MYDD: Stand Up and Tell Us What You Actually Believe

[Catchawave]

Oh wow, this is a great blog post, because it reminded me that Edwards created a major "DNC/DLC Faux Pas" when asked post election what he would have done differently, his response "Not listen to Mary Beth Cahill". OH MY. Thanks to DUer Benny for posting this in the Edwards Support forum :hi:

<snip>

Forward two years to Thursday morning at the University of Southern California. Now former-Senator Edwards was speaking at the Conference on Poverty convened by the Daughters of Charity Health System. What a difference just two years had made.

You can listen to the speech here (a 29.8 megabyte .wav file) and judge for yourself its power and content. For me, it was simply amazing to hear the depth and substance of the address, particularly in comparison to the one I had attended in 2004. Gone were the poll-tested phrases, the multiple planned applause lines, the refinements that come with a presidential campaign. Edwards came to speak about poverty and that is exactly what he did -- with great zeal. Edwards was not at all afraid to speak about the immorality of poverty, calling the participants in the conference into action.

After the speech, some of the others in the audience and I could not help but come to the same conclusion: if only Edwards had used that unreserved tone during the campaign... if only the well-paid consultants had not told him to rein in his language... if only he had given this kind of speech on the hustings...

This is not only about John Edwards. This is much bigger than him. The Economist's America columnist Lexington thinks along similar lines this week in describing the reaction to Al Gore's recent untrammelled speeches on the environment: "Mr Gore is generating far more political capital by breaking the political rules than he did by obeying them."

<snip> You can read the entire post at:

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/2/4/10123/33689

[hwmnbn]

1. Sincerity always trumps recitation.....

It's an energetic thing you can FEEL when someone is speaking from the heart. It is powerful and invigorating. It's what makes you stand up, applaud, whoop and holler.

When a speaker, regardless of proficiency expresses his inner truth, you are affected. If it is spontaneous, it's even more compelling.

That is what we need. I'm tired of glib, well coached, slippery politicians who can speak well but say nothing. I want real folks to tell their truth, and tell it often. :headbang:

[Catchawave]

3. Oh yeah, it's that "rock star" quality....

when a politico speaks for me!

[Klukie]

2. I really like Edwards

I hope he runs again. He wasn't nearly as effective as he could have been during the campaign. I think when you take away the passion of the message you risk losing the message.

[Catchawave]

4. I so agree, the Kerry/Edwards *campaign* was

borrrrring. While the Dem base embraced it, we lost the crossovers, and I speak from the trenches.

We.have.to.get.people.to.the.polls.passionately.

75 million stayed home Nov'04, the election wasn't stolen, it was given away.

[MissMarple]

5. This is what people are so hungry for...the truth, not spin or cant.

Good for Edwards.

[merbex]

7. If all a candidate has to do is tell the truth or be themselves

and articulate what they believe in honestly there would be no need for consultants

And if there were no consultants there would be no spin or cant(or should I say LESS spin)

[Catchawave]

10. We know the Republicans are Corporate Whores....

I know Dems can do much better,I mean if Kerry beat up a few swifties, "yeah, Viet Nam was a mistake, so what?".....we DUers might be in a different place right now, and Karl Rove would be managing the Bunny Farm in Nevada right now...legally..snork.

[Catchawave]

8. The whole 2004 Dem Primary season concerns me now...

Probably the most important election season of our time....even the Kerry and Edwards Primary supporters lost control.

[mandyky]

6. Now that Edward's has renoounced his IWR vote

I can and will freely support him. He and Kerry were ABB for me, I was a Deaniac. That pair never grabbed me the way Dean did.

Go John Edwards in 08!!

[Catchawave]

9. I know how you feel....!

Dean was one of my "speak for me" heroes early in the '04 campaigns. After he dropped out, threw my all to Edwards, then dropped out completely, until he was on the Dem ticket. Edwards and all the other great Dems are out there fighting for us for 2006, so I just hope DNC '06 and '08 is paying attention !