Obama questions Edwards' credibility as a populist

[babylonsister]

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/12/obama_questions_edwards_credib.html#more

Obama questions Edwards' credibility as a populist

By Mike Dorning

KEOKUK, Iowa—In the closing weeks of the campaign, the Obama campaign has concentrated more on winning over voters wavering between him and Edwards. On Saturday, Obama grew more pointed in criticism of Edwards as the Illinois senator argued he is the best-equipped agent of change in rallies in small towns across southeastern Iowa.

Obama suggested that the moderate, sunny campaign Edwards waged unsuccessfully for president four years ago undercuts the credibility of the populist campaign he is now waging as a fighter of moneyed special interests.

“Part of the problem John would have in the general election is that the issues he is taking on now are not the issues or the things that he said four years ago, which always causes problems in general elections,” Obama said at a rally in an elementary school gymnasium in Keokuk, Iowa.

Campaigning in Washington, Iowa, Edwards announced that he would bar anyone who has done lobbying work for a corporation or a foreign government from working in his White House. Edwards spokesman Eric Schultz said the ban would apply for lobbying work going back up to five years.

“We will not replace corporate Republicans with corporate Democrats,” Edwards said.

As part of an ethics plan Obama released earlier in the year, he has proposed more limited restrictions on hiring former lobbyists for his White House. Obama has said he would ban White House staff who have lobbied in the prior two years from doing work on regulations or contracts relating to the industries they had represented.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton derided Edwards’ proposal as a last-minute ploy in a statement e-mailed to reporters.

“Early in this campaign, Barack Obama introduced the furthest-reaching lobbying reform proposal of any candidate in this race, and we appreciate that John Edwards is now following his lead," Burton said. "The truth is, in his six years as a U.S. Senator, John Edwards did not propose or accomplish a single thing to reduce the power of lobbyists while Barack Obama passed the most sweeping lobbying reform since Watergate."

[sk8rrobert2]

1. The reason I like Edwards:

“We will not replace corporate Republicans with corporate Democrats,” Edwards said.

Edwards has my vote. Obama in a close second.

[TomClash]

2. Agreed nt

[Andy823]

7. I am with you

Except that over the last few weeks Obama has made me reconsider by second choice.

[JDPriestly]

10. He has panicked. Obama is my second choice, but I am

beginning to question whether he has the maturity of spirit that I thought he had. He seems to need to lash out at a time when he should be projecting a confident, calm presence. The time for this kind of petty sniping is past. He is just hurting himself.

[pauldg0]

13. I just heard on CNN Obama statement......

He will never do this again if he loses.

To me this sounds like he is tired???

He's been my number two pick....I don't know now!!

[ThatPoetGuy]

3. Does he ever stop lying?

"the issues he is taking on now are not the issues or the things that he said four years ago," quoth Obama.

Four years ago, Edwards spoke again and again about "Two Americas" -- one for the rich, and one for the rest of us. He wanted to help the rest of us. That was the theme of his 2004 campaign.

This is the SAME theme he has now.

Obama's spokesman doesn't even know how many years Edwards was a Senator.

Does Obama ever stop lying?

Does he ever stop attacking liberals?

Edwards speaks out against the interests of the vastly wealthy and the corporations.

Obama speaks out against unions, health care reformers, and progressives.

[msongs]

6. are you a worn out over the hill boomer or gay, or like that old, tired ted kennedy :-)

after all if you are a boomer, you are just rehashing useless old out of date things like civil rights, women's lib, gay rights, and all those useless things your generation stood for and from which obama has never benefited. and obama has no use for you.

then again, if you are not a cast off useless boomer retread, Mr. obama apologizes hehe.

Msongs

[TeamJordan23]

4. Edwards was a Populist 4 years ago.

As he was when co-sponsoring the Iraq War Resolution also.

[pauldg0]

14. He's a pile driver.............

Go John Go.................never give up!!!

[LWolf]

5. So do I.

Not to the same extent, though, that I question Obama's credibility.

[laureloak]

8. Coming from someone who copied Edwards' camaign

from beginning to end - well, I don't give a hoot what Obie has to say about Edwards.

Once again, Obie's looking green.

[JDPriestly]

9. Obama should focus on his message and stop the criticizing of others.

Is Obama going to waste time on this sort of stuff when he is president? This is ridiculous. Let the people decide whether Edwards is a true populist or not? Of all the candidates, Obama should not be criticizing the accomplishments and experience of others. Let the people decide.

[benny05]

11. I agree

Obama's numbers are sinking in Iowa; Axelrod is cashing in. I'm glad he's not JRE's strategist in this campaign.

[Gloria]

12. Obama...I'm so fed up with him....his ethics plan did zip

He should have listened to his wife and not run. Then we would have had a clear fight between Clinton and Edwards. Obama just muddies the waters with his phony "change" mantra while all the while he uses GOP talking points. He's also sounding like a whiner.