John Edwards: "as President, I represent the American People!"

[jamess]

John Edwards has gotten many laughs with the cutting line about Industry Lobbyists: "If you give them a seat at the Table -- they'll eat all the food!"


http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/overview.asp?txtindextype=c

Lobbyists are the "Bogey Man" that's everyone loves to hate -- but are they really that big of a Deal?

It's just Business right? Corporations are People too. They deserve to have their Voices heard in DC, too, Right? I thought I read that somewhere in the Constitution, Didn't I? .... Hmmmm ....


http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html

There he goes again! Talking about those big, bad Drug Companies, Insurance Companies, and Oil Companies and their Lobbyists! Woooh Scarey!

John Edwards - Just Say No

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR9GYelgz18

The reason we don't have Universal Health Care today, is because of Drug Companies, Insurance Companies and their Lobbyists in Washington. They stand between you and the Health Care that you need.

We have to take this System on. We have to Change it! We have to be willing to be honest about it. I don't believe you can change that system and bring about the change we need on Health Care, on Energy, and on everything else, unless you're willing to say 'It's broken -- It doesn't work!' If you defend it, and you say, 'Oh well it's fine, we'll just take money from the Lobbyists, it's no big deal -- and then we'll work it all out.' -- that doesn't work! You have to say NO to these people.

You have to say as President, I represent the American People! I don't represent Drug Companies, Insurance Companies and their Lobbyists in Washington! I don't represent Oil Companies -- I represent America! Because that's the ONLY way we're going to get the Change that we need in this Country. ...

How dare Edwards have the audacity to want to actually "represent the American People, as President"?

Doesn't he know, that's not how our System of Government Works anymore?

Exactly!



Edwards does know, and he's Just Saying No. No More!



http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.asp?Ind=H04&recipdetail=A&sortorder=U&Cycle=All


NO More "Business as Usual"

NO More CEO's "Buying a Seat at the Table" in Congress


Lobbying Overview - Total Spending, by Industry Sector:


http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/overview.asp?txtindextype=c


NO More trading our Corporate Representatives for their, and vice versa:

Just how much of those Lobbyists BILLIONS finds its way into Congress?

HMOs - $30 Million


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.asp?Ind=H03&recipdetail=A&sortorder=U&Cycle=All
-------

Drug Companies - $77 Million


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.asp?Ind=H04&recipdetail=A&sortorder=U&Cycle=All
-------

Insurance Companies - $179 Million


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.asp?Ind=F09&recipdetail=A&sortorder=U&Cycle=All
-------

Oil & Gas Companies - $117 Million


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.asp?Ind=E01&recipdetail=A&sortorder=U&Cycle=All
-------

Electric Utilities - $81 Million


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.asp?Ind=E08&recipdetail=A&sortorder=U&Cycle=All
-------


No More taking over the Election Process, by helping those Representatives pay their Campaign Bills:

If previous Campaign Donation Trends are any guide, get ready for another year of "Madison Avenue" Mud-Slinging!
(the 2008 "donations" are just getting started)



HMOs


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?cycle=All&ind=H03
-------

Drug Companies


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?cycle=All&ind=H04
-------

Insurance Companies


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?cycle=All&ind=F09
-------

Oil & Gas Companies


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?cycle=All&ind=E01
-------

Electric Utilities


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?cycle=All&ind=E08
-------




http://www.publicintegrity.org/lobby/profile.aspx?act=clients&year=2003&cl=L001656&sub=3


No More taking over the Legislation Process, by reminding those Representatives WHO paid their Campaign Bills:

Here are the Top 20 Members of Congress raking it in from each Industry sector:

HMOs


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.asp?Ind=H03&cycle=ALL&recipdetail=M&sortorder=U
-------

Drug Companies


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.asp?Ind=H04&cycle=ALL&recipdetail=M&sortorder=U
-------

Insurance Companies


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.asp?Ind=F09&cycle=ALL&recipdetail=M&sortorder=U
-------

Oil & Gas Companies


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.asp?Ind=E01&cycle=ALL&recipdetail=M&sortorder=U
-------

Electric Utilities


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.asp?Ind=E08&cycle=ALL&recipdetail=M&sortorder=U
-------



John Edwards is Ready to give them Hell!
He knows how they operate. He's been beating Corporate Interests for 20 years, in the court room arena.

One things for sure, John Edwards does not back down from a Fight!

John Edwards - "Give 'Em Hell"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhygJwm7lT8


Reform Groups Announce Six Benchmarks for Lobbying Reform

Jan 23, 2006

1. Break the nexus between lobbyists, money and lawmakers.

Cap contributions from lobbyists and lobbying firm PACs to federal candidates at $200 per election and to national parties and leadership PACs at $500 per election cycle.

Prohibit lobbyists and lobbying firms from soliciting, arranging or delivering contributions and from serving as officials on candidate campaign committees and leadership PACs.

2. Prevent private interests from financing trips and from subsidizing travel for members of Congress and staff, and executive branch officials and federal judges.

3. Ban gifts to members of Congress and staff.

4. Oversee and enforce ethics rules and lobbying laws through an independent congressional Office of Public Integrity and increase penalties for violations.

5. Slow the revolving door.

6. Place sunshine on lobbying activities and financial disclosure reports.

It will take more than just rhetoric.

John Edwards will take the power out of the hands of Lobbyists. He will:

-- Take on the Lobbyists' Power with a Constitutional Line-Item Veto:

-- Prohibit Lobbyists from Giving or Raising Campaign Cash:

-- Today, lobbyists approach politicians with campaign checks in one hand and wish lists in the other. Federally registered lobbyists gave over $23 million in the 2006 campaign. Edwards has never taken a dime from federal lobbyists or PACs. He will sever the connection between money and lobbyist influence by:

     * Ending lobbyist campaign contributions:

-- Lobbyists should be able to make their cases on the merits, not by influencing politicians with donations. Edwards will prohibit all federal candidates from accepting campaign contributions from federal lobbyists.

     * Stopping lobbyists from bundling:

-- Lobbyists solicit donations from others and direct them towards candidates to maximize their impact, a practice known as bundling. Edwards has never allowed any lobbyists to bundle donations for him. As president he will ban federal lobbyists from bundling for federal candidates.


-- Close the Lobbyist Revolving Door:

     * Banning top government officials from becoming lobbyists:

     * Banning lobbyists from taking top government jobs


-- Expose Lobbyist Contacts to Sunlight

-- Prohibit Executive Branch Employees from Accepting Corporate Gifts

http://johnedwards.com/iowa/issues/govt-reform/index.html

---------

John Edwards -- The Plan to Build One America

End the Unique Power of Lobbyists

-- Prohibit lobbyists from donating to campaigns or fundraising for them.

-- Fight lobbyists’ bread and butter – earmarked pork-barrel spending – with a constitutional version of the line-item veto.

-- Close the revolving door between Capitol Hill and K Street by banning former top officials from lobbying their colleagues and lobbyists from taking executive branch positions related to their former clients.

-- Expand the congressional ban on lobbyist gifts and travel to executive branch officials.

It's really not a Laughing Matter! The Legislation that the Lobbyists help write and pressure through Congress IS really criminal, sometimes!


http://www.publicintegrity.org/lobby/profile.aspx?act=clients&year=2003&cl=L000203&sub=4



IF the Focus of this Country doesn't change soon,
from how Wall Street is doing
to how "your Street" is doing --

well America should just quit pretending to represent the People
and Actually start inviting CEO's to Congress for Planning Sessions,
since it's their Opinions that are the ones that matter anyways!

Oh wait, they already do --

The Cheney Energy Plan,
The Lieberman-Warner Carbon Give Away,
FCC Telecommunications Consolidation Plan,

... the list goes on.

Big Business gets the Concessions,
We the People get the Bills!


Edwards is right - It's Time to End this Game!

And NOT when "it's Convenient" for Politicians to fix it
(huh, when's that ???) -- But NOW!


It seems some Senators IN OFFICE NOW, could be reforming this System of Corporate Favoritism, NOW -- not "Later"?

SO Why Aren't they? .... Hmmm?
------------


Post Script:

If John Edwards has a valid point about Lobbyists, why is the Media all too ready to just chalk it up to "Edwards has become Angry"?


Well, Could it have anything to do with the fact, that the Corporate Media is "trying to get their Seat at the Congressional Table" too?

TV-Radio Stations


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?cycle=All&ind=C2100
-------

Books, Magazines, Newspapers


http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?cycle=All&ind=C1100
-------



It's the American People WHO need to get Angry !@!
And Support Candidates, like John Edwards, who are willing to take on this Broken System -- and NOT just go along with it!

No one else will do it for you!
Indeed, they'd rather have you "Relax, Just Go Shopping" ...


http://www.opensecrets.org/overview/stats.asp?Cycle=2008

"Business as Usual" is Good for "some interests".
The ones that matter most in today's world, it seems.

[JDPriestly]

1. Thanks. Great post. Really impressive.

[surfermaw]

41. Run John Run

[asdjrocky]

2. Wow, very impressive, great links.

Edwards supports labor

[William769]

3. Now if only his Senate record reflected that he was for the people.

You almost had me. NOT!

[Digit]

4. It is totally time for a candidate like JE

Great post!

[sandyd921]

5. Just imagine

A President who represents "we the people"! Thanks for the post. Very informative.

[waiting for hope]

6. Jamess - you have DU mojo!

I knew I was to be impressed - Thank you ever so much! Excellent!

:kick: and a :thumbsup: and a few of these :bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

[Catchawave]

7. I just noticed........!

Thanks jamess for bringing your great talent to the DU :hi: :toast: :loveya:

[MethuenProgressive]

8. The half-truth Trippi is selling about Edwards and lobbyists:

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/124/

[1932]

9. Still a pretty good truth. Never taken money from a federal PAC or lobbyist and

the money he got from employees of firms that lobby were state and local lobbyists, and the total "pales in comparison to other top-tier candidates" according to your link.

(The totals: Edwards "accepted $14,900 from employees at lobbying firms through June. In 2004, records show that Edwards received $30,630 from lobbying employees, and in 2002, he took in $4,700 from that group" while "Hillary Clinton received $427,950 from lobbyists, McCain $287,150.")

Incidentally, I remember when this came up in 2004. Edwards got a donation from a lobbyist is Sacramento, CA, and a lot of fools tried to make a huge stink about it. Somebody did a little research on her. What kind of lobbyist? Her firm was children's rights firm.

Here's another attempt to undermine Edwards's strength which only reaffirms his strengths. He does not take money from lobbyists who are trying to influence his opinion on matters before them. And even when people at the state and local give to him (people who can gain no advantage for their clients by giving to a presidential campaign) it just serves an opportunity to show how different Edwards is from all the other candidates.

How can you not like this guy?

[MethuenProgressive]

11. "How can you not like this guy?" I pay attention, that's how.

:shrug:

[1932]

12. And you don't like what you see -- someone who can win and make a difference for working people?

[asdjrocky]

20. I'm calling you on that bullshit statement.

Somehow, because I support Edwards, I don't pay attention.

That would be like me saying, if you bothered to read Howard Zinn , or Chomsky, or hell, Jack London for that matter, you would not support who you support. You really should not insinuate someone is stupid, or sadly ill-informed, just because their opinion differs from your opinion. Hasn't anyone every taught you that?

What a joke.

Come back at me on this one with whatever you got.

[MethuenProgressive]

22. He's a snake-oil salesman.

A few people will always fall for a slick sales pitch, no matter how much bullshit is in the bottle.

[1932]

24. Stupid analogy. "Bullshit in the bottle"? Which policies of his are bullshit?

"Snakeoil salesman" implies that not only is the salesman a liar but the 'oil' doesn't do anything.

You think Edwards is bullshit. Fine. But if you want to call his policies 'bullshit' then let's talk policy. Which one don't you like?

[MethuenProgressive]

26. "I'm going to use my power as president to take your health care away from you." Total bullshit.

The President has no such powers, and as an ex-Senator, Edwards knows that full well. But his audience doesn't, hence the clamor to buy bottles of his snake-oil.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/190/

[1932]

28. Since when can't the President submit legislation?

He just has to find one congressperson willing to put it up for a vote.

And do you think it's bullshit because you think Congress should be entitled to their health care while the rest of America doesn't because lobbyists have prevented it with their campaign donations?

[MethuenProgressive]

30. Exactly. He doesn't have "The Power". Congress does.

His line of bullshit is, as you point out, complete bullshit.
And to your second bit: Why wasn't Edwards that "one congressperson willing to put it up for a vote" back when he had a chance to? Was his position bullshit then, or is it bullshit now, and what says it won't be bullshit again?

[1932]

31. Why isn't Obama or Clinton submitting any of the legislation they are promising to pass?

[MethuenProgressive]

33. Are you saying Edwards promised to pass this when he was in office?

Proof, please?

[1932]

34. Are you saying that Edwards won't do this as president?

[MethuenProgressive]

35. See post 26, and let's start the loop agian.

We're doing a great job kicking the professionally produced OP, ain't we?

[1932]

36. You don't think Kucinich would submit this legislation on Edwards's behalf?

[MethuenProgressive]

38. You admit Edwards wasn't capable enough to do this when he was a Senator?

We're going to have to keep shortening our subject lines so they keep fitting.

[1932]

46. I think when Edwards says he'll introduce the legislation, the legislation will be introduced

I have no doubt that Edwards would find a courageous congressperson who wants to make sure that Americans have health insurance.

I don't think this is snakeoil at all.

I'll be voting for him so that he can try to do this.

[asdjrocky]

42. That's what you got?

The snake oil salesman bit.

Man, you're embarrassing. That's more like a neo-con reason for not liking someone.

No substance, all flash.

[asdjrocky]

21. Perfect, you beat me to it.

Certainly not a lot of there, there.

Better luck next time.

[MethuenProgressive]

23. Trippi uses weasel words:

"Trial lawyers, teachers, they may hire lobbyists. But they don't lobby. The lobbyists are the people who have to register as lobbyists."
Edwards can claim to not take lobbyist money, while still stuffing his pockets full of lobbyist money, because it wasn't given to the lobbyists to give to him, but given directly to him by the people who hire the lobbyists. Edwards has taken the bag men out of the loop, still gets the payola, and claims he's clean... technically. Weasel.

[1932]

27. Please keep repeating this story. It doesn't hurt Edwards to have to talk about money corrupting

Washington.

The system of campaign finance where lawyers and teachers can give money directly to candidates really has been helping trial lawyers and teachers, hasn't it? Not having the bag man in that loop really has helped them get their legislation passed, eh?

[MethuenProgressive]

29. 80% aren't buying it.

Or maybe just 85% if most polls have it right.
"I don't take money from Washington corrupting lobbyists, I just take money from the people who give money to Washington corrupting lobbyists."
I have to admit, Slick Johnny sure has a few Democrats completely dazzled.

[1932]

32. I'll bookmark this post, and we'll revisit how many people are "buying" it

a couple times over the next 4-5 years.

[asdjrocky]

43. Seriously,

Did you look at even one of the links?

[balantz]

10. Well done.

Thank you for laying out all of these important facts. John Edwards is so prepared to represent the people of the U.S.! So many hands in Washington (almost all of them!) are filthy with corporate dirt that has to be paid back at our expense. Edwards will be an arrow to the heart of corruption. Watch him clean town! You can almost see the corruption in the faces of those who have big corp. stains on their hands, like they are pained with strain from the burden of carrying all of that negative weight...weight that disables them from doing their jobs for US. GO EDWARDS!

[JNelson6563]

13. What a positive & informative post!

Nevermind the shit-flinging monkeys who will reply to your excellent effort. They will be very helpful in keeping this thread kicked and more will see it.

Again, nice job. :toast:

Julie

[Plucketeer]

19. My feelings EXACTLY!

What great sense it makes for us to all get behind a sure loser. A candidate with impeccable principles who hasn't a chance is just how I wanna "Show 'em!".

Like some honor-bound captain of a sinking ship - I'll stand on the bow - chin into the waves - and look SO intelligent as I disappear below them! :crazy:

[Greylyn58]

14. Wow! What an impressive post.

Thank you for all the research.

[waiting for hope]

15. Kicking for substance!

:applause:

[saltpoint]

40. No kidding. There are so many Democratic-slamming posts on DU I

hardly knew how to react at first to a post like this one.

This james person is throwing everyone off-balance with quality posting. How dare he!?

[waiting for hope]

44. Really - How dare he throw

intelligence in the mix?

You should check out his diaries on Kos: http://jamess.dailykos.com/

BTW - Hope you are well and a BIG :hi:!

[saltpoint]

45. A big hello right back to ya, wiating for hope.

Thanks for the link. You're the second Edwards group person to send it my way, and I appreciate it.

Edwards! Edwards! Edwards!

[Stop Cornyn]

16. Great work!

[Triana]

17. K & R - Welcome to DU, jamess!! (n/t)

[Lugnut]

18. K&R n/t

[Ninga]

25. I giving this a kick before I head off to work.....fab u lo so !! Thanks so much for this post.

:bounce:

:hi:

[saltpoint]

37. The planets are aligned in your favor, james. As good a post as could be on

any site on any candidate at any time.

As for your detractors in this thread, pay them no heed. They hate America. They will return in the next life as game show hosts.

I'm recommending the hell out of this post.

Thank you.

[BigDDem]

39. Please try to put more

charts, graphs, links, cartoons etc in your next message.