TIME: Edwards Under Fire - GOP Groups to Unleash Assualt Against Former Trial Lawyer

Time ^ | Saturday, Oct. 09, 2004 | Viveca Novak

[West Coast Conservative]

A new wave of Republican attack ads is coming this week, but this time their target is the No. 2 man on the Democratic ticket, John Edwards. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the November Fund, a new 527 group dedicated to attacking Edwards, a former plaintiffs' lawyer, and "lawsuit abuse," will this week launch an ad campaign that portrays him as a cause of the crisis in the medical system. "Doctors are leaving, hospitals are closing, health care costs are skyrocketing at an alarming rate," says one direct-mail piece. "Tell Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards that it is time to support common sense lawsuit abuse reform." The Chamber is focusing on eight battleground states with a "very aggressive mail, phone and internet campaign," says its national political director Bill Miller. The campaign is aimed at independent women with children, who are presumed to be more receptive to health care issues. Miller declined to say how much it will spend other than "in the millions."

[Mike Bates]

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[Republican Wildcat]

LOL!

[xzins]

Just off hand, how many now think that Kerry would pick a different VP candidate than John Edwards? Yes or no.


(Was there EVER a good reason to pick John Edwards?)

[upchuck]

Personally, I feel Gephardt would have been more of an asset than Edwards. But when it comes to crushing, humiliating defeat, Edwards is much more deserving than Gephardt.

[xzins]

He should have gone with the general.

But Gephardt would definitely been better.

[SevenofNine]

Hey Mhking rack itt

LOLOL!

Hey I don't know if you know this but I call Putin of Russia ILLYA THINK ABOUT IT Look at him does he remind you of Illya

[mhking]

I call Putin of Russia ILLYA THINK ABOUT IT Look at him does he remind you of Illya

Just put him in a turtleneck....[g]

[crushelits]

My brother in law, is a neurosurgeon and used to live in Maryland. His insurance was about 125,000. He drove a 1989 Blazer and his wife had to work to make ends meet. He's now practicing in the Virgin Islands and now Maryland is without a hell of neurosurgeon, one of the best in the State.

[SevenofNine]

OHH MAN there is picture of Vlad on internet wearing turtleneck I swear you think IT IS ILLYA OH I AM SORRY IT IS VLAD

[Go Gordon]

So while it's a lot, malpractice probably isn't the main cost driver in medical care. There are two things that probably drive costs a lot harder: new technology (equipment and drugs), and government involvement via Medicade and Medicare.

The fear of getting sued for millions also creates the atmosphere of over-testing. All of the otherwise unnecessary testing is very costly.

[gortklattu]

You have to understand how lawyers talk. When they say lawsuits represent only one percent of the problem, they mean that two seperate lawsuits equal 1% of the problem; the next two represent another percent, the next two equal another percent.....

Understand?

[California Patriot]

Nice to see business step up to the plate, but I wonder whether attacking a veep candidate is really the best use of our limited money. The enemy is outspending us, and we need to drive up Kerry's negatives. Edwards is a sideshow.

[NotchJohnson]

I believe that the cost of Lionel Hutz's is built into the price. Hence, a $20 ice bag in therapy.