The AFL-CIO Forum in Chicago last Tuesday night was full of sound bites, one-liners and promises of what each candidate would do for America if elected to the White House. But one question stood out among all the others.

Steve Skvara, a retired steelworker, asked the most important question of the night. His story is just one of millions that we, unfortunately, rarely hear, but which are all too common in America today.

Mr. Skvara spent 30 years working at the LTV steel plant in East Chicago, Indiana. His job came with health insurance benefits and a pension that he thought he'd have for the rest of his life. Then LTV claimed bankruptcy cutting his health insurance and part of his pension.

Mr. Skvara and his wife, Sandy, suffer from injuries sustained in a car accident a decade ago. Mr. Skvara's pension barely covers his own medical needs. But they can't afford coverage for Sandy.

Hard-working Americans won't get the real universal health care they need unless we're willing to fight the big insurance and pharmaceutical companies for it. We can't just trade our insiders for their insiders. We have to change the system altogether. John Edwards is the only candidate with the strength and commitment to take on—and beat—the special interests that have prevented hard-working Americans like Mr. Skvara from getting health insurance.

www.johnedwards.com/watch/tell-a-friend/steve-skvara

John Edwards believes that people like Mr. Skvara should have access to real universal health care. This campaign is about standing and fighting for every American to take back what has been stolen from many of us: trust that our government will not only protect us from foreign enemies and their attacks but help hard-working people have the resources to deal with life's crises—like illnesses, injuries and job losses.

Pass this video onto to someone who you think should see it. If we're going to change this country and how it treats American workers, we have to continue growing this community.

Thank you for all you do,

Joe Trippi
Senior Advisor, John Edwards for President
August 10, 2007