Edwards Returns to New Orleans
30 January 2008 10:25 am by Taylor Marsh
Edwards Returns to New Orleans updated
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His bid for the presidency is over, but the cause of his life, as well as his wife, lives on.
Earlier on MSNBC, Mudcat Saunders made a comment regarding Clinton that does a disservice to Edwards, as well as his supporters and what his campaign stood for. When asked if Edwards would endorse Clinton or Obama, Saunders snidely replied that he intends to do everything he can to keep John Edwards from endorsing Clinton. Needless to say, Norah O’Donnell was stunned. Mudcat went on to talk about NAFTA, but also cited the 22nd Amendment. It was as ungracious a moment I’ve ever seen, with him stepping all over the Edwards message to get in his angry white male point of view. It’s a vein in the campaign that did not serve John Edwards at all. Everyone can understand initial bitter feelings, but you don’t need to act on them, especially before the candidate himself makes a public appearance and we hear Edwards’ own words. Today it’s in especially poor taste.
I do feel compelled to say a word to the traditional media. The treatment Edwards got from the U.S. media at large was a disgrace from the start.
If you want to read one post that illustrates how I feel about John Edwards, read “It’s Not the Haircut”:
… .. John Edwards is different. He talks of poverty, peace and something beyond perpetual war, which completely flummoxes Republicans. The truth is that the reason Republicans want Edwards gone is that they can’t attack his message, because they don’t understand it, are even scared of it, dread facing it. The haircut is easier to ridicule, as they hope to capitalize on the juvenile mind set of the average American voter who is too busy working two jobs and is willing to hate anyone so rich, good looking and who has succeeded where they have failed. Edwards is a wealthy man who came from nothing who is now making his life’s work the poor; people to whom Republicans can’t relate, but to whom they continually sell their policy propaganda to, but which will never set them free. Nothing is scarier than the thought of the poor rising up and realizing that the talk of the American dream through Republican policies (and the cheerleading of talk radio) will never reach that far down to them. If the truth be told to the masses, Republicans would never win another election and wingnut radio hypocrisy would be finished forever. That’s why Edwards must not only be defeated, but destroyed; like Kerry the veteran turned against war had to not only be stopped, but the symbol he represented obliterated and neutralized. Antithetical notions to Republican thinking are not allowed to thrive in the American dialogue, and the messenger will not survive to sell his story. … … Ironically, John Edwards has lived the life Republicans tout they believe can be for everyone. The life Rush and Sean and all the wingnut blowhards on radio say is the Republican dream, the American ideal. A boy who grew up poor and pulled himself up by his own initiative to become wealthy, happy and successful; but also faced adversity and came out the other end stronger and unbowed, even in the face of crushing loss and personal tragedy he continues to live through each day. Unfortunately, he is also a Democrat. So they hate him for who he was, has become and wants to be, because he’s lived the Republican dream, but disavows their beliefs, because they inherently leave the poor behind. Something John Edwards has experienced first hand. Edwards is the embodiment of Republican self reliance. That he turned into a Democrat is his burden. It’s why Republicans can’t have him win. … ..
Both Clinton and Obama made it a point to honor Edwards in statements and appearances. It’s where we all should agree to stand as a fine man, a great patriot, John Edwards, leaves the presidential race. No matter what happens and regardless of if Edwards makes a tough decision to eventually endorse, nothing will alter the respect I have for him. I send another nod towards his family, but most especially Elizabeth Edwards, as brave an individual as you’re ever going to find. They both embody the heart of America and symbolize what makes this country so great.
