Edwards and the Sarkisyans

By: Aaron Lewis
Topics: John Edwards

(CBS)

From CBS News' Aaron Lewis:

On December 20th Nataline Sarkisyan passed away after her health insurance company, CIGNA, denied her coverage for a liver transplant that could have saved her life.

On January 6th, her family arrived in New Hampshire to tell their story and to throw their support for John Edwards.

Nataline's mother Hilda Sarkisyan said that the family's fight goes beyond that on behalf of her daughter.

"We yelled and screamed and finally they [CIGNA] told us they would make an exception," said Mrs. Sarkisyan. "What does that mean? Only Nataline can live and not you guys? It's not right. What about the other parents that cannot speak?"

"For every mom and dad out there, we have to make a change. We have to vote for the perfect president," she said. "No one can help us. This is it. We have to vote for Mr. Edwards. We have to."

Bedig Sarkisyan, Nataline's brother who donated his bone marrow in an attempt to save his sister's life said he promised to live his life for her.

"I promised her that everyone in the world is gonna know her story," he told the crowd of around 500 people. "Everyone's gonna know her story, her struggle, her fight. Everyone's gonna know it."

Nataline's father Grigor said that he promised buy his daughter a car when she'd get better.

"You guys know what I got for her after she passed away? I bought a coffin for her," he said fighting through his grief. "Because CIGNA… they killed my daughter."

Following the family's speeches Edwards gathered the family on stage and hugged them.

According to the campaign, the Sarkisyans reached out to Edwards after seeing him speak on TV. Mrs. Sarkisyan said she wanted to help him on the campaign trail, so the campaign flew the family out to New Hampshire last night to appear on the trail and tell their story.

In a press conference following today's event, Edwards denied that he was capitalizing on the family's tragedy for political benefit.

"The Sarkisyans contacted me because they believe I'm the president who will actually fight for their daughter," he said. "The best I know they didn't contact the other candidates."

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by deborah08-2009 January 7, 2008 1:24 AM EST: and as clinton likes to say REALITY CHECK: Hillary and her felonious fundraising: A shady Chinese megadonor to Sen. Hillary Clinton''s presidential campaign named Norman Hsu drew some attention from mainstream media then faded. But virtually ignored was the fact it merely represented a host of illegal fundraising accusations against the Clintons. One case proceeding in the courts will require Sen. Clinton and her husband to testify under oath to fraud charges in the midst of the presidential election campaign this year.

Business mogul Peter Paul has filed a lawsuit charging President Clinton destroyed his entertainment company to get out of a $17 million agreement. The California Supreme Court already upheld a lower-court decision to deny the Clintons'' motion to dismiss the case. Bill Clinton, according to the complaint, promised to promote Paul''s company, Stan Lee Media, in exchange for stock, cash options and massive contributions to his wife''s 2000 Senate campaign.

This month, Paul filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission asking the agency to re-open an investigation into illegal contributions and to probe alleged continuing violations of the law by Sen. Clinton.

Paul, armed with videotape he made of a July 2000 phone call, contends the senator committed felony violations carrying a prison sentence of up to five years.; Reply to this comment


by deborah08-2009 January 7, 2008 1:21 AM EST: well so glad you brought up Obama! i''d like to share with you a bit about your OBAMA......http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/01/obama_borrows_f.html

seems he likes to be JOHN EDWARDS!

oh....and lets not forget how he has lied to all you spoonfed obama junkies.....he has been supported by lobbyists....16 of them in fact!
you can find your proof here: http://www.rollcall.com./politics/kstendorsements.html Donald Alexander (Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld) Kevin Chavous (Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal) Tom Daschle (Alston & Bird) Stan Fendley (Corning) Elizabeth Fox (Jolly/Rissler) Francis Grab (Washington Council Ernst & Young) Tim Hannegan (Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates) Tom Jensen (Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal) Broderick Johnson (Bryan Cave Strategies) Mark Keam (Verizon) Bob Maloney (Maloney Government Relations) Marcus Mason (The Madison Group) Andy Rosenberg (Ogilvy Government Relations) Bobby Sepucha (Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal) Tom Walls (McGuireWoods) Michael Williams (Credit Suisse); Reply to this comment


by showme-state January 7, 2008 12:31 AM EST: IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANY OF US AT ANYTIME!

The families who are witnessing for the injustice which has been ignored by our country has every right to make their stand!; Reply to this comment


by pmorlan January 6, 2008 8:26 PM EST: A message to jkojs who posted this:

John Edwards is using populist theme for convenience in this election and is a big hypocrite

BARACK OBAMA''''S HONESTY TRIUMPHS OVER JOHN EDWARDS''''S HYPOCRISY

I don''t normally get angry but your comments hit a nerve with me. You evidently have not been paying attention in this election because your man Obama has been parroting Edwards throughout this election. You call that honesty? I don''t. Obama stealing Edwards lines is something only a candidate willing to do whatever it takes to win would do. I have no respect for that kind of candidate and quite frankly neither should you.

You don''t have to believe me just read the article that the Boston Globe (paper that endorsed Obama) reported.

Obama borrows from Edwards
Email|Link|Comments (30) By Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor January 5, 2008 01:19 PM
By Sasha Issenberg, Globe Staff

NASHUA, N.H. -- After beating John Edwards in Iowa on Thursday, Barack Obama has decided to join him -- repeatedly poaching his opponent''s themes, language, and even jokes.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/01/obama_borrows_f.html

So excuse me if I take great offense at you talking about Edwards with such disdain. Quite frankly you don''t know what you''re talking about.; Reply to this comment


by pmorlan January 6, 2008 8:11 PM EST: This family explained how they had tried doing everything the insurance Co. told them to do and they got nowhere. Finally the American people got behind them and they began to fight them rather than negotiate with them. It was only then that the insurance company caved in and gave their "approval". This just proves that you can not negotiate with these people you have to be willing to fight them. This family picked the right candidate. John Edwards knows you have to fight these special interests. They will NEVER negotiate away their power and anyone who believes that is truly living in a fantasyworld.; Reply to this comment


by jkojs January 6, 2008 7:46 PM EST: NO more-
Hillary Clinton dynasty,
John McCain''s Politics of Fear,
John Edward''s Politics of Convenience,
Corrupted Health Industry.

ITS SICKENING.

!!! ITS TIME FOR CHANGE !!!

Hillary Clinton and John Edwards Voted for War on Iraq.
Barack Obama opposed this and he was right.

Hillary Clinton supported Bush on aid to Pakistan for wrong reasons.
Barack Obama opposed this and he was right.

John Edwards is using populist theme for convenience in this election and is a big hypocrite.
Remember that John Edwards was a Trial Lawyer, worked for a Hedge Fund Company and has 28000 sq ft mansion and $400 hair cuts.

Barack Obama is a community organizer from the beginning and is honest person and refused to be a Trial Lawyer.

BARACK OBAMA''s JUDGEMENT TRIUMPHS OVER HILLARY CLINTON''S WRONG EXPERIENCE.

BARACK OBAMA''S HONESTY TRIUMPHS OVER JOHN EDWARDS''S HYPOCRISY.

BARACK OBAMA''S POLITICS OF HOPE TRIUMPHS OVER JOHN MCCAIN''S POLITICS OF FEAR.

!!! VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA !!!; Reply to this comment