Re an Edwards endorsement: Did Obama blow it?

[CONN]

...But now two months have passed since Edwards dropped out—tempus fugit!—and still no endorsement. Why? According to a Democratic strategist unaligned with any campaign but with knowledge of the situation gleaned from all three camps, the answer is simple: Obama blew it. Speaking to Edwards on the day he exited the race, Obama came across as glib and aloof. His response to Edwards’s imprecations that he make poverty a central part of his agenda was shallow, perfunctory, pat.<snip>

Obama dug himself in deeper, getting into a fight with Elizabeth about health care, insisting that his plan is universal (a position she considers a crock), high-handedly criticizing Clinton’s plan (and by extension Edwards’s) for its insurance mandate.

http://nymag.com/news/politics/powergrid/45604/

[OzarkDem]

1. Pretty obvious he did

Health care reform is a very big issue with both John and Elizabeth. It also says a lot that Obama, who is normally so willing to tell people what they want to hear, was unable to convince them that he was in favor of universal coverage.

[merh]

25. LOL, since hillary stole Edwards health care plan

the fact that he hasn't endorsed her speaks volumes.

Remember the glass houses and stones :rofl:

[democrattotheend]

31. Guess this proves Obama doesn't always tell people what they want to hear

Just like when he called for higher fuel standards in front of the auto workers. That probably wasn't what they wanted to hear.

[C_U_L8R]

2. That's a pretty damning article... damning to Hillary

all around it's a lot of unattributed hearsay... but there is no love for Hillary there.

[goldcanyonaz]

7. Very damning to Obama too. I guess you skimmed over those parts.

[C_U_L8R]

8. No I read that paragraph

But the part about Elizabeth Edwards hating Hillary's guts made me laugh more

[Rosa Luxemburg]

28. Edwards might want to come back as nominee?

maybe that's why he hasn't endorsed yet?

[Vinca]

33. Why is it damning to Obama? We disagree on health care.

It happens. Hillary's plan is no better than Obama's, so I have to take health care out of the mix and then pick the better candidate. Obviously, it's Obama.

[Muttocracy]

3. best to quote the real paragraph from a source, not edit it, or indicate where you snip

But now two months have passed since Edwards dropped out—tempus fugit!—and still no endorsement. Why? According to a Democratic strategist unaligned with any campaign but with knowledge of the situation gleaned from all three camps, the answer is simple: Obama blew it. Speaking to Edwards on the day he exited the race, Obama came across as glib and aloof. His response to Edwards’s imprecations that he make poverty a central part of his agenda was shallow, perfunctory, pat. Clinton, by contrast, engaged Edwards in a lengthy policy discussion. Her affect was solicitous and respectful. When Clinton met Edwards face-to-face in North Carolina ten days later, her approach continued to impress; she even made headway with Elizabeth. Whereas in his Edwards sit-down, Obama dug himself in deeper, getting into a fight with Elizabeth about health care, insisting that his plan is universal (a position she considers a crock), high-handedly criticizing Clinton’s plan (and by extension Edwards’s) for its insurance mandate.

[Vinca]

4. Edwards hasn't endorsed anyone yet. You might ask,

did Hillary blow it? Edwards' health INSURANCE scheme was no better than Clinton's or Obama's. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Kucinich has the only true, universal health CARE plan.

[Muttocracy]

5. good point nt

[OzarkDem]

12. Obama doesn't pass Edwards health care reform test

Clinton's plan is the same as Edwards.

[Vinca]

16. Edwards doesn't pass my health care reform test.

Neither does Clinton or Obama. All reward the insurance companies, despite the fact the insurance industry caused the problem. If this is the big hang up for Edwards, he needs to look in the mirror. His plan is what drove me from his campaign to Kucinich.

[OzarkDem]

21. Your post shows your ignorance

on Clinton and Edwards health care reform policies.

Both offer options that give people a choice between public and private health insurance.

Both put private insurance companies in competition with public insurance, which is inherently cheaper, leading eventually to single payer.

[Alexander]

32. Your post shows you didn't read Vinca's post.

"Both put private insurance companies in competition with public insurance, which is inherently cheaper, leading eventually to single payer."

If you read Vinca's post and the thoughts of most single-payer advocates, you'd realize insurance is part of the problem and needs to be taken out of the equation for single-payer to work. Ever seen "Sicko"? Insurance companies use every trick in the book to get out of paying for someone's health care costs.

Not only did you not read Vinca's post, it's clear you don't know what single-payer actually means.

[Cheap_Trick]

20. then why hasn't he endorsed her?

you people can never answer that question. "Edwards hasn't endorsed Obama, it's over" "Edwards hasn't endorsed Hillary..well, uh.....>crickets<..."


edit:spell check is your friend

[Lerkfish]

15. absolutely. Kucinich's plan was the only workable one

agreed.

[Muttocracy]

6. so who is this mysterious 3-way insider? and why didn't Edwards endorse Hillary then? nt

[cali]

9. who cares?

Obama's managing just fine without JE's endorsement, and it could hardly bail out poor hilly, not even in NC.

[CONN]

13. Who cares?

Well, I do. I was strongly leaning towards Dennis Kucinich, but alas before I had a chance to vote he was gone.

I am now waiting for the general election and not excited about either of the probable nominees. I look forward to a Democrat in the Whitehouse, but cringe at the mess left for the new President (and the Republican blaming). I think if Edwards were to come out and strongly back one of the candidates, I might get more excited and actively involved (campaigning, etc).

[Mass]

10. Gossip. gossip. gossip. That is all it is. Who cares.

[MadBadger]

11. He didnt kiss his ass to his liking.

Good for Obama.

[elizm]

17. Seems that way. nt

[OzarkDem]

19. Health care reform is an important issue

apparently Obama doesn't think so, however. Says a lot about his ability to lead.

[high density]

34. I agree, good for Obama

Edwards is a two time loser with a good PR firm. I like some of his positions, but I feel like I just can't trust the guy to hold firm after he fizzled out during that debate with Dick Cheney.

[Marie26]

14. Looks like it

This article makes sense - Edwards disliked Clinton from the out-set & was inclined towards Obama. The fact that he didn't endorse Obama means Obama messed up somehow. And the descriptions of each candidate ring true as well. It's sort of like Clinton's election to the Senate, where other Senators started out disliking her & were eventually won over by her work ethic & commitment to creating policy solutions.

[tularetom]

18. Makes no difference - Edwards blew it by waiting so long

I would have supported him but unfortunately he has become irrelevant by not taking some action right after he dropped out.

actually neither health plan is worth shit.

single payer is the only answer.

[terrell9584]

29. it would have made no political sense

For him to endorse someone immediately. I don't think he has the power to turn over delegates, he can release them though, with a strongly worded exulation to support a certain side.

The fact is, the North Carolina primary will actually mean something this time. When he dropped, no one thought it would last this long except for seasoned pols and people who think like them.

And Edwards endorsement will come in some kind of tandem to Pennsylvania. He will either make an endorsement a few weeks prior to help his candidate rally working class support, or, he'll wait till after Pennsylvania is over and try and hold his endorsement to have the most impact in North Carolina, because his endorsement will actually matter there.

I kind of think that he'll end up endorsing Clinton, just based on the fact that she seems to be winning the kind of votes that were his base and Obama is just not. It would be in fitting with his persona to go with her at this point.

[shadowknows69]

22. Edwards' support is nearly irrelevant now.

Which is sad for me to say because I supported him but if wanted to play kingmaker the time is past. Unless he's going to speak up before NC.

[Sensitivity]

23. Obama WON'T SELL OUT even for a critical ENDORSEMENT

[Alhena]

24. So Obama is supposed to change his campaign because Edwards asked him to?

Obama's policies already help the poor. Regardless, the notion that he's supposed to make some big "change" in his campaign because Edwards asked him to is ridiculous. Edwards ran his campaign on his message and he didn't prevail. He should find whichever candidate he likes best to endorse, but he shouldn't expect either of two candidates who defeated him to change their platform to correspond to that of the losing party. I thought from the very start that Edward's platform was laudable in the abstract but very weak in reality because there was no way he was ever going to win with that platform. What good is it to have a good platform if it only results in John McCain implementing HIS platform?

[stillcool]

26. Did John Edwards say anything?

Anything at all? Has Elizabeth Edwards said anything? Anything at all? Did Hillary blow it?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

27. Richardson was a 'prize' because he was considered 'one of Clintons'

and her entourage wents bananas when he endorsed Obama. I think Edwards endorsement for Obama would be a prize too. The more the merrier!

[pdxmike]

30. Edwards on the couch- my take

I think that Edwards (who I initially wanted) thought that he would position himself as the populist non-Hillary. He was all set to run essentially after the 2004 race was over.

Then from out of nowhere, Obama enters the race and sucks up all the anti-Hillary oxygen. Edwards sees Barack as the unworthy usurper. But he can't see himself endorsing Clinton, since he defined himself as the antithesis of her. What does he do? I say he does nothing.