Obama fires back at Edwards about being too nice

[Herman Munster]

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/12/obama.html

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) directly confronted the idea -- pushed by former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) -- that he is "too nice" to bring about change in Washington, dismissing what he called "hot air" and "rhetoric."

The argument goes that the only way to bring about change is to be angry," said Obama at an event in a church hall here tonight. He quickly added: "I don't need lectures about how to bring about change because I have been doing it all my life."

Less than twelve hours earlier at a rally in Boone, Iowa, Edwards called the idea of sitting down to negotiate with special interests to solve the nation's problems a "complete fantasy", adding: "You can't nice these people to death."

Neither man mentioned the other by name when delivering the rhetorical jabs, although it was crystal clear to whom they were referring.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. Folks laugh at Hillary's "35 years" but Barack's "all my life" is okay...

Does this mean his kindergarten answers were fair game after all?

[smalll]

4. Kind of surprised on that one: "all my life" is an Edwardsianism.

One thing I'm pretty sure of at this point at least: those people out there hoping for some kind of grand Edwards/Obama "Stop Hillary" alliance in Iowa are, well, "living in never-never land" (as Edwards recently said about Obama.)

[jbnow]

11. Don't know what he did as a child

but his adult life really has been about it.

When I looked into the top candidates (having to make a not Gore choice) Obama's choices really impressed me.
After college he gave up his job as a financial writer (with an international consulting firm) to be a low paid community organizer and he really worked to empower people to bring about changes, to know how, to have a say in their community.
He went back there after law school...despite the fact that he'd been the Harvard Law Review president which brought promise of any prestigious law firm position. He could have had a Supreme Court clerkship but he went back to Chicago and joined a civil rights law firm and got back to other community work.
When he was elected to Congress he continued to do summer work for the firm when congress was out of session...without pay.
He also taught Constitutional Law for a decade and his students talked about the difference he made, the different kind of teacher he was. (The Chicago paper went back and reviewed his evaluations. Only 1 professor had ever ranked higher) An indication of how well regarded he was that he agreed to continue teaching when he got to Congress but to fit the schedule had to do it on late Fridays and very early Mondays...not favorite times for students. His classes were always full.

His lower paying career choices came because he cared about the jobs, not all of his wealth. He is the poorest of the candidates from either party, though poor is relative. He is now worth a million because of his books.

But the more I read the more impressed I was, especially hearing what others said about him and what he was like. He sure wasn't accused of being some pretty boy star...but very kind, brilliant, hard working, motivational, effective, honest, full of integrity....he built others up.

Putting making a difference in things that matter to you in helping others over making big bucks is amazing in itself.

So if he wants to say all his life it's fine with me. How about all of his after drug using life?

[Lurking Dem]

13. There is a difference between

stating experiential qualifications and and explaining a character trait.

[gateley]

2. I wonder if anybody catches these "jabs" besides the media? It's entirely

possible both the people at the Obama and Edwards gatherings weren't aware that their candidate was referring to the other guy. :shrug:

[maximusveritas]

5. Yeah, this is just the media looking for something to write about n/t

[Lucinda]

6. They got airtime tonight. All thecampaign news I saw was one snarking at another

I'm only seeing positive press online...but I only saw msnbc and cnn

[sjdnb]

3. While wiping the dribble off his bib ...

Obama supporters cheered

[JDPriestly]

7. I wish Obama would get as angry at Bush and the Republicans

as he does at the Democrats running against him. Obama's conduct is not consistent with his rhetoric. He claims to be the candidate of unity and harmony and negotiations and the like, but all he does is jab at the other candidates. At least Edwards honestly admits that he is a fighter.

[sandnsea]

9. The talking point hasn't been against Obama for weeks?

Are you serious? You're going to really pretend the entire campaign, all the Edwards supporters on DU, haven't endlessly spewed the "being nice to the bad guys" garbage??

[earthlover]

12. But I thought Obama was responding to Edwards saying he was too nice!

I guess Edwards was wrong!

[Franc_Lee]

17. K&R

[peoli]

8. People are tired of politicians fighting,

they want things to get done which is why Hillary or Edwards will not win. They cannot unite the country.

[FrenchieCat]

10. Like Edwards call to arms by Americans against Corporation is going to be

met with squeals of delight! By the time all is said and done.....I don't think so.

[Sulawesi]

14. I side with Obama on that one...

..."you can't nice these people to death"? I don't want to do anything to them, to death. I just want the government to reflect what I think is right. There was a thread about this last night, about how reaching out is a losing strategy. The hate really has to stop.

[HeraldSquare212]

15. But Edwards sat down with special interests, didn't he?

when he sat on the board of a hedge fund. Edwards is OK, but his pretending he's some kind of outsider who will make change strains credulity given his hedge fund experience and wealthy patrons.

[Ninga]

16. He sat down and then he got up and left. He didn't stay if you know what I mean.