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Elizabeth Edwards Unplugged
August 13, 2007 5:48 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: In an interview in August's edition of The Progressive magazine, Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Senator John Edwards, D-N.C., takes candid shots at the other candidates battling for the Democratic nomination against her husband.
"The problem for me with the other candidates is I don't know what it is that drives them," she explained, "I should think the president has to be somebody who has that kind of vision outside themselves."
Mrs. Edwards praised her husband for apologizing for his vote in favor of the Iraq War, and questioned Senator Hillary Clinton's, D-N.Y., for not doing the same.
"She even, in the New Hampshire debate said, 'I made a mistake.' People are looking for a mea culpa from her. And when she buried a line like that –- I give her credit for saying that –- but when she buries that line... we're electing a leader of the free world, and just like the votes on this last funding bill, we're looking for a leader," Edwards contended.
And while Senator Barack Obama, D-Ill., was in the Illinois state legislature and not the Senate in 2003, Mrs. Edwards equally questioned his motives.
"Obama gives a speech that's likely to be extraordinarily popular in his home district," Edwards said, "and then comes to the Senate and votes for funding... so you are going to get people behaving in a holier-than-thou way."
Mrs. Edwards was similarly no-holds-barred on the issue of health care.
"Hillary is saying we need to develop a political will," Mrs. Edwards stated, referencing her personal battle with cancer and the stories she's heard from other patients who can't afford health care, "She hasn't been talking to people if she thinks we need to develop it. We do not."
Taking aim at Obama, Mrs. Edwards continued, "I don’t know why it took six months, but I'm glad he has a (health care) plan now. It doesn’t cover fifteen million people. If you're one of those fifteen million, it's not universal for you. The fact that he says he'll fix it later, that's not the kind of bold response we need on a problem that is important to America."
Mrs. Edwards added that any divide in the Democratic party this year among the candidates is the difference between "actual Democrats and rhetorical Democrats."
"Sometimes it seems we have these beliefs but it turns out it's like a Hollywood set: It's a facade and there's no guts behind it," Mrs. Edwards asserts in the interview, "You listen to the language of what people say, particularly Obama, who seems to be using a lot of John's 2004 language, which is maybe not surprisingly since one of his speechwriters was one of our speechwriters, his media guy was our media guy. These people know John's mantra as well as anybody could know it."
"They've moved from 'hope is on the way'," the potential first lady concluded, "to the 'audacity of hope'. I'm constantly hearing things in a familiar tone."
August 13, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (376)
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Well, her and John killed
about three thousand trees
to build their 28,000 square
foot dream house but,
as Elizabeth pointed out-
they only have one fireplace.
My God, they're good for
this country!
Posted by: jimboster | Aug 13, 2007 8:08:35 PM
Personally I love to read these stories of Elizabeth and John because I believe what they are doing is shooting themselves in the foot. They are proving that one way to beat the opposition is to sit back and let them destroy themselves. Each time I read a story about them, John in particular, they are reacting to all kinds of things with such anger and bitterness. A president cannot react to national or international issues out of emotion, that's what immature people do. You have to use your head. They dont seem to, in my view.
Posted by: Teresa | Aug 13, 2007 8:09:10 PM
Keep at it liberals we conservatives love to see you talk catty about each other and oh by the way people it's politics it is indeed a blood sport...and neither Edwards or Clinton can apologize for their votes to send the military to die for their "mistaken" vote, that is just very Vietnam of them and we know how that protecting America has worked for them since 9-11 it doesn't. Cowardice will not win the Presidency.
Posted by: Jaded | Aug 13, 2007 8:11:57 PM
Obama opposed the war becuase he thought the war was a terrible idea. Edwards supported the war becuase he feared opposing it would hurt his future political ambitions. It's not hard to see who comes out on top here.
Posted by: MikeS | Aug 13, 2007 8:12:48 PM
I would take the health care plan that our members of congress have. And their retirement, but S.S. is good enough for the rest of us, but not them.
Yep! two Americas, The liberal rich and the liberal congresses pay, health care, retirement.
You Democrats keep thinking their really going to help you.
And be shined on again.
Posted by: freetothink | Aug 13, 2007 8:14:07 PM
Millions of people are not losing their jobs or their homes. What planet do some of you live on anyway?
More Americans own their own homes than at any time in our nation's history. And unemployment hasn't ever been lower in my lifetime.
Even with the tax cuts, the federal government took in more money in taxes in 2005 and 2006 than ever before in our nation's history.
Honestly, some of you need to get a grip.
Posted by: Mary Beth Seaha | Aug 13, 2007 8:15:31 PM
Everyone keeps harping about Katrina, crime, education, health care, etc. If you're sick and tired of this, why in the world do you keep electing Democrats in office, who have lied about caring for you and haven't come up with a sensible solution to any of our problems. And may I just add...take a look at who's running the local governments in New Orleans, Baltimore, etc. and you'll find a surprising element that matches in all cities with high crime, poverty, high welfare rolls. I'm stating a fact, so you can't call me any names for it. But everyone in those cities continues to support Democrats, so I feel no sorrow for them.
Posted by: Pam | Aug 13, 2007 8:16:51 PM
Elizabeth? can John come out to play???
Posted by: ea | Aug 13, 2007 8:17:24 PM
at least Obama can talk for himself!
Posted by: ea | Aug 13, 2007 8:18:51 PM
All I see is another man and woman trying to be like the Clintons.
King and Queen of America.
It didnt work for the Clintons and it wont work for the Edwards's
Posted by: Spastic Jack | Aug 13, 2007 8:20:47 PM
He reminds me of male model. I can't see him as President of anything. And yeah she should stay home with kids with the time she has left instead of picking fights with folks.
Posted by: Tasha | Aug 13, 2007 8:24:19 PM
Robert, you missed the point. There cannot be a valid apology for that vote, from any senator or representative. It was an unforgiveable vote. None who voted to invade Iraq are fit to lead this country. They ignored the facts on the ground in favor of going the way the wind was blowing. At least the republicans can say they went with their party and president -they've got the "stupidity" excuse. The dems voted "yes" because they were afraid to vote "no", then they jumped in a hole and hid until the wind blew the other way now they are out with their criticisms -they've got the "cowardly" excuse. Which do you prefer? I'm neither a rep or dem, but stupid can at least be trained - if not educated.
Posted by: pjmees | Aug 13, 2007 8:24:46 PM
I am so glad the tarnish is finally coming off of Obama. Its so funny. His supporters actually think that he is more than a politician. I don't know who is actually more naive him or his supporters. Example, he keeps going on and on about how he did not support the war. first of all he was not in the senate, he was a democrat in an liberal state senate district i mean come on. I can't wait for the average American to find out he use to be a coke head, he will go down quicker than fast.
Posted by: bluedog | Aug 13, 2007 8:27:25 PM
She is so outta control and no one can respond or they will be accused of attacking a dying, grieving mother.
Posted by: dwin | Aug 13, 2007 8:28:34 PM
Oh, please. Your husband wanted the war and Obama didn't. Deal with it!
Posted by: steven | Aug 13, 2007 8:29:07 PM
i thenk bush is the best pres this country has seen in a long time he has made some difficolt choices and i thenk once he is gone evry one will see how good he realy was all the things that he has done right i thenk hees made the right choices i just hope the next pres ceeps os safe as good as he has
Posted by: stumpnokker | Aug 13, 2007 8:30:34 PM
Let's face it, we have no candidates worth considering. People who volunteer for the job usually do it for the wrong reasons.
I think it's time to send these wannabes packing and find a few intelligent people who know how things work.
My choice would be Trey Parker and Matt Stone. They understand America better than any of these candidates.
Posted by: Stan | Aug 13, 2007 8:34:44 PM
Look you have three vaporius airheads looking to win the dem nod, Mrs. Bill Clinton who has done nothing but be Mrs. Bill Clinton. You have Barrak who knows nothing of nothing and the hair guy , who makes Vinnie from welcome back Kotter look like a genius. What kind of debate of the issues do you expect. The left wing media will keep blowing smoke up these guys (gals) yangs, inflating there stature. But in the end they have no ideas for the future, no grasp of the past and only failure in the future.
Posted by: Eugene Boyanton | Aug 13, 2007 8:34:57 PM
I would much rather see the Edwards as philanthropists, putting their money to good use, than in this "more style than substance" campaign.
Any man or woman who would mimic the cry of an unborn child to win a jury trial, but then be pro-choice as a candiate is too conflicted to me.
Any man or woman who would decry the plight of the poor while taking advantage of every aspect of this "gilded age", is too convoluted for me.
I will not and can not support this man for office.
Posted by: Mom in Texas | Aug 13, 2007 8:35:00 PM
john is a fake i lafe evry time i see him tolk on cam lolololo
Posted by: stumpnokker | Aug 13, 2007 8:35:40 PM
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