October 9, 2004
OVERKILL:
Edwards Under Fire: GOP groups poised to unleash assault Dems VP candidate, a former trial lawyer (VIVECA NOVAK, Oct. 09, 2004, TIME)
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."
It seems like using a bazooka to pop a balloon. Mr. Edwards is too lightweight to warrant such heavy artillery. Posted by Orrin Judd at October 9, 2004 6:48 PM
The criticism of trial lawyers is more than warranted but it is not without political risk.
There are millions of Americans who regularly engage in insurance fraud, and/or who view litigation as a hobby rather than as a serious matter. They see someone like Edwards as a means of helping them win the lottery that is litigation in this once great Republic.
Because so many of our fellow citizens have their hands out looking for something for nothing, Edwards and his slimy ilk have a ready constituency. You can see this in majority Black counties in the South where stratospheric judgments get awarded for no rational reason. Anyone with an ax to grind against those smarter, harder-working, more disciplined than himself is both anxious and proud to use our 'justice' system to rip off his fellow man. Highlighting his role in ripping off the economy and hobbling the medical profession inter alia will only enhance his status among many voters.
Posted by: Bart at October 9, 2004 8:39 PMBut the litigation-happy voters will vote for Kerry in any case. For most voters, choosing between doctors and lawyers is easy.
Edwards is an especially juicy target because he made millions suing doctors based on the junk-science argument that not doing Caesarian sections caused cerebral palsy. There's no evidence for this, and in fact as C-sections rates have gone way up, cerebral palsy rates haven't changed.
I say use the bazooka.
Posted by: PapayaSF at October 9, 2004 9:15 PMPapaya,
You are absolutely right. Perhaps, I've lived in NJ too long, where people are always trying to scam you or 'the system' or whatever, a vile place where people admire 'the Sopranos.'
You have to use the bazooka, because winning isn't everything it's the only thing.
Posted by: Bart at October 9, 2004 9:26 PMPerhaps it is a bazooka taking out a balloon but Edwards must be discredited thoroughly so that the public begins to question Kerry's competence for picking him.
Posted by: AWW at October 9, 2004 11:08 PMCan this campaign be very effective, targeting single mothers ?
They may well agree that Edwards and his ilk drive up health care costs, but that may not be enough to change their vote.
Kerry, after all, is promising to give all uninsured children health care coverage, and to lower drug costs.