A love letter to John Edwards
Hi John,
This is not one of those letters. I've met Elizabeth and know that even though she is shorter than me, she'd easily kick my butt. Although, in truth, it's not one of those letters because I honestly am a total fan girl of your wife and there's nothing more than I would love than to see her face plastered everywhere as First Lady.
This is a letter that I've been mulling for some time because you've truly exceeded my expectations.
When I was ready to throw my support to you, the blogger fiasco happened and I was taken aback by the way it was all handled. I know, I know. There are no perfect candidates. Yet at that time I wasn't clear as to what you were bringing at the table as a presidential candidate.
Then you started talking about poverty and the state of the "real people's" economy. You evangelized about the two Americas. You demonstrated how there is a tremendous economic and political disconnect in this country. How what you've seen and talked with people in all your travels seems not to affect the people who are supposed to represent them in Washington. You talked about the evil of corporate handouts and the shadow rule by lobbyist.
You are talking about everything that nobody wants to talk about in Washington.
Whenever I think about you, the song "Torn between two lovers" pops into my head. In this primary mess, my heart has been split between your economic policy talks and Obama's new politics movement.
It's been incredibly hard for me to decide for whom I will be voting. I honestly wish we could have run off elections, so that I could pick my top three candidates.
Why?
The irony is that the white man in this primary is truly the outsider. Who would have thought I'd live to see that day.
You represent not just the other "white America", but you're speaking for an America that a lot of people live. You represent the people who like my husband and his family, were never given a free pass just for the color of their skin. The people who like everybody else, regardless of race but not of class, have had to hustle for what they have.
If there is one difference between you and Obama is that you know what working class poverty is, what middle class hustle is, what getting rich by the sweat of your brow looks like. You weren't the son of a professor or a rich businessman. You didn't waltz your way into Harvard or into an internship for Nixon. You had to bootstrap your way to success just like millions of other Americans. That's what in the end sets you apart.
And so it is the reason why I write this letter.
I want you to stay in the race until the end.
I want you to get as many delegates as you can.
I want you to go into the convention as the guy who will make a difference.
King maker? I hate that term.
Yet having you in Colorado as the party's main ball buster would just be awesomely sweet. Because, when it comes down to it, you could be the guy to decide in which direction the Democratic Party is going to go. You could be the guy to decide if the dynastic status quo of the Clintons wins of if the sea change behind Obama becomes a true progressive movement.
You could be the real deal breaker. Something that the political elite Just. Does. Not. Like.
So I am throwing my support to you the one way I can. If this is a marathon, I'll be there on the sidelines with a cup of water. And yes, expect a campaign contribution to come your way.
Keep giving them hell.
Yours truly,
liza
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Grassroots | Politics | Poverty | Progressive Movement | 2008 Presidential Elections | John Edwards
HEY ABB! Long time no hear!
Submitted by liza on 28 January 2008 - 4:24pm.
1) Yes.
It's not just that the media narrative was set a long time ago. It's interesting to see that he's not from an actual elite. Hillary comes from an extremely well do to family. Whether we like it or not, Obama hails from the blackeratti.
I don't know if only because he is the white guy he can talk about unpopular issues. Gravel, Dodd, Kucinich ... where are they now?
And look how Richardson, by distancing himself from minority issues was anyways wiped out.
Edwards has not had significant endorsements from party insiders or leadership. He certainly is cash strapped given all the money is being pumped into either Clinton or Obama's coffers.
Look at the numbers and you'll see : He is just not liked by the powers that be in Washington. Kerry certainly didn't endorse him. Instead he went with Barack.
So, I think it's an interesting dynamic. The fact his platform is about economics and not just politics, makes him an even greater oddball.
2) No.
If you read my letter, you will get whom I am voting for. That other letter is coming out tomorrow.
I just think it's really important to have a voice of discontent among the majors. I think it's really important for the front-runners to not feel comfortable with their wins. And honestly, I do want to see the mess of a brokered convention. That would be, from a wonk's perspective, AWESOME.
But No. My letter does not diminish my "come to Jesus moment". Tomorrow I'll post about that.
Stay tuned.
Edwards was my numero uno,
Submitted by JW (not verified) on 29 January 2008 - 4:32am.
Edwards was my numero uno, too, but the writing is now on the wall. Brokered convention or no, he will not be the nominee of the democratic party in 2008. Better he bail ASAP and endorse Obama, that Clinton be stopped before it's too late.
Not without first reaching an understanding with Obama, of course, with payment due no later than January, 2009. A deal like that could enable Edwards to accomplish a significant implementation of the goals has championed throughout his campaign.
That's where Ralph Nader screwed the pooch in 2000. Had he presented Gore his shopping list two weeks before the election, who knows? At the very least, he might have gained leadership of the Interior department for himself, or played kingmaker (a term I've no problem with). But he didn't have a politic bone in his body, and like most other puritan-martyrs chose to crash and burn rather than wheel and deal. Edwards is a good man. How he plays his cards now, though, will go a long way in showing what he's really been about all along.
two questions
1) Do you think that Edwards, the white man, is "the true outsider" in this primary because his white-man-hood affords him the ability to be as much of an outsider as he is and still be one of the top three candidates?
2) Let's say the above statement is true: should that effect how we weigh him against the other candidates, especially Obama?