Elizabeth Edwards offers her views on healthcare policy

John Edwards may have disappeared from the political radar, after his summertime admission of an extramarital affair, but his wife -- who was a major asset to her husband's Democratic presidential aspirations and also became a voice to be reckoned with on her own terms -- is re-establishing a public profile.

Recently, Elizabeth Edwards talked with the Detroit Free Press about the storm of personal turmoil she's experienced. Today, she talked policy at conference co-sponsored by the Service Employees International Union in the key state of Virginia.

Appearing at the gathering in Richmond in her role as a senior fellow of the liberal Center for American Progress Action Fund, she excoriated John McCain's healthcare proposals.

Although the event was not officially linked to Barack Obama's campaign, it was in line with an increasing effort by the Democrat and his allies to focus attention on a significant policy difference between the two presidential candidates.

And Obama can be expected to seize every opportunity to harp on the issue during his townhall meeting with McCain tonight.

-- Don Frederick

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Comments

[Cherubim]

It is good to see Elizabeth Edwards back to help promote
universal health care for Americans.

Now if we could only get back into action her husband,
Senator John Edwards who said the followining in July of 2007 when he was running for U.S. President:

"First, I will create a Family Savings and Credit Commission to make sure that financial services treat families safely.

Right now, there's no sheriff in town. Interest rates were effectively deregulated 20 years ago. States cannot effectively regulate banks because most are based in other states. Federal regulators put bank "soundness" – profitability – far ahead of consumer protection.

My Family Savings and Credit Commission will change this. It will deal with all financial services -- credit cards, mortgages, car loans, check-cashers, payday loans, investment accounts, and more. It will ban the most abusive terms and make sure consumers understand the others.

Second, I will also pass strong national laws protecting us against the worst abuses in credit markets – predatory mortgages – abusive credit card terms – and payday loans with interest rates of 300 percent or higher.

Finally, I will help create alternatives to abusive lenders. I will help working families build up a cushion by matching their savings and bringing bank accounts to the 56 million without them. And I will support non-profit groups offering affordable, short-term loans. We need a new era of responsible lenders who see families as long-term investments, not quick bucks.

All across the economy, we need to do the same thing – take on the special interests and put Washington back on the side of regular families. "

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJlKE_BLAUM

http://www.johnedwards.com/news/speeches/20070621-reduce-debt/

[Linda Schwartz]

Elizabeth Edwards, if she has the strength, needs to stand on a stage with Obama. She commands tremendous respect from the American people.. She needs to be heard. We need to see and hear her.