Elizabeth Edwards was introduced as an attorney, mother, wife and blogger and is Blogher07’s keynote speaker, interviewed by Blogher founder Lisa Stone.

She describes the blogosphere as the new town square. She said she has been blogging before blogging existed, interacting within newsgroups and listservs, as she looked for an online community while she experienced trying to get pregnant and after the loss of her son.

She said, “Part of the magic is the medium makes us not separate from one another.”

Stone asked about the experience dealing with Ann Coulter. “I think of trolls as cowards,” Edwards said, “Sometimes you have to confront them.”

“Having a blog is like having a child that needs to be fed three times a day,” she said. “I admire you all.”

“We need people to take an aggressive stand on healthcare and women’s issues.” Edwards said most of the questions she gets are about healthcare.

Questions came from the audience. Follows are some of Edwards’ responses:

On childcare:
“I was a working mother myself dealing with childcare issues. The big problem is we don’t have enough slots in childcare.”

“Education should be a birth to death experience.”

“Sometimes we need to educate both parents and children.”

About activism: 

“Young people feel powerless because they don’t believe thier voice will be heard.”

“If the mothers were in charge there would be no wars.”

On blogs:

“The genius behind blogs is that it invites people to tell their personal stories.”

When asked how many people have to approve her blog posts before they are published, Edwards said, “Zero.”

Tags: Blogher07

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