| (Cross-posted at John Edwards 08 Blog)
Here in California, we're used to presidential candidates swooping in for fundraisers before taking off to Iowa or New Hampshire to engage with those states' primary voters on our dime.
Well, now that our primary is moving up to February 5, 2008, things are changing, and as the candidates come and go, The Courage Campaign's ATM Watch will be tracking them. It is our hope that in between fundraising stops, the candidates actually take some time to speak to California's voters about California's issues. And so far, no one is living up to this ideal more than John Edwards.
More... |
| (Cross-posted from The Courage Campaign)
John Edwards came to California last Friday and stayed through Monday when he appeared at UCLA for the latest stop on his college tour. In between, in addition to a fundraiser or two, he spoke to Fresno farm workers, a Santa Monica Democratic club and Berkeley college students, none of which involved taking a withdrawal from the ATM that is California.
The fact that John Edwards is speaking to California voters whose attendance doesn't depend on a 4-figure donation is significant. It says that sure, he's coming here for money but he also cares about the issues regular California voters care about. Here are some samples of news coverage of his events to give a sense of how John Edwards is embodying the way we'd like all candidates to treat California voters. On Friday Edwards met with Fresno farm workers. These workers are at the heart of why I want to be president of theited States," Edwards said, flanked by UFW President Arturo Rodriguez. "We need comprehensive immigration reform in this country, and that includes the ability of people to earn citizenship." He's saying this in the heart of red California, mind you. In fact, at a nearby fundraiser earlier in the day: Some guests also said they might attend receptions for Republican presidential hopefuls including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Arizona Sen. John McCain, both of whom are expected to tour the valley."Most of us are Republicans, conservative folks," said co-host Joe Uremovic, a Fresno agricultural attorney. Edwards continued to demonstrate his habit of speaking fearlessly and putting his money where his mouth is at his Berkeley rally on Sunday. Edwards doesn't just seek the support of labor, he earns it: Edwards told the crowd that he appeared at the YWCA instead of on the UC Berkeley campus as a gesture of support for campus janitors in a labor dispute with the university. The janitors are members the powerful American Federation of State and County Municipal Employees. He said: “We are standing with these workers who are trying to get a decent wage and to be able to support their families,” Edwards said. “It is part of today’s march of justice and equality.” And on the subject of the Democratic Party: "I want to say something about my party," he said. "I'm so tired of incremental, careful caution. Where is our soul? Where is our soul? We are our most powerful when we speak from here" -- he touched his heart -- "and not from a poll." Amen, Senator. But perhaps the most moving testimony as to the impact Edwards's simply taking a few hours out of his schedule to speak to regular California voters came from the mouths of voters themselves: “Being able to come here to see someone who is running for president was an amazing opportunity,” said sophomore Caroline Szymanska, a group leader for Cal Lobby Day And... "He came to listen to us, the farmworkers," said Angelina Zabala, a mother of six from Porterville. "I didn't think the candidates were going to take what we have to say into account but I see he wants to help. I'm thinking about voting for him." Thank you, Senator, for proving that retail politics is possible in our unwieldy state and that our voters will, as Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez said prior to the vote to move the state primary up to February:
have an opportunity to look at the candidates square in the eye and say 'where do you stand on the issues that I as a Californian care about?'
In addition to tracking the candidates, The Courage Campaign's ATM Watch series will also be facilitating that conversation by collecting questions from voters and delivering them to the canididates.
So thank you, Senator, for not being afraid to talk to California voters, unlike a certain primary opponent of yours... |
