Governor John Bel Edwards' victory in Louisiana is a great example of what former President Barack Obama meant when he said this at a fundraiser.
"This is still a country that is less revolutionary than it is interested in improvement. They like seeing things improved, but the average American doesn't think you have to completely tear down the system and remake it," he said. "I think it is important for us not to lose sight of that."
A Democrat in Louisiana promising to “tear down the system and remake it“ would have never won an election, much less re-election for Governor.
Did Obama mean not to push for more change? Of course not and he said as much in his remarks.
Let people hear directly from me on this: I think it is important for candidates to push past what I was able to achieve as president. I wouldn't run the same campaign today in this environment that I ran in 2008, in part because we made enough progress since 2008, of which I am very proud, that it moved what is possible," he said. "So I don't want people to just revert to what is safe. I want them to push on and try more."
Governor John Bel Edwards, with a swipe of his pen in 2016, changed the system by expanding Medicaid in Louisiana.
Here are just a few testimonials from the Healthy Louisiana’s Medicaid website, of the 500,000 plus who now have health care in Louisiana.
I am truly grateful to have health insurance. Medicaid Expansion literally saved my life. I received word that I am a Medicaid member last August. Shortly thereafter, during my first visit to a doctor, they found tumors on my adrenal gland. They turned out to be cancerous, a rare cancer found in only 2% of people. Had they not been removed, my diagnosis would have been terminal. If I would have waited any longer to see about this, I would have been in deep hot water trying to save my life.
I moved here over four years ago to attend the University of New Orleans where I’m a senior studying music with hopes of specializing in music therapy. In October, I had several severe headaches. After passing out, an urgent care facility referred me to the emergency room at UMC, since I did not have health insurance. There, I learned that I had a brain mass, and would need surgery to remove it. The day before surgery, I applied for Medicaid. After the surgery, doctors shared this was a glioblastoma, a very aggressive type of brain cancer. Without this Medicaid, I didn’t know that I could ever have paid for all the medicines and treatment that was needed.
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I lost insurance coverage for about 5-6 months and then applied for Medicaid Expansion and was able to receive it. I went to the doctor in August, and then to a cardiologist to see if my stent was working properly. While there, the doctor performed a scan on my carotid artery and found that I had a 98% blockage on one side and a 99% blockage on the other. I had surgery in December on the left side and in February on the right side. Without this, I would have had a stroke and died. Had I not had insurance, I would not have gone to the doctor. This insurance saved my life.
Moving testimonials for sure.
I think former President Obama’s advice here is solid and it wasn’t a slight against progressives. We have to be mindful that voters who are concerned about change they perceive as being too aggressive are out there. We need those voters to win elections—so we can continue changing lives— like these in Louisiana and many more.