(Following) John Edwards Webisode One: Plane Truths

[benny05]

Run time: 03:56 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1HnJDntc-A   Posted on YouTube: April 17, 2015 By YouTube Member: YouTube Help Views on YouTube: 6331125   Posted on DU: December 19, 2006 By DU Member: benny05 Views on DU: 3994

 
This is the first of a series of webisodes that shows Edwards when he is not on the stage, as he says in this video. He's very aware that he's been outed as a phony, pretty pol with great photo ops, but people do not know him otherwise.

Newsweek published an article about this webisode this week:

"The Webisodes are the brainchild of Rielle Hunter, a filmmaker who met Edwards at a New York bar where Edwards was having a business meeting. "I didn't think it was John Edwards," Hunter recalls, "because the public persona did not mesh at all with the person who was sitting in front of me." Hunter pitched Edwards on the documentaries as a medium for bringing the "real John Edwards" to the people."

To take this one step further..from the summer, about six weeks before this was filmed...

On June 30th, John Edwards was invited as a speaker at Gnomedex. Gnomedex is one of several blogger conferences, but focused more on the technology end of it, or it had, until Edwards showed up.

In the Q & A part of (which was about 95% of the session), one blogger said he was tired of politicans who come across as fake, and wondered why they spoon fed their messages. Some wanted more technology outreach via SMS. JRE was able to plug in that his site, One America, was doing that now, as of yesterday. Some wanted to know what the new technology would be in the future to communicate. JRE: I don't know. You tell me.

A little later, another blogger came up with an idea: give a free seat on each campaign trail bus for a citizen journalist, and to persuade the other side to do so as well. Edwards: good idea.

At the closing of Edwards' speech/session, he reached out to the attendees:

"I want the country to know who I really am, not the plastic doll version who looks perfect all of the time, but I want you to actually see who I am... Because I think if you see who I am, and it takes a lot of confidence, you'll decide I am somebody..cou.. should become your president.

Last thing he says: big priority for me to be able to be here with you. I wanted to hear what you all are saying. I also hope...to Help me and others open up this process, make it not-top-down and democratize this democracy we supposed to be living in."

This is just the first one in the "behind the scenes" look at John Edwards, who is expected to announce his intentions to run for President in 2008-- very soon.

[ultraist]

1. Awesome video!

Edwards is going to set a new precedent for presidential candidates with his internet operations. His podcasts, videos, blog and blogger meet and greets are breaking new ground.

Up with the netroots!

[benny05]

2. It is a good video

and he's wearing the poverty band I gave him, I think. :hi:

[seashorelady]

8. Great Video

Very cool that he is wearing the bracelet that you gave him. I expect to see really great things from John Edwards in the future. This is his time, and we will all be so much better for it. Lead the way John Edwards.

[ultraist]

11. "Lead the way John Edwards!"

I agree, it's our time now!

[benny05]

12. Thanks for stopping by this post, Seashorelady

and welcome to the DU! :hi:

The poverty band is so symbolic for many...whether in the US or other places.

[seashorelady]

25. Thank you for the welcome

My pleasure.

[Robert P]

17. blown away.

I was completely blown away by this video. I'm a big fan already, and when he spoke at Gnomedex about trying to rid himself of political double-talk I was excited. To see that he is sticking to his guns and avoiding jargon and sound-bites is almost more than I could have hoped for in a campaign.

[benny05]

18. Welcome to the DU, Robert P

I'm a big fan of the Blue NC blog...

http://www.bluenc.com

[Hav]

3. .

A really nice video of a very likeable person, I have to say.

[edwardsfeingold08]

5. I think this is a great idea.

I wish Kerry did something like this in 2004.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. Now THAT'S...

The kind of South Carolina I remember. The kind of people I knew there, when I was a kid.

[Catchawave]

6. I've been looking for these !

I read about them in Newsweek and thought "How cool is this".

Thanks Benny for making my life easier, don't have to Google now :toast:

KnR :hi:

[america_in_08]

7. Great insite!

John Edwards is way ahead of the others when it come to the things involving the netroots. He has the best candidate website also. I love OneAmericaCommittee's site.

This is a great video! Love it and the real look at Edwards.

[machka]

9. sweet!

Thanks for posting this, benny. And here's lucky number 5 on the K'nR chart. :D

[benny05]

10. Hi Five

Edwards is no Ken doll. If this is just behind the scenes, no telling what his campaign will be like. :thumbsup:

[chimpymustgo]

13. Thanks for posting this! Really nice.

Edwards has grown a LOT since 04. He knows EXACTLY what he wants to do for the country and HOW he's going to do it. He's getting better with time.

[benny05]

15. Thank you, Chimpymustgo

You are kind to stop by, and I do think Edwards is getting better over time.

He also said at Gnomedex that Elizabeth nudges him if he starts with his "sound bite" pol stuff when they do podcasts together.

Webisode? New word?

[seashorelady]

28. Astute observation

He has a certain depth and maturity, that transcends even politics.

[mirandapriestly]

14. He is pretty cute, though., and a REAL accent

I thought, "oh no" when he started to talk about "moral" issues, then he went on to say that 37,000 people wake up hungry in this country, and I thought, Oh good he gets that....

[benny05]

16. and 37 million are in poverty

You will notice he speaks with almost no notes, just a brief outline.

[ashlarah]

23. Speech outline

I think this part of the webisode gives a lot of insight into Edwards as a candidate and as a leader and communicator. First of all, he was excited about talking to the teachers and the speech he would give them. Secondly, using an outline that was barely there to anyone except him, he gave a speech in which he was completely confident and lucidly communicated his message. That is incredibly hard to do and he made it look easy.

Plus, he was humorous.

[benny05]

24. Hi Ashlarah

and welcome to the DU! :hi:

[seashorelady]

27. I have always wondered if he has a photo graphic memory.

I read somewhere that one of his closing arguments was quite lengthly, and yet he never once referred to his notes. Quite amazing.

[byronius]

19. Man, I like this guy. If Gore doesn't run, he's got me.

I've always liked John Edwards.

[durrrty libby]

20. Edwards is an excellent Dem

He is intelligent, but is he smart enough?

I’m not so sure about that. Chris Matthews quizzed him
about the names of some foreign leaders. He didn’t know very many.

I want a President that understands the history of other people and countries.
A student of the world with great diplomatic skills

[Inspired]

21. Did you watch the same Hardball college tour show that I did?

When Matthews quizzed him on the names of foreign leaders, he got ALL but one right. He missed the leader of South Africa. Matthews was impressed. Matthews even mentioned a few days later how impressed he was that Edwards knew so many of the leaders names.

I'm not sure where you got your information from but it is wrong.

[seashorelady]

26. Inspired you are correct

I also heard Chris mumble under his breath that "you can't play hardball with these two" meaning John & Elizabeth. They are way too sharp for him.

[BuyingThyme]

22. Nice work, John.

What if people like Hillary could speak like that -- like human beings.

Edwards was pretty much chased off the stage when he came around my hometown in the lead-up to war because he walked the line. I don't think he had any idea that the people in the audience understood exactly what Bush was up to. I think he understands now.

[MontanaMaven]

29. His laughter is infectious

I found myself laughing out loud about the shoes and then the "importance of mentioning public education".
It's so good to laugh again. To laugh with someone, not at someone.

[davidwparker]

30. Thanks for the post. I watched it twice.