The courage to get specific (email from Edwards campaign)

[JohnLocke]

Dear Friend,

You and I know how play-it-safe campaign experts always tell candidates: stay vague; that way no one will disagree with you. Say "end the war!" but don't say when. Say "health care for all!" but don't say how. Well, John Edwards must have been absent the day they taught how to dodge and weave in candidate school — because this is not that kind of campaign.

In New Hampshire this weekend John visited more than a thousand people across the state. In living room after living room I saw how folks lit up when they realized this was something different — something worth fighting for.

The Concord Monitor story about John's trip ran with the headline: "Edwards offers specifics aplenty" — and that speaks volumes. We can bring this new kind of politics to voters nationwide. But to get the job done, we need your help.

This campaign is not about calculation, it's about courage.

In yesterday's New York Times, columnist Paul Krugman summed up the difference well in his piece titled "Substance over Image." He wrote:

All the leading Democratic candidates say they're for universal care, but only John Edwards has come out with a specific proposal. The others have only offered vague generalities ... with no real substance.

And here's more of what the Concord Monitor had to say about John's weekend visit to New Hampshire:

In message and delivery, former senator John Edwards used a string of house parties yesterday to set himself apart from the leading Democratic presidential candidates who have called on New Hampshire voters recently.

Edwards laid out his plan for universal health care… Edwards then encouraged questions on any topic ... "If you don't bring up Iraq, I will," he told the crowd at the Nashua ... In Salem, he talked about improving relations with Iran ... In Concord, Edwards talked about finding a competent and accountable leader for rebuilding New Orleans ... In each place, he called for the United States to stop the genocide in Darfur and to take action on global warming.

"When people know where you stand, when (your opinion) isn't fuzzy, they can disagree with you," he said in Salem. "I believe it's more important to say who you are."

Most politicians stay away from clarity and substance, because when you put out real ideas and real proposals, people can disagree with you. But if you’re serious about changing America, it’s the only way to go.

Success in this new kind of politics depends on each one of us pitching in.

We need to reach out to voters in living rooms, town halls and on the airwaves all across the country. And as more and more people sign up to help, we need more outreach materials to mail, and more organizers on the ground in key states. All of this is critical to our victory, and none of it is cheap.

Please click here to chip in what you can today.

Thank you,

Jonathan Prince
Deputy Campaign Manager
John Edwards for President

[patrice]

1. I don't think he is actually saying so, but

Thom Hartman is leaning Edwards; that means a lot to me.

But I know he also cares enough about the process to not commit yet, because he wants everyone to get as much time as possible to develope, before everyone starts picking their candidates.

I'm reading up on Edwards and Richardson. Starting to think now that Gore should stay out of it, so he can do the maximum for the Environment, Secretary of the Interior?

[bpeale]

2. those are my main 2 candidates

Richardson & Edwards (not necessarily in that order), and I have already donated to the campaigns of both of them. and will donate more as money permits.

[patrice]

3. Richardson strikes me as a person of the same calibre as

Howard Dean. I think he has much more to offer than he has shown yet.

I hope they all stop attacking each other, and partisans stop contributing to the band-wagon effect, so their best qualities can shine.