Desperate Edwards goes racist/sexist in his electability argument

[geek tragedy]

Picture this, Mr. Edwards: I'd sooner vote for Hillary twice than you once.


http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2007/10/picture-edwards.html

But take a listen to these comments from Edwards (CLICK HERE) from an October 8 event in Mount Ayr, Iowa, and see whether you think there's anything in there, implicitly, about his being a white man.
"If you're running in a tough congressional district…you gotta ask yourself would you rather have Senator Obama at the top of the ticket to help, Senator Clinton at the top of the ticket to help, or John Edwards at the top of the ticket to help," Edwards asks.
Edwards goes on to say, "your instincts will tell you the right answer."
You'll want someone you agree with, of course, "but you'll also want somebody who can help pull Democrats all over the country… You gotta ask yourself who's going to turn out more Republicans to vote against us at the top of our ticket. Who's gonna attract more middle of the road voters? You know, who's gonna feel more of a connection...
“But the bottom line is. I think the easiest way to do it, honestly, is to just picture in your head, each of us, running in a tough place –- we’re in one right now –- and which one’s gonna be more helpful and which one’s not. 'Cause I think that does matter."

Clinton and Obama are polling ahead of you nationally, and both were in demand everywhere in the country in 2006--including to help Jim Webb in Virginia. So, what should we 'picture' John?

[babylonsister]

1. Why don't you tell me what you don't like about him. What am

I missing, because I didn't get racist/sexist out of what he said.

[flowomo]

4. I think it depends on how you construe "tough district"....

if he means a district that won't vote for a black or a female, then maybe the OP has a point.

[geek tragedy]

18. Edwards is trying to argue exactly that.

Trying to play on fears of having a black or a woman as the nominee.

[rurallib]

44. Really, really don't see that. Think you are stretching here.

[Clintonista2]

6. He's desperate to take some of the heat off his candidate

After Obama's shameful decision to support anti gay hate mongering.

[babylonsister]

12. That makes absolutely no sense. Who would Edwards' candidate be? Not

himself?

[Clintonista2]

17. The OP is trying to take the heat off his candidate

Not Edwards.

[jefferson_dem]

14. Another bullshit lie...

from Lirwin2.

[Clintonista2]

23. Another gaffe

From Jefferson_Dem's candidate.

[geek tragedy]

11. "Picture this."

That is a visual cue.

"Picture Barack Obama running in your district. Picture me running in your district."

Okay John.

[babylonsister]

67. I think you read way too much into that myself. nt

[EV_Ares]

39. The reason most cannot find anything racist or sexist is because

he didn't say anything racist or sexist. Man where that idea was pulled out, I don't know.

[rurallib]

42. Neither did I get a sexist/racist meaning

Maybe he should have added Dodd, Biden, Richardson, Kucinich? Color me stupid, I guess.

[Hieronymus]

76. Neither did I.

[aquart]

2. Oh, please. Now you are being ridiculous.

[rinsd]

3. Edwards gets taken to the cleaners by Rudy in the NE.

Coupled with his taking on public financing which will limit his counterattack abilities until after the convention and you have a weak GE candidate...not a strong one.

[eyesroll]

5. Haven't candidates used "electability" and coattails as an argument...well, forever?

:shrug:

[geek tragedy]

9. "Picture this."

He's playing off the visual differences between the candidates.

Why else would Hillary and Obama be less helpful in swing districts? Claire McCaskill and Jim Webb both asked Clinton and Obama to campaign with them.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. Ah

I think when your opponent is the first African American and female to seriously seek the job you need to tread very carefully...

[geek tragedy]

13. He's trying to say it without saying it.

He's appealing to people's gut level racism and sexism.

There's no logical reason--nothing--to suggest that he helps downticket Democrats more than Obama or Clinton.

[rurallib]

46. Wow - why isn't Richardson mentioned then?

[eyesroll]

37. So you're supposed to treat your opponents differently because they're black or female?

Hm.

[Bitwit1234]

7. I really truly regret that Edwards is beginning to turn negative like Obama

I guess when they are both so far behind Hillary they are desperate. I really like Edwards. If he turns negative he won't get elected to anything.

[Adelante]

24. He's been negative all along

It's not just beginning.

[varkam]

8. I am not an Edwards supporter...

but I didn't find anything obviously racist or sexist about his comments.

[saracat]

15. There is nothing racist or sexist about his comments.Sheesh.I don't get why you bother to attack

Edwards since you feel he isn't viable? Why not ignore it? I happen to feel he is our best choice.I like all our candidates except Hillary.She is the only one I would have trouble voting for in the General Election.I would have to force myself and I wouldn't feel good about it.But as someone living in a red state, John is spot on about the down line.

[geek tragedy]

20. Picture Barack Obama appearing on the ticket.

How is John Edwards more useful for down ticket races than Barack Obama?

[saracat]

26. You know the answer to that, and let me point out that the Unions will be

very supportive of Edwards and that helps the downline as well. Many areas of the nation will view Obama as an effete easterner as well.

[geek tragedy]

36. No, I don't know that.

How will John Edwards be more helpful in down ticket races in swing districts?

Spell it out.

[saracat]

53. I did.See my answer.

[w4rma]

74. saracat said that Obama comes off as an effete easterner. That's spelled...

e.f.f.e.t.e. e.a.s.t.e.r.n.e.r.

effete easterner

[frazzled]

16. That really seems like some loaded, coded language

If this were about issue or policy differences being his claim to greater electability, he wouldn't be asking people to "picture" the other candidates. He'd ask them to think about them. Bottom line: he's asking them to picture a woman and a black man and to ask themselves whether they think some Republicans or 'middle of the roaders' would vote for them.

I've got news for Edwards: they're not gonna vote for you either.

[ecstatic]

19. I will be slightly offended if he is the nominee, and reminded that things may never change

in this country. I used to really like Edwards. What Edwards says is true but I kind of hate him for saying it. At the end of the day, I'm sure he'll be the nominee--not because he is the most qualified, but because he is a so called attractive white man.

[geek tragedy]

22. No, he's desperate and sinking, hence this desperation crap. n/t

[saracat]

29. Really? If this is so why do you bother to attack him? Why do you care?

[geek tragedy]

33. Because this kind of crap disgusts me.

The white guy from the South trying to use a black man's skin color against him reminds me of the 1950's.

[saracat]

63. Edwards is hardly doing that. Might have escaped your notice but Edwards has a lot of black support.

and you are insulting them by implying that he is using "a black man's skin color against him". That is just over the top and flat out wrong. I myself met with Edwards and our African American Caucus when he ran in 2003 and he was the only Presidential candidate that bothered to meet with them in our state. I find your statements regarding Edwards and his position on race and sexism offensive. Anyone married to Elizabeth and with Cate for a daughter could never be "sexist". This is a straw man argument for sure.

[cuke]

69. Is that all you have?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3633144#3633362

[DemocratSinceBirth]

25. Clinton Or Obama Will Be The Nominee

If by some chance Obama knocks out Clinton he gets the African American vote to himself which is about 30% of the Democratic party...Throw in his crossover appeal and without Hillary he wins fairly easily...

[DemFemme]

75. I agree. n/t

[mother earth]

21. You are reading into this, what you want to read into this.

And it is not coming across that you are at all right about your assumptions.
Nothing he said was either racist or sexist.

I think he's absolutely right. Do we want to win or do we want to give them what the propaganda machine wants, an easy candidate to go up against the repubs - the one they are already treating as the nominee?

NO THANKS!

Edwards is leading, they just don't want you to figure it out.

[venable]

27. this is neither racist nor sexist it is simply saying he is the best candidate

and I wonder what candidate doesn't believe that they are the best candidate. I think he is right, and I think it has nothing to do with race or gender. His appeal is proven to cross into independents and moderate republicans. that is exactly what he is talking about. get a clue.

[Lobster Martini]

28. Heavens, talk about trying too hard to make something out of nothing...

My scorn is directed at Jake Tapper of ABC News rather than the OP--that has to be the least insightful bit of poo I've seen since--I'm being too polite; that's a smear job and ABC News should be embarassed...

[Botany]

30. Direct Quote from John Edwards

< At the YouTube / CNN debate in July Edwards, very clearly stated, "Anybody
considering not voting for Senator Obama because he's black or Senator Clinton
because she's women, I don't want their vote." >

[geek tragedy]

31. Yes, and then he goes out and uses coded speech.

He's a desperate hypocrite. That's his entire campaign m.o.

[Botany]

38. and if you listen hard enough on Christmas eve you can hear ....

.... reindeer hooves on your roof. The only thing I see here is
a desperate attack on a good man.

[elfin]

32. No, he didn't go "racist/sexist" - he went "realist"

Wake up - we (US) are not where we should be on these matters and any candidate (or their supporters) who thinks otherwise is a dreamer or in big denial about the reality of racist, mysogonistic feelings in these times in this country. Would that it be different -- but it is not.

Obama alone could do it -- BUT his wife and kids are just too "dark" for the palate of mainstream, Oprah notwithstanding.

A woman MIGHT win the general - but not HRC with her historical negative "baggage" and no matter how she tries to be a "friendly "corporatist to the middle - she is red meat to the Rethugs to her elective peril.

And yes, I support Edwards -- also Dodd.

[geek tragedy]

35. You certainly aren't where you should be.

This is truly disgusting:

"Obama alone could do it -- BUT his wife and kids are just too "dark" for the palate of mainstream, Oprah notwithstanding."


:puke:

[ariesgem]

41. "Obama alone could do it -- BUT his wife and kids are just too "dark" for the palate of mainstream"

Damn..I can't believe I just read that on DU.:puke:

[geek tragedy]

45. But don't call him a racist--he just thinks we can't

nominate a candidate with nappy-headed little children. :puke:

[cuke]

68. *speechless*

[DemocratSinceBirth]

43. Dark Is Sexay

DSB

[cali]

48. Fuck the kind of racist shit you just posted n/t

[incapsulated]

50. lol, you made Edwards point better than all his imaginary pictures could

At least you don't deny it.

[Sparkly]

60. How many of those racists and misogynists are staunch Republicans anyway?

I honestly don't know the answer to that, but I'd hope they're a rarity in our party.

And if not, I hope enough other people would be excited enough about the prospect of a woman or a black man to make up the difference, and get out the vote.

It's also one reason I can understand factoring race and gender into a vote: it would be GOOD for our country in a lot of ways to have something other than a white man as president.

[BootinUp]

66. This is the kind of "Leadership" we can expect from Edwards

its a goddamn shame I tell ya.

[JI7]

72. wtf

"Obama alone could do it -- BUT his wife and kids are just too "dark" for the palate of mainstream, Oprah notwithstanding."

[LittleClarkie]

34. Don't pull a muscle now

You're reaching.

[Sandaasu]

40. That counts as sexist/racist?

Wow, I didn't know that competing against someone in some contest meant that you have issues with their race and/or gender. What an interesting concept.

[bunnies]

47. oh fer fucks sake...

:eyes:

[incapsulated]

49. I will explain to those who don't see this as sexist or racist

He didn't say, Hillary is perceived as too liberal or Obama is perceived as too intellectual.

He just said, imagine them, picture them.

I mean, come on. You wanna say a woman or an african-american can't get elected, have the balls to come out and fucking say it.

[Adelante]

52. This is how he said it in June, nothing new

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards Sunday warned Iowa voters about what he perceives as the perils of nominating a candidate who down-ticket Democrats in some parts of the nation may decline to appear with in their own campaign events. Speaking in Carroll, Edwards made the observation after saying there are “three of us who are most likely to be the Democratic nominee.”"It’s not just a question of who you like,” Edwards said. “It’s not just a question of whose vision you are impressed with. It’s also a question of who is most likely to win the general election. It’s a pretty simple thing. Who will be a stronger candidate in the general election here in the State of Iowa? Who can go to other parts of the country when we have swing candidates running for the Congress and the Senate? Is the candidate going to have to say, ‘Don’t come here. Don’t come here and campaign with me. I can’t win if you campaign with me.’”

He added later, “I think it’s just a reality that I can campaign anyplace in America.”

http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=373


So, if Clinton and Obama can't campaign anyplace in America, then why? It can't be the so-called rampant Clinton-Hate or why does he include Obama in the statement? What's different is Edwards is white and Edwards is male.

[incapsulated]

54. Notice he never brings up Biden or Dodd or Richardson

Who he is actively competing with for a third place spot, why not argue that those votes should go to you?

GUESS.

:D

[Sparkly]

56. Well, in fairness...

it's smarter strategy to compete with the top ones and put one's self in their league, you know?

[incapsulated]

58. True but..

When you keep portraying yourself as "more electable" and only use the black guy and the woman as a comparison, well....

[Sparkly]

55. Hmm...

I didn't see it at all until I read your post, but then I can be dense about some things. If this is what he intended to convey, it was so artful it's hard to make the accusation. Well, or prove it.

Question: Has he criticized Obama for anything on policy or anything else he thinks would make him unable to win in all states?

[incapsulated]

57. All he does is keep repeating ...

How "electable" he is in those "tough districts" and "most of America" would "connect" with him and how Hillary and Obama are not.

Hrm....

[Sparkly]

62. Hm...

Interesting. I'll pay closer attention. I've heard him criticize Clinton on the IWR and such, and maybe for being "polarizing" yadda yadda yadda, but you're right -- I can't remember him explaining any reason for Obama not being able to campaign and win in various locations.

[rurallib]

51. I have seen a lot of negative posts on all the candidates

but I must say this is about the lowest shot I have seen taken yet at DU. I have never taken such offense at any of the other negative posts knowing full well that folks tend to get a little heated in order to help their candidates, but usually there is some actual basis for their comments.
This one almost looks like something a Hannity would come up with.
I have never used the ignore function before, but am sorely tempted to.
I know not whom you support if anyone, but I must say crap like this is no way to further their cause.

[FrenchieCat]

64. I don't consider this a "Low shot" by any stretch....

and although John Edwards' statements was NOT racist or sexist per se, it was constructed specifically to appeal at those voters (as well as down ticket candidates) who might argue with themselves that America is not ready for a Black man or a Woman President.

The only problem with John Edwards' vision as to what makes him "Most electable" is that considering that he has painted himself as the most liberal of all of the candidates in the race, I'm curious as to why John Edwards now thinks that those campaigning in the south or in the more moderate and conservative districts would prefer to be "seen" with the most liberal of the presidential candidates? What it is that would make him, as liberal as he is supposed to be, so desirable in all in Centrist portions and most conservative parts of these United States. :shrug:

[AdHocSolver]

59. Hillary's problem is not that she is a woman, but that she is a Clinton.

She has been successfully demonized, along with Bill, by the right wing since 1992. This is an albatross around her neck that goes beyond the fact that her supercilious attitude is a turn off to many people, myself included.

Edwards is just pointing out that anyone who thinks about the Clintons' history realistically will understand the accuracy of his comments. There is no reason to assume that his comments were sexist at all, unless you want to deflect attention from Hillary's real weakness as a candidate.

In Obama's case, he is just not ready for prime time. The problems he will have in his own candidacy will not allow him to provide significant support for any other candidates down the line. The experience Obama gains in this run in 2008 should do him well when he runs in 2016. (Assuming this country is still holding elections in 2016.)

[Clintonista2]

70. "Successfully demonized"

Bill Clinton left office with a 65% approval rating. Hardly "successful"

[fightindonkey]

82. Uh, I Think You Mean, Her Asset Is That She's A Clinton

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[QC]

65. Even considering the source, this is a desperately silly bit of reaching. n/t

[smalll]

71. Wow. I can't believe Edwards is saying this stuff again. He makes sure we take the hint! --

"If you're running in a tough congressional district... you gotta ask yourself... your instincts will tell you the right answer.{NUDGE}...
who's going to turn out more Republicans to vote against us {NUDGE}...
who's gonna feel more of a connection {WINK}...
the easiest way to do it, honestly, is just to picture in your head, each one of us {WINK!}"


Just "picture it in your head" (sorry, "HAY-ud" for the right inflection)-- thaht's raht, close yer AAAHHHS if yew need too, cain't ya see it? Hillary's a WOMAN! See those boobies in your mind? And the hairdo? Easy giveaway! And Obama, why, he's black! Maybe not enough, but still black! Vote for Mr. Twenty-Eight Thousand Square Feet!

[Cameron27]

80. Yep, it's a not so subtle hint IMO.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

73. Oh... My... God... I can''t believe he came ouy and said it.

"If you're running in a tough congressional district…you gotta ask yourself would you rather have Senator Obama at the top of the ticket to help, Senator Clinton at the top of the ticket to help, or John Edwards at the top of the ticket to help," Edwards asks.
Edwards goes on to say, "your instincts will tell you the right answer."

[Colobo]

77. It's called desperation.

[girl gone mad]

78. Sounds like you're projecting.

When I read his comments, I infer that he is speaking of Hilary's divisiveness and Obama's inexperience. Edwards has never shown a proclivity towards bigotry.

[goodgd_yall]

79. Rather the bigotry is from some DUers

Edwards is southern so he MUST be a bigot

:sarcasm:

[fightindonkey]

81. Remember the, "I Would Change The Suit" Quote To Hillary?

The guy's an asshole!