Edwards skewers corporate greed in UNI talk

[JohnLocke]

Edwards skewers corporate greed in UNI talk
By Andrew Wind--(Waterloo, Iowa) Courier
Sunday, December 16, 2007
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CEDAR FALLS --- John Edwards railed against corporate greed and its powerful influence in the federal government during a stop at the University of Northern Iowa Saturday.
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"I was really knocked out by him," said Bacon, who was invited to travel to Iowa with Edwards a couple months ago after hearing him speak in New York City. "The thing that really struck me is he's got a plan and a dream."
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She also called her husband electable, pointing to a recent CNN poll that showed Edwards is the only Democrat who can beat all the leading Republican candidates in a one-on-one race.

"I happen to know a Democrat who can win in a red state. I'm standing next to him," said Elizabeth Edwards, pointing to her husband.

John Edwards repeatedly emphasized the influence of corporate interests in the American political system during 45 minutes of speaking and answering questions. He laid the blame on greedy corporations for the lack of universal health care, a tax code that benefits the wealthy and free trade deals "that cost Americans millions of jobs."

"If we believe we need serious fundamental change in America, then we're going to have to do it." Edwards said an "epic fight" is looming to "restore democracy in our country." The former attorney told the crowd he is the candidate who will take on corporations to accomplish that change.

"For 20 years I fought battles against them in courtrooms," he said. "They don't have blood, they have money and that's all they care about.

"The way you win is you beat them; the way you win is you fight," said Edwards. "We need a president of the United States who's got a little guts, because they'll never give it to us."

Identifying Washington lobbyists as part of the problem, he called for stopping their contributions to politicians and publicly financing all campaigns.

"I have never in public life taken a dime from a Washington lobbyist --- none, never," he said, "and I'm very, very proud of that."

Edwards said "the fundamental difference" between him and his Democratic rivals "is I don't believe the system is working. We have a battle on our hands and I was born for that fight."

Elizabeth Edwards cited a lack of response by health care reform backers in 1993 to the "Harry and Louise" ad campaign for the eventual defeat of that initiative, and said her husband's administration would be different. Rather than continuing to work with politicians that won't make the changes her husband seeks, he will appeal to the voters --- "the source of the power" --- to put pressure on Congress.

"This time you have someone who's going to fight back," she said. "It's using the bully pulpit. He's willing to go around from place to place and make the case."

On the topic of the war in Iraq, John Edwards charged that President Bush is laying the groundwork to keep American troops there "indefinitely." He promised something different in his administration: "If I'm sworn in in January 2009, all troops will be out of Iraq in the first year."

The former U.S. senator said Democrats won a majority in Congress to put a stop to the war and no spending bill should be passed without a timeline for troop withdrawals.

"They should never back down," said Edwards, of his former colleagues. "I think we ought to use every power we have in Congress to make George Bush bring this war home."
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http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2007/12/16/news/politics/9c7dbc7fb590b8ad862573b30016824c.txt

[DaLittle Kitty]

1. Check out Rdwards Sledding Video By Clicking on Link

Section Front
December 13, 2007, 6:06 PM
Edwards' Winter Wonderland
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/12/13/politics/fromtheroad/entry3617348.shtml



Posted by Aaron Lewis| Comments3


(CBS)
From CBS News' Aaron Lewis:

JOHNSTON, IOWA -- How do you unwind after a an important political debate? Go sledding, of course.

That's what John Edwards did with his children Jack and Emma Claire following today's Des Moines Register Debate.

The "Main Street Express" pulled in at the top of a hill at Fort Dodge, a National Guard base in Johnston. Jack, 7, and Emma Claire, 9, jumped out of the bus with plastic sleds and Edwards and his wife Elizabeth followed.

John and Elizabeth Edwards watched the children sled down the hill with staffers and a few members of the media who couldn't resist a flashback to their childhood winters (yours truly included). Mrs. Edwards was tossing snowballs at her husband, often missing egregiously and hitting some of us reporters... Or at least she insisted it was a mistake.

After a couple trips by his kids down the hill, Edwards, having changed into jeans and a leather jacket following the debate, worked up the courage to grab a sled and give it a whirl.

He got off to a shaky start but after he picked his legs up a bit, he really started gaining steam and almost came to a crashing halt at the bottom. But to the relief of his aides and press staff, there wasn't a potentially embarassing image of a crash and burn.

Edwards, with a fun smile on his face, walked back up the hill with Emma Claire, showing that there's a bit of a kid left inside at least one presidential candidate. But as Emma asked if dad was game for one more, the Edwards' declined.

"I think I had my one trip," he said.

Just like those fun, snow filled days back in Seneca, S.C., right Senator?

"Yea, exactly," he said with a laugh...:-)

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I feel really good about Edwards chances in Iowa. I think he''s going to win.

Today both the CNN & Fox undecided voter focus groups picked Edwards as the winner of the debate. They talked about his authenticity and his message. It was great! They had a couple of people who said he was 3rd on their list when they came in and 1st after the debate. They were very impressed.

John Edwards may not be a favorite of the pundits but he connects with the voters. He would have to in order to still be tied for 1st in Iowa after being outspent by Obama & Clinton and given far less national media coverage.

We Democrats would be nuts not to nominate him. A progressive candidate that connects with voters and according to most of the polls this year a candidate who consistently beats every Republican in a head to head match-up.

Posted by pmorlan at 07:35 PM : Dec 13, 2007

[annie1]

2. g-d i love him

[JohnLocke]

3. Kick

[Triana]

4. K & R - just sent a few bucks...Edwards supporters out there who can right now...

...should. Funds are needed for the big three - first up: Iowa.

[Czolgosz]

5. Nice article