The Democratic candidates are lining up against President Bush's veto of the SCHIP bill, with four statements out so far blasting the decision.

Perhaps the most colorful comes from John Edwards: "Instead of threatening the health care of children, it's time for Bush, and Republicans like McCain, Giuliani, and Romney to start picking on someone their own size."

The full statements are available after the jump.

John Edwards:

"Today, we have witnessed a President that has turned his back on health care for children. Not surprisingly, in George Bush's administration, corporate cronies and insurance industry allies always come first, while children's health care comes last. In an America where nearly 9 million children don't have health coverage, Congress must do what is right and fight for these children and override Bush's cruel veto.

"Even more shocking is that Republican Presidential candidates, including Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney are all lining up with President Bush and against health care for our children. Instead of threatening the health care of children, it's time for Bush, and Republicans like McCain, Giuliani, and Romney to start picking on someone their own size."

Barack Obama:

"It is outrageous that the president has decided to use his fourth veto to deny health care to four million American children. At a time when we're spending billions of dollars on a war that should never have been authorized and giving billions in tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans, today's veto of this bipartisan plan shows a callousness of priorities that is offensive to the ideals we hold as Americans. But George Bush doesn't have the last word, and I will keep fighting for the Republican votes needed to override his veto" said Barack Obama.

"As the wealthiest nation on earth, there is no reason we shouldn't be able to cover every child. As president, I'll sign a universal health care bill into law by the end of my first term that will cover every American, and cut costs more dramatically than any other plan offered by a candidate in this race. And I'll do it by bringing Republicans and Democrats together – like I did when I was in the Illinois state Senate, when I helped expand health care for an additional 150,000 children and their parents" continued Obama.

"If there's one thing all of us should be able to agree on, no matter what our political views, it's that our children should get the treatment they need when they need it. And when I'm president, they will" said Obama.

Chris Dodd:

"This President's priorities are unconscionable. With the resources it takes to execute just over 3 months of the Iraq War, we could fully fund the expansion of health care for needy children that Bush vetoed. Indeed, today's veto is another reminder that this war is not only adversely affecting our security but also adversely affecting our other top priorities, and it's time for Congress to do what it must do to end it."

Joe Biden:

"With one stroke of his pen, President Bush has denied health insurance to 3.8 million kids who were due to get it under this bipartisan expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program. He's willing to spend billions and billions of dollars in Iraq, but he's not willing to invest in our kids' healthcare. It is unconscionable and wrong. Every child in this country should have health insurance. The President's veto is a tragedy for the millions who don't."