Welcome to the day after and this Sunday's EENR. I want to remind people that even as the media ignores Edwards and the blogosphere is going on about who won Nevada, Clinton or Obama, that Edwards is still working as if he's out ahead of them both.
The only way this continues to happen is our involvement and our action. There are still things we can do and they are so very important for not only talking about why we support Edwards, but how we can support him.
- Edwards Campaign Statement On Nevada Caucus Results
- John Edwards Not Ready to Give Up
- What you can do for John
- Want to talk to other supporters?
- Why I support Edwards
1. Edwards Campaign Statement On Nevada Caucus Results
Chapel Hill, North Carolina – John Edwards for President campaign manager, former Congressman David Bonior, released the following statement about today's Nevada caucus results.
"Congratulations to Senator Clinton for her win in Nevada. Our campaign is very grateful to all those who demonstrated the loyalty and dedication to stand up for John Edwards in the face of very difficult circumstances and long odds, including our brothers and sisters in Nevada from the Carpenters, Steelworkers, Transport Workers, and Communications Workers of America.
"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."
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
2. John Edwards Not Ready to Give Up
And no doubt, today was the same old topic, so now what Senator Edwards? As the regulars of EENR and the Daily Kos have seen, people are eager for John to throw in the towel. For some of us, there is no second choice right now and we will fight as long as John asks us to and so, he's still fighting, we're still fighting.
"What I'm going to do is run with everything I've got, fight for the things I care about," he said. "We have 47 states left. Three have voted so far. So we got a long way to go, and I'm in this for the long term."
Asked about his lack of support among African-Americans, Edwards blamed "overwhelming massive national publicity" given his two rivals.
"When I get heard in the African-American community they'll understand that I'm the strongest proponent of doing something about poverty, for universal health care, for raising the minimum wage, for a whole group of things that directly impact the African-American community," he said.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/...
"I got my butt kicked in Nevada," Edwards said. "And what you learn from that is that all my life, when that's happened to me, you just gotta get up and start fighting, particularly when you are fighting for the cause of your life, which is making sure that people who don't have a voice get a voice, and fighting for the middle class and low-income families."
Edwards acknowledged the impact his Democratic rivals' gender and race have had on the political contest, but focused on what he called his party's goal of helping U.S. citizens earn a better life.
"I mean, are we going to do what has to be done to preserve the middle class and help low-income families and help single moms who have no health insurance and bringing this war to an end? I mean, that's what this is about," Edwards said.
http://www.earthtimes.org/...
3. What you can do for John
I have gone on a road trip, which I detailed in my diary here. I have pledged to vote for Edwards and I plan on writing letters to my local newspapers. My next step will be to do some phone banking in South Carolina from the comfort of my own home. And even if you are unable to do these things, you can join the virtual One Corps and keep your spirits up by seeing what others are doing. Even better, join your local One Corps group and table or canvass for Edwards in your area.
My point is, we all have different abilities, talents and well, lets face it, availability. All I ask from you is do what you can and share with others the things you've done so far and the benefits you've received from giving your time. And for those who have already acted, thank you so much, I know in my heart that John and Elizabeth appreciate all our efforts not matter how big or small.
So, what are you going to do for John this week? Click on any of the following and it will lead you to where you need to go to learn more.
4. Want to talk to other supporters?
MKJ over at the Edwards blog has set up a chat room for supporters. Please visit if you want or have any questions. I know people will be hanging out from time to time and it's a good way to keep your spirits up or share your stories of the fight to get John the nomination.
5. Why I support Edwards
The following is from a diary I wrote last night on why I support John Edwards. I wanted to share it here. The idea for tonights EENR is an extension of this diary, I wanted to remind people that there are things they can still do.
And if you want to know why we stick so strongly, ask and I know someone will be happy to let you know.
For me, I sincerely believe that this is a man who has seen how things work in Washington and when faced with a life altering event, he decided that he could no longer go along with "the game". John Edwards decided that he could speak out, he could tell the truth and he could try to change the Washington game to work in our favor again, for the people who pay taxes, who work hard, who dream of owning a home, raising their children and sleeping without worrying about their health or retirement even when they've done all the right things. That's worth this fight, people shouldn't be punished for dong everything right.
We cannot sit down at the table with corporations because it's time that big business got out of lawmaking. This doesn't mean they can't be heard, we're not idiots. If the corporate world folds, we fold with it, with the jobs, etc. We just want the Government to work for the people as it was meant in the first place, not corporations. No more lobbyists and no more big money influence.
I heard someone on the Thom Hartmann program trying to argue that the constitution does not say that the Government should provide health care, etc. I believe that Republicans are intellectually dishonest. He cited Section Eight.
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
The sticking point in this debate was the phrase, the general welfare. What does that mean? I'm not a scholar, this is my thought though, the founding fathers were smart enough to make this document amendable and they understood that the world would change. Commerce, population and technology would go forward and in order to achieve the general welfare things would have to change with the times.
It looks like so many things that we struggle with don't fit here, so doesn't it make sense that our Government and our guiding document would grow with us? We need a President who will reframe the place of the Government to where it works for us again, not just those who have the most money, the most media access and the most lobbyists.
And most importantly, we want Independents and Republicans to vote for us because they think we have the ideas, and John's ideas cut across party and could bring the moderates over to us. I think we can bring Americans together for a Government that works for everyone, regardless of party.