REPORT: John Edwards in Pre-Endorsement Conversations with Hillary and Barack

[jefferson_dem]

JOHN EDWARDS IN PRE-ENDORSEMENT CONVERSATIONS WITH REMAINING DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
HELD SECRET MEETING WITH HILLARY CLINTON ON THURSDAY IN CHAPEL HILL.
SCHEDULED TO SIT DOWN THERE WITH BARACK OBAMA MONDAY.

Clinton snuck there from DC undetected by the media — met at the Edwards house.

http://thepage.time.com/2008/02/10/page-exclusive-tar-heel-talks/

[Demeter]

1. Prepared to Sell His Honor Dear

Hope he gets something for it. Something with dividends for all of us.

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[K Gardner]

2. So much for Edwards endorsing with the strength of his own convictions? I guess I'm

the only one this bothers, because we've all, frankly, known something was going on for awhile now that amounted to "best offer" and no one has really addressed it. I don't care who he ends up endorsing, honestly I don't. But for all his talk and all the belief people had in him for standing alone and standing on his principles, this whole situation rings very hollow for me.

Flame away.
Edited to add: Please remember that I campaigned for and voted for JE in 2003/2004 and again donated and supported in 2007/2008.

[polichick]

5. It bothers me - just posted it on another thread and was criticized for it...

Too bad - I call it like I see it.

[Skwmom]

8. Edwards is a phony. Edwards is in it for Edwards. He and Bill

Clinton are like two peas in a pod. He'll support Clinton. Mudcat saying he would do anything to keep Edwards from endorsing Clinton should have been a BIG hint about which way Edwards was leaning.

[jackson_dem]

11. WAAHHHHHH! EDWARDS WON'T ENDORSE ST. OBAMA!

Maybe Edwards remembers whose cronies started the "Edwards is a phony" meme?

[K Gardner]

25. Because that's exactly what I said, isn't it, JD. Grow up and enter the discussion if you want

but please stop the juvenile responses.

Edited to add: Unless you were kidding, in which case I wish you'd use the sarcasm tag :-)

[jackson_dem]

30. You're assuming he thinks there are policy differences between the two

There aren't many. It isn't like he is endorsing McCain over St. Obama.

[K Gardner]

45. I'm assuming he knows there are policy and other issues between the two, yes.

[jackson_dem]

56. Not many and where they exist they split

It isn't like one is right on every issue where they disagree. See OzarkDem's post downthread.

[Skwmom]

26. In 2004 I said Edwards is a phony. If Edwards endorses Clinton it

will just show him for the charlatan he is.

[jackson_dem]

9. Maybe he, like most Edwardians, recognizes there is no significant policy diferrence between the 2

If that is the case then go with the one who can help you achieve more of your aims.

[KittyWampus]

43. Hillary has nothing to say about addressing Poverty, Edwards' signature issue. Obama, has a very

detailed plan.

If Edwards does endorse Hillary, it will problematic in terms of his integrity.

[jackson_dem]

58. See OzarkDem's post downthread

Only Obamites have a gun to Edwards' head demanding he MUST endorse St. Obama. Hillary supporters are pure class and not demanding Edwards endorse Hillary.

[Alexander]

78. I'm sure Edwards really cares what some anonymous DUers say about him.

:rofl:

[OzarkDem]

33. Obama supporters bashing Edwards now?

You folks have no integrity.

[More Than A Feeling]

40. Once again, I fully sympathize with JRE.

I can't make up my mind who to pick among the remaining two, either. Emotionally, Obama's starting to get to me, I like some of his policies and I'm excited to see if he could maintain the overwhelming turn-outs in the GE, but some of the things he's done turn me away. Hillary scares me in many ways, but not as much as some other people. This isn't 2002 or 1994. There is no good political reason to triangulate right now, and her one attempt (Kyl-Lieberman) has fallen flat on its face.

So I don't get why Edwards is suddenly the bad guy because he's taking his sweet time to make this difficult decision. Even if he's holding out for the best deal, isn't that in the interest of Edwards supporters (which K Gardner was), to have our guy in the place where he can do the most good?

I just don't get it.

[K Gardner]

48. I guess I don't equate "best deal" with integrity. You're welcome to speak to me directly instead

of talking about me in another post.

[More Than A Feeling]

63. Integrity is expressed differently in different situations.

In the situation of JRE, for example, he doesn't have the luxury of making an "above it all" judgment without care for what the candidates will do for his blessing in return. He has some power (how much is debatable) and he has a responsibility to use it wisely, for the good of those who supported him, since that is who he derives that power from. The more the other candidates sound and act like him (politically speaking), or put him in a position to do part of his platform, the more integrity there will be in asking his supporters to follow him in supporting...whomever.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Yael]

46. It is possible that one (or more) of his plaforms will be taken

As a JRE supporter -- I believe in his message and I believe that is the most important thing to him.

I would like to see him as our AG -- restoring dignity back to the Judicial arm of this country.

[grantcart]

3. Read in a UK paper quoting Obama saying that he was in regular

contact with JE

[ecstatic]

4. uggh... why does it seem like he's tossing his vote to whoever he thinks can win so he can be VP

again?

[Demeter]

80. Politics and Sausage-Making: Not for the Faint-Hearted

Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made.
Otto von Bismarck

The same holds true for those strange bedfellows we often encounter in election years.

[Eurobabe]

6. I just can't see JRE endorsing Hillary n/t

[TheCool]

7. How do they know what the conversations were?

Sounds like speculation to me.

[Adelante]

12. Welcome to DU, TheCool

:hi:

[TheCool]

27. Thank you!

Hope my stay is long and full of flames!

[jezebel]

19. Mark Halperin is a Clinton loyalist, so I suspect his source is the Clinton camp. nt

[DJ13]

10. If his platform meant more to him than just empty PR to run, he shouldnt NEED to negotiate

He already knows the two candidates left, and Im sure he must have a good idea which would more closely follow the ideals he was running on, so "negotiating" now seems more carrer oriented than an extension of his support for the poor and downtrodden.

[jackson_dem]

14. What are the differences between the two?

Maybe Edwards, like his supporters, can see they are about the same on the issues.

[K Gardner]

16. That's sort of what I was trying to say, thanks DJ.

[chimpymustgo]

42. "Negotiate" is YOUR word. You've decided to negatively characterize the discussions.

That's your karma, babe.

[K Gardner]

49. Good point, chimpy.. thanks.

[Metric System]

13. I see the Obama supporters are alreadu bashing Edwards. You know, he very well may endorse Obama so

I'm not sure why some of you are already on the attack.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

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[jefferson_dem]

24. Jackson picks up the cult meme.

Impressive. I wonder what your avatar idol would think of that dismissal.

[jackson_dem]

32. That was going to far

Some Obamites have cultlike tendencies, especially the ones in the blogosphere. That is accurate and this thread has several examples of it. Calling the 6 million people who voted for him a cult is going too far.

[jefferson_dem]

35. ...

:toast:

[DS1]

50. replies like this are so similar and wrong, I'm starting to think it's the Clinton crowd

who are the most cultist. Everything's an attack on them, just like how the Scientologists react. Everything is black and white to you, and all Obama supporters do it, according to you. This is entirely untrue.

I'd be happy to have either candidate in the White House.

[jackson_dem]

61. I admitted I was wrong in post 32

[K Gardner]

20. This has bothered me for awhile and it has nothing to do with WHO he endorses. I guess I

should have put on my suit of armor and posted my feelings more directly in earlier threads over the past weeks, to keep people from thinking it has anything to do with a candidate. Its about principles, which is why I supported Edwards in the first place. Its about trust, which I'm starting to think I was foolish to have in him.

[BooScout]

59. I agree......

I just don't think he'll endorse Hillary.....as much as I wish he would.

[Thrill]

15. There are several rumors around here in NC

that he's going to endorse in Ohio. And its likely going to be to help Obama where Edwards is very popular

[OzarkDem]

39. I hope not, Obama is a poor choice

His health care policy and trade policies are bad, not good for Ohio or the rest of the US.

[Yael]

41. Heya Brent

Any more news as to the Governor rumor?

[Thrill]

68. Thats not going to happen

because everyone is excited out Richard Moore running. He's the secretary of Treasure. Still I don't see why Edwards won't take on Dole

[Yael]

69. The Dole thing would be interesting.

I have a 20 year (R) in the house that we are looking to unseat with a relatively unknown Dem.

I think with Barack's coattails -- we have a chance to sweep people who will never see it coming!

[Thrill]

72. Yup I've been voluteering for Larry Kissell US congress

trying to take down another warmonger Robin Hayes. He's in a district that where if Obama is the nominee, it will help him a ton in taking that seat from the Republicans

http://www.larrykissell.com/

[Yael]

73. Exciting!

I get goosebumps when I think of the potential landslide.

[JackORoses]

18. the Secret Hillary meeting was a last ditch attempt to get him not to endorse Obama

Edwards will likely do so on Monday.

Gobama!

[jefferson_dem]

21. My thoughts exactly.

We'll see what happens but my money is on an Obama endorsement the first of the week.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

22. Mark Halperin is a Obama loyalist, so I suspect his source is the Obama camp. nt

[jezebel]

28. cute ;) But it really is obvious he parrots the talking points of Clinton. nt

[Seen the light]

23. He'll endorse Obama

He has too much integrity to endorse Senator Clinton.

[K Gardner]

29. Even if he does.. what does it say that he has had to be "courted" or that he didn't say something

on his own. His silence has bothered me since he left the race. I'm just trying to get it to make sense and match the picture in my head of the man.

[jackson_dem]

34. Look at this framing

He MUST endorse Obama or else he lacks integrity, or as others have said he is a fraud. This is not based on reality. Hillary and Obama are very, very, very much alike on the issues. I can see why he is having trouble choosing one because I, and many Edwardians, are having the same trouble.

[OzarkDem]

47. Obama's health care and trade plans are very different

not nearly as good as Clinton's or Edwards.

He doesn't provide universal coverage or cap premiums of private insurance plans
He taxes employer paid health insurance as income
His trade plans to nothing to stop good paying US jobs from going overseas, but continue to make US workers compete w/ low wage workers overseas.

Most of his policies are full of GOP triangulation, poison pills, lack of adequate oversight, scant details

Edwards took a great deal of time to develop his positions. It would cheapen that effort if he endorsed Obama. And if I were Edwards I wouldn't take him on his word that he will "change" or "fix" gaps in his policy after election. Obama's a shape-shifter, expert at telling people what they want to hear.

[jackson_dem]

52. And Edwards must know all of that

Hillary is better on those issues but Obama is better on poverty per se, although that issue is related to health care and trade. There is no clear cut answer and I am sure Edwards is weighing who can do the most overall good.

[K Gardner]

54. Another good point :-)

[Blue_In_AK]

64. You are correct, Jackson_Dem.

Six of one, half dozen of the other. I don't see that many clear differences overall. Some things I like Obama better for, some things I like Hillary. Both are far from perfect.

[OzarkDem]

36. Obama supporters bash Edwards now?

Do they hate everyone? This is really lame, really pathetic. It sure doesn't speak well for your candidate if you're the kind of people who support him.

[DS1]

57. HOW THE FUCK IS THIS OP A BASH?

It simply reports that meetings have taken place.

[surfermaw]

67. So why they endorse Obama, every time his name is mentioned they go into a rage

It John Edwards own business who he endorses, I suspect he knows both of them better than we do.

[Owl]

37. If so,

please let it be Mr. Obama.

We need a fresh start.

- Owl

[ursi]

38. HOLD OUT FOR THE POOR, JOHN!

[Yael]

44. This Edwards Democrat really doesn't care who he endorses

I am more concerned now about volume at the polls for down ticket races and I am sticking with Obama on it.

If he goes with Obama, great. If he goes with Clinton, I will support him in that -- but will remove the Edwards 08 sticker from my car so as to not send mixed messages.

[More Than A Feeling]

53. How...sensible.

Good to see that not all Edwards supporters who have chosen new sides are feeling bad about their old loyalty just because Edwards isn't validating their choice.

[Yael]

70. I trust that he will do what he feels is best

My priority now is to get an unknown Dem seated in the house. He is challenging a 20 year (R) who just keeps getting sent back. That (R) voted AGAINST S-CHIP this past fall.

Its all about down ticket and who can motivate people for me. Not about policy agreements.

If we sweep the house and senate with dems -- the entire landscape changes and what is "policy agreements" today will be free to exit stage left into more aggressive progressive territory.

JMO!

[Adelante]

55. The man can endorse who he thinks best

I wouldn't criticize anyone's political choices. I hope Obama supporters will respect whatever endorsement is made.

[K Gardner]

60. I will, Wes. :-)

[Adelante]

62. Okay

:pals:

[Yael]

71. I most certainly will!

:hi:

[surfermaw]

65. And they will be begging for our support should Obama win

I don't think he will endorse any one until the convention, when Gore arrives on the scene

[Reader Rabbit]

66. Is the article for real? It seems like satire to me.

There has been a lot of speculation about the recent talks between John Edwards and his former rivals. There have been some contacts that have been made public and some that have stayed secret.

There has also been a lot of unsubstantiated reporting about what Edwards might be asking for in these conversations.

It is true that Edwards, before leaving the race, secured pledges from both Obama and Clinton to emphasize fighting poverty and helping the middle class as part of their agendas.

What Elizabeth Edwards thinks about all this is not known.

Aides to Clinton and Obama refused to publicly comment to The Page about the on-going talks.

Edwards and his advisors could not be reached for comment.

"A lot of speculation"? "Unsubstantiated reporting"? "What Elizabeth Edwards thinks about all this is not known"? NOBODY commenting?

:wtf:

The whole thing is a waste of bandwidth. This guy's story is basically, "All we can tell you is that we don't know dick! But we're gonna make it seem like we do so we can get everyone good and riled!"

Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ, people. Whoever this guy is, he's a tool.

[BeyondGeography]

74. The biggest point that Edwards and Obama have in common is to change the way Washington works

that means taking on lobbyists and special interests and reducing their role in shaping legislation.

No one came down harder on Clinton for taking lobbyists' money in this campaign than Edwards.

No one did more at the debates to portray Clinton as the status quo and Edwards and Obama as the forces of change than Edwards.

Edwards figuratively put his arm around Obama at one debate and said, in so many words, see, we're the change guys, she's the status quo. Heck, they were even accused of "psychologically gang banging" her by one of the NOW nuts.

The bond between Edwards and Obama on the need to downsize special interests in Washington should easily trump the technical disagreement they have on how to best work toward universal health care in this country.

That said, it will be darkly comical and my cynical side will dance all over my idealistic heart if he endorses Hillary.

[surfermaw]

77. Frankly my friends WE need all Three of them......

And a house full of democrats, and a Senate full of democrats, other wise nothing any one of them has proposed is worth a darn, now don't come here telling me how they will work across the aisle, republicans don't work across the aisle, unless it is in their favor, heck they have had the house senate and president for 8 years have you seen a republican reach out to any democrat.

[hill08]

75. I guess

Edwards' head tells him to endorse Hillary, but political survival instinct tells him to wait a little more

[TacticalPeek]

76. If there's anything to this, I hope it plays out well.

I think that the next several weeks are the chance for maximum influence by the only populist progressive with any delegates. I plan to vote for him next month because I think if he picked up a few more delegates, it would strengthen his hand assuming Clinton and Obama stay neck and neck, which most analysts expect. At that point, 40 or 50 delegates could tip the balance, and that sort of convention/pre-convention alliance is somewhat in keeping with tradition and expected.

If he endorses before the coming big state primaries, that places the emphasis on his endorsement decision rather than the delegates he's won. It gives the appearance of a short-circuiting, backroom deal, so that if he gets appointed AG or whatever, critics will tarnish the position by always casting his actions as payoff and payback from the election. No matter that compromising and deal-making are part and parcel of politics, the media has their way of jerking the public nose ring toward whatever frame suits their owners' purpose.

I'm confident he'll play it smart, whatever he does.

[Straight Shooter]

79. You summed it up well. It's a very delicate balancing act.

On the other hand, if he becomes AG, any tarnish should soon rub off when he gets to work cleaning up Gonzo's mess. I think the history of bush and his ceaseless appointment of hacks and cronies would pretty well negate any criticism of Edwards being appointed AG as a political quid pro quo, as he is eminently qualified for the position, whereas Gonzo clearly was not.

I can see Edwards in other cabinet positions, as well, but AG would probably be most suitable for his skills and experience.

[greguganus]

81. Maybe they both wanna "PIMP" Edwards out? n/t

[LWolf]

82. I wish he wouldn't take sides. n/t

[DaLittle Kitty]

83. AGREED... Johnny Stay Out of This Charade...