John Edwards is the only top tier candidate who can relate to our suffering.

[saracat]

Bill Clinton claimed to "feel our pain". John Edwards has uniquely experienced it and continues to battle with that pain. His endorsements reflect the sincerity of his commitment. John Edwards is not only asking us to "sacrifice, he is sacrificing more than any other to put this country on a better path and replace a broken system.His wife has literally put her life on the line in her belief in this man. Old clients stand up and defend this man as their "champion". His legal adversaries step forward and endorse his "integrity". His daughters soccer team, whom he coached speak out and sing for a Dad they admired.

His celebrity endorsers are not political "fly by nights " ut committed and entrenched activists like Tim Robbins, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Brown, Harry Belafonte,and John Mellencamp. They are authentic, not just glitz.They have been in the trenches and have no allegiance to a broken system.

John Edwards endorsements are like the man himself authentic and selfless.

The NY Times has a wonderful article on this candidate and I encourage all to read it and determine who John is as a person. Then make a decision. Compare the level of sacrifice and commitment of the top tier and only John Edwards rises to the level of understanding , compassion and sacrifice that we need in a leader. We need someone who both understands what we need and who is willing to fight to get it for us.John Edwards is that man.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/us/politics/31edwards.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp

[Schema Thing]

1. Biden is all by himself in the top tier

just sayin' ;)

[saracat]

2. I like Joe but he isn't really "in" the top tier yet, but I hope he may be soon!

[DiverDave]

80. Do you mind?,

if you want to extol the virtues of joe, start a thread with FACTS instead of just "he's the best"


Just sayin

[1corona4u]

3. LOL....

Ok.

[Tess99]

4. Sacrifice and committment?

Please. Sacrifice is turning down seven figure jobs to use your Harvard education to continue community organizing in one of the most economically depressed and violent neighborhoods in the country and working as a civil right lawyer. Edwards did not sacrifice for the people, so please get off of that one.

[saracat]

10. Have you even read the article? Do you even care?

[zalinda]

43. You should read up a little on your candidate

He MAJORED in Political Science at Columbia University. He was already thinking about going into politics in his early 20's. What better way to work your way up into politics than working within the community and getting a name for yourself. He didn't sacrifice anything, nor did it seem he was even hurting for money. He had a plan to get to Washington, and did it. Kudos for him.

Edwards hadn't planned on going into politics, but did so because he thought he could make a difference. He hasn't prepared for this run for 20 years like Obama.

zalinda

[ellisonz]

75. Yeah!

And Edwards just planned on making a shit brick of money, plowing it into hedge funds and making a shit ton more money. That makes him "authentic." I want someone who went into politics for the right reasons i.e. duty, not because it seemed like a "calling."

[zalinda]

99. Did I dis your candidate?

No, I didn't, if fact I said kudos to him for getting where he is. But you couldn't resist in dissing my candidate. Sorry, but you don't do any favors for your candidate by your response.

zalinda

[ripple]

85. Was his work with hedge funds "making a difference", too?

Obama could have easily accepted a six figure position at a law firm and still gone into politics, but he chose to make a difference from the ground up. Instead of taking the path of least resistance, he took on the challenging and often thankless task of helping the economically disadvantaged in his community. Regardless of how you might feel about Obama as a candidate, he has clearly shown himself to be a man of principle and integrity.

[zalinda]

100. And again, why do you feel the need to dis my choice

of candidate to try to prop yours up? I gave Obama kudos for getting where he wanted to go. There is no disgrace in what he did, nor did I even infer that. He had a plan in his early 20's and stuck to it, that's a good thing. But, please don't try to sell me on the holier than thou routine.

zalinda

[Inspired]

45. Turning down a job offer and going through what Edwards has

are 2 completely different things.

Show some decency for crying out loud.

You are obviously new arournd here but while it is typical to trash another candidate for political reasons, we tend to stick together on the more personal - and painful - aspects of their lives.

[BlueManDude]

5. He's the only one that won't kill the party downballot in November.

[Tess99]

Cause he delivered so many souther states in 04, right?

He couldn't even deliver his home state for us. Please.

[bobbolink]

37. Please.

Yes.

Please.

[BlueManDude]

42. How many Dems in marginal districts do you think want to run with Hillary in November?

She's utter poison. Not only will she get croaked, she'll kill us in congress and on the state level. Obama would not be as bad.

[saracat]

54. He was not allowed to campaign in his home state or many others.The Kerry campaign , or its

operatives chose not to.EE mentioned today that not even one ad was run in NC. She said she agreed with Dean on the 50 state strategy and you can't win where you don't compete.

[cali]

8. Back away from the 8 ball. n/t

[Kucinich4America]

59. I don't drink brass monkey. Like to be funky

nickname Eazy E yo 8 ball junkie.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDxL0e_kd88

[cali]

6. ridiculous.

It seems to me that a person who sacrificed a lucrative career to go work in one of the poorest communities in the country and then practiced public service law after going to law school, has a far greater understanding of what people suffer than JRE.

[Cameron27]

7. Yep

[Andy823]

11. You would think so

But I guess that's not the case. Obama is simply a "politician" who give a great speach, but I just don't buy his message. I see no "real" plans, and I see way to much corporate money in his pockets. When I listen to Edwards I "believe" what he says. He "WILL" try his best to make the changes he talks about, the ones this country really need. When I listen to Obama, I see "another" politician telling us what he "thinks" the crowd wants to hear. It just isn't the same, sorry!

[cali]

17. See? That's the thing about subjective impressions. To me,

I look at Edwards and I see someone who talks the talk, but has never walked the walk. Obama has actually sacrificed for others. JE: Never did.

[zulchzulu]

89. Additionally...

When I see Edwards talk the "populist" act (and I think it's an act), I try to match up what he says now with what he DID then as Senator.

You can be against free trade with China now AFTER you voted for China free trade. You can be against the Iraq War AFTER you co-sponsored the resolution to start it. You can be for working people AFTER you sided with the banks over the working people.

Talk. Is. Cheap.

[saracat]

18. What personal tragedy has Obama experienced? Edwards and Biden have been through fire

and it has tested them and made them better.That is my only point. That is why I direct you to read the article. I expected better of you Cali.

[sandnsea]

25. Personal tragedy. Hmmm.

Saracat do you know that he won that huge case, I think the swimming pool one, by invoking the memory of Wade. Do you know he told JK that he had never spoken of it, and then JK found out he'd told the exact same story to someone else? If you're looking for honest authenticity, you really are looking in the wrong direction. Biden, absolutely. Edwards? No. Not remotely.

[ChiciB1]

83. You Know... If YOU Were Defending Someone Who Had Been Wronged...

even IF he used his son's name, and I don't know that he did, but if it was done... what the HELL does it matter??? He was hired to WIN a case for people who were unable to cut through CORPORATE GREED and do for that family what they asked of him. Maybe YOU have never been used by BIG MONEY, but I KNOW what it's like. I have a sister-in-law who can barely use her arm because of a "botched" surgical procedure. Her husband was in the Air Force and that was the first strike against her! It went on for years and she got all of $3,000.00!

Sorry, but IF I hired a lawyer to take on BIG MONEY and he won, I guarantee you I wouldn't be crying the blues. What you are implying is that he won by being dishonest BECAUSE HE USED HIS SON'S NAME! Boy, the man is just SHAMELESS, cruel and egotistical beyond redemption!

So do tell... how honorable was Bill Clinton?? I don't like attacking anyone, and I didn't like it when many here couldn't stop talking about Obama and cocaine, but things are what they are. When anyone gets their PERFECT button... let me know where I can buy one too!

I SERIOUSLY doubt any candidate is PRISTINE, dig deep enough and you'll find something, maybe something as simple enough to be blown way out of proportion! I can think of only ONE candidate who doesn't have LOTS AND LOTS of money! How did all of THEM get their money? I guess people just thought they looked liked they needed some help and just gave it to them because they had a few extra bucks.

There is a phrase that comes to mind... it concerns someone named McCarthy.... think about it.

[Tess99]

32. Personal tragedy is NOT

sacrifice. John Edwards did not sacrifice his son. The boy was killed in an automobile accident. Elizabeth has not sacrificed her health, cancer developed in her body. These are personal tragedies not sacrifices for the people.

Like I said before, Edwards used his talents to fatten his pockets, not uplift the souls of everyday folk. As talented as he is, why not civil rights law? That's the sacrifice. There's not much money in it, but it's for the greater good. He always talks about being the son of a mill worker. Why didn't he use his talent to be an activist for factory workers and folks like he grew up around? He chose not to.

I don't begrudge him his wealth. He earned it, unlike say Romney, who was born with a silver spoon up his rear end. So, like many people in this country, he made it on his own. Everyone has suffered their own personal tragedy, whether it's the death of a loved one, serious illness, etc. Obviously, that makes him easy to relate to for anyone who has had to experience those kinds of things. However, that's another subject all together. But to say he's sacrificed for the people is just not true at all.

[bobbolink]

38. Please.

Heart of gold, you have.

Thanks for letting me know. I'll be sure to leave you off the list of people to call on when I'm going through a tragedy.

[ChiciB1]

69. To Me, When Someone Is Crass About Another's Tragedy... It Says

MORE about THAT person than it does about the one who experienced it! Losing a loved one not only breaks your heart, but stays with you until the day you die!

My father & mother both died relatively young and even when you know the probability of you outliving your parents is almost always the case, it stays with you. But losing a son or wife MUST be even MORE shocking and traumatic!!

Remember the Indian saying about walking in another's shoes!!!

[saracat]

53. But he did become and activist for those people.And he still is.

Does it even occur to you that John and Elizabeth do not "have" to do this? They could spend their days just enjoying their home and family.They don't "need" this.They don't even have to work.They have chosen to give of themselves under very difficult circumstances.

[DiverDave]

81. WE GET IT!! you dont like him

do you think you are changing minds?
let me clue ya, you aint.

[FrenchieCat]

35. I think losing one's mother to cancer

is a personal tragedy. It is not a sacrifice, however. Neither is losing a son in an automobile accident, although it may be more traumatic to lose a child than it is to lose a parent.

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/09/obamas_mother_in_new_ad.html

[ThatPoetGuy]

39. Regarding one's understanding of the world...

I'm not sure you're right.

Obama's choice to work in poor communities was a compassionate one, clearly; I'm not sure that his compassionate decision gives him more insight into the lives of the lower-class, working poor than someone who grew up that way.

Edwards is wealthy now, but he grew up in the impoverished side of America that country songs are written about: working all the time and still in terror that your job is in danger. If just one thing goes wrong you could lose your home and your health and your vehicle.

Edwards himself is one of the rare few who make the meritocracy myth seem real; he worked his way up from the bottom. Having lived poor, being raised poor, having poor family, listening to the struggles and difficulties of the poor since birth, IS likely to give a lot of insight.

This isn't really a policy question, since the person with the most insight can still turn out to be a jerk. If the claim is being made as to who best understands the perspective of the working poor, between Hillary's prosperous upbringing, Obama's cosmopolitan childhood, and Edwards in the mill-town, I'd say Edwards would see it best.

[ellacott]

9. Edwards went through a lot of hardships but

I wouldn't necessarily call them sacrifices. He did well as an attorney and working with the hedge fund.

I do believe that he is sincere and can relate but I wouldn't say that he sacrificed a lot, compared to a couple of other candidates.

[saracat]

13. I am talking about personal sacrifice and pain ,not financial. Besides Biden

who has experienced the personal tragedies of Edwards?

[Cameron27]

15. What specific personal sacrifices

did Edwards make when he decided to go into politics? After the senate, he made big money for himself by working for a hedgefund as opposed to someone like Joe Biden who remained a public servant.

/sorry I edited the wrong post by mistake, but my question still stands. What sacrifices did the John and Elizabeth make, that sets them apart from any other politician running.

[saracat]

19. Wow, sacrifice means "money" to you? So Elizabeth and John are sacrificing "nothing' ?

Wow.Just wow.

[Cameron27]

23. delete

dupe

[FrenchieCat]

31. Unfortunately, What happened to both Edwards son and to his wife

although tragedies, were not sacrifices......because neither occurence was a choice...nor was either his son's life or his wife's health given up for something else.

The meaning of Sacrificing means giving up something willingly that matters for the sake of something else.
We all sacrifice for our children, and the issue of them living a full life or not doesn't lessen that sacrifice. John Edwards' parental sacrifice in raising his son happened nothwithstanding the fact that he also had to endure his son's tragically shortened life, which was a personal loss that he had to endure, but is not what sacrifice means.

Had John Edwards decided to stop running for President for the sake of his wife....that would have been considered a sacrifice.

The person who has sacrificed in the Edwards family is Elizabeth. She is sacrificing her remainding years in order to see her and her husband's political ambitions fulfilled. However, because she may want it as badly as John, even that sacrifice is debatable....although I personally do give her the credit.

Main Entry: 1sac·ri·fice
Pronunciation: \ˈsa-krə-ˌfīs, also -fəs or -ˌfīz\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin sacrificium, from sacr-, sacer + facere to make — more at do
Date: 13th century
1: an act of offering to a deity something precious; especially : the killing of a victim on an altar
2: something offered in sacrifice
3 a: destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else b: something given up or lost <the sacrifices made by parents>
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/sacrifice

I appreciate John Edwards' life story, empathize with the tragedies in it, but it did not involve personal sacrifice on John Edwards' part.

[FrenchieCat]

33. Sacrificing to become the most powerful man in the world?

I just don't see where the sacrifice is being made.
What exactly is being sacrificed in the Edwards' quest to power? Elizabeth's health?
if so, why is that so honorable?

Now, if the Edwards would have put their 54 million on the line in order to insure that he would have been competitive in an election he was running to restore the White House to the people, that would have certainly been a personal sacrifice working towards the greater good. He chose not to sacrifice his personal wealth in order to make a real difference in the lives of millions, and decided instead to allow us Democrats to deal with the issue of funding limits when that time comes.

Sacrificing the health of a wife, but not willing to part with one's wealth does not a martyr make.

sorry.

[karynnj]

40. They are not sacrificing anything that any other candidate and their spouse is not sacrificing

They all give a huge amount of themselves and their time to convince people to elect them. In all cases it means less time with their spouses and, in many cases, their kids.

I know you are eluding to Elizabeth Edwards' battle with cancer. The thing is that she has this battle whether Edwards runs or not and it is not adversely impacted (per EE) by campaigning. She, herself, said that she needs to live her life. Edwards winning was her dream as much as his. She is giving up time she could have spent with him, but what would be the cost? What would Edwards do that would give him the same reward as running for President. HRC has a husband who had a very serious heart operation, is she making a sacrifice too?

You can argue that losing Wade made Edwards a better person, but is that type of grief needed to make a person better? Something motivated Obama to become a public advocate and start a life of service right out of law school. Something motivated Biden to do so before the death of his wife and baby. Kerry was motivated to go into service before Vietnam where he lost at least 5 close friends to a war he came to know made no sense. Everyone has something that gives some meaning to their reasons for going into public service.

With Edwards, Wade's death may have started his path to public office - but remember what his record was in the Senate. Does that fit the narrative? Then his platform for 2004, again doesn't fit the current image. In the last week of February, when he had no chance of winning - even though the media still played as if he did, he attacked John Kerry's health and environmental plans as "too expensive". Is this the populist we see before us now?

You don't vote for the candidate with the hardest life - which Biden may well beat him on anyway, but the person whose policies you like best if you trust that he will actually work to get them while in office.

[cali]

73. As others have pointed out

the Edwards are not sacrificing one thing more than any other candidate. Not a thing. Losing their son in a car accident is a tragedy, not a sacrifice. I lost two of my nephews in the same car accident a few years ago. Their parents do not feel as if they made a sacrifice. They feel it was a horrible senseless accident.

[youthere]

52. Sacrfice...

Joe Biden has sacrificed personal wealth as a public servant...he chose not to invest because it would be a conflict of interest.
He sold his home to pay for his kids'college tuition..one of whom will be deployed to Iraq in a month or so.
When his wife and daughter were killed in the auto accident, Biden was willing to sacrifice his Senate seat (before he had even been sworn in) to take care of his sons.

[gateley]

60. Biden also worked as a Public Defender before going into public service.

He's been working for the people for a long time.

Like Edwards, he was raised in a blue collar household. He talks of how his dad came home one day in tears because the bank wouldn't give him a loan to pay for Joe's college. He had his heart set on Joe going to college - something he had been unable to do.

[Tess99]

16. A personal sacrifice has nothing to do with the people

Edwards chose to use his talents to get rich. Obama gave up potential millionaire status to work to better the lives of a downtrodden community, right there on the ground. So to this claim that Edwards has sacrificed for the people more than anyone else in the field is straight up bogus. Give me a break. I'd love to see John Edwards pass up all those millions to live and work on the crack infested South Side Chicago of the 80's. Please.

[ellacott]

22. I said he went through hardships, no argument from me.

That doesn't necessarily equate to sacrifice.

[MethuenProgressive]

27. "who has experienced the personal tragedies of Edwards?"

Millions of us.
But we don't trot our losses and illnesses out begging for sympathy, donations, and votes.

[ChiciB1]

84. Then Use Another Word If You Like... Perhaps Sacrifice Isn't The Best

one to use. Maybe we should say "trauma" instead of sacrifice... does that feel better to you??

Either way... it HURT LIKE HELL!

[MethuenProgressive]

12. What an uninformed OP subject line.

:puke:

[saracat]

14. Besides Biden, who else has experienced the kind of personal tragedy that the Edwards have and

continue to face?

[cali]

21. Yes, he's suffered personal tragedy

but that's not the same as making personal sacrifices to work for underprivileged and underserved populations. He has never done that.

[saracat]

24. Actually, he has but this isn't about money. The type of sacrifices the Edwards family

are making are worth far more.

[Cameron27]

26. How are you equating personal tradegy

with sacrifice? I don't understand how you're trying to tie all this together.

[cali]

47. like what? that sort of vague saccharine

sentiment means nothing without specifics.

[ChiciB1]

87. Did You Read The Article... Did They Not Set Up A Foundation In Their

son's name to help others less fortunate?? Perhaps that's NOT real sacrifice to some, but IT IS giving back to others who are less fortunate.

[Beaverhausen]

93. Don't bother confusing Cali with facts

Yes, Edwards has been working for the poor for many years.

[ChiciB1]

94. Thank You & Thank YOU Saracat For A Great Post & Link To NYT Article! n/t

[JI7]

51. Fred Thompson lost his daughter

[gateley]

61. I can't imagine anything worse than losing a child, as both Biden and Edwards

have. And Edwards -- after losing his son, his wife is diagnosed with cancer and they have two little kids -- and then the cancer returns. That family has certainly been dealt some devastating blows, and they are to be commended for their strength in deciding to fight for what they believe.

[LWolf]

20. "Top Tier" doesn't mean "best choice."

There is obviously a 2nd tier candidate who relates much more closely to common people.

[Caseman]

72. Exactly...

...But sadly, people aren't keen on using their brains :(

[frogmarch]

28. Great OP and great article

article quote:

"The important thing is the mission, the important thing is to keep going.”

And that's just what John Edwards is doing.

Go, John! :patriot:

K&R

[Two Americas]

29. unbelievable

We should be celebrating and encouraging the renewed focus by several of the candidates on the bedrock principles of the party, and the revitalization of the approach that has always brought the greatest electoral success for the party - advocacy for economic justice and compassion for those left behind.

Yes, Obama has walked the walk in many ways more so than the other cadidates. Yes, Kucinich has steadfastly stood for human rights and labor. Yes, Biden is a man of genuine compassion and great experience. Dodd and Richardson are speaking out and fighting for traditional Democratic ideas, as well.

Good cases can and have been made for supporting each of these candidates. But it is a bad trade-off and potentially fatal to the coming success of the party to place the importance of an opinion as to which approach by which candidate will be the best for all of us above the opportunity that we have to return the party to its strong and principled historical roots.

I do not believe that any of these candidates are being helped in any way by the relentless smear attacks against other candidates, and I think that the attacks are hurting the opportunity for future success of the party.

[ChiciB1]

74. Hear, Hear... And Welcome To DU... However, I Do Have To Tell You

that I support Edwards first and Biden second, but try to stay away from all the attacks! There are times my jaw drops when I read some of the vitriol thrown around here! It's extremely volatile... hang on!

[BigDDem]

30. Thank you Mr. Hedge Fund in your $6 million mansion

for your sacrifice!

[DiverDave]

82. Jeez, like rich folks?

so the guy made some money, big whoop...

maybe if you could get away from the money angle and look at what the guy represents...oh why bother?

[Beaverhausen]

34. Thanks for posting this. The Newsweek story touched on this - I hadn't really known the whole story

a friend of mine lost her 17 year old son last year. She too is on a mission to make something good out of the tragedy of his death.

:hi:

Obviously there are many people with opinions in the thread who didn't bother to open your link. Too bad- they might learn something.

[smokey nj]

36. K&R!

[The River]

41. Good Article

To bad the "nattering nabobs" of negative attacks
won't bother to read it before they post something nasty.
They'd rather argue about the meaning of what sacrifice "is".
The clearer it becomes that Edwards will win Iowa, the more
frequent their attacks.

[youthere]

56. I absolutely believe that Edwards will win Iowa...

and I can still disagree with the OP's premise that JE has sacrificed.

[MasonJar]

44. Bill Clinton started off much behind Edwards. His father died before he

was born and allegedly his stepfather was a wife beater. So your beginning thesis is off base. Edwards is fine with me, but so are all the other dems. Do NOT degrade Bill Clinton to upgrade John Edwards. Edwards is a fine candidate and he can stand on his own. Personally I am ready for either a woman like Hill or a black like Obama, but if the majority of dems want one of the white males, I will work my buns off for your choice. Whoever is the dem candidate is the "cat's meow" in my book.

[saracat]

50. Bill Clinton is not one of our candidates AFAIK! LOL! I do not degrade his experience

He did claim" to feel our pain" but Edwards does experience our pain still.This does not diminish Bill.I believe that Edwards reflects the best of us but each of us has a choice to make.I refer you to the linked article.

[DemKR]

46. neat

[Tejanocrat]

48. Thanks for posting this

[waiting for hope]

49. Thanks Sara -

Just noticed...my ignores on this page are pretty big...humm, what's up with that?

K&R!

[Froward69]

63. Because you have Isolated yourself from

Differing opinions.
on edit= I have NO ONE in my ignore list.

[Pastiche423]

55. GMFAO!

[lisainmilo]

57. Nice Post Sara Thanks!

Nice to have someone willing to fight for the common people!

Go John Go!!!!!:woohoo:

[smalll]

58. You Just Keep Telling Yourself That, Dear -

there's some kind of old saying about suckers and their birth rate over time. On the tip of my tongue, but somehow, it's not coming to me right now. Give me a minute. :shrug:

[ChiciB1]

90. HHmmmnnn.... smallllll n/t

[Froward69]

62. ROFLOL!!!

:puffpiece:

[southern_belle]

64. k & r

[IsItJustMe]

65. But to some folks around hear, appearently we can't vote for him because he made some money in his

life. There is some twisted logic going on around here.

[cali]

66. no one. says that.

way to go with the strawman. And the OP is a crock of shit. First off, the poster doesn't know JE, doesn't know the other candidates, and is simply shilling at a sentimental pitch.

[saracat]

67. Actually Cali, that isn't true. I have spent the most time with JE but I have met ALL the candidates

and interviewed all of them except Clinton.I have gotten to know JE the best but I am simply stating my opinion and asking people to read an article. I am sorry you feel the need to mock me and infer I have no authenticity.I though you were supposed to be "above" this sort of thing.Apparently not.

[cali]

70. You don't know them intimately.

Your OP is just so off base and arrogant. And it's something you've done repeatedly. Interviewing someone is not knowing them- and I'm taking your word that you've actually done that. In fact, if you have, please link to your interviews with the candidates. Btw, I thought the article was a good one, it's your OP with it's arrogant pronouncement that only JE can relate to human suffering that I found creepy.

[saracat]

76. I am sorry you found my sentiment creepy.I truly believe that John's personal suffering enhances his

ability to relate to the average vote. It has expanded his sense of compassion for his fellow humans who are also suffering tragedy and pain.I do not claim to "know" anyone "intimately". But I do "know" them at least as acquaintances. John, I know a bit better as I have not only interviewed him but met him under many different circumstances since 2002.I can no longer "link" to my interviews as my show is no longer on the air and is being re marketed for next year.I probably shouldn't have said the word "only" but I do believe he is the best at understanding the suffering of others.

[Clark2008]

68. What a load of BS.

I suppose all of us have 24,000 (or whatever) square-foot homes, make our money off hedge funds and get $400 haircuts.

Oh, brother.

:eyes:

[Caseman]

71. I'm sure those couple millions will heal his wounds over time...

...Poor lil' feller :( (:sarcasm:)

[saracat]

77. That is just sick.

[cali]

78. totally monstrous and fucked up remark

you don't belong here. Go back to freeperville.

[ChiciB1]

91. WOW... Now That's A Real Diamond Back Talkin & I KNOW About

them rattlers! I lived in Texas for a very long time! Wore my "shit-kickers" all the time too!

[Recursion]

79. Anyone running for President is almost by definition lucky and privileged

I personally don't care that much about a candidate's past except to the extent that it informs me about that candidate's judgment and character; frankly none of these stories, though inspiring or heartbreaking, do that.

Cali rightly points out upthread that ultimately it's about our subjective responses to the candidates: I, for example, am deeply moved by Edwards and left rather unmoved by Obama; Cali's response seems to be the opposite.

Character matters. This may surprise a lot of conservatives, but Bill Clinton won in '92 on character, IMO. People liked him and believed in him.

[ChiciB1]

92. Hey, I Worked For BILL Clinton Both Times Out... He Has That Certain

charm, but at the time, I ALWAYS knew he was to the "right" of me. I now think he's moved even further right. JMHO!

[Recursion]

96. In many ways he was to the right of Nixon

It's a mark of how far the country had gone to the right.

[cynthia]

86. This is an outstanding article

Thank you for posting it.

It's too bad that the discussion of DUers following it is so nasty. I wish more people would read the article.

[ChiciB1]

97. Yeppers... Some Here Like To Throw Some Around... If You Know

what I mean... but of course as I said before, it says MORE about THEM than it does about John Edwards!

[zulchzulu]

88. The "only"?

I'd certainly can say that Obama, who has a background from simple beginnings, can be very much in touch with the common person, or better yet, those off the radar.

I admire Edwards and your passion for him, but I wouldn't say that Edwards has a monopoly on knowing what it's like to be poor.

[Beaverhausen]

95. Maybe you should read the article linked in the OP

this isn't about being poor, this is about personal tragedy.

[Flabbergasted]

98. kick