Edwards Gets Tough With Corporate America

Wall Street Journal:

John Edwards is targeting Corporate America and what he argues are its corrupt and greedy practices. In a speech today in Des Moines, Iowa, he is outlining his plan to renew the "social contract" between business and government if elected president. "In corporate America, where a broader sense of social responsibility once held sway, a culture of greed has taken over. Instead of treating their employees fairly, being accountable to their shareholders and contributing to America's prosperity, CEOs act like their corporations exist just to build their own massive fortunes," says Edwards, according to speech excerpts provided to Washington Wire by his campaign.

Edwards is proposing, among other things, universal retirement accounts that employers would be required to provide if they don't offer pension programs. Workers' contributions would be matched dollar-for-dollar on the first $500 through a proposed "Get Ahead" tax credit. The plan would also allow workers to put their savings into government-sponsored annuities that would be run through the existing federal retirement savings plan or the Social Security Administration.

Read the whole story: Wall Street Journal

Comments

[mtaylor90028]

if john edwards continues talking like this, i might vote for him.

[alambique]

Ditto.

[Jimmyboyo]

ditto

[SensibleAmerican]

But then that's what he has been doing the last 4 years and no one seems to be listening!!! But now if he continues talking you may vote for him?!

I understand the collective IQ of the Nader-herd as it is predictable but the number of wide-eyed fluff lappers on this board is remarkable! Fluffy Obama and now Breck Edwards?! All talk no substance and empty rhetoric and yet, the nuts and the naive lap it all up as the gospel!!!

[demsrnuts]

Edwards Camp Asked to Pull Student Story

Friday, October 26, 2007 6:21 PM


RALEIGH, N.C. -- A University of North Carolina professor said Friday that John Edwards' campaign demanded that he pull a student reporter's television story that focused on the upscale location of the campaign's headquarters.

C.A. "Charlie" Tuggle, an associate professor at the school, said the Edwards campaign contacted the reporter, second-year master's degree student Carla Babb, asking for a video of her report to be removed from the Internet. When that failed, the campaign demanded in three calls to Tuggle that the TV story be killed, he said.

Tuggle said the campaign had complained that the reporter misrepresented the story she planned to do. He also said the Edwards campaign warned that relations with the school could be jeopardized.

[godlessclif]

With corporate America gunning for Edwards I expect this is the tip of the iceberg.

After all since the Dole Bayh bill was passed in 1980 colleges like UNC, in the Carolina Corporate
Research Triangle, became the whores of corporate interests. It is a safe platform for corpos to use to launch attacks from on anyone who defends the people's interest.

[Misanthrope2]

Hi pajeff. Tell us about your banning from CBS Sports website. It is quite an accomplishment to be banned from a sports board.

[MissingAmerica]

Here's hoping that sounding like a typical American isn't going to lose you the election. After all, the last thing corporate America wants from America's leader is to have him side with American people!

[watchingthings]

Give 'em hell John. Somebody has to grab the Bull by the Horns and get him out of the China Shop. Sounds like you know what ails America and how to fix it.

[nomoredead]

I'd say Charles Rangel is getting tough with corporate america. Rangel for president.

[Misanthrope2]

His insistence on bringing back the draft would make him impossible to elect.

[GreedyOldPsychopaths]

Get real. As Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rangel has been responsible for approving and passing into law some of the most pro corporate free trade agreements and legislation to date.

[janmarie]

Maybe Bush will pardon him, if not Bush, maybe Clinton. Or perhaps he'll make a dash to Israel.

[godlessclif]

off topic

[sword]

First: Why is this in the Business section?

Second: this is awesome!!

John Edwards is real!

[SensibleAmerican]

Oh OK! He was giving a speech! When I saw the headline: "Edwards Gets Tough With Corporate America", I thought he was actually doing something ... finally! Can't recall anything he did in the Senate!

Yep, when he has not moved his numbers at all in the last 10-11 months, that's pretty much all he can do ...

[Misanthrope2]

He scares the shit out of you Republicans. Specially ones like you who are here shilling for Clinton because you want the weakest candidate.

[godlessclif]

This is in the business section to alert the corpos.

[NABNYC]

I don't know if Edwards really gets it, but he sure sounds like he does.

The essence of the beliefs promoted by the hippie/feminist/anti-racist/antiwar groups (progressives) in the 1960s and 70s is that the government should be used for the benefit of the people, not for special interests. The understanding was that we only consent to having a government because we are promised it will work on our behalf. We must hold them to it. That is Edwards' platform.

The government must be committed to helping the people have a good life. This means ensuring they have work, they have shelter and food and education and medical care, that employers are required to pay a living wage including a contribution to a pension system, and must ensure the safety of the workers. It is premised on the belief that we should help each other to have a good life, and rejects the barbarian view that the weak or the sick should be thrown to the wolves.

The right-wing has taken everything that progressives stood for and turned it into a subject of ridicule. Anyone who believes the government should prohibit the importation of lead-coated toys from China is considered a do-gooder. If you want the government to mandate food safety compliance, then you are a "food fascist." If you believe the government should protect people against the greedy fraud of big financial corporations, you want a "nanny" government. If you think we should find alternate energy sources, conserve, and save the planet, you are a sissy.

Note that each of these terms are commonly considered feminine qualities: concern, caring for children and for sick and the old, wanting protection. Anything feminine is considered inferior. Only manly killer men should rule and govern. And those few women, like Hillary, who act like men and love war and have not one tiny shred of compassion for others.

John Edwards is out campaigning on these same qualities and issues: care, compassion, concern, protection and safety. Government to represent and work for the people.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

Well put! ....but then why are so many Democrats 'mesmerized' by the CELEBRITY of HRC and earlier by Obama. She gets by with est. positions on issues only as a reaction to those announced by other candidates or 'public outcry.'
(Oh! By the way, she likely spends, at least, $400 on coiffure's fees in a matter of weeks. Why doesn't the very BIASED/QUEEN-crowning 'media' make some inquiry?)

[mcostello]

The irony of the "do-gooder/food facist" concept is that those activities are nothing more than "enforcing the law".
The current admin is so contorted in the favor of corporations that is knowingly defunds enforcement of any law that twarts a bush pioneer, or other large GOP donor's profit margin.
There is a complete disregard for our LAWS!
Our Constitution and our laws are being held in contempt, and the average joe doesn't know or care.
disgusting!

[Misanthrope2]

Are you calling us vegetarians "do-gooder/food fascists"?

[ariuszme]

I just did a blog post on this topic yesterday using a video of fox talking about the calif fires and trying to use scare tactics referring to it as "terror".

today i added valerie plames interview from hardball yesterday, it was better than all her other interviews because chris's anger at our gov being so corrupt, really showed through.

http://politicaldiscontent.blogspot.com

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

Valery Plame: Better at celebrity (and motherhood?) than spycraft!

[Misanthrope2]

They also lied about environmentalists opposing brush clearing here in the San Bernardino Mountains. A complete lie.

[Ginzaman]

What about retirement accounts where ALL employee contributions are matched dollar for dollar by employers? Since lazy Americans have the world's worst savings rate, use some incentive to change that.

[JuniorBug]

Lazy Americans? Americans consistently poll in the top range of the most hard-working citizenries in the world. There's a point to be made about our saving habits, but criticism of Americans about that should probably wait until gasoline, food, health care, i.e. everyday necessities, aren't breaking the bank.

[sword]

American produtivitiy has gone up year over year for decades. Savings are being captured by collusion.

[Misanthrope2]

Profits are stolen by CEOS.

[godlessclif]

How about raising wage levels.

[Rumplestiltskin]

Did he mention greedy lawyers, or just greedy CEOs? How about greedy actors? Greedy shop keepers? Greedy spinsters?

[ZHarris]

Yah, rag on the lawyers, many help people fix an injustice. What's next? Rag on the ACLU for standing up for civil liberties?

[Gakl]

I think you're a little behind the curve on this one...

They've been lambasting the "commie ACLU" for years.

[godlessclif]

Televangelcritter Dr. D. James Kennedy called the ACLU a Jewish-Commie conspiracy for years. He has been doing it since Ronnie Rayguns got rid of the equal time law and the ACLU could not answer his lies.

D. James Kennedy is dead, the ACLU lives.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

All of the 'occupations' you so assiduously enumerate are on some scale employing a business structure. Accordingly, when they 'achieve' the income level of a CEO, they are treated similarly....!

[Misanthrope2]

You have many questions and few answers, grasshopper.

[SouthpawSass]

I like all the Democratic candidates, but favor Edwards. Biden and Kucinich are great, I'm reserving support for Clinton. Dodd and Richardson are okay, would be good in cabinet positions. And the newbie? I really like Obama too.

Good time to vote for a Democrat. We have some really great choices.

[anothergreenbus]

They will do everything they can to stop this man. He's that good for America.

[blabberwocky]

Exactly right. He is our Bobby Kennedy and the establishment has pulled out every stop to try to kill his message.

Edwards is our only shot at reversing the GOP-spawned corporatism that is destroying the country. It has completely polluted the GOP and is rapidly infecting the Democrats. The fact that all the money is now going to Hillary Clinton and to our disapointing, lame-ass congress (11% approval) proves this.

I had hoped the 2006 election would change things. And it did - things got worse. If Hillary wins in 2008, the Republicans will win back Congress and many governorships by 2010.

[sword]

He is not our only chance. There is Kucinich and Paul. Very different philosophies, but same level of intergrity.

What we need more than ever is integrity in the sense of not just using an abusing people.

[easyrider1969]

Sad to say, Greenbus, but they WILL indeed do everything they can do to stop these ideas from spreading. Just ask JFK or RFK...oh I forgot. They're dead. Shot by lone nuts. One of whom used a magic bullet. Robespierre had the best plan for aristocrats.

[godlessclif]

If you got the needles, I got the wool.
We need a candidate like Madam LaFarge.

[nancytheragingliberal]

Yes, the mean-spirited repub's have smeared John Edwards and his wife too! I think she is a kind, down to earth, super intelligent, strong person. Just the kind of person that drives the crazy,lunatic "Religous" "Evangelicals" into a frenzy when they roll in the ailes of their "church." The way she want after Ann the Maggot Coulter on Hardball was breathtaking. The dragon breathing Coulter was knocked back onto her jagged tail. So impressive, Elizabeth. We have so many great candidates that it is refreshing. After scrapping the bottom of the barrel last time, this is a treat. I would consider John Edwards as a VP on the ticket. Kerry and that batty MarBeth Cahill did not use him effectively last time. Kerry was just such a disappointment last time. Cheers, John & Elizabeth Good luck!

[baylaw73]

Yup. Edwards is now, if not already, officially unelectable. No one, NO ONE, takes on the wealthy establishment and gets away with it in this day and age. Sure, Nader did it to some degree years ago, but now, fah-get about it.

[Misanthrope2]

Maybe Clinton will fade. Maybe the people of Iowa will give Edwards their votes. Maybe Edwards will win in New Hampshire.

Probably not, but maybe.

[Hooray]

They who? Edwards is doing everything to stop himself.

Latest poll out today:
Clinton 48%
Obama 17%
Edwards 13%

With all due respect, this mountain is too steep to climb. Edwards needs to end this while he still have some dignity left.

[abbiehoffmansghost]

Do you work for the Clinton campaign?

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

WITHOUT any respect, Mr. Edwards gains respect by virtue of his candidacy. If you vote by poll numbers, it's a wager you voted "Bush" in the last election--not to mention Joe Blow, the little 'independent' senator from Connecticut!

[Gakl]

Why, where's the dignity in quitting?
I, personally, would like to see him continue to fight to get his message out. I'm not necessarily balls-on-fire for him, but I think he's got a good message for domestic policy. If only he can create a perception that he's smart on foreign policy issues as well, he'll have a good shot.

[JuniorBug]

What is relentlessly fighting for what he believes in, if not the epitome of dignity?

[DCMike]

Yes! Everyone please pay careful attention to this. Edwards may be good for you and he may be good for the country... but look at the kitty!
Even if I bought this mind control message, isn't there something dignified about someone willing to climb a steep mountain for something they believe in? The journey has it's own rewards.

[LaFilleEnRose]

YOU GO JOHN!! Now somebody running for office is saying something...and something quite specific. At last.

[easyrider1969]

Is major media covering this?

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

NO! They're worrying about Obama antagonizing 'homosexuals' by his association with some "loudmouthed" preacher-evangelist....

[sword]

Of course not. John isn't an Israel schill. Schill is a yisdish word. If you want to know what it means, just read the Time or Newsweek and get it through the context.

[speakingtruth2power]

Edwards will get a huge boost when he kicks the crap out of Hillary in Iowa.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

If ONLY....! The 'media' (unofficial candidate pickers....!) are only concerned with HRC, Obama, Romney, and Guiliani. They remaining candidates--likely the best of the lot--might as well be invisible.

How can this bias be thwarted? HRC sucks up more 'investment banker"s' $$ every day; they don't want ANY course alterations. Read the WSJ block which appears below the article. HRC's endorcements come from people who can expect jobs in 'her' administration.....

[Gakl]

While I'm not opposed to Edwards, this sentiment bothers me a bit, because ultimately what this is banking on is a traditionalist worldview disparaging a woman leader.

[Misanthrope2]

Women are just as deserving of disparagement as men. Women politicians are nothing special. The ones I served with were stupid and vain, just like their male Republican counterparts.

[Giordano Bruno]

John Edwards continues to lead in ideas and innovation. This country was not founded on Free Market Economics as modern politicians pretend. There is a superb book out called the Big Con by Jonathan Chait, which I think crystalizes the issue of our modern corporatocracy and how it came to pass, and how good Republicans were replaced by greedy capitalists who subverted the government into a corporate welfare system. It deals with this very topic, and John Edwards is on target.

John continues to show leadership and integrity, and I am more impressed with him every day. I agree that the good folks of Iowa may have a surprise for the highly funded campaigns of HRC and Mr. Obama. Go John Edwards. You rock! Giordy

[speakingtruth2power]

I've noted your posts before. Go Giordy!

[Giordano Bruno]

It's a mutual admiration society speakingtruth2power. Thanks! Giordy.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

Factually DEAD on: WEALTH of NATIONS (the actual title is longer) was not even written until 1776, and even so, actions taken by the East India Company's (British) attempt to undercut the local price structure lead to the notorious "Tea Party." The colonists in Charleston, SC, however, were wiser: They had the tea shipment unloaded and later sold....

[sword]

Agree.

[Misanthrope2]

I agree with what you wrote.

He is acting like a leader.

Clinton and Obama are triangulating.

[GreedyOldPsychopaths]

Giordy,

What we are experiencing today is not too dissimilar to the period in US history that Twain coined as the "Gilded Age", the opulence of which Veblen mockingly derided in his satirical work "The Theory of the Leisure Class". Perhaps the greatest distinction with our present situation in comparison to our recent past: the Robber Baron business owner has been replaced by a corporate management structure with a CEO and executive board.

Polemic and predatory economic policies, such as present day trade agreements based on Freidman's naive concept of free markets, have led to an unsustainable and self-destructive asymmetrical distribution of wealth throughout the world, particularly in the US. Call it corporatocracy or plutocracy, both are pseudonymous with the enrichment of the wealthy investor class.

If we truly desire to avoid economic calamity or societal upheaval from a "Gilded Age" redux, then we would be wise to heed the advise of a more sane and impartial economic policy advocated by J.K. Galbraith. One that offers real and fair opportunities for all. In that regard, John Edwards IS the neoGalbraith candidate.

GOP