Adviser (Bob Shrum) regrets pushing Edwards on Iraq

[sabra]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070314/ap_on_el_pr/edwards_iraq

Adviser regrets pushing Edwards on Iraq

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards was skeptical about voting for the Iraq war resolution and was pushed into it by advisers looking out for his political future, according to an upcoming book by one of his former consultants.

Democratic strategist Bob Shrum writes in his memoir to be published in June that he regrets advising Edwards to give President Bush the authority to go to war in Iraq. He said if Edwards had followed his instincts instead of the advice of political professionals, he would have been a stronger presidential candidate in 2004.

Edwards said he had "no idea" what meeting Shrum was talking about. He said he hasn't read the book, so he could not address specific details.

"It was not a political calculation," Edwards told reporters after an appearance at Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C. "It was a mistake."

[thereismore]

1. Edwards is a straight shooter. nt

[KittyWampus]

4. Really? Prove it. And if he's too weak and stupid to make his own policy decisions

how the HELL is he going to stand up the NeoCons as POTUS?

Answer, he won't.

[thereismore]

7. I don't have to prove it. But facing a choice of hiding behind his advisers

or owning up to his vote, he chose the latter. That's a good thing. It certainly is what a straight shooter would do, that's what I meant to say.

[brentspeak]

9. That's different. If he's elected President, he doesn't have to worry about political consequences

as much, since he's reached his goal: to be elected President of the United States.

I agree that it doesn't look good on his resume for him to have voted 'yea' on IWR partly because his political adviser urged him to do so.

[Pastiche423]

14. LOL!

He's already reeled you in, eh?

He co-sponsered the IRW and then voted for it? Is that what you call straight shooting?

[ixion]

2. why does Shrum still get jobs with dems?

he has proven to be a rather formidable albatross, IMO.

[Miss Chybil]

3. So politicians cast votes for political reasons?

I'm stunned. I always thought they voted for what they thought was best.

[Longhorn]

5. I'm pretty certain those who voted against the war thought they were committing

political suicide considering the atmosphere at the time. But they had the courage to do it anyway.

[Atman]

6. Why would ANYONE listen to Bob "Mr. Loser" Shrum?

I don't understand how the guy finds work at all. He has a perfect record of failure.

.

[brentspeak]

10. That's what I'm trying to figure out.

[Nickster]

8. I think this is Mr. Shrum auditioning for another chance. "Look, I took a bullet for you Senator

Edwards. C'mon give me and Donna Brazile a shot!"

[Cha]

12. Those two have sooooooooo had

their "shots"! :freak: :freak:

[Nickster]

15. Oh I know and agree, but I think that's what this is regardless. n/t

[Cha]

11. Fucking bob schrum strikes

again. When will our leaders stop listening to so-called "political advisers" and go only with their conscience?

When's the last time schrum has been right about anything political?

[karynnj]

13. This makes no sense - Edwards didn't just vote for it but was a co-sponsor

and spoke in favor of the war through Oct 2003 - 6 months after it started.

The question here is what is Shrum up to. Edwards has positioned himself on this issue and the Shrum comment sounds neither true or does it benefit Edwards. (who I assume is not running Edwards 2008 campaign.)

[supernova]

16. I think Shrum is giving himself

more credit that he deserves here in relation to Edwards. "Gee I was so powerful, Edwards just HAD TO take my advice.." And I think Edwards was right to point that out.