Another day at Daily Kos, another day of supporters of Hillary and Obama demanding that Edwards drop out and his supporters jump ship. I can't. I have to stick with Edwards through to the convention...no matter what. Wanna know why? Follow me below the fold....
It's not about loyalty
I have been incredibly loyal to the Edwards Campaign for years. I've been supporting him since early 2003 for President, before he even announced his 2004 run. I have been advocating for him online and everywhere I go. If my continued support was just about loyalty, then some of my fellow Kossacks calling for me to jump ship might have an argument.
It's not about proving a point
Many Kossacks believe that Edwards has the most progressive platform. Many could argue that it would be reasonable to stick with Edwards so he can continue speaking out for people living in poverty. I agree with that. I agree that Edwards message against the powerful special interests would be reason enough to continue supporting him as well. It should be heard. If someone wants to argue that their support of an Edwards candidacy will continue because he's the only one telling the truth...I understand that as well. However...it's not mine.....
I'm One of Those People Edwards Talks About
I live in poverty. I know that there are some Kossacks here who have it a lot harder than I do. I am a single woman. I don't have a family I need to support. I don't have to worry about how I'm going to send my kids to college. I don't have to worry about how I'm going to support an unborn child. I don't have a life threatening illness, and none of my family members do. However, I still have a hard time making ends meet. I can't save money. I can't afford a good insurance policy, and even if I could..would it matter? I continue to rake up credit card debt, and I know some of my fellow Kossacks are in a much deeper world of debt than I am.
I'm an Injury Case
I was injured in a car wreck some years ago. A guy ran a red and t-boned me. The type of injury I sustained is a bit complicated. After one botched surgery, I had a second one that corrected some of the problem. The surgeon's say that the type of surgery I had takes a year to get to 90% recovery. The problem is...that's not really true. It actually takes a few years for a patient to plateau like I eventually did. I only received 22% of my what my claim was worth because the guy who hit me had a poor policy, and that was after I also collected my full uninsured motorist policy. Now, my condition is known as one of those pesky "pre-existing conditions". It's a livable condition, although I don't want to live with it for the rest of my life. I'm in constant pain, although it is something I've gotten used to. That doesn't mean I want to settle with what I got.
The best policy out there only covers half of my surgery, and my surgery costs $20,000. Not to mention months off work...therapies etc. Even if I had the money to pay for half the surgery and take time off from work they wouldn't cover it anyways because it's considered a pre-existing condition. So, what do I do?
I Keep Fighting for Edwards
He's the only candidate I trust to not compromise on UHC when he takes the oval office. The other two candidates are heavily funded by the health care industry and big pharma, more than any Republican. I can't help but worry about that funding. Edwards is the only candidate who I believe will not stop fighting for UHC the entire time he is in office. He's the only candidate who I trust will seriously commit to fighting poverty. While the other two candidates may have some good proposals on the table, I don't see these issues being personal for them. I don't see these issues keeping them up at night, or them making huge sacrifices in their lives to fight for these issues. The Edwards family is making a sacrifice for me and for others, and that alone speaks volumes about John and Elizabeth's character. I know that regardless of who wins the nomination, Edwards will fight for me for the rest of his life. That alone, is worth supporting him for the rest of mine. I need someone to speak for me. I need someone to speak for all of us who struggle here in America.
It's Not Over Til' It's Over
I believe that we may end up with a brokered convention. There are some states on Super Tuesday that Hillary will win, and that Obama will win. I think Edwards has the ability to pick up states like Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma, North Dakota and Idaho. That said, I don't think it would be smart for any supporters of the top three candidates to leave the candidate they most believe in. BTW, anything...and I mean anything can happen between now and the convention. There could be something yucky in someone's closet that could be revealed at a later date. Someone could have a major gaffe. There's no telling, and I sure don't want to drop the candidate I believe in this early. Not when the race is literally...up in the air.
Go Ahead, Call Me Names
Call me a Nader spoiler. Call me delusional. Many of you have. One thing you can't call me, is soft...empty....weak. My support and dedication runs deep to the cause of fighting poverty and providing health care for all, and it will keep on running as long as we continue to have the problems we do in this country. In just a minute I'm booking a flight (on my credit card) to California where I'll be knocking on doors and spreading Edwards message as best as I can. It's a message that not only needs to be heard, but needs to be put into action. The only candidate I trust to put fight for real change that will directly affect my life and the lives of millions living in poverty...is John Edwards.
Edwards Statement on Nevada Results
I cut some of the statement out, in particular the portion where he thanked his supporters, his union brothers and sisters and congratulating Clinton. The part I found most important is this:
"John Edwards is the underdog in this campaign, facing two $100 million candidates. But that is nothing compared to the real underdogs in our country – working men and women, middle class families, and all those who have no voice in Washington.
"John Edwards is in this race to fight for the real underdogs and to make sure the voices of the American people are heard in Washington, not the special interests. That's why he's the only candidate in this race who has never taken a dime from PACs or Washington lobbyists; the only candidate who will ban corporate lobbyists from his White House; and the only candidate who is honest enough to say we are in a fight for our country and we need to take on the special interests if we are going to have a country that works for hard-working families and the middle class.
"The race to the nomination is a marathon and not a sprint, and we're committed to making sure the voices of all the voters in the remaining 47 states are heard. The nomination won't be decided by win-loss records, but by delegates, and we're ready to fight for every delegate. Saving the middle class is going to be an epic battle, and that's a fight John Edwards is ready for."
Thank you John Edwards. Thank you for not bowing to pressure and continuing to fight for what you know is right. I'm right there with you.