"Cigna killed my daughter" - Grigot Sarkisyan at Edwards Forum

by edgery, Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 02:14:37 PM EST

Nataline Sarkisyan's father said today that there is a hole in his heart since losing his daughter.  "Cigna killed my daughter," he said. "Vote for this man; vote for John Edwards."

"They tried negotiating with the insurance company," John Edwards responded.  "If negotiating worked, we'd have universal health care already."

Senator Edwards also laid out three clear criteria for people to ask candidates to evaluate who should be our next president:
  1. Are you for fundamental change in Washington or continuing the status quo?

  2. If you are for fundamental change, will you fight for it?

  3. Is this change personal for you?

Fresh off the debate last night, John and Elizabeth Edwards are just wrapping up a health care forum in Manchester, NH right now.  Accompanying them today are people who understand why it is critical to pass universal health care as soon as possible and why John Edwards is the right person to accomplish this, James  Lowell and his wife Cindy, Sandy Lakey, and the Sarkisyan family.

Three separate stories, three separate situations, all part of the narrative of our country's cruel indifference to people over profits:

  • James Lowell - virtually mute until he was 50 years old because lacking health insurance,.he had no opportunity for a simple procedure to correct a cleft palate.

  • Valerie Lakey - a happy young child brutally evicerated because of the known design flaws in a swimming pool drain cover, known that is by the corporation producing the product that chose profits over the children across the country being horribly injured and killed.

  • Nataline Sarkisyan - a young woman with a lifetime of promise denied a critical liver transplant by Cigna Insurance Company over the demands of her doctors and nurses, and the uprising of hundreds of thousands supporters on the ground and on the internet.



By now, you know the stories of James Lowell, Valerie Lakey, and Nataline Sarkisyan.  John Edwards talks about their stories in explaining both why he is so passionate about fundamental change and universal health care, and why he is equally determined to take the corporate interests standing against change head on.

Last night in the Democratic debate, John Edwards highlighted his work on the Patient's Bill of Rights as well as Nataline's story to demonstrate why the issue of corporate interests is personal:




A powerful moment at today's health care forum was when Nataline Sarkisyan's family stood up for John Edwards:
"My heart is a hole.  This isn't just about Nataline; it's about all of us," Hilda Sarkisyan, Nataline's mother said.  "We fought them, but what about the families who don't have a voice?"

Fighting back tears, Sarkisyan's brother Bedig said he promised his dying sister everyone would know her story and thanked Edwards for helping in the fight against insurance companies.

"This is not right.  Not in America," Sarkisyan's father Grigort said.


Edwards Puts Personal Touch on Health Care Crisis, ABC News



When we look at the three leading Democratic candidates against the back drop of universal health care and the middle class, John Edwards is the one candidate who is (1) FOR fundamental change in the way Washington operates--he is stood against corporate interests before and won, and he is ready to do it again; (2) WILL fight for the change needed to make this country work for its people again; and (3) TAKES this fight very personally--this isn't political to him, this isn't academic to him, this is personal because he knows and understands the problems facing all Americans.

Here are three ways to help the campaign:

Here for the phonebanking:
http://www.johnedwardsphonebank.com/

Here for general volunteering: http://www.johnedwards.com/nh/volunteer/signup

Here for contributions: Make a Secure Online Contribution

"We have an epic fight ahead of us with these entrenched, powerful, monied interests that stand between you and a democracy that works for everybody.  We better be ready, we better be ready for that battle.  You better be ready to send someone into the arena that has what it takes inside for this fight."



Background on Nataline, her struggle and her death:

California Nurses produced a powerful video featuring Nataline's family and the many people who protested outside of the Cigna's offices in their effort to turn the Murder by Spreadsheet company's decision around.  Cigna did ultimately relent, but it was too late; Nataline died because the insurance company cared more about its profits than her life.


Daily Kos diaries as background--




Tags: John Edwards, 2008 elections, New Hampshire, president, primaries, health care (all tags)

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Permalink :: 7 Comments :: Post a Comment


"Cigna killed my daughter" (2.00 / 2)

It was a very moving town hall.


by benny06 on Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 02:20:29 PM EST

that is an atrocious thing to say (2.00 / 2)

You have not walked in his shoes, and it is not your place to judge him.


John McCain: 100 years in Iraq "would be fine with me."
by desmoinesdem on Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 03:45:06 PM EST

adding that your comment (2.00 / 3)

reminds me of what the wingers said about Cindy Sheehan.


John McCain: 100 years in Iraq "would be fine with me."
by desmoinesdem on Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 03:45:40 PM EST

Re: adding that your comment (2.00 / 3)

Both the Sarkisyan family and Cindy Sheehan are translating personal tragedy into political action.  There is no difference between the two cases; at most, minor distinctions which are unimportant in the political context.  The outing of Valerie Plame could very well have put her life at risk.  Is Joseph Wilson guilty of shameless exploitation by supporting Hillary Clinton?


Take out the trash. Down with Saxby Chambliss!
by CLLGADEM on Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 04:05:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: adding that your comment (2.00 / 3)

NOT their exact words, by the way.

They see JRE as the only candidate willing to fight the Cignas of the world.  They have seen just how bad the system is, and they are trying to change it by whatever means nessecary.


give me a wall! check out one of the best indie bands out of england in a while, ˇForward, Russia!
by Sean Fitzpatrick on Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 06:20:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: adding that your comment (2.00 / 1)

In the cases of Wilson and Sheehan, isn't that the obvious implication - that their candidates will prevent the wrongs done to them from happening to anyone else?  That is the common thread binding all three, and there is nothing inherently wrong with ANY of them taking their various positions.  Your problem, WADR, seems to be the candidate the Sarkisyan family is supporting, not their speaking out itself.  

Has political discourse degenerated to the point where anyone who supports a different candidate must be a lowlife, have an ulterior motive, or are just plain stupid?   Not with me, it hasn't.  
 


Take out the trash. Down with Saxby Chambliss!
by CLLGADEM on Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 06:29:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Mr. Sarkisyan is not exploiting her death (2.00 / 1)

He is trying to make something good come out of it. This is often what people do in the face of tragedy. When they feel helpless, it provides a sense of purpose.

You're fortunate if you've never been in a position to understand this.  And you are showing your insensitivity by charging this man with being a hypocrite.  He is asking for nothing from John Edwards but the chance to do something worthwhile.


by edgery on Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 06:19:04 PM EST


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