Five Things I Learned in Ten Days With Edwards

[saracat]

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/12/22/politics/fromtheroad/entry3642005.shtml

December 22, 2007, 12:19 PM
Five Things I Learned in Ten Days With Edwards
Posted by Chip Reid|


(CBS)From CBS News Capitol Hill Correspondent Chip Reid, who's covering the Edwards campaign:

SOMEWHERE ON THE ROAD IN IOWA -- Like the other presidential candidates, John Edwards is heading home for a few days over Christmas, which means we embedded journalists can do the same. Before taking off, here’s an unscientific look at some first impressions:

1. DISCIPLINE, DISCIPLINE, DISCIPLINE - I’m a bit unhappy with John Edwards. I’ve been covering his campaign for 10 days and he hasn't made a lot of news. Let’s face it – a lot of what political reporters report on is mistakes. The campaign trail is one long minefield, covered with Iowa cow pies, and when they step in one – we leap.

I’ve done very little leaping – and I blame Edwards. While other candidates misspeak, over-speak, and double-speak, Edwards (at least in these 10 days) has made so few mistakes that I end up being transported -- newsless -- from town to town like a sack of Iowa corn .

He has a remarkable ability to stay on message. Not just in “the speech,” but even in Q and A. Nothing throws him off. He turns nearly every question into another opportunity to repeat his central theme. Global warming? We need to fight big oil. Health care? Fight the big drug and insurance companies. Iowa farmers’ problems? Blame those monster farm conglomerates. And the Iowa populists eat it up. We'll see how well it works in other states.
He’s even disciplined in his daily routine. While most reporters use the campaign trail as an excuse to over-eat and abandon their exercise routines, Edwards squeezes in a run EVERY DAY, rain, sleet, or shine.

Come on John – relax. Step in an Iowa cow pie and let me do my job.

2. JOHN AND ELIZABETH: TAG TEAM WRESTLING - The first time I saw Elizabeth Edwards get out of her chair, walk across the stage, and put her hand out for the microphone when her husband was in the middle of answering a question from the audience (and he happily gave it to her!) I was amazed. The next time, I was amused … and the time after that, and the time after that, and on and on. It’s like tag team wrestling -- only, Elizabeth says, less choreographed. She jumps in primarily on health care questions, sharing her experience with incurable, but treatable, cancer. She told me her goal is to take what he says and "put it into language they’ll understand in the carpool lane.”

He occasionally feigns exasperation when she grabs the microphone, but he told me he loves it -- even when she tells the audience she doesn’t entirely agree with him on an issue. After one of these joint appearances a group of women about Elizabeth's age told me they like him … but they LOVE her.

3. HE DREAMS BIG - Edwards has a serious idealistic streak. He envisions an America that is transformed, where the Washington agenda is controlled by the middle class, instead of the corporate powers and their lobbyists. He really seems to believe that if he's elected a tidal wave of middle class activism is going to swamp the powers-that-be.

In his stump speech, after going on and on about fighting the corporate powers that control Washington, he adds that he's not talking about getting into a big fight with politicians in Washington. No, he says, it’s just those big corporate interests he wants to fight.

Pardon me, but PUH-LEEZE. Members of Congress will be lining up around the block to join those corporate interests, and to accept their PAC contributions. It’s naïve at worst, and exceedingly idealistic at best, to think this “epic fight” as Edwards calls it, can be engaged without politicians turning it into an epic congressional slugfest.

4. FOR BETTER ... OR WORSE ... HE'S A TRIAL LAWYER - I now understand how Edwards did so well as a trial lawyer. In town after town, I watch as he mesmerizes audiences, gets them rolling with the rhythm of his riffs, surely the same way he persuaded juries of the righteousness of his positions. On the campaign trail they reward him with multiple standing ovations. In the jury room they rewarded him with mutiple millions.

But maybe it's that trial lawyer's ability to size up a jury and a case, and to find the appropriate tone, that's led to criticism that he does the same thing as a politician. A few weeks ago there was a spate of stories about how angry he seemed. Now, he seems to have re-calibrated his tone. He's still all about fighting the corporate powers. But now when he talks about fighting he sounds a bit more like a boxer about to enter the ring, and a bit less like an angry street fighter.

5. A SURPRISINGLY REGULAR GUY - I was expecting Edwards to be a bit distant and cocky. I've found him to be neither. It's a very subjective judgment, and maybe it'll change as I spend more time with the campaign, but he seems like a pretty regular guy. He's very accessible (holds a press availablity after nearly every event) , is very approachable, and has an easy-going sense of humor.

An example: before he spoke at a small community center in Nevada, Iowa a little while ago I bumped into him in the mens room. (I'm writing this on my Blackberry while hurtling down Iowa Route 30 to the next event.) He said "Hey, Chip! You having fun yet?" I told him it could be more fun -- that I was writing a blog complaining that he's not giving us enough material -- joking that I'd appreciate it if he'd go off-script and step in it now and then. He laughed loudly and promised "just wait, you just wait!"

I can only hope.

[Fredda Weinberg]

1. Then this has to be somthing you're willing to do for decades.

Building coalitions, changing hearts and minds ... a presidential election alone won't do it. When the tidal wave rides him to office, it'll be time.

[Triana]

2. Love 'em...those Edwards folks :) (n/t)

[K Gardner]

3. Says a lot about Edwards and his tenacity, but also about why we get the coverage

we get from the media. I really like Chip Reid and respect his honesty in telling us they're just "waiting for someone to step in a cow pile". Too boring for Merika to report on the issues. They want a fight and when they can't get one, they'll create it. I, for one, am grateful Edwards has taken the high ground and is not giving any of them fodder that will end up spewing out of Tweety's mouth.

Thanks, John and Elizabeth, for running a campaign we can all be proud of.

[goodgd_yall]

6. Good point

What you wrote clarifies for me why Chip Reid said that. At first I was thinking he meant John Edwards was coming across as too perfect and it was meant as a kind of compliment, but wanting a good news story sounds more like it.

[PATRICK]

27. Note point 3

Upon which Kucinich also lies hooked. That wonderful reporter cynicism comes to bear accepting the GOP corporate myths. If only that were applied to the scoundrels in DC themselves, but no, the warm and sloppy blank checks are there in every reporter's notepad, but not to be given to Dems.

However, what is conceded is the human element and human respect and the person of the candidate. THAT is the trump card never accorded Gore, accorded Clinton, wasted on on Bush. That respect and personally liking is key for any candidate into overcoming an institutionally, hostility contracted media. If the human wave comes, they won't sneer at the rubes. They will join in.

[K Gardner]

36. I LOVE THIS response! You say what I've been trying to verbalize for

days now and haven't been able to. A fountain of Truthiness in very few words. Excellent.

"If the human wave comes, they won't sneer at the rubes, they will join in." Bravo. :yourock:

[polichick]

4. Thanks for the insightful piece!

I'm convinced that Edwards has finally figured out how to combine his courtroom abilities with public service ~ I think if he's elected, he'll do his son Wade proud (Wade inspired him to run for office way back when) AND put this country back into the hands of the people.

[asdjrocky]

5. One of the best articles I've read-

Sara, this is a gem, thank you.

[SoFlaJet]

7. Which once again proves the point

a lot of us progressives have been saying for a while now that John Edwards=THE most electable democrat of them all-he can WIN. I mean what do they (the RW slime machine) have on him anyway? Oh yea he got a $400 haircut-big whoop. If I were advising him I'd tell him to not even answer the questions that will certainly be asked.

[havocmom]

8. Thanks

Hmm, stays on message. Gets help reaching the people with the very human approach of his wife.

Points out truth about conditions of Americans rather than what one wrote as a kid or whether one's family connections hinder their ability to govern, what one's husband did or wife does.... until we are ready to :puke:.

Policy. Talk policy. Truth. Point out the truth of the American condition. Solutions. Offer real steps to real solutions. It's a nice change from (pro) business as usual.

OK, I must be an Edwards supporter. He seems to be the one addressing the business a leader should be concerned with and working to correct.

He is a rich man. I don't have a problem with that. Lots of good leaders have been rich. Many rich people use their resources to be independent, not so interested in kissing up to others in their income bracket. Lots of bad leaders had more modest means (Nixon, Reagan spring to mind). Besides, much of the wealth JE has, he got by beating the giant corporations at their own games when they were trying to prevent uppity consumers from holding them responsible for their misdeeds.

[Lindsey]

9. Thank for the Edwards update...

He's the one to can facilitate the change we have to have.

[lisainmilo]

10. K&R

:)

[Beaverhausen]

11. This is great. I have heard Elizabeth talk about healthcare

I heard her at a fundraiser in September. She talked a mile a minute and had tons of facts and figures right at her fingertips. She will be a fantastic first lady!

[petersjo02]

12. Very nice post

I used to listen to Chip Reid on NPR when he was based in Japan. He has a nice way of telling a story and seems to be honest and fair in his assessments of John Edwards. My gut instincts (which are probably about as good--or bad--as Bush's) tell me that John Edwards comes out on top in Iowa on 1-3-08. I'll be at my caucus supporting him.

[Gloria]

13. Discipline...oh a what a wonderful word to hear, esp. in terms of the

usual lack of discipline so many Democrats seem to display....

[Catchawave]

14. Nice article !

:kick: and R !

[Eurobabe]

15. Good article, thanks for posting

I am really torn between Edwards and Obama, should Biden drop out. :shrug:

[rocktivity]

16. This article exposes far more about the corporate media than its does Edwards.

I realize that as a full-fledged member of the corporate media, Reid may be under orders not to legitimize anyone who threatens corporate interests. But I consider his inability to find any newsworthiness in Edwards condescending at best and a dereliction of duty at worst. If Reid actually SUPPLIED us with the context of Edwards' positions and speeches instead of wasting space with yammering about how regrettably uncontroversial he his, maybe I could decide for myself how idealistic he is!

:headbang:
rocknation

[cali]

18. You're kidding? This is press exposure that's priceless

It's admiring. It's humanizing. And it's not a news item or analysis, it's a blog about the "human side" of the campaign. I can't believe you're complaining about it.

[rocktivity]

31. It's a blog entry rather than news or analysis: I rest my case.

Putting this on the front page would make it pricess press coverage. That's part of the problem, too--filing "real" stories AND "off the record" blogs. It's dishonest for a media outlet to do both. The positive, human side of politics HAS to be on "the lighter side of the news?"

:headbang:
rocknation

[Cha]

20. I was wondering why

ol Chip couldn't come up with some scintillating facts on how this country is in dire staights and Edwards is proposing radical change!

[UpInArms]

54. I covered the Harkin Steak Fry in September

(I work for a print-only local weekly paper)

Here were the speeches:

The first speaker to the microphone was Barack Obama, Democratic Senator from Illinois. Mr. Obama has been hailed by pundits as being the front runner in the race – whenever his poll readers (or are they tealeaf readers?) say that he has pulled in front of Hillary Clinton to take the lead in the as yet to be determined Democratic field. His speech lacked the depth of expression that one hoped to hear from a presidential candidate and it became apparent to this listener that Mr. Obama is running for Vice President. The theme of Obama’s speech seemed to be that the American people were not the problem with America, they were the answer. Somehow, I must have missed the question.

The second speaker to the microphone was Bill Richardson, the Governor of New Mexico. It became quickly apparent that Mr. Richardson was in the habit of defining problems, because the first thing he brought (after his thanks to his host) were the issues that he felt defined the state of our union: Number One was Iraq. He stated unequivocally that we “need to end the war in Iraq and bring all our troops out of Iraq.” He stated that we needed to have the United Nations take control of the situation in Iraq and that within six to eight months all American troops should be brought home.

Number Two was insurance for all. He felt that corporations and insurance companies were dictating our healthcare and that should cease. He felt that junkfood should be removed from our schools, that physical education should be brought back and that we needed to get rid of No Child Left Behind. He said that a minimum of $40,000 should be the salary for all our teachers; that we needed to encourage the best and the brightest to teach the citizens of our future. He stated that we needed an additional 100,000 new math and science teachers in America to help us to be competitive in the future. He had ideas on how to help America’s youth to pay for college and higher education by giving them the opportunity to sign up for some type of national service for a year in their chosen professions. He felt that we needed an energy policy that reflected a variety of sources - wind, solar, bio-fuels – and to become less dependent on fossil fuels. He stated that this country needed to become concerned about global warming; that we needed to reduce fossil fuel use by 50% and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by the year 2040.

Hillary Clinton took the stage with the assurance of one who has spoken to large crowds many times. Her energy and enthusiasm were visible, yet the strain of travel and long hours was apparent. She began by telling the crowd that she felt that America needed a president who believed in science and supported stem cell research; someone who would respect the Constitution and end the war in Iraq. She rhetorically asked how one could be a leader if no one was following. She stated that our men and women have done what they were asked to do in Iraq and that the solution in Iraq was not a military solution. She stated that the Iraqi government and the Bush administration had failed. She stated that the era of cowboy diplomacy is over. She stated that we needed to return to fiscal responsibility. And she mentioned that Alan Greenspan had, just that very morning, been quoted as praising her husband, Bill Clinton (the former US President). She stated that she felt that we needed to put America to work again. She referred to the healthcare problem with a three-point prong: 1) get the cost of insurance down; 2) coverage should be greater; and 3) cover every single person. She said we needed a strong middle class; that it equaled a strong labor movement. She said she wanted to be the first woman president to restore our government and rebuild our middle class.

The next person to approach the microphone was Christopher Dodd, Senator from Connecticut. Senator Dodd was full of personal anecdotes and tales of his life and times. He spoke of having a two-year old and a six-year old and being a recipient of membership offers from the AARP. He felt that his life experience, of straddling the generations, connected him to the common citizen. He spoke of having our nation regain its values and moral authority around the world. He has been told by some that the best days of our country are behind us, but he wants to lead us back onto a path of goodness and hope. He asked what kind of world, what kind of country, will future generations have. He stated that 50 million Americans have no health insurance and stated that it must change. He said the answers will not solved by one political party. He said that we need someone who can bring people together. He said the first thing he would do is to restore the Constitution of America on his very first day of office (if elected president). He emphatically stated that we “want our country back.”

After poking myself with pins to awaken, I found myself listening to John Edwards. The first thing that Mr. Edwards (former Senator from South Carolina) said was that we need real change – real substantive change for our country. He stated that the system in Washington, D.C. is broken. He said that the lobbyists are controlling Washington, D.C. He stated that we can no longer give the lobbyists a seat at the table because they will eat all the food. Edwards said that electing a Democrat into office was not enough. Changing a corporate Republican for a corporate Democrat would not work. Regarding healthcare, he said that we needed to “outlaw pre-existing conditions”. He told the listening audience that his healthcare plan would cost $90 -120 billion dollars a year and that it could be funded by rolling back the tax cuts that George Bus had given to the top 1% of Americans. He believes that global warming may be the largest crisis in the world. He stated that we needed to reduce greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050 and make polluters pay for the damages to the environment. He believes that there are things that citizens should be more patriotic about than war. He said “It is time for us to sacrifice” and that everyone of us needs to take responsibility – Edwards believes that the minimum wage needs to be raised to $9.50 per hour (from $7.25 per hour). Edwards feels that George Bush has destroyed our reputation and that the voters mandated a change in November 2006. He believes that the congress should stop the war by allowing no funding bill to pass into law without a definitive pull-out date. Mr. Edwards said that the cause of his life is to bring change to America. He believes that we need a president who is sincere, with integrity and principles. He said that every single one of the candidates will be judged by the voters on if they can be trusted. There must be trust between the people and the president and the rest of the world. His parting message to all present was to “trust in your heart.”

The last speech was delivered by Joseph ('I really love ya man') Biden. Joe is a Senator from Delaware and his speech began with the admonition that this (2008) election would be the most important election that anyone will ever vote in. He said that George Bush will not end the war in Iraq and that whoever is elected will have to end this war. This reporter has to confess to being unable to listen to the rest of his speech because there were calls for the impeachment of Bush instead of allowing an additional 492 days in office to continue while our brave soldiers continue their sacrifice and the cost of this war continues while the citizens wait for the November 2008 election to come and the January 2009 inauguration to occur.

My editor reduced that final paragraph to: Biden stated he would end the war in Iraq because my bias against him and his pro-Gonzales vote turned me forever against him.

[cascadiance]

17. Nice article... On his third point, I think Edwards is actually handling it well...

It IS the corporate interests that are responsible for bribing officials and basically through doing so setting the agenda to continue their control which is hard for any one person in congress to single-handedly fight and work against. Therefore he is entirely correct in focusing his sites on the corporate interests for starters and trying to put them out of the equation.

As for not going after the "enabling" congress critters, I think he and I both know that there are many of them that are completely unscrupulous benefactors of this current corrupt system they live in and need to be pushed out. But the way the system is set up, it also forces the well meaning politicians that otherwise might embrace reform to "play along" with the game and not fight it unless they have some form of added power to do so. Once we have something like public campaign financing in place, THEN will be the time to weed out the real corrupt individuals from those that will be "freed" then. If Edwards were to indict Washington in general for being a part of the corruption, he might alienate some who might otherwise work with him later to fix this system, and also the voters who want to see the system fixed, but want to see someone build consensus doing so, and not alienate people too much in a losing effort.

As for him being rich, I think in a way, that being rich is one of the few ways that some politicians can insulate themselves from the heavy lobbying influences that corrupt Washington. By having their own supply of cash, they can fend off those that would want to twist their arms for votes and go to their own money if necessary to win. Ideally, we'd like public campaign financing in place at some point so it won't matter if someone is rich or not to fend off lobbyists effectively, but I'm a bit resigned now to realize that we need probably a rich person that has a good heart and soul to help us out of this mess initially. Just because a person is rich doesn't make them evil and on "the other side". Decent wealthy folks interested in helping restore balance in our society are hard to find, but they are out there. I believe Edwards is one of those people, and that is why I hope VERY much he's the one that gets elected.

We need someone that focuses their energy on the corporate gravy train or we're never going to get any change. Edwards also wants to do it in a way that I think will be most effective. It might take someone like Kucinich down the road to ultimately help us build a better health insurance system, but I think it is Edwards that will shut down the lobbyist gravy train that basically plagues almost every corner of our government now. That will start us on a new era of reform.

[Cha]

19. This is pretty damn

cool! I remember Chip Reid as not being too Democratically friendly in past years.

[Inspired]

21. I saw Chip Reid at an Edwards event yesterday.

I didn't know it was him though. All I knew then was I was looking at a very handsome man! He looked familiar and I kept wondering how I knew him!

[frogmarch]

22. Oh, good! You already DID post it here.

I'm glad you did. Great piece.

[spooky3]

23. wow, I am stunned that this by Chip Reid. Thanks, saracat.

[saltpoint]

24. This is a good one, saracat. Thanks for putting it up.

Recommended.

[SlowDownFast]

25. K&R. Go Edwards! n/t

[saracat]

26. Wow! I loooove the cartoon! Where is that from?

[DemPopulist]

42. Rolling Stone

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/15825410/the_real_liberal_john_edwards_is_third_in_the_polls_but_dont_count_him_out">Great article from a few months back.

[sellitman]

28. I hope Gore gets behind him.

That would jump start his campaign big time.

[disndat]

32. He is the candidate

most likely to be supported by Gore for all reasons and particularly the environment issues. Edwards is not beholden to big polluting corporations, or any corporations for that matter. Gore would also fight with Edwards for election reform and not cave in to voters fraud like Kerry. A very critical issue for the upcoming presidential election.

[earth mom]

29. Undecided, but Edwards sounds a helluva lot better THAN Hillary or Obama that's for sure! nt

[2hip]

30. Edwards on my mind

[vanboggie]

33. Reinforces my faith in the man

Not that I need reinforcing. This is the guy who can and will make change happen.

[bluerum]

34. I hate to use the word - but his campaign is surging. He timed it well.

First or second in Iowa will get him coverage.

I was really starting to worry that he had fallen off the map.

[K Gardner]

35. You know, I don't know if it's a "planned surge" or if its just a freakin tidal wave

of grassroots enthusiasm gone haywire, LOL. I don't think even Edwards or Joe Trippi could have planned this, but it's something I've been thinking about too :-)

[asdjrocky]

37. I honestly feel that it is a purely organic thing.

I'm getting on a plane, just a few days after christmas, just to do what I can. And I feel drawn there, like it's something I must be a part of. I've never done anything like this before, but I'm doing it now. And I know so many people volunteering for the campaign that will tell you the same story.

I really feel a movement, something we haven't seen in a hundred years.

[K Gardner]

38. I'm so proud of you, and so happy that you get to be a part of this..

it couldn't happen to a nicer guy and the campaign will be all the better for having you! I admit to envy :-)
Report back OFTEN ! And I agree about the Organic thing.. good word for it. :toast:

[elle1sf]

41. First or second in Iowa

As long as the third place candidate doesn't scream!! And take away his media coverage once again.

I believe he will win Iowa. I KNOW he will!

[bluerum]

45. They will all scream - but all he has to do is to keep doing what he is doing...

[waiting for hope]

39. He is a regular guy...

My One Corps captain has been to his house, he made her a sandwich - doesn't get any regular tham that!


BTW - I heard the sandwich was pretty good!

K&R!

[focusfan]

40. at least he is down to earth

he seems like an ok guy

[ScooterFibby]

43. How about an Edwards/Obama ticket?

Edwards is my man - and I supported him four years ago too. Obama has a lot of good energy too.

What about an Edwards/Obama ticket?

[SirRevolutionary]

47. I'd rather see

Edwards/Dodd personally.

[peacetalksforall]

44. My see-saw viewing point. I've been up and down about Edwards.

I had no criticisms at all while he was running with Kerry.

I thought he was sincere when he told us they were going to fight the Ohio count that famous morning - only to be overriden a few hours later in the Kerry speech. I believe Edwards was sincere. My credibility meter told me.

But, I could never get over his original Iraq vote. I felt he was too heavily DLC (in hindsight) and that it was a DLC dictum that the DLC crowd would give Bush the implied permission in trade for votes and support. Wellstone didn't and his vote was my measurement because I was one of many who saw through the invasion and its purpose, while our elected ones couldn't.

But, I must admit he looks better by the day. One of these days I'm going to have to confront my pwn opposition, if I can't have Gore or Kucinich.

Yes, and I also love Elizabeth.

(Chip Reid - it could have been worse. What he writes is subtlely complimentary. He could have talked about hair in addition to wealth - seems like Reid isn't going into the gutter the way many others have. Funny - the Bushes and Cheneys have tons and tons of money - and none of the GE, Murdoch, TIme-Warner, Disney, Viacom and paper journalists ever mention theirs.)

[Lugnut]

46. Go Johnny, go!

:kick:

[DFW]

48. This is actually quite encouraging to me

All reports of Edwards-in-person I have heard from people I know
say that he puts on a great act, but they don't buy it. This one,
albeit by a guy I do not know, says he is for real. As I like his
positions a lot, this was good to hear. I'll keep watching and
listening.

[deacon]

49. Great read. n/t

[loudsue]

50. One of the BEST come-backs Edwards has made is when asked about

his wealth. He said something to the effect that he wished EVERYONE had the same chance he had to gain wealth, and that with corporate interests running the class war by way of congress, more and more people are being shut out of the American dream.

That is a message that rings well with the tradition in the U.S. of the "American Dream". If we HAVE TO HAVE capitalism, then the government HAS TO control it, or the corporations will turn everyone into slaves, turn the country into a 2-class system (destroying the middle class), and only one in a million people has the opportunity to make good. Only by the government levelling the playing field can more people participate. The New Deal proved that was true.

Republicans HATE government. They grow to hate it when wealth is spread around. They LOVE government handing just republicans huge contracts that steal the taxpayers' money, and don't perform on the contracts. If the republicans hate our government, they shouldn't be allowed in it....definitely shouldn't be allowed to run it.

Government IS the people, when it's done right. Big isn't bad when it's the people themselves.

[Stop Cornyn]

51. Very nice!

[nradisic]

52. What a great piece of real journalism!

Kudos to Chip Reid! What a good, simple, down to earth article. This is what real journalism is all about. How about that? Once you spend a few days with John Edwards…you can't not like the guy! Forget about the "labels" that the main stream media has assigned to John. He is not only the one with the best message, but he is extremely intelligent, disciplined and principled - something none of the Republican candidates have. He is real - not plastic. If we are still judging our Presidential candidates by that "I'd like to have a beer with this guy" analogy, then Edwards wins hands down.....and you can even have a meaningful and intelligent conversation over that beer. I hope many other Americans see what I see in John Edwards - the 44th President of the United States of America.

[SaveAmerica]

53. Please, for the sake of so many things ruined by W, let this man win.

[adnelson60087]

55. The Power of the Bully-Pulpit

From the above article...

In his stump speech, after going on and on about fighting the corporate powers that control Washington, he adds that he's not talking about getting into a big fight with politicians in Washington. No, he says, it’s just those big corporate interests he wants to fight.

Pardon me, but PUH-LEEZE. Members of Congress will be lining up around the block to join those corporate interests, and to accept their PAC contributions. It’s naïve at worst, and exceedingly idealistic at best, to think this “epic fight” as Edwards calls it, can be engaged without politicians turning it into an epic congressional slugfest.


My Response: Why do national pundits not recognize the power of the President to shape and focus public opinion? When Edwards is elected to office, being able to rally the American people to their OWN desire will not be difficult. All the K-street lobbyists in Washington won't be able to convince Americans that they HELP them. Congress-members are ultimately spineless and with the American people pushing for the changes proposed, they will give us what we want despite the lobbyists. Edwards needs to inspire our people across the country, and tap into our needs and dreams of a better, humane America.