Edwards Not Interested in VP Slot or in Endorsing Either Dem; Elizabeth Endorses Hillary's Health Care Plan

Posted by Damozel | John Edwards says he will not accept the VP slot this time around. (Reuters)  That substantially weakens my hopes for bringing myself to stomach an Obama nomination, unless of course Hillary were the running mate (and assuming she'd agree to such a thing). (Reuters)  He declined again to endorse either Hillary or Obama---though his wife, Elizabeth has made it clear that she favors Hillary's plan.  I guess she lost her 'surrogate' status when Edwards dropped out of the campaign, since her statements aren't being attributed to him. 

Elizabeth Edwards continued her passionate advocacy of universal health care on today's morning shows, appearing on both The Today Show and Morning Joe. Edwards noted her preference for the health care plan devised by Hillary Clinton, stating that it's mandated coverage made it the only truly "universal" health plan between Clinton and Barack Obama: "It means every American has to be covered. Senator Obama means every child has to be covered. I think we need to go the full nine yards."

Edwards also continued to criticize the health care plan put forth by John McCain, saying, "He's the beneficiary of some great government programs. But in terms of private insurance, he would not be guaranteed coverage under his own plan. Neither would I or anybody with a pre-existing condition." (HuffPost)

Since I too am a passionate advocate of universal coverage, I'm grateful to Elizabeth E. for bringing the superiority of Hillary's plan---one of the main reasons I chose her when Edwards dropped out---to either Obama's or McCains, but especially McCain's,  the public's attention.

As one of those with a preexisting disability, I am virtually enslaved to my job, so it's a damn good thing I love doing it.  My first thought when I hear someone has lost his or her job is, "Oh my God!  What about the health benefits?" 

The moment when I first turned definitively against Obama was the moment when I saw 'Harry and Louise' v.2.0, with all it (mis)represented.  I ranted; I called him names.  To bring it into line with the rest of the civilized world, the country desperately needs universal coverage for every citizen.

Memeorandum blogger reaction here.

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