| (XPosted 1/30/2008 10:10 AM PST on MyDesert.com as BluePalmSpringsBoyz)
The media has reported that former-Sen. John Edwards plans to withdraw as a Democratic candidate for the nomination for President. It is a sad day as for many supporters, Edwards epitomized someone who early in the process opposed the disastrous policies of the so-called Pres. George Bush in Iraq and Iran, who was overwhelmingly supportive of LGBT issues, who spoke on behalf of the poor and working people of this country, and who set a mature tone for the Democratic campaign in general.
More below the flip... |
| Edwards had voted in favor of extending to Bush the power to conduct himself as he wished in Iraq. Edwards, however, later recognized the foolishness of bestowing trust on someone who demonstrated a lack of trustworthiness. He regretted his vote on Iraq, and withdrew his support from Bush and his poorly conceived and poorly executed occupation strategy. When he attacked Bush, he did it on a policy level and avoided personal attacks. He is no Bush or Karl Rove, indeed.
Edwards also espoused almost universal support for the LGBT community and for our issues. He supported repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, supported the repeal of Pres. Bill Clinton's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, supported the ability of LGBT families to adopt, and supported fully funding HIV/AIDS research and treatment. His only failure was in his failure to support Marriage Equality. However, the LGBT community did have the support of Elizabeth Edwards in that regard. It was a breath of fresh air to have the almost complete support of a Presidential candidate rather than being an object of homophobia and hatred as we were during Election 2004 with Bush and Rove.
He derived support from the poor and from unions and from middle class workers in general because Edwards spoke to their economic and employment issues. Edwards opened his campaign in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans and will apparently close his campaign there as well in order to attempt to refocus the Democratic campaign on the issues rather than on personalities. He also received the support of many unions and locals across the country because of his stand opposing NAFTA and outsourcing jobs. On the other hand, Bush and his corporate cronies only serve to enrich the coffers of big business, Halliburton, Blackwater, Brown, Kellogg & Root, and the Defense and Mercenary Contractors at the expense of the poor and middle class.
Already, Sen. Hillary Clinton has posted a statement on her website at HillaryClinton.com
"John Edwards ended his campaign today in the same way he started it - by standing with the people who are too often left behind and nearly always left out of our national debate.
"John ran with compassion and conviction and lifted this campaign with his deep concern for the daily lives of the American people. That is what this election is about - it's about our people. And John is one of the greatest champions the American people could ask for.
"I wish John and Elizabeth all the best. They have my great personal respect and gratitude. And I know they will continue to fight passionately for the country and the people they love so deeply."
Sen. Barack Obama released a statement concerning Edwards on his website located at BarackObama.com. Here is Obama's statement in its entirety:
"John Edwards has spent a lifetime fighting to give voice to the voiceless and hope to the struggling, even when it wasn't popular to do or covered in the news. At a time when our politics is too focused on who's up and who's down, he made a nation focus again on who matters - the New Orleans child without a home, the West Virginia miner without a job, the families who live in that other America that is not seen or heard or talked about by our leaders in Washington. John and Elizabeth Edwards have always believed deeply that we can change this - that two Americas can become one, and that our country can rally around this common purpose. So while his campaign may end today, the cause of their lives endures for all of us who still believe that we can achieve that dream of one America."
Yes, Edwards will be missed by BluePalmSpringsBoyz and BlueBeaumontBoyz and, apparently by Clinton and Obama as well. Truth will be told in the pudding though. We shall see if the tenor of the campaign changes and if the focus turns to the issues rather than remaining on petty squabbling. This will determine who we support on February 5, 2008. |
