I'm on the fence. Edwards or Obama?

[CaptJasHook]

All right. My vote won't make a difference, as I live in Oregon, but my money might.

I have $100 bucks to donate to either Obama or Edwards, not a significant amount I know. However, I am still not convinced of either.

First of all, I am neither naive or lacking in intelligence. I tend to try hard to believe in the power of possibility, but being 40+ I have become adept at cynicism.

I am drawn to Obama's message of hope and the openness and truthfulness of his character. I am concerned by the grayness of his policy and not knowing how tough he will be when confronted by the Corporate juggernaut and their political branch, the Rethuglicans.

I am drawn to Edwards because he is willing and ready to take on the Corp Jug and the Republicans. I also know that 4 years ago he was tested and did well. Edwards is also been the leader of the pack with progressive ideas. Frankly, he has been way ahead of the curve on issues.

I am concerned about (here I cringe, knowing all too well my racist and misogynistic legacy given to me by my parents, grandparents, History classes and the American Media) the message an Edwards candidacy means in this historic election. I also am concerned by the missteps that Edwards has made. Though I think he is well-intentioned, I still have a seed of distrust for his history.

I know this is a struggle for many at DU. I have tremendous respect for all the candidates (including Hillary). I would like to know what swayed you over to Edwards.

Thank you for taking any time you have.

[smokey nj]

1. You're in the John Edwards supporters group - nothing has swayed us to Obama.

[CaptJasHook]

2. Thanks. Corrected.nt

[saracat]

3. As for your $100 , it might mean the world to Edwards and will be doubled. It would mean the world

to those of us that want to hear a polulist message and not pro corporate propaganda with no solutions for the average American. Obama has 100 million dollars.He is being given tons of free media as well.Giving him unneeded money is just filling a waterglass overfull.Please give that money to Edwards, where you will get value for your dollars and it will be put to good use, instead of lining the pockets of one who does not need it!

[CaptJasHook]

4. Just so you know.

I gave 100 in November to Edwards and 50 to Kucinich.

To be clear, I am going to need convincing of why Edwards and not why not Obama.

I have enough of the Obama/Edwards/Clinton bashing on the General discussion threads.

Besides his website, are their other compelling, fact-based, chart driven threads that you can recommend?

[Ninga]

5. Have you ever met a bunch of new people at a party, and they are all really neat, but

there are a few that you just connect with, and decide you want to spend time with them.

These new people sometimes end up being very solid and lifelong friends.

The other people while having interesting conversations, just do not seem to share your values and you just can't connect with them on a deeper level.

They become your hi bye friends.


Edwards is the person I can go to when I need help and he will say yes with out making me explain or qualify.

That is why i want him to be our next President.

[CaptJasHook]

6. What was the moment you realized this?, nt

[Ninga]

9. Edwards has spent countless hours working with progressive activists, for example

actor Danny Glover.

It was sometime last year, when I began learning about all the of efforts and foundations that Edwards has been involved with, such as Danny Glover for one.

Edwards has traveled to many places with Glover, talking to hotel workers, laundry workers, garbage men, laborers, custodians, etc., to learn about their organizing and fight for a living wage.

Glover mentioned that Edwards spent countless hours and days helping in such organizing. Glover said that Edwards had no interest in talking to upper management and pressing the flesh during those visits. Glover said that Edwards focus was on the workers. And there were no cameras, no photo ops, no CNN or MSNBC.....ever.

Doing the right thing when nobody was looking. He has walked picket lines hundreds of times.

Edwards knows fundamentally and by personal experience what every worker in this country struggles with..

Edwards has no interest in the sprint, or the game, he is in this to make fundamental change. And I believe he already knows how he will do it.

[Ninga]

10. dupe - sorry

[CaptJasHook]

20. Dupe?

What does this mean?

[Ninga]

21. posted twice - a duplicate

[NastyRiffraff]

7. with Edwards, your money is YOUR voice, and it counts.

You don't have to compete with corporate lobbyists and other special interests. Let's face it, when someone takes money from those folks, it comes with inherent obligations. And those interests can contribute a LOT more money than you and I can; even more than a well-organized grassroots campaign.

Your money, and mine, alone, obligates Edwards to continue fighting for us...an obligation he not only accepts but embraces. He's the only candidate who's never taken contributions from corporate lobbyists. That's as important as his stands on issues. I'm certainly not saying Edwards won't fight for you if you contribute nothing; only that your money doesn't have to compete with powerful interests.

John Edwards, like anyone else, has made mistakes. The difference is, he freely acknowledges them, and learns from them. (You can't learn if you don't acknowledge.) That in itself is important for a president; we've had enough of the would-be king who wants to rule by fiat, and refuses to acknowledge even the possibility of error.

What swayed me personally? Of course, I studied the issues and where he stands. But what really swayed me is that I know he'll follow through. Although he's been villified in the media for it, he IS a fighter. And he'll fight for us.

And thanks for your questions! I'm sure others here, more eloquent, will answer too.

[pamela]

8. The answer to your question is in your post.

"I am drawn to Edwards because he is willing and ready to take on the Corp Jug and the Republicans. I also know that 4 years ago he was tested and did well. Edwards is also been the leader of the pack with progressive ideas. Frankly, he has been way ahead of the curve on issues."

If we allow the corporate controlled media to silence John's progressive message, we will lose far more than just this election. John's voice is our voice. I'm putting my money, and my vote, where my mouth is.

[Ninga]

11. You got it right, girl. And a lot more to boot.

:hi:

[pamela]

14. Hi Ninga!

:hi: Can't wait to hear more about your adventures in South Carolina. Thanks for fighting the good fight.

[bobbolink]

12. Ask yourself this -- what is the substance of Obama's "hope" and "change"

Words are cheap.... what is he really going to do?

With Edwards it's clear..... he'll use everything he can, and do as FDR did and bring us together to get rid of the greedy corporations. Or, at least neutralize them. :)

Obama is part of the system, and will never challenge it. So, the root cause remains, and the downward deterioration is just slowed, not stopped.

[iris5426]

13. I truly believe Edwards is the best candidate...

Prior to this election cycle, I have watched with some interest, but little involvement. A combination of seeing how excellent all of the contenders for the Democratic ticket were (and this was when they were all still in) and my utter disgust for the current administration and all of the contenders on the other side led me to be interested enough to look into all of the Democratic candidates a little further and while doing that I ended up on the email lists of Hillary, Obama and Edwards. Then one day back in October the Edwards campaign sent out text of a speech he gave in NH. I can absolutely pinpoint that as the moment he became MY candidate. Here's the text of that speech.

Since then I have donated several hundred dollars to his campaign (and I have never ever put money towards a politician in my life!) even though I can't really afford it. I've also volunteered, phonebanking and gathering signatures to get him on the ballot here in PA, again something that no one previous has ever inspired me to do. I am hoping to get even more involved in his campaign as our primary here gets closer (4/22). My sister lives in LA and I've been getting her interested as well, she was planning to phonebank for him in Pasadena today.

Edwards is the candidate of the people. He will be beholden to no one but us when he is elected, and he truly has the fight in him to stand up to the corporate interests that are so deeply entrenched in our government. I can't comfortably say that about the other two, though I do believe that they are good candidates and will still be much, much better than anything the other side can offer in November. He has shaped the policies of this primary, coming out first with comprehensive plans on everything, leaving all of the others to scramble in his wake to come up with something (which generally seems to be nearly a mirror of what he has put forth).

His message resonates, when it can be heard. We saw proof of that in SC when his numbers surged after his performance in the debate. Yes, he still came in 3rd. But it was with a much smaller margin than he was facing prior to the debate. I have no doubt that the MSM would love to shut him out of the debates as they did Kucinich so that he will truly be silenced.

Your donation can help him to be heard. Obama, while a good candidate, certainly doesn't need your money. Even if you are not convinced enough yet to vote for Edwards, if you want him to truly be a contender so that your vote for him will make even more of a difference should you decide to cast it for him, you should donate to his campaign.

Also, I've posted several blogs that link to information I think helps show why Edwards is such a good candidate on my myspace page if you want to look at that. I am an Edwards supporter to the end, and love the opportunity to convince others to join me. I hope this helped. :)

[MzNov]

15. Obama's message is hope. Edwards has the details, the plan

the facts, AND a message of hope. Obama has not stated one plan of action that I can tell. Edwards has come out with a statement about FISA immunity. Obama won't even go back to the Senate to VOTE on it. Obama's presence cannot be confused with knowledge of the issues. IMHO.

[MzNov]

16. P.S. Then give them each $50. At least John will get $100.

[Two Americas]

17. the fence is OK

I firmly believe that if everyone were on the fence - open-minded, asking questions, taking this seriously - that we could transform the party and the country. I also believe that they could then hear Edwards message, and that 90% of Democrats would support him.

I support Edwards candidacy because it is giving us an opportunity to shift the context for the party, rather than continue to battle over content. The content is the hot button issues as defined by the right wing, and then the various track records, positions, and promises of the candidates.

The context is a battle over cultural war ideas - created by the right wing - that have no business being in politics to begin with. Edwards gives us an opportunity to shift the context back to power and economics, the true purpose of politics, the battle that the opposition is waging, and the arena within which the Democratic party has always had its greatest success.

Nothing particularly special about Edwards - well he does have good qualities, but that isn't what is important. Other candidates have good qualities. But the Republicans are waging an all-out war against the people on behalf of the wealthy and powerful few. Anyone who says they want to fight that, I will support.

Before we can win the battle, we need to show up on the right battlefield. The Republicans don't care about abortion or any of the rest of their phony issues. That is all a smokescreen. While we fight losing battles over cultural issues, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, and we are all sliding closer and closer to the bottom. That is the true intention of the Republican party, their real agenda, and until we recognize and act and speak on that harsh truth we will always be handicapped.

Change the context, and the content can be changed. Fight over the content and ignore the context, and our success will always be limited and fleeting.

Edwards is attacking the context, not the content. He is giving us a stronger context within which to fight, not more variations on the content.

[AndyA]

18. I think this sums it up: "Doing the right thing when nobody was looking."

It's one thing to do something in the media spotlight, and another to do it when nobody will see you doing it, just the people you want to help.

I think the desire to help people comes from very deep within Edwards. It's not something designed in, it's there by nature.

Edwards doesn't need to do this. He lost his son. His wife has cancer. He has enough money, he could just retire and spend time with his family. Instead, he wants to make sure others have a fair chance at success, access to health care, and not worry about how they're going to keep the heat on.

I believe John Edwards is the real deal, not something a campaign put together for consumption by the masses. He's human, he makes mistakes and admits it when he does, then takes steps to go about fixing them.

Anyone can hire a slick writer to come up with motivating speeches, but when you see Edwards in person you can tell...he's the honest to God real thing.

Good luck with your decision, and thanks for taking the time to read our responses.

[CaptJasHook]

19. I'm off the Fence

I posted a copy of this post on the Obama group.

39 view, 2 responses.

On the Edwards group, 142 views 15 responses (not including my own).

This shows me the passion that Edwards inspires in his supporters here on DU.

The responses were also amazingly heartfelt. You people are great.

My $100.00 goes to Edwards, as does my encouragement for my fellow Oregonians to support Edwards.

Hopefully I will get to vote for him in November.

[NastyRiffraff]

22. Welcome, CaptJasHook!

Glad we were able to help. Hang around here...there are great people in this group!

[smokey nj]

23. Welcome aboard!!!

Sorry about my response to your post, it was snarky and you didn't deserve it. I'm just feeling a little bummed out. Please accept my apology and have a drink on me. :beer:

[iris5426]

24. Yay! Welcome :-)

And, I'll admit to being one of those 39 views on the other page, I wanted to see what they were saying...

:hi:

[Iwillnevergiveup]

28. K&R

I did the same thing, Captain....doesn't it feel good???

[CaptJasHook]

25. Edwards today, Democrat all the way

It feels good over here.

[Silver Gaia]

26. Glad to have you with us, CaptJasHook!

:) :) :)

[Lugnut]

27. It's so nice to see you here.

There is no candidate other than John Edwards who is speaking for me. I cannot vote against my own best interests. I can't stomach the mudslinging and juvenile behavior I've seen from the other two candidates. I'm just too old for that crap. There is no alternative for me.

[saracat]

29. I feel the exact same way!

[zalinda]

30. Well, me' hardy

You've just hired yourself one hell of a trial lawyer. Welcome to our class action "law suit", John Edwards, speaks for me.

zalinda