So it has come to pass that Elizabeth Edwards has died.
Despite having more things thrown at her than anyone I've ever had the chance to support in my entire political life, she managed to represent, in her very presence, a sense of grace and kindness and concern for those who were looking to have a better life than the one they had now, and I don't know that I could ever live up to the quiet courage she showed as her life came to an end.
And, bless her heart, it appears that she took the time to make sure that her kids knew her, and that she helped them put away enough "past" to, hopefully, ease some of the pain of the future.
But now the time has come to look beyond death, and, John...that's why I want to talk to you today.
Today marks the launch of Health Care For America Now, a national coalition which plans to organize millions of Americans at the grassroots level to advocate for quality, affordable health care for everyone.
We're bringing together community organizers, nurses, doctors, small business owners, faith-based groups, organizations of people of color, and seniors who believe it's time we had an American solution that provides quality, affordable health care for everyone.
We're offering a bold new solution that gives you real choice and a guarantee of quality coverage you can afford: keep your current private insurance plan, pick a new private insurance plan, or join a public health insurance plan.
We're also calling for regulation on health insurance companies. We need to set and enforce rules that quash health insurance companies' greed once and for all.There is a huge divide between our plan and the insurance companies' plan for healthcare reform. We want to make sure you have the quality coverage you need at the price you can afford. They want to leave you alone to fend for yourself in the unregulated, bureaucratic health insurance market.
Our plan is affordable for people and business. Their plan is profitable for them. With no regulation, health insurance companies can and will charge whatever they want, set high deductibles, and continue to drop coverage when you get sick. Now is the time to pick a side. Which side are you on?
Elizabeth Edwards is one of the high-profile faces of this coalition, but it's fairly broad, including AFSCME, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America's Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Center for Community Change, MoveOn.org, the NEA, National Women's Law Center, Planned Parenthood, the SEIU, the UFCW, and USAction. Today they are running live launch events all over the country, including two in California. One is happening at this hour in Los Angeles, featuring Lt. Governor John Garamendi. There's another event in San Francisco on the steps of City Hall at 11:30 featuring Mayor Gavin Newsom. The names shouldn't surprise you - they're both two of the most high-profile advocates for universal health care in the state, and they'll both use the issue as a springboard for their 2010 gubernatorial campaigns.
What I'm more interested in is HCAN's strategy to work inside Bush Dog districts to hold them accountable should they prostrate themselves for the insurance industry.
The work of Health Care For America Now was first made public late last week. But the group, with Elizabeth Edwards as a figurehead, offered expanded insight into the details of its campaign during a meeting on Monday. In addition to spending $40 million -- $1.5 million of which will be put behind an initial ad buy (national TV, print, and online) -- the group will be sending organizers to 52 cities, blasting out emails to 5 million households, airing spots on MSNBC and CNN and submitting op-eds to major papers (officials hinted at the New York Times piece to come).
In addition, the campaign is going to take advantage of Moveon.org's massive data files to reach out to like-minded supporters and officials promised to work in Democratic and Republican districts alike.
"We'll have an organizer in the district of every Blue Dog Democrat," said HCAN campaign manager Richard Kirsch of the conservative Democrats.
"The focus of the campaign," he added, "is on national legislation. "This year, however, it is also a referendum: do you support quality, affordable, health care for all, or an alliance with the private insurance industry?"
Right on. These Bush Dogs need constant pressure and the threat of job loss in order to do right by their constituents. I don't know how successful HCAN will be, but they certainly have the right strategy.
(XPosted 1/30/2008 10:10 AM PST on MyDesert.com as BluePalmSpringsBoyz)
The media has reported that former-Sen. John Edwards plans to withdraw as a Democratic candidate for the nomination for President. It is a sad day as for many supporters, Edwards epitomized someone who early in the process opposed the disastrous policies of the so-called Pres. George Bush in Iraq and Iran, who was overwhelmingly supportive of LGBT issues, who spoke on behalf of the poor and working people of this country, and who set a mature tone for the Democratic campaign in general.
For the first time in history, Presidential candidates' wives from both parties sat on a panel together at the Women's Conference 2007. Democrats Elizabeth Edwards and Michelle Obama and Republicans Jeri Thompson, Ann Romney, and Cindy McCain shared their views and experiences of being a candidate's wife with an audience of 14,000.
The nonpartisan discussion was dominated by descriptions of the challenges of balancing family, work and a political campaign, all while remaining grounded. The participants generally agreed on the role of a candidate's wife in a Presidential campaign. Elizabeth Edwards stated that the idea of candidates' wives as "strategists is overplayed."
Following the Candidates' Wives Panel, Elizabeth delivered a moving speech in honor of women surviving breast cancer.
Oh, and if you are wondering about Hillary's spouse Bill, yes he was invited. According to First Lady of California Maria Shriver, who hosted the Conference, he was asked to come and serve coffee, but declined.
Watch highlights of Elizabeth Edwards at the Women's Conference 2007 here:
And, you know what, It's not the fourth of july. But everytime I think Saturday, I want to say, "in jim's garage". Oh well.
Anyway, the meeting started off with a bang this morning. After getting lost in the innards of Sacramento's northern manufacturing district, I eventua.ly found the Radisson on, I kid you not, Liesure Lane. Good times. I got here early to attend the Labor Caucus meeting, where they were talking about the Net Neutrality Resolution. I'll let dday go into that discussion further.
Elizabeth Edwards (in the picture above, with Sen/Chair Art Torres next to her) spoke in the general session. As always, she made excellent points, both in her own right, and for her husband's campaign. Whether John himself can get some more traction in the primary race, is, of course, another issue.
Following the wonderful Mrs. Edwards, Sen. Darrel Steinberg, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and Board of Equalization Chair Betty Yee addressed the general session. More will follow, and follow my flickr stream for more.
.First of all, I'd like to thank the Edwards campaign folks for setting up the meeting for us. It was really nice to get a chance to talk with somebody who is obviously an incredible woman. No matter what political bent or who you support, she is clearly a courageous and intelligent woman. In this picture, you see (L to R) Elaine Santore , Beth Spotswood, Sasha, Paul Hogarth, Mrs. Edwards, Julia Rosen, and myself
Sasha at Left in SF has a really good recap post of the entire day, including a really cool shooting-down of Bob Shrum's book by telling the reporters to go to youtube. Here's the video. But, I've got the video of the meeting, so you can see it in its entirety (um, hopefully soon, stupid computer...).
She addressed a litany of issues, including her husband's Senate record, the Iraq war, and economic/poverty issues. She had a very long speaking engagement, and she seems to be holding up remarkably well. I'm quite amazed that anybody, let alone a woman battling cancer, has the stamina to keep the kind of schedule that she's keeping.
Calitics will have the chance to chat with the incredible Elizabeth Edwards for a few minutes tomorrow and would like to speak for you, the greater Calitics community. Hers is an incredible personal and political story, and she has a unique position in the current course of American politics. And so the floor is open. What would you like to say to or ask of Elizabeth Edwards?
This totally rocks, I love reading Juls' Uncle Jay Rosen and Zack and Amanda are great hires.
DON'T FORGET, next Wednesday: SF and LA. If you know of somebody thinking of running, invite them. Help make these events successful, send some emails invites today!
Added by Brian: DFA is doing a conference call with Calitics-fav Charlie Brown (CA-11) on Monday. RSVP here
I just found out this afternoon that Elizabeth Edwards is coming to town as the featured speaker at the annual Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club breakfast fundraiser.
Elizabeth Edwards' acknowledgement of the recurrence of her breast cancer (which I hope is not more serious than the Edwardses made it out to be, but which I fear is) was but one story of cancer attacking prominent political figures. Tony Snow will have surgery for a small growth under his abdomen; he had colon cancer two years ago, so we hope that it's nothing more serious. And most tragically, conservative commentator and blogger Catherine Siepp succumbed to lung cancer. Cancer is not a disease that picks between political affiliations for who it afflicts, that much is clear. And so a problem affecting everyone must be solved with a universal solution.
Before she died, Catherine Siepp wrote about her experiences with Blue Cross of California. It was a bit shocking to hear a committed conservative talking about the failures of our health care system in such a frank and direct manner, but when a health insurance conglomerate acts so dishonestly, anyone in that position would be offended regardless of their politics.
Elizabeth Edwards is an amazing woman, simply amazing. Such brilliance, such grace, such empathy.
I'm glad to hear John Edwards will continue his campaign, although part of me wishes that his wife was the candidate. He is blessed to have such a partner. In both America's, Elizabeth is in our thoughts and prayers.
As we continue our discussion about reforming our broken health care system, imagine if all Americans could count on the medical care Elizabeth Edwards will receive.
And, you know what, It's not the fourth of july. But everytime I think Saturday, I want to say, "in jim's garage". Oh well. 