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 The Platform John Edwards BuiltPosted on Feb 1, 2008
Paul Krugman argues in Friday’s New York Times that if the Democrats win in 2008, it will be because of their big ideas, and for that, Krugman writes, “they’ll have Mr. Edwards to thank.” He’s got a point. Does anyone remember that John Edwards was the first one out of the gate with a bold health care plan that bears a striking resemblance to the bold health care plans that followed? Krugman doesn’t mention that some of Edwards’ better ideas came after he voted the other way. He was the strongest anti-war candidate, although he voted to authorize the Iraq war. He was the strongest on poverty, although he voted in 2000 in favor of a harsh bankruptcy bill that Bill Clinton ultimately vetoed. But Edwards apologized for those mistakes, and if experience brought him to more enlightened positions that, in turn, moved his opponents to take a more enlightened view, then we are grateful.
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By zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, February 6 at 8:10 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
John’s right-
Report this& go Obama-
& go investigate Obama’s legislative record, for anyone who thinks his rhetoric is cheap.
Thank you
By Aegrus, February 4 at 5:34 am #
It wasn’t about story, Marj. The Edwards campaign was one-dimensional. His work and advocacy for the poor was very valued service by all Americans, but he never came up with a message other than “Two-Americas.” I liked him a lot, and I think it is extremely diminutive to say he pulled out because he was a white male.
Also, seeing how Hillary Clinton and her supporters have instigated every response you deem a “smear” from the Obama camp, I think there needs to be a re-evaluation of ethics. Especially since now there is this threat of voting for the Green Party. GP candidates are weak because they refuse to look at politics as a whole, and only focus on running in big presidential elections. I’m sorry, Obama is right when he says, “Change happens from the bottom, up.”
Hillary would be a good president, but it is more than clear to Americans how she has molded herself around Edwards’ and Obama’s campaigns. Being more change than Obama and stealing Edwards’ health care plan. Yeah, I believe she is real change while she both disowns herself from her husband, and then gives unending praise to the Clinton years in respect to her own capabilities. Way to double-talk, Hill. Her campaign is full of this nonsense of saying two things at once, yet people still vote for her lies.
I’m voting for Obama. Everyone should vote Barack because he will be the democratic candidate, and he WILL be the next president of the United States.
Report thisBy TVJD, February 3 at 10:58 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
It was amusing how, since the primaries were moved up, you could “see” the funneling of the candidates down to the ones pre-chosen by the plutocrats. Kucinich, Gravel, Paul, all will be dismissed for being brazenly uncooperative and irascible. Ralph Nader is conducting an exploration on whether he will run. God bless him for attempting to get a third party into the mix and for all his efforts as a consumer advocate all these years. However, I think that Bush, Cheney, Rice, et.al. should just get the old, black Nazi SS uniforms out, put them on and quit the pretenses.
Report thisBy Thomas Billis, February 3 at 7:39 pm #
The Democrats had an opporunity to mput up for election a candidate who actually realized what the problem in Washington is.The system is corrupt and rigged and unless it is fixed nothing else will get done.The problem is that when John Edwards talked about two America’s the moronic democrats who are two paychecks away from a refrigerator carton over a hot grate always thought he was talking about the other guy in the other America.It is 10 percemt in one America and 90 per cent in the other America.John Edwards could have been a voice for that other America but the Democrats went for bullshit and a skirt.
Report thisBy Fewkes, February 3 at 6:07 pm #
Mr. Krugman says that John Edwards came up with a healthcare plan first. Dennis Kucinich and many other Democrats co-sponsored HR 676 - Medicare for All BEFORE the rest. Mr. Krugman you dismissed a legitimate candidate, Kucinich, just like the rest of the media and did not say anything about a legitimate alternative to the healthcare plans that the mainstream candidates were touting.
Report thisBy Alex, February 3 at 7:08 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Like many Edwards supporters, I myself am not going to Obama or Clinton. Edwards remains on the ballot collecting delegates, and we’re voting for Edwards.
Report thisBy chabuka, February 2 at 11:27 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
in the Washington State primary....he can still accumulate delegates..I want him to have a voice at the convention...he speaks for me..!
Report thisBy anonymous, February 2 at 6:48 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
It’s funny to see somebody swearing to not vote for the other Democrat. I’ve been adamantly opposed to Hillary because of her vote on the war and a few other stances but, having seen her campaign without Bill and listening to the other side more than usual, I can promise you I’ll not hesitate to vote for her if Obama comes in second. I’ll cry like a baby but I’ll vote for her. I’m pretty much used to seeing dreams die, anyway.
Report thisBy Marjorie L. Swanson, February 2 at 5:27 am #
John Edwards didn’t stand a chance because he didn’t make the best story. First viable woman candidate = great story. First viable African-American candidate = great story. Was John Edwards always right about everything? Hell no. But he was better than either of the two candidates we are now stuck with. I will vote for Hillary simply because of the despicable way that Obama, his supporters, and his surrogates have smeared the Clintons. On the issues, what little they discuss them they are much of a much.
Report thisIf Obama is the candidate, I will vote Green. I don’t like him and think him a slick-talking phony and this time I will NOT hold my nose and vote for the Democratic candidate.
Now that they “control” both houses don’t see much difference than when the Republicans were in control. Still wimpy, ineffectual and full of hot air.
By julie d'oceanie, February 2 at 5:07 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
You’ve got to be kidding me. Edwards came up with this brilliant health insurance idea? No, no, no.
The idea of forcing people to buy crappy insurance policies (or face penalties) came from Mitt Romney.
Inflicting that horrible idea on the citizenry was Romney’s only accomplishment during his whirlwind tour as a one-term governor of Massachusetts.
I’m disgusted with Krugman for not mentioning in his op-ed the most important feature of Edwards’ (and Clinton’s) health-care plans, which is this new and dangerous idea that government can force people to enter into a contract with a private corporation. I’ve never heard of a more un-American idea.
Krugman has become a fluent Doublespeaker: “universal access to health care” in his lexicon is a euphemism for “sign a contract or pay a fine.”
Report thisBy john from ojai, February 1 at 11:59 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
It’s amazing that Krugman and this editorial are lauding Edwards when he was silent or wrong on the most important issues facing us today. He started wrong on the Iraq war. He was wrong on the Patriot Act. He’s been silent on the impeachment movement.I haven’t heard loud noises from him calling for breakup of the media conglomerates. He has been unfairly one sided on the Palestine/Israel issue.His health care plan is not the enlightened single payer plan adopted by the rest of the developed countries. The 6 media conglomerates and the complicit DNC controlled the tv debates and other presentations in a way that would enhance their bottom line businesses of media, military supply, and nuclear energy. The real man of ideas who was right on all the above issues was silenced by the media conglomerates. If we could break up the media we might hear from him again. His name is Dennis Kucinich.
Report thisBy BobZ, February 1 at 7:01 pm #
Edwards was a class act and won the “real” Democrat award. He positions on the issues would have been applauded by FDR and Truman. He admitted he was wrong about his Iraq vote, and he made no apologies for pushing populist issues at the risk of being accused of “class warfare”. No doubt he would have declared war on Wall Street, just as both Roosevelt’s did. Now that he has dropped out, I hope he endorses Obama and consider being on the ticket as either VP or taking a high level cabinet position. Edward’s fought the good fight and his courageous wife fought with him, which you had to admire. As a former Edward’s supporter I will now be working for the Obama campaign.
Report thisBy Chris Herz, February 1 at 5:07 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
The sheeple will never vote for anyone not vetted by the TV punditocracy. Period.
Let’s hope the Repubs take the election after all—at least they are the stupider of the imperial, corporate factions. The ones most likely to make fatal errors.
Chris Herz
Report thiscdherz44 at yahoo dot com
By DennisD, February 1 at 4:36 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Why most people believe that a two party system is the best way to find the most qualified people to run this country is a mystery to me. Just look at what’s left from the primaries to choose from or better yet don’t look.
There’s not a better time in this country’s history for a third party. Gravel, Kucinich, Edwards, Paul - I hope somebody is listening. You surely would have my vote.
Report thisBy PatrickHenry, February 1 at 3:54 pm #
1. Gravel
2. Kucinich
3. Paul
4. Edwards
5. Obama
6. Hillary
7. Romney
8. Tompson
9. Huckabee
10. McCain
I suck at Keno too.
Report this