Obama, Elizabeth Edwards to Partner on Healthcare?
Note that final character...
Thirty minutes into his speech, Obama interrupted his prepared remarks and pointed to the wife of his former Democratic rival to declare his intention of her role.
"I'm going to be partnering up with Elizabeth Edwards - we're going to be figuring all this out," Obama said when addressing his proposed reform to the health care system.
Well, I guess we'll be waiting for some operational detail, then, and although I'm sure there's a haka going right now explaining what "we're going to be figuring all this out" might mean, and when it will happen. By platform time?
And there is one odd thing...
... which is that, much as I love Elizabeth Edwards, and I do, she didn't get 18 million votes.
Or make Universal Health Care her signature issue.
Eh?
So, modified rapture from this tepid Obama voter.
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Would've Been Nice
if he'd figured all this out before running for President or attacking Clinton's plan using the same talking points that will be used against his (modified or not).
As for whether this will result in a better healthcare policy, I'll believe it when I see it. The devil is in the operational detail and I'm not sure we're going to get it.
Having said that, it will be interesting if and how Elizabeth Edwards gets involved since she could be acting as a Clinton surrogate. She works at Center for American Progress on healthcare issues now. And when I've heard her speak recently, I've gotten the feeling she's become something of a Clinton fan.
But I'll believe any of this matters when I hear more than a name dropping.
who cares
if HR 676 passes Obama won't dare veto it.
Well said, DCB!
If there's anything special we need to do on June 19th....
[x] Very tepidly voting for Obama [ ] ?????. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." -- Mahatma Gandhi
Harry & Louise killed UHC
So all this talk of reforming his policy platform is just bullshit. As BDB noted, his obsession with demonizing mandates jeopardizes his current health insurance policy by providing the Republicans with the opportunity to attack mandates for children (This is the same party that went after health care for poor children; nothing is off limits to them).
Also, the fact he's unqualified for the office will remain a problem. Even if he had proposed UHC from the beginning, how can anyone believe he'll be able to push it through? He has no leadership or governing experience.
What Davidson Says
And Lambert, that odd thing you mention:
sounds like Obama is sticking finger in Hillary's other eye.
Do Obama, Elizabeth & John Edwards together have as much government experience as Hillary?
Center for American Progress
The major story on their e-mail newsletter today is an incredibly positive and specific overview of Clinton's policy positions and record. Why now? Why not 2 or 3 months ago?
I was
a Clinton supporter, but I trust both Edwards's on health care. They put out a universal plan before Clinton and the two plans are virtually identical. Elizabeth in particular has made it her signature issue, actually, and I doubt she'd sign on if they weren't going to reform it into something universal. Could be wrong, and lord knows cynicism is often wisdom, but I think Elizabeth, of all people, has earned the benefit of the doubt.
Elizabeth Edwards is a brand
And a good one.
But I want to see what's inside the box, not just the brand that's on the outside of it.
[x] Very tepidly voting for Obama [ ] ?????. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." -- Mahatma Gandhi
Is it remotely possible
that this involves a behind-the-scenes alliance between Hillary and Elizabeth, and that Hillary has insisted Obama work with Elizabeth on health care if he wouldn't agree to work with Hillary openly?
Oooooh, good one
... could be I suppose. It sounds like Hillary, if not exactly Obama.
By not going to Hillary for this Obama is saying something definite. What it is, I dunno. A sharp stick in the eye, or setting the table for something else Hillary may be involved in --VP perhaps-- thereby avoiding the appearance she has too much influence?
Or not.
If that's true, then God bless her for getting something
decent out of the suffering she had endured.
But you know it would make it so much easier if he said four words:
"I fully support HR676."
this is a crock--
"working with" does not mean adopting, or anything tangible.
all of his advisors are adamantly against mandates & Universal, for just 2 giant things.
he's been lying about his healthcare plans from the start and killing others' plans, so his teasing now is meaningless.
People should just trust him and wait and see? On faith?
right now on CNN--no mandates--
he only will provide "access" of some unspecified sort, except for kids.
"A mistake" to penalize people who don't have it.
So it's universal, except when it isn't
What a crock.
People are right. Why not just support HR 676?
But got some detail on where Obama said that? "CNN" isn't going to help anyone find a transcript....
[x] Very tepidly voting for Obama [ ] ?????. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." -- Mahatma Gandhi
it was a Q from audience--i'll try
to dig it up, but it might not get posted at CNN--lemme go search...
here's youtube of his speech just before
the questions started--it gets meaty (but not satisfying at all) around 4 minutes in--the live part i saw this morning must have been immediately after this. -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjuuyw2qreA
& here's a Kos diary that tells about the mandates q & a--
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/6...
"... The first question was a good one about mandates, an issue that's been overcovered yet still poorly explained. Did he oppose mandates philosophically or was the lack of a mandate in his plan a political maneuver to entice Republicans to sign on to his plan?
Obama answered that his health care plan is built around the observation that Americans don't lack access to quality health care because we don't want it, it's because it's too expensive. Bringing costs down is the first priority. He acknowledged that there may be some "malingerers" who do not want to buy into the system because they are healthy and think they are invincible, but many of these were young people who would be covered until the age of 25 by their parents, according to his plan. If there were a sizable majority of others who weren't covered and caused a systemic problem, he would seek to address them as needed.
..."
You know why not support HR676
Sen Obama's plan is based on stronger private health insurance for a sicker america. HR676 at very least greatly reduces the role (read: profit) of private health insurance.
Goolsbee will have an aneurysm if Sen Obama supports HR676.
I was thinking
about "why" Dems were pushing HR676 "now".
Because they're anticipating it failing.(at least vetoed, then a failure to override)
Then Obama swoops in with his "bipartisan" approach (minus everything that makes HR676 the superior bill), and there you go.
Watch for it. Callin my shot again.
totally--they want to say they tried, then let it drop
--it's like Iraq and everything else since they "took over" in 06.
Are they trying to put it to a vote before Bush goes out?
What's a budding activist to do?
Policy not party!
oops--
nevermind...
Experience Isn't The Only Problem
"He has no leadership or governing experience."
Nor it would seem any real desire to govern.
"Libertarian Paternalism" anyone.