Edwards Supporters: Convince Me

[BearFlagDemocrat]

Ok, so I've been hearing a lot of good things about Edwards lately; that he's young, energetic, passionate yet statesmanlike, and a crack debater. I've also been hearing - from a lot of different sources - that he's the man Bush fears most... "Clinton without the drawbacks."

I've been a Dean supporter in the past because Dean was saying things at a time when everyone else (read: Dem leadership) was silent. But the most important thing to me is being able to beat Bush. Dean has faltered now and again in this campaign, and though I still love him, it's going to take someone who is ready for prime time to win this election.

So, Edwards supporters, what do you consider his greatest strengths? What are his key policies that will sway the voters away from Bush? And also, what are his weaknesses, and how does he address them?

I'm looking for more than just policy papers...I've gone to his website for that. I'm looking for personal opinions.

Thanks!

[Warren Stuart]

1. He's the real deal

Rags to riches story, where he rose to prominence by defending the little guy.

Intelligent, articulate and compassionate.

[mourningdove92]

2. This article tells a lot about Edwards. The kind of person he is.

Posted on Tue, Jan. 27, 2004

Son's death propels Edwards not to play it safe
By ANNA GRIFFIN Knight Ridder Newspapers


()
Edwards

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In the early 1990s, John Edwards had it all.

He had a thriving law practice, wealth, a happy marriage, smart and charming children, a rambling house, and enough free time to run marathons and climb mountains.

He had toyed with the idea of seeking political office before, of giving up the legal career that made him rich and devoting his life to public service. No one pushed the idea harder than his 16-year-old son, Wade, who told friends he was trying to persuade his father to challenge Jesse Helms for one of North Carolina's seats in the U.S. Senate.

Edwards would listen, but he didn't seem to take the suggestion seriously.

“There was a pretty powerful pull of inertia,” said his wife, Elizabeth. “Our lives were so pleasant.”

Then Wade died in an auto accident. Edwards cocooned himself in grief for six months and emerged with the beginning of a plan to challenge North Carolina's other U.S. senator, Lauch Faircloth.

Losing his son didn't make Edwards a candidate. It did make him more willing to take chances, more open to changing his life and more determined to win at every endeavor.

continued at
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/news/politics/7803520.htm

[bearfartinthewoods]

4. thank you for this article...i hadn't read it before

[VOX]

5. Thanks for posting this...

Hadn't seen it until now.

:toast:

[theboss]

3. Wealth vs Work

His platform is based upon the concept that this country - in order to be great - has to accept the fact that work is more valuable than wealth. He's a self-made millionaire who made his fortune by fighting corporations and doctors who harmed those who trusted them. This Administration is basically telling us, "Trust us. We're your betters."

Edwards is the candidate with the best economic plan in that it focusses on the middle class and small businesses. He is not a tool of the DLC in that he believes in free trade that favors corporations over workers, but he is not a protectionist. And he understands how economics relates to security.

His policy is not revolutionary. In fact, it's what Democrats have believed for 70 years. But it's unique in this race.

On top of that, he's fresh and energetic. He won't piss off our allies. And he won't sell us out.

I don't view him as Clinton without the scandals. I view him as a Clinton who won't sell out his principles.

[HFishbine]

6. "he believes in free trade that favors corporations over workers"

That should be reason enough not to vote for him.

[anti-bush]

8. I'm sure that's a typo

If you've followed Edwards at all, you know that is not true. He favors fair trade that favors workers over corporations. He believes in reducing out of control CEO pay. He wants to close tax loopholes that allow corporations to open a mailbox in Bermuda to escape paying taxes. He wants to close corporate tax shelters which shift the tax burden from the stock holders and corporate bigwigs to the laborers. He wants to offer tax benefits to companies that create jobs in areas devistated by jobs shifting overseas.

If you have watched him, he knows that trickle down Bushinomics does not work, and that the way to create jobs and wealth for the middle class is to make corporations fiscally resposible for their share of the tax burden.

[PurityOfEssence]

7. I benefitted from the American Dream that they're now trying to slam shut

in your face.

(I believe that was the quote yesterday when he shut down a hostile moderator whose leading question doubted his ability to understand the plight of the poor after years of prosperity.)

This speaks volumes. Not only was he in complete command of the moment, turning around a dangerous line of questioning, but it shows an inherent strength: a belief in the American System as it was meant to be.

Unlike many other leftists, he doesn't rail at how bad the country is, he uses the approach that it's inherently good, but has been hijacked by monied interests. His take is that it should return to the ideals upon which it has thrived at its best moments. For this, his log-cabin history resonates with titanic strength: he's telling us that we're good, and we must fight to keep our country so.

This is a Reaganite "morning in America" message that resonates, while tapping into the frustration of the downtrodden.

He's incredibly warm and engaging, and shines in debates. (The last one was his poorest performance, yet he was still good.)

He quite simply is the confluence of many highly electable traits, and his spirit of healing and moving forward is one that will excite the disenfranchised and enthuse crossovers. Think about it.

Oh, and drop me a line in the personal box; I'm in the L.A. area, and I'd be happy to persuade you in person.

[DjTj]

9. So I wrote this essay...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/04/01/19_edwards.html

I'll edit out some of the policy parts, but this is pretty much what I think of Johnny Edwards:

John Edwards lived the American Dream, and he is running for President to help other working Americans share in that dream. The education, health care, and economy core of his platform comes from his first life as a hardworking young man that became a successful lawyer. However, Edwards has been preaching another plank of his platform in Iowa that comes from his experience as a Senator. Edwards wants to do more than campaign finance reform; he wants to rewrite the rules and shut down the entire system of buying influence in Washington.

But can he win? He faced that question six years ago, and in November of 1998, John Edwards was the only Democrat in the nation to unseat an incumbent Republican Senator. He did it in a state where Bush beat Gore by 13%.

In 1998 and in Iowa this year, Edwards has changed minds by using the skills that made him one of the best trial lawyers in America. He explains economic and political ideas in language everyone understands. He'll never talk down to you or pretend he knows what's best for you. John Edwards listens to your concerns and takes the time to explain why his policies are the best. He doesn't attack other Democrats.

His foreign policy reflects this personality. Edwards believes that America must treat other countries with respect in order to gain their respect.

Winning this election is not about firing up the base and it's not about pandering to the middle. It's not about winning the Midwest or the South, although Edwards can do that. The people who will decide this election aren 't single issue voters and they don't listen to the pundits. The votes we need to win this election are in the hands of people who are looking for a message to believe in and a person they can trust. They want someone that can lift this country up and give them hope for the future. They're looking for real solutions to their problems. They're looking for a President that will make them proud to be Americans again. They will find John Edwards.