Why did Kerry stab Edwards in the back?

[kentuck]

It has been no secret that Edwards did not agree with the manner in which Kerry ran his last campaign. Kerry obviously was not happy with Edwards comments about the last election or his failure to defend his strategy? But what does it benefit Obama to have Kerry endorse him in SC? It's not like Kerry is a favorite son of South Carolina. It may even hurt Obama in that state? Why couldn't Kerry have waited to endorse Obama in a state where he had done well and was still thougth well of??

[southernleftylady]

1. It is a slap in the face isnt it? nt

[Clarkansas]

18. No it isn't. This is a two person race, and he obviously favors Obama.

He doesn't need to endorse Edwards just because they ran together. Gore didn't need to endorse Lieberman just because they ran together.

[Dorian Gray]

45. Especially since there were stories

in The Atlantic about Kerry's discomfort with Edwards as a running mate. I think he was uncomfortable running with him but bit his pride for political reasons.

[bpeale]

61. and the ONLY reason kerry got my vote was because of Edwards

kerry does whatever is politically expedient for him. he doesn't care about the little guy.

[Dorian Gray]

96. That's probably why he chose Edwards as his running mate...

political expediency. Edwards appeals to a more liberal base than Kerry did. It's common for Presidential nominees to run with someone opposed to their basic tenets to appeal to a wider voting audience.

[JanMichael]

62. how exactly have you decided this is a "two person race?"

have you not seen Edwards numbers, nor realize that there are 48 states left to go?

This has become a weird zombie-like mantra on DU. Pretty early to start making predictions such as this.

[Fierce]

2. Because it's all about the "fuck you" to Edwards.

If I were Obama, I wouldn't be too fulsome in my thanks for this endorsement.

[seabeyond]

3. democrats often endorse. why is it a stab if he wants obama and edwards

criticism of kerry last couple years, or edwards wife many comments about kerry, are they a stab in back.... or simply the edwards expressing? thinking you are seeing this awfully slanted.

[kentuck]

10. Maybe?

But it doesn't make sense...He could have saved his endorsement for a better time - unless he was trying to hurt Edwards more than he was trying to help Obama - since South Carolina is the birthplace of Edwards??

[seabeyond]

17. maye it had to do with obama and clinton new hampshire and nothing to do with edwards

making people are yelling about a stab in the back and dont know shit the reasons why. but the immediately ugliness in the trashing of kerry because he isnt doing what people wnat him to do, when he has all rights to endorse a candidate, when it is not out of the norm to endorse a candidate, when he is not trashing any other dem, like dems did to him in 2004..... is wrong, not correct.

[seabeyond]

23. btw... he didnt do it before iowa swinging his weight from get go....

he did it after two states edwards down low, race seems to be between obama and clinton. edwards fans may still have hope but as a politician he may see the race between the top two and that is why he chose now. he may have been saving that knife and actually thinking about edwards, and chosing now cause he sees edwards out of race. you nor anyone else knows, but it is as likely, more so, than the stabbing in the back. edwards is so low in support there is no reason for a knife so really it is proof kerry isnt out to stab edwards, it isnt even needed.

[chimpymustgo]

51. You've hit the nail on the head. Why not endorse in NH, near his home state?

This is a direct shot at Edwards. Kerry is a small man.

[sam sarrha]

14. i am almost glad kerry didnt make it if he would have run the nation in such a

chicken shit manner as he did the swift boat attack by the Thugs.. his only saving grace is that Bu$h's presidency has been so pathetic, it made him look good.

[Libby2]

4. Pisses me right off. n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. Did Gore stab Lieberman in the back when he endorsed Dean in 2004?

:shrug:

[LibraLiz1973]

8. Yes

Regardless of the fact that Lieberman is a P.O.S.
Gore should have held on to his endorsement until it was down to 1 candidate... like he is doing this year.

[seabeyond]

13. chosing a running mate isnt a lifetime marriage commitment. gosh... people need perspective

because kerry or gore chose running mates dont make them commited to the person for life.

[Hoof Hearted]

53. But we really LIKE telling people what to do with their marriages today so - it fits right in. n/t

[Catchawave]

39. How did that work out for Dean ?

:evilgrin:

[madokie]

6. I'm not bashing kerry but he slapped me in the face back in nov. of '04

I think he is a good man to have in the senate though, kinda sorta
If I had my way about it both houses would get a good flushing or two, whatever it would take to get rid of the whole bunch 'cause its on a majority of thems watch we have sank so low as a Country, re:puke:s and dems

[robbedvoter]

86. And Edwards respected your vote how? How did he fight for it? Did he at least

speak out for you? Nope. he just came back and said "Dude, forget about 2004, vote for me again - I'll run as someone else" And you bought it. (BTW, I do agree with you on Kerry)

[Bluerthanblue]

7. hardly a stab in the back-

:shrug:

[karlrschneider]

49. More like a 9 iron up the butt.

:puke:

[jgraz]

97. We can always count on Karl for the poetic imagery.

:eyes:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

9. Yikes. I don't see it that way, at all. They were running mates, not BFF's.

I think it's nice for Sen. Obama to have an elder statesman of the Democratic Party endorse him. And, FWIW, the last place from which I anticipate endorsements of Edwards is from the U.S. Senate. They're a bit too status quo.

MKJ

[La Lioness Priyanka]

11. maybe this go like the gore endorsement of dean.

one can only hope.

[peace13]

12. Hey, when John is done with you he's done.

I felt the back of his hand when he refused to have my vote counted in Ohio 2004. Edwards should not be surprised or care that Kerry has come out with this.

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. True. nt

[UTUSN]

15. Not the first slap. JK said he was shocked when EDWARDS told him

about his child's (death?), saying he was speaking about it for the first time, and JK remembered EDWARDS talking about it years before.

Plus, on election night I noticed the DISTANCE Edwards put between himself and JK, when he went before the cameras and told everybody that JK would not be appearing that night for a concession, that he "deserved" a night off or somesuch. It wasn't like "we" have had a rough time, "we" deserve a night.

[liberalnurse]

16. Heck...

It's obvious he/Kerry is attention seeking, but maybe he wants VP slot with Obama?

[librechik]

19. because the fix is in?

all hail Great Lord Obama!

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. I thought that the establishment wanted Hillary

Wow, I am really out of the loop. ;)

[librechik]

77. me too! huh...

I guess they must have changed their minds and decided running against a black man would be a surer McCain win than running against a chick. Must have been an agonizing decision.

:shrug:

[kelligesq]

106. Does seem like the Fix is in with the media etc too...theres only one group who can stop it

US, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO WISE UP FAST THAT THE FIX IS IN FOR OBAMA

BY THE POWER ESTABLISHMENT

[disndat]

20. Obviously, Kerry

endorsing Obama before the S.C. primaries where Edwards is strong , Kerry hopes to sink his campaign. Hope it doesn't work.

[cali]

Strong in SC? That's just a ridiculous claim. J E's polling there is

under 15%- or at least it was last week. Haven't seen anything since Iowa, but I doubt it's any higher. JE has NO chance in SC for obvious reasons. And his campaign was effectively over when he didn't win Iowa. Moreover, this likely has a lot more to do with Kerry preferring Obama to Clinton.

[KoKo]

35. Then why would he pick SC to do this with Edwards polling so low?

If it's not personal then why wouldn't he wait knowing that Obama is so strong in SC...he wouldn't really need to endorse him there and could wait until before Super Tuesday. :shrug:

[cali]

43. Because Clinton is competitive there and

Obama needs help with white voters- particularly men. Don't know if it will help, but it's a perfectly reasonable assumption.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

56. With me not from the US and all, but i've heard that

Nevada have a larger then average number of veterans, is there any truth to that claim?

If so i could see the obvious reasoning behind Kerry supporting Obama now(might make some vets who considered McCain go for Obama instead)

[cali]

58. I don't know if that's true or not.

But Obama has the CWU and SEIU in NV- and that's about the biggest boost he could get there.

[kentuck]

28. Nah...

Kerry didn't realize that SC is the birthplace of John Edwards or that Edwards hoped to do well in that state.. It's just a coincidence. How much value is it to Obama in South Carolina? Why not save his endorsement for a state where he is popular and where it would have more meaning?? In my humble opinion, it was calculated to hurt Edwards more than it was to help Obama? I don't think it will accomplish either.

[johnnie]

24. Not many people were *too* excited about Kerry when he ran

Most people I know (including myself) backed him because he was the Dem candidate and it wasn't their first choice. Honestly, I don't see how this hurts Edwards or even helps Obama.

[gort]

25. Kerry stabbed us all in the back

When he refused to fight the Coward Bush.

He also betrayed our Democracy when he failed to challenge the voter suppression/fraud perpetrated by Rove's Rogues.

If I were Obama I wouldn't be so excited about getting Kerry's endorsement.

[robbedvoter]

83. Did Edwards challenge the theft? Championed the cause? Spoke up?

"shrug: Just checking. At least Kerry didn't ask us to vote for him again.

[karlrschneider]

26. Because he's an asshole, apparently.

This can only help the Rethuglicans. Fuck you, Kerry.

[dionysus]

33. how so?

i like edwards but i don't think kerry owes him anything.

[karlrschneider]

46. He must not think he owes the country anything either...since Obama cannot be elected

and JK SHOULD be smart enough to realize it.
:puke:

[dionysus]

72. oh, so you elevate your implication to

"kerry is betraying the country cause he's throwing his support to that damned unelectable negro!"

:puke: indeed

[karlrschneider]

79. I'm sorry facts don't meet with your approval. You vomit at me for stating them?

I don't create the reality...which is that, like in New Hampshire, when the curtains close on the voting booth, a majority of the electorate, even many of which loudly and publicly proclaim their inclusiveness won't vote for a black man. Hell, they'll only vote for a woman while holding their noses. I hear some people proudly stating they will vote for Obama only because he's black - that's as bad as voting against him for the same reason.
:puke: yourself.
By the way, is there some particular reason you spell Dionysius wrong?

[dionysus]

81. your opinion, not fact.

and BTW slappy, failed attempt to pick nits with my user name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysus

http://www.mythweb.com/gods/Dionysus.html

http://www.levity.com/mavericks/dionysus.htm

[karlrschneider]

102. Are you a Brit?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysius

[dionysus]

105. no, but in the first line of your link

The Graeco-Roman name Dionysius, deriving from the name of the Thracian god Dionysus,

your point?

[Marrah_G]

27. I don't think he did- He just chose someone else to support.

[KoKo]

29. I can't even think of a logical reason for him to do this in SC.

If he had waited it wouldn't have seemed so small minded. But, to do it in SC...well. :eyes: Maybe he doesn't like Edwards populist message or he just disliked Edwards ..but it just isn't logical in the timing.

[kentuck]

30. You're right KoKo01

It isn't logical.

[cali]

31. Sure it's logical. Edwards has no chance in SC

He's polling in the low teens. He has virtually no African American support- and AA's comprise 50% of SC's dem primary voters. This isn't about Edwards. JK supports Obama and wants to help him out there against his only opponent- Senator Clinton.

[kentuck]

38. It's not logical..

Because Kerry's endorsement is not important in SC. But maybe he did it because it's not important? That might be a logical reason?

[cali]

41. I think it's helpful among white voters

Obama already has most of the AA support but he needs help among white males. Will it work? That's another story.

[mnhtnbb]

44. BS. This will help Edwards in SC. Kerry's an idiot.

I think some of the animosity is due to Elizabeth being insulted that Teresa tried to orchestrate
treatment for Elizabeth's cancer, rather than inquiring whether she could be of help in making a referral.
Elizabeth wrote about it in her book.

[cali]

59. Nope. Kerry endorsing Obama in SC won't help Edwards

and it probably won't hurt him too much either. In any case, Edwards is not competitive in that state.

[mnhtnbb]

76. We'll wait and see. I live in NC and my guess is there's going to

be a lot of talk about a racially divided vote after the SC primary.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

40. You're right. Doing this in SC is sending a strong message

"SCREW YOU, EDWARDS."

Makes me positively sick.

[dionysus]

32. so let me get this straight...

because kerry chose edwards for VP four years ago... he's bound by some code to endorse him for all eternity? perhaps he thinks obama is a better choice?

[JerseygirlCT]

47. yeah, I don't understand

this. Because the race in 2004 was such that Edwards made the most sense as VP candidate, now Kerry's supposed to be his endorser forever?

I'm sure he and Hillary Clinton get on fine as colleagues, too -- again, maybe, just maybe, Kerry sees Obama as the best choice.

Why is there such a problem with it?

[dionysus]

71. beats the hell out of me!

[WilliamPitt]

34. They ain't friends.

Read:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/21/us/politics/21edwards.html?ref=washington

Biased article, to be sure, but read between the lines and it's plain enough: these dudes did not/do not dig each other at all.

[kentuck]

36. But Bill Clinton campaigned for Kerry in 2004 also?

Does this guy have any loyalties?

[seabeyond]

37. and hillary took a couple of hardass jabs at kerry at very bad times

there was a lot of play in that and cool bill got his ass out there, but hillary did NOT help kerry, she hurt him on a couple of occassions and certainly was not supportive of kerry..... ever.

[kentuck]

48. Sorry, I don't recall those jabs??

Perhaps my memory is going faster than I remember...

[dionysus]

73. for one she jumped on his ass after the botched joke,

demanding in the press that he apologize.

[mnhtnbb]

54. Makes Kerry sound like a Republican--blame your loss on a VP candidate

you can't control and won't do your bidding. Externalize the problem.

[seabeyond]

64. kerry never went after edwards. was the other way around. how we ignore

fact..... kerry has always kept his mouth shut about how he felt about edwards. it is edwards wife that has been trashing and blaming kerry for the last two years. edwards himself has said little, mainly sighs and rollin eyes with kerry name. but the wife has not been so controlled. it would be neither kerry or edwards being less than honorable in their relationship.

[mnhtnbb]

74. Did you read the article above? Kerry and staff couldn't be quoted

in it if they weren't talking.

[JerseygirlCT]

42. Maybe it's as simple as him thinking Obama is the best person

for the job?

Does everything have to be weighed and calculated?

[regularguy]

111. Stop that!

It's all about the stabbing and slapping and so forth...:)

[JerseygirlCT]

112. Feels like these days, doesn't it?

Makes me a little concerned. Where do we go from here in the general?

I mean, I've got my preferences, but boy, by a long shot my preference -- the one that really counts -- is a Dem in the WH!

[Guaranteed]

50. I think you're making more of this than it is.

Kerry just doesn't think Edwards is going to win. He wants to endorse someone with a chance, someone with whom his endorsement might actually make a difference. So he's endorsing Obama.

I'd rather see Edwards nominated than Obama. But I agree with his decision.

[Raine]

52. I think he wanted to stop Hillary

I'm for Edwards but I guess I see why he did it.

[KoKo]

55. But, Hillary is not popular in SC at all. Obama has it sewn up...

so that doesn't make sense. But, Kerry announced his 04 Campaign from Charleston, SC because some of his Swift Boat buddies were from there. I Remember they were all together for the rally. Maybe it was a favor to his Swift Boat Buddies from SC and not so much a stab at Edwards...or maybe it was conveniently both. Who knows...:shrug: I worked for Kerry even though I had been for Dean...but always felt Kerry's judgement was sometimes off. The windsurfing and hunting photo ops didn't go down well with many folks, as an example.

[Tatiana]

57. I like Kerry, but he's wrong.

He should have waited; it was not fair to endorse at this stage in the race. And for the record, I didn't like Clark's support of Hill either.

[bpeale]

65. me either & the Clarkie's are rude & nasty if you disagree with them

[Kansas Wyatt]

60. Maybe Kerry doesn't want a President Edwards investigating....

What happened in 2004, and why did John Kerry immediately fold like a cheap hooker getting punched in the gut by a fat ugly man?

[seabeyond]

69. especially since kerry has had three different investigations going since 2004

that resulted in nothing. kerry and edwards that is. get the facts. kerry isnt covering up. the american people are doing nothing with what has been and is coming out of ohio

[Kansas Wyatt]

114. Immediately folding at the most important time, which was...

The only time to do anything about it. Investigations after the fact, does not correct what happened. Bush re-elected for a second term. He told the American people that he had an army of lawyers in Ohio in case some funny business took place with the election. The American people believed him and he walked away. Edwards wanted to fight it, Kerry said no, and walked away from it.

[rucky]

63. Endorsing one does not mean dissing the others.

Obama caught a big fish with this one. Kerry and Gore are the brass rings for political endorsements this time around. They were all courting it.

[bpeale]

66. Kerry a brass ring? he's a dem loser from the past. not such a good endorsement IMO

[rucky]

68. same could be said of Edwards. n/t

[bpeale]

70. edwards wasn't the presidential candidate, kerry was!

i shouldn't have to remind you of this. what are you ... educationally challenged?

[LanternWaste]

67. I never knew that advertising one's approval...

I never knew that advertising one's approval of one candidate means that person is stabbing another candidate in the back. I s'pose we're all guilty of that then...

"There should be a law, dagnabbit!!!!" :sarcasm:

[Algorem]

75. Skull&Bones?

the plot that don't stop

[Blaze Diem]

80. My first thought also. We have become so very suspicious of our

own government since Bush, and I continually find reasons to support my suspicions.

[balantz]

78. The one thing that stands out to me about Kerry and Edwards

is that after 2004 Edwards wanted to push the election corruption issue, and Kerry didn't. That should have been done. Kerry is bought.

[robbedvoter]

93. And what stopped Edwards all these years? Would have been a perfect campaign issue too

How is Edwards any better than Kerry on this issue? Because he wants the same votes AGAIN?

[balantz]

98. If he wanted to kill his chances to get in and change the system

he would have pursued the issue. Don't you think he has to be a little sly? The powers that be would have absolutely shut his campaign up if he were THAT loud about the corporate corruption in Washington. As it is he is being shut out by the insiders, as well as the M$M.

[balantz]

99. Who would have had his back? Kerry? The fooled majority of hypnotized citizens?

People are still the minority that know this system is absolutely corrupt.

[mnhtnbb]

101. Ding Ding Ding!! We have a winner!

[robbedvoter]

82. He didn't wait because he wanted to reward Edwards' back stabbing - now that he''s still visible

After South Carolina, Edwards will be as relevant to the outcome of the race as Gravel (only less genuine) and no one would ask this question.(with or without Kerry's actions)
Kerry wanted to pay back for:
"he wanted to count, but Kerry" absurd rumor (absurd for the lack of follow up)
"We shouldn't apologize for war - it shows weakness"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADwjvAs9J-0

Doing this now, takes Edwards' rolodex away from him and pushes him out faster.
Take it any way you want, but somehow, I was able to feel Kerry's frustrations of late (not that I don't still have my own with Kerry - re: concession & silence about the theft).
At least Kerry didn't have the chutzpa to ask us for our votes - again.

[WinkyDink]

84. So much for JK's thinking JE could be HIS "heart-beat away". But hey---

politics ain't tiddly-winks.

I wonder whom Ted K. will endorse.

[robbedvoter]

95. I am betting Obama as well, The Kennedys and the Clintons factions of the party

Like Montagues and Capulets. But Ted might wait a while.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

85. Ask again when Edwards endorses Obama.

[JCMach1]

87. Not to mention how many votes Obama has to gain with this- pure vanity

and vindictiveness with his endorsement at this time. Even for you Obama supporters, it helps Obama 0% at this time. Even the media will focus on the backstab factor.

Kerry is wrong yet again... Stick a fork in him, he's done.

[robbedvoter]

89. Gives Obama the nifty addressbook Edwards was suckling from so far...not so bad

for donations...

[JCMach1]

92. Money is not Obama's problem at the moment...

The only possible reason that he would jump at this time is BECAUSE THE ESTABLISHMENT WANTS EDWARDS OUT OF THE EQUATION.

[robbedvoter]

94. Nope. It's Edwards'. Remember Trippi's rumors that Hillary was broke?

Rovian projection. Edwards is being weaned of the Kerry/Edwards donors list.

[JCMach1]

100. Exactly, Obama wants Edwards out...

[Occam Bandage]

88. Because, like Kucinich, he thought Obama was the best candidate?

[robbedvoter]

91. That too. But payback to Edwards & the Clintons was the cherry on top.

Kerry has a long memory. He was hating Gore for the SNL skit with the VP audition - so he maneuvered in 2003 to kick him out of th race. Now life gave him a chance to pay back other enemies. And maybe help the candidate he likes best. Win-win for him.

[Algorem]

90. maybe because he sees that Obama too could do a decent Lurch

Edwards could only play the square dude in the suit that gets freaked out by all the crazy goings-on when he visits the Addams house

[Tommy_Carcetti]

103. Are ticket mates required to be best friends?

Kennedy couldn't stand LBJ, and LBJ couldn't stand Kennedy. Apparently Reagan didn't like Bush Sr. all that much. Even at the end of Clinton's term, the relationship between Clinton and Gore has been somewhat strained. And you haven't seen Gore endorse Hillary, either.

I personally don't think Kerry endorsed Obama to spite Edwards. I think it was just a matter of Kerry and Obama being collegues in the current Senate. They probably have a good working relationship.

This is all much ado about nothing, and I'm voting for Edwards.

[kelligesq]

104. Cause there aint no state where Kerry is still admired.

that's why he couldnt wait.

[951-Riverside]

107. Lets compare running for president to swimming in a deep lake....

Having John Karry's support is like doing that with a concrete slab tied to your ankle.

[MzNov]

108. Edwards basically won the VP slot since Kerry won in 04.

Probably some bad blood there. Kerry sucks.

[orleans]

109. because edwards didn't want kerry to concede? because he wanted

to make sure the votes were counted.

[DiamondJay]

110. because Edwards is a joke

edwards is absolutely no substance, all pretty smile. he was a second rate senator, accomplishing absolutely nothing either in the senate or in his poltical action. He also was a horrible running mate, who gave Bush and Cheney free passes in 04. Good for Kerry

[EFerrari]

115. Well. no.

lol

[mzmolly]

113. I don't look at it that way, and I support John Edwards.

Kerry endorsed someone he feels can win, IMO.

[geiger]

116. my bet is that he called Kerry ahead, to give him the heads-up

timing is everything. It's Obama's time.

[LittleClarkie]

117. Maybe he honestly thinks Obama would be the better man for the job?

Just a thought.

And I can see the unity theme being appealing to John as well. He's said before he doesn't like how the nation is divided.

[cynatnite]

118. Kerry feels that Obama is best person for the job...

Of course I disagree with him. :)

It's his right to back who he wants...just like the rest of us. I don't hold it against him...but I'm not an Edwards or Obama supporter either.

[kentuck]

119. Politics ain't beanbag.

As James Carville is fond of saying. We should not be so naive to think that these bad feelings do not exist between politicians and they are not above resorting to revenge or other dastardly acts. Politics brings out the worst in people sometimes.

[Blackhatjack]

120. Enough people on the inside knew Edwards wanted to fight the vote count in Ohio, and Kerry said No..

Of course Edwards has never confirmed this publicly out of deference to Kerry, but you couldn't expect something like that to remain quiet.

When Kerry announced he would not run this time, I think there was a bit of resentment that Kerry realized that Edwards could run and be the nominee this time, and he could not.

Even so, I don't see this hurting Edwards in South Carolina, and in fact Edwards will do very well in South Carolina regardless of the dire predictions by those pushing the MSM choices of Obama v. Clinton.