LOL did anyone see Edwards on CSPAN last night?

[FoxNewsIsTheDevil]

He was having a townhall meeting in New Hampshire. At the end of the event he was standing around answering questions. One fat guy kept yelling some question at him and Edwards got really mad about it. He started sort of sneering at the guy, "you don't have to yell, I'm standing right here", "I told you I'd answer your question in a minute". Then when the guy finally started asking his question, Edwards thought he was a front for some RNC anti-Edwards group, so he started RAILING on the poor guy. Saying things like "you are a group who has been attacking me in NC! You are funded by Republicans and what youre doing is not right!" etc. The guy was just standing there dumbfounded. His social security group was called CSA(?), and the group Edwards was thinking of was call ASA(?). THE GUY WASNT A FRONT FOR A GOP GROUP. It must have been incrediblly embarassing for Edwards. He found out in the middle of his rant that the poor guy wasnt a GOPer in disguise. LOL man. Then shortly after that some big black guy started yelling at Edwards about why he wasn't supporting the troops or what not. Man it was funny stuff. All caught on camera too.

[FoxNewsIsTheDevil]

1. Come on!! It was funny! *kick*

[bearfartinthewoods]

28. EDWARDS WAS RIGHT.....LINK

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=9326&mesg_id=9326&page=

THE TRUTH COMES OUT! EDWARDS WAS RIGHT

[Dr Fate]

37. My non-political friend saw it and said he liked Edwards...

...and that he did a good job answering questions.

I did not see it, but I value the opinions of non-political people when they say they like or dislike a politician...

[jackstraw45]

2. Gotta love the CSPAN...

coverage of the primaries...warts and all!

[PunkinPi]

3. Oh and Dean is the "hot head". :)

[Kahuna]

4. "It's jess nawt raight!

:D

[tjdee]

14. I like him, and everything, but...

LOL!

[KoKo]

5. I hesitated to reply because I don't like to trash candidates........so

I'll just say........it's typically believable. :-(

In fairness to him.......some of the candidates must be feeling very pressured at this point, and tempers could be running high.

I'm trying to be nice...........I live in NC, so I'm familiar with Edwards.

[papau]

6. ABCNote stated 2 GOP groups tried to disrupt meeting.

Former head of NH GOP, and another fellow in a sharkskin suit.

Hands continously in the air , demanding that their questions must be the ones answerred.

Seems the spin on CSA versus ASA does not tell the complete story.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Thanks. Very helpful. eom

*

[Cocoa]

9. that guy was fishy

in fact the agenda he was pushing was very republican.

And on a superficial level, the guy looked republican. :-)

[Bombtrack]

17. not a GOP front group?

[BigMcLargehuge]

8. Just watched the rebroadcast this afternoon

FWIW, I was impressed that Edwards went on the offensive so quickly. It takes balls to challenge someone slamming a petition/pledge in your face for signature, and to do it in front of a room full of potential voters. Unfortunately the guy wasn't a rethug operative... or was he? Did anyone listen to his privatizing social security rant... creating self-managed funds etc... Citizens for a Sound Economy sounds a hell of a lot like the groups that the RNC shoves out there.

Look at their website http://www.cse.org/ and tell me they aren't arch conservatives with money from the RNC?

Edwards should have punched the guy in the mouth.

[southernfried]

10. All in all I think he did a fine job in that pressure cooker

literally, it was apparantly pretty warm in there.

[PurityOfEssence]

11. Go laugh at yourself, because you're the foolish one

He had genuine balls by going right after the guy. When told that he was misaking them for someone else, Edwards admitted right to his eyes that he might have been mistaken, and asked about the information and for what they stood. When told that they were for private accounts for Social Security, he asked if it was in addition to Social Security or instead of it. Upon being told that it was instead of, Edwards immediately said that he'd be against that, since it got rid of the safety net. (The point is that if someone invests all his money and loses it, he/she is shit out of luck and the fascists are just happy to see them die in the dust; Edwards, like me, recognizes that people need to have some things "safe".)

So, to recap:

1) He immediately attacked someone who he presumed to be extremely right wing.
2) When it was pointed out that it was a mistake, he admitted it like a grown-up and someone not afraid of having made an error.
3) He then engaged the man and asked what they believed in, and when it was obviously something at best misguided, he made a pronouncement on it on the spot and kept talking with him.

You should be looking at this as the dynamic of a true decent, ethical and COMPETENT leader. He doesn't shrink from confrontation, he admits when he's wrong, he stays engaged and he treats EVERYONE with respect, candor and gentlemanliness. Don't you want someone like that representing your interests to the world?

It's easy to throw barbs, and somehow Edwards is just dismissed on this board. This is silly. He's more liberal than Dean. MORE LIBERAL THAN DEAN, do you guys get that?!!! He's less snotty, perfunctory and distant than Dean. He's much calmer and reassuring than Kucinich. He's more liberal and gentle than Kerry. This man is a real statesman and diplomat, something Kerry scores well on and Dean and Kucinich are lacking. Why lacking? Because the air of being uncompromising may be refreshing, but that's essentially unilateral, and look where that's gotten us.

Don't get me wrong, I'd be pleased with any of them as candidates (least so for Kerry, but still...) and think all but Kucinich has a definite chance now. Kucinich may have a chance, come next November, and I like his policies the best, followed VERY closely by Edwards.

The incident of which you speak is a classic example of the genius of John Edwards, and I'd appreciate a reply.

Regardless, this is someone who needs to remain in play. It's pissy the way people are going after him, it's just like they did John Kennedy: he's too pretty, he must be a nothing.

[tjdee]

13. You're exactly right.

Edwards is treated so ridiculously around here sometimes.

I think it's a mixture of his inexperience and his looks.

The man is Southern, okay, he's not going to be as liberal as Teddy Kennedy. But, if you ask the NC GOP, he IS as liberal as Teddy!

If he looked like Jon Corzine, I think people would take him more seriously. If TWO different GOP groups showed up to infiltrate a Dean meeting, we'd be hearing all day long about how scared the GOP is of Dean.

:eyes:

[crissy71]

18. I agree

The guy beat Lauch Faircloth (sp?), member of Despicable Repuglican Hall of Shame - Dems need more Edwards and Grahams and .... Clintons - at least until the racist gene pool of the south has been sufficiently diluted (10, 20 yrs?)

[DBTFighter]

31. yea i am not against

Dean but his supporters are like a cult man, they seem to t hink he is the only answer when in reality his possible negatives are alarming

[newyawker99]

36. Hi DBTFighter!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Voltaire]

25. You make some great points

I am a big Dean supporter. My wife and I watched Mr. Edwards last night and were VERY impressed with him, INCLUDING the bits after-class. We may not have 9 ELECTABLE candidates, but we certainly don't have any lack of talented folks, regardless of their position from center. Edwards did allright for himself last night.

Frankly, when all is said and done I would like all the candidates to sit down and make one kick-ass platform, pledge to work like hell for the nominee and get out there and do it LOUD. We got monkey ass to kick.

[PurityOfEssence]

27. Just goes to show...

...that people with similar tastes often have lots in common.

I'm a big Voltaire fan--I've even read his tragedies, something nobody ever does; the books were published in the 19th century. Did you know he won a lifetime pension from the king at the age of 19 and spent years adapting Shakespeare? He also kept up a personal correspondence with Frederick the Great of all people.

Anyway, you're entirely right. One of the things that's bugged me about Dean is the doctorlike arrogance and the attacking of his brother candidates, sneering at Graham as lower-echelon, picking fights with Kerry and accusing of plaigarism, etc. Whatever. He's still got a lot going for him. On the personality issues, though, Edwards is wonderful. He listens, he is respectful of others' time and opinions, he admits mistakes, he hammers the essence of the greed/privilege of Junior. He called him "a phoney", not once, but twice. He recently said "he hasn't spent 30 seconds since being in the Oval Office thinking about the concerns of the common citizen". He's warm, he's engaging, HE'S REALLY SMART.

Your principal point is well taken: we must beat Junior. Be careful about the ramifications of that, though; he may not be so unassailable that we have to compromise too much.

Thanks for giving him a listen; you have the kind of spirit that I've encountered often on this board and from which I derive much hope and joy.

[nannygoat]

38. Plus, Edwards said, "Bring it on" to chimpy, didn't he

after the State of the Union Address?

[FoxNewsIsTheDevil]

29. Oh I agree

I wasn't necessarily laughing at him. Please don't mistake my initial post as a "bomb", I just thought the whole thing was entertaining. I actually was impressed by how he remained on his feet through the odd exchanges, it was a definite barage. I certainly hope he stays in play and I would support him %100 if he were the nominee. He definitely has that charisma and I disagreed with very little of his platform. I think he scraes Republicans good. He needs to make a solid showing in NH and then WIN SC for him to have a chance though, IMO.

[Lex]

30. Incorrect.

Because of the new way that the primaries are happening for the first time this year, Iowa and New Hampshire are far less important than in the past. The impact of NH and Iowa will be minimal now because there is no longer a six week lag before the other primaries happen.

In fact, Graham and Edwards are both spending little effort/money in NH and Iowa, and are banking on the primaries that happen just after NH/Iowa, such as SC.

So no, because of the new way the primaries are happening this year, Edwards doesn't have to win NH or Iowa to be a contender.

[FoxNewsIsTheDevil]

32. That's interesting, but I did't say he had to win NH or Iowa.

I said he had to win SC, which I believe he does.

[DemDogs]

40. GOP afraid of Edwards

When Edwards announced, the RNC put out a huge press release, like 15 or 20 pages, attacking him. When the press pointed out that they had not done that for any other candidate, the RNC started releasing some others. Bush went to NC to attack lawyers and even used one of Edwards' cases in "government-backed study" (your tax dollars at work). Edwards is the one Rove doesn't want to see in November 2004. Everyone who saw the town hall on CSpan knows why. Be sure to read William Saletan in Slate about that town hall.

[THUNDER HANDS]

41. I think those are fairly debatable points you raise...

He's more liberal than Dean. MORE LIBERAL THAN DEAN, do you guys get that?!!!

No, I must not have gotten the memo. How many civil unions bills has Edwards signed in his life? How many times did Edwards speak out against the war?

He's much calmer and reassuring than Kucinich.

Well, so's my grandma, but I'm not voting for her either.

He's more liberal and gentle than Kerry.

Okay. (a) he's not more liberal than Kerry - you're just flat out wrong there. (b) And of course he's going to be more gentle, one was a trial lawyer and the other was a war hero. Me personally, I'll take the war hero.

I don't dislike Edwards, but I group him in with Sharpton, Braun, Kucinich and Graham as guys I can't figure out why they're running.

[tjdee]

12. YES, he WAS from a Republican front group.

Just because the guy says "I'm not from a Republican front group" doesn't mean he's telling the truth.

The CSE's co-chair is Dick Armey.

See the link up above posted by Big McLargeHuge.
http://www.cse.org/

[killbotfactory]

15. Oh man, that guy was full of shit!

You could tell from his beligerent privitize social security speil he was a republican. Edwards got his organization wrong, but could tell he was a rat.

Good for Edwards.

[tjdee]

16. Read the CSE's profile of Kerry, and tell me they're not right-wing.

http://www.cse.org/informed/issues_template.php/1476.htm

Yeah, hardy har, that Edwards is so delirious, thinking the GOP is out to get him.

Not.

As Big McLargeHuge and killbotfactory point out, Edwards got the organization wrong, but his bullshit detector was working perfectly.

[progressivejazz]

19. There's something laughable in the original post, all right.

And here it is:

"THE GUY WASNT A FRONT FOR A GOP GROUP. It must have been incrediblly embarassing for Edwards. He found out in the middle of his rant that the poor guy wasnt a GOPer in disguise. LOL man."

Given the makeup and policies espoused by the group, these statements are laughable. Right here for everyone to see, too!

[bearfartinthewoods]

20. yeah....who's LOLing NOW!

[newsguyatl]

21. so is edwards

gonna simultaneously run for his senate seat too? i honestly think he's gonna have a TOUGH go at getting re-elected in republican nc... i hope not, but i'm afraid he will...

[Lex]

22. The Governor is a Democrat, so is

the Attorney General, the Secy of State, the Lt. Governor, and half the NC Legislature.

So, the Repukes don't have a lock in this state. And many are pissed at the current Administration. Very.

[tjdee]

24. Yeah, that's where he's from. North Carolina.

ANY Democrat would have a hard time getting re-elected in North Carolina. Some people (NOT YOU, newsguyatl) like to throw that around as if it means something, his having a hard time getting re-elected.

His seat goes back and forth every session, so YES, he'd have a hard time. Just like he had a hard time last time when he whipped Lauch Faircloth's behind--with no political experience at all.

I always say this, but it's still true. I'd take his chances of winning North Carolina over any of the current candidates excepting maybe, maybe Graham. The rest of them have had a relative cakewalk in their political careers, sitting up North, compared to Edwards and Graham.

[JI7]

23. edwards did great

he knows what he is talking about.a nd you can tell he does not like bush AT ALL. i knew he felt the same way about bush as i do from the way he spoke about him.

[newsguyatl]

26. look

not only was i born and raised in nc, i also campaigned for edwards in 98 some... i also went to school there... i know the nc political climate... and let me tell you, edwards is gonna have A VERY TOUGH time getting re-elected! this is the same state that had helms in for a gazillion years, and just elected idiot elizabeth know-nothing dole over an EXTREMELY qualified opponent in erskine bowles... add this to nc folks' growing resentment of edwards' seeming lack of interest in his constituents because of his running for the presidential ticket, and it's gonna be a disaster...

i VERY VERY VERY much hope he gets re-elected to the senate... but at this point in the game, i wouldn't bet my tobacco farm on it...

[nannygoat]

39. If only people would also point to * as spending too much time

campaigning as well...instead of running this country. Although, come to think of it, that might be a good thing...

[ShaneGR]

33. Nice try again, you're wrong

He was, in fact, from a right-wing group... as detailed in the other thread.

[FoxNewsIsTheDevil]

34. Sorry, I was unaware.

I haven't read through all the threads today.

[Cocoa]

35. I saw it on C-Span

I thought the troll was pretty transparent. He totally stuck out in attitude from the rest of the Dems, and his agenda was pure repuke.