Opinions on John Edwards as a senator

[liberalpragmatist]

I know Edwards has gotten mixed reviews for his tenure as Senator from N.C. I've seen many NC DU'ers crazy about him but also many who say he was absent from the state during his term and was not accessible.

I'm leaning towards supporting Edwards for president (I like Obama as well, and I will vote for the Democratic nominee); your accounts will be something I take into consideration. If the consensus is that Edwards was an absent senator, that itself will not necessarily sway me away from Edwards; all politicians are human beings with human flaws and liabilities, and I will weigh his liabilities against his (IMO, considerable) strengths.

Still, I'm interested in what your personal experience with him as a senator was.

Thanks!

[illinoisprogressive]

1. I've only heard by people

I heard he was not very good. But, you'd have to have people who actually had him as a senator to know for sure. Not people who support him or hate him but, his own state voters to really know.
I have Obama as a senator. I know about how he is. He's been a good senator. He's done an awful lot of work. He also helped sponsor legislation for health care for kids under 18 here while still state.
He was mentored by the great Paul Simon and Dick Durbin.
He wins praise all around as a very gifted and intellegent person.
We have been very happy with his work and his dedication to working for the good of the state.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. another thing

If you do want to research his record, Obama's you can go to the obama group page and look for the thread on his legislation and read that.

[liberalpragmatist]

3. I like Obama a lot

I have defended him on DU against charges of inexperience, inelectability, and accomplishment. I could very easily wind up supporting him in the primaries. Certainly if he's the nominee, he'll have my enthusiastic backing. I certainly want to see Obama as president - the question is, do I want to see him president NOW or am I willing to wait four or eight years.

I lean towards Edwards right now because of his platform and focus on poverty, which he has been doing (so far) to a much greater extent than Obama. I also do feel that Obama has been a little more politically cautious thus far in the U.S. Senate than Edwards (similar to how Edwards was first time around). I am well aware, however, of Obama's brave stance on the Iraq War back when it was launched.

So you'll get no negative word about Obama from me. I just have to decide do I like John Reid Edwards enough to want Obama to wait a couple terms.

[struggle4progress]

10. Since Obama's very first Senate term begins this week, I'd be interested ..

.. to see the evidence behind your claim that "He's been a good senator."

I think the fellow is bright and articulate, and I like the little of him that I have seen, but it seems to me somewhat premature to cheer about what a good senator he's been.

[moose65]

17. Huh?

Obama was elected Senator in 2004, so he's been in the Senate for two years already.

[citizen snips]

4. Edwards has my support.

In the Senate Edwards severed on the US Senate Select Committee of Intelligence and the US Senate Committee of Judiciary. I also wrote him a letter concerning global warming and bad air quality in 2003. He responded to my letter.

[struggle4progress]

5. He was incredibly accessible in DC. He had a weekly morning meeting ..

.. open to constituents where anybody could come to talk with him.

It was well-attended, Edwards was there, and he was responsive to concerns raised.

Since Americans have telephones, a postal system, and (usually) email, it's not clear to me how important a physical presence in the home state really is, and I really don't know how often he was back in Raleigh.

But I called, wrote, and emailed -- and got prompt responses.

[Lex]

11. That's good to know. Thanks for sharing that.

Nice to know he was responsive--that says a lot to me.

Edwards does have my support for President. I don't agree with him on every single issue, but I haven't ever agreed with any candidate on every single issue anyway.

He'd be a great President, imho.

[dsc]

6. I have no personal experience since I moved down here in 2004

but I will say I know personally two people who voted for him in 1998 who wouldn't have in 2004. In both cases the complaints were that he was too ambitious and had changed positions. Both were conservative people though so that has to be taken into account. My problems with Edwards are specific to gay issues and a lack of public experience. I will vote for him if he wins but he isn't my first choice. My problem with him on gay issues is that his early Senate term he did next to nothing toward those issues. Only after he announced for President did he get a decent record.

[SaveAmerica]

7. I've voted for him before, and I will again. After watching his interview

with George S. the other day I was left with the feeling that his goal is to give power back to the people.

[moose65]

18. I like him, too

I voted for him in '98 and proudly wore my stickers and had him on my bumper. I think he really connects with people, and everyone loves his wife and family. I hated to lose him as my Senator and have to contend with Burr, who used to be my representative in the House. Edwards was great with his constituent; my family went to DC and he met with anyone from NC on Thursday mornings, I believe it was. AND.... he was always there to meet them! That really made an impression on me!

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

8. mixed feelings

I live in NC.

Love Edwards, always have.
Thought HE should have been the presidential candidate if Dean wasn't.

BUT - His very first term as senator and he ran for president in middle
of that term.

And he was on the intelligence committee yet voted FOR the
invasion of Iraq.

Its hard for me to forgive anyone for voting for THAT war.

And, he has a tough row to how in NC, as he didn't do his job as
senator once he started running for President.

He should have served his term and gotten more experience.

He lost support in NC for not serving his term, and leaving us
to the wolves (Burr and Dole).

Still, I think/hope he would be a good president, but why did he
vote for the war??????

[struggle4progress]

9. Only 23 Senators voted against the War Resolution, which said:

... SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

(a) AUTHORIZATION- The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to--

(1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and

(2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq ...

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c107:5:./temp/~c107d15thK::

Although it was obvious at the time to many DUers that the Administration was determined to go to war no matter what, most senators frankly aren't that bright, and many may have expected POTUS to work through the Security Council in resolving the WMD claims.

Here is the rollcall vote in the Senate:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237

Who in the group of 23 nays do you think could win the Presidency in '08?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

12. can't get the link thing to open, internet tubes must be clogged

Heck, I don't know, but my internet tubes must be
bent or clogged, couldn't open the link thingie.

But surely senators would be smarter than the average layperson.

But then, maybe they didn't have those
internet pipe thingies like us'ns.

[struggle4progress]

13. Sorry. Forgot those Thomas links usually don't work here.

The second link should work, though.

[G_j]

14. leading up to the war

many peace activists as myself wrote, called Edwards and visited his offices. I was involved in vigils outside his local office in Asheville and there were others. I found it very sad that he chose to continually ignore us. As constituents it felt rather insulting (and disheartening) I do appreciate that he has admitted he was wrong about the war, but it is difficult to forget that experience.

[benEzra]

15. I corresponded with him briefly via email on the gun issue...

and he was very prompt in his reply. He seemed to be under some major misconceptions about the issue, but he was friendly and courteous.

[Digit]

16. I am in NC and very much want JE to be president

The ones here who complained about his ambitious move to be a candidate last time around were conservatives I once worked with.
The fact that conservatives don't like him is a no brainer. He is a threat because he has such an excellent chance of winning.

[moose65]

19. One more thing:

Those that say that JE lacks experience should be reminded that Dubya only had 6 years experience in elected office as well. I know that JE would do a better job than Dim Son!

[Badboy]

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[Blackhatjack]

21. IMHO he is one of the smartest people we could have as President...

I know him mostly from his legal career here in Raleigh.

Ask all the attorneys he went up against, all well financed and staffed, and they all have great respect for his ability and his character.

If Edwards had any moral failing out there, you would have read about it by now. He and Elizabeth are just fine people, and I believe him when he says he wants to serve. He could do anything he chose to do, but we are lucky he wants to serve as our President.