Elizabeth Edwards criticizes Bush on health care Elizabeth Edwards wife of Democratic vice presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John Edwards speaks to members of the United Auto Workers Local 73 hall in Kenosha, Wis., Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004. (AP Photo/Kenosha News, Paul Williams) By JULIET WILLIAMS Associated Press Writer KENOSHA, Wis. - Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards, touched on everything from health care to homeland security during a campaign stop Thursday. Appearing at a United Auto Workers union hall, Edwards told the crowd of about 500 that President Bush has let down the American people, creating a larger class of working poor and leaving millions of people without health insurance. Edwards said 1.7 million veterans don't have health coverage and the Bush administration has "nickel and dimed" millions more by introducing higher copays and other premiums. She said new veterans are now being asked to pay a $250 enrollment fee to the Veterans Administration health plan. Democratic presidential nominee "John Kerry knows something that you know and I know, and that is that these men and these women paid their enrollment fee to this nation when they put on their uniform," Edwards said to long applause. Edwards also slammed Bush for what she said was his mishandling of a shortage of flu vaccine in the United States. She said he knew in August that there could be a problem, and his response has been "inept." "You can't just respond to the crisis of the day," she said. "We have strategic oil reserves. Why in the world don't we have strategic vaccine reserve?" Edwards also said Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney talk a lot about protecting America from another terrorist attack, but have not provided the funding needed to secure places such as nuclear facilities and hospitals. Cheney was to visit Ashwaubenon later Thursday.