John Edwards: "I'm Sorry" (video)

[Adelante]

This video was posted at MyDD

http://mydd.com/story/2007/12/14/182521/12

It's short and pretty well done. Edwards supporters will not appreciate it, naturally.

It could have been by an Obama supporter or made to look that way. No way of telling. It could be Kucinich supporters, too.

[JDPriestly]

1. I guess this is a sign Edwards is ahead of somebody in Iowa.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I didn't watch the video because it took too long to load it in spite of my DSL, but it is easy for Edwards' supporters to be positive even in the face of a lot of negative flack. Here is what the CNN focus group said about Edward's debate success on Thursday:

CNN Focus Group Declared Edwards the Winner.
A CNN focus group of 23 undecided registered Democrats in Iowa who watched the debate declared John Edwards the winner of the debate. CNN's Mary Snow: "Twenty-three registered Democrats came in here undecided. We asked them who they felt performed the best in this debate and they concluded they felt that John Edwards performed the best, with Senator Clinton right behind him. Now of course, this is unscientific, but also the other question posed to them. If the election were held today, who would you vote for? And in that question, John Edwards came in first, Senator Barack Obama second, and Senator Clinton came in third." Those participating in the CNN dial group said they would vote for Edwards. "If you were going to vote today, for whom would you vote?": Edwards 39%, Obama 26%, Clinton 22%.

CNN: Edwards' Answer on Education Was One of Debate's Strongest Moments.
CNN's Mary Snow: "Also when the candidates were talking about education, that really resonated with the people here in this room, 23 registered democrats who are undecided. Take a look at how they responded when John Edwards was talking about his education plans." Video of Edwards: "We need to radically change No Child Left Behind. And if that doesn't work, we should get rid of it." Snow: "Those were two of the strongest moments."



Focus Group of Iowa Voters Declares Edwards the Winner.
Frank Luntz: "I want you to raise your hands if you walked in here with John Edwards as your first choice. One, two of you. How many of you thought John Edwards won the debate? What was it about John Edwards – you didn't pick him – but what was it about John Edwards you thought stood out?"

"Very believable…He came in there with answers": Democratic voter #1: "I had John Edwards coming in number three, and he was very believable, he didn't beat around the bush, he talked about the strong interest groups that he's been fighting for all the time, and he has a plan. He came in there with answers."

"Refreshingly authentic…I was very moved": Democratic voter #2: "I thought he was refreshingly authentic. I didn't expect it and I was very moved by many of his words."

"I was really moved": Frank Luntz: "Susan, you weren't an Edwards person when you walked in…" Democratic voter, Susan: "Edwards was my third choice when I walked in." Luntz: "And yet you thought he won." "He was concise, he got to the point, he answered the questions without beating around the bush, and I was really moved when he talked about how he has worked all his life like David v. Goliath. That impressed me."

"He was my third choice, now he is my first": Democratic voter #4: "That was my line exactly. Authenticity, number one. I think he would go after the corporations that are causing much of the trouble in the world today. He was my third choice, now he is my first."


http://www.johnedwards.com/news/press-releases/20071213-reviews-are-in-part-2/

And then there is the Washington Post.

Washington Post's Chris Cillizza: "One of the Most Gifted (if Not the Most Gifted) Debater on Any Stage.""John Edwards (First 45 minutes): Edwards is, without question, one of the most gifted (if not the most gifted) debater on any stage. And, for the first 45 minutes of the debate his populist 'us versus them' message really hit home. 'Corporate power and greed have literally taken over the government,' he said at one point; 'You have to be willing to fight....I have been fighting these people and winning my entire life,' he said at another."
<http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/12/democratic_debate_winners_and_/[br />
Edwards is not perfect, but then neither am I. Edwards speaks for me.

[bluestateguy]

2. Of course. Hillary, Obama and Kucinich never admit they are wrong about anything. They're perfect.

nt

[liberalmuse]

5. People still want John Wayne for President.

He (his movie characters-I never knew the real Marion Michaels) slaps around women, gays and minorities, he's an asshole, and he never admits he's wrong.

[cali]

7. endless apologies mean little to me.

I understand that some people place great weight on them. Not all of us do. After all, how does an apology make right hundreds of thousands of deaths. And Edwards, as a co-sponsor and leading war hawk, has more to apologize for than any of the others who voted for it.

[bluestateguy]

9. Oh brother

The level of ideological purity demanded by some people on this board suggests that if they were running for or holding elected office, they would not last 30 days.

[GreenArrow]

10. yeah, what's a few hundred thousand deaths.

And they were just Iraqis. Gotta break some eggs to make an omelette. Not only that, future political viability was at stake.

[JDPriestly]

17. Let's see now. Hillary apologized to Obama about the drug allegations

by her representative. Obama apologized about getting negative against Hillary. Edwards apologized about voting for the war. Hillary didn't apologize about voting for the war. Obama wasn't in Congress when the war vote was taken so being against the war was never his responsibility. So -- even Steven. Of the three major candidates, the two who had the responsibility and could have voted against the war didn't. Kucinich voted against the war, but then he did not have the money to rent an office in Iowa and get into the debates, so I hardly think he is out there making videos. If he did have money to spend on videos, he would spend it on positive videos. So, I doubt that any of the Democratic candidates are the ones. Could be Biden. But I don't think Biden or Dodd would waste their resources on such a video.

[1corona4u]

18. Odd though, don't you think, that it's what DK has sort of ....

made his tagline? A simple search on Google shows just how many times DK's been reported on having said it...I don't think any other candidate has said it......it was probably a DK supporter though, not DK himself...kind of like that first Obama video, slamming Hillary, that no one seemed to know where it came from;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h3G-lMZxjo

[CTLawGuy]

24. apology for one thing, ok

a bunch of things, then it looks like a leopard trying to change its spots.

Edwards has radically changed his position on:

Iraq War
Trade
Bankruptcy Bill
NCLB
Yucca Mountain

and I find it more than a bit worrisome. There's a difference between genuinely believing you were wrong on all those things and trying to simply recast yourself for political expediency.

[Yael]

35. Up until a year ago, I supported all of those things too

and (at the time) a registered (R), blindly drank the kool aide on a host of other things.

I changed, and as a registered (and Activist) Democrat now, I will stand behind those who admit they made a judgment error and go on the record about it.

Neo cons who "never" make a mistake and "never" admit that they were in any sense of the word *wrong* about something? Leave that to the (R)s to deal with. I have had enough of them for a lifetime.

[CTLawGuy]

37. and i welcome you

but you did not change all those positions just prior to running for president in the Democratic party.

[Yael]

38. Nope -- I changed them all before deciding who to support in that race though

I am an "early adopter" of Senator Edwards. :D

[liskddksil]

3. maybe Senators Obama and Clinton

Should apologize because they voted numerous times to keep funding the war.

[Andy823]

8. I agree, but

Some here seem to think that there is a difference, and "voting" to continue the war is some how not the same. I also think that Clinton and Obama should be explaining their "no vote" on several issues, like the Peru trade agreement. Now we have Reid putting forth a bill to give "amensty" to the telecom industry, and the only one really ticked off, and saying so, is Dodd. What is going on when Clinton and Obama both are silent? Could it be they have gotten to much money from these guys?

[creeksneakers2]

27. That isn't true

14 Senators sent a letter to Harry Reid complaining about the bill with telecom immunity going to the floor. Biden, Dodd, Obama and Clinton all signed the letter, every presidential candidate in the Senate.

So they weren't bribed.

[Donnachaidh]

4. I guess the cocaine story has lost it's edge - time to start on someone else

Such imaginative posting by Clinton supporters. :shrug:

[ChiciB1]

25. WHATEVER... Looks Like Edwards Must Be On The Mind Of Others

as a THREAT! Not venturing a guess myself, but I'm STICKING with Edwards! Bringing up someone saying their sorry in this way is a "Hit Piece" by someone!

What ELSE is new????

[BeatleBoot]

6. That's Sissy Stuff, For Sure. That's all you got?

:rofl:

Too funny.

:rofl:

This election is way too important for Sissy Shit, so please get out of the way and let the grown ups back in the room.

Way too funny!!!!

[Inspired]

11. Doesn't bother me a bit. n/t

[1corona4u]

12. I'd say DK...

He said those very words at one of the debates...he's also the one that slammed JE about being a trial lawyer, and it may have even been the same debate...can't remember....

[Adelante]

15. Yeah, getting it "right the first time"

I thought of DK on that.

[1corona4u]

16. Exactly, it's word for word what he said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFNoU3SkWHo&feature=related

I think it was in this debate...

[Auntie Bush]

13. Thanks Wes that was good.

Maybe it would be WRONG to pick Edwards. lol I guess he's learned a lot and would make a much better President in 2009 than he would have in 2005.
The important thing is he knows he was wrong! One can learn a lot by being wrong.

[FrenchieCat]

14. a few commercials waiting to happen.......

and a possible candidate that won't be able to counter those fact from early February till Late August. Pretty depressing scenario! :(

[1932]

19. ...not as depressing as having to vote for a Democrat not capable of making the kind of changes

America really needs.

[PresidentObama]

20. Wow. Edwards saying he's sorry. I guess he should be "tough" and not admit a mistake like HC and IWR

I guess I like a Presidential candidate whose honest about being wrong over those who think we're stupid and just simply just change their mind overnight without acknowledging they were clearly wrong....

I'm glad he's sorry for his IWR vote. So what he apologized? It doesn't right his wrong, but it sure as hell is better than nothing at all. And I sincerely believe he knows he was wrong for listening to the wrong people and voting the wrong way. If you don't trust his judgment, don't vote for him.

[Renew Deal]

21. The last line comes from Kucinich.

The last line in the video is something Kucinich is saying. Hillary has the most to gain from attacking Edwards. Maybe that's there isn't a name on it.

[Tom Rinaldo]

26. The Butler did it.

Lots of possible plot lines. Kucinich is battling for the mantle of most progressive candidate in the race and has gone after Edwards directly in the past. Obama wants to make this a two person race (just like Edwards wanted to do in 2004 come to think of it) with just him and Hillary - and Edwards beating him in Iowa would seriously hurt that effort. Clinton doesn't want to come in third in Iowa behind both Obama and Edwards, but she also has something to gain by anything that keeps Obama from winning there - so I'm not sure she has the most to gain.

[creeksneakers2]

28. Hillary wouldn't sponsor the ad

because the ad calls for a candidate who got the Iraqi war right the first time. That's claimed by Obama and Kucinich. For now we don't even know if the ad comes from a candidate at all.

[Quixote1818]

22. Those are the only three mistakes he has made over the years?

I would say that is a pretty good track record. :shrug:

[FrenchieCat]

23. No, there's more.......

the rest is being saved.

[MethuenProgressive]

30. and there's plenty of it.

The "I feel pretty" video was funny, at least.

[MethuenProgressive]

29. So ObamaNation goes negative - just like Obama promised - big deal.

:shrug:

[Cameron27]

31. I'd say he asked for it,

it's pretty much the same kind of video he put up about H. Clinton. I think it's from either DK or Obama supporters though, Clinton wouldn't want attention on her Iraq vote either.

[mtnsnake]

32. Ouch

Very effective, to say the least

[Tom Rinaldo]

33. He better be prepared to face something like this from the G.O.P.

if he becomes our nominee. With their political hit budget I bet they can find a few more "sorrys" to splice into an attack ad. Probably a front group would fund it, not even the G.O.P. candidate's own campaign committee. I am reminded of the G.O.P. Kerry windsurfing ads.

The good part is we can all see this coming from ten miles away, so Edwards shouldn't get blindsided by this type of attack meme. It would become the 2008 equivelent of "I voted for it before I voted against it". Get to work Edwards team - "incoming"...

[Yael]

34. As an Edwards supporter, I applaud this video

We have had 7 years of a lying liar who lies who couldn't even apologize for slamming the car door if his life depended on it, much less EVER admit that he is anything less than the Omnipresent Omnipotent Infallible Decider. Yep, that is Our Great Leader and I for one am sick of it.

I think it is refreshing and goes to the populist in the Senator.

YMMV

Edit for Spelling

[Yuugal]

36. "Edwards supporters will not appreciate it, naturally."

Why not? I'm for Edwards and part of the reason I support him is that when he fucks up he at least says hes sorry. The current asshat in charge cant do it and neither can Hillary. Edwards is the only populist with a chance in this primary and I'm sure pulling for him. Edwards is saying the right things and thats a start. With Hillary I know right from the get go she doesn't give a rat's ass what any progressive thinks.

Working class people like me have suffered under nafta and the bankruptcy bill and the Iraq mess and on and on and on. There is just no way in hell I'm going to vote for Hillary until she apologizes for her part in these things and gives this progressive some hope that she actually gives a shit how hard things are getting for my family. I don't care how much Edward's haircut cost, don't care if Bill's cock has been in every secretary in Harlem, don't care if Hillary is having lesbian 3-ways with the cast of girls gone wild, and I don't care if Obama STILL smokes crack. It just doesn't matter to me. Show me how you are going to help get my kids through college. Show me how you are going to end the war. Show me something,anything Hillary or you wont get my vote and you wont get the vote of millions of other suffering Americans who have had enough of the corporate bullshit America has become.

Hell, I'd rather stay at home on election day and play with the kids than to waste my time voting for any more corporate war mongers.