Edwards: If you can't answer Iowans, you shouldn't be president

[DeepModem Mom]

September 2, 2007
Edwards: If you can't answer Iowans, you shouldn't be president


Edwards campaigned in Iowa on Sunday.

TIPTON, Iowa (CNN) — Responding to questions Sunday on why he agreed to pledge to skip states that are disobeying party rules by moving their primaries up, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said this election "should be based on substance, real ideas and who can actually change the country and who has the personal characteristics to be president. (It is) not a fundraising contest."

On Friday, the four states allowed by the DNC to hold their nominating contests before February 5, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, asked the Democratic field to sign a pledge not to campaign or compete in Florida if it violates party rules.

At a stop in Tipton, Iowa Edwards continued, "Every candidate now will have to come to Iowa and do what I did today and what I've done hundreds of times before, which is stand in front of an audience and answer their questions – in many cases hard tough questions… If you're not ready to answer questions in Iowa, you're not ready to be president of the United States."

Obama, Clinton and Edwards all said Saturday they would sign the pledge. They joined Senators Joe Biden of Delaware, Chris Dodd of Connecticut, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson – all of whom signed on Friday.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/09/02/edwards-if-you-cant-answer-iowans-you-shouldnt-be-president/

[More Than A Feeling]

1. He's right, we will seriously mess you up if you don't answer.

Not just candidates, though...everyone. ANSWER MY QUESTIONS, DAMNIT!:silly:

[saltpoint]

17. LOL!

[Mz Pip]

2. Oh, bullsh*t

John, please don't take your talking points from Mitwit. It doesn't become you.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[PSPS]

3. Yes, Iowans should have veto power over all of our choices in national elections.

I mean, it's so logical!

[IndianaGreen]

4. Edwards dodged the question!

It was $$$$$$$$ that made Iowa create their caucus ahead of New Hampshire years ago, and it is $$$$$$$$$ that makes Iowa look forward to months of visiting candidates, their entourages, and the media.

And it is $$$$$$ that makes the Iowa mullahs push their ethanol agenda on any candidate that sets foot in their state.

[1932]

5. "(It is) not a fundraising contest." -- he's exactly right.

Moving all the primaries early is the way to guarantee the richest candidate is going to win.

[Diane R]

6. I'm sick of Iowans choosing our presidents. Not more qualified, or deserving, than other states.

[Inspired]

15. Don't be so silly.

We don't choose the president in Iowa. If that were true then Senator Harkin would have been our POTUS in 1992.

What makes Iowa unique is that you don't need a lot of money to win the state. You have to actually resort to grassroots campaigning. We know these candidates because we've spent time with them, not because we're impressed with the production of a 30 second campaign ad.

With that said, let other states move up. I don't care. Just do it sooner so we know what the hell is going on. Waiting until now will only help the candidates who have raised the most money. That is not how I want our nominee chosen.

[Diane R]

16. I'm not being 'silly'. Why are Iowans so special? We ALL want to personally meet the candidates.

[southerncrone]

7. Why don't we have ALL primaries on the same day?

:shrug:
That would do away w/all the fussing & inequality.

Maybe I'm overlooking something, but that makes sense to me. Then we know who our candidate is & we can unite behind them for the general election. It seems like a more democratic method of selection. Does away w/all the hype and pandering. A lot of energy is lost dealing w/so many primaries on differing days. Iowa & Vermont, although wonderful states w/wonderful people, set the tone of all the following primaries. That is not a good idea IMHO.

[struggle4progress]

10. Then candidates would only campaign in the big states

[ArkySue]

8. What worries me

is that the nominee will be chosen by Feb 5th. A lot can happen before Nov rolls around that might make the nominee an unsuitable candidate. What then?

[IndianaGreen]

12. We will go through months of buyer's remorse, second guessing, recriminations, and finger pointing

That's what will happen once a candidate gets a lock on the nomination in February.

A spring and summer of discontent!

[UrbScotty]

9. ih8thegop: If you can't answer AMERICANS, why should you be President?

The next President is going to be President of 49 other states as well as Iowa and DC.

He can try all he wants to kiss up to Iowans, but that does NOT make him any more qualified for the White House.

[fujiyama]

11. Hmmm....gee

I guess he can't answer Floridians or Michiganders (what the hell else are s folks from MI called?)...but he can be president anyways?

Either way, I hate this sucking up to Iowa and New Hampshire...two small homogeneous states that have more importance than they deserve (not that I dislike them in particular - I don't think it makes sense for them to be first EVERY SINGLE TIME).

[IndianaGreen]

13. Haven't you heard? His Lordship has declared Florida and Michigan to be rogue states

just like Bush has declared Iran, Syria, North Korea, Venezuela, and Cuba.

Bombing will commence at noon.

Duck and cover!

[Apollo11]

14. I can see it from Edwards point of view

Edwards has been putting a lot of his time and energy into Iowa and New Hampshire.

He knows that he cannot compete with Hillary and Obama when it comes to national fundraising.

His only chance is to win Iowa and create a wave of enthusiasm that will carry him through NH into Feb 5th.

But after he has already been campaigning hard for 8 months, some people are trying to re-write the rule book.

As far as Edwards is concerned, this race started 8 months ago.

It's too late for folks to start changing the rules of the game.

Of course it's true that Iowa doesn't represent the whole of America.

But the time to look at changing the primaries system is during the off-season.

And recent history teaches us that the Iowa caucuses can't be bought.