Did John Edwards really say these things...

[HardWorkingDem]

One mass thing floating around is a supposed conversation Edwards has with someone where he is asked about Cuba's health care system and he replies along the lines that he has to be honest and doesn't know much about Cuba's health care and ends up asking the person along the lines of if it is ran by the state or government controlled.

I can't imagine him asking this.

Anyone?

[lazer47]

1. What difference would it make what Cuba does with health care?

[Donnachaidh]

2. these *somebody said something awful* candidate posts are annoying

Do you have an actual email you can cut and paste - or is this yet another whispering campaign? Remember, if you really are looking for information -- GOOGLE is your friend. :sarcasm:

[HardWorkingDem]

3. How many posts do I have?

Do you think I'd be playing a "whispering" campaign with 1,000 plus posts?

I'm trying to find out because it's going around the internet and I'm trying to find out if it is true or not. It seems far fetched that John Edwards would make such statements.

[brentspeak]

9. Number of posts means nothing

[Catchawave]

15. it's only going around freeper sites....now here.

:shrug:

[Cameron27]

17. Are you saying that the story's untrue

and he never made that comment? It's been in legit news sites, so I don't know why you think we shouldn't talk about it here.

[Catchawave]

18. Well if Rush and Newsbusters and a rightwing hack on abc's blog

sez it's true....http://blackandright.mensnewsdaily.com/2007/08/23/rush-quote-of-the-day-14/

Puh-leeze....if you want to be better than the MSM, try not to be like them. Ran across some "fun" stuff on Hillary and Obama too....all garbage spin.

[HardWorkingDem]

29. Sadly, after oen of the first replies, I did a google and it's out there...

..trying to find out the truth...

sheesh.

[struggle4progress]

37. Neither Oskaloosa Herald nor Campaigns & Elections report such a quote, though both

were in Oskaloosa that day

[1932]

21. Seriously. And notice the timing. As Edwards does better in polling, the more often you see posts

like this one.

It's odd that likely primary voters are getting to like in him more, while, uhm, democrats at DU start to have skepticism that tends to be founded on things you also see appearing for the first time on right wing sights at exactly the same moment.

[HardWorkingDem]

26. I really RESENT replies like this one..

Hey, it's not odd at all - and I really resent replies like this. I asked a legitimate question because I saw a blurb about this on a political blog.

And for one more little thing - I can probably bet I saw the opportunity of a John Edwards presidency before many, many DUe'rs here.

It's like I stated, I find it hard to believe Edwards made this comment, though it looks like he did.

[maximusveritas]

4. Yes it's true

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/08/sicko-twister.html

ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: When an Iowa resident asked former senator John Edwards Thursday whether the United States should follow the Cuban healthcare model, the 2004 vice presidential contender deflected the question by saying he didn't know enough to answer the question.

"I'm going to be honest with you -- I don't know a lot about Cuba's healthcare system," Edwards, D-N.C., said at an event in Oskaloosa, Iowa. "Is it a government-run system?"

[struggle4progress]

31. Do you have a link with more context? 'Cuz the Oskaloosa Herald story doesn't report this.

Published August 17, 2007 02:16 pm
John Edwards stops in Oskaloosa as part of a seven-day, 31-stop campaign bus tour through Iowa
John Edwards fights for 'One America'
By DUANE NOLLEN
The Oskaloosa Herald

http://www.oskaloosaherald.com/local/local_story_229141622.html

If Edwards was as confused as ABC claims, one would expect it to show up in the local newspaper.

[maximusveritas]

45. I remember there being a video of this on YouTube

but the Edwards campaign had it pulled.
I'm sure the video is out there somewhere though.
I couldn't find any other media reports of it. As usual, they seem to be ignoring Edwards unless the story is about poverty or haircuts.

[struggle4progress]

46. Anyone interested in what Edwards really in Iowa can watch nearly 30 youtube videos

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=BC3E6F7F27E2F624&page=1

[Adelante]

48. How do you know "Edwards campaign had it pulled"? the YouTube video

Do you have a link for that? Perhaps he gave a denial or retraction or explanation at that time which could settle this.

[Adelante]

5. Yes

ABC News’ Rick Klein Reports: When an Iowa resident asked former senator John Edwards Thursday whether the United States should follow the Cuban healthcare model, the 2004 vice presidential contender deflected the question by saying he didn’t know enough to answer the question.

“I’m going to be honest with you — I don’t know a lot about Cuba’s healthcare system,” Edwards, D-N.C., said at an event in Oskaloosa, Iowa. “Is it a government-run system?”

But just three days earlier, the candidate was asked a question about the Michael Moore documentary “Sicko” — which focuses extensively on the Cuban healthcare system.

As Willie Nelson’s classic “On the Road Again” blared, Edwards leaned out of a window of his campaign bus dubbed “Fighting for One America”, to hear an off-camera voice howl, “I wanted to ask ya, is it required that everyone go see “Fahrenheit 9/11″ and “Sicko”?

Edwards, in between autographs outside Dan’s Pizzeria in Onawa, Iowa, replies, “I watched Sicko,” later adding, “It’s a great movie.”

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/08/sicko-twister.html


I actually think he knows perfectly well Cuba has a government-run health care system as befits a communist country. He must think it is politically more expedient to not talk about it if he can avoid it. I don't know what other explanation there could be for his claim of ignorance, unless it really is ignorance, which isn't too good, either.

[Catchawave]

20. Wow...you and max posted 3 minutes apart !

I think we've been punked.

[Adelante]

23. Or paranoid

I had the posting window open while I searched for the piece I had seen and by the time I posted, it was already there. No conspiracy here.

[struggle4progress]

36. There's nothing like that quote in the Campaign and Elections coverage of the Oskaloosa stop

Unfortunately, all I've got is the Goggle cache:


Edwards Pushes Health Care Plan on Bus Tour
By - Justin Schardin
(August 17, 2007)

U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina brought day four of his five-day Iowa bus tour to a sunny town square in Oskaloosa late yesterday afternoon to make his case for universal health care, and a major and immediate expansion of children's health care.

Edwards spoke before a crowd of well over 100 and was joined about halfway into the event by his wife Elizabeth. Speaking in front of the square's large gazebo, the former senator asked voters to look at his rivals' health care proposals, and that any candidate whose plan did not include universal coverage, "should tell those who won't get why not ...

After the event, Oskaloosa's Randy Frazier said he was surprised by how much he liked what Edwards had to say. "I liked a lot of the details. He seemed focused on real solutions. I saw Clinton and Obama before. They're good for a pep talk...but didn't have a lot of substance." ...

Bob and Loraine McCombs said they were Edwards supporters in 2004, and would be again in 2008. "I like the way he thinks," said Mr. McCombs. "It's too bad Bush stole that last election." Asked if he meant 2000 or 2004, both he and his wife answered in unison, "both." ...

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:nkxLVPtI6sEJ:www.campaignline.com/ia/articles/index.cfm%3Fid%3D531+%22john+edwards%22+oskaloosa+transcript&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us

If Edwards actually made such a statement, you'd think the trade journal would notice it.

[Adelante]

49. Thanks - has Edwards denied making the statment?

That's all it would take to put this to rest and put him out front of this if it is some kind of RW plot.

[struggle4progress]

51. I've provided links to two print stories on the Oskaloosa event: neither contains anything like

the alleged quote.

On a completely different topic, some people are wondering why you haven't denied saying that the best use of a microwave oven is cooking kittens. Others are wondering why you haven't denied saying that your marriage failed because your wife was having sex with space aliens. Still others are wondering why you haven't denied saying that we should repeal the civil amendments. There are so many of these floating around, you really need to spend more time denying having said them.

[HardWorkingDem]

53. Yes, I agree, but the larger issue is....

how Edwards' opponents are trying to picture him as an intellectual lightweight and this is the same sort of process that was used to so successfully hurt Al Gore.

Not to be sick or anything, but how about this for an example of rumors, lies and folk tales: what fable is the singer Rod Stewart known for? Or how about Richard Gere and gerbils?

Recall, what happened to Al "serial exaggerator" Gore. Hell, if things had been just a little different, there would have been none of that "which Al Gore will show up for the debate this time."

THESE reasons are why I asked in the first place. This seems like another well orchestrated scam, however no one seems to be able to discount it.

[Inspired]

6. What is your point? I confess to not understanding why this is interesting to you. n't

[HardWorkingDem]

28. Don't want to see him "Gore'd"......

From decades of watching politics, this is the sort of thing that slowly starts to define a person. Look at how the media portrayed Gore as a "serial" fabricator.

See, Edwards could have been making a sarcastic-joking-mock reply to the person asking this question for all I know. And that's what I want to find out because I can't imagine Edwards seriously asking this question.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

35. That's a good point..

This could easily be construed into a larger storyline about Edwards. Or it could stand alone, with them saying the only reason he supports his health care plan is because he doesn't know anything about Cuba's.

Edwards 2008 makes Kerry 2004 look like a political mastermind.

[saltpoint]

7. I heard that someone who lives across the street from my neighbor's

cousin's orthodontist that Mike Gravel watches I LOVE LUCY reruns all night.

Swear to god.

[zulchzulu]

24. That should be a bigger story!

Does Gravel have some inane uber-love for Lucy? Not wonder, he's _____________.

On Edwards not knowing the intricacies of Cuban healthcare under Castro, he should know a little more about it..perhaps saying something with the lights dimming down and having some Cubano jazz pipe in and say with a heavily-laden Spanish accent "José Ramón Balaguer and los Operación Milagro is doing milagros para la gen..or people...but we need something mucho improvo!"

:rofl:

[saltpoint]

44. Hi, zulchzulu. I'm for a huge party -- I'm talkin' HUGE -- maybe in Miami

and invite everyone in Cuba.

Before anybody talks politics, let's break out the music and the food.

Then, painters, poets, dancers, and musicians will tell us all we need to know from a large stage.

John McCain and Tom Tancredo aren't invited!

[zulchzulu]

25. Dupe

[SoonerShankle]

8. I want JE to be president of the US, not Cuba

Ergo, I hope he has a firm grasp on the pros and cons of our system first and foremost.

Then he can create a team to study the systems of other countries, how they work, their success rate, etc. Using already existing statistics and information with any new knowledge gleaned should create the ongoing policy for any new president's administration.

Asking JE, or any other candidate, to be experts on all other countries form of health care borders on the ridiculous. Talk about setting people up for failure...

[Cameron27]

10. As a Democratic presidential candidate,

I want Edwards to know that Cuba's a Communist country, and of course it's health care is run by the government. That's grade school stuff.

[CTyankee]

11. Sorry, it's not enough of a deal breaker for me. It would be different

if he couldn't name the heads of important world leaders, ya know, like our current president. This is one straw grasped...

[Cameron27]

12. If I was a supporter, it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me either,

but I thought his answer was clumsy. No one want's to be seen as so ill-informed about a country, 90 miles from our shore, that's been a concern of our goverment for decades. If this was the general, the GOP would crucify him for that remark.

edited: hit 5 instead of 9

[CTyankee]

16. Yes, the media would TRY to crucify him.

But I think his appeal to voters in the general will be so great that stuff like that won't matter. Frankly, my guess is that the American people couldn't care less what he says or doesn't say about Cuba's health care system. They want to know what he has to say about THEIR health care, or lack of it. ANd that's where he shines.

Having said that, I bet he got all kinds of hell from Elizabeth and his closest advisors about the remark. If he's smart, and I think he is, he'll sharpen up and not be so foggy...lesson learned.

[struggle4progress]

39. Why do you believe a report like this? There was press at the Oskaloosa event, none of which

reported this supposed exchange. The real press reports quote various real people and use their names: if this had really occurred, we would know who asked the question.

[AtomicKitten]

13. I'll bet Junior doesn't know.

[Catchawave]

14. First I've heard of this....even without a resource

I hate threads like this, reminds me of Limpballs. :shrug: Someone needs to "work harder" :mad:

So far, can only find this being discussed on freeper sites. Sorry, but your OP doesn't even resemble the abc blog link provided either.

[monmouth]

19. I admire people who say "I don't know" then ask how, why, which?? eom

[emulatorloo]

22. ME TOO thnks for your post n/t

[HardWorkingDem]

27. What is wrong with fellow Du'ers?!?!?

I asked what I believe is a legitimate question and get all kinds of bullshit and insincere fucking replies.

I think this question is important and here's why: in the last two presidential elections, just how much "minor" bullshit turned into huge mountains of crap that hurt Democratic candidates? Do I need to remind people about what happened to Gore and all the lies the MSM pushed about him? Or how about Kerry?

And I asked this because I want to know if there was some sort of either hoax out there or some good reason why Edwards would make a reply like this.

I saw this on a political blog, couldn't believe it and then asked. Please forgive another Du'er for trying to get some damned accurate information!

[Inspired]

30. I don't think this is going to cause a lot of fuss.

Just my opinion.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

33. I agree with you.

I have a pretty low regard for Edwards. But I didn't think this could be true. I think by now, however, we all should know to disregard even the most minimal standards.

[Catchawave]

40. Next time, post your source w/link

It was a sloppy OP. I bookmarked it for future reference :hi: You'll know what that means next time you forget your bloggy etiquette.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

32. Sounds like Edwards is being honest for once.

I wouldn't be surprised if it were fake.

[Netbeavis]

34. Heaven forbid...

any candidate being able to say "I dunno, let me check into and get back to you." At least he didn't lay a bomb ad-libbing like F.Thompson.

[surfermaw]

38. Edwards didn say that , some one must have informed them that Edwards is running ahead in Iowa.

[penguin7]

41. He said something today about needing to

see a doctor to be eligible for health care insurance.

[penguin7]

42. Edwards says doctor visits mandatory under his health care plan

http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=7017540&nav=menu132_2

[Colobo]

43. That I don't agree with. People shouldn't be forced to go to the doc.

[HardWorkingDem]

54. Why is it that Americans are so stubborn about these things.....

Americans want all sort of freebies like health care, but refuse to do anything to make sure it can happen. Recall, when Hillary Clinton was pushing her plan she was fond of saying that five dollars was saved for every dollar spent on preventative medicine. I think Edwards pushing such a goal is to get Americans in for simple and less expensive preventative measures so such inclusive plans can exist. But what to Americans do? Refuse to even think of it.

[GreenArrow]

47. it's not a health care plan, it's a health Insurance scheme.

and yeah, it's mandatory.

[Terri S]

50. I'm a little wary of AP supposed quotes .. they don't always acurately reflect what was said

I checked what Edwards had online when I saw that, and it says this, but nothing about mandatory anything. He may have, but I'd rather wait and hear it from his mouth, than trust AP to get it right.

from: UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE THROUGH SHARED RESPONSIBILITY



"Promote Preventive Care: Health Care Markets will offer primary and preventive services at
little or no cost. Incentives like lower premiums will reward individuals who schedule free
physicals and enroll in healthy living programs. Edwards will also support community efforts to
improve health, such as safe streets, walking and biking trails, safe and well-equipped parks, and
physical education programs for children. "

link

I didn't see anything about mandatory doctor visits :shrug:

I'm an avid Obama supporter, but I really don't see John Edwards doing a big-brother number with mandatory doctor visits. If it's true, I'll be truly disappointed.

[Colobo]

52. He did on the Lance Armstrong Cancer Forum. Look it up.