Why is Edwards Consulting with Advisers Before he Endorses?

[redstate_democrat]

I just heard that Edwards is meeting with advisers to figure out who he should endorse. I don't understand that. Can't he make up his own mind? Why would you need to meet with an adviser?

[cali]

1. Who knows?

But he's carried on this endorsement charade for so long that it's become farcical.

[redstate_democrat]

11. It really has

It sort of gives credence to some of the complaints about his vanity.

[Why Syzygy]

59. Really. I don't give a hoot who he endorses.

Based on his past actions, I suspect he will endorse McHillabee.
I'll never forget his betrayal of Howard Dean. Very dirty dealing that was.

[juajen]

2. To see which camp jibes with his own beliefs the most, I guess.

I love the Edwards and hope he endorses Clinton.

[Hugabear]

3. If he endorses Obama, will you suddenly reject him?

Just curious.

It's funny how quickly Bill Richardson became a "Judas" after his endorsement of Obama.

[Mezzo]

71. If he endorses Clinton, will you? nt

[Hugabear]

91. Not at all, but I asked you first

n/t

[redstate_democrat]

8. Wouldn't he know for himself

which candidate ""jibes" with his own beliefs. Does he meet with an adviser before deciding who to vote for in the voting booth?

[Hieronymus]

33. I get it, you don't like Edwards.

[redstate_democrat]

56. Actually I liked Edwards a lot

At first I would have been happy with either John or Barack. Now he is just plain wrong. He shouldn't be having this much difficulty deciding between the two.

[Cha]

37. I thought he said on Leno

that he wasn't going to endore.

[Adelante]

40. He said, "Never say never."

Is what I read.

[Cha]

53. Oh, I missed the second "never" and

I may have been projecting 'cause there's only one person he could legitimately endorse.

[Adelante]

58. Well, I didn't see it, Zidz

I only read it somewhere. Perhaps that reporter had it wrong.

[Booster]

64. That was his answer to Leno's "will you run again".

[Adelante]

65. I see, thanks nt

[ingac70]

15. Edwards advisors don't like Hillary..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4295658

[tekisui]

4. He just keeps his finger in the wind.

Obviously, he isn't strong for either.

[Luisverde]

7. Edwards will endorse Obama, mark my words...

he knows that Obama is the presumptive nominee and Edwards wants a seat at the table...Attorney General in an Obama Administration.

[tekisui]

17. I hope he does, I think he will,

but I don't get his feet dragging.

Unless he is waiting for when Obama needs a boost. Maybe after PA, before Edward's home-NC, and Hillary and McShame are throwing more shit around.

[redstate_democrat]

24. Ok

Maybe before North Carolina. :D

[LakeSamish706]

34. I also think it will be Obama that he endorses... Endorsing Hillary just doesn't seem...

to fit with his total campaign in my mind.

[Cha]

42. Well, some thought Richardson was

dragging his feet and it turned out to be the perfect time.

I had the impression that Edwards wasn't going to endorse anyone but if he is maybe he'll do it closer to the North Carolina primary. Since there's no way hilary can win except by hijacking I don't see him endorsing her even if she weren't the coporate breed he rails against with good reason.

[Life Long Dem]

61. You know what Mark Penn said to Richardson when he endorsed Obama?

He told Gov. Richardson it's too late anyway. (Something to that effect).

In other words he only needed Richardson for Texas and has no use for him now.

[gristy]

5. Who says he's consulting with advisors?

Is this something you learned in another thread?

[redstate_democrat]

16. No

It was just on CNN

[iamjoy]

6. It's Politics

Not to figure out who he should endorse, but to figure out HOW to endorse. It will have to be done in a way as to provide the maximum benefit to his candidate of choice. If he is still hoping for a cabinet position, it will also have to be done so it does not alienate the other candidate in case the one he doesn't endorse gets the nomination.

[murielm99]

52. You are making sense.

In the end, the Democratic Party behaves nothing like DU.

Things may be heated now, but they all will be working together after the nominee is decided. Edwards wants to remain a voice in the party. Both contenders for the nomination want to remain in positions of power.

[Pisces]

9. He will endorse Obama, it is the politically correct thing to do.

[spotbird]

51. He will endorse Obama, it is the right thing to do. nt

[surfermaw]

54. Why would he care about what is politically correct, Why worry after bashing him

[sunnystarr]

10. For advice on which deal is the best for him. (nt)

[ginnyinWI]

12. If this is true, it doesn't say much about his leadership. n/t

[Hieronymus]

46. You don't think every president has advisers in every situation?

[ginnyinWI]

48. this isn't such a big decision, IMO. But he can do what he wants. nt

[Barack_America]

13. Because he's a politician?

And his political career is by no means over.

I personally think that he was set to endorse Hillary (for political reasons), but that Obama's speech made him take pause (for political reasons).

He too, after all, has spoken of the pain of growing up in a segregated south.

[BeyondGeography]

36. One would think Obama's speech combined with Richardson's endorsement

have made it much more difficult for him to back Hillary. Richardson is saying "time to unite," does Edwards want to in essence say "let's stay divided" by going with the candidate who is trailing in votes and delegates? That would surprise me.

[Cha]

73. Precisely! That would make no

sense at all.

[writes3000]

14. He may want someone to play devil's advocate with...to prep him for tough questions

And he may want to discuss when he should endorse.

There may have been offers from each of the remaining candidates regarding positions Edwards could take.

Lastly, Edwards may want to know which way most of the other SDs are leaning.

[Tatiana]

19. I think this just about sums it up. n/t

[KittyWampus]

96. great post, if the original OP is true info and not mediawhore nonsense

[David Zephyr]

18. Because he probably had a deal with the Clintons and fears they will rat him out if he strays.

It is obvious to most that John Edwards intended to endorse Hillary and then, lo and behold, Obama began winning every single primary after Super Tuesday.

Now he's really in a pickle. He knows that any deal he'd cut with the Clintons will be exposed if he endorses Obama because we all know that the Clintons attack every Obama endorser.

On the other hand, if Jimmy Carter endorses Barack before Edwards does, then John Edwards will become a mere footnote in history and his calculating will look very self-serving.

[redstate_democrat]

27. He really is in a pickle if this is true!

[Luisverde]

31. Elizabeth is rumored to support Obama

[goclark]

83. Hi Elizabeth, I hope you are posting at DU

We really miss seeing both of you.

Love to the family and Blessings at Easter :hug:

[DJ13]

20. He's triangulating his endorsement

His indecision over who to support tells me his campaign platform about helping the poor & middle class was more of a well thought out ploy than his actual belief, as Hillary's well known ties to corporations should have been an anathema to his beliefs, making the choice easy for him.

[redstate_democrat]

32. Everything John stood for is antithetical to the DLC

Hillary Clinton machine. I'm starting to wonder whether or not his two Americas platform was just another political calculation too. I don't know, but everything he says he is about would seem to suggest there is no way he could ever support Hillary. I wonder why he would need to consult with an adviser. The decision isn't the difficult to make.

[Milo_Bloom]

21. Does Edwards have any actual principles?

I don't really care who he "endorses"... it is clear to me moreso than even before that this guy doesn't have any real beliefs of his own, but only goes where he thinks he will get the biggest advantage.

[surfermaw]

57. Coming from arrrogant Obam supporter that are loosing Obama votes as we speak

And you are intelligent enough to know he has to have someone to make up his mind HA HA.. Edwards a man , who put himself through school then law school all by himself, and then being recognized as an outstanding lawer in The U.S. And he doesn't know what to do, I can't believe the arrogance of the Obama peope, if I knew he was like his voters I wouldn' vote for him either, however the last of this month or next month, I will be able to speak to him and I will mentiont the arrogance of some of his supporters.

[Milo_Bloom]

62. Sorry to tell you...

... But I have been against Edwards, specifically, LONG before I was for Obama.. And the only reason I am "for" Obama now is because he is the lesser of 3 evils.

Edwards, to me, is what is wrong with America today. Politicians completely without principles, who make all their decisions based on polls and aspirations, not what is right and wrong.

This is why Edwards could vote for the war, bankrupcy bill, free trade, limiting liability to nuclear plants, all while later claiming to be against all of these things... This is why Edwards could stand up against "predatory lending" while drawing a 1/2 million dollar salary from a company who made the bulk of its money how... predatory lending.

Got more news for you... "Edwards a man , who put himself through school then law school all by himself" You can only go through school and law school "all by yourself"... I did the same thing, "All by myself"... I am not asking for an award for it.

The reason I don't care about Edwards endorsement is because I know it wasn't reached by consideration of what is right and wrong, it was made based on who he thinks will better reward him.

[cali]

70. I completely agree with you

though that's certainly a very unpopular stance around here.

[XemaSab]

74. .

:thumbsup:

[dansolo]

86. You've stated exactly what I don't like about Edwards

I liked the issues that he brought up in the campaign, but I never once felt like he truly believed in them. His career seemed to contradict a lot of his platform, from his very conservative voting record in the Senate, to his consulting for a company that was a major player in the whole predatory lending fiasco.

[KittyWampus]

97. I agree with you 100%. Obama was the lesser of viable evils. I have come to appreciate him much more

over these last few months as I did some more honest research about the man.

That said, Edwards is much of what you posted, IMO.

I just don't bother stating any of that now. Why piss off his fans?

[EmilyAnne]

22. He maybe just wants some other perspectives. I don't know. I hope it works out well for Obama!

[gristy]

23. Edwards unlikely to endorse (article from yesterday)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0308/9162.html

John Edwards is unlikely to endorse either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton before the nomination is decided, according to interviews with several members of the former candidate's inner circle.

At least three individuals who have recently spoken to Edwards expect that he will choose to stay out of the fight, though they warn that no one other than his wife, Elizabeth, can be certain of his thinking.

[EFerrari]

25. Why is Edwards hesitating to endorse the more progressive candidate?

Is this rocket science?

[mtnester]

45. Maybe because he is not so keen on either of them?

If he is serious about his stances on issues, I would not expect him to endorse either before the convention, and allow the primary process to proceed on its own.

[EFerrari]

49. Could be. But Obama has emerged as the closest to his positions.

Not VERY close, lol, but closest.

[havocmom]

26. Probably because he recognizes the seriousness of the situation AND nuances?

He seems to think things out well and for the intellectually honest, that usually includes sparring with others to really test one's thinking and explore lest any facet be missed for consideration.

Endorsements should be well thought out.

[gristy]

35. ding ding ding!

Yes, you are correct! It is beyond me that a person might think that this is not a decision that requires substantial research, review, and debate with close confidants.

[redstate_democrat]

60. Edwards was running against this guy for over a year

He knows probably more about Obama and Hillary than we do. What kind of research would he need? There are two choices here. He needs to make a choice.

[XemaSab]

75. I got the sense from Richardson's endorsement

that half of why he picked Obama was because he thought Obama was a nice guy. :)

Edwards knows both of the candidates personally, and has worked with Clinton in the senate.

I don't get how this is a tough choice for him. :shrug:

[ZombieHorde]

28. Because he is a politician first. nt

[jefferson_dem]

29. Report here says he is not expected to endorse either Obama or Hillary.

Granted, it's Fauxnews. http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/03/22/report-edwards-not-expected-to-endorse-either-democrat/

Do we have information to the contrary - that he is considering an endorsement?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

30. Couldn't he just endorse Obama 4 days before the PA primary

[John Q. Citizen]

47. AN edwards endorsement will have a much stronger impact on S. Delegate perceptions than on

turning out voters, IMHO.

It won't hurt the votes, but it probably won't help that much.

As far as the inter-party politics though, it could be very helpful for Obama.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

89. I would think he would have an impact on the so called 'blue collared'

especially in PA

[Lone_Star_Dem]

38. I've not heard of this, but I will say I will not be surprised to see him not endorse either one yet

I think he's letting his supporters make up their own minds as to which of the reaming two fits their beliefs the best.

[blm]

39. To be fair, he SHOULD speak to his advisors because THEY are the ones who'll be in the position

to defend and further Edwards decision and any remarks he makes.

This does not seem unusual at all to me and just sounds like good planning IF indeed he decides to make an endorsement.

[Middle finga]

41. While Edwards was in the senate his voting record was to the right

of Clinton and Obama, In 2004 he ran as a DLC/Centrist, when that didn't work, he switched to a populist for 2008. That didn't work so aint no telling where he stand today maybe he endorse McCain.

[LiveLiberally]

43. Edwards' advisers are unsure whether he will endorse or not....

As yesterday's Politico article revealed, Edwards' advisers confess that he is keeping his own counsel about whether (or who) to endorse and that only Elizabeth may know the current state of his mind. Numerous reports these past 5 weeks have essentially said the same thing. He's not consulting with advisers; they are having trouble reading the tea leaves...

[FrenchieCat]

44. Maybe Edwards is only consulting on how to do it....not so much who to endorse?

Although I have never been a big Edwards fan, I give him the benefit of the doubt on this. I believe that he sees who the grassroots candidate truly is, and who espouses the same general message that he gave while he was running. In addition, I believe that he stands more with the notion of Racial reconciliation than with the tactic of utilizing race to divide. I can't fanthom him endorsing Hillary on the single premise of mandates on health care. It isn't enough of an issue considering what is at stake.

If Edwards endorsed Hillary, in a way, he would be further reinforce the idea that his constituency, which are working class Whites (according to CNN), should stick with a White Candidate (which would end up being the real message). I cannot believe that he would want that to be his message, in particular, in light of Obama's "a more perfect Union" address.

If Edwards endorses Hillary, it would run counter to everything he's espoused during his bid (except the health care mandate issue--one small piece of the Health Care issue as a whole).

I cannot believe that he would do that.....as it would make little sense in advancing our country forward in any way.

[surfermaw]

50. Keep off Edwards, what he does is nothing to you. I didn't hear that

What I heard was the best of Obama and the best of Hillary, Obama best was being able to bringng in new voters and he can stimulate a croud and something else, Hillarys she stands tough, and had the experience. He said he was and had always worked on poverty and that is what he was going to do, either in the gobernment or out. They ask him if he woud run again and first said no, then said you never know what you might do later down the road.

[Life Long Dem]

55. I was thinking about his stance.

I don't think he wants to alienate anyone. Add that to having his sights on another election. Then it turns selfish.

[nsd]

63. Does Edwards want a particular job in a new administration?

He's still reasonably young (53), but his career path in politics is unclear. He hasn't held a public office in over three years. I suppose he might challenge Burr for his old Senate seat two years from now, though that would be a tough campaign. He has to find a way to stay relevant. Maybe that's why he's so hesitant to endorse -- if he picks the wrong horse, his political career might be over.

[Emillereid]

66. If he stays true to his campaign message he would have to endorse Obama - but

of course the Clintons might have offered him something. I will be super disappointed in John if he favors Clinton and will remember it if he ever runs again.

[kevinmc]

67. Hope it isn't the same ones he used for his invade Iraq vote .. n/t

[surfermaw]

68. Maybe Edwards knows the other shoe is about to drop for one of them

and will wait before he endorses any one, maybe he knows things we don't.

[zalinda]

69. For a group who has dismissed Edwards

as a phony candidate, you sure do spend a lot of words trying to figure out who he is going to endorse. If you listened to him on the Leno show, you would know that he said he wasn't endorsing. He thinks Obama inspires the young, but Clinton is tough and experienced. No endorsement. And, he is NOT a politician, he has not spent half his working life running or in office. He ran for senate, after he retired from his law practice to give back something to the America that he felt helped him get his dream. He was stopped from doing what he wanted to do in the Senate, so he ran for President. He is now working on a poverty and anti-war program. He is still giving back, like Al Gore, but has had to go through a non-government road. If he was a politician, and was just giving lip service, he would not be involved with the agencies that he has joined.

Obams is not even close to what Edwards wanted to do, but Clinton has worked on poverty issues, which is why she attracts blue collar workers. I don't know who Obama attracts, but it sure ain't me. I can't stand his phony preacher cadence. If he has to put on a phony "accent" to attract people, what else is phony about him? And, yes, his cadence is phony, he didn't talk that way in the state senate.

And, the simple truth is, the more Obama supporters tear down Clinton, the more I defend her. And, the more I defend her, the more I want to vote for her, because SHE AIN'T OBAMA. ABO!

zalinda

[BeyondGeography]

77. "Edwards is NOT a politician."

Don't be absurd.

Just about everything this guy has done since getting elected to the Senate in 1998 has to do with his wanting to be President one day. And that includes his present indecision about endorsing. Obama is the biggest threat to his remaining hopes of ever being President, which at 53 years of age, remains his priority. He also knows Clinton is much more likely to lose in November, which would keep him front-and-center for 2012. This is by far his most pressing consideration; it's naive to think otherwise.

[zalinda]

81. Then why is it so important to you that he endorses?

If it wasn't important to you, you would have not read this thread. Or do you not have anything else to do?

zalinda

[cali]

80. typical steaming pile from you

Obama actually worked with the poor and disenfranchised while old Johny was busy lining his pockets. Edwards was the epitome of a DLC hack in Congress and he still has blood on his hands. The myth of John Edwards. phaw.

[zalinda]

82. And, right back at you sweetheart

Why even bother with this thread if Edwards is so unimportant? It seems that thou protests too much.

zalinda

[NJSecularist]

85. Amen!!!!

John changes his political positions with the way the wind blows. He was straight ticket DLC during his entire term in the Senate. When it was politically convenient to be a progressive populist, he changed his message. Edwards is the very definition of a normal politician.

[Mme. Defarge]

72. John Kerry's endorsement of Obama,

which happened before Edwards dropped out, was kind of a slap in the face. Perhaps there is some resentment there.

Or, maybe he just doesn't want to have to make that unpleasant phone call to the Clintons.

[krawhitham]

76. He wants to see who will give him a better appointment

[SoonerPride]

78. I think he's working up the courage to make that unpleasant phone call to Hillary

I'd call her at 3AM, myself, just to be funny.

But I'm like that.

[depakid]

79. "Why would you need to meet with an adviser?"

Because politics is complicated and involves many sets of considerations. Pays to run things by people that you trust- and listen to their takes.

I guess all these years of Bush have given folks the impression that the world is always black & white.

[NJSecularist]

84. Edwards has never made a political decision without his advisors holding his hand. n/t

[AP]

93. ...like when he wrote all his speeches on his own?

[NJSecularist]

95. A political decision is different than a political speech

And he has his own speechwriters too.

[adoraz]

87. This is good news.

If Edward's advisers have any common sense they will say Obama.

[spooky3]

88. People who don't seek advice from respected others before making important decisions

are a lot like George W. Bush.

Whoever your preferred candidate is certainly does seek and use advice from good people; s/he wouldn't be successful without doing that.

Asking others for inputs is not the same as not making a decision. It's simply gathering information and opinions. People who are smart can deal with complexity and more info, shades of gray vs. black and white, etc.

[otohara]

90. No Shit?

that's weird and disappointing.

[onenote]

92. I wouldn't expect him, or any other competent politician, to do otherwise

Silly OP.

[marshall]

94. With money like his he can afford numerous advisors

If I had his money, I'd be getting advise on what food to eat, what exercises to do, and when to go to the toilet. If someone has the resources why shouldn't they use them?