Edwards vs Frist - New York Times

[chimpymustgo]

Page One: Friday, July 11, 2003

Senate Becomes O.K. Corral for a Surgeon and a Lawyer
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG

WASHINGTON, July 9 — Now that the Senate has blocked President Bush's plan to cap jury awards in medical malpractice cases, the battle will only intensify during next year's elections. At its essence, the fight comes down to doctors versus lawyers.

In Washington politics, that means Bill Frist versus John Edwards.

-snip-

Some say the face-off is really between Mr. Edwards — as a surrogate for the Democratic presidential field — and President Bush, with Dr. Frist, himself a potential presidential candidate in 2008, serving as a stand-in for the president. When Mr. Bush first announced his initiative to change malpractice law, he did so in High Point, N.C., squarely on Mr. Edwards's home turf. The senator's aides still derisively refer to the president's event as "Whack John Edwards Day."

Some Democrats, though, insist this strategy will backfire. "Every time Bush attacks trial lawyers," said Mark Mellman, a Democratic consultant, "John Edwards rings his cash register for a couple hundred thousand more dollars."

On the surface, at least, Dr. Frist and Mr. Edwards would seem to have much in common. Both are baby boomers; Dr. Frist is 51, Mr. Edwards, 50. Both are southerners. Both have children who attend Princeton University. Both are runners, and turned up in the same race — the Marine Corps Marathon — a few years ago. (No word from their aides on which senator had the better time.)

Both were elected to the Senate having never before held public office, and are regarded as fresh faces in their respective parties — and political opponents, perhaps, at some later day. Neither shies away from carrying the political agenda of his profession.

-snip-
Mr. Edwards portrays himself as a fighter for the underdog.

"I see myself as somebody who stood up for kids and families," he said in an interview the other day.

That theme has worked as well for the North Carolina senator as being a physician has for Dr. Frist, said Donna Brazile, a Democratic strategist. "Trial lawyers fight for ordinary people," she said, "and that's part of Edwards' message."

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/11/national/11TORT.html

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Good article. And nothing like getting your picture on the front page of the NYT. Go Edwards!

[bearfartinthewoods]

1. "Every time Bush attacks trial lawyers,"

"Every time Bush attacks trial lawyers," said Mark Mellman, a Democratic consultant, "John Edwards rings his cash register for a couple hundred thousand more dollars."

[nannygoat]

2. Kitty killer Frist sure has a lot to fear from Edwards and the other

trial lawyers...

Frist puts family wealth first in malpractice debate
http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/pr/pr003460.php3

[chimpymustgo]

3. Huge conflict of interest for the catkiller.

How can this man be allowed to continue as Senate Majority Leader? He's an even worse creep than Trent Lott. Edwards is kicking his butt on this issue.