Can we give John Edwards a taste of his own medicine?

One of the nostrums the Edwards presidential campaign proposes is a two-year ban on advertising for prescription drugs. Even if a drug makes it through the FDA’s hurdles, Edwards wants to prohibit the drug company from telling you about it for two more years.

Why this assault on First Amendment rights? Edwards says it’s to “prevent television ads from driving consumers to drugs that haven’t been proven safe.” He also says the commercials imply that by taking the drug you’ll be skipping through fields holding the hands of your loved one. You’ll be conned into believing Nirvana is around the corner no matter what potential side effects the voiceover warns you about.

By such reasoning, Edwards could ban all prescription drugs forever. Or all advertising forever. Ever see a TV commercial imply that your love life will improve if you have the right toothpaste or hair coloring?

No drug can be shown perfectly safe regardless of individual circumstances. Edwards doesn’t want persons who need certain drugs and would be willing to try them to even find out about the drugs. Not even if these customers have no realistic alternative. In his view, people can’t be trusted to make their own decisions about things.

Say, if Edwards does win the presidency, can we outlaw him from actually saying anything officially — as president — for a couple years? Maybe even four? What a blessed gift that would be.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.