Posted on 04/11/2007 10:24:46 AM PDT by COUNTrecount
MAMARONECK, N.Y. (AP) - Democrat John Edwards got a taste of low-wage life Wednesday, rising before dawn to help to dress, shave and deliver breakfast to elderly residents of a nursing home outside New York City. His visit was part of the "Work a Day in My Shoes" program sponsored by the influential Service Employees International Union, where presidential candidates spend time with health care workers to understand the challenges of their jobs. Edwards was paired with certified nursing assistant Elaine Ellis, an 18-year employee of the Sarah Neuman Nursing Home who escorted him on her early morning rounds.
Ellis, a divorced mother who raised four children on her nursing assistant's salary, called Edwards "a very personable person" and praised his willingness to spend time on the job with her.
"I think all politicians should take a page from his book," she told reporters.
A union activist and Democrat, Ellis said she hadn't decided which presidential candidate to support. She said she made about $14 per hour at the nursing home.
Dressed in jeans and a blue work shirt, Edwards, the 2004 vice presidential nominee, helped awaken Irving Zywoto and tried to explain to the 83-year old resident who he was.
"Remember the last presidential election in 2004? Kerry and Edwards? I'm Edwards. I'm running for president this time," he said.
Later, Edwards donned rubber gloves to rub moisturizer on Zywoto's legs and gave him his morning shave.
The former North Carolina senator wheeled another resident, Toby Allan, to the cafeteria and greeted others as they ate breakfast. Many women residents gripped his hand and complimented his looks; others whispered condolences about his wife, Elizabeth, who was recently diagnosed with incurable breast cancer.
"He's very nice," said 92-year-old Lily Pagliari, a Democrat who said she is undecided in the presidential race. "It's great that he came and helped liven things up here."
With reporters, publicists and camera crews trailing Edwards' every move, his visit at times seemed more a photo opportunity than a work visit. But speaking to reporters later, Edwards insisted that such visits have real value.
"It's important for the president of the United States to understand how difficult these jobs are, and how important they are," he said. He also touted his proposed health care plan, which he said would help cover the cost of long-term care at nursing homes.
Edwards has said his health plan would cost between $90 and $120 billion and would be paid for by rolling back tax cuts for those making over $200,000 per year.
He has generally trailed rival Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama in most national surveys, but is polling strongly in Iowa, site of the first voting contest next January.
With organized labor one of the most powerful influences in Democratic politics, several of the party's candidates have accepted SEIU's invitation, including Clinton, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. But Edwards, who has aggresively courted labor support, is the first actually to take part in a work visit.
Similar work visits were a favorite campaign approach by Democrat Bob Graham, the former Florida governor and senator who competed briefly for the presidential nomination in 2004.
Graham tried his hand at a range of jobs beginning in 1974, working as a chicken plucker, sheet metal worker and busboy, among other things. He completed over 400 work visits before retiring from politics in 2004.
I wouldn’t let a trial lawyer near MY neck with a razor...
I miss presidents that actually started out doing “jobs like this”.
He thinks spending one day working a real job gives him insight? AND EVERYONE THERE BUYS IT.
What an arrogant d*** and a retarded following.
He’s not licensed to work there. Sue him for Malpractice.
Whats with the rubber gloves? When he is done shaving the man is he going to ask him to turn his head and cough?
You know, his daddy worked in a meel.
...helped awaken Irving Zywoto and tried to explain to the 83-year old resident who he was.
it is all about him...........
Now if he would work that shift for 15 years in a row, with only the occasional day off, he might have some cred on this.
If you’ve ever worked in a nursing home you know that you pretty much always wear rubber gloves. I did a short stint doing house cleaning at one in ‘97.
Edwards is likely soliticing patients for medical malpractice
lawsuits.
I can’t believe how skanky this guy is. Anything for a photo op! Then he tells us how he is going to redistrute our wealth so that we can have another huge bureacracy to make sure that more people can sign up for more gummit money.
I put gloves on before touching any patient. Protocol. ...BSI, scene is safe......it’s drilled into me.
-how about we all just visit his vast estate and help ourselves.....that would be a good first step in RE-distributing some wealth....
Not much for sarcasm?
-I guess not.....not for that in my line of work. LOL
shameless use of the elderly as political props by yet another democrat.
I seem to remember that when Bob Dole went to visit nursing homes, he didn’t advertise.
The country’s going down the tubes.
The ambulance chasers have resorted to old folks homes.
The employee’s of the Alzheimer’s unit that my Dad is in wear gloves all the time.
...Ellis, a divorced mother who raised four children on her nursing assistant's salary ...No mention of the father. No mention of child support. Plenty of "You Go Girl" street cred for Female Democrats, though.
A union activist and Democrat, ...Surprise!!!
Ellis said she hadn't decided which presidential candidate to support. ...I'll take a wild guess and say that it will be the one with the (D) after their name.
She said she made about $14 per hour at the nursing home. ...Well, she's not getting rich, but 28K a year, +benefits, +child support, isn't too bad. When my Dad got laid off and went back to school, we got by on Mom making little more than minimum wage for a few years. The reason why Mom and Dad didn't have FOUR kids is because THEY COULDN'T AFFORD IT!!
Puff piece idiocy.
“The Simple Life” ala John Edwards (this screams for a Photoshop op)
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