Edwards List Reasons to Vote for Him Over Obama: "we need somebody who’s ready for this battle"

[Karmadillo]

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2007/12/14/21946/987

Edwards List Reasons to Vote for Him Over Obama
By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 08:09:46 PM EST

During a speech in Iowa today, a voter asked John Edwards why Iowans should vote for Edwards over Obama. Edwards gave two reasons, one he called substantive and one political.

As president, Edwards said, he would be more successful in fighting the powerful corporations and interests that he says control America’s health-care system and other important areas.

Obama, he said, would take a more conciliatory approach. “He talks about bringing drug companies, insurance companies, oil companies, etc., to the table and working with them and negotiating and compromising,” Edwards said. “I just think that’ll never work. If that would work, it would have worked years ago. If that worked, we’d have universal health care. We don’t.”

....we need somebody who’s ready for this battle.”

On the political side, Edwards said he's more electable.

he is more likely to win the general election because he can appeal to voters in states that have gone Republican in the past.

“This is not an academic exercise. We have to win,” Edwards said.

more...

[Bitwit1234]

1. And someone to do something on their own

with a guy like Obama missing such critical votes and letting Oprah lead him around on a leash, like she has a prize bull, what do you expect from him...doddly squat.

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. *GASP*

Edwards going negative on Obama?!? How dare he!!!

What does he think this is? Politics???

[MNDemNY]

4. will he be vilified as HRC has been by the Obamanation?

Or are they only interested in slamming her? GO JOHN !!!!

[Windy]

8. that is a legitimate statement. Obama's admitted drug experimentation in High School is not...

nor his kindergarten essays...

Edwards is not engaging in dirty politics. Clinton is!!!!

Trust me, if Edwards was a challenge, these slime would be going after Elizabeth. Don't even think for a moment that the clinton campaign wasn't responsible for floating this affair rumors in the media awhile back!!!!!!

Wake up Clinton supporters!!! We don't need anymore gutter residents in the whitehouse!!!

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. I agree it is a legitimate topic

In the past on this board "negative" has often been equated with "dirty" however. When Clinton was accused of being wishy washy and compromising by Obama and/or Edwards, that was considered just speaking the truth and therefor honorable. When Clinton pointed out similarities in her stances with the ones held by her opponents when they attacked her over hers, that was called negative campaigning, and any negative campaigning by her became equated with dirty campaigning. Literally calling attention to the answers that were submitted by Obama's campaign to questions about his positions on issues during his own 1996 campaign was called dirty politics.

[Windy]

14. She claimed negative. I watch all campaigns and no one claimed dirty pool for issue discussion but H

[Armstead]

3. Pithy

>>If that would work, it would have worked years ago. If that worked, we’d have universal health care. We don’t.

That's what I like about Edwards. We've been negotiating and compromising and trying to get Health Inc. to act reasonably and humanely for years. It hasn;t worked. Instead, they've made it worse.

[theHandpuppet]

5. I agree with him -- which is why I've decided for Edwards

I think John could and would fight and could and would win, no matter what the entrenched powers of opposition might be. I've held off making a decision about who to support because I wanted a good hard look at all the candidates. I've decided Edwards is the one for me and hopefully he'll be the one to lead America.

[BeyondGeography]

6. Sorry, but Edwards comes across as too much of the lone-wolf trial lawyer

for me to even begin to buy this. Is there a single example of him, in his oh-so-brief government career, leading the way and working with all relevant parties to get one significant piece of legislation passed?

As the after-reporting on his relationship with Kerry during the 2004 race confirms, this is a guy who doesn't play well with others. I can't see him even being able to begin to build the foundation needed for meaningful change in this government.

[Ninga]

7. Sometimes that is EXACTLY what is needed. Someone who knows how to fight, and does not

have any entrenched loyalties.

Look at how the Clinton's are calling in their chits from all of the favors Bill did when he was in the WH.

Is there anything wrong with that? Nope. But what it does, is keeps people from speaking their mind and being independent.



John plays very well with the people he needs to......and learned his lessons the hard way....and some of them were at Kerry's knee.

[BeyondGeography]

11. The notion that Edwards is the only fighter for change in this race

is both silly and unsupported by the facts.

Here, read up on how Obama worked his way up to a leadership role in the IL Senate and what he was able to achieve there:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g3bEfZI-OMBIM1SD8fqL9a4kO0LQD8THGTR00

If you can respond with an article describing Edwards' success at making anything significant happen in government, I'd be more than happy to read it.

[Ninga]

17. Obama is fine and a fighter. I prefer Edwards.

[The River]

21. Here Ya Go Slick

In response to a similar whine at DKos
by philgoblue

It's in the comment section

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/15/141611/69/545/422521

"Edwards in the Senate

Clinton Defense Leader in Impeachment Trial

Kennedy-Edwards-McCain Patients' Bill of Rights

Kennedy-Edwards Minimum Wage Raise Bills

"Vote Against Bush's First Taxgiveaway

Vote Against Bush's Second Taxgiveaway

Vote Against $87 Billion "I support Bush's War Bill"

Wrote Bill that allowed individuals to buy prescription drugs from Canada

Wrote and Sponsored Bill that would make sexual orientation a legally protected category in job discrimination

Wrote Sunset Provision into Patriot Act

Floor leader for Feingold-McCain Campaign Finance Reform.

Voted against the Chilean trade agreement, against the Caribbean trade agreement, against the Singapore trade agreement, against final passage of fast track for this president.

And before that Edwards actually defeated a Republican incumbent in a Red State who had the Helms Machine with him."

[tekisui]

9. Edwards is smart.

He let Obama get the lead, and is going after him. He conserved political energy by letting Hillary and Obama take shots at each other. Now he can focus on Obama, and could have his rise occur in the last week before Iowa.

Just 19 days!

[Bullet1987]

12. This isn't negative...

it's arguing about policy. Not bringing up someone's drug use and kindergarden essays and muslim emails.

[tekisui]

13. No, it is clean politics.

I don't think its negative either. I'm just saying he is making a move. A straight forwards political hit. I think a Obama/Edwards fight would be of substance and healthy.

I just thinking Edwards is smart. He knows how the Clinton's play, so he let Obama take the low blows, before he made a clear challenge to the frontrunner.

[derby378]

15. I think I'll vote for Richardson instead, thank you

Hmmmm, lemme see, Edwards or Obama? Both want to ban semi-automatics? Yep, I'm gonna go with Bill.

[Union Thug]

16. My heart is with Dennis, but Edwards continues to win me over...

...and this is why. A conciliatory approach has not and will not work. Dead on.

[annie1]

19. hmmm. interesting.

(not being sarcastic)

[cali]

18. It's a trust issue for me.

Between the two, I trust Obama over Edwards. Edwards, history, bad judgement on issues, unethical investments, and contradictory statements make me cautious about him. I'm also undecided whether or not he's pandering. Obama's history demonstrates that he's more of a progressive than Edwards. Edwards words suggest he's more progressive than Obama. I can't just take someone's word for it.

[jenmito]

20. The Repubs. would play videos of his large home and his brushing his hair over and over and over...

and HE'LL be done. Not to mention bringing up the fact that he was a co-sponsor to the IWR. He doesn't have enough money to counter.

[ClarkUSA]

22. Funny how this is the second thread by a Hillaryworlder about Edwards v. Obama

Are you guys trying to put a wedge between the two anti-Hillary candidate supporter groups? Hmmm???

Because it won't work... Obama and Edwards supporters can talk peaceably about the differences between their candidates just fine, thanks.

Especially since it looks as if they might come in #1 and #2 in Iowa at the moment.

Gee, the prospect of Hillary being #3 sucks, doesn't it? :-)