It's Still Edwards

One of my readers asked who I'd vote for, now that Edwards has left the race.

If I were going to cast a ballot Tuesday, I'd still be voting for John Edwards. Why?

Because I don't trust either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton to carry the banner of progressive causes. The only power we have is in our votes, and if one of them walks off with enough delegates to pin down the nomination Tuesday, they have no incentive whatsoever to keep their word to Edwards. They will immediately start moving to the right and currying the conservative vote.

We're supposed to take it on faith that both of these candidates are a lot more liberal than they appear. Well, it's going to take more than a few speeches to convince me.

What would convince me? A candidate who takes a strong, uncompromising position on something that would benefit us instead of industry. Neither of their health care plans does it for me, although I'd give Hillary's the edge. Obama lost points with his various comments about how universal health care isn't possible. (Or practical, or whatever.)

Hillary is a triangulator and a corporatist; I think we're all familiar with her liabilities. Obama is someone who came up in Illinois statehouse politics - a place that's hardly a bastion of ethics. He showed exceedingly poor judgment in allowing his friend - someone who was then already under a cloud - to cut him a deal on the land next to his house. (Didn't I just hear him say today that it was just as important to be right on the first day as it was to be ready?)

And finally, I'd like to note that I do have exceedingly sound instincts. (Go back and read my posts from the past six years.) Although I was a big Dean supporter and someone who didn't think John Kerry had what it took to win (or govern effectively), it didn't make me sick to my stomach to vote for him.

I feel sick now. I don't believe Hillary will back down from the unitary executive trend if elected, and I don't believe she's strong enough to prevent another war. If anything, I think she's raring to prove herself "strong enough" to be commander-in-chief.

And I don't believe Obama is either strong or ruthless enough to root out the right-wing extremists with whom Bush has populated the government.

I hope I'm wrong. I pray I'm wrong. But I fear for our country. I don't think either of them will do what needs to be done. Yes, there will be some improvements. But as to the future direction of our country, I don't know where they want to lead.

Comments

[Loeb]

Dear Susan Madrak: I was an Edwards supporter
from the beginning. I follow my union with care
(USW). I have a latent trust of Hillary.
People forget the negative facts aoubt the
Bill Clinton admin: NAFTA, bombing Bosnia
continuing tobuilding up Israel and encourage
US fears of Iran (which has no nuclear bomb
now although if I lived next Israel which has
many I wouldn't blame them...) I would like
a recognition of the democratically elected
resistance moment (HAMAS) and of Iran. But
foreign policy is not part of this campaign.

On Feb 5 I voted, reluctantly, for Obama.
Hillary beat him 58% to 39 % here in
Massachusetts. I will back the nominee of the
Democratic party. So will john Edwards.

[slick56]

when john edwards left the race it left a lot of us, in the dwindling middle class, without a viable candidate. has the bar been set so low by W that anything the others do is going to be persieved as an emprovment and our country's slide into the abyss won't be stopped just slightly slowed?

[LeftLeaner]

I am in total agreement with you on every point, except that Kerry did NOT "LOSE" in 2004.
The entrenched Republican machinary in Ohio, with the assistance of touch screen (manipulated) equipment GUARANTEED BUSH the election. But, enough of that.

Even before reading this post, my husband and I agreed to do the same - vote for John Edwards, for the same reasons you cited.

The other two are DEFINITELY CORPORATISTS, and only talked the talk because EDWARDS FORCED the issues regarding the poor/middle class, healthcare, etc.

That's why they pandered to him at the debate and other public venues to get his endorsement.

Maybe, John Edwards feels as we do, and doesn't want to endorse either of the others, as they are not REAL, and probably won't carry out his Platform.

I am heartbroken that John Edwards has left the race, because he was the ONLY one who cared about the American people vs. Corporations and other Powerful Special Interests.

The Media treated him as the INVISIBLE candidate, and never gave him a chance. Being part of the Corpoate Establishment, it's no wonder.

Nothng has changed for us. We respect his perserverence and commitment, and will be voting on Election Day for JOHN EDWARDS.

and p.s. I am not a blue-collar white male, I am an Educated, White-Collared, White Woman, who believes in John Edwards' message - so much for pigeon-holing his constituency base.

[LeftLeaner]

I am in total agreement with you on every point, except that Kerry did NOT "LOSE" in 2004.
The entrenched Republican machinary in Ohio, with the assistance of touch screen (manipulated) equipment GUARANTEED BUSH the election. But, enough of that.

Even before reading this post, my husband and I agreed to do the same - vote for John Edwards, for the same reasons you cited.

The other two are DEFINITELY CORPORATISTS, and only talked the talk because EDWARDS FORCED the issues regarding the poor/middle class, healthcare, etc.

That's why they pandered to him at the debate and other public venues to get his endorsement.

Maybe, John Edwards feels as we do, and doesn't want to endorse either of the others, as they are not REAL, and probably won't carry out his Platform.

I am heartbroken that John Edwards has left the race, because he was the ONLY one who cared about the American people vs. Corporations and other Powerful Special Interests.

The Media treated him as the INVISIBLE candidate, and never gave him a chance. Being part of the Corpoate Establishment, it's no wonder.

Nothng has changed for us. We respect his perserverence and commitment, and will be voting on Election Day for JOHN EDWARDS.

and p.s. I am not a blue-collar white male, I am an Educated, White-Collared, White Woman, who believes in John Edwards message - so much for pigeon-holing his constituency base.

[JoAnnCr]

Wonderful post. For those who really think about the candidates, you herald a sobering dose of reality.

My new bumper sticker: "Don't blame me. I voted for Edwards."

[coots]

I am from Missouri my wife and I have decided to vote for John Edwards. We have no reason to vote for either of the other two candidates Obama and Hillary cannot beat John McCain.

[cindy5]

Thank you Ms. Madrak, for this excellent post. There are a number of true Edwards supporters that feel exactly as you do and I find it encouraging that many are speaking out.

I am an Edwards Democrat and I believe that we can make a difference... we can work together for positive change.

I will be caucasing for John Edwards tomorrow and I encourage all Edwards supporters to stick to their guns and make their voices heard!!!!

Vote Edwards 08!

[Tanouche]

You are so right. I'm voting tomorrow in Ca. and I'm voting for JRE. My daughter will write his name in in Texas, if he's not on the ballot by then. I dont trust either of them. And I also dont believe either of them can beat McCain. Its the circular firing squad all over again.

[B2]

I, too, am voting for John Edwards in CA tomorrow! And, I have family in Illinois that are also voting for Edwards tomorrow!

[linda4JRE]

I am also voting for JRE in California tomorrow, as are most of my family and friends. We've researched and we've seen the corporate contributors to HRC and BHO - oil, nuclear power, coal, banking, HMOs, etc. I refuse to vote for corporate hack A or corporate hack B. Edwards is the only progressive Democrat, and the only Dem who can win in November. I have a JRE bumper sticker on my car, and I've had at least 10 Republicans tell me they had planned to vote for JRE in November but will never vote for HRC or BHO. I hope Dems get wise and draft Edwards to be our nominee. If not, say hello to President John McCain.

[nikasmomma]

Born days after Robert Kennedy's assassination, from youth, I was aware of the loss of inspirational leaders. I’ve spent my life never experiencing the sense of inspiration from a leader that my parents had in their youth. Edwards campaign was my first experience with being truly inspired by a political leader.

Many Edwards supporters state that they still intend to vote for Edwards to give democracy a chance to breathe free of media manipulation. Also, if Edwards gets more delegates, the issues that he has championed have more of a chance to being championed by the want-a-be nominee. I don't trust either HC/BO to go to the mat for people in poverty. News reports that the Senate is waiting on the economic stimulus package until the Senate can work the vote around the campaign schedules of Obama, Clinton & McCain. Someone who would go to the mat for the poor would stand up in front of the cameras & say "These people need help now! I'm going back to my job as Senator & I ask my opponents to do the same." Sometimes a leader must have the guts to lead by example. I believe Edwards' mission to help those in need goes right down to the marrow of his being.

Remember when the revision to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act would give "retroactive immunity" to giant telecom companies for their role in illegal eavesdropping came up for a vote, Edwards urged supporters to call senators, meanwhile both his opponents received some public arm-twisting from Democracy for America to get them to even attend that vote.

BTW, many polls showed Edwards as the most likely candidate to beat McCain. If Edwards continues to collect delegates that Clinton & Obama need for nomination, those delegates give Edwards the leverage to hold the other candidates feet to the fire to work (not just give lip service) for the poor. It speaks volumes to me that Martin L King, III wanted John Edwards to stay in the race. http://www.johnedwards.com/news/20080121-mlk-iii-letter.pdf

[superrev]

Thank you for the article. I am also voting for John Edwards tomorrow. For me, there is no other choice. I have never been as dedicated to a candidate as I am to him for I believe he is on the right track and is sincere. Two votes from my household for JE in CA tomorrow!

[DemandTruth]

I voted for Edwards in Florida - though that's like my vote not counting twice! However, since Edwards is out, I'm supporting Obama now. NOT because there's that much difference between him & Clinton - I understand there's not. However, he did call it exactly right during his anti-Iraq-war speech before the war was started. No, I believe that even though John Edwards ACTUALLY started this wave of hope and desire for change, Obama has taken it and run with it. The politicians are mostly all alike. They're not perfect and they make bad deals and usually go with the money! However, to get this country back on track, it will take US, the PEOPLE to stay involved, and continue to speak up and speak out often and loudly about what we want OUR leaders to do for us. And Obama seems to be inspiring people to wake up and get involved in the process. THAT is reason enough for me to support Obama over Clinton. I want John Edwards too, but the MSM effectively shut him down. Maybe we could convince him to run w/ Obama as Veep - he'd be backing a winner this time. With all the new powers Cheney has given that office, John Edwards could do a lot of good as the "poverty czar VP" or the "People's VP", using the momentum for change that Obama has been inspiring. Think about it.

Obama/Edwards 08.
Yes WE Can!

[vbond]

I like and admire Edwards, but there is something exceedingly strange about why he so abruptly left the race and also has not endorsed before Titanic Tuesday.

If he wanted to preserve and increase his influence, he certainly could have stayed in through Titanic Tuesday, gathering more delegates in a tightening race between Clinton and Obama.

Why didn't he?

And since he didn't, why hasn't he endorsed?

The rational reasons for not endorsing before this Tuesday are the same ones for staying in the race through Tuesday, which he did not do.

Something is going on.

Something.

[Antsisy]

This post is awesome. Thank you Susan. BTW, I voted for John Edwards as soon as I got my absentee ballot in CA. And, if I had it to do all over again my choice would be the same.