John Edwards

excerpts from the Iowa Daily Report

November 16-30, 2003

They came to the big show

The Iowa Democrat Party’s Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner has been a big deal since Gary Hart made it so with then-candidate George McGovern. It still is. The nation and the world’s media came to the show that featured the ultimate star of the Democrats’ -- Hillary Clinton. The event ranks as the end of the preliminaries to the winnowing process. After Iowa there will not be as many candidates as before Iowa. After New Hampshire, there will be even fewer. The whole thing is likely to be over by March and the Democrat presumptive nominee will be recognized.

The fear was that Hillary would make the Democrat candidates look small and the fear was justified. Despite the Democrats’ best efforts -- from being macho playing hockey with firefighters (John Kerry) to handling a medical emergency (Dr. Howard Dean) -- they failed to resuscitate any political oxygen into their own campaigns.

Interview after interview had Democrats attending the event saying that if Hillary were in the race that they would support her over the current candidate they were working for. Hillary’s appearance -- rather than affirm the quality of the Democrat candidates -- affirmed that they are all second-rate choices.

Kerry’s loss

Sen. John Kerry may have lost the most from the event because he is the candidate in the most desperate need to make gains before he falls off the charts and leaves an opening for John Edwards to move up to third place. Kerry’s performance was calculated to gain attention and make him stand out. Kerry’s problem, as most agree, is that he voted for the war and he shares the same constituency as Howard Dean who has captured the anti-war sentiment. Kerry, who even staged a photo opportunity by playing hockey with firefighters whose union has endorsed him, tried to attack the President’s war performance and bring attention to his war hero status. His reference to mission not accomplished in his speech was just one such example. However, he did not move to center stage in the nation’s or Iowa’s attention despite his best try.

Dean’s bandwagon

There is a photo in the Des Moines Register showing Howard Dean in the middle of the street in downtown Des Moines waving to the camera as 47 yellow school busses make a line behind him. Iowans filled 43 of the 47 busses headed to the event.

Edwards not cutting it

John Edwards has been trying to move ahead of Kerry, but his point of attack at the event was Dean and the Dean-crowd’s anger. This from the candidate who says what Americans want is a positive candidate. Edwards must remain viable before he gets to S. Carolina where there now exist tangible efforts by both Al Sharpton and Wesley Clark to cut into the black and Southern mantle of Edwards’ claim to the South’s representative.

The Gephardt question

Dick Gephardt remains the person who is shaping up to be the alternative candidate to Dean. This is in part because they both pull from different spectrums of the Democrat Party unlike Dean and Kerry. However, the question is whether the other candidates such as Kerry and Kucinich, et al, can stay in long enough for Gephardt to be able to whittle away at Dean without all of those who share Dean’s slice of the philosophy of the Democrat Party to coalesce behind Dean.

Gephardt took a different approach to the event his supporters were encouraged not to attend this year's Jefferson - Jackson dinner. Rather, they were encouraged to stand outside. It was part of the campaigns door-to-door campaign in the neighborhoods of Iowa. Their goal is to knock on over 100,000 doors. Then, supporters rallied outside the auditorium prior to the dinner.

"I have differences with some of the other candidates on trade, on health care and on Medicare, and I have talked about some of those in the past," Mr. Gephardt said. "Tonight, I am going to stay to the themes that I have been on, that I can beat George Bush, why he must be replaced and the big ideas I have."  (11/16/2003)

Edwards the lawyer

The NY Times has a story on John Edwards’ new book, "Four Trials," to be published by Simon & Schuster on Dec. 1. The Times article highlights Edwards’ problems of running for office and being a lawyer:

The accusation that he is sympathetic to a special interest is particularly irksome to Mr. Edwards, who has staked much of his campaign on being a Washington outsider. He has rejected donations from lobbyists and political action committees, though he accepts them from the relatives of lobbyists and from the employees of lobbying firms.

But Mr. Edwards has had a lot of practice responding to assertions that he is simply a greedy lawyer. His opponent in his 1998 Senate race, Senator Lauch Faircloth, the Republican incumbent, said in one attack advertisement that Mr. Edwards "makes millions suing people." (11/16/2003)

Edwards’ middle class theme

The Sioux City Journal reports on Sen. John Edwards’ fourth visit to Sioux Land:

As he went through various issues, a theme appeared -- Edwards holds that Bush is not the right president for middle/working class Americans. Too beholden to business interests, Edwards said, Bush used tax cuts to shift the burden onto common Americans who are "one medical emergency or one layoff" from financial ruin.

It is vexing, Edwards said, to see the "sea change" over the past three decades in middle/working class families becoming more imperiled, unable to put together down payments for homes or to save for college.

Edwards said the Bush administration "is as anti-worker" as any in history. He criticized Bush for being hostile to unions, not raising the minimum wage and attempting to cut back the overtime pay that many families rely on. (11/18/2003)

Edwards wins press release wars

Today the Edwards campaign won the press release wars by issuing five -- count them, five --  press releases on its website:

1. Latino supporters launched Unidos con Edwards Monday at events across the country.

2. Senator John Edwards (D-NC) Monday joined Governor Jim Doyle (D-WI) in a town-hall forum to meet voters and discuss Edwards' plan to get Wisconsin's economy back on track.

3. Senator John Edwards Monday began the launch of his new book, Four Trials, on his campaign website. The book will be available at bookstores across the country.

4. John Edwards, Thursday will discuss his health care plan with doctors, and medical students at Meharry Medical School in Nashville.

5. John Edwards, Wednesday will meet with students and teachers at Western International High School in Detroit. During the American Education Week stop, Edwards will discuss his plan to revitalize America's high schools.

By the way,  in Wisconsin Edwards said he will raise the minimum wage, make sure every child has health care and provide bonuses for teachers who work in less-affluent areas. (11/18/2003)

Edwards still trying

If you are a newspaper editor and need to fill a spot or a whole newspaper with stories, head over to John Edward’s website. He is continuing to try to hit the themes that matter in Iowa, New Hampshire and S. Carolina -- the trifecta

Edwards continued a three-day campaign swing through Iowa with at stops in Adel, Carroll, Rockwell City, Sac City, Holstein, Sioux City, Onawa, and Council Bluffs. Senator John Edwards detailed his plan to reduce costs, improve quality, and address the disparity in reimbursement rates within Medicare.

"Much of the Medicare system today is no different than it was in 1965. George Bush's answer is to ignore the crisis in Medicare reimbursement rates, and push for a sham prescription drug benefit that dismantles Medicare's basic compact and amounts to little more than a $12 billion giveaway to HMOs." Edwards said. "That's money we could be using to protect the trust fund, add benefits, and support rural providers who have been taken advantage of for too long. It's time to modernize Medicare so that our nation keeps its promise to seniors and ensures that quality health care is there for them when they retire - whether they live in a rural state or any other part of the country."

Since 1965, Medicare has provided high-quality care to more than 90 million Americans. In the 38 years since it was created, however, Medicare has failed to incorporate basic advances in medical care and management practices. Rural states in particular have suffered as the disparity in reimbursement rates has meant that providers in states like Iowa have received less money from the federal government for providing the same quality of care found across the nation.

Edwards outlined a series of specific steps to protect the future of Medicare, that would:

·        Care For Chronic Illness More Effectively. Today, seniors with many chronic illnesses often see many doctors who sometimes provide duplicative or conflicting treatments. For beneficiaries with large numbers of chronic conditions, Edwards will establish a single doctor, nurse practitioner or other health professional to ensure that all of the medical professionals are working as a team.

·        Encourage Cost-Saving Preventive Benefits. Under Edwards' plan, Medicare will offer preventative benefits such as cholesterol testing and cover education efforts that help beneficiaries understand their chronic diseases so they can help care for themselves and avoid costly hospitalizations.

·        Get The Best Products At The Best Price. The General Accounting Office has shown that competitive bidding is a major cost saver. Edwards will provide Medicare with the legal authority to use competitive bidding throughout Medicare products purchasing.

·        Reduce Prescription Drug Costs Within Medicare. Edwards will use Medicare's bargaining power to negotiate effectively with drug companies over prices. If negotiations fail, Edwards will implement a rebate or mandatory price reduction, as Medicaid and private insurers already require. Edwards also strongly supports efforts by Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and others to reimport drugs from abroad, with strict safety measures.

·        Combat Medicare Mismanagement And Fraud. Edwards will undertake a full audit of the contractors responsible for processing Medicare claims to ensure they pay only proper claims and educate providers to ensure they can file Medicare claims efficiently and correctly.

·        Pay Fairly for Quality Care. Iowa Medicare providers give the highest quality services, yet they receive the lowest reimbursement per Medicare beneficiary rate in the nation. Edwards would use cost savings to ensure that Medicare reimburses providers like those in Iowa more to reward them for giving quality care. This is only fair, and it will encourage doctors to provide higher quality care. Edwards will also continue to work with Senator Harkin to increase the Medicare payment rates in Iowa and address the unfair disparities between urban and rural Medicare payments.  (11/18/2003)

Edwards to rural America’s rescue

DES MOINES, IA: Today, North Carolina Senator John Edwards announced new proposals designed to strengthen rural America by helping family farmers and protecting the environment and public health in rural communities. In addition to his plan to impose tough national standards for air and water pollution from massive livestock operations, Senator Edwards called for a national moratorium on the new construction and expansion of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO’s), a ban on packer ownership designed to help family farms from Iowa to North Carolina, and full funding for the Conservation Security Program.

"I have spent my entire career standing up for working people against special interests. This battle is taking place today in rural America, where corporate livestock factory farms are polluting the environment and pushing family farmers out of business," Edwards said. "In 1998, I beat the only corporate hog farmer in the Senate. Since then, I have continued to fight for small farmers against the special interests and I want to take that fight to the White House."

Edwards also announced that over 170 rural activists have endorsed his campaign and have formed a committee, "Rural Iowans for Edwards," to tell caucus-goers in small towns and rural areas about Senator Edwards' background and ideas. The "Rural Iowans for Edwards" committee will be co-chaired by State Senator Keith Krieman, State Representative Curt Swaim, Buchanan County farmer Richard Machacek, and Carroll County farmer Mary Anne Reinhart.

The new measures Edwards announced include:

·        A National Moratorium on the Construction and Expansion of New CAFOs. Since 1997, North Carolina has had a moratorium on the construction and expansion of hog farm lagoons. Due to the enormous amounts of waste and corrosive effects on rural environments, Edwards is proposing a national moratorium on the construction and expansion of new CAFOs. Edwards' proposal would flatly stop the creation of new CAFOs.

·        A Ban on Packer Ownership to Help Family Farms from Iowa to North Carolina. Edwards wants a strong ban on packer ownership that can become law now. That ban must stop the spread of large corporate hog interests which are driving small farmers out of business by influencing livestock prices and restricting access to markets for independent producers. Second, the ban must not leave contract farmers high and dry. States should be able to opt-out if they choose, but with just a limited opt-out allowing only existing farmers under contracts to continue their livelihoods as they know it.

·        Full Funding of the Conservation Security Program. Edwards understands that farm groups and environmentalists can all agree on one thing: conservation is an incredibly important component of modern agricultural policy. The Conservation Security Program (CRP) in the 2002 Farm Bill offers farmers incentives to implement environmentally sound farming techniques. However, House Republicans have refused to fund the CRP and the Bush Administration has stalled on putting the rules into their final form. Edwards supports fully funding the CRP and finalizing the rules so farmers can begin conservation practices.

"Senator Edwards has listened to grassroots, Iowa farmers, along with rural residents and come up with a packer ban solution that protects family farmers," said Chris Petersen, the Vice President of the Iowa Farmers Union and uncommitted Democratic activist. "Senator Edwards' moratorium on CAFO construction is a bold solution that raises the bar for all the other candidates to meet. We hope all Democrats will embrace the moratorium and put the destiny and stewardship of American agriculture back in the hands of family farmers."

Chris Petersen is a farmer and activist from Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. He is currently Vice President of Iowa Farmers Union and a consultant to the Grace Factory Farm Project. His comments above relate solely to the Edwards' Plan to Preserve Rural America hog waste legislation, and titles listed are for identification purposes only. He has not chosen to endorse any campaign for president at this time. He can be reached at 641-357-4090.

"Senator Edwards' CLEAN proposal and his moratorium on building CAFOs are the most aggressive plans I have seen any of the candidates propose to crack down on animal waste, and I applaud him for his initiative," said Kevin Miskell, a Hamilton County farmer and Iowa Farmers Union State Board member.

"His support of a packer ban that protects independent farmers and a fair market for all farmers may be the solution that gets us past the legislative impasse we now face. Passing a packer ban is an important step to restoring the profitability of family farmers and rural communities, and I am happy to see that a President Edwards would sign such a bill," Miskell added.

Miskell is an active farmer from Hamilton County and a state board member of Iowa Farmers Union. He was the Democratic nominee for State Senate against GOP Majority Leader Stuart Iverson in 2002. His comments above relate solely to the Edwards' Plan to Preserve Rural America hog waste legislation, and titles listed are for identification purposes only. A former aide to Graham '04, he has not chosen to endorse any campaign for president at this time.

Previously, Edwards introduced the Concentrated Livestock Existing Alongside Nature (CLEAN) Act. This legislation would:

·        Establish tough pollution limits for livestock operations. The act would require the Agriculture Secretary and EPA Administrator to establish maximum acceptable levels for the discharge of nitrogen, phosphorous, and other pollutants. Discharges that risk significant soil toxicity, pollution of surface or ground water, or harm to human health would be forbidden.

·        Establish limits for hydrogen sulfide and ammonia emissions from large CAFOs. The strict limitations would be the first national emissions limitations for these pollutants.

·        Establish rigorous requirements for spraying and waste containment. The act would require new limits on spraying, including spraying near sensitive locations and in inclement weather. The act would also establish new requirements for containing excess waste, including both wet and dry waste.

·        Mandate tough penalties for polluters. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) owners who violate this act could lose their CAFO and face stiff monetary fines.

·        Prioritize federal funding for clean water and prohibit funding to construct or expand CAFOs. In order to ensure that farmers have the resources to comply with the new requirements, the act would prioritize federal funding for clean water practices. And to ensure money is targeted to aiding the environment, the act would bar uses of Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQUIP) funds to construct or expand CAFOs.

·        Encourage states to improve their regulations. The act does not apply to states that provide greater protections against pollution, including a moratorium on any construction or expansion of CAFOs. This will encourage states to provide even stronger pollution protections. (11/18/2003)

Full faith and credit

Gay marriages

Leading Democrat presidential candidates are bringing back a new states’ rights issue concerning gay marriages. The U.S. Constitution requires states to give full faith and credit in recognizing the actions of other states, corporations and individuals. There is the rub, for if the candidates back gay marriages rather than gay unions granting equal rights to gay couples, then states would have to recognize under the U.S. Constitution the gay marriages of other states. This is why the Democrat candidates are running away from yesterday’s ruling after courting the gay and lesbian community for all these many months.

"As a society we should be looking for ways to bring us together and as someone who supports the legal rights of all Americans regardless of sexual orientation, I appreciate today's decision. As president, I would support giving gays and lesbians the legal rights that married couples get," said Wesley Clark.

However, Clark doesn’t seem to get it in the following statement,

“If the Massachusetts legislature decides to legalize same-sex marriages, it will be up to each state to decide whether those marriages will be valid in their state-- and that is a choice each state, not the courts, will have to make.”

The trial lawyer John Edwards leaves us confused he says he opposes gay marriages and then says he will oppose a U.S. Constitutional Amendment:

“As I have long said, I believe gay and lesbian Americans are entitled to equal respect and dignity under our laws. While I personally do not support gay marriage, I recognize that different states will address this in different ways, and I will oppose any effort to pass an amendment to the United States Constitution in response to the Massachusetts decision.

"We are a nation comprised of men and women from all walks of life. It is in our national character to provide equal opportunity to all, and this is what unites our country, in laws and in shared purpose. That is why today, we must also reach out to those individuals who will try to exploit this decision to further divide our nation, and ask them to refrain from that effort," said Edwards.

John Kerry, a Massachusetts senator, said:

“I have long believed that gay men and lesbians should be assured equal protection and the same benefits – from health to survivor benefits to hospital visitation - that all families deserve. While I continue to oppose gay marriage, I believe that today’s decision calls on the Massachusetts state legislature to take action to ensure equal protection for gay couples. These protections are long over due.”

Dick Gephardt’s response:

"While I support civil unions for same-sex couples, I also support the right of states to make decisions regarding the protections afforded same-sex couples. I do not support gay marriage, but I hope the Massachusetts State Legislature will act in a manner that is consistent with today's Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling.

"As we move forward, it is my hope that we don't get side-tracked by the right-wing into a debate over a phony constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. I strongly oppose such an effort as purely political and unnecessarily divisive at the expense of those who already suffer from discrimination."

Joe Lieberman’s response:

"Although I am opposed to gay marriage, I have also long believed that states have the right to adopt for themselves laws that allow same-sex unions. I will oppose any attempts by the right wing to change the Constitution in response to today's ruling, which would be unnecessary and divisive," said Joe Lieberman

"It takes 40 to tango, and I'm not sure we're there yet," said Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg referring to the number needed to filibuster the Medicare bill. (11/19/2003)

Attack against Edwards

A conservative group supporting Bushs’ embattled judicial nominees is running a second ad in S. Carolina with quotes from Al Sharpton. “She should get an up-or-down vote,” Sharpton says in the ad. “I don’t think she should be opposed because she doesn’t come from some assumed club.” The narrator says: “The daughter of a sharecropper who worked her way through law school as a widowed mother has been nominated to the second-highest court in the land. But she’s being blocked by Senator John Edwards.”

Sharpton has spent a great deal of time campaigning in S. Carolina where the state’s black voters will be an important factor in the Feb. 3 primary that Edwards must win. (11/20/2003)

No political experience necessary

The Edwards campaign is running a want ad on its website for a website producer:

Previous political campaign experience is not required, but helpful. Qualified recent graduates are encouraged to apply. This is a full-time position located at Edwards for President National Campaign Headquarters in Raleigh, NC. (11/20/2003)

Edwards on education

John Edwards Wednesday met with students and teachers at Western International High School in Detroit. Edwards outlined his agenda to renew America’s high schools, including steps to provide an excellent teacher for every child, break up large schools, ensure that every student begins high school with a challenging curriculum, and partner colleges with struggling high schools.

“This is American Education Week, a time to remember all the hard work our country’s educators do and a time to remember how much work we still have left to do so that all children can make the most of their God-given talents,” Edwards said.

Edwards said that President Bush’s implementation of the federal No Child Left Behind law has done very little to improve education for the 1.7 million children in Michigan’s public schools. Last year over a third of Michigan’s schools were considered failing under the Act, the most schools of any state in the nation.

“President Bush talks about leaving no child left behind, but his education policies have left millions of children behind,” Edwards said. And no state has been hit harder by his failure to live up to his promises than Michigan.”

Edwards Wednesday focused on high schools because, compared to students in other nations, American students often excel when they are in lower grades and then fall behind in high school.

“We need to makes sure all American teenagers go to high schools where the adults know their names, where expectations are high and classes are challenging, and where teachers have the resources and support they need to succeed,” he said.

Edwards Wednesday outlined a series of measures to improve Michigan’s high schools:

·        Excellent Teachers for Every Child. Edwards will double funding for teacher development and create college scholarships to attract teachers into the weakest schools.

·        Smaller High Schools. Research shows that small schools can help raise achievement and graduation rates and, in fact, most successful high-poverty schools have fewer than 600 students. Along lines recently proposed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Edwards will support smaller schools by supporting new efforts to build new schools, break up existing schools, and reopen old ones.

·        Challenging Academics. For high school graduates who go on to college, the rigor of their high school course-work is the number-one factor in determining whether they succeed. Edwards will ask states participating in his College for Everyone program (which will pay tuition for students willing to work part-time) to instill in every child the expectation that they will master the core subjects of the college preparatory curriculum.

·        Expand College Outreach and Ask Every University to Adopt a School. Edwards believes that every college and university should adopt at least one high-poverty school and help it improve. He will expand funding for college outreach programs that offer extra tutoring, guidance, and scholarships to low-income students. These policies will give more than a million students in high-poverty schools a real shot at a brighter future.

Wednesday’s trip was Edwards’ sixth to Michigan this year.  (11/20/2003)

Edwards offers condolences

"I join every American in expressing our grief for the loss of life in Turkey this week. We send our prayers to the victims' families and to those who were injured in the two bombings at the synagogues on Saturday and in the attacks today. Dozens have been killed, hundreds have been injured, and thousands of hearts have been broken because terrorists have no respect for life or for freedom. With each attack by them, we answer them two-fold with our commitment to defend and strengthen democracy. Al Qaeda and other groups continue to plot and plan around the world, but they are mistaken if they believe that their terrorist acts will weaken our country's and our allies' resolve to defeat them and their murderous ways. And today, we stand by the people of Turkey and the United Kingdom as they mourn the loss of their citizens who were taken from this earth," said John Edwards. (11/21/2003)

Edwards endorsed by educators

The Edwards for President campaign announced that the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) has recommended Senator John Edwards for president. The educators offered the following comments:

"John Edwards supports public education in his personal as well as public life," said Carolyn McKinney, president of the NCAE. "He not only says the right things, he does the right thing for students and educators. As a senator, he listens to the concerns of educators and follows through with proposals for action. NCAE particularly appreciates his intent to fix and fund the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation."

This is a big boost to Edwards in a state that he must win given that presently indications are that he will come in fourth in Iowa and is unlikely to reach the top three in New Hampshire. (11/22/2003)

Edwards to visit every county in Iowa

The Edwards’ campaign announced that Sen. John Edwards will campaign in all 99 Iowa counties by the end of the year, despite spending fewer days in Iowa to date than Dick Gephardt, Howard Dean, and John Kerry. Edwards follows Dean in being the first to campaign in all 99 counties. It is likely that Edwards and Dean will be the only two candidates to accomplish this. However, Gephardt could decide to duplicate this campaign ritual. Edward,s commenting on the commitment to visit every county, stated:

"Iowa is an extremely important component to my overall campaign. I am very proud that I have been able to take my campaign from a community center in Des Moines to a living room in Sac City and will be able to meet caucus goers in every single Iowa county as a result," Edwards said. "I grew up in a small, rural community in North Carolina, and so I know about the issues facing small towns and rural communities firsthand. I have a strong commitment to revitalizing rural areas, and I look forward to sharing my ideas directly with caucus-goers in all 99 counties." (11/22/2003)

Edwards responds to Republican ad

The Republican National Committee's new ad is misleading, and it implies that Democrats across the country are not committed to fighting terrorism. This ad is morally reprehensible - it is wrong to suggest Democrats are attacking the president for attacking the terrorists. The RNC is using this ad to disguise the truth: that this administration has not done all that it can and should to secure our ports and borders, assist our first responders, and protect our chemical and nuclear power plants.

"The recent attacks in Turkey show that the terrorists are growing stronger. Instead of running ads that do nothing to make this country stronger and safer, the RNC should demand that this administration do more to invest in the security of our nation," said John Edwards. (11/22/2003)

Edwards: Bush a turkey

Edwards is offering campaign contributors a premium of a T-shirt with President Bush’s head on the body of a turkey during these Thanksgiving times. It is his way of saying that he is thankful for the contribution. However, the King of the trial lawyers contribution is being a turkey by suggesting that other Democrat candidates agree to a ban on contributions from Washington lobbyist. Edwards should try to see the hypocrisy. (11/22/2003)

Not looking good for Edwards

With John Kerry making statewide media buys after foregoing spending caps it begins to look more difficult for John Edwards. Edwards needs to make it to N. Carolina and win to establish himself as the candidate of the South and the heir to those delegates on the convention floor. The two big winners of Edwards’ failure to make to N. Carolina would be Dick Gephardt and Wesley Clark. The Raleigh News Observer did an in-depth on Edwards’ chances:

Most recent polls have shown Edwards running fourth in Iowa, and Hanna said Edwards has a shot at third. That would set him up to survive New Hampshire and send him to South Carolina ready to emerge, he argued.

"You can see the path," Hanna said.

But how realistic is it? And how daunting are the obstacles?

One prominent pollster, John Zogby, said Edwards' numbers have risen enough in recent weeks to catch his attention. Zogby said Edwards' chance of capturing the nomination are "remote" -- though not implausible.(11/22/2003)

Edwards by the Times

The NY Times has a long piece on John Edwards in its magazine section. Its focus is on Edwards being timid and patiently waiting for a fight. Worth reading, if you are fascinated by Edwards. (11/23/2003)

Edwards thinks he can win

The Associated Press has a story that has Edwards listening to his own press releases and believing he can win the nomination. He sees himself as being the firewall in the South against Dean. He has to do better than fourth in Iowa for that to work:

Edwards does not draw the big crowds that Dean does, but he also does not make the party elite nervous with an indignant message against the Democratic establishment. Edwards is trying to become Dean's firewall in the South and is subtly stepping up his case against Dean often without saying his name.

"We have to have both a candidate and a message that is inspiring to the American people," Edwards told voters gathered at a small-town Italian restaurant west of Des Moines. "All of us are upset with George Bush. I feel it. My wife turns the television off whenever he comes on." 11/23/2003)

Playing to Carolinas

Sen. John Edwards is offering a proposal to extend quotas on China to protect S. Carolina’s textile industry. The move is seen as helping Edwards secure his margin in that must win state’s primary. Edwards’ proposal is to make China live with more years of quotas -- despite the fact that all World Trade Organization countries have agreed to end quotas in 2005. His argument is that China came into the WTO four years ago, so they are living under a shortened time frame for ending the quotas.

The Edwards’ campaign website has a press release and a famous Edwards in-depth fact sheet. Here is just a tiny-tiny part of that fact sheet:

Under the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, all textile quotas worldwide will be removed on January 1, 2005. As a result, China's share of the U.S. textile market is expected to soar to about 70 percent, leading to 1,300 plant closings and the loss of 630,000 American jobs. China's share of the global market may increase from 20 percent to 50 percent. Because it joined the World Trade Organization only in 2001, China is benefiting from these quota removals after only a four-year transition, unlike the 10-year transition for the rest of the world’s producers. (11/25/2003)

Debate quotes:
"When people see politicians yelling at each other, as they have in Iowa this week, they know they're voices aren't being heard," John Edwards said.
"I think the only step in the right direction is a recognition by Bush and the White House that this policy in Iraq is a failure. What they're failing to do, unfortunately, is to take the American face off this operation. We're still completely in charge of what's going on there," said John Edwards.
"We have to offer a positive, optimistic, uplifting vision for this country," said Edwards. (11/25/2003)

Edwards on the trail

Sen. John Edwards’ book is out and it is getting some reviews, but not many in the Northern climates as of today. Edwards continues to stick with his plan of being the nice guy who squeezes between the fighting Howard Dean on one side and the duo of John Kerry and Dick Gephardt on the other. To that end Edwards revisited Oklahoma and picked up the following endorsements:

·        Senator Jay Paul Gumm, District 6 

·        Representative Joe Dorman, Rush Springs

·        District Attorney Rob Wallace, Poteau

Edwards also managed to give a big slap in the face to Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley regarding rural health care reimbursements:

“The Republicans’ approach to improving and strengthening Medicare is unwise and unfair, particularly to Iowa’s seniors, and that’s why I voted against the Republican legislation this morning. Iowa’s health care system and the seniors who depend on it have suffered because Iowa does not receive its fair share of reimbursements for services provided under Medicare. Republicans in Congress have repeatedly failed to address this important issue, and it is unfortunate that Iowa’s Republican Senator Charles Grassley has been pushing a bill that doesn’t adequately address the Medicare reimbursement gap and is so harmful for seniors everywhere in the long run. I look forward to continuing to work with Senator Harkin, Congressman Boswell and other Democrats in Congress to increase the Medicare payment rates in Iowa and address the unfair disparities between urban and rural Medicare payments.” (11/26/2003)

S. Carolina poll

The Feldman Group Inc.'s polled 400 likely voters for the S. Carolina primary showed Edwards with 17 percent and Sharpton with 12 percent. Twenty-two percent of those polled were undecided. The new poll comes four weeks after an American Research Group survey showed retired Gen. Clark leading with 17 percent to Edwards' 10 percent. More than a third of that poll's respondents were undecided. Clark had 10 percent in the new Feldman Group Poll, in which 49 percent of the respondents were black, Feldman Group President Diane Feldman said. Democrats here expect blacks to account for about half of the primary voters. Sharpton, who is black, led among black voters; Edwards, who is white, was second with that group, Feldman said. The rest of the candidates received the following percentages: Howard Dean – 11; Joe Lieberman – 9; Dick Gephardt – 8; Carol Moseley Braun – 6; John Kerry – 5; Dennis Kucinich -1.  (11/27/2003)

Praise and criticism

The following are quotes from the Democrat candidates concerning Bush’s visit to Baghdad as reported in the NY Times:

“It's nice that he made it over there today, but this visit won't change the fact that those brave men and women should never have been fighting in Iraq in the first place," said Jay Carson, a spokesman for Howard Dean.

“The right thing to do for our country. When Thanksgiving is over, I hope the president will take the time to correct his failed policy in Iraq that has placed our soldiers in a shooting gallery," said John Kerry.

"Daring move and great politics. I think these kids need more. I'm sure they were buoyed by his coming, but they need more," commented a spokesman for John Edwards.

Matt Bennett, the communications director for Gen. Wesley K. Clark, said: "We're not going to throw stones at the guy for trying to do a nice thing for the troops. When the president goes and spends time with the troops, that's a good thing." … They made their bed with that `Mission Accomplished' trip, and that's going to be around for a long time," he said. "That's not the last ad you will see with that. I will guarantee you that whoever the nominee is will have that image up."

Jano Cabrera, a spokesman for Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, said: "In fairness, visiting with the troops is exactly what a commander in chief should do. That said, we hope that he's also reassuring them that the administration will eventually have a plan to win the peace and bring our troops home soon." (11/28/2003)

What’s the matter with Edwards?

A NY Times story covers the question once again of why Sen. John Edwards isn’t doing better in his bid for his party’s nomination:

Mr. Edwards, in a recent interview, seemed a bit exasperated at again being asking about his stature — it is raised in nearly every lengthy story about him — and attributed his standing in the polls in the states with the first two primary contests to the struggle to become well known.

"I don't think I look all that young," he said. "You've probably heard me say my scars are all on the inside." (11/29/2003)

Blowing in the wind

Sen. John Edwards was blown about in Derry, New Hampshire’s traditional Holiday parade. Edwards joined Frosty the Snowman, Santa and Mrs. Claus in the city’s holiday festivities. The state was buffeted by high winds yesterday that apparently made it difficult for the bareheaded Edwards to keep his hair coifed.

Edwards’ message of the day was not about shopping or the economy but rather about a patient bill of rights. The Patients’ Bill of Rights is important because it gives more power to doctors, families and patients, according to Edwards.

In a separate story by the Manchester Union Leader, it is reported that State Senator Lou D'Allesandro has endorsed Edwards. The story reports how D'Allesandro is one of just six Democrat State Senators and was courted by everyone. (11/30/2003)

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