Reply #22: Edwards believes in the power of the people.

[JDPriestly]

He stated that the American people want his health insurance plan, and that the American people can force Congress to either give up their own insurance or provide an affordable health insurance plan for the American people. The bully pulpit does work. How do you think Bush pushed Americans into backing him on the Iraq War?

The Clintons refused to go out and use their bully pulpit for a health care plan during their first two administrations. They did not know how to do this. In fact, although he was a good president in many other respects, Bill was not good at (a) getting Democrats elected to Congress to back him up so that Democratic legislation could get through or (b) getting the American people to pressure their Congressmembers to back Clinton's health care and other programs. Clinton was personally popular but unable to use his personal popularity to get a Democratic Congress. And that even though he started with a Democratic Congress. That is why many of us do not want another Clinton. They compromise and are too nice to Republicans. It is almost as if they liked working with or are intimidated by Republicans.

We need a real Democrat in the White House. We need John Edwards. John Edwards will empower the American people.