Democrat Edwards Criticizes Clark's Past Comments

[pruner]

Mon October 6, 2003 06:57 PM ET
By Greg Frost

NASHUA, N.H. (Reuters) - Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards on Monday criticized newcomer Wesley Clark's past praise of President Bush and shrugged off concerns about the retired general's White House bid.

Edwards joined several Democratic rivals, including former Gov. Howard Dean of Vermont and Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, in calling attention to Clark's praise of Bush at a Republican fund-raiser in Arkansas in 2001.

<snip>

Edwards, a former trial lawyer, brushed aside suggestions he had fallen behind the retired general in the race for votes and for cash.

"Let me know when he's raised $15 million. He's a little ways away from that," the senator chuckled, adding he was leading Clark in other early battleground states.

"I'm 10 points ahead of him in South Carolina and beating him in Iowa," Edwards said. "My campaign is not changed. It's focused on a message about empowering working people and giving them the chances they're supposed to have.

http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=3566638

[Pastiche423]

1. It appears that we have some very smart

DEMOCRATIC candidates. ;-)

[JI7]

6. so you LIKE edwards now ?

i hope so since i never understood why you didn't. he is a very good man.

[Pastiche423]

7. No, I do not like Edwards

He lost my vote in May 2002.

[tsipple]

2. Smart Move for Edwards

Edwards and Clark are in most direct competition tactically in the Democratic nomination race. I think this is a smart move for Edwards. He's doing OK.

[Myra]

3. I like Edwards a lot

So I won't even point out that he voted
for the Iraq war, which was tantamount to
the ultimate praise and support of the illegitimate
Resident and his illegal war.

:evilgrin:

[seventhson]

4. I like him for VP with Dean

anyway

[ozone_man]

5. He would provide that balanced ticket.

I think it would be a clear winner.

[neuvocat]

8. Edwards is such an idiot.

This is the guy who wrote up the draft for the Patriot Act, now he questions the loyalty of other democrats. Stupid.

[Democat]

9. Bashing other Dem candidates is usually a sign of desperation

It doesn't make me more likely to vote for someone.

[Cocoa]

12. do you have more info on that?

I'm a little surprised a freshman dem senator would have such a major role in drafting such major legislation.

What exactly was Edwards's role in that?

Edwards has been one of the more vocal critics of the Patriot Act, among the candidates, and I've never heard a reporter or rival ask him about that seeming contradiction, why do you think this is?

Edwards questioned Clark's work at Acxiom. Why doesn't Clark respond by asking Edwards about his drafting the Patriot Act?

[OKNancy]

13. Because he didn't

He had a minor role in one little section..can't even remember what it was.

[seventhson]

15. Link for Edwards and Patriot Act???

I thought Bushes BOYZ drafted it

[Jinx]

10. Sounds like opportunism

What a maroon. Clark's former praising of Republicans is a GOOD thing. It shows he's disenchanted, and not a mere partisan hack. He can honestly say "Like many of you, I once supported Bush and felt he would do great things for this nation. And, like many of you, I have been thoroughly betrayed."

[catforclark2004]

11. Desperate times call for desperate measures

The General public is already becoming defensive of Clark. They want to protect him from this Democratic Eliticism! The majority of those in the Democratic party will circle their wagons around the General. They understand what their party is about; inclusiveness, open mindness and reasonability.

Edward just jumped on the bandwagon...cause these guys are getting their news a little too late...kinda like sticking their finger to the air...to see which way the wind is blowing.....Too bad they don't yet know that the wind has already started blowing back the other way.

That's the problem with career politicians. Their followers, not leaders.

He would have been elevated in my mind to remain classy and above the Fray! I liked Edwards...used to be my #3 choice.....

[KittyWampus]

14. I Still Like Edwards Alot! He Hasn't Been Too Negative

And he needed some visibility and tagging Clark helps... it's POLITICS! :)

Edwards supporters, if you read this... it'd be great to see more press releases from his campaign.

There's alot of stuff from there Dean and Clark and Kerry supporters but maybe not so much from Edward's fans.

[PurityOfEssence]

20. The Clark campaign has targeted Edwards as serious competition

From their very beginnings of upstaging his announcement and in all mentioning of him, the Clark campaign has been very combative with Edwards; he's returning fire.

He is also diametrically opposed on many key issues, like vouchers, and has every right to speak out. This is hardly untoward.

Edwards is MUCH more to the left and for the working folk, and he's easily electable. It's this fear of the booga-booga Bushman that drives most support for Clark, and it's as tiresome as it is completely unnecessary; we don't have to go that far to the right.

Clark seems to think he can stand up and say that Junior deceived us by claiming to be something "acceptable" like a "compassionate conservative". That doesn't wash. Even if there was such a thing as compassionate conservative (vegetarian predator?) it's still not acceptable. We had the third way with Clinton and that was plenty; it didn't "save" the party.

The standard response to any criticism by Edwards from Clark's camp has been a uniform "ha ha ha, he's a loser" refrain that smacks of conservative bullying. His supporters and his staff are often indistinguishable from right-wing screamers, and that just won't do. It doesn't talk like a duck recently, but it walks like one and something just doesn't smell right.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

22. Please

Since when does Edwards have a monopoly on announcement days? Clark was sandwiched between Edwards and the hurricane, that Wednesday was the only viable day.

Clark hasn't gone negative on Edwards once. Edwards has sent a few negative volleys Clark's way. Clark's responses have been above-the-fray and appropriate.

At least Edwards isn't telling outright lies about Clark's record, like Dean has. I'll give Edwards credit for that.

DTH

[seventhson]

16. Baloney. When a majority opposed Bush, Clark supported him

and Clark helped raise funds for rethuglycans

gimme a break

[Pastiche423]

17. It does sound like opportunism

when you're talking about clark. Either that, or expediency.

[Wickerman]

18. I like Edwards, and I like the ads that are on MN TV every hour or two

Thats about all we hear of him. Unfortunate - he seems to have a good message. Gee, all my theories of who would be Clark's running mate are eliminating themselves.

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. Must mean that Clark is the frontrunner

Afew weeks ago everyone had their sights on Dean. Now that Clark is in the lead, everyone want a peice of him. Notice that none of the candidates are attacking Edwards. There is a reason for that.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

21. If I Were a Mindless Propagandist, I'd Say Pruner Was Just Posting

Biased Clark stories in an effort to go "negative" on Clark.

Unlike certain supporters of other candidates, however, I feel this is legitimate news. Thanks for posting the story, Pruner.

DTH

[cprise]

23. That's OK, be a propagandist

It's in style. B-)