Edwards' Empty Threat

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All Edwards could do as president is to push Congress to legislate away its own health-care coverage. And in fact, that's as far as he goes when stating his position on his Web site. According to a campaign press release from earlier this fall:

Edwards press release: Edwards said on the first day of his administration he would submit legislation that ends health care coverage for the president, all members of Congress, and all senior political appointees in both branches of government on July 20th, 2009 - unless universal health care legislation that meets four specific, non-negotiable principles has been passed by that date.

That doesn't sound like much of a threat, does it? Congress would have to pass a law in order to exempt itself, or the president, or the Cabinet, or any other federal employee, from health care coverage. Readers can judge for themselves how far such a bill would get.

It may make a tougher-sounding political ad for Edwards to threaten Congress outright "to take your health care away from you." But it's a threat that is misleading and empty. Edwards, who's a lawyer, should know better.

Sources
Frost, Martin. "Myths about Congress Exposed," FoxNews.com. 6 November 2007.
John Edwards '08. "Edwards Defines What It Takes To Get To Universal Health Care In This Country," press release. 17 September 2007.

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Reprinted with permission from Factcheck.org

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Posted By: JoshU @ 11/16/2007 6:02:10 PM

Thanks I have been wondering about that. It is a great piece of rhetoric, but he shouldn't have that power. Is the bill up for renewal or something that he thinks he can veto it?
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Posted By: dr doug @ 11/14/2007 11:16:15 PM

Gees, Can't ANYBODY be honest? I read an article the other day listing Guiliani's lies and exaggerations and it was in double digits. Hillary hedges ALL the time, and everybody else lies, flip-flops and generally all act contemptible... This is all we have to vote for?

Dr. Doug
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Posted By: kjhendry @ 11/14/2007 10:20:45 PM

I too have federal coverage. You are missing the point. He wants Congress to have to live to the same standards as the working people of this country. One thing about Edwards is that he thinks of the working class, not Bush's privilege class. Maybe you should listen to the message more clearly vrs. a gut reaction that has put this country into a spiral. Fear vrs. logic. Learn to be logical.