There's a few questions I want Obama and Hillary to answer...

Dear Senators:

No need to ask John Edwards. He already told us he won't negotiate, ever, with greedy corporate critters. He says they're the problem, not the solution. But you two think those folks will help solve our problems if we just sit down at the table with them -- to talk it out and work it out. All it takes is negotiation.

Am I the only one wondering if, when you sit down to negotiate, you'll negotiate with the same set of priorities the rest of us have? I'd like some straightforward information from you two that's as revealing of your stances as John Edwards has been regarding his. We know where he stands. Now it's your turn to tell us what you'll do to bring about those wonderful changes you've been promising us.

Specifically, this is what I want to know:

Which health care concessions will you be willing to make when you sit at that table? Which of the things that are most dear to us are you willing to give up -- all in the interest of going along to get along?

What price point will you work toward when you sit at that table with drug company executives? Which medications are you willing to let them sell for pennies in other countries while they sell them here for hundreds of dollars -- all in the interest of going along to get along?

How much environmental damage are you willing to tolerate when you sit at that table? Which of the protections for our planet and our people will you give up -- all in the interest of going along to get along?

What energy policy concessions are you willing to make when you sit at that table -- all in the interest of going along to get along?

Which jobs will you let corporations take away from American workers when you sit at that table? Which families will you fail to stand up for -- all in the interest of going along to get along?

You've told us the only way to confront our challenges is by getting people and corporations with conflicting interests to work together. To you, that means participating in give and take via the process of negotiation. Fine. But please itemize for us exactly which parts of the Democratic (and American) agenda you're ready to give away, and which parts you'll insist on taking.

Thanks for whatever time you put into telling us what John Edwards has already told us.

Sincerely,
LiberalHeart

How exactly will he get anything done without negotiations?

Only thing I've ever heard him say on this is that he'll use his "Bully Pulpit".

At least I know Obama and Hillary will work for change. Edwards will demand changes?




Wow. Good luck with that, Johnny!

I've been asking Obama's campaign for weeks how it is he's going to bring about real change, all the while taking big money from the very folks he's going to impact the most with that change.

Because if he wants to bring real change to the American people, it's going to hit his corporate sponsors in their profits rather hard.

So far, no answers from Barack's website, or from any of his local supporters, or from anyone here at DU. They either don't know, don't want to say, or can't say. :shrug:

You express my feelings perfectly! Thank you for posting this, LiberalHeart!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

You have to look at the forest. Nothing will change until we have public financing of political campaigns. Corporations have the same rights as people and can give to whomever they want. The result of this is that elections are obscenely expensive and campaigns must spend huge sums to have a chance. This is why the best candidates, people like Kucinich, do not have a chance, because they shun corporations. Until we take corporations out of our elections, we will continue with a bribery system of government.

http://reclaimdemocracy.org/political_reform/money_notspeech.html">Buckley v. Valeo must be overturned or nothing will change.

Edwards plan as described is preferable to the hints of plans Clinton and Obama have put out there.
Clinton's "plan" is scary.

I've just posted in around three threads about the various aspects of the Obama campaign that have impressed me (plus a little about where I think the campaign needs work). But this thread hits the nail on the head. If Obama or Clinton were to cogently answer these questions (and in doing so demonstrate that they CAN successfully drive a bargain that benefits We the People), I would be all the more impressed with either.

-app

But don't hold your breath waiting for an answer.

NOT a Hoper.

Clinton is "change" and Obama is "hope". Well, whoop de do. Change TO WHAT? Hope FOR WHAT? Inquiring minds want to know.

Logged in just to recommend this one.

Like I can SEE Dame sHillary giving a straight answer to this! What she's learned in the "35 years of experience" she likes to tout, is how to flap your gums without saying anything substantive. :silly:

But I'm happy to kick. Nicely said.

:dem:

-Laelth