Edwards Says No To Vice President Slot

Reuters:

Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said on Thursday he would not accept the nomination for U.S. vice president as he did four years ago.

Edwards, a former senator from North Carolina, dropped out of the 2008 race that is still being contested by the two remaining Democrats, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, to see who represents the party in the November 4 general election.

Read the whole story: Reuters

Comments

[Abie56]

But who's asked him to run? I don't get it...he won't take a stand in this race and by doing so has become irrelevant.

[DRaymond]

The fact of the matter is that Edwards did not help Kerry much and most likely does not find the idea of running to be vice president again all that interesting.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

As a former supporter of Edwards, I find it more than strange that he hasn't endorsed Obama, or that he is commenting about a VP position. Additionally his wife's criticism of Obama's health care plan is absurd, considering Obama's plan actually brings down costs, and doesn't force poor people to choose between food or health insurance, when we all know health insurance doesn't guarantee you coverage for life saving treatments. Edwards' position as an advocate for the poor and disenfranchised is in direct conflict with his votes in the Senate, and his membership in the DLC - the corporate right wing of the Democratic party.
http://www.nndb.com/group/269/000093987/
http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/5/27/55951/1586

[sk7326]

As a current Edwards supporter who votes for Obama because he is the best alternative, what his wife said is hardly shocking. Clinton's plan is very much the same as Edwards visionary plan. Obama's plan is fine, but the PROBLEM is that Obama's criticism of Clinton's plan has been repeating Republican talking points. Could Obama's plan (like Edwards or Clinton) be a gateway for medicare-for-all? Sure it can. But does Obama seriously intend to push in that sort of progressive direction when his words are that of the type of criticism John McCain's speechwriters would use?

[oafishcad]

Yeah, imagine a democrat actually not being afraid to stand on the principle that all Americans should have healthcare. Maybe if Democrats started acting like Democrats instead of Republican Lite, maybe America would look to them for their moral strength instead of seeing them as wimps.

[speakingtruth2power]

Six months ago, I wanted to see a Gore/Edwards ticket.

Reality has convinced me that an Obama/Richardson

pairing is by far the best thing for the Democratic Party

and the future of America's ever evolving democracy.

John Edwards as Atty Gen. would be a great choice.

Populism is the cure for the cancer of corporatism.

[Dandy12]

I would probably not accept it either!! This is funny, presumptous, and premature on the part of Edwards...­. Unless....­. Perhaps, Edwards is about to support Obama without any preconditions for self gain. This is a strong possibility.

Actually, I think Bill Richardson would be the ideal VP choice. He has alot of experience, and would not take center stage. I would also trust him to answer the phone, either day or night...

[vlebje]

As a strong supporter of Edwards when this whole thing began, I am sad to say that I have left him altogether in the future. Both he and Elizabeth show a kind of childish peevishness that puts me off big time. He has not handled his loss well at all, and I think he has lost huge backing from supporters like me. He might as well hang up any possible future race because I know I will not vote for him in the future. I say again, I was a *big* supporter of Edwards before he got slapped down and started acting peevish. Never again. I think he would have made an excellent VP or Attorney General in an Obama administration, where he could go to work on fighting the special interests he spoke so passionately about, and engage the lobbying gridlock in Washington. In addition to that, he would have been in an excellent position to run for president in the future. I am sad that I cannot support his peevish behavior.

[gba]

why did you support Edwards and how does he behave peevish?

[Purple Girl]

Just as Well- we need someones who's life's work has Not been in Direct Conflict with the Welbeing of this Country's economy.

[speakingtruth2power]

You may see yourself as Purple but I suspect

you voted for BushCo twice, if UR old enough.

[Independent voter]

This is funny.

Who in their right mind would ask him?

He was totally useless to Kerry; Cheney ate him for lunch during the VP debate 4 years ago; he couldn't carry his own state in the general 4 years ago.

[gba]

Why are you lying?

[speakingtruth2power]

Today's Indies are yesterday's Bushies.

[tombollocks]

He couldn't carry this state (NC) because he's a Dem! Jesus Esmeralda Christ couldn't get my fellow Carolinians to vote for any Dem. They're just too ignorant-maybe not as you (Cheney lost-no question about that!).

[SEQUOIABISON]

I do not recall anyone offering the position and doubt that we liberal democrats would want you on the ticket again after you failed to carry even one southern red state to help Kerry.

[gba]

Kerry denied Edwards to campaign in the South

[Independent voter]

Fascinating theory - lacking evidence

[Rachel36]

Why should he accepted a lame position like Vice President? He'd be more effective as Attorney General.

[darcy]

Good for John Edwards! He needs to wait for a better opportunity than joining forces with either Clinton or Obama.

[johnnygoodwud]

smart move johnny, be proactive. he knows he'd never be asked to be v.p., so instead of being embarrassed later by not getting the nod, he comes out now. very smart. but, the dumb move was waiting on the fence so long. that may have cost you. come on john, grow and set, and make a decision.

[coolkraft]

not to worry John we dont want you as our vice president.­..go back to your thousands of square foot mansion with your $400 haircuts and dont tell us you are for the working and poor people

[bluesnot]

"we dont want you". We? Who are you speaking for?

I would love Edwards as vice president.

[darcy]

Thanks, bluesnot, me too. I would love him as prez even more.

[gwhizz]

"we dont want you". We? Who are you speaking for?

The bamabots who think their guy can do both jobs, I guess.
I still consider myself an Edwards supporter. If the MSM hadn't closed him (and the other candidates) out of the race, he'd have the nomination by now and we wouldn't be stuck with these raving cultists.

[sparkandy]

Good for him. I hope he's planning to run in the next election. He'd have beat McCain to pieces in this one, and by the time we've had four more years of Republicans, he'll be ready to sweep McCain under the rug. He may not be so popular with Democrats right now because he's witholding his endorsement until after the candidate is chosen, but there are still plenty of progressive Repubs and Indies who love him. And if the Dems manage to lose yet another election, Edwards will be positioned to step in and clean up the mess.

[plainsman]

Biden will be the V.P. candidate.

[bluesnot]

Why?

Somebody commented that Kucinich would be good life insurance for Obama.

[plainsman]

Good one. Why? Because having Biden as veep blunts any criticism on Obama's lack of experience in foreign relations.

[ljsfolly]

John Edwards REALLY wants to be president so why would he do the second fiddle with either Barack or Hillary, god forbid she should win? I don't think so highly of John Edwards as I once did for I do think there is much more difference between Barack and Hillary than he says he sees. Barack doesn't lie and is honest and has higher morals than the Clintons combined have ever had and I once thought that Jon Edwards would value those qualities more than he does to fence sit now when he should be endorsing if he was the man he has said and professed to be. The longer he sits on the fence the more I believe he accepts the low nasty fighting the Clintons are doing.

[DesertLight]

I DO not like Edwards at all. But, he maybe looking off into the distance since he still is young enough to run in the future. However, i think he has his eyes on that AG position.