Ed O'Keefe of ABC news reports that John Edwards says President Bush is the worst president ever and worse than Richard Nixon.
2004 Vice Presidential Contender Blasts Bush and Readies to Run Again
May 21, 2006 -- - Former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., says George W. Bush is the "worst president of our lifetime," and "absolutely" worse than Watergate-tainted President Richard M. Nixon.
In an exclusive appearance on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," the former presidential and vice presidential contender said of Bush, "He's done a variety of things -- things which are going to take us forever to recover from.
"You have to give Bush and Cheney and gang credit for being good at politics -- you know, good at political campaigns," Edwards added. "They're very good at dividing the country and taking advantage of it. What they're not good at is governing, and it shows every single day in this administration. And the country is paying a huge price for that."
Mary Cheney Comments
The former senator, pitching his "college for everyone" program in rural North Carolina, also responded to recent criticism by Mary Cheney, Vice President Cheney's lesbian daughter. In "Now It's My Turn: A Daughter's Chronicle of Political Life", Cheney, the 37-year-old second daughter of the vice president and second lady, labeled Edwards as "complete and total slime" for congratulating Cheney and his wife during their 2004 vice presidential debate for "embrac[ing]" their daughter's sexual orientation.
Edwards did not back down, telling Stephanopoulous, ABC News' chief Washington correspondent, "I think what I said then was appropriate. And I do believe that it was in a very partisan political environment. We were in the middle of a very hot campaign, very close campaign.""I struggled with my decision to stay," she said.
Edwards told "This Week": "What happened ... is that the vice president had mentioned in several public appearances the fact that he had a gay daughter, had talked about some differences in policy that he had with the president. He was asked a question in the debate where that was referenced by the moderator, Gwen Ifill. He responded. I said that actually the fact that they had a gay daughter and embraced her is something that should be applauded for. He said thank you."
Mary Cheney has claimed in her book that her father was acting.
"He didn't seem like he was acting," Edwards told Stephanopoulos, "although you never know with the vice president."
"I think you have to convince the country that it's [the] moral and just thing to do," he said. But he acknowledged, "I don't think [Americans are] completely there. I think that in their conscience inside they're there, but they haven't had any leadership. No one has ever made them think about it."
I don't see any wrong doing or problem with John Edward's statement here. It seems to me that Mary Cheney is over-reaching a bit in a strained attempt to score political points. Perhaps, partially, to justify to herself, her somewhat morally perilous position of campaigning for an administration that is backing anti-GLBT positions.
Is Edwards Running in 2008?
But the most interesting news are the hints that John Edwards seems to be seriously considering a run for the 2008 Presidential nomination.
As to whether he might be the one to press such an agenda in the 2008 presidential campaign, Edwards said, "I'm thinking about it, and I'm very seriously considering it. I just haven't made a final decision.
"[I] don't have a time frame," he added, "but can't wait too long."
Edwards said he might not run if his wife's health problems flared up. Elizabeth Edwards, the former senator's wife of 29 years, was diagnosed with breast cancer on Nov. 3, 2004, the day that Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and his running mate Edwards conceded defeat to the Bush-Cheney team.
"She's doing great," Edwards said. "All the tests are good, and they're very encouraging.
If he does run, Edwards said the possibility of opposition from Kerry or Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., in a 2008 Democratic primary would not faze him.
Calling Clinton a "formidable candidate", Edwards said, "I just think that anybody who suggests, particularly now ... that you can predict what's going to happen is just living in never, never land."
George Stephanopoulos' entire interview with former senator and vice presidential candidate John Edwards can be viewed at "This Week's" Web page at www.abcnews.com.
Conclusions
I am hoping former Senator John Edwards does run for the 2008 presidential nomination. While at this point, I think I would vote for Al Gore over John Edwards, we do not know if Al Gore is going to run. Or Hilary Clinton either.
Also, I believe our party would benefit from the most competitive field possible.
And in several of the head to head polls, I remember from late fall and early winter, against possible GOP candidates John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Condileeza Rice, John Edwards polled better than Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, or John Kerry. I have not seen recent polls, however, he may have the potential to be our strongest candidate in terms of appeal to the independents.
My primary concern is how strong is his committment to our GLBT voting base. My impression has been that he was a strong supporter, and at least favored civil unions, and leaving the question to the states, as a transitional position, even though he does not apparently support marriage equality. This was John Kerry's position and seems to be the minimum compromise position acceptable to me and most Democrats until such time as the country catches up with moderns thinking.
But I read recently that the latest update of his website drops any mention of his previous support for the GLBT communities and civil unions. Is this true? If so, it may cost him my support. We have to many other well qualified candidates such as Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Wesley Clark, Russ Feingold who support for the GLBT and other core progressive issues is solid.
I hope this website issue turns out to be an oversight or misunderstanding and we can add John Edwards back into the growing list of excellent and strong progressive Democratic candidates.