me, to get over, once I did, I realized he was the only viable candidate keeping the Progressive hope alive.

K&R

suggestion.

I think his decision to support the resolution was based on rational political realities at the time, including from outside pressure groups, that excluded those who called for peace and the .

Edwards affirms that Congress often works at the behest of lobby groups on such issues of health care (which is a life and death issue).... why not admit that it is also influenced about foreign policy by lobbies?

Earlier this year there was in one of the Iraq spending bills, a provision that Bush must come to congress before he takes any action against Iran. It was removed... under pressure from lobby groups. That is part of the public record.

We may disagree, but that's the beauty of America right? We can agree to disagree.

I'm not looking for a President with a perfect record. I don't think one exist. We can get in a lot of trouble expecting our elected officials to be perfect.

Would you rather have robots? Or people?

I've made many many mistakes in my life, and I'm looking for a President who has the ability to say: "I made a mistake, now we're going to fix it."

I've got a tested BS detector, and I believe this man is telling the truth.

Do you really think a few snide comments is going to change that?

but my point wasnt that he was a terrible person... it was that he made his decision partly, at least, because of those that lobbied for the resolution. and the fear of offending potential donors and loss of key political support.

He can't be bought! Go John!Give them hell!

Yeah, one sweet note...this is the most pressing issue facing America today, and the source of nearly all our troubles as a nation, from the war to energy policy to the environment itself. Scoff if you will. But he's right on the money here. And anyone who doesn't see it is as blind as any Republican.

It is the politicians who sell out to them even when they know people will suffer because of their decision.

I don't care what politicians do in airport restrooms... but i sure as hell care when they sell out to powerful interests... especially when that means that young men are sent to war and they kill tens of thousands of people. so let's shine a light on such dealings.

today, the "think tank" Washington Institute for Near East Policy (affiliated with aipac) saying that the US should draw up plans to attack Iran. It's time to fight back. Any politician that goes along with this "no options off the table" shit should be voted out of office. and we need to tell people to resist these extremist lobbies.