We've Found Kagen His Man

Steve Kagen hasn't endorsed anyone on the Democratic side of the aisle for President yet. Heck, once to prove his hero worship of Nancy Pelosi, he once told WFRV 5 in Green Bay that she should run for President.

Truth be told; Kagen's playing it safe. He's going to need whoever wins the nomination to come to Appleton and Green Bay to help in his not-so-reassured re-election, so he can't play favorites. With the exception of Ron Kind, the rest of the Wisconsin Democrats in the House have picked a dancing partner. Obey's with Edwards, Baldwin's with Hillary, and Moore's with Obama.

So, to help the Good Doctor out, I'd like to suggest Rep. Steve Kagen, MD, endorse John Edwards.

Michelle Malkin helps explain why:

Oooooh, watch out. John Edwards has a new ad and he’s threatening to take away health insurance from members of Congress unless they pass his Hillary-style universal health care plan:

SCRIPT: John Edwards: “When I’m president I’m going to say to members of Congress and members of my administration, including my Cabinet: I’m glad that you have health care coverage and your family has health care coverage. But if you don’t pass universal health care by July of 2009 — in six months — I’m going to use my power as president to take your health care away from you. There’s no excuse for politicians in Washington having health care when you don’t have health care. I’m John Edwards and I approve this message.”

You get where I'm going with this? Sure you do. It's a match made in populist B.S. heaven.

Kagen gave up his Congressional Health Coverage (never mind the fact he's loaded, has family who can treat him for free, and rarely have I met a Doctor who doesn't go to a Doctor buddy for free care as it is) as a blatant political stunt. Edwards is organizing this ad as a blatant political stunt.

How blatant? Well, the WaPo's Howard Kurtz writes that Edwards is claiming powers no President can have: Setting Congress's own benefits. Only Congress can do that. (Edwards campaign says they'll rectify this by introducing legislation. Paging Dr. Kagen to sponsor?)

John Edwards's new Iowa ad is very effective rhetorically--and based on a false premise. A president has absolutely no power to rescind federal health insurance for members of Congress, as the Edwards campaign admits.

"He would introduce legislation, that's all it is," spokesman Eric Schultz said. "He would introduce legislation and ask them to set a deadline for themselves." While a President Edwards could mount public pressure based on the 47 million Americans who lack health insurance, Congress is, to put it mildly, unlikely to relinquish its own coverage. In fact, some experts argue that such a law would violate the 27th Amendment's ban on "varying the compensation" of members of Congress without an intervening election. Schultz said Edwards would ask senior administration officials to voluntarily give up their health coverage if he fails to pass universal coverage.

It's the last one he does have control over. But I'm guessing officials in a Democratic Administration are gonna have issues with fending in the free market.