"Edwards got Obama to commit to poverty tour as nominee"

[Catchawave]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/16/164446/348/546/517101

Edwards got Obama to commit to poverty tour as nominee.
by Nuisance Industry

Fri May 16, 2008 at 01:55:40 PM PDT


While most of the media speculation over John Edwards's endorsement of Barack Obama this week centered on whether Edwards was a candidate for Vice President (which Edwards dismisses) or another cabinet position, Talking Points Memo reports on a private conversation about a subject dear to Edwards's heart. According to the report, Edwards secured a private commitment from Barack Obama that Obama will undertake a poverty tour during the general election campaign.

More after the jump.

Nuisance Industry's diary :: ::

This could require Obama to make a commitment of several days during a hard-fought general election, because Edwards specifically secured a commitment that it be a few days long, one top adviser said.

"Edwards was trying to think of ways to specifically hold them accountable," said another former top Edwards aide. "It's easy for a Democrat to say, `Sure, I'll make poverty central to my campaign.' A poverty tour was something he felt would be really powerful with the spotlight of the general election, and it was a tangible, real thing he could ask them to commit to."

Apparently Edwards got both Obama and Clinton to agree to such a tour if either became the nominee, so it represents an area where Edwards's focus has led to agreement amongst the party's leading candidates. Not that that is too much of a surprise: Obama and Edwards separately toured South Carolina's Corridor of Shame last year.

No details are forthcoming as to whether John Edwards (or, for that matter, Hillary Clinton, as she had also agreed to such a tour) will join Barack Obama on the tour. Nor do we know yet when or where the tour will take place. That said, the report going public now means such a tour should be expected, with the hopes that it will focus the debates against McCain in the fall on eradicating poverty. Mark this as one way in which John Edwards has tangibly shaped the discourse in the 2008 presidential race.

[bpeale]

1. i contacted halfinten.org & asked them to remove my name from their list

and not to ask for donations either.

[Inspired]

2. That's the spirit!

:sarcasm:

[JANdad]

4. Yeah screw the poor...

I mad and want the world to know I too can act like a toddler...

I'm taking my toys and going home...

[bpeale]

9. i CHOOSE not to be involved with someone i feel is untruthful

if you don't, then that's your choice. i have to wonder in light of his willingness to throw everyone under the bus whether my money is going to the place it's going to & will be used for what it was intended. if you can't believe someone is truthful, why would you give them your money?

YMMV...you can give YOUR money to whomever you choose. i CHOOSE not to give mine to that organization.

[raincity_calling]

8. cutting off your nose to spite your face.

You have loss sight of the big picture.

[bpeale]

10. well, you know, feel FREE to give more to them in my name

MY MONEY will go where i feel i can trust the organization i feel is honest.

[saracat]

3. As both candidates agred to do this it gives little insight into the "why" . My spec is that John

thinks Obama is the likely nom and this is for the "greater good". Obama may be the 'likely nom" but I disgree with the greater good. But that is John's decision. Whatever.

[asdjrocky]

5. That's a great story Wave-

Thanks for bringing it. It's nice to see someone use their power for the good for the poor, rather than using it to self enrichment. This is just one of the reason John and the entire Edwards family will always rate high in my book.

[cindydivine]

7. Still moving?

I apologize if I have missed this... logged off for a while... are you still moving to Missouri?

and, yes... i realize I use the ellipsis far too much :silly:

[asdjrocky]

12. Nope,

The job was narrowed down to 2 of us out of 30 and they gave it to the local guy. (I think he was someones brother in law. Just kidding.)

It's cool. I've been doing some work with some local races and I'm slowly building a farm in my backyard. Also, I just had my second interview with SEIU. Good to see you! :hi:

[ChiciB1]

11. I Agree With You Rocky... Even Though I Rarely Post At DU Anymore,

I do check in here at the Edwards Forum and have posted some of late. The wind got sucked out of any sails I had and I have serious bouts of depression these days. In time perhaps I will get out of my "funk" but I just needed to say that for me, the Edwards family will always rate way up there for me too!

I certainly respect so many of you who continue forward with your activism and I salute you. I so wish I could see a new horizon when I get up each day, but for now I'm not seeing much that I like. I can't say I haven't tried for the past twenty some years, but with all the infighting going on within the Democratic Party, much less the country as a whole... it still looks very bleak to me.

I still believe Edwards DOES want to fight a good fight, but I also believe he was forced to make some deals that he probably didn't like very much. Trying to keep his message out there has probably made him make some decisions he didn't like and has turned many against him. For me, having watched over these past 7 plus years, it's MONEY, MONEY, MONEY that drives this government and each week it seems to take more. When I think about ALL the money that has been raised between just Clinton & Obama, it makes me want to cry when you think how much better that money could have been spent. At least he's still talking about the same message and trying to keep it up front... most politicians don't give a tinker's damn!!!

[glowing]

6. This is great news.. I'm glad Edwards is using his name to make sure

these issues stick.. It's not about who does it, its about getting it done. I think everyone needs to realize this.. Its about the actions we take to move this country in the right direction. I'm just as important as Obama, Clinton, or Edwards. My time, heart, and commitment are just as great. This is going to take unity and action to make these changes we wish to see. Thanks for posting.

On a side note: I'm choosing to look forward in a positive manner. I'm choosing to keep my head high and my work continued. I'm over my dismay. The sun will shine again. The rays have begun to shine just this week. Peace and love ya'll.

[pamela]

13. Excellent news.

I can't wait to hear more about this.