Edwards Fumbles on Foreign Policy Answers

[Freddie Stubbs]

First-term senator has come under scrutiny for his lack of experience in defense, global issues.

By Scott Martelle and Mark Z. Barabak, Times Staff Writers

NEW YORK — Sen. John Edwards, who has made international trade a key part of his campaign, stumbled Monday when asked about looming European trade sanctions, spotlighting doubts about his familiarity with foreign policy.

Edwards, a first-term senator from North Carolina, has come under increased scrutiny since his emergence as the sole major rival to the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts.

While Edwards is generally regarded as the more engaging campaigner, his meager background on defense matters and foreign affairs is seen by many analysts as a potential weakness in a post-Sept. 11 world.

Asked over the last week about an assortment of international topics, Edwards often responded with answers that went little beyond a condemnation of the Bush administration. On Monday, Edwards was apparently caught off guard by a question regarding a contentious dispute between the United States and the European Union.

more: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2004/complete/la-na-edwards24feb24,1,4844114.story?coll=la-elect2004-complete

[HFishbine]

1. Suggestion

Instead of posting the introductory paragraphs, how about posting the meat of the story?

[democratreformed]

7. I agree - that's a good suggestion. n/t

[AP]

10. No meat there.

Here's the relevant quote:
The EU, an economic and political association of 15 countries, has threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods next month if Congress does not repeal a corporate tax credit that the World Trade Organization has decreed is an illegal subsidy to businesses.

"I'm not sure I even know what you're talking about," Edwards said when asked if he supports the corporate tax credits. "If I understand what you're asking, and I'm not sure I do … I'm opposed to us using our tax system to give tax breaks to American companies who are shipping jobs overseas."

But the issue does not involve outsourcing jobs — it revolves around the federal tax code that gives credits to corporations that export goods overseas.

The EU said it would enact the retaliatory tariffs on hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. goods if Congress does not repeal the measure. Congressional leaders are holding out for a three-year transitional period.


Edwards was on Hardball and was asked about the breaking story -- the fake letters to newspapers about "success" in Iraq. He admitted he hadn't heard the story yet. Was that a problem?

Notice the LA Times doesn't quote the actual question. Why? Could it be because the question was very vague and it wasn't clear what it was about?

[HFishbine]

11. I'm no Edwards defender

but this does seem minor. If anything it should be a lesson to Edwards, if you're starting an answer with "I'm not sure I understand what you're asking," STOP!

[KittyWampus]

13. Edwards Didn't Know Who Rabin Was.

And is happy linking 9/11 to Iraq.

[HFishbine]

16. Those are separate issues

from what's been posted here. (I don't know if those were in the original article, I'm not signed up to view.)

[AP]

17. As I said, the big clue here is they don't tell you what the question was.

I saw Elizabeth Edwards take questions from an audience last week, and it's not like even smart people who care about the issues are able to get all the information straight in their questions.

I suspect that the way this question was asked is an important part of this story.

[ShaneGR]

2. Could you combine your Edwards bashes?

Seriously, posting a bunch of separate ones seems like overkill.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. It's not my fault the man is generating so much negative coverage

They are all seperate issues that deserve attention.

[displacedtexan]

3. In an early debate, Edwards couldn't explain the DOMA.

I like JE, but I'm sick of on-the-job-training in the White House.

[spooky3]

8. Sorry, you'll never convince me that, had that DOMA question

been posed to any of the 9 candidates--including those who were in Congress when it was passed--that any one of them would have answered it correctly. There was also considerable difference of opinion about whether the interpretation by the questioner was in fact correct.

[AP]

9. He thought DOMA was more restrictive than it was.

He thought it prevented states from recognizing same sex foreign marriages by other states.

You should be happy that he thought that.

[katieforeman]

14. Has Bush gotten better with experience?

The problem with Bush is his arrogance, intellectual laziness, poor judegement, and lack of integrity. He wouldnt be a good president even if he held the job for 20 years.

Technically, Bush has more experience at being President than Kerry or Edwards. Should we vote for Bush because he's already had his on the job training, and Kerry and Edwards haven't?

[underpants]

4. Ouch! but then he did admit that he didn't know

"I don't know" are three words more people out to say more often.

That didn't come off very good at all but I see that his people are covering well. As I was reading it I was thinking just about what they said.....uh not everyone gets every question right, but comparing yourself to W should be a measure of last resort.

[BootinUp]

5. that was an unfriendly article

like the reporters were just nibblin away at his ankles there.

[flpoljunkie]

12. Pretty successfully, though. We need more than a smooth talker today.

The Democratic defense of Edwards was also faint praise:

"At least he didn't call people who live in Greece 'Grecians.' He didn't call Europe a country," said Democratic strategist Garry South, citing two of Bush's faux pas during the 2000 presidential race."

[HuskerDem]

15. All hat and no cattle. I've thought this about Edwards from the beginning

I just don't find his "aw-shucks" boy wonder routine very impressive.

Edwards would be ripped to ribbons if her were our nominee. I don't want him as VP either. If it can't be Clark it should at least be someone more experienced and better versed in IA than Edwards.