John Edwards on Mary Beth Cahill

[liberalpragmatist]

May 16 issue - It's traditional for out-of-work politicos to head to Harvard's Institute of Politics for genial wonk talk. It's also traditional for failed veep candidates to put major distance between themselves and their old campaign. The two customs intersected when John Edwards stopped by Cambridge last month. Over lunch, Edwards held a Q&A session with students, faculty and political bigwigs, including Kerry-Edwards campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill, a visiting fellow at the institute. Edwards was asked for one lesson he'd learned from the 2004 campaign. His answer: "Don't listen to Mary Beth Cahill." The response in the room was stunned silence, observers later recalled. "No one laughed when he said it, and Mary Beth grew bright red," said one attendee. "It was very awkward."

Edwards "has a great deal of respect for Mary Beth Cahill," says spokeswoman Kim Rubey, who says her boss made clear "he was teasing like he would an old friend."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7775251/site/newsweek/

I don't know what to think about this. I think it's a good lesson - an even better one would be "don't listen to Bob Shrum" - but it does seem a little harsh to say it to her face.

[ReadTomPaine]

1. The truth hurts. n/t

[harpo]

39. that's what I'm sayin...don't listen to her!!!!!

[Mass]

2. Well as Kerry said, he has the righ to say what he wants

Tact is not a quality given to everybody.

[AmericanDream]

6. He was kidding... there is such a thing called a sense of humor...

Mary Beth Cahill should have the sense of humor to laugh at the obvious tease. All winning campaigns and their leaders have a sense of humor about politics and themselves... which includes people like James Carville and some Bush people... however, Cahill seems too uptight... I haven't seen her crack a joke at some of the weaknesses of her own campaign and just accept it.

It also might be worth mentioning that in his official speech at Harvard, Edwards had very generous praise for Cahill, despite the fact that she was a poor campaign manager.

[Mass]

8. Say it to Miss Waverly, or those others who think he was serious.

As for your evaluation of Cahill, I tend to disagree. And dont give me Carville as an example, he is largely part of our problems during this election as much as Carville. Wished he had shut up just a little bit.

[AmericanDream]

11. Well, I will... they gotta get a damn sense of humor....

[GreenArrow]

26. Kidding on the

square.

[MissWaverly]

3. why is it rude when her incompetence prevent election challenge

I believe that 2004 was seriously rigged, I remember how the right wing mocked those who protested the elections in the Ukraine, and now they have their candidate in office, and all along we have been told to be nice and what has been the result, Iraq out of control, an unstable economy, thousands of competently trained people losing their jobs and unable to find work, soaring gas prices, the hatred of the world, George is violently protested wherever he goes,
our social security pension gutted, our national parks and refuges threatened, scandal of billions of dollars unaccounted for or misused.

[Mass]

4. So Edwards was lying when he said it was a joke

or is he still preserving his image of Mr Nice.

[MissWaverly]

5. it was a "barb" joke with truth in it

[MissWaverly]

18. If I have offended anyone here I apologize

It's just that I like many here really sacrificed to send money to the DNC for the Kerry campaign, I ate hot dogs for months for lunch,
to keep up a steady stream of donations, then to see them go down with a whisper and to see people here and on other activist sites pour money into the recount, work hour after hour on statistical analysis, letters, protests, visits with elected representatives, hearings, local boe events; it's heartbreaking. If I have offended any here with my opinion of Mary Beth Cahill, I apologize, I respect
John Edwards. I thought the "Hope is on the way speech very inspirational."

[Adelante]

7. Classy guy

:eyes:

[leyton]

9. Folks, John Edwards made a faux pas. Forgive him.

We all say stupid things, just because we aren't thinking straight for a split-second and we say something that we immediately wish we could take back.

I don't think this is reflective of Edwards, or his thoughts about Mary Beth. He just stepped over the line, and took the teasing a bit too far. Nothing more.

[cestpaspossible]

10. One problem with "teasing like he would an old friend."

They're not old friends.

[AmericanDream]

12. Really?

I think what that quote seems to mean is that Edwards considers her a friend. *shrugs*

[cestpaspossible]

13. Yeah, really.

I mean, it is just a fact that John Edwards and Mary Beth Cahill are not old friends, and whether he wants to call her his friend or not won't change that.

[Catchawave]

14. Edwards gets slammed here too much.....

...please go to JREGrassroots.org. A much happier place than hitting the "alert" button on DU.

Also, there's an active DU John Edwards support group here.

Hope this helps, because, JRE supporters shouldn't be questioned about their inspiration :)

[Mass]

15. Where are they questionned more than others?

[Catchawave]

16. I dunno, but it's creepy .....

All I know is that Edwards is well liked by all "parties", crossover, if you know what I mean......

He may be our 2008 sleeper. I predict, Allen vs. Edwards in 2008.

:hide:

[liberalpragmatist]

25. I'm not attacking Edwards

I'm currently leaning towards him for the '08 nomination. I prefer him to Hillary, Bayh, Warner, and Clark, and while I really like John Kerry and think he would make an excellent president, I have doubts that he can successfully revive his image with the general public.

I posted this article because I found it interesting and amusing, but it did take me a bit aback just b.c it was right to her face. But maybe that's a positive thing - shows that he's willing to say what must be said even if it offends others.

[politicasista]

34. There is a criminal in chief in the Oval Office and 2006.

2008 can wait.

[OzarkDem]

27. My guess

Since a few of the regular posters for 2008 threads seem to be R disruptors, an Edwards candidacy must worry them.

Ignore those who bash Dem 2008 candidates, their sincerity is questionable.

[AP]

17. Salon's article about the same event didn't mention this:

The first audience question John Edwards received, after addressing a packed house at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government earlier this month about his new anti-poverty campaign, had nothing to do with poverty. Instead it was about the subject nearly every Democrat has pondered since November 2004: campaign strategy. Considering how the election turned out, asked a young man describing himself as a former Howard Dean volunteer, what have you learned?

Edwards has heard this question before. In typical Edwards style, he already has a standard answer for it. "The American people want strength, conviction and a core set of beliefs that you will fight for," replied the former senator, presidential candidate and vice-presidential nominee. Discussing "how to maneuver our way through the political landscape," he added, is a fool's errand. "How about if the Democratic Party actually stands for the values the Democratic Party has always stood for?" asked Edwards. "We shouldn't change what we believe and what we stand for because of one election or even two elections."

http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:G4XZOH8XFRIJ:www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/04/26/edwards/+cahill+edwards+harvard&hl=en&client=safari

[cobaindrain]

19. it's the truth, Cahill ran Kerrys campaign aground in August

if it wasn't for Carville and co. Kerry would've lost by 5+ points.

[Mass]

20. Sure Carville is our saviour

:sarcasm:.

Whatever, this shows the guy is not perfect, thanks god. The only problem is that Edwards's supporters are not ready to recognize that and move on.

[OzarkDem]

28. As another poster pointed out

Dems need new talent in DC. The gene pool has been drained.

[Adelante]

24. True or not is beside the point

It's just very low behavior (if this report is true) for such a supposedly nice person. That's what's hitting people badly, not the truth or untruth of the statement itself.

[JNelson6563]

21. He spoke the truth

And I think more highly of him knowing this is his view.

Julie

[ClarkUSA]

32. Not true that it is his view- Edwards' spokesperson said he was joking

And of course, I believe Edwards' spokespeople, doesn't everyone?

[high density]

22. That may be the best thing I've ever heard Edwards say

Nobody laughed because everybody knew it was the truth. I don't know about you guys, but I'll remember August 2004 for a long time to come. It's too bad Kerry didn't listen more to his instincts and ignore some of these apparent idiots that were "advising" him.

[ClassWarrior]

23. I think he was "kidding on the square"...

Cahill and Shrum should leave the party to "spend more time with their families."

NGU.

[NAO]

35. yes, "kidding on the square"

was EXACTLY what he was doing.

[harpo]

40. he must have been kidding when he said "we will count EVERY vote"

[politicasista]

29. It's just another attempt by Newsweek to divide us

Our energy should be directed at the criminal-in-chief.

[chimpymustgo]

30. Sounds like the "reporter" was relying on hearsay.

- edit -
The response in the room was stunned silence, observers later recalled.
- edit -


Newsweek, getting an early start on the demonization. So we know who really scares them, at least.

[paineinthearse]

31. If the "heresay" question is posted in the Massachusetts forum

We may get an first-hand account from someone who was there.

[spooky3]

33. It's not his style to say something like this. I suspect:

a) he was kidding
b) it never happened.

His style would be to raise his concerns directly with the person involved, not to make a public statement that could be interpreted as an insult. Southern gentlemen have a way of damning with faint praise if they really want to criticize someone on the same "team".

[gardenista]

38. I think your suspicion is right on the money. nt

[Geek_Girl]

36. Good for him

I'm tired of these incompetent operatives and at least he has the guts to say it.

[Hippo_Tron]

37. They were stunned because it's the truth

[elperromagico]

41. Considering the Swift Boat response, it might be good advice.

Kerry wanted to fight back; Cahill didn't.

Pretty simple, really.

She did a good job helping propel Kerry in IA and NH but the Swift Boat fiasco was a major mistake.

[fujiyama]

42. Cahill and Shrum

can both go to hell.

Let Shrum have fun in Tuscany (that's where he went after the election) and Cahill actually step back and complemplate the miserable job she did in the election. Shrum shares blame for what - 5 (or more) failed campaigns? God, he gets paid millions for this?

I agree with another poster, that this loss would have been greater if Carville and a few others hadn't got in. For all his faults (and I don't completely trust anyone married to Scary Matalin either), his political instincts aren't all that bad.

If John Edwards actually said this, I now have MORE respect for him.

[ianrs]

45. what is it about Shrum, in particular

that makes presidential etc. candidates want him anywhere near a campaign (Cahill is only really a name to me)?

I'm a UKer and apparently, Shrum was 'advising' over here just recently, and I am fascinated by what there is that might point to him being of any use whatsoever. Did he advise Clinton, for example?

I shall go a-Googling, but if you have any info I'd be genuinely interested.

[liberalpragmatist]

46. He did NOT advise Clinton

Clinton was the only Democratic presidential candidate in the past 20 or so years not to use Shrum.

In his defense, he's been a great strategist for state-level races and probably has more senators elected by him than anyone else in history. But his track record in presidential races is miserable. And had Edwards or Gephardt been the nominees, he'd probably have advised them too.

[PATRICK]

43. A lot of DU

would say it to lot more faces. They don't ever get the hint or get a clue "up there", that despite the anonymous comments they know they should be held accountable for the campaign failures.

So which face is there to be sensitive to? The one that secretly said "Jeez, if we blow this they could legitimately take our heads"? Or the face that realizes they still have a respectable MSM status and career despite "all that"?

Method failures should be unofficially and quietly blacklisted but bad pennies still think they are Lincoln heads.

[MissWaverly]

49. I don't want to seem like a whiner

but I think there should be accountability, I don't think that is unreasonable, and I would like to know why after what happened in
2000, there was not more of a response to election fraud this time,
I think that DU has done a wonderful job, but I think the DNC had
more resources than we would ever have and their silence has been
very frustrating.

[ProgressiveDepot.com]

44. Sounds like positioning.

Distance himself from the 2004 campaign ASAP -- THEY screwed it up, not me.

[UdoKier]

47. Both of them did a wretched job on image and message control.

Shrum in particular seemed to be incredibly out of touch, running the campaign like it was the 70s.

[Snivi Yllom]

48. and who hired Mary Beth Cahill?

why John Kerry...