Good evening, and welcome to a semi-retro version of the EENR: the Edwards Evening News Round-up. John and Elizabeth have been traveling and speaking at venues this weekend about the issues Democrats care about. As many Kossacks know by now (or if you don't), EENR for Progress (especially via the EENR blog) focuses more on issues and less on the remainder of the primary race for the Democratic nomination.
Our top stories:
- John Edwards in Durham, NC
- Elizabeth Edwards in Alexandria, VA
- Upcoming Events for the Edwardses
- Noteworthy issue-oriented diaries at the EENR Blog
- Upcoming EENR for Progress Diaries
Follow me after the jump
John Edwards in Durham
Yesterday, John Edwards spoke at the NC Young Dems conference and focused on issues:
Getting out of Iraq
Universal health care
Raising the minimum wage
Paying more attention to the genocide in Dafur
The right to organize in NC, a taboo subject in that state.
Although the conference was about state races, both of the remaining candidates sent surrogates to speak at the conference. James Carville was a lunch time speaker and Chelsea Clinton was a speaker too. Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, NJ spoke as a supporter for Obama. Not reported, but only a guestimate from this EENR blogger: I wouldn't doubt if they continued to lobby JRE for an endorsement.
Edwards, ever gracious when reporters came to the event to get his thoughts about the two candidates, " pointed out the historical nature of both of their campaigns and said both were better suited in carrying forward his campaign platform than Republican nominee-in-waiting John McCain." He went on to say:
"We are blessed, first, to have an extraordinarily talented African-American who could be the next president of the United States," Mr. Edwards said. "There's no way to contest the fact that he has inspired this country."
"And Senator Clinton, who has served America for so long and so well, and has shown so much strength and leadership, has really forged an extraordinarily historic campaign as a woman for the nomination and for the presidency."
CNN has the video here. (15 sec commercial first) However, after wanting to talk about issues, such as Dafur, CNN cuts the video off. Yep, typical MSM.
Of course Edwards was asked if he would endorse either one before May 6th, and I liked his answer, according to this AP report (and found in the News-Observer):
"When I have something to say, I'll let you guys know," he said.
Video clip here.
Elizabeth Edwards in Alexandria, VA
As noted in the video by John, Elizabeth was on the road too yesterday. The LA Times reported that she blasted John McCain's health care plan at the annual meeting of Association of Health Care Journalists. She remarked,
"Neither of us would be covered in his plan."
McCain has had melanoma and Elizabeth has breast cancer. She noted that his plan does not cover pre-existing conditions such as those.
Another criticism lobbed at McCain's plan had to do with insurance plans being sold across state lines. While in theory this sounds good in giving more consumer choices, Elizabeth pointed out the flaws this way:
"..the plan would allow insurers to move their headquarters to states in which consumer protection laws are weak. Giving an example to back up her claim, Edwards noted that many credit card companies are based in Delaware, where the state's laws are more accommodating to corporate interests, she said.
"Hard-fought state-by-state protections would be lost," Edwards said. "They mask this proposal as a cost-saving technique. This is giving insurance companies a pass."
As usual, Elizabeth is good at digging out the details.
Here's a Youtube clip of from her speech:
(h/t Iddybud)
Elizabeth thought Clinton's health care plan was more universal than Obama's as Clinton's plan was similar to her husband's, but certainly, her comment was not an endorsement by any means. As mentioned earlier, she remains mum.
And yes, Elizabeth is fine. Still no symptoms of her cancer.
Upcoming Events for John and Elizabeth Edwards
John will be speaking to the CTIA Wireless convention in Las Vegas on April 3rd, as reported on EENRblog last week.
Edwards will be part of the first annual "Minds that Move the World" series at Radio City Music Hall in the next two months. His appearance with Rudy Giuliani is on May 28th. Al Gore, Bill Clinton, and others are on the docket as participants.
Elizabeth will be speaking at a Women's Conference in Atlanta on May 1st.
Noteworthy Discussion of Issues--EENR Blog
In the spirit of John and Elizabeth Edwards, the EENR blog is about the discussion of issues. There are 12 categories in which bloggers can post subject oriented diaries, or have a few for fun. Noteworthy diaries of late on the EENR Blog:
Energy Independence by BruceMcF, an energy and transportation economist
103 by Possum, who happens to be Jerry Northington, Delegate at Large candidate from Deleware and a regular. He is sincere about progressive policies, and likewise, Possum is focused on the Iraq War and getting us out.
Be Inspired gives us a brief history about Tibet and its people in light of the problems there on an international level.
Upcoming Diaries by EENRb folks
Tomorrow night more endorsements of Downticket candidates for Congress.
Conclusion
And that is the EENR for this Sunday night.
Pax to all, and any who wish to visit and contribute to a conversation on an issues oriented site, come to the EENR blog.
And your thoughts, dreams for the best for our winning the White House, without trashing Edwards, Obama, or Clinton? I think electing Senate and House candidates will be the key.
Please, no trashing of Edwards (since he chooses to support both candidates (but not endorse, which I think is better), Clinton, or Obama, but rather discuss what issues we can pursue to make the remaining candidates talk about our issues, not "gotchas". MSM does plenty of that.