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Edwards Joins Anti-War Effort Targeting McCain
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ShareFebruary 25, 2008 2:01 PM
ABC News' Raelyn Johnson Reports: Former senator John Edwards is stepping out of the shadow of his recently failed presidential bid, joining a grassroots campaign to showcase the cost of the Iraq war and focus on defeating Republican frontrunner Sen. John McCain in the fall.
The Iraq/Recession Campaign is an effort organized by several groups, including the Center for American Progress, USAction, MoveOn.org, SEIU, VoteVets.org and Americans United for Change. The coalition fights for a halt in war spending to bring focus to economic issues at home.
Speaking from his home in Chapel Hill, N.C., Edwards and his wife Elizabeth said they are proud to throw their support behind the campaign.
"The war in Iraq at least from my perspective needs to be brought to an end for a lot of reasons--including reestablishing America's moral authority in the world and making America a force for good again," said Edwards on a conference call launching the campaign.
"I don't have the empirical data I just know what I've heard over and over and over, is people don't understand why we're spending $500 million dollars and counting in Iraq at the same time that we've got 40 plus millions of Americans who don't have any health care coverage, 37 million living in poverty. People are terrified about being able to pay their bills. It doesn't make sense to them and they see no end in sight."
During his campaign, Edwards vowed that as president he would immediately withdraw 40,000 - 50,000 troops from Iraq, with a complete withdrawal within is first nine to ten months in office. The only troops he believes should remain Iraq are those charged with guarding the US embassy and humanitarian workers.
Though Edwards ended his presidential campaign last month, he stressed the importance of Iraq as the 2008 race continues, and recast the battle for the White House as one between Republicans and Democrats.
"To the credit of the remaining two Democratic candidates, Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton, both of them have made it clear they will bring the war to an end. We want to make certain that the American people know they have a very clear choice in this election. And that choice is between a Democratic nominee for president who will end this war and who will focus on all these issues that are creating economic anxiety, insecurity amongst so many Americans. Because that's what the American people want to see. And the other choice being Sen. McCain, a Republican nominee who intends to continue the war, to continue the incredibly failed policies of George Bush."
Edwards went on to criticize McCain saying the likely Republican nominee has admitted himself that the American economy is not something he's paid much attention to.
Elizabeth Edwards was also present on the call.
"I speak in pretty plain terms and I think about issues the way a lot of mothers do and that is you're sitting at your kitchen table, you've got a list of your priorities and you have the amount of money you have to use for them," said Mrs. Edwards.
"We have a limited amount of money to spend on the things we need to spend on, and we're spending much too much of our available resources on this war."
The New Iraq Recession Campaign is a nationwide, $20 million effort. The coalition will advertise on television (watch the first ad HERE) and participate in grassroots campaigning, which includes pressuring all safe and unsafe congressional seats to stop funding the war.
It remains unclear at this time just how active John and Elizabeth Edwards will be in the cause -- beyond lending their names to raise the profile of the campaign.
Today's call was the first time Edwards has spoken since dropping out of the race. Following the end of his presidential bid, speculation began almost immediately on who Edwards would throw support to.
That speculation continues today as Edwards did not participate in the question-and-answer portion of the call, citing "other obligations."
February 25, 2008 in Edwards, John | Permalink | User Comments (18)
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Way to go John !!!! You are a good man.
Posted by: tomdavie | Feb 25, 2008 2:38:54 PM
Edwards has the fire that we need for a President. Hillary does too. Obama has the silly headdress.
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Feb 25, 2008 2:55:04 PM
Edwards voted for the war.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Feb 25, 2008 3:13:28 PM
But Edwards voted for the war, as did Hilliary, McCain, etc., etc... Just another flip-flopper. Not that McCain will need much help drowning since his fickle buddies in the media have already turned against him. If the Democrats stop destroying each other (Bill, Hilliary, Obama you listening???) all they have to do is show up on stage and they'll win. (Unfortunately) If they let anything else distract them or get in the way of defeating McCain, then they will lose, and deservedly so. It worked in 2000 and especially in 2004, so they better take heed or "Insaine McCain" will gladly exploit the divisiveness to carry out the Republican dream that is a BUSH 3rd term. Lose the ego Hilliary and Barack, the PARTY comes 1st or we all perish. Stop attacking each other and focus on beating McCain!!!
Posted by: cba | Feb 25, 2008 3:42:37 PM
"Edwards voted for the war, but renounced that vote in 2005. I don't know what else he was expected to do."
Oh.....idk ..... he coulda said something about the war when saying something woulda meant something.
Say, maybe, going on record in 2004 woulda meant something.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Feb 25, 2008 4:55:04 PM
Way to go - and whatever you do DON'T ENDORSE!
Rule 1 for all politicians: You are to blame for your successes, someone else is to blame for your failures. If you endorse canididate X and they win, you'll get zero credit (and candidate Y's supporters hate you). If you endorse candidate X and they lose, well, you have no mojo. John, you only stand to lose if you endorse either candidate right now.
I'm an avid Obama supporter, but I hope you don't endorse either one. Stay above the fray - don't be a tool (particularly not a Clinton tool...)!!!
Posted by: Eric | Feb 25, 2008 5:05:46 PM
More socialism - that's what we need! 90% tax rates for everyone, cause that's what it'll take to do all the nutty things the lib/socialist/commies want to do! Yes, lets eliminate our military and spend everything on social programs!
What a crock.
Posted by: jdawg | Feb 25, 2008 5:16:39 PM
It takes a John to help DEFEAT a John.
Go Senator Edwards! We'll have George W. McCain's phony, hot-air-fueled "straight-talk express" tireless and up on cinder blocks in record time!
Posted by: Mark | Feb 25, 2008 5:20:37 PM
No more neocon hijacking of our military and our foreign policy. It's long past time to toss these immoral incompetents onto the ash heap of history.
McCain and his merry band of conscienceless neocons and lobbyists MUST and WILL be defeated.
Posted by: Mark | Feb 25, 2008 5:39:38 PM
I AM SO TIRE OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WHO VOTED THE WAR. I REMEMBER THE DAY THAT 911 HAPPEN, THE MAJORITY OF AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE SHOUTING TO GO TO WAR. YOU GUYS WERE JOINING THE MILITARY QUICKER THAN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. WHEN THESE PEOPLE VOTED TO THE GIVE THE PRESIDENT THAT YOU VOTED INTO OFFICE TWICE, THEY DIDN'T REALIZE JUST HOW BIG OF A NUT HE WAS. THEY HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF BELIEVING THE BUSH HAD SOME COMMON SENSE AND WOULD ONLY RESULT TO WAR AS THE LAST CALL. NOW SHOUT UP ABOUT THE WAR BECASUE IT DIDN'T GO THE WAY YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD. YOU WERE THE ONES WHO VOTED THIS MAN IN OFFICE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
OH, BY THE WAY, HILLARY HAS NEVER FLIP-FLOP ON HER VOTE. YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE REASONING BEHIND IT. YOU NEED SOMEONE TO BLAME BECASUE YOU JUST AMIT YOU PART IN PUSHING THIS WAR.
Posted by: Dt | Feb 25, 2008 8:02:00 PM
"The war in Iraq at least from my perspective needs to be brought to an end for a lot of reasons--including reestablishing America's moral authority in the world and making America a force for good again," said Edwards on a conference call launching the campaign.
Does Senator Edwards really believe America is not a force for good right now? We need this effort to make us a force for good in the world? Johnny Richboy is a joke...thus he is back on the bench. Let's see if he uses his name/fame/money to help the two Americas when he is not running for President. My guess is that his "concern" for the poor will fade when he can't win him votes. Can someone tell me what he has done to help poor America when he is not campaigning for office? P-H-O-N-Y
Posted by: Michael P | Feb 25, 2008 10:33:52 PM
watch the movie and tell me if you support hillary clinton
Posted by: ankh | Feb 26, 2008 4:40:06 AM
Anybody else want in this fiasco ?
Seems to be many openings available
It's only temp work but pay's extremely well plus all you can steal for a bonus plan.........full medical included.
Posted by: webprowler | Feb 26, 2008 4:43:49 AM
Edwards is another Liberal Phoney!
He voted to go into Iraq and now that the war is going well wants to withdraw
without victory, leaving the Middle east to be controlled by Iran and its
radical leaders! No Thanks Mr Edwards!
Mccain is right on the war and you are
Wrong!
Posted by: reaganfan | Feb 26, 2008 2:18:08 PM
Edwards is a one term ambulance chaser who couldn't carry his home state or even his home county in 2004--and he got his butt handed to him by Cheney in the VP debate.
His endorsement means little. This sickening panderer would probably end up our Attorney General in an Obama administration.
Posted by: carl | Feb 26, 2008 4:05:58 PM
reaganfan says: "He voted to go into Iraq and now that the war is going well wants to withdraw without victory, leaving the Middle east to be controlled by Iran and its radical leaders!"
Ya he voted for the war and shilled for it until it was convenient to change sides. But Edwards ain't the Architect to Iran's ascendance in the Middle East. That guy actually goes by the initials of GWB.
And Hey the Actual Reagan seemed to change his mind about nationbuilding in the Middle east as well, when he cut and ran from Lebanon. So it would seem that reaganfan may not actually be a fan of Reagan.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Feb 27, 2008 9:16:38 AM
The Commander Guy:
Actually Jimmy Carter was the
Architect to Iran's ascendance in the Middle East! He continued to support the Shah of Iran when the Iranian people
were ready to revolt!
Next came the overthrow of the Shah by the radical mullahs and the rest is
History!
I don't remember Reagan cutting and running from Lebanon!
First of all we weren't at war with
Lebanon! A barracks was blown up and
several hundred troops were killed!
Moving our troops out of harms way is not the same as pulling out of a war we are winning and allowing Al Qaeda to declare victory over the U.S. and having the Iranians control the region!
Posted by: reaganfan | Feb 27, 2008 11:55:27 AM
Iranians having edge in the balance of power in the Region is because the counterweight of Saddam and his Iraq has been removed. This ain't rocket science. And why don't you go back to '53?
You tellin me Reagan didn't do a pull out in Lebannon. OK. I guess next you gonna be arguing over the definition of the word "is".
You know dude, when "the facts" change, it ain't always bad if you mind changes to.
RWR was strong enough to know this. Example: See Gorbachev; End of Cold War, Etc.........
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Feb 27, 2008 3:23:06 PM
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