What was the social issue that drove Bill Clinton into office and then drove the wingnuts into nuttiness?
Universal Health Care.
It’s the liberal, progressive issue that no one has been willing to talk about since then. It’s taboo. It’s scary. It is not at all CENTRIST or an issue of TRIANGULATION. Indeed, Hillary Clinton, once the hero of UHC is now AGAINST the idea. So, who is the 800 Pound Gorilla that is bringing this issue to the forefront again? Who is it that is mentioning the uninsured at every event as a moral issue that America has to face?
In other words, who is it that is running a truly Progressive campaign?
John Edwards pushes universal health coverage
May 23, 2006
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These true situations exemplify the current healthcare system’s faults and why universal health coverage is essential for all Americans and especially Hispanics, said former North Carolina senator John Edwards on Monday at the University of Texas-Pan American Field House.
Out of the nearly 46 million Americans without health insurance, 13.7 million are Hispanics.
“I think all of us have the responsibility to do something about this,” he said to rousing applause at the National Uninsured Latinos Conference.John Edwards: Democrats Need ‘A Little Backbone’
Possible presidential candidate and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards told some 3,400 union delegates and others Monday that the Democratic Party needs to show “a little backbone” by taking up the cause of universal health care again.
“One of the ways we can show some backbone and courage is we can speak out and we can say we’re not for access to health care … and all those weasel words that politicians like to use,” he said.
“We’re for universal health care for every single man, woman and child in America and we are going to fight for it every single day when we’re running this country, when we’re running the Congress, when we’re running the White House.”
Taking a stab at the current administration, both state and federal, he used health care as an example.
“Look at what George Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger have done about health care. Neither Schwarzenegger nor Bush support universal health care, unlike Phil Angelides who Edwards said will, “stand up for universal health care.””We have 37 million of our own people who wake up every day worried about feeding and clothing our children,” he said. “How can that be, in the richest nation on the planet? It’s not OK that single moms who are waking up in the middle of the night with a sick 4-year-old have to go to the emergency room and beg for medical care. We’re better than that.”
Democrats ”have to lead the way to universal health care,” he said to about 100 cheering supporters. ”They” — Republicans — “will never do it.”Edwards: here’s what I say … and it’s not just net neutrality … if the Democratic party is going to lead this country, we have to have a backbone. No more mealy-mouth. It’s not “access to health care” … it should be “universal health care.” Net neutrality is a place where we could do that.
We also need to show that we can be the example for the world here at home by enacting universal health care coverage, defending the constitution and human rights, and leading the world toward energy independence.
This message of economic fairness and justice resonates not only in Virginia, but all across America. A few specifics: raise the minimum wage; universal health care coverage; tax system reform so that income is treated with at least as much respect as wealth; making college available to everyone regardless of wealth (College for Everyone); a trade policy that includes both free trade and fair trade (enforcable environmental and labor protections).
As to healthcare, it is clear to me that we have a dysfunctional health care system. We have the moral issue of approximately 47 million Americans who have no health care coverage, plus many millions who are terrified they will lost their coverage. The only answer is universal health care coverage.
Although I can’t go into the details now, I’ve been working on a universal health care plan for months, and look forward to making it public when it’s finished.
Folks, I’ve been a fan of John Edwards since his first trips to New Hampshire and Iowa. His willingness to stand up as a Progressive, instead of slithering towards the center like every other candidate out there just endears him to me more. Taking up Universal Healthcare, the fight I chose to make my own, is just the final act that makes it impossible for me to support anyone else in 2008.
I hear rumors that the Edwards for President office will be located in the Chapel Hill area. If so, and if they will have me, you can just consider that my night office. The kids are in bed by 8pm and there MUST BE SOMETHING I CAN DO EACH NIGHT.
A Progressive. Imagine that. No “weasel words”. No “centrist” positions. Just progressive, Democratic policies designed to make the WORLD a better place.
Count. Me. In.
