As everyone knows, the Des Moines Register today endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton for President. As an Edwards supporter I found that somewhat disappointing, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. What I found extremely telling was not only the reasons that they endorsed Clinton, but the reasons they gave for not supporting Edwards. The Register chose to not only endorse Senator Clinton, but to make a half-hearted cowardly attack on John Edwards.
Lets look at what the Register had to say about John Edwards:
Edwards was our pick for the 2004 nomination. But this is a different race, with different candidates. We too seldom saw the "positive, optimistic" campaign we found appealing in 2004. His harsh anti-corporate rhetoric would make it difficult to work with the business community to forge change.
http://desmoinesregister.com/...
Yes, they are right about one thing. This IS a different race with different candidates. I hear a lot of talk about how Edwards is "angry" and shouldn't be President. The Register seems to have bought into this rhetoric.
Well, I would just like to say right now, that if you aren't "angry" about what has transpired in this country during the last eight years, then you have no business running for this party's nomination. Just look at the list of things to be "angry" about. Americans have sacrificed generations of constitutional rights for the incompetence of this administration. Our nation has become torturers. We have wasted what will be a trillion dollars and thousands of lives for a failed, idiotic policy. We watch as we cannot even pass healthcare for our children. We watch as more and more high-paying union jobs go overseas. Those of us who are working harder and harder are watching in horror as less and less pay and benefits are given to us. Our government has been kindnapped and held for ransom to the highest bidder.
And what of their claim that Edwards would not be able to work with the business community? Well I submit to all that the Register has bought into the same failed DLC vision of our party and our nation that has watered down our ideals and destroyed our party. Do any of us really believe the business community or the Republicans are going to work with us? They won't even allow healthcare for children to pass!!!
The time for compromise has gone by the way-side. The problem with compromise is that as Progressives it is our ideals that are constantly compromised. If you are not angry and fighting mad, and ready to make sure the other side makes concessions next time, then we aren't in the same party.
The only candidate in this race who has dedicated himself and his policies to changing the broken system in Washington and truly representing the ideals of our party is John Edwards. It is time we fight as hard for what we believe in as the DLC fights to make sure we don't get represented.
Evidently, the Des Moines Register hasn't learned the lessons of the recent past. They attempt to cement the notion that we can compromise and bring about progress, which is the most dangerous attitude in our party and country right now. I for one am not buying it. If we can't fight now, after all that has happened, I fear all is lost.