Harvard Crimson interview with Elizabeth Edwards

[Catchawave]

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=522967

Wife of former presidential candidate John Edwards, now a visiting fellow at the IOP, answered the Crimson's questions on privacy and politics

Published On Friday, April 11, 2008 3:32 AM

By LAUREN D. KIEL

Crimson Staff Writer


Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, is currently a visiting spring fellow at the Institute of Politics (IOP). The Crimson sat down with Edwards for a brief interview on her last day on campus.

The Harvard Crimson: During your husband’s presidential campaign, there was a lot of focus on the recurrence of your cancer. What was it like having all this personal information out in the public sphere?

Elizabeth Edwards: I’ve never been a very private person. I’ve lived in very small communities where everybody knows everything, and our house was always the meeting place for all the kids. I long ago got used to the idea that I wasn’t going to have any secrets.

THC: Why has health care been such an important issue for you?

EE: It’s not just my personal condition. This was something that was of great concern to me before I realized that I either had breast cancer or that the breast cancer returned. Partly because everybody knows that if you have a health problem, it is like you don’t have any other problems. Basically, health care issues can take over your life. It’s something we all share universally, both fear of health care issues and the very high probability that all of us are going to face some health care issue in our lives.

When John was developing his health care policy, since he’d heard the same stories, one of the things we wanted was a truly universal health care program.

THC: Will you or your husband be endorsing either remaining Democratic candidate before one drops out of the race or receives the nomination?

EE: He’d have to speak for himself. As for me, if something drastically changed, I guess there would be some possibility. In the current landscape, I don’t really see any need to use the tiny bit of political capital I have on a person. I’d rather use it on an idea or policy......more!

[balantz]

1. Now that's wisdom.

"I don’t really see any need to use the tiny bit of political capital I have on a person. I’d rather use it on an idea or policy......"

[saracat]

2. What a wonderful woman. I am sorry this nation blew it when they

allowed Edwards to be dissed. I am so ashamed of the Democrastic Party. I really am. But hey, the Obamites used to describe me as "bitter"as an insult, Now it is the cool thing to be!