Letter To The South Carolina Voters Who Let John Edwards Down

Earlier today, someone who grew up as one of your own dropped out of the presidential race.

That would, of course, be John Edwards.

John, who grew up in and around mills that once dotted towns like yours, couldn't go on after a South Carolina primary finish where he received only 18 percent of the Democratic vote.

That came as no surprise, for when it comes to party politics, the main concentrations of Democrats left in South Carolina are African-Americans, the cultural liberals of Charleston and those in and around certain subcultures at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

But it is not people from those communities who I write this about, and for.

I write it to your attention, you economically struggling white male voters in those small South Carolina mill and textile towns.

Let me show you a symbol.

-

That dash may be the same dash you see when you open your checking account balance and see that you are overdrawn.

Why? Because the drain of manufacturing and service jobs has sucked up many of your town's employment centers. Sure, you have a job, but not like you did.

Or look on the other side of the river at the abandoned mill or clothing factory. How long has it been closed now? Ten years? Fifteen? Twenty?

These places closed because of free trade policies backed mostly by Republicans and conservative Democrats.

But the thing is, you, and perhaps your parents, have voted for these pricks for 44 years. Ever since 1964, when Lyndon Johnson signed a bill into law that you could not countenance.

And today, 44 years on, a presidential candidate with a similar raising as yours ended a quest for a Presidency in which he could have inspired policies that would economically re-energize towns such as yours.

But no, you didn't want to break your Republicanism, and re-register with a party that actually is on your side. And once re-registered, vote for John Edwards.

No, because, well, "John Edwards is a liberal."

Meanwhile, you are totally free to value that which you do.

Your guns. Your hunting dog. Your preacher. Your bass boat. Your reverence for your Confederate ancestors now a century in the ground. And those conservative talk show hosts that ostensibly take your side, but go back to their mansions at the close of their broadcast day.

But I have to tell you this, small town South Carolina white male Republican voters.

When it comes to enacting policies that would ease the risk of foreclosure, predatory lending, etc. -- and get your town running again, your guns, your hunting dog, your preacher, your bass boat, your Mama, your long-dead Confederate ancestors, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and others aren't going to help you.

John Edwards could have.

But no, you are still so stubbornly stuck with the notion that the Republicans are more like you, and are manlier than Democrats, that you refused to cross over and give a son of your soil the votes he needed to continue in this race.

John Edwards wanted to help you, and you let him down.

Shame on you.

Comments

[Berettasskeeter]

Fortunately, the voters around the country recognize a shyster lawyer when they see one! Edwards got his fame and money through bad litigation and ignorant jurists. The people of S. Carolina are not as ignorant as you would have them believe. A shyster in front of a jury will still be a shyster in the oval office.
Semper fi

[MaryKaye]

Right on point, Mr. Shaw. Unfortunately, it's typical. I see people voting against their own interest as the great failure of our educational system. Stupid stubbornness also characterizes our current administration. I no longer wonder how George Bush The Lesser got elected twice. I have guns, I have hunting dogs, and I'd have been thrilled to offer my vote to John Edwards. Unfortunately, Colorado falls behind South Carolina in the primary line up. We desperately need election reform. All states, all candidates, all primaries on the same day. If we can do it for the general, I see no reason we can't do it for primaries.

[Boris]

TO demonstrate the ignorance of the electorate, just consider that haircuts and mansions are more important to the slagles of the world than real issues.

Republicans would prefer to elect lawyers that screw the little guy. They also have mansions but at least they aint ambulance chasers.

Everyday where I live in rural America, I see the ignorance of the snowmobilers and ATV people who vote GOP because they will let them drive anywhere. The national debt, education, et al, are simply to complicated for them. So, pick an issue for the dummies, the rednecks, the guys who marry their sisters and you will get their vote.

But dont confuse them with issues...the future is too scary.

[BeeOplentee]

No, not shame on me. Shame on John Edwards for not running on the Republican ticket. He might still be in the race had he done so.

[Junebug628]

I couldn't agree more, but WHERE were all of these people & pundits BEFORE Senator Edwards dropped out? Prior to yesterday, you could barely find anything written about him in the mainstream press OR on HuffPo for that matter. Too little too late.
For the first time since I could vote, I could care less who wins because it's all the same. This country claims it wants change but deep down...we don't.

[jcorrington]

Ah Russell, my sentiments exactly.. Being born and raised a southerner, I have constantly asked myself the same question, why those that live poor, vote rich..

I'm afraid we will all rue the day that John had to drop out...


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[AnotherMcIntosh]

Well said.

You just got another fan.

[lgillooly]

It baffles me that Republicans vote against their own well being. They think the Party is for the troops and yet the Democrats by far vote for troops and family support. They think the R's are religious,but behinf their backs they laigh at them. Sadly,they have listened to the idiots on talk radio so long they do not have a clue of what the truth is.
They talk about taxes aND KEEPING their money.HELLO!! Who do they think will pay this 9 trillion deficit Bush will leave us? This Republican Administration has raped and pillaged this country and is leaving an enormous debt to our children and the FOOLS still think this is the Party of Conservati­ves.INSANE

[Skilletlicker]

Thank you, Russell, for expressing the most depressing irony of Edward's withdrawal. Edwards himself in his concession speech said that he didn't know when "it" started -- "it" being the moment that Democrats stopped being the champion of the working class and the poor. I don't know either. But I do know that his candidacy has inspired me to do locally what my party chose not to do nationally. I will find a child to tutor or a community center where I can volunteer and try to emulate the values that Edwards stood for. I'm a Democrat and I will vote that way in the general election but in my state's primary on Tuesday I will cast my vote for John Edwards anyway. That's how I want to spend my vote. It's the purest expression of my voice -- Edwards '08.

[Thorn]

Censor me all you want -- but are you hearing yourself?

[lynnn]

Uhm the Robo calls @ the end may of had something to do w/it as well.

[ThomasDoubting]

This battle in the Class War has ended. Sadly, the rich have won. The war will continue.

[elayneriggs]

Excellent, play right into the hands of the DLC why don't you? Edwards was the only major non-DLC-approved Democratic candidate. The word got out early and often to the corporate media NOT to cover his outspoken anti-corporate campaign. They even have people sniping against Edwards on the basis of his wealth (see Timmy Slagle above) whilst not even blinking to acknowledge that both Clinton and Obama are squarely pro-rich and pro-corporate. At least Edwards was trying to fight for people outside his acquired class, which was why his campaign was doomed to fail. It's not SC voters' fault, they're fed the same bullshit we all are.

[AsaNisMasa]

Sounds about right.

[Rockyman]

No doubt the S.Carolina election was the final push that Edwards felt to suspend his candidacy. The MSM was against him as well as the realization that campaigning couldn't be healthy medicine for his ailing wife. And so America lost the best chance to redress many inequites mainstream America is suffering. If those voters that can't get a "clue" who can really improve their lives don't wake up, we have little chance to resurrect a fairer America.