Edwards' background as a high-stakes litigator has always bothered me personally. I'm aware of the argument that he "stood up for the little man against the Giant Corporations" while making his tremendous fortune, but in my mind a great deal of the problems in American society come as a result of excessive litigation. When I see a drug that could help myriads of people not being introduced because it has a side effect that could possibly harm a miniscule fraction of patients, or when a drug that has helped millions is withdrawn for the same reason, I see tort litigation at work. Make no mistake...there are instances where litigation is absolutely right and proper. But in our world, litigation is having such side effects as choking off the supply of obstetricians, because of the high risk of lawsuits in that profession, and of the prohibitive costs of malpractice insurance.
Anyway, I realize that this debate is not about the impact of litigation on society...but it sure impacts my feeling about Edwards.
I say let the contest continue to the Dem Convention. I love an old fahioned floor fight. Besides, McCain is not a horrible alternative. He's a decent, honest man and stands head and shoulders above the scumsuckers currently in power.