any theories on why John Edwards isn't front and center on Katrina

[onenote]

His validity of his "two AMericas" message has been illustrated in the most dramatic and awful way. Is he afraid if he steps up too visibly he'll be viewed as trying to capitalize on this tragedy? I think he should be all over the media getting out his (and the Democratic Party's) message about the need to address issues of race, class, and poverty in America.

onenote

[Mass]

1. He has sent an email saying that it was about two Americas.

[AspenRose]

2. He made a statement last week

[bliss_eternal]

3. Isn't his wife still ill?

I can understand his being more in the background, to be present for his wife and family...

[hopein08]

6. Last I heard, she's finished treatment and is quickly getting better...

I even saw something on another messageboard that she is going to be giving a speech on her experiences with breast cancer at a national medical conference of some sort in Orlando on September 23.

Anyway, my theory is that the MSM wouldn't want to put him on too much because it would be too easy to call them out on what they HAVEN'T been reporting on.

[bliss_eternal]

7. You're probably right. You know how the media is...

:eyes:

Thank you for the great news on Elizabeth. So glad to hear she's doing so well. :D

[AmericanDream]

4. He was on MSNBC but was cut off to give air time to Condi....

The media might have stepped forwards to give this Administration some hell... but they still aren't ready to give the right voice the much needed platform.

His statement, however, was very powerful... and was probably the most dignified, yet forceful, responses I read from any national or local leader. Let's hope his message gets heard.

Why doesn't Dean let Edwards do the democrats' radio address in response to Bush?

Plus, he has just launched his lecture and research serious about poverty at the UNC-chapel hill... I'm guessing since he has been hired to work as a Professor, help his wife, take care of his kids.. between all that he is still speaking out well enough. But yes, we need more!

[jeebie]

5. John Edwards pans relief effort while talking up poverty center

GARY D. ROBERTSON
Associated Press

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - President Bush's leadership during Hurricane Katrina was "slow" and "indecisive," former vice presidential candidate John Edwards said Wednesday in joining the critics who have panned the federal government's response to the devastating storm.

Edwards, a former North Carolina senator considered a possible presidential candidate for 2008, also questioned the qualifications of Michael Brown, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"His performance has been sorely lacking," Edwards told reporters after an event at a new poverty research center he leads. "On paper, he doesn't appear to have the experience and the expertise to do this job."

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/12583483.htm

[1932]

8. Everyone was quoting him last week. I heard Oliphant on NewHour

and a couple other people on NPR all mention "Two Americas" and some mentioned his email.

[PretzelWarrior]

9. because he's not worthy as EX candidate and EX senator?

just a guess

[msgadget]

10. His site

has blogs regarding Katrina and Global Warming and here's a pice of his from 9/2:

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/2/14749/71454

[Jai4WKC08]

11. With all the left-of-center blogs out there...

Isn't it odd that he picked TPM Cafe to be the ONLY place to post his statement. Gee, wonder what was going on there at the time that he felt he needed to share the spotlight....

[wiley]

12. Maybe he's really just tired

[CarolNYC]

13. Well.....some lead...and some follow n/t

[AmericanDream]

14. And that means...... ?

[benny05]

15. Perhaps some people aren't reading his blog at One America Committee

If you look at the OAC blog and JREGrassroots.org, you will find more than ample links about John Edwards being "front and center"--and his email has been mentioned many times over the past few days, not to mention it has influenced other writers to use "Two Americas" in their posts. Do a Yahoo News search today (ex: http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?p=%22john+edwards%22&c=) and you will find several links, like the one Jeebie posted, to an event at his new Center for Poverty, Work and Opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill.

I suspect many people here just don't follow Edwards as much since he is no longer in Congress. He is the only one that continues to address this terrible immoral issue. Hope you will keep checking Yahoo and other sites. He wants and seeks your ideas.

[karynnj]

16. He did speak out and there is no one that doesn't know

that this was the theme of his primary campaign - if anything he concentrated too much on this. His speeches in the general election were better but got no coverage.

All Democrats had this issue embedded in their programs and vision of the country, whether it was Kerry, Dean, Clark, Gephart, or the more minor candidates. Edwards was the one who made this his central theme and used his emotional eloquence to try to make people see how bad some people in America have it. The hurricane has forced the media to show what it hasn't bothered to show at least since the early 1990s.

This issue should help any Democrat, even the most centrist Democrat is better on this than almost any Republican. After the election, Vanessa Kerry talked about how affected she was by some of the people who were literally in tears talking about their lives. She made the point that it was because of meeting people like that who would have been helped if the Democrats had won that the loss was so hard. Bush, screened these people out, he really doesn't see the pain.

[blondeatlast]

17. Because an intelligent Democrat could dance naked in the middle of Times

Square and the media wouldn't pay any attention.

There was a post yesterday indicating that he is most certainly addressing the issue to the best of his ability. I think it was from DUer Bush_Eats_Beef.

Until we learn the immense disadvantage we have with the media (a good start is reading David Brock's "The Republican Noise Machine), we will never get ahead.