<p>Take a look at this beginning at 4:15: [YouTube</a> - John Edwards - Real Change on Health Care](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWbXNUbUj0A&feature=user]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWbXNUbUj0A&feature=user) Basically, Edwards says that if he is elected president, on his first day in office he will introduce legislation to take away from himself, his cabinet, members of Congress and all political appointees from both parties the government provided healthcare coverage that they currently receive UNLESS Congress enacts a law providing for universal healthcare for all Americans within six months. My question is this: since when can a sitting member of the executive branch introduce legislation to do anything, let alone something like this (as much as I like the idea)? Is he being disingenuous, or simply mistaken about what he can do as president, or am I missing something?</p>
<p>He would have allies in Congress who could formally introduce the legislation.</p>
<p>As I seem to recall, didn’t he suggest something like this previously as a member of the senate before he began his presidential run? I seem to remember that he was treated like a pariah for doing so. If he is being genuine about it, I would give serious thought to voting for him. Although I’m sure that it would never happen, I’ve got to give the guy credit for having the backbone to suggest it and it says something to me about his character.</p>
<ol>
<li> A bill like this would never make it out of committee.</li>
<li> Edwards knows this.</li>
<li> It’s just a cheesy political play.</li>
<li> Does anyone else miss the good old days when goofy political campaign stuff didn’t really start until the spring of election years?</li>
</ol>
<p>Cheap grandstanding and closer to demagoguery. Lonesome Rhodes would be proud.</p>
<p>^Sadly, I suspect you’re correct, although it’s no more cheesy – unfortunately – than what most of the other candidates are doing. What a pathetic state of affairs . . .</p>