This has been a really busy week for the Edwards campaign. Besides the unveiling of new Progressive policy proposals their has been a wealth of not so bright things said by President Bush and Rudy Giuliani in which to respond to and refute. The Edwards campaign has done so quite nicely.
First, we have the Rudy Giuliani attack at the Republican debate on Edwards' plans for a fair tax code. Edwards wasted no time in firing back:
Chapel Hill, North Carolina – John Edwards for President National Press Secretary Eric Schultz released the following statement about Rudy Giuliani's comments today during the GOP debate attacking Senator John Edwards' plan to restore fairness to our tax code. Edwards recently released a plan that raises the tax rate on capital gains to 28 percent for families earning more than $250,000. Additionally, Edwards proposed a "Get Ahead" credit cutting taxes on the savings of Americans up to $75,000.
"Today, Rudy Giuliani showed yet again that all he has to offer America is four more years of George W. Bush. Giuliani, Bush and the greedy special interests they represent want to keep Washington rigged. That all ends when John Edwards is sworn-in, the lobbyists are kicked out, and regular people start getting a fair shot."
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
Right on cue, George W. Gump proved Edwards right in saying Giuliani represents four more years of a Bush Presidency by agreeing with Giuliani that what America really needs is more Corporate Welfare. Again Edwards was quick to answer with this:
"Today, George Bush suggested that his priority on taxes would be, yet again, to help some of the wealthiest American investors and businesses. I couldn't disagree more. A month ago, I announced a plan to reward work, not just wealth, by taxing private equity and hedge funds fairly. That means no more special privileges -- charging income tax rates on the fund managers' incomes and corporate tax rates when funds go public.
"My plan to bring the tax code back in line with American values will prioritize tax cuts for the real engine of the American economy: the middle-class and working families who go to work every day and deserve to keep more of their paychecks."
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
Just a few days earlier Edwards had taken the Duke of Hazard to task for not signing the Hate Crimes Bill:
"Every American is entitled to live in dignity without fear of violence. No community should feel that they can be targeted with impunity. But until law enforcement has the tools to aggressively investigate and prosecute all hate crimes, some Americans will doubt that the government is on their side. President Bush’s threat to veto hate crime legislation sends just that message.
"With 25 hate crimes committed every day by the FBI’s count – one every hour – it is embarrassing that the White House says stronger law enforcement tools are ‘unnecessary’. Nine years after the heinous murders of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., I know these tools are more necessary than ever. As president, I will sign the hate crimes law and make sure law enforcement has all the resources it needs to protect every community in America."
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
One hate crime an hour might be acceptable in George W. Bush's America, but it will never be acceptable in the One America that John Edwards seeks to build.
Then we had the ridiculous comments the cheerleader from Andover made about the Housing Crisis. Again, Edwards was quick to fire back:
"George Bush may not have noticed it, but everyone else - including the markets - has. We have a housing crisis on our hands. It's time for the president to show real leadership and stop protecting irresponsible lenders. Because of President Bush's failures, millions of American families are at risk of losing their home and everything they've worked for. The president must stop blaming homeowners, and wake up and realize that our nation's economy has been put at severe risk by irresponsible corporations.
"Unlike President Bush, rather than ignore the serious issue of hard-working Americans losing their homes, I have called for a national Home Rescue Fund and bankruptcy reforms to help families prevent foreclosure and get out of toxic loans. And as president, I will enact strong national predatory lending legislation so that this never happens again."
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
Check out the Edwards plan here:
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
But to top it all off, we have Rudy Giuliani saying that he was at ground zero after the attacks of 9-11 as much or more than the heroic first responders, fire-fighters and emergency workers. This was a sickening appeal for brownie-points that Edwards couldn't let go unanswered. His response is here:
"Evidently, Rudy Giuliani has taken a break from reality. It is outrageous for Giuliani to suggest, in any way, shape or form, that he did more at ground zero or spent more time there than the brave first responders who worked tirelessly around the clock for many months during the rescue and recovery operation. It seems that Giuliani is determined to take every opportunity to exploit the memory of 9/11 for political gain, rather than honor the incredible sacrifices of our first responders. Enough is enough.
"Mayor Giuliani should start answering the serious questions of why firefighters and other first responders didn't have proper equipment and support. The 9/11 Commission and National Institute of Standards & Technology reports have documented the failures of the broken radio communications system, a splintered chain of command and an unprepared Office of Emergency Management under his watch as mayor. These are the questions he needs to answer."
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
Not only does John Edwards have the most Progressive vision and policies but he will not back down from the other side when they make their ridiculous statements. He is showing that an Edwards ticket will take the fight to the other side and call them on their failures past, present, and future. He is the man we need fighting for a Democrat in the White House once more!!!