Edwards' "Cities Rising"

[mbali]

John Edwards was the only candidate at the CBC debate to detail an Urban Agenda.

>>>
QUESTION: Senator Edwards, I don't know if you've had a chance to see the city of Detroit, but this city is a symbol of the promise and the problems facing this nation. And the people here realize that foreign issues are very important, but they also want to know how is it that Washington -- the president and Congress -- can find $87 billion to rebuild Iraq and not find enough money to rebuild American cities? Money for its schools, its roads, the urban areas. What is your urban agenda? What are your priorities?

EDWARDS: Well, we've lost over a million jobs in urban America just last year alone. People are struggling and hurting.

I have a plan called -- I've written it down -- called Cities Rising. The idea is to first bring jobs to urban America. Let's create incentives for new businesses to start there, incentives for existing businesses to locate their plant and facilities there. And not just jobs -- good-paying jobs, with good benefits, with access to health care.

Second, to do something about the shame of having two public school systems in America, one for the haves and one for the have- nots.
(APPLAUSE)
We have a responsibility to do something about that. This president's never going to do anything about it.

What I want to do is this. First, lead a national initiative to pay teachers better. Second...
(APPLAUSE)
... give bonus pay to teachers who will teach in schools in less- advantaged areas. Give scholarships to young people who are willing to teach in these schools.

And last but not least, we need to empower people and create wealth for things like homeownership. People who live in urban areas deserve a decent place to live, in addition to health care and education.
(APPLAUSE)
<<<

Of course, unless you watched the debate, you probably didn't hear about Edwards' plan for Urban America since it didn't get mentioned in any of the stories about the debate. Yep - it would have been just too strange to actually report about a Democratic candidate specifically addressing urban issues during a Congressional Black Caucus debate held in downtown Detroit.


Read more about it here: http://www.johnedwards2004.com/page.asp?id=306

[Catch22Dem]

1. I always think Edwards does better than everyone else

In the debates, yet he rarely gets mentioned.

[DemDogs]

2. This is what the debates should have been about

urban issues, education, health care. Edwards managed to talk about them all, while others were content to argue about history.
We need a candidate who is focused on our future.
The Cities Rising program is just one of his great programs.

[mbali]

3. Oh, yes he does . . .

usually get mentioned in the second to last paragraph of each debate story: "and, oh, by the way - John Edwards was spotted standing near Dean, Kerry and Clark on the stage saying something about something at several points during the debate."

[chimpymustgo]

4. Shame too. Edwards is a wonderful person and fantastic candidate.

Maybe the media will give him just enough of a break for him to break through.