John Edwards and James Lowe (who could not talk for 50 years because he lacked health insurance)

[draft_mario_cuomo]

Run time: 01:57 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7rcRA1YQZ0   Posted on YouTube: July 26, 2007 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: July 27, 2007 By DU Member: draft_mario_cuomo Views on DU: 1705

 
James Lowe and people like him are why I am a Democrat. Only the Democratic Party stands for the people who need someone to stand for them, who have no voice, who can't afford a high-priced lobbyist in Washington. We are the party that offers hope to the despairing, destitute, and desperate. As Edwards said, it is an outrage that Lowe was not able to speak for 50 years because he could not afford a simple $3,000 procedure! Think about that. Can you imagine not speaking for 5 hours let alone 50 years? Because of our failed health system this man was denied what we all take for granted. John Edwards represents the best opportunity for us to build One America that includes people like James Lowe.


Note: When Edwards asks "are you listening?" he is talking to reporters at the event to make sure they are paying attention to and grasping James Lowe's story.

[Bozita]

1. K&R

mind-blowing stuff

[KillCapitalism]

2. K&R

This is why Edwards is the one I support!

[Silver Gaia]

3. K&R. No comment necessary. This speaks for itself. /eom

[ClayZ]

4. K and R

[Inspired]

5. This is why I'm a Democrat and why I support Edwards. n/t

[usregimechange]

6. K n R

[lame54]

7. go to michaelmoore.com

and get your sicko health care card - and then right back here(because i'm not supposed to steer you to other sights)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fCutvXccFlA

[AwakeAtLast]

10. Welcome to DU!

This is a great site - enjoy your stay! :hi:

BTW, linking to legitimate sites is O.K. We do it all the time!

[Cairycat]

8. There are way too many people living without care

Or having to spend whatever they've managed to save or go into deep debt, because they can't get coverage, or their insurance companies insist on profits rather than helping.

My husband and I spent this whole week fighting our insurance company. In the end, they've agreed to pay, but I was ready to spend my life savings to get a drug that may keep me from going blind. Your money or your sight is not something that people should have to choose between in this country! Or, too bad, you don't have any money or insurance, you can just go blind. (Because in Rethuglican world, if you don't have money or insurance, it's because you are a bad person.)

There are lots of people in far worse situations than mine. To quote John Edwards, "It doesn't have to be that way." I have been an Edwards supporter since the first time I saw him in December 03.

Whether or not you support Edwards, you have to admit he has done a lot to bring the issues of health care and poverty to the masses' attention.

I saw John the day before yesterday, and told him what I was going through. He gave me a hug! I truly believe he cares about people and carries the things that people face with him on the campaign. He is so driven to bring about the change we need - if he gets the chance, he really will lead us to being the America, the shining beacon we could be, rather than one where some people live (or die) with rotten situations because they aren't one of the lucky ones.

[AwakeAtLast]

11. Welcome to DU!

I'm sorry to read about your situation, but happy that your problem was resolved. I'm also a little jealous that you got to meet John Edwards, but I'm sure that helped lift your spirits!

:hi:

[Cairycat]

13. Thank you for your welcome!

I've been reading DU for two years, but rarely post. But warm welcomes are part of what makes DU great.

It turns out that since I went without health ins. for eight years prior to getting coverage in May, I might have to pay out of pocket. I do have some money and if I didn't there's a patchwork of programs. But it is hell trying to get up the nerve to have an injection in your eye, without having to worry about paying for it.

The drug I need, Lucentis, has a classic tale of greed and Big Pharma and Big Insurance battling each other.

I feel lucky that it is my sight and not my life at stake. How sad is that? How dare the rethugs say that a free market solution is going to solve this! It's the cause!

I'm lucky too, to live in Iowa and get to see the candidates often and up close. It sure did lift my spirits to know that John heard me!

[ProudDad]

18. But he refuses to support the cure

HR 676 is the cure.

The "Edwards program": criminalize people who can't afford "health insurance" (NOT CARE, for-profit Insurance)...

The "Clinton program": <<crickets>> there's nothing there - no "plan", just platitudes...

The "Obama program": <<crickets>> Nothing there about Universal coverage or health insurance...

[benny05]

9. How can that be in America?

Someone who couldn't talk for nearly all of his life because of no health care for his condition?

We are better than this.


John Edwards has heard many of these stories and they need to be told, just Michael Moore did with SiCKO.

[AwakeAtLast]

12. Did you catch the very last part?

"I'm raising my grandson..." I'm sure he doesn't want the same thing happening to him.

Amazing video!

[rabidchickens]

14. Democrats

Are the party of solidarity and hope, greed is not good, solidarity and using government to help people is not evil, John Edwards has my full support in 2008, he will be an example to the D.L.C. that real populism and progressivism has not left America.

[benny05]

15. To me he will be a nice contrast

to the DLC--that populism appears to millions of voters. We want our broken systems fixed.

[AwakeAtLast]

16. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[ProudDad]

17. Let's see how the Edwards plan would have helped Mr. Lowe

The Edwards Plan achieves universal coverage by:

* Requiring businesses and other employers to either cover their employees or help finance their health insurance.

<<< He was disabled and couldn't work... When he was working it was a pre-existing condition NO for-profit would cover this...


* Making insurance affordable by creating new tax credits, expanding Medicaid and SCHIP, reforming insurance laws, and taking innovative steps to contain health care costs.

<<< No job, no money, no help here


* Creating regional "Health Care Markets" to let every American share the bargaining power to purchase an affordable, high-quality health plan, increase choices among insurance plans, and cut costs for businesses offering insurance.

<<< No job, no money, no help here


* Once these steps have been taken, requiring all American residents to get insurance.

<<< No job, no money -- he becomes a criminal...


Yeah, right John. That would really fucking help...


"Lowe is 51 years old, a disabled coal miner from the hollows of Eastern Kentucky. He has never been one to get up in front of a crowd. Until last year, he wouldn't have been able to speak to the crowd even if he wanted to. He was born with a severe cleft palate; when he tried to talk he could not make himself understood, so after a while he stopped trying. He was one of 10 children, born to parents too poor to pay for the treatment he needed, and of course there was no insurance. Embarrassed by his condition, Lowe dropped out of school in fifth grade without learning to read or write, and eventually followed his father into the mines — and still couldn't afford treatment. Twenty-three years ago he was partially paralyzed in a mining accident and could no longer perform manual labor. That didn't leave him many options.

"Lowe lived a mute and by his own account diminished life for five decades in all before he finally got a break last year. He made it happen by standing in line for 13 hours at the Wise Country Fairgrounds in the mountains of southwestern Virginia, where a nonprofit volunteer group called the Rural Area Medical Health Expedition once a year provides free medical and dental treatment to all comers."


Gee, if HR 676 were the law of the land he could have gotten the help he needed when he was BORN instead of 51 years later...

Yeah, criminalizing people who can't afford FOR-PROFIT HEALTH INSURANCE -- great idea, John :sarcasm: