john edwards

John Edwards For President in 2008

Posted on 09/04/2007. Filed under: edwards for president. 2008 elections, john edwards, Presidential elections |

Many people ask why I am supporting John Edwards for president in 2008. After doing my research on the different candidates, John was clearly the one who has a vision for America that resonates with me and my beliefs. He recognizes the problems that face America and Americans as we try and rebuild our country after the devastation brought about by the Bush Regime. He has laid out carefully thought out plans of ways to improve the World not only for Democrats but for all people. John Edwards is the man who can take a shattered and divided country and bring the American people back together to work for the common good of All People.

Edwards was the first candidate to lay out a detailed Health Care Plan. No half steps or saying wait till I am elected to a second term like some of his opponents in Democratic Primary.

“More than any of the presidential candidates, John Edwards has come up with a specific and plausible plan that provides for health care coverage for all Americans.”

Nicholas Kristof
The New York Times

Under the Edwards Plan:

* Families without insurance will get coverage at an affordable price.
* Families with insurance will pay less and get more security and choices.
* Businesses and other employers will find it cheaper and easier to insure their workers.

The Edwards Plan achieves universal coverage by:

* Requiring businesses and other employers to either cover their employees or help finance their health insurance.
* Making insurance affordable by creating new tax credits, expanding Medicaid and SCHIP, reforming insurance laws, and taking innovative steps to contain health care costs.
* 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.
* Once these steps have been taken, requiring all American residents to get insurance.

Securing universal healthcare for every American will require the active involvement of millions of Americans.

As an American without health insurance of any kind, I am thrilled we have a candidate who is willing to take on the insurance and drug companies to bring about a change and help America become a healthy nation again.

“Edwards has already done America a great service by running for President and putting the issue of poverty where it belongs: front and center… Edwards is doing what every Democratic presidential candidate ought to be doing – talking about ways to eliminate desperate poverty from our midst once and for all.”

– Errol Louis
New York Daily News

In the richest land in the world it is shameful that so many people live in abject poverty but so many politicians are willing to ignore the fact and only court the fat cats who can enrich their war chests. Edwards remembers where he came from and what it means to work hard and thinks every American should have the same chance to better their life.

“Restoring our moral authority means leading by example and making clear that the hard challenges don’t frighten us. There is no better opportunity than the challenge of poverty – the great moral issue of our time.” — John Edwards

In a speech at the National Press Club, former Sen. John Edwards called poverty “the great moral issue of our time” and challenged our country to cut it by a third in a decade and end it within 30 years. To get there, he has proposed major new initiatives to reward work, break up high-poverty neighborhoods, help families save, and encourage families to act responsibly. In his vision of a “Working Society,” everyone who is able to work will be expected to work and rewarded for working. Edwards also called on communities to discourage the reckless behavior that threatens the future of many young people.

End Poverty by 2036: Edwards believes that ending poverty should be a goal our nation actively pursues. A national goal will rally support for the cause and help us measure our progress. In 1999, Tony Blair announced a 20-year goal to end child poverty in Great Britain and he has already reduced child poverty by 17 percent. Today, Edwards called for a national effort to:

* Cut poverty by one third within a decade, lifting 12 million Americans out of poverty by 2016.
* End poverty within 30 years, lifting 37 million Americans out of poverty by 2036. [Census Bureau, 2007]

Reform the Poverty Measure: The poverty measure excludes necessities like taxes, health care, child care and transportation. It also fails to count some forms of aid including tax credits, food stamps, Medicaid, and subsidized housing. The National Academy of Science has recommended improvements that would increase the count of people in poverty by more than 1 million. Edwards believes we need to measure poverty honestly, evaluate our performance, and hold politicians accountable for policies that change the number of people suffering hardship. He supports revisions along the lines recommended by NAS. [Census Bureau, 2005; NAS, 1995]

The Rights Of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Americans

“LGBT Americans are entitled to equal respect and dignity under our laws. Discrimination is morally wrong. All Americans should have the same freedoms and the same responsibilities.” — John Edwards

Equal Rights for Same-Sex Couples

Edwards believes that all couples in committed, long-term relationships should have the same rights, benefits, and responsibilities, whether they are straight couples or same-sex couples. He supports civil unions to guarantee gay and lesbian couples the same rights as straight couples, including inheritance rights, hospital visitation rights, equal pension and health care benefits, and all of the 1,100 other legal protections government affords married couples. Edwards supports the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. He also believes same-sex families should be treated in the same manner as other families by our immigration laws. Edwards believes the right president could lead the country toward consensus around equal rights and benefits for all couples in committed, long-term relationships and he opposes divisive Constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriages.
Workplace Discrimination

Workers should be judged by the quality of their performance, not their sexual orientation or gender identity. While in the Senate, Edwards cosponsored the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. He also believes that stronger enforcement is necessary to prevent employment discrimination by federal agencies.
Military Service

Edwards opposes the current “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on gays and lesbians serving in our military. The military ought to treat all service members equally and in a way that promotes national security, without regard to their sexual orientation.
Adoption

Edwards believes that gay and lesbian parents should be able to adopt children just like any other parents. There are over 120,000 children waiting for homes in our nation’s foster care system. Adoption placements should be decided by judges and adoption agencies based upon the best interests of the children. Both members of a same-sex couple raising children together should be able to form a legal relationship with their children.
Hate Crimes

Everyone is entitled to live in dignity without fear of violence. We should strengthen the ability of law enforcement to investigate and prosecute hate crimes based on race, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity. While in the Senate, Edwards cosponsored legislation to give law enforcement agencies the tools they need to investigate and prosecute hate crimes.
HIV and AIDS

There is an urgent need for more resources in the fight against HIV/AIDS, both domestically and internationally. As a member of the U.S. Senate, Edwards was proud to fight for greater funding for the battle against HIV/AIDS, and co-sponsored the Ryan White CARE Act. As president, Edwards will continue the fight against HIV/AIDS through funding for this program, Medicaid, and other critical programs.

While John does not support Gay Marriage he has said he sees it coming in his daughters life time. I think he is closer to supporting it than any of the other candidates but we all realize that if he were to announce he supported it 100% at this time he would not be electable. Times are changing and changing fast but The Republican Hate Machine has done too good a job of demonizing Gays and Lesbians for attitudes to change that fast. John has been the first candidate to speak out on GLBT issues consistently and clearly from day one of his campaign. I do not fear the community being thrown under the bus by him once our money and our votes are in as has been the case so many times in the past. His wonderful wife, Elizabeth, has come out in support of gay marriage and as his chief advisor and confidant, I am sure she will help John come around to a better stance in time.

You can read more about John’s stances on major issues. The ones I have listed are just the tip of the iceberg of plans he has laid out to help not only Americans but all people of the world.

John Edwards is the candidate who can lead America back from the abyss and not only restore America after the tragic mishandling of the Republicans but also move us forward in a direction America has not seen or even dreamed of in many years. The time is now!!! Tomorrow Begins Today and we as Americans need John Edwards as President not only to lead but work along side us to create a better America for All Americans!!!

Down With K Street

John Edwards 2008

Elizabeth Edwards Rocks!!!