Hey John Edwards: Come Back! The "Other America" Needs You

OK, I'm going to say it: I miss John Edwards.

I'm not pining for that goofy smile or the expensive coif, but rather for what Edwards brought to the national conversation on poverty. Really, at least during the campaign, he was the national conversation on poverty. And as the recession ebbs and the DOW grows, as the banks focus on paying back TARP and Bernanke sees the light, I've become more and more worried that working-class Americans are not going to end up any better for all the trillions spent.

Now let me be clear: John Edwards' affair with Rielle Hunter and the pain he inflicted on his wife and daughter are unforgivable. Plain and simple. This is not about absolving him of his sins.

It's about using every available tool we have to create the change America needs.

I know that idea is an uncomfortable one, somebody helping lead the country on a moral issue after a moral lapse of that magnitude. I also know that if the gender roles were reversed, the chances of success would be far, far smaller. But I'm willing to separate a person's tragic flaw from the impact they could have on the most important issues facing the country.

I had that same feeling last week during my interview with Eliot Spitzer. Should Spitzer be forgiven? Perhaps not. But should he be on the sidelines when he could meaningfully help clean up Wall Street and protect taxpayers? I'd rather have him in the trenches. Like the Treasury said about the nation's biggest banks, Spitzer is "systemically important."

And in the fight to end poverty, there's a gaping hole in the system. Paul Wellstone is gone, as is Jack Kemp. I don't hear from Jesse Jackson anymore -- and even if I did, I doubt he could get too many others to listen. On the right, Newt Gingrich has also gone silent, after once offering transformative ideas for the working class. But the biggest gap was left by Edwards, who had concrete plans for getting low-income kids to college, expanding access to bank accounts (28 million Americans don't have one), and raising the minimum wage.

Barack can't do it alone. Forty million Americans live in poverty, and countless others don't make the stats. Eighteen percent of children live below the poverty line, those without a high school diploma are unemployed at nearly twice the national average...the circle continues.

LBJ needed MLK and many others to challenge him to move forward on civil rights. Lincoln needed Frederick Douglass and the abolitionists pushing him and the nation. So too does Obama need people to push him to ensure that everyday people -- the "Other America" that Edwards referred to so often on the trail -- get a fresh start ahead of Wall Street bondholders.

Edwards was right then, and he'd be right now. Leveling the playing field will yield a more just America, and a more economically and socially dynamic America, as well.

Am I crazy to think Edwards could return to public life? We've seen it before. Grover Cleveland, Bill Clinton, Marion Barry, Benjamin Netanyahu -- they all came back to do have a real political impact, even if their reputations never fully recovered.

Photo by sskennel.

Carlos Watson is the founder & publisher of The Stimulist.

Cross-posted at The Stimulist

Follow Carlos Watson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/carloswatson

Comments

[WorkingClass]

Edwards is finished as a Democrat. But I think The View would have him on. Or Larry King. Or Letterman. Or The Daily Show. If Dick (five deferments) Cheney can get a gig I don't see why Edwards cant. I would love to see him embarrass the DLC.

[Cherubim]

So, WorkingClass, who died and made you Ruler of the Democrats.

[Mecheng]

It is hard to "come back" when you may be on your way to a federal prison.

[Cherubim]

Mecheng, So, far Congress has refused to bring charges against Dick Cheney.

[Cherubim]

When allowed to be an advocate for Health Care,
this is what John Edwards had to say:
Click
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWbXNUbUj0A

[mostlyindignant]

"when allowed"? and what, exactly, is stopping him now?

[yappnmutt]

edwards has it right. a strong middle class is the key to a prosperous country. unfortunately he is considered a populist and populist is a four letter word in today's politics.

if you look at the list of those people who fought on behalf of the middle class for the last 40 years all of them have been marginalized, politically destroyed or killed. its a very disturbing trend.

[OtayPanky]

yappnmutt: if you look at the list of those people who fought on behalf of the middle class for the last 40 years all of them have been marginalized, politically destroyed or killed. its a very disturbing trend.

===

Let's see...if I make such a list I guess the name that would go on the top would be Barack Obama. So I'd say your thesis doesn't hold true. There are plenty of other advocates for the middle class who have had long and honorable political careers.

If we're going to tell the truth, we have to admit that we've had any number of people in public life who have POSED as populists, while behaving as scoundrels. And if you're in politics, and behaving as a scoundrel, sooner or later your number is gonna be up. Hopefully you won't be killed (I wouldn't wish that on anyone) - but it will be just deserts when you are marginalized or politically neutered.

That goes for scoundrels on both sides of the political spectrum.

[WorkingClass]

Some of us will not agree that Edwards is a poser.

[yappnmutt]

bailing out banks at the expense of the middle class is hardly populist.

[blkbtrfly1]

CARLOS please stop referring to the president as "Barack". You of all people should know better.

[Helzapoppin]

His rhetoric was right, but he never really believed it. And if he came back now, he would be too damaged to effectively lead a populist movement.

[Peachie49]

Average working class Americans, white or black, would be better served with John Edwards in a position of authority within government. At least he would not be afraid to speak up on their behalf. Jessie Jackson, through the ignorance of black people has been silenced and cannot be effective. President Obama was not or would never be a voice for the working poor, that's not his style. Look at his Cabinet and close senior staff--he is clearly, white, upper class, male. That is where is comfort level is and what he has most likely sought acceptance all of his life. His wife is seeking the same type of acceptance, if you listen to her mumbo jumbo. Her so called criticism on the Univ of Chicago, that didn't "search her out when she was growing up"-is lunacy. Why doesnt' she ask her mother why she didn't enroll her in classes on campus, take her to campus plays, games, etc.? The University created for her a $300,000.0­0+ per year job, they sent their children to private school there, seems like the University was very kind to her! Now, it's time for the rest of us to get at least one politician to represent "ordinary folks".

[Benton]

"Jessie Jackson, through the ignorance of black people has been silenced and cannot be effective.­"

Huh? Really? Jessie's notoriety like virtually every other so-called "black leader" is contingent upon the mainstream media placing them in front of a camera.

I don't know that black people's ignorance has anything to do with it. Perhaps its because black people are no longer looking for someone to serve as "king of the blacks."

[Jazzman323]

Everyone in America is better of now that the phony, narcissistic, ambulance-chasing trial lawyer is gone from out political system. Never has the public face and private reality of a candidate been simpler to see. Someone who lives in a 28,000 sq. ft. mansion is not the person we want advocating for the poor in our country.

[Cherubim]

Jazzman323, if we you use your logic then President Obama (or any other President)
who lives in the 55,000 sq.ft. White House, could not advocate for the poor in this country.
Being lower middle class, myself, I will go on record as being willing to accept help from
President Obama, John Edwards, and from whomever the Hell else.

[Jazzman323]

Poverty in America was Edward's "gimmick" in the elections. Nothing he did added up to genuine concern for poverty. It all seemed contrived, phony. I don't care if someone chooses the cause of poverty while having wealth. But I would like that person to the the real thing, honest genuine. Edwards was not.

[mostlyindignant]

Uh, CHerubim, the White HOuse is not built and purchased by the President. It is merely used as the President's residence, so your logic does not hold. The point is, it was undoubtedly a bad decision for the E's to build this house-- in a succession of costly houses-- at the time that they did. Wonder how much money they contribute to poverty issues? The college fund in NC was discontinu­ed... how many agencies and causes are their names attached to? ummmm ? Please understand that Poverty was more a platform than a cause for him. If it were really truly "the faht of his laaaff" he would still be fighting.. and not just in El Salvador: at home, in his community, across America, with his voice and his dollars.

[WorkingClass]

FDR was a rich guy. I guess you are wrong.

[OtayPanky]

I'd like Edwards - and his wife - to come back, too. They were important voices in the "two America" dialogue - a dialogue that is more important than ever.

And - as long as we're talking about it - I'd like Eliot Spitzer to come back as well. He was a hound from hell for those Wall Street crooks, and we need that, too.

But - as of right now - there's a crucial difference between Edwards and Spitzer. Spitzer has come clean, so he can actually put his flawed past behind him and re-engage in the national dialogue. Unfortunately, Edwards has not.

There's good reason to think that he is, in fact, the father of Rielle Hunter's child. Because he admits to having sex with her - and she claims no one else did at that time - he has the moral RESPONSIBILITY to face up to that possibility, and take a paternity test. And if he is proven to be the father, he has (once again) the MORAL RESPONSIBILITY to acknowledge the child, and do what all responsible fathers should do.

Unless and until he does that, he can't put the past behind him and return to the national dialogue. And - most important - he can't stand up and lecture anyone else about our moral accountability. The hypocrisy of the messenger simply becomes fodder for those who would despise the message.

[TotalRecall9]

I don't condone Edwards' affairs neither, but I do miss him defending the poor. The only guy left in Congress that defends the poor is Dennis Kucinich and he doesn't have that charisma that Edwards had. As for Obama...I'­m come to believe he's just a smooth-talking liar and I seriously doubt he wants to change the status quo!

[jsgaetano]

The Goopers are constant hypocrites about their candidates (McCain, Vitter, Foley, etc)... so why should we drop a perfectly good politician because of a problem which is between him and his wife? It's not like he got caught doing anything wrong... unlike Vitter, Foley, etc.

[tangerinesong]

Why Mr. Watson?

We spent at least two years time, money and hopes that I'll never get back not including our like support of the 2004 ticket to get Edwards elected when he essentially was unelectable. What would have happened Mr. Watson if Mr. Edwards were elected and this came out? Especially with an election as highly charged as this one? It makes me nauseated that we even have to revisit this.

If Edwards did not possess the maturity to evaluate this circumstance then proceed with the character and integrity I thought he possessed, then this is the rare time to shoot the messenger of a good message.

I deferred my first trip abroad with my only daughter before she started college to campaign for this guy. Spent thousands on rallies and registration drives.

Even though Mrs. Edwards knew about this pre campaign or during the campaign, an equally egregious aspect of this was for his Wife to have to deal with this while undergoing stresses that we just could not imagine.

I’m a professional Mr. Watson and Mr. Edwards embarrassed me and my party in front of constituents and colleagues that cannot nor should be overlooked. I’m quite sure I’m not he only one who feels this way. The most irritating thing for me is personal, I was duped, pure and simple.

If he were my husband, if he ran for anything again at all it would be as gelding.

TS

[WorkingClass]

I congratulate you on your work on behalf of Edwards. I only wish you had been working for the people. Then you might have the courage of your convictions. Then you would still be working and would want Edwards to continue as well.

[jsgaetano]

Who are you talking to?

[mostlyindignant]

Tangerine, amen to that. There are hundreds if not thousands who sacrificed time, opportunities, moments with family, etc etc and for... what? so they could participate in this charade? And still no apology to the people who supported and worked for them, no thanks, and not even the truth. And yes, it was embarrassing to stand up in front of friends and community and vouch for, defend, support, give to, speak up for this family that betrayed us all . As soon as the dirt was exposed, they should have pulled out and apologized to America for wasting our time.

[TJCole]

All of us who worked or blogged for John as I did, knew he was the better candidate when it came to Real Change for the Better for the average American..­.!

[jmpurser]

I liked the message he settled on but really couldn't square it with his career to date. He seemed to become a populist only when it would have helped him with the election.

I do appreciate the fact that he was the only candidate really addressing class war issues.

[jsgaetano]

The only thing I'm pissed with Edwards about is he could have screwed over America so hard had he won... exactly the same way Gary Hart did. The only difference being Hart didn't expect the Goopers to do it, whereas Edwards HAD to know they would be gunning for him.

[TJCole]

All valid points...

No question he blew it..big time...but the Media had already decided for us that he was not their pick...!

[WarSkeptic]

I'm surprised there are actually people who bought into the idea that Edwards is a progressive.
He isn't. he's a southern democrat

The Edwards health care plan was the same as Obamas, a subsidy to the insurance companies
He had no serious anti-poverty plan despite whatever rhetoric he might have made
He was opposed to civil rights movements like gay marriage
He voted for the Iraq war, the patriot act ect.

He's a southern democrat. We didn't lose anything. People like him are a dime a dozen

[ClarcKing]

Mr. Edwards was disgraced because of his political communication regarding the "Other America". Meanwhile the United States is still in the middle of a monetary financial derivative debt based global economic collapse. The global debt based economic engine is accelerating the contraction of the population's capacity to sustain itself. A threat to the population as all out war. Right now, because of market mechanization, food producers in this country are not getting enough money for their produce. The economy is still shedding jobs and businesses. The population is still in need of jobs and purchasing power. Healthcare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits are subject to planned cuts. The U.S. is still under a perpetual war policy. Bankrupt banks and financial institutions are reaping benefits from the Treasury, the Fed, and the Congress. All the above is surely leading the nation to disaster and it is all reversible. The majority of Americans must realize that they are the "Other America" and direct their political power upon our political leadership.

[ChristianEcon.com]

Americans seem to love ad hominem fallacies, as if a person's character determines the merit of a particular argument. John's "two americas" point was much needed and right on.

http://www.christianecon.com/2008/09/what-are-two-americas.html