As disinterested as I am in the Presidential races at this point, I do have to get behind this sentiment right here, printed in Time magazine. John Edwards and Barack Obama have both been impressive, but the media’s take on Edwards in particular has been lazy, low-brow and tone deaf in terms of how his message lines up with what Americans are concerned about these days. For the sake of his un-minced words regarding health care and taxes, I’m more impressed with Edwards than any other candidate at this point.
Another challenge is that much of the attention he’s gotten recently has been the unflattering kind, stories that question his sincerity and assail his image as a fighter for the little guy by focusing on his pricey haircuts, huge house and hedge-fund job. These viral attacks, spreading from the Drudge Report and other blogs to newspapers everywhere, make a dumb argument. They assume that someone who’s wealthy can’t be a sincere advocate for poor and working people. By that logic, the healthy can’t speak on behalf of the sick, or whites on behalf of people of color (Al’s comment: Unless they’re a Republican). But in politics, of course, dumb arguments can hurt you, which is why some Edwards aides urged him not to build such a big house. Their effort failed because the Edwardses—having battled cancer and lost a son, Wade, in an automobile accident 11 years ago, when he was 16—wanted to enjoy the luxuries they could afford. “We live our lives,” says Elizabeth. “We’re not pretending to be anything we’re not. People have said, Don’t do this or that. How would it look? But I honestly don’t know how much time I’ve got. So we’re going to live our lives.”
Here’s what would truly be hypocritical: if Edwards spoke out on behalf of the disadvantaged while pushing policies that benefit the rich. This he does not do. He favors boosting the capital-gains tax rate for families earning over $250,000 and closing the loophole that allows fund managers—like those at Fortress Investment Group, where he earned almost $500,000 in 2006—to get taxed at just 15%. “He wants to take money away from the people who paid him,” says deputy campaign manager Jonathan Prince. “That’s not hypocrisy. That’s sincerity.”
Both Edwards and Obama seem to bring fresh ideas to the campaign, given the amount of time certain right wingers spend trying to bash Edwards makes me think that the right wing is far more afraid of him than they want to admit.
I don’t have an interest in this race as well, maybe when JANUARY rolls around… I like Kucinich (one, he’s from OHIO; two, he has introduced articles of Impeachment for both Bush and Cheney), but he doesn’t look good on T.V. Obama is democratic and cool (Oprah!), yet his stance against Pakistan scares me (I’m partial to Pakistan…It’s good to see Musharraf ceding power; I am looking forward to Benazir Bhutto’s return). John Edwards is a trial lawyer (And I think the American Bar Association has endorsed him; am I right?). So, he is as slick as ‘Slick Willie’, but he means as he says. The propaganda against him means that THEY really fear him as a candidate–which is a good thing! I’m with you; he is the most viable and likable candidate. So based on all that shit previously posted: Edwards is the candidate that should win. Yet, I fear that this race was decided months ago by some accounting executives at Young & Whoever the Fuck. Hillary has already won the nomination. The race is now: who will win the right to run as the VP? Edwards has the inside track–he’s my favorite, but my money is on Bill Richardson.
I know this guy, Ray Taliaferro, is preaching to the choir. At least he’s on AM Talk Radio (AM 810 M-F 0100-0500):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ7tse3scE0
[From Slate} Eco-weenie, heal thyself: Stating that America is the “worst polluter on the planet,” John Edwards told a labor group Tuesday that Americans are “going to have to change” and give up SUVs. Just don’t ask Edwards to sacrifice his 28,000 square-foot house or his Chrysler Pacifica. “I have no apologies whatsoever for what I’ve done with my life,” he said. This one’s just too easy.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u128/sapguy_us/EdwardsHome.jpg
http://www.slate.com/id/2173146/fr/flyout
CAVEAT BETTOR…just more propaganda for consumption. Yeah, Edwards is wealthy, but so is anyone else running for the highest office in the land. That’s the way it works in AmeriKKKa. So, what does Fred Thompson drive? If he even drives? Well, he has his own driver! (Probably). I’m sick and tired of the argument that the mopes running against Republicans are too wealthy for the common man…THEY (the republicans AND democrats) ARE ALL TOO WEALTHY TO REPRESENT THE COMMON MAN!!
And your point or link (what is your point, really?) about Pakistan: If you know the history of the country…I’m assuming you do…it’s a history of democratic elections and military takeovers. But the current situation is progress, in that there will be elections of a new parliament in the near future. Masharraf had no choice but to accept ‘the deal’ with Bhutto and Sharif. He’s been facing assassination for years. Five years from now, there will probably be another general ruling over the country. But today if you were in Musharraf’s shoes there is no possible way you can hold ANY free and fair election when your two top political rivals are exiled. I mean, if those two individuals aren’t allowed in the country, who are the Pakistani people going to vote for? Knucklehead Smith…err, Mohammed?
Fred Thompson isn’t a hypocrite on this issue (I have this Everyone Is A Hypocrite Theory, based on the theory of original sin). The non-photo link was just the reference to my eco-weenie quote. Apologies for the Pakistani Slate confiusion. Here are all 3 paragraphs:
Eco-weenie, heal thyself: Stating that America is the “worst polluter on the planet,” John Edwards told a labor group Tuesday that Americans are “going to have to change” and give up SUVs. Just don’t ask Edwards to sacrifice his 28,000 square-foot house or his Chrysler Pacifica. “I have no apologies whatsoever for what I’ve done with my life,” he said. This one’s just too easy.
Democratic presidential blogger Ben Smith at Politico explains: “All the candidates ride around, particularly in Iowa, in big cars — Hillary rode an 18-wheeler; Obama rented an RV; and Edwards, whose convoy is often mini-van centric, had this Cadillac SRX Crossover (15 mpg) beside him in Iowa on his arrival from announcing his candidacy for president in New Orleans, according to his Flickr stream.”
Law prof Glenn Reynolds at InstaPundit calls a photo of the Edwards estate with at least four SUVs outside “pretty damning,” and he quotes fellow legal eagle Professor Bainbridge: “Does this remind anybody else of Ted Kennedy’s simultaneous support for renewable energy and opposition to the wind farm proposed to be built near his Massachusetts home? It’s a particularly nasty form of NIMBYism when you have the power to force others to make sacrifices you aren’t willing to make.”
Caveat:
All the candidates are probably transporting quite a few people in those big vehicles that they are driving. If you are trying to move 20 people a big vehicle makes more sense than using 5 Priuss’
I know Edwards gets a lot of flack for his big house, chances are that he does quite a bit of entertaining there and in a sense it is a business address as well. Maybe it is more fuel efficient to have a dual use house than a seperate venue for meetings.
I think it is a myth that the only way to live in an eco friendly manner is to build a solor powered teepee and walk everywhere.