Here's a teaser clip from the final remarks delivered by Edwards at the Town Hall Meeting held tonight in Portsmouth, NH at Prescott Park to end the bus tour that has taken him all over the state in the past fews days.
I'd say that at least a thousand people maybe two were there. Before the event I counted almost 500 chairs and the crowd overflowed the space more than once. His remarks were sharp, clear and passionately delivered to an enthusiastic crowd.
It's a change election and this is officially a movement. I'm a big supporter of Edwards, but whatever candidate you prefer I think the point is well taken. We can't just flip a lever or cast a vote once or twice a year anymore. The country is by far too screwed up. We have to go out and start changing things. But if you're blogging here, I'm sure you already know that and thanks for what you do.
Video: Your country needs you now (4:24)
To bring about the big bold, change that America needs is going to require you. And I mean every single one of you. You're going to have to take responsibility for your country...
I listen to Bush and Cheney as little as I can get away with (applause) ... this is what I hear them say: stay home, watch television, Dick Cheney and I will take care of you. I don't want that crowd taking care of me... That's not America...
He talks here about how the civil rights movement and the movement to end the war in Vietnam started out in places like Portsmouth, NH. They didn't start from the top, they grew organically out of need and a common purpose. They grew up and then became recognized as a force to be dealt with politically in this country in a serious way at the highest levels of government, but first they grew up in places like Portsmouth all across this country.
The stories that you have heard tonight and I could give you one after another after another of incredible injustices that are taking place in America today. We can't stand quietly by. You can't stand quietly by and wait for somebody else to take care of this.
"You have to be the change that you want to see in the world."
Elizabeth and I had a very personal decision to make on a long and dark day in a hospital room a few months ago, this is the cause of our lives. This is what we're going to do with our lives, but we need you with us...
And I'm not really even talking about my campaign.
I'm talking about your country needs you. Your country needs you now...
We're going to have to do it together. Your country needs you.
We need you to sacrifice, we need you to be patriotic and we need you to love your country enough to go out, speak up make your voices heard...
This is a movement. A movement to create the kind of America that all of us believe in.
It was an excellent event. Edwards took questions and spoke for about 50 minutes, I'd say half speech half questions. I'll try to post the full log this weekend, I just don't time have this week to do any post work. Elizabeth and the whole family were there and she looked radiant as usual, but it's hard to tell with all that warm white light streaming from her head causing a decided glare. Mrs. Edwards was front and center on a couple a questions about health care. Two cancer patients currently undergoing treatment got to ask questions at this event tonight. It was an excellent event and you'll see all that in the full vlog. Did I already say excellent? How about wicked awesome? 'Cuz it was.
I hope you enjoy the clip. He's got a great message and detailed proposals to make the Edwards agenda really turn into a movement over and above a campaign. I think the Edwards message is one that we should all listen to regardless of our candidate affiliations because, as a party, this is a message we should all embrace. And as community of active bloggers, even more so.
I'm not associated with the campaign in any way although I do volunteer. I support Edwards for the nomination and I do all these vlogs as an ordinary person with a cheap mini-DV, a PC and free tools available on the web.
See you out there