Nataline Sarkisyan's family arrives in New Hampshire: "This is it. We have to vote for Mr. Edwards."

[Bluebear]

On December 20th Nataline Sarkisyan passed away after her health insurance company, CIGNA, denied her coverage for a liver transplant that could have saved her life.

On January 6th, her family arrived in New Hampshire to tell their story and to throw their support for John Edwards.

Nataline’s mother Hilda Sarkisyan said that the family’s fight goes beyond that on behalf of her daughter.

“We yelled and screamed and finally they told us they would make an exception,” said Mrs. Sarkisyan. “What does that mean? Only Nataline can live and not you guys? It’s not right. What about the other parents that cannot speak?”

“For every mom and dad out there, we have to make a change. We have to vote for the perfect president,” she said. “No one can help us. This is it. We have to vote for Mr. Edwards. We have to.”

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/01/06/politics/fromtheroad/entry3679920.shtml

[K Gardner]

1. This was an unbelievably powerful moment. As I watched it on CSPAN, there was

not a dry eye in that house, or in mine. They went looking for a fighter, for all of us, and they went to John Edwards. That speaks to me.

[Bozita]

4. CSPAN should replay that. It'd grab the viewer and ask "What part of this don't you understand?"

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Oh my gosh....

this gives me goosebumps.

The STRENGTH and CONVICTION this family must feel to merely venture out of their home, let alone venture into a campaign, after such a recent tragic loss is amazing.

I'll tell you what, I've been an Edwards supporter this whole time. If I wasn't, this alone would have made me one. They share with John and Elizabeth the loss of a child, and now they both want to fight the good fight.

Bravo, bravo, bravo. I salute them all.

[Bluebear]

3. Indeed, so fresh from their loss, you have to respect their willing to speak out now

[LucyParsons]

6. or, you could look at it as bereaved people acting very emotionally

I'll choose my own candidate, thank you very much. I happen to be choosing Edwards already, but this does nothing to sway me. Their story is why I support Edwards, though. The fact that we are all potential Sarkisyans. We are all potential Katrina victims.

[K Gardner]

7. No truer words e'er were spoken.. any of us could be next, economically,

or physically, or at the whim of a natural disaster. We all need a fighter, for whom the fight is "personal".

[Bluebear]

5. For the 5 oclock hour :)

[Bluebear]

8. Video here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x81541

[mzmolly]

9. Thanks Bluebear.

:hi:

[Maat]

10. Bless them.

That family is in our family's thoughts and prayers.

Perhaps we can get universal health care coverage - perhaps we can make it a reality - in honor of Nataline.

[Hepburn]

11. I watched this yesterday...

...and this is what for the most part turned me into an Edwards supporter.

Quietly and without seeking attention, Edwards went to bat for this family to get what they were entitled to for their daughter.

FUCK, CIGNA! :grr: Bastard health insurance companies like this NEED to go down and do down hard!

Edwards is asking the right question: Why should health care be "for profit?" Think about this, OK? Why in the hell should anyone pay for protection with their premiums and when it is needed, some bastard corporation like Cigna says, "no" cuz it cuts into its profits? That is the bottom line with these giant health care companies and insurers...NOT health care, but fucking profits.

Natalie would be alive today BUT FOR that bastard company Cigna....hope the asshole who denied coverage for her rots in hell (assuming there is a hell).

John Edwards came from poverty, worked his way up the ladder and is fabulously wealthy and successful...but he NEVER forgot where he came from and what it was like to not have the money to take care of what is NEEDED. That is a hell of a lot different than just getting something that is WANTED.

Go get 'em, John! :applause: We NEED national health care, socialized medicine, call it whatever...but there should be NO profit in taking care of the health care needs of our nation!

JMHO

[Tyler Durden]

12. Get the Sarkisyans on the dias with John 24/7

Every time he speaks the Sarkisyans should be standing somewhere the camera can spot them.