Edwards rankles area disabled

By Joseph Spector
Staff writer


(February 24, 2004) — The Center for Disability Rights knocked Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards’ speech in Rochester, saying Edwards didn’t have sign language interpreters and instead patted the heads of people in wheelchairs.

“It seems that Sen. Edwards lacks disability etiquette,” Debbie Bonomo, who has cerebral palsy, said in a news release. “Just because I am a woman who uses a wheelchair, does not mean anyone should be patting me on the head. That is so 1950s.”

The Rochester-based group said they had to resort to using sign language themselves in order to pass along Edwards’ message. Rochester has an active deaf community, with more than 1,200 deaf and hard-of-hearing students at the Rochester Institute of Technology and its National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

The disability rights group also said there was poor access for handicapped people at the building where Edwards spoke Sunday night. They were also frustrated that Edwards didn’t address disability rights during his 20-minute stump speech before about 500 onlookers.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/news/0224GV3CJTC_news.shtml

No decent campaign would stump without an interpreter for the deaf!

the don't bring an intrepreter on the road. Which sounds kind of odd thing to say. They keep one at home? Or they can't hire one in Rochester?

thing. Not bring an interpreter to an event for the disabled is just the sign of an inexperienced campaign. Patting a disabled person on the head like they are a border collie shows Senator Edwards is not ready for prime time.

They usually hire them locally for each event, depending upon need. This is especially true if you're running a shoe-string campaign and can't afford the added expense of towing another staff person around with you on the campaign trail.

I have a feeling somebody may have overlooked the need for a translator.

If this is true, it is another sign that perhaps Edwards isn't ready for prime time.

It seems that he has no comprehension of the importance of reaching out to the disability community. When a candidate either ignores a group or takes them for granted, it is a very very disturbing presentation. Particularly when it is the largest minority in the country (20%). He doesn't try by either trying to communicate OR learning sensitive ettiquette.

First, the campaign is on a fast-tour, with many of these events planned within the last few days. For example, the event in Cleveland was announced two day in advance.

Second, it's hard for non-disabled people to move around these events. The events in Cleveland, Youngstown, and Colombus were all packed wall to wall.

Third, I GUARANTEE Edwards will have a sign-language person from now on.

they always had a sign language interpreter and there was always room for handicapped wheelchairs in the front. Edwards probably doesn't meam any harm in here, and what he needs are disabled Edwards supporters to tell him what the etiquette is in with dealing with disabled people.

of course kerry has some personal experience in the area from his injury in war (even though some dismiss his injuries).and his friends and others who were wounded in war and have permanent disabilities from it. i agree about edwards though. i don't think he meant any harm either. people learn and i'm sure edwards would be willing to listen and learn from this also.

I didn't know that Rochester Tech had an Institutute for the deaf. Ver Impressive.

The Edwards stuff is part lack of organization (an experienced advance man knows stuff like this) and part campaigning inexperience. Bet ya Edwards doesn't pat another head on the campaign trail.

and a lot of my friends from deaf school are there.

No doubt it is something being blown way out of proportion by GOP plants.

It had to be just misunderstanding and overreaction. You have to understand that the southeastern US has a very touchy population (in the hands on way not emotionally touchy) If Senator Edwards was touching some people I'm shure it was a gesture of support and kindness not the 'pat on the head' that you would give a dog. You have to remember that Edwards spent a lot of time around and defending the disabled in his legal carreer

Edwards is no different. Perhaps this episode will help us all to have a little insight into the feelings of individuals living with disabilities.

That being said, I'm sure Edwards is much more enlightened than the current resident of the White House.

...recover for the damages caused them by the negligence of doctors, hospitals and corporations.

His very first malpractice case was for a guy in a wheelchair.

:D

Just like he was "enlightened" when casting his vote to promote *Judge D. Brooks Smith to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, only one step below the Supreme Court? Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., disregarded the extensive evidence of unethical behavior and discriminatory conduct that caused the Washington Post, New York Times and Los Angeles Times to oppose Smith's confirmation.

Not only did he disregard the evidence, like the cowardly opportunist he is, he hid in an office across from the voting. After the voting was over, he then requested to be recorded as voting for Smith.

http://www.now.org/press/05-02/05-23.html

Months prior to the vote in May 2002, a campaign was waged by faxes, emails, snail mail and phone calls, begging the "enlightened" senator to vote NO! Did he listen to the hundreds of thousands of disabled Americans? NO!


*Smith is a RW misogynist that has threathened publically to further weaken the rights of people with disabilities. He has been described as a throwback to an era when disabled people were routinely warehoused and forgotten.

The most recent evidence that Edwards is for??? the disabled - his campaign has infiltrated the DisabledforDean e-list, w/dis-info about his stance on disabilities.

Will he ever quit trying to screw us?

I think not.

The above article, proves once again, he cares nothing for the disabled, unless they can put money in his slickass trial attorney's pocket.

I think I'm pretty safe in that assumption.

have any evidence? Or do you too, not have the slightest idea what it is like to be disabled in America today?

Have you any idea what his vote cost us, disabled Americans?

His vote helped to destroy the rights so many of have worked long and hard years to establish. He aided in watering down the already watered down ADA (Americans w/Disablities Act).

Did you know that there is only one way to obtain compliance w/the ADA? That one way is to go to court and sue for non-compliance. Before it took money that not very many of us have (can't find jobs if you a crip in today's world) to get to that point. Now that Edwards has helped line the courts w/yet another anti-disabled judge for a friggen lifetime position, WE ARE SCREWED!

Thank you for your compassion for the 56 million disabled Americans.

P.S. You know what you can do w/your assumption, don't you?

than Bush. Who nominated the judge in the first place? Who has thwarted stem cell research that could help many with spinal injuries? Oh, and as AP mention above, who spent their career as a lawyer helping people who were hurt and disabled? Give me a break...

I am still trying to figure out how that contention means I have no compassion for the 56 million disabled Americans.

Perhaps my family members and friends who are living with a disability will enlighten me. I'll let you know if they agree with your statement or laugh themselves silly that you might believe that Bush would do more for the disabled community than Edwards.

As I said before, he made money off of the backs of disabled Americans. He made millions off the backs of disabled Americans.

Then he voted to screw them, thereby making the lives of disabled Americans even more miserable than ever.

As to having no compassion towards the disabled - you are belittling the rights and lives of the disabled by your very statements.

I just called my buddy who has a spinal injury to tell him about this conversation. I would be the last person who wants to belittle the rights and lives of disabled people by my statement that Edwards would be much more enlightened than Bush when it comes to disability issues.

He said that while Edwards did vote for the judge in question, there is no way anyone can reasonably believe that he would be worse than Bush when it comes to issues related to disabilities.

I'll call a few more people if you'd like so we can get the sample up.

Fer cryin' in a bucket... what does it take to get it across...

It doesn't matter whether Dems are "more enlightened" than Bushwa, or a better choice for the rest of you... when a Dem makes life miserable for those on the bottom, it has the same effect. It DOESN'T MATTER whether the damage was done by a Dem or a reich winger!!

Why is that concept so difficult for some many to grasp?

Many of us have been saying that there are REAL PROBLEMS with these "centrist" DEMS. Here is one of those problems.

Instead of brushing it off, and rationalizing, how 'bout using this opportunity to actually HEAR the experience of some of us who are on the edge, and simply not able to take any more losses?

It's time to LISTEN, folks. The Dems used to know how to do that. Now you only want our votes, but don't want to actually HEAR what we are saying.

Kanary

For crying out loud...what does it take to get across that there are two real choices in 2004 - Dem or GOP. We know what will happen with the GOP choice. At least with the Dems, there will be entry into the halls of power.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather have a friendly ear in the White House than not have one at all.

on Democratic Senators whom they knew had a vote. PA is going to be a swing state, and the last thing you need is the papers in the second biggest city in the state riding you hard over a vote on a judge who was going to get voted in anyway.

And people's problem with this judge was that he didn't resign from an men-only hunting club soon enough (or something like that). The criticism in the press had nothing to do with disabled rights.

Google this story and the pieces fall together.

should vote the way some newspapers tell them to to avoid heat? What utter rot!


"May 23, 2002

Statement of NOW President Kim Gandy

The field of credible Democrats running for President was significantly narrowed today when two rumored candidates insulted every employed woman, every woman in business, and every woman who has been a victim of violence in this country. In casting their votes to promote Judge D. Brooks Smith to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, only one step below the Supreme Court, rumored candidates Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., and Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., disregarded the extensive evidence of unethical behavior and discriminatory conduct that caused the Washington Post, New York Times and Los Angeles Times to oppose Smith's confirmation.

- snip -

Another Presidential wanna-be, Sen. Edwards, hid out in his office across the hall from the hearing, and didn't even have the courage to cast his "Yes" vote in public. Sen. Herbert Kohl, D-Wis., joined all of the committee Republicans, whose cowardly votes betrayed the women of their states by recommending elevation of a judge whose repeated "ethical lapses" deserve censure, not promotion.

The Senate's reputation as an "Old Boys Club" was reinforced by today's vote, in which both of the women on the Judiciary Committee voted against Smith, but he won anyway because 12 of the 17 men voted in his favor. To promote a judge who will have to decide on cases of discrimination, when that judge has himself cavalierly participated in discrimination and even ruled in favor of discriminatory practices, is the height of irresponsibility by those who are charged with that duty."

when PA and Pittsburgh voters might deteriming who the next president is?

And, consider that, according to the media, this judge was bad because he didn't quit a men-only club soon enough.

And throw on top of that the fact that the Democrats were drawing the line on the most extreme judges so they could stop them, and they weren't going to waste their political capital on any but the very worst. Remember when they drew the line? They put up signs showing how few judges they rejected? And that gave them more weight when they made that stand.

This is nauseating. You've been posting this very same attack for over a year. When I asked you to consult the record, you sanctimoniously refused to even address the issue, long since having made up your mind.

I submit that this is something upon which you've decided to such a degree that you are incapable of opening yourself to the possibility that you might be incorrect. I repeatedly asked you to consult his platform and the AAPD site on the subject, and your response was that he didn't even deserve this.

The very idea of putting one's ego--and unwillingness to assess whether one MIGHT BE WRONG--in front of fact is beyond belief. You have behaved deplorably on the subject, and now return for more of the same.

You engage in deliberate distortion and do so from the privilege of a self-proclaimed superiority. This is supremely unfair; to the decent and sympathetic (e.g. leftists) the pronouncement of a disabled person is beyond reproach. You play this for all it's worth, and that's wrong.

You have not read his platform or anything, and either haven't consulted the AAPD site on the subject, or are above all obligation of reality to behave with the same constraints the rest of us do.

This whole story is radically blown out of proportion and "reaching for it" of the most greasy kind.

Yes, they should travel with interpreters, but I'd be shocked if he was patting people on the head in the manner depicted.

Why aren't you saying--as you used to--that he "voted against the disabled", instead of voting for a judicial appointment with a bad record on the issue.

that their editorial staff feels it's appropriate to describe their religious activities as part of their bios. I would like to hear Edwards himself say whether he did what was claimed.

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/page.asp?id=700



Yesterday, the Disabled for Dean group visited the Edwards campaign's New York City office to announce their support. The group included Marvin Wasserman, President of the 504 Democratic Club, Pamela Bates, a Dean Delegate candidate and Michael A. Harris, New York State Co-Chair of Dean for America. "The people who Governor Dean has inspired will never forget him, but as we move on we must recognize that Senator Edwards is the next best choice. Like Governor Dean, John Edwards believes that the only special interest is the voice of the American people," Harris said.

Good find.

Once again, he and his campaign are taking advantage of the disabled. Mr. Clean ain't so clean, in fact, he gets down in the dirt w/the best of them.

But that's o-kay, it's only politics, right?

Maybe a little callous or careless. It's a minor mistake on Edwards part. But quite frankly he can't afford even minor mistakes.

Lets attack Edwards on everything we find.

However, I did a search of her organization, and it looks like they've protested Hilary Clinton in the past. Perhaps they didn't go to that rally to support Edwards. They might have gone to make news, which seems to be their chief goal.

http://www.adapt.org/incitement/incspr00tx.html

He has no place on his webpage where he gathers disabled issues togther in the same place like Kerry does in his issue communities.

Here's a piece I did on my blog about Kerry vs. Edwards on health care policy. Edwards really leaves adult disabled persons guessing regarding his policies...

Kerry vs. Edwards - the disabled and health care

It's now Kerry vs. Edwards for the 2004 Democratic Nomination.

Let's compare where these two gentlemen stand on issues affecting the disabled community...

Right away, one can see John Kerry is reaching out to the disabled community. He has established a "community" on his website focused on issues relating to disabled Americans. Edwards doesn't even have an issue paper written on issues specifically relating to the disabled. Therefore, I have to pick and poke around all over Edwards website to find his positions on these issues.

On health care, Kerry has detailed information on his proposals affecting disabled Americans. From that page...

" High quality, accessible, and affordable health care should be a right for every American, and is especially important for people with disabilities. John Kerry's plan will:

(1) PROTECT AND STRENGHTHEN MEDICAID. John Kerry is firmly opposed to the Bush Administration's proposals to slowly but surely defund and turn Medicaid into a block grant to the states. Kerry's plan gives states money to invest in Medicaid, so that the health and independence of more than 10 million children, adults and older Americans with disabilities throughout our country can improve.

(2) PASS THE FAMILY OPPORTUNITY ACT. No parent should have to turn down a job or give up the custody of a child to ensure that the child gets health care. In a recent survey of 20 states, 64 percent of parents with children with disabilities reported that they turned down jobs, raises, and overtime pay to remain under the income limits required to qualify for Medicaid coverage. John Kerry strongly supports the Family Opportunity Act, which gives states the option to expand Medicaid coverage for children with disabilities up to age 18 in families with incomes up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level (or $46,000 per year for a family of four). It also grants immediate access to Medicaid services for those children with disabilities who are presumed eligible for SSI.

(3) FULLY IMPLEMENT THE OLMSTEAD DECISION. People with disabilities and older Americans must receive the support they need to live in their own homes and communities. John Kerry believes that states must be given increased resources and tools to carry out the Olmstead decision and must be held accountable for doing so.

(4) ENSURE REAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE UNDER MEDICARE. The prescription drug plan that just passed is less about prescription drug benefits and more a prescription to benefit big drug companies. John Kerry's plan will lower prescription drug costs, make sure seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare can choose their doctors instead of forcing them to join an HMO, ensure beneficiaries can get quality wrap around services through Medigap, and ensure that there is always a Medicare-run plan with a guaranteed premium in every area.

(5) ENACT MiCASSA AND THE MONEY FOLLOWS THE PERSON ACT. Americans with disabilities must be assured equal access to quality home and community living services. John Kerry is an original cosponsor of MiCASSA and the Money Follows the Person Act. Passage of both of these bills is vital to ending the institutional bias that makes it impossible for millions of Americans to exercise the most basic of human liberties: freedom, choice, and independence. Kerry supports increasing funding for independent living centers, areas agencies on aging and similar local organizations to build capacity and support people with disabilities in moving out of or keeping from needlessly going into a nursing home or another institution. John Kerry will work to provide decent wages and benefits to the community based services workers who help make independence possible.

(6) ADOPT A COMMUNITY FIRST POLICY IN AMERICA. There is an institutional bias that must be reversed to ensure that Americans with disabilities of every age have the services and supports to live in the community of their choice. To do this, John Kerry will appoint a national bipartisan Community First Commission made up of Members of Congress, Governors, distinguished older Americans, veterans, Americans with disabilities and other experts. The commission will identify short and long term policy reforms that could and should be pursued to:

Guarantee that all Americans with disabilities who can live in their community with affordable supports have equal opportunity to do so regardless of age, disability, State of residence, employment status or form of assistance required.
Create a greater federal role in equitably financing and enhancing the quality and appropriateness of all long-term services.
Eliminate the institutional bias in Medicaid and Medicare that robs millions of Americans of their most basic freedoms, dignity and daily independence.
The commission will submit findings and recommendations to the Kerry Administration and the leadership in both houses of Congress by July 26, 2005 - the 15th anniversary of the ADA.

(7) ENHANCE MEDICARE. The federal government has a critical role to play to assure that workers with disabilities have the insurance coverage they need to be as independent and productive as possible. John Kerry believes we should enhance coverage for employed beneficiaries with disabilities. He will work to eliminate the two-year waiting period to become eligible for Medicare and expand coverage for certain other competitively employed individuals with disabilities. John Kerry would also modernize Medicare benefits to include inpatient and community rehabilitation services, community transition services, mental health parity, durable medical equipment, and skilled home health service. He will direct HHS to fund a series of demonstrations aimed at identifying cost effective ways that best promote the health, independence and productivity of people with disabilities and to improve upon the permanent risk adjustment payment system to promote better health care.

(8) ENSURE MENTAL HEALTH PARITY. John Kerry believes we need to require full mental health parity once and for all. Not just mental health parity for certain benefits or certain mental health conditions or with unnecessary loopholes that allow insurers to skirt their responsibility. He will fight to pass full mental health parity legislation."

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/awd/healthcare.html

Edwards health care proposals are family and children focused. Disabled children will find proposals to make health care available and affordable for all those under 21 as well as requiring that those under 25 be allow to continue to buy into parent's coverage. He will expand the ability of working adults to enter the CHiP program and those older than 55 will be allowed more insurance purchasing options and also will be allowed to buy into Medicare. There are also proposals for seniors to recieve an unspecified prescription drug benefit added to Medicare. Details at these links...

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/healthcare.asp

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/seniors.asp


What stands out in all this is the the complete absense of even a mention of disabled adults that rely on Medicare for health care coverage. Is Edwards going to apply the same proposals to the disabled he is offering to seniors? Is he planning on saving money by not including the disabled? I can't tell you from what is presented on the Edwards website. The reason I don't automatically assume that Edwards plans to offer the disabled the same plan as seniors is because of Edwards discussion of creating what he calls a "Health Care Safety Net" that focuses on community health clinics and public hospitals. This is more commonly know as a two-tier health care system. Long lines and lack of choice to the impoverished, and a seperate, standard insurance-paid system in the upper tear for those who can afford quality insurance. Here's more on that proposal...

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/healthcare-safety-net.asp

Personally, I'm far more comfortable with Kerry's concrete proposals instead of trying to guess which aspect of Edwards proposal is intended to be delivered to disabled Americans. Kerry has made a clear effort to speak directly to the disabled community instead of leaving our concerns off the page and guessing as Edwards has.



http://disabled.democratsblog.com/3

What Edwards did was SHAMEFUL.

Clark's Campaign Event Accessibility Guidelines
Ensuring the participation of persons with disabilities at public events

QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN PLANNING AN EVENT


Is the event site convenient to accessible public transportation?

Is there a clearly marked, accessible path from the street and sidewalk onto the site, and to an accessible entrance? If the path for wheelchair users and others who cannot use stairs or steps is different from the regular path, it should be marked with clear directional signs with the wheelchair symbol.

Does the parking include the required number of accessible parking spaces and include at least one van accessible space? Are the spaces marked with the correct signs?

Is there at least one accessible public entrance to the building? The entrance should not be through a kitchen or other back way, and it is preferable if the main public entrance is accessible. Be sure that:

the entrance has no steps (or a legal ramp with handrails) and a level landing and threshold

the door is wide enough for wheelchairs and has an adequate space next to the door for the wheelchair user

the door is not heavy and can be opened without use of the fingers. Automatic door openers are preferable. If not all entrances are accessible, accessible entrances should be marked with the wheelchair symbol, and directional signs should be placed near inaccessible entrances that direct to the nearest accessible entrance.

Inside the building where the event is being held, is the directional signage easy to read? Directional signs should have high dark/light contrast, have matte rather than shiny backgrounds and letters, and have reasonably large, non-decorative type. If the meeting place is not on the main floor, there should be directional signs to the elevator.
Are meeting rooms, public restrooms and exits marked with signs that are readable by touch? They should have uppercase, raised letters or numbers, and include Braille.


Are public restrooms available that are wheelchair accessible? If all restrooms in the facility are not accessible, accessible restrooms should be marked with the wheelchair symbol, and inaccessible restrooms should have a sign directing to the nearest accessible restroom.

Is there access to a raised speaker 's platform? If the speaker 's platform is raised, a portable ramp may need to be provided.

In rooms with fixed seating, are there wheelchair accessible spaces, with companion seating? It is preferable if there are seating choices throughout the room rather than all clustered at the front or back of the room.

Have arrangements been made for a sign language translator? People who are deaf should be able to request this accommodation in advance of the meeting.

Are materials available in alternate formats? When meetings are held where many seniors will be present, large print materials (18 pt type is preferable) will be helpful.


http://clark04.com/issues/disabilities/

http://clark04.com/speeches/031/

people disabled by them? Millions.

It's amazing that people think Edwards is bad on disability issues. Disabled people have been his clients for years. His first medical negligence suit was for a guy confined to a wheel chair.

If you want to know what Edwards has done for the disabled, read Four Trials.

He should have known better. If that's how he made his millions, he could spend a few dollars on interpreters.

...why don't you donate some money to the campaign so that they can get interpreters? Why don't you volunteer to arrange interpreters for his events?

Oh, because you don't support him. Which puts other things into perspective.

They guy is out there fighting for the disabled, just likes he's fighting for women, minorities, old people and all people who work for a living.

As I showed above, Edwards website and campaign pretty much ignores issues for the disabled. I don't know whether the Edwards folks don't think the disabled might want to see their issues together in one place or what the real problem is. They simply, at best, overlook being concerned about the disabled as a group.

That's something only Edwards and his web staff can fix.

The guy is down with the progressive project.

But you're going to criticize him over his website?

Whatever.

Edwards on the other hand doesn't even have an issue paper dedicated to Disabled issues on his site. He has not made clear in his stands whether disabled adults below retirement age will be included in any/all/none of his proposals.

Soccial Security Disablilty is not the exact same thing as Social Security Retirement. Edwards doesn't seem to recognize that, at least not publically. There's a serious concern because nobody can tell if Edwards considers SSD people to be included on senior Medicare proposals, or whether he plans on saving money by putting SSD recipients in his community care proposal, cutting down massively on the quality of care disabled people would recieve.

to the transference. You aren't blowing more smoke, are you?

"Disabled people have been his clients for years."

Clients is the operative word. He got paid millions! What has he done w/those millions he was paid by clients to help disabled Americans? I've seen diddly squat on his website. If he had done such a noble and compassionate thing, why isn't it on his website? Why hasn't he talked about it on his camapign trail?

The only time Edwards has helped the disabled, is when it would line his pockets.

John Edwards is no friend to the disabled.

P.S. No one is confined to a wheelchair. Nor are we "bound" to a wheelchair. It's been apparent to me for a long time that you know jack about being disabled. You've just once again proved it.

P.P.S. It only takes seconds to become disabled for life. Think about it.

negligent corporations.

He paid tax on the part he made, while the recipient paid no tax. If he got 1/3rd it's still less than those clients would have paid if they had to work a lifetime for the lost income and the pain and suffering the endured, so I'd say they're probably not compliaing.

Has any other candidate worked that hard for the disabled?

And, incidentally, if you read Four Trials, "confined" is the word that you think of when when you think of his client in chapter one.

After Edwards represented him, you might say that he was only bound. But before that, living in a dirty apartment, with nobody to help him, he was confined.

Have you read the book?

No evidence of the transfer?

That's o-kay. I knew you were just blowing smoke, as always.

Google it.

...

You aren't even trying.

Once again, hitting a candidate for being callous and abusive to the weak and marginalized is pretty damned nasty stuff; if one does that, one had better done one's homework, and deserves the attendant backlash.

What ever happened to manners? Is everything fair game just to slag the "other guy" and make sure "your guy" wins? To many, that seems to be the case; ego and personal affiliation are such overriding inducements that anything seems to go for far too many.

If one is so hungry to hammer an opponent that one will stoop to portraying him/her as an unfeeling so-and-so with the least shred of justification, then one needs to be called to account for it.

Have a whiff of decency, people.

campaigns know something like that about a city before they visit? If someone on Edwards's staff had googled Rochester, they'd have learned about the deaf community. A very bad place to have no one signing for them.

Patting adults on the head or otherwise treating them as children is never a good idea. Women get this sometimes, especially if they're physically small. It's really not even a good idea with kids. People aren't pets.

And I don't even support Edwards.

Where are you reading that the rights of the disabled are PC? We should only have rights because it is politically correct?

What are you talking about?

for someone calling hirself "familydoctor."

Look, all being "p.c." is about is common courtesy. I have witnessed my own adult child patted on the head by strangers when she uses a wheelchair in public. In one case, this was done by a store manager. Guess what? We don't shop there anymore. And candidates who go around patting disabled people on the head can expect that disabled people will do their political shopping elsewhere.

and are willing to sabotage a good democrat over their single issues.

A lot of times these "incidents" are blown all out of proportion.

You read that "so-and-so did such-and-such outrageous thing, and everyone is up in arms about it!!" Only to find it didn't happen that way, or at all, or that it's a handful of "outraged" people that just happen to have an agenda and opposition pundits gleefully repeat the story.

It's hard for me to imagine that Edwards, who I have no love for, would do something so stupid and insulting. Of course, I could be wrong, I wasn't there. But, still.

"As for patting people in wheelchairs on the head, spokesman Colin Van Ostern said, 'I’m sure his interaction with them was intended to be respectful.'"


http://www.democratandchronicle.com/news/0224GV3CJTC_news.shtml

http://www.wxii12.com/news/2869885/detail.html

Patting disabled people on their heads is suppose to be RESPECTFUL? We are not dogs! We are human beings!

This is disgusting behavior for anyone. It is unbelievable that anyone on a democratic website would condone this type of a behavior, especially in someone running for the highest office in our land!

but when i read this thread i did think of you as i remember all those posts from you having those complaints about edwards when it comes to disabled people. but seriously, i don't think he meant anything bad intentionally. he just needs to learn and i'm sure he would be willing to.

Then tell us again that it's "blown out of proportion".

Right here is where the DEMS have fallen down, and why they're in big trouble.

They used to listen, to care, and to work to make things better.

Now it's just "vote for us, then go away".

Ppppfffttt

Kanary

I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but this women probably is interested in getting publicity for her group. I suspect she went there looking for trouble so that she could get in the press and raise awareness for her issues. Of course, everyone who doesn't like Edwards is going to give her all the press she wants.

Here's background on her group (notice that their newletter is called "Incietment" & that it's "published three or four times a year, usually following a major ADAPT action or event" -- I wonder if this one qualifies):

They went to both Republican and Democratic Committees to present the demands and a copy of MiCASSA. The Committees took the info and their Heads signed letters stating that they received the copy of MiCASSA, the demands, would read through it and schedule a meeting within two weeks time.

Debbie Bonomo and “Wrong-Way” Bruce Darling got Rochester ADAPT folks to both party headquarters. The Republican staff person who had not returned calls on support for MiCASSA found herself facing people who didn’t like having calls left unreturned. The staffer mentioned that she recognized our group. “Hadn’t we protested Hillary Clinton?” We responded that THEY could be next. They agreed to contact Bush’s campaign headquarters and expected Republican Senatorial candidate Guilianni. While at the Democratic Headquarters discussing our concerns and faxing our demand list to the national office, we got an emergency call to negotiate the release of one of our group from a nursing home. They couldn’t believe the hassle we were being put through in order to get our friend out and back into his own home.

http://www.adapt.org/incitement/incspr00tx.html

Please point out to me where I said it would be ok if he did this, and if he did, that it was blown out of proportion??

Way to twist my words.

I said I didn't know that it happened at all and that unless you were there yourself, neither do you.

If he did this, then bad on him, flame away.

But I'm not taking as "truth" anything one person says, especially since I don't know what they are about. Do you? Do you know who Debbie Bonomo is and if she is speaking the truth? I don't. Let's hear a third person account of this before we go condemning Edwards as the fucking scum of the earth, for chrissakes. I know I would like that kind of consideration.

And it's not much in the way of a compliment.

Honestly, though, I'm sure Edwards meant no disrespect. He may be Kerry's opponent, but he genuinely seems like a decent guy.



Don't you dare pat me, sucka! Especially with that big ole' hand!

It would appear, from reading the article, that Edwards spoke at RIT, possibly at its Institute for the Deaf. But nowhere can I find exactly where Edwards spoke.

Secondly, "The disability rights group also said there was poor access for handicapped people at the building where Edwards spoke Sunday night." Again, what building? By the slant of the article, you'd think the speech was specifically to address the Center for Disability Rights.

This looks more like a failure on the part of Edwards' local coordinators.

Pat on the head, well, that's a Southern Gentleman's condescension for you.

Faux pas, perhaps. Worth making an issue about? Doubtful.