For Edwards, a Marriage Made in Politics That Never Quite Fit

[XemaSab]

John Edwards, accepting his party’s nomination for vice president, roused a cheering crowd at the 2004 Democratic convention with the kind of buoyant refrain that had become his trademark: “Hope is on the way.”

Kerry supporters say Mr. Edwards refused to play the traditional vice presidential role of attack dog.
The next night, wanting to give the American people something more tangible, John Kerry offered his own pledge, one intended as the ticket’s new slogan: “Help is on the way.”

But Mr. Edwards did not want to say it.

So the running mates set off across the country together with different messages, sometimes delivered at the same rally: Mr. Kerry leading the crowd in chants for “help,” Mr. Edwards for “hope.” The campaign printed two sets of signs. By November, the disagreement had been so institutionalized that campaign workers handed out fans with both messages, on flip sides.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/21/us/politics/21edwards.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[XemaSab]

1. Kick

n/t

[Diane R]

2. This is timely, even though it was posted earlier. Explains a lot about the Kerry endorsement.

[kelligesq]

5. I'm reminded that the rethugs nicknamed Kerry, LURCH - very apropros

in movement and in speaking, while Edwards was electric and charismatic at his speeches.

[Clark2008]

7. Charismatic?

Hardly - since he repeated the same speech ad nauseum.

[kelligesq]

11. Charismatic is an energy, not a repition of speeches...try

dictionary, ok? :)

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Out of sheer curiosity, I'd love to know the truth behind the scenes...

of the 2004 Kerry/Edwards campaign.

Unless I misinterpreted the article (and I could have, as I merely scanned), on one hand they're saying Edwards didn't want to "fight" (including in the VP debate), yet on the other hand Edwards is the one who wanted to fight the swiftboaters and the vote recount issue.

Something doesn't add up. I could see if Edwards was the more passive one back then and he simply evolved his position based on the experience, but this article paints a very ambivalent picture.

No real comment from me other than wishing I knew the truth - again, out of sheer curiosity. I'm simply glad Edwards is being vocal about fighting now.

And, please don't get me wrong - I tend to not like confrontation and am essentially a pacifist. I simply happen to believe as John does that things are such now that it will entail a fight to change things around in the direction WE want this ship to go. Of course, that's strictly my opinion.

[balantz]

4. I read the suggestion somewhere that Kerry had Edwards hold back

in the Cheney debate. I don't know if it's true or not.

[kelligesq]

6. election night and the day after, our faces fell when we were told Kerry would not challenge

the votes in Ohio and told all the lawyers to go home. We couldnt believe it and send messages and phone calls please change your mind to Kerry. NOthing.

We couldn't believe it. 10,000 free lawyers fanned across America and he wouldnt use them. I'm sure Edwards got them....free lawyers in an election, something I doubt we'll ever see again.

[balantz]

8. Wouldn't it be something to have every single vote counted by hand?

From all the primaries and the general? A move like Kerry's makes me think one thing: Kerry is bought. J.E. probably has those lawyers at his disposal still. I can't believe Congress isn't pursuing election reform vigorously.

[kelligesq]

12. Or a front man - although I never had any interest in having

a beer with dumbo or even being in his presence, as I've said before I never stayed for Kerry's speeches either, never wanted a picture with him, not interested in shaking his hand - I would set up, usher, help people but had no interest in listening to him. At a mjaor speech in Palm Beach, where most of the people are elderly - and the sun is 90 95 degrees plus in the sun - Kerry finally showed up 4 hours late. We were picking people up off the ground and giving them water

Being a 1/2 hour late is one thing....4 hours late?

But a totaly different story for Edwards. We had an event for him in a black church packed with white and black mesmerized , loving him,...in person charismatic sincere person.

All in all, during the 2004 election Kerry just came across a a major jerk.

And if Kerry had fought the Ohio vote count, which was eventually proved to be fixed and tampered with and a couple of people went to jail, he'd probably be the jerk who was president but at least we would have had John Edwards instead of Cheney.

[kelligesq]

13. Yes, but bags of ballots have been found in people's homes never counted :)

cute, eh?

[balantz]

17. Kerry is just a stilted Washington insider, in my opinion.

I just watched that speech on his Obama endorsement and was not impressed. He seems like a real egoist that enjoys throwing his power around. He doesn't appear very genuine and to me is looking down his nose at people. But what do I know? Just my opinion.

[IndyOp]

24. Free lawyers in an election - they came in handy in 2006. The lawyer involvement

that began in 2004 is a big plus for us all in terms of reducing disenfranchisement and preventing election fraud by other means. If Edwards is the candidate in 2008 we will have them again.

[JDPriestly]

9. This was a key argument.

Edwards wanted the more effective language. Kerry wanted the language that put a distance between himself and the American people. Kerry is embarrassed by intimacy. Edwards loves intimacy. That is why he and Elizabeth and he and his children are so close and so loving.

Obama, although far less so, is also somewhat uncomfortable with intimacy. At least, he is not nearly as open and at ease with intimacy as Edwards is. Edwards is very intimate even with strangers. A really good lawyer has to be able to gain the confidence of his or her clients and with the jury. I'm sure Kerry won trials. But he did not win them against the kinds of lawyers and on the kinds of issues and facts that Edwards won them. Edwards connects on a very intense level with individuals as well as groups of people. It is phenomenal and will make him an extremely successful president.

Neither Kerry nor Obama nor Hillary can connect on that intimate level. None of them are at ease with intimacy.

[balantz]

10. A real heart connection and warmth is an important trait for me.

Without it a leader has no touch with his public, and with universal compassion in general. Gut decisions, and the ability to admit mistakes and correct positions are related to an open heart, in my opinion. I think Edwards has this connection.

[kelligesq]

14. But the media wont give Edwards time as they do with those 2 so

we have to find a way to get the message out about John -

In South Carolina Edwards running third at 16percent the second day of the campaign there....

[balantz]

15. Sadly money and hype are buying people. Americans are used to

plugging in to the media voice and trusting their opinions and votes on what they are told. And a charismatic Hollywood approach, or even crocodile tears can have more power than an informed opinion and knowledge on the real issues. I hope he hits them hard all over the state with his populist platform. But what about election fraud? Are those Diebold ballot scanners, or the computer ballot screens being used there?

[XemaSab]

25. You don't think Edwards has a charismatic Hollywood approach?

Interesting...

[JDPriestly]

18. Join your Edwards meet-up group at the Edwards site

www.johnedwards.com, ask for the call/walk list for your precinct and start walking. Start talking. Get some brochures from the site http://www.welikedwards.com/node/7. I'm doing it. It's fun. If someone is decidedly pro-Obama or pro-Clinton, acknowledge their bias (that's how I think of it), point out Edwards strong points in a gentle way and, with a friendly smile, ask them to check out Edwards' speeches on his website if they have the time.

Most people are still undecided. Edwards is the only candidate that can win at this time. Obama can win in the future, but he needs to get to know and get to be known by the American people better. People are not going to vote for him because of questions about his religion. That is not an unsurmountable problem, but Obama needs time to show who he really is. He is not going to be able to gain the acceptance of the majority of Americans (who are far more suspicious, uninformed and conservative than those of who blog on DU) this election cycle.

This is Edwards' moment. He is the right candidate for now. He is most like Kennedy. (Both Geminis if you believe that stuff). We need a president with exciting new ideas. That's Edwards. Obama will follow as the candidate of unity. This country is not yet ready for unity. You can only unify once you know your direction.

Over the past 40 years, since Nixon was elected in 1968, we Americans have lost our way. Carter did not set sails in the right direction although he had the chance. He was not enough of a fighter. Bill Clinton also failed -- because he refused to confront the Republicans. He refused to challenge their phony values and their hypocrisy. Besides, he was in no position to do so. Every finger he pointed at the Republicans pointed right back at him. Edwards will confront. Edwards will fight. And, trust me, the Republicans will end up trusting and loving him. Why? Because he will not fight unfairly. He understands the points of view of those he fights. He will concede when they are right -- when they prove to him that they are right. It is his ability to see the strengths not only of his own case but also of his opponent's case that made him such a successful lawyer. If he is wrong, he will admit it. And he will be able to explain why he is wrong just as well as he can explain why he is right. So, the American people will understand and follow Edwards.

Edwards is the only chance for our country now. We had better take it. We won't get another one.

[lumberjack_jeff]

20. Neither one resonates with me.

I don't want to hope, and I don't want help.

It's our fucking government and we'll help promote the general welfare with it as we see fit.

We don't need permission and we don't need to wait hopefully. I can hope the tooth fairy brings me a nickel or I can go earn one.

We've earned the right to the benefits of the society we own.

[Nederland]

16. With apologies to Edwards

The Kerry line makes more sense. Why would hope be "on the way"? At that point, didn't we all have hope that those two would win? I certainly didn't need to wait around for hope "to arrive", I already had it...

[JDPriestly]

19. The whole on the way bit is just too wordy.

Again, "help is on the way" avoids intimacy. That is what Kerry was about. I feel sorry for his wife.

[question everything]

21. I remember

which is why Kerry's endorsement really does not mean anything... unless someone really really needs it.

[gateley]

22. Interesting article -- thanks. nt

[TahitiNut]

23. I've always wondered about that.

"Kerry supporters say Mr. Edwards refused to play the traditional vice presidential role of attack dog. "

Now, it seems to me that such roles - and the understandings - would be a part of the conversations that the candidate would have with the person being considered. After all, one of the FOREMOST jobs that any President has is the vetting and selection of cabinet members, staff members, and other 'seconds' in the administration.

Are the "Kerry supporters" saying Kerry didn't do a basic job required of all Presidential candidates?

With "supporters" like that, who the FUCK needs opponents?

:eyes:

(Sheesh! The Gang that STILL can't shoot straight!) :puke: