John Edwards on Civil Rights

[sandnsea]

Thanks to Mbali, so good it needs its own thread.

"We need leadership with the courage of John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, who fought for civil rights and voting rights even when they knew it would cost them dearly. We need leadership with the resolve of Bill Clinton, who made the hard decisions in 1993 to tackle a deficit problem that no one thought could be solved and put this country back on the road to prosperity.

...

"There’s one other thing I want to say about creating opportunity for all our people. I am proud that the South is the birthplace of the civil rights movement. A couple of years ago, I attended a ceremony honoring four young African American men who, over forty years ago, walked into a Woolworth luncheon counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, fifty miles from where I grew up.

"They walked in with courage and dignity, sat down, and asked to be served. When they sat down, they stood up. They stood up for all African Americans, for all Southerners and for all Americans, and they helped change our country. I was a 10-year-old boy when Martin Luther King gave his famous speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It was a call to conscience that changed our history, and I’ll never forget it. He said that he dreamed of the day when his children would be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I am no longer a boy. I’m 49 years old, and the time has come.

"We need leadership with the courage to stand up against discrimination at the voting booth, to stand up against the appointment of judges who will take away fundamental rights, to stand up for all of those who still suffer the consequences of discrimination.

"We must stand unequivocally and proudly for a woman’s right to choose. We must stand up for a woman’s right to earn the same dollar as a man for the same work, not 73 cents and dropping like today. And we must stand against hate crimes of any kind – whether they are based on race or sexual orientation.

John Edwards - New Hampshire Jefferson-Jackson Dinner
Manchester, New Hampshire
October 18, 2002

[renie408]

1. He really is

a great speaker. I have heard him a couple of times. My husband and I are going to try to make it to Robbins for his announcement on the 16th.

[chimpymustgo]

2. John Edwards' GREAT MLK speech (Hello Howard Brush Dean...)

John Edwards visits South Carolina to talk about Dr. King's life and legacy.

Monday, January 20, 2003 - Columbia, South Carolina


I'd like to begin where Martin Luther King began a lot of his own thinking, with a passage from the Bible. In the Book of Matthew, God says to some of his children, "Come, take your inheritance," you fed me when I was hungry and thirsty, clothed me when I was naked, invited me in when I was a stranger, and looked after me when I was sick. And the righteous responded to God by asking, Lord, when did we do these things for you? And God answers:

I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
When we work to lift others up, we do God's work. When we struggle for equality, we do God's work. When we strive for justice, we do God's work.

And that is the work of America too. As Dr. King said, when we work for justice, "We live out the true meaning of creed."

I remember when Dr. King spoke those words on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. I remember when four young men sat down for freedom at a lunch counter in Greensboro and helped to change the world. I was a young boy then, and I don't think I really understood what it was about. But those experiences are part of who I am-as an American, and as a Southerner.

Even in the darkest days, countless Southerners stood as profiles in courage in the face of withering opposition. For every George Wallace, Bull Connor and Orval Faubus, we had a Terry Sanford, Charles Weltner and LeRoy Collins. It was Lyndon Johnson, a Texan, who shook his fist at a joint session of Congress in 1965 and roared "We SHALL overcome!"

I believe that, as Southerners, all of us in this room have a special responsibility to lead on civil rights. Not only because we know America's tragic and terrible history when it comes to race, but also because we have led the way in breaking free from that history. And every politician from the South - whether you're a mayor, a governor, a senator, or president - has a moral obligation to make the mission of civil rights our own.

Unfortunately, there are still some political leaders who take the low road, trying to divide people for their own political ends ... some who take the slow road, saying the right thing, but dragging their feet when it comes to progress ... and some who take no road, failing the responsibilities of leadership and the calling of our values in their silence.

Leadership is more than photo ops with black children. It means supporting the education and safe streets those children need to have the equal shot in life they deserve as Americans.

Leadership is more than talking about diversity, while attacking the vehicles to college diversity in court. I am very disappointed that the President has decided to join the fight against affirmative action at the University of Michigan. We should support efforts that increase diversity - and put an end to systems, like legacy admissions, that give a special preference to the most advantaged at the expense of diversity.

Leadership is more than nice words. Leadership is courage, and commitment, and action. It means doing everything we can to make equality a reality - not only in our laws, but in our lives, in lives where the vestiges of discrimination remain a scar on our nation - from a health system where African-Americans get inferior care, to a school system where separate and unequal is the reality in far too many places.

We have come far, but we have far to go:

The Constitution now guarantees blacks the right to vote; now we have to put an end to practices that lead to the deprivation of minority voting rights once and for all.

We have laws guaranteeing equal opportunity; now, we have to address the underlying economic conditions that still result in an average African-American income that is barely half that of whites.

We have laws prohibiting segregation in public education; now we have to do something about a school system that is becoming increasingly re-segregated, leaving too many minority children the victims of by inadequate education funding, inferior schools, and indifference.

More than anything, leadership means recognizing that civil rights is not a zero sum game where "we" give something to "them"-whether it's women or minorities or immigrants.

The civil rights movement was not about some "them." It was about "us." All of us. It was about transforming America into a nation so much closer to living out the true meaning of our creed.

I can't imagine what our country would be like if we still lived in a segregated society. One of the most important people in my life is my old friend and mentor Julius Chambers. Many of you know that Julius graduated first in his class at UNC at Chapel Hill and fulfilled this promise with an extraordinarily distinguished legal career. Had it not been for Brown v. Board of Education, Julius would not have had any hope, much less the opportunity, to attend UNC, which had been strictly segregated until 1955. His advice, counsel and friendship to me over the last 20 years have been central to my growth as a person, a lawyer, a senator. But had we not undergone the changes we saw as a result of the Civil Rights Movement, Julius might have been lost to me.

It is good and proper to honor Dr. King. But, in honoring him, we ought to remember him as he was, not immortalize him as he was not. He was a real man, flesh and blood like the rest of us. His accomplishments were the accomplishments of a real man, a man with fears and doubts and faults and sins. In the face of all of his human frailty, Dr. King stepped forward and - sometimes stumbling, sometimes erratic, sometimes defiant - sometimes brave, sometimes joyful, and then so proud - America followed. The miracle of Dr. King's accomplishments is the miracle of humanity.

Today is a day to celebrate the greatness of humanity, a potential we all share. It would be an insult to Dr. King for us to let this day become just another day off from work, to pat ourselves on the back for honoring an American saint, to sing a chorus of We Shall Overcome, and then continue on our way.

Today, we should rededicate ourselves to Dr. King's fight, to the fight of every American committed to the true meaning of our creed. We owe it to Dr. King, to all those who sat down at lunch counters, to all those who are fighting for justice in every corner of America today. We owe it to them, to one another, to our children, and ourselves. We owe it to our country, and we owe it to our Lord.

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/page.asp?id=40

[renie408]

3. You have to be careful

with that 'Howard Brush Dean' thing. I accidentely included it in something that I cut and pasted and a couple of people got really pissed.

[chimpymustgo]

4. Is Howard "would you like syrup with those waffles" Dean better?

Or Howard "would you like a bed for those lies" Dean better?

I know renie . Tough cookies that his supporters can't handle the truth. Howard Brush Dean is his NAME.

And I'm so angry about his insulting Edwards, Kerry, et. al. on the race issue that I really don't care whether the Deanies go into their usual rage or not.

[helleborient]

8. Name-calling and divisivness

I think John Edwards would hope for better.

I'm gone for today...impossible to discuss things without name-calling. I'm leaving the playground.

[chimpymustgo]

9. Can we talk about Edwards' record and ideas on civil rights now?

nt

[DemDogs]

12. Divisiveness and Dean supporters

The very idea that Dean supporters are complaining about anyone else engaging in name-calling and divisiveness is truly outrageous. On the boards and on the trail, you are the most divisive Democrats I remember.
When your guy is wrong -- and he is wrong on his civil rights statement -- he ought to admit it (but he doesn't) and you ought to admit (but you won't). You know what that trait reminds me of? Nixon.

[mbali]

13. Dean on ABC This Week

STEPHANOPOULOS - Just the other night at the Congressional Black Caucus debate, Senator Edwards took you on because you said "I'm the only white candidate in the race who talks about race to white audiences." He said that's simply not true. And he's right, isn't he?

DEAN - No, he's wrong about that. White politicians always go before black audiences and talk about affirmative action, all this stuff. Sometimes they, as in Joe Lieberman's and Senator Edwards' and others' case, talk about protection of civil rights. They talk about what they were doing in the civil rights movement in the '60s and all that. That's not talking about race. If you want to talk about race and you're white, you have an obligation to talk about the un, the unconscious bias that people exercise over hiring practices, the fact that ...

STEPHANOPOULOS - But that's not what you said in the debate. I've been on the campaign trail with these guys. And Senator Kerry, Senator Edwards and Senator Lieberman, they talk about race in every single stop.

DEAN - But they don't, none of them have attacked the quota system.

STEPHANOPOULOS - All have attacked President Bush on affirmative action and said he shouldn't call a quotas.

DEAN - But they, well, long after I did.

STEPHANOPOULOS - Now, why not just say, you know, maybe I shouldn't have said it that way?

DEAN - Because I think I'm right.

STEPHANOPOULOS - This isn't the only time that you've drawn fire for your use of language. You've had to apologize to Senator Edwards in the past.

DEAN - The only time I've had to apologize just for the record.

STEPHANOPOULOS - The only time.

DEAN - Yes.

[AP]

14. Has Dean apologized other times?

And he says it like he regrets having done it. It's like he's proud of his mistakes, and he's more proud about not apologizing after they've been pointed out to him.

[renie408]

15. Well shit

And right when I was starting to defend Howard and think better of him, too. He is a jerk.

And his mama didn't raise him right, either.

[sandnsea]

5. Kick this back up

It deserves more attention.

[mbali]

6. Admit it and move on

Can any of the Dean supporters who so vigorously defend his comments about race the other night explain why he won't simply admit he was wrong and get the issue over with? Not only has he refused to correct his misstatement, he is makin it worse by defending it with additional falsehoods. He is NOT the only white politician talking about race to white audiences and he has NOT made this claim in the past as he now insists.

Is this what we could expect from a Dean general election candidacy?

[renie408]

11. I think we are slipping into dead horse

territory on this one. You can't MAKE people say what you want to hear. Just let it go.

[genius]

7. This is one area where he's excellent.

The part of his California Democratic Convention speech about civil rights was awesome. It was overshadowed by his support of the war and homeland security. I left the convention with mixed feeling about him because he did seem so good on civil rights.

[chimpymustgo]

10. Please read his MLK speech. Edwards is the real deal on race.

Growing up in the South, during the time of desegregation gives him an unparalleled dimension and understanding of racial issues. He has lived it.

[surfermaw]

16. Growing up in the South

You are right there , if you grew up in the south you know full well how blacks were treated, and so does John Edwards..and most black people understand him as they did Carter. If you don't understand that Martin Luther King..did get about one half thatwas needed to (have been done back in 1865)..and then the Civil Right thing is only about 1/3 where it should be. Think About it this great Nation used people for slaves.. Comming from a descendant of old slave holders from Georgia and Virginia. Wish I could undo what was done.

[renie408]

17. John Edwards might not have the chance that Dean has to

talk race to white audiences. The audience at his announcement in Robbins was noticeably mixed. I stood next to a woman who was about 80, behind several southern black gentlemen in suits complete with suspenders who appeared to be in their late sixties and in front of a couple of young black guys who looked to be maybe in their 20's. I also noticed a fair number of hispanics, which kind of surprised me, but shouldn't have. NC has had one of the fastest growing hispanic communities in the country. I also noticed many young people listening intently to his message.

[chimpymustgo]

18. So true, Renie. I was so upset Dean would dare imply he's the

only one talking about race to white audiences. But then I figured out what he meant. He's the only one WITH the white audiences (LOL).

I loved looking at that crowd Wednesday (on tv, unfortunately). But it is the very picture of what America can be. And that is what Edwards' campaign is all about.

[AP]

19. It was also a picture of what America shouldn't be -- closed down mills

Right?

Those were great images, and they're going to make for some powerful commercials.

[genius]

20. This is Edwards's strength

He's a good man. Kucinich is also great on this.