If you consider yourself a Progressive

[Indenturedebtor]

Then please tell me who you choose of the remaining three and why?

I choose Edwards first, second Obamarama, and third Clinton.

Edwards - He seems to me to speak from the heart. He seems to really care about poverty and to understand what a struggle it is to get by much less to get ahead in this country. I like his proposal for Healthcare, though I truly favor getting rid of the Ins companies alltogether, it's the furthest left of the proposals and the closest step to where we need to be imo. Further, I think that his sincerity would win a lot of votes in the GE, and go a long ways towards getting things done once in office. The country cries out for someone that they can trust.

And what's more he's declared war against the Corporatocracy. Yes he's rich, but so was FDR. So don't hit me with that crap. All of the candidates are well off.


-------------

Obama - I think that though he wouldn't quite take the strides that Edwards would towards a more leftist society, he's a good enough speaker etc that I think he could be effective in getting the country behind him. While he's certainly more "political" than Edwards, I have heard republic friends say that they might vote for him. That's promising.

Further while he is certainly in a stronger embrace with the Corporatist task masters than Edwards, he hasn't openly embraced them and that's better than nothin ;)

--------------

Clinton - I place her last because I don't trust her. The MSM, the Corporations, and finally the Republicans trust her. Either to lose the election or to do their bidding once in office. She's an old school, cold, calculating "Moderate Dem" which to me spells "repub-lite". She's inspired more hatred than any single candidate from either side, both within the party and without. She supports the classic Dem ideals of womens right to choose, a slightly mmore accessible healthcare system, and some commitments to the environment. But stops short of proposing the drastic changes that we need right now.

I can understand how some Dems support her based on her MSM touted "electability" and "inevitability", however is she a Progressive? Show me some evidence please.


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Finally, please tell me is anyone here an Edwards/Clinton supporter? An Obama/Clinton supporter? I know that many are Edwards/Obama.

[NJSecularist]

1. How can you consider Edwards a progressive?

When his senate record is anything but progressive?

[AP]

5. He was more progressive on trade issues than Gephardt and Kucinich, and scored 100% from labor

organizations.

Since when has being anti-neoliberal NOT progressive?

[Mythsaje]

7. That's a lie.

He has a very solid record of standing up for working people, freedom of choice, and civil rights.

[NJSecularist]

8. He has a very solid record...

of being consistently on the wrong side of the issues and then apologizing.

Yukka, IWR, Bankrupcy Act. I could go on and on.

[Mythsaje]

10. Cherry picking will get you all sorts of things.

The overall record is quite liberal and populist.

[NJSecularist]

12. His overall Senate record is quite centrist

[avaistheone1]

9. Hillary and Obama's record are not really progressive.

The difference is that Edwards has spent the last several years scouring the country talking to various groups. As a result, Edwards has learned he has made mistakes, and more importantly he openly admits them and takes responsibility. He has great compassion and wants to create a platform of economic justice to lift the American working/middle class.

More importantly Edwards has the boldest, most progressive plans for the country than any of his challengers that is Obama and Hillary. In fact Obama and Hillary have been forced to take pieces of Edward's plans because theirs are so inadequate.




The corporations are shakey in their boots. They are scared of John Edwards.

[Cant trust em]

13. You mention HRC's and Obama's records not being progressive

neither is John Edwards' record. I am happy that he is talking about progressive issues more heavily than the other two candidates, but his record doesn't reflect that.

[mahina]

15. ptttthhht.

[mahina]

16. Oh, and welcome to DU.

Sorta.

[Levgreee]

2. I choose Obama because...

he is for the most part honest, he seems genuine, he is intelligent, he is very progressive but REALISTIC about it. I also think he is very good at bringing people together, which is needed to push forth agendas. Even if we get a Dem in the White House, there is a lot of work before they can get everyone to support their policies so we don't get deadlocked.

[Colobo]

4. My feelings, exactly. Great post and Gobama.

[FredScuttle]

3. Obama is not a "progressive"

Not as long as he's hosting "ex-gay" clown bigots to host his campaign events.

[uppityperson]

6. So far we have posters saying Edwards and Obama aren't progressive...

more fun on DU in GDP

[Cant trust em]

11. 1. Obama 2. Edwards 3. Clinton

Where I do feel like John Edwards is probably the most progressive candidate, I feel like Barack Obama has the best shot at moving the country in that direction. He has shown the best ability to bring different people onto his side of the issue. Coming out of the most divisive time in recent memory I think that we need someone who is able to bring differing points of view to the table. I know that the idea of compromise is totally anathema to many DUers, but that's the only way things are going to happen right now. We're not going to come from the extremes of the Bush administration to the progressive ideal in one election cycle. The pendulum of change doesn't swing that fast.

As for option number 3, I find it difficult to get that excited about Hillary Clinton. The lack of apology for the IWR vote still sticks in my craw.

[mahina]

14. Obama, because in spite of the lies that are told over and over,

he has the best combination of cool head, clear mind, strong heart to lead this country in good times and otherwise.

His judgement, while none of us is perfect, has been shown to be better than Clinton when it mattered.

His heart is proven by the sacrifice, graduating at the top of this class at Harvard Law, 1st black editor of the law review, could have earned hundreds of thousands a year easy, but went and served as a community organizer for 13k a year for YEARS before serving his two 4 year terms as Illinois state senator.

I really love the man and his family, with deep aloha. His words lift my heart and make me believe, to paraphrase the great Langston Hughes, that we can make America, America again.

People forget he is from Hawaii, but we will never forget. People grumble all the time about the quality of politicians, but people, judge how we treat those who really give up so much just for the chance to serve.

His honesty, heart, humor, brilliance and compassion make him no ka oi. But I like Edwards too.

aloha pau 'ole, GOBAMA!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yqoFwZUp5vc

[Indenturedebtor]

17. Thanks for the responses guys

I really do want to hear what you all think. Please also if there are any Obama/Clinton Supporters, Edwards/Clinton Supporters stand up and be counted. I'd really like to hear arguments why.

[AndyTiedye]

18. The Progressive in the Race Dropped Out

We have 3 somewhat conservative Democrats running for President now.
None of them have particularly progressive voting records.
Edwards sounds better than the others. We all wish he had voted the way he talks now.
Hillary is a fighter, we wish she would fight for us more of the time.
Obama hopes that the Repigs will work with him if he plays nice. Uhhh.

None of them are strong candidates, struggling to poll ahead of the doddering McCain!
Edwards seems the best of the three on positions (current ones at least) and electability.