Only one candidate (Edwards) mentioned poverty tonight...

[draft_mario_cuomo]

With 37 million Americans living under the official poverty line and millions more struggling to survive in reality, it is unconscionable to me that the party of FDR, LBJ, and RFK has gotten to a point where only one candidate would even mention poverty during a two hour debate. Only Edwards and Kucinich speak of poverty, and the former has a plan to cut poverty by a third in 10 years and eliminate it in the world's most affluent nation in three decades. http://johnedwards.com/about/issues/poverty/

This is a sad reflection of how far to the right the DLC Dems and DLC-lite Dems (those who are substantively the same as DLC'ers but use progressive rhetoric) have taken a party that once extended its hand to lift millions of struggling people out of poverty and enabled them to live with dignity, peace of mind, a chance to make life better for their children, and most importantly, with hope. We should return to our roots and once again be the party that offers hope and opportunity to the downtrodden, destitute, and despairing. We should not sacrifice them on the altar of political expediency. If we Democrats--the last best hope for our fellow Americans who live in daily terror as they struggle to swim upstream and avoid falling down the waterfall of starvation--are not for these Americans, who are we for? Are we going to walk arm in arm with Republicans as we ignore the poor and focus exclusively on the middle-class and wealthy--the two groups that vote? Or are we going to be true to our rich Democratic heritage and stand for all Americans, not just those with a voice in the political process?

[Mojambo]

1. Well, if those people in poverty would just open their wallets and write a check!

Maybe they'd get some attention.

But if they're not willing to help themselves...

:eyes:

[EFerrari]

2. Mr. Edwards has done a good job in respect to poverty

in this country, an issue we don't seem to know how to talk about. He has my deepest respect for that.

[chookie]

3. Facing Reality

"Poverty" pretty much dropped out of the lexicon and interest of America. People talk about the plight of the homeless, and struggling families, and people who barely live paycheck to paycheck -- but povery hasn't been addressed -- since John Edwards. And before him -- hmmm -- maybe Lyndon Johnson.

There is real poverty in America. People either are oblivious of it, or turn their faces away.

Foreign visitors are shocked and horrified when they come across it. They can't believe that any people in America could possibly live this way, and they can't believe that no one cares.

I am glad that Senator Edwards is sticking it into the collective face of America once again.

And note how he has to fight to get it into the discussions. Poverty still hasn't been accepted as an "appropriate" concern. Edwards is a voice in the wilderness. But I believe he will be successful in his efforts to bring poverty in America back to the attention of America. I admire him greatly for tackling this pervasive situation; it's something that unites the North and South. But, as someone noted above, the people he is trying so hard to help are the ones least likely to hear his message. But I hope he gets it out to them, as Lyndon johnson did so successfully in his political career.

[OHdem10]

4. With Commentators at Fox News explaining that it is all their own

fault. Poverty is due to Drug Addiction, Alooholism
Laziness,(not willing to help themselves) Unwed Pregnancy.

"No one is owed anything". It is everyman for himself in this
world.

It takes a courageous democrat to to even utter the word.

When you do the Panel at Fox will be called --oooooh eweee
one of those (disdain) populists.

Remember this was one of the "problems" the Media had with
Gore.

Democratic Party is supposed to be the party of the people, is it not.

Democrats these days tend to play it safe.

[FrenchieCat]

5. To me, Poverty is like Terrorism.......

It stems from a lot of different issues, not simply "poverty"....


Lack of education - Education was discussed

Lack of Jobs - Outsourcing and Immigration issues were discussed

Lack of Health Care - was also discussed

Lack of decent affordable housing - I ain't heard anyone, including Edwards touch on this one.

The bottomline is, just mentioning "poverty" is not enough. Edwards could have touched on this issue had he chosen to...by way of health care. he chose not to, but chose to say that the subject hadn't been discussed. Far as I'm concerned, Edwards didn't "discuss" poverty anymore than the others.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

6. Having a book on poverty and a plan to end poverty is not enough discussion?

==It stems from a lot of different issues, not simply "poverty"....


Lack of education - Education was discussed

Lack of Jobs - Outsourcing and Immigration issues were discussed

Lack of Health Care - was also discussed

Lack of decent affordable housing - I ain't heard anyone, including Edwards touch on this one.==

Candidates have been speaking of the first three issues for years. What has happened? Ending poverty takes a commitment to doing it, not small band aids here and there. It requires the kind of leadership--and money to back up rhetoric--that FDR and LBJ showed.

==The bottomline is, just mentioning "poverty" is not enough. Edwards could have touched on this issue had he chosen to...by way of health care. he chose not to, but chose to say that the subject hadn't been discussed. Far as I'm concerned, Edwards didn't "discuss" poverty anymore than the others.==

That is true for tonight. However, poverty has been a central theme of his campaign from day one. He has a book out on the subject and a plan to end it. You cannot place Edwards in the same category as the other candidates who never mention poverty, let alone offer policy proposals to eradicate it.

[Clark2008]

14. No, it's not enough.

Not when he didn't do jack about it as a senator - and he didn't. There is only ONE bill he co-sponsored as a senator that would have helped needy people. ONE - and that one had to do with housing, which is all well and good, but he still supported this war, NCLB, helped the banking industry enter into predatory lending and championed the PATRIOT Act.

Opening up a poverty center and paying one's self five figures isn't helping poverty.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

7. Edwards addresses all of these things

A National Goal: End Poverty Within 30 Years

End Poverty by 2036: Edwards believes that ending poverty should be a goal our nation actively pursues. A national goal will rally support for the cause and help us measure our progress. In 1999, Tony Blair announced a 20-year goal to end child poverty in Great Britain and he has already reduced child poverty by 17 percent . Edwards calls for a national effort to:

* Cut poverty by one third within a decade, lifting 12 million Americans out of poverty by 2016.
* End poverty within 30 years, lifting 37 million Americans out of poverty by 2036.


Creating A Working Society

Edwards has outlined a Working Society initiative to lift 12 million Americans out of poverty in a decade and beat poverty over the next 30 years. In the Working Society, everyone who is able to work hard will be expected to work and, in turn, be rewarded for it.
REWARDING WORK

Create 1 Million Stepping Stone Jobs for Workers Who Take Responsibility. Every American should have the chance to work their way out of poverty. However, some willing workers cannot find jobs because of the place they live, a lack of skills, experience, and references, or other obstacles like a criminal record. As much as 18 percent of former welfare recipients do not have a job. Edwards suggested creating 1 million temporary jobs over five years. The jobs would be reserved for individuals who cannot find other work after six months of looking, pay the minimum wage, and last up to 12 months. In return, workers must show up and work hard, stay off drugs, not commit any crimes, and pay child support. Studies have shown that these programs are successful moving people into permanent jobs. Jobs would be chosen carefully with local business and labor leaders to meet local needs without displacing existing workers.

Raise the Minimum Wage to at Least $7.50. For almost nine years, the federal minimum wage has stood at $5.15 an hour. Congressional pay has increased by more than $30,000 in that time. A full-time minimum-wage worker earns only about $900 a month and $10,700 a year. Today, Edwards proposed increasing the minimum wage to at least $7.50 an hour. The proposal would increase a full-time minimum-wage worker's pay by $4,800 and benefit more than 15 million minimum and near-minimum wage workers. A $1 increase in the minimum wage has been estimated to lift nearly 900,000 people out of poverty.

Create Opportunity in Rural America. Nearly 90 percent of America's poorest counties are rural, and many have been hit hard by the struggles of the U.S. manufacturing and textile industries. Edwards believes in investing more in rural community colleges to strengthen "mid-skilled" industries and linking training to actual business needs. He also supports rural small business centers to build rural economies around homegrown businesses.

Strengthen Labor Laws. Union workers earn 28 percent more than non-union workers, on average. Federal law promises workers the right to choose a union, but the law is poorly enforced, full of loopholes, and routinely violated by employers. Edwards supports the Employee Free Choice Act to give workers an effective, democratic choice over whether to form a union.

EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Establish a New Era at HUD. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) needs an overhaul to make housing policy a force for economic opportunity. Too many low-income families are segregated in high-poverty neighborhoods, cutting them off from jobs and good schools and creating areas of concentrated poverty that undermine other antipoverty programs. Edwards suggested creating one million new housing vouchers over five years to let low-income families choose to live in better neighborhoods. He believes that we should also expand the supply of affordable housing that is economically integrated with other communities. He also proposed coordinating housing policies across metropolitan areas, cutting HUD bureaucracy, and requiring recipients of new housing vouchers to work if they can.

Fight Predatory Lending. Home ownership promotes economic security and, for most families, is the top generator of wealth. However, predatory lenders use deceptive terms and abusive interest rates and fees to strip away families' equity, reducing the amount of wealth they have saved in their homes and sometimes depriving them of their homes entirely. Edwards called for fair rules to protect homeowners.

HELPING FAMILIES SAVE

Help Low-Income Workers Save with "Work Bonds." Edwards proposed a new tax credit to help low-income, working Americans save for the future. The credit would match wages to $500 per year and be directly deposited into a savings account. Edwards has also proposed expanding the Savers Credit to match the savings of low-income families.

Expand Access to Bank Accounts and Fight Abusive Payday Lending. An estimated 56 million Americans don't have bank accounts, and they pay check cashers $8 billion for services most banks provide for free. Short-term payday loans regularly charge interest rates above 300 percent. Edwards suggested subsidizing bank accounts for working families and national rules to prevent abusive payday lending.

STRENGTHENING EDUCATION

Expand College Opportunity: In Greene County, North Carolina, Edwards helped launch a College for Everyone program that is helping students attend college this fall. He has proposed a similar national program where students who agree to work part-time during their first year at a public college would get their tuition paid. Research has shown that the first year of college is the most difficult one, where additional student aid can make the greatest difference.

Create Second-Chance Schools for High School Dropouts: As many as one-third of all students drop out of school, and the rates are even worse for poor and minority students. Almost a third of dropouts between the ages of 25 and 34 live in poverty. Large majorities of recent dropouts regret their decision and now believe that a high school degree is the key to good jobs. Edwards believes that we should create second-chance schools, including some in evenings and at community colleges, to help former dropouts get back on track.

Strengthen Public Schools: Edwards suggested expanding access to preschool programs such as Head Start and North Carolina's Smart Start, investing more in teacher pay and training to attract good teachers where we need them most, and strengthening high schools with smaller schools and a more challenging curriculum.

PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE FAMILIES

Encourage and Reward Responsibility from Fathers. Welfare reform required mothers to work and helps them find jobs, but it failed to touch poor fathers. It did not help fathers support their children and become valuable members of their family and their community. Edwards will require more fathers to help support their children and, in return, help them find work. He will reserve budget cuts in child support enforcement to increase collections by more than $8 billion over the next decade and ensure that payments benefit children.

Cut Taxes for Low-Income Workers. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) matches the first earnings of low-income workers. The credit is often used for household necessities and work expenses. It is also an effective tool for increasing labor force participation. The EITC already lifts more than 4 million people out of poverty, and expanding it could draw hundreds of thousands more Americans into the workforce and lift more than a million out of poverty.

* Triple the EITC for Adults without Children. Working adults without children are the only Americans living in poverty who pay income and payroll taxes. A single worker at the poverty line pays more than $800 in federal income and payroll taxes. Moreover, the EITC largely overlooks single men, who receive less than 2 percent of EITC benefits. Edwards supported tripling the maximum EITC for single adults to $1,236. This proposal will give 4 million low income workers a tax cut averaging $750, lifting workers out of poverty and drawing more men into the workforce.

* Reduce the Marriage Penalty for Struggling Families. Marriage is the foundation for strong, economically secure families, but the EITC penalizes married couples by up to $3,000. Edwards believes that we must cut the EITC marriage penalty. His proposal would reduce penalties on low-income families who choose to get married and cut taxes for 3 million couples by about $400 a year.

Fight Teen Pregnancy. Edwards believes we can build on recent partial success in reducing teen pregnancy. The U.S. still has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the industrialized world. Edwards called for more support for struggling young people and investments in programs that help them beat the odds.

[Triana]

8. BINGO...that's my President - or my choice for President (n/t)

[FrenchieCat]

10. I understand....

On Poverty, Edwards Faces Old Hurdles
Critics Say He Brings Few Fresh Ideas to Signature Issue
<>
Edwards disavows any calculation in talking about poverty. "Is this a powerful political issue? Maybe not. I don't know whether it is or not," he told the National Jewish Democratic Council last month. As he describes it, his decision to make poverty his focus of the past several years -- and, by extension, of his 2008 campaign -- was relatively spontaneous. In his 2004 campaign, he talked about poverty, but mostly within his broader theme of "the two Americas." That December, Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, met with friends and advisers to discuss how he could spend his time before his next campaign.

"We talked about a whole range of possibilities . . . for an hour, hour and a half, and Elizabeth said, 'Can I just say, I've been sitting listening to you talk about these various things and, John, the place that you light up and show greatest passion is this issue of poverty,' " he said. "That's when I decided I wanted to devote significant time to it."

Edwards launched the UNC Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity in September 2005, with Hurricane Katrina and the scenes of deprivation it laid bare days earlier giving the venture an unexpected timeliness. The center had a small staff, paid for mostly by several million dollars from Edwards's campaign supporters. It organized a dozen conferences and panel discussions over Edwards's two-plus years there, sponsored a book published last week and explored rebuilding strategies for New Orleans.

Edwards received a salary of $40,000 for work that had him on campus a day or two a week. He spent the rest of his time traveling the country and working as a paid adviser to a hedge fund.

By the time Edwards left the center in December to launch his campaign, he and his 2008 policy director, former Senate aide James Kvaal, had assembled his platform, with informal advice from his 2004 policy director, Robert Gordon, now an adviser to the New York City schools, and several experts, including Bruce Katz, director of metropolitan policy at Brookings.

The advisers say the platform accepts the premise of welfare reform but goes beyond it to argue that society owes a decent existence to those who do work. "Welfare reform was about telling everyone they need to work," Katz said. "What it didn't do is provide everyone with the means to succeed."

Besides expanding the earned-income tax credit, Edwards would strengthen labor laws and create 1 million publicly subsidized "steppingstone jobs" that would fill "community needs," pay the minimum wage and last up to 12 months. To help the poor build assets, he would create "work bonds," a tax credit that would match wages to $500 per year and be deposited into a savings account. His universal health-care plan would help poor people not covered by Medicaid.

Poverty experts say the proposals are vulnerable to some of the same criticisms leveled against past Democratic programs. They are expensive, with Edwards's health-care plan alone estimated to cost up to $120 billion a year. They do not challenge liberal orthodoxies by, for instance, exploring private-school vouchers, even though supporters of that idea say it is justified by the same logic as Edwards's housing voucher plan: giving poor families a choice.

The platform is also short of proposals that directly address the social problems, such as broken families, invoked by conservatives. Edwards mentions these problems on the trail but said he is not offering policy prescriptions because he thinks there is little Washington can do in this regard. At a symposium he hosted in November 2005, Edwards acknowledged some discomfort in broaching such issues: "In poor inner-city areas... the last thing they want to hear is an affluent white politician telling them what they are supposed to do." <>
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/06/AR2007050601322.html?hpid=topnews

MAY 28, 2007
John Edwards' Convenient Nonprofit

During periods when they're out of office, many politicians arrange jobs for loyal former aides. After his unsuccessful 2004 Vice-Presidential bid, John Edwards came up with a creative approach: He started a nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty. Rather than recruiting outside poverty experts, the Center for Promise & Opportunity became a perch for several once and future Edwards staff members.

The line between an ordinary nonprofit and a group formed to test the political waters can be blurry. But legally there's a big difference. Ordinary nonprofits aren't subject to rules on disclosing donors and limiting contributions; exploratory political groups are. No one has challenged the status of the Edwards center, and experts in the field say it may technically pass muster as an ordinary nonprofit. But at a minimum, it appears to have helped Edwards prepare for the 2008 Presidential race.

Edwards, a former Democratic senator from North Carolina, launched the center in 2005 at the Washington (D.C.) address of his PAC. The nonprofit raised $1.3 million in 2005, the only year for which data are available, and spent some of it on a national speaking tour for Edwards. It also spent $259,000 on consultants. The campaign declines to disclose the donors or consultants. The center is now defunct, and some of its key leaders are now aiding the Edwards campaign.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_22/c4036012.htm?chan=search

[draft_mario_cuomo]

11. Can you show us the anti-poverty plans of the other candidates so we can compare?

What are the anti-poverty plans of HRC, Obama, Richardson, Dodd, Biden, and Kucinich (or at least of HRC and Obama, the two other top-tier candidates)? Let's see how they stack up with Edwards' plan. Throw in Clark's anti-poverty plan from 2004 for good measure. A comparison of plans is far more informative than peddling criticisms of Edwards plan as well as right-wing attacks. Of course his plan is not perfect. Neither was the New Deal or the Great Society. It is by far the best plan out there among the candidates, though. This is why I don't anticipate a comparison from you...

[FrenchieCat]

12. Well.....

http://www.goldmark.org/netrants/clark-website/issues.htm.txt

http://silverchips.mbhs.edu/inside.php?sid=2841

http://stanforddemocrats.blogspot.com/2007/02/anti-poverty-candidate.html

http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2004/02/18/opinion/myers.html

[Stargazer99]

9. The reason why the poor generally don't vote

Because they know damn little is in it to help them and why bother? Poverty is ignored even by the middleclass, especially when the middleclass is struggling now. If the middleclass thinks it difficult to survive in this administration's policies how much more difficult it is to be in pverty or lower income level? Divide and conquer...the rich know just how to do it..huh?
Prime example here in Tacoma: there is money to build a high class golf course but none to fix a pool which services the poor and middleincome. The well to do know how to make you pay for their luxury with your tax dollars. No wonder not much progress is made in the area of alievating poverty.

[rinsd]

13. DLC? Like John Edwards?

[Clark2008]

15. Bingo!

Senator John Kerry won the democratic primary and chose primary contender Senator John Edwards as his running mate. Both Senators are members of the Senate New Democratic Caucus, and the DLC, anticipated that they would win the general election.

And...

And the DLC may ultimately be right that the candidates on the party's left, most notably Internet darling Howard Dean, are ultimately unelectable in a national race. John Judis is one of the smartest political thinkers in the country, so when he says the numbers don't add up for a Dean candidacy, I take that very seriously. But as Garance Franke-Ruta argues, the numbers aren't adding up for DLC darlings Joe Lieberman and John Edwards, either.

http://dir.salon.com/story/opinion/feature/2003/07/29/dlc/index.html