"Those who believe real change starts with Washington politicians are living a fairy tale"

[bigtree]

Edwards Criticizes Clinton Comments

By EVAN BERLAND – 16 hours ago

SUMTER, S.C. (AP) — Democrat John Edwards on Sunday waded into a dispute between his rivals, criticizing comments by Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband that some have considered disparaging to Barack Obama and black people generally.

"I must say I was troubled recently to see a suggestion that real change that came not through the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King but through a Washington politician. I fundamentally disagree with that," Edwards told more than 200 people gathered at a predominantly black Baptist church.

Sen. Hillary Clinton recently was quoted as saying King's dream of racial equality was realized only when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, while Bill Clinton said Obama was telling a "fairy tale" about his opposition to the Iraq war.

Edwards did not name either of the Clintons in his speech, but turned the argument back on them.

"Those who believe that real change starts with Washington politicians have been in Washington too long and are living a fairy tale," he said.

Speaking in his native South Carolina, where he hopes to win the Democratic presidential primary on Jan. 26, Edwards said he was pleased with the civil rights progress that's been made in the South and lauded Obama, an Illinois senator.

"As someone who grew up in the segregated South, I feel an enormous amount of pride when I see the success that Senator Barack Obama is having in this campaign," said Edwards. He the added, with a laugh: "Some days I wish he was having a little less success."


http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hoAvkYTooNMqpzn8fF_3B76ko8eAD8U56TCO0

[bananas]

1. Great quote!

jedne

[Tyler Durden]

2. It pains me to see Edwards joining this foolishness.

Without Lyndon Johnson spending 20 hours a day haranguing members of his own party to support the Voting Rights Act of 1964 it might never have passed. Johnson was PASSIONATE about Civil Rights his entire career in politics, and Clinton was correct: without the SUPPORT of Johnson, we would have waited YEARS for a lot of important Civil Rights legislation to pass.

NO WHERE did Clinton suggest that this action ORIGINATED with Johnson as suggested by some in the Obama campaign.

Some may remember a thread where I suggested the "Race Card" would be played: this is an example of just that.

[bigtree]

3. he's just echoing the buzz which is coming from many South Carolinian blacks about the comments

I've looked at the comments as they were made, a couple of times, and I think the Clintons fell victim to their politics on this one. If they hadn't been so intent on using this argument to attack Obama, it wouldn't have sounded so churlish and offending. I really don't think they can put this one back in the bottle. The impression is already cast among SC's blacks, I think, that the intent was to downplay MLK's impact and elevate Johnson's, however you may view that dynamic.

I think it's not out of line for Edwards to point out the emphasis that Clinton put on the importance of the presidency, using MLK's great efforts as a footstool in that argument.

[Tyler Durden]

4. I heard it as suggesting that King needed the SUPPORT of a president to realize HIS dream.

Now tell me that isn't 100% true.

And as an amateur historian, it pains me when Lyndon Johnson is not given his due for Civil Rights. He shaved YEARS off of the enactment of laws, and didn't give 2 shits what it did to his chances for re-election.

[bigtree]

6. I'm almost certain that's how it was meant, nonetheless . . .

that won't filter down now, especially since Clyburn came out and put his spin on it. It was a clumsy attack and Clinton's paying for it, I think.

I completely agree, as a reflection on the primacy of the federal government, that these ideals need the force of law to make them real and effective. I've listened to enough of LBJ's tapes to keep my skepticism intact, as to his views and motivations regarding 'civil rights'.

[Angela Shelley]

5. There are two sides to every story

and in the end, it doesn´t matter "WHO" promotes Human Rights the most, it matters that everyone wakes up and opens their eyes and treats each individual with respect.

[Toots]

7. IMO John Edwards is living in a "fairy tale"

I think he has almost no chance at all for the nomination and yet he persists in trying to harm the other candidates..

[bigtree]

8. he's doing a service,

if he succeeds in getting the other candidates (and voters) to focus on his agenda. We should, at least, hope the issues he represents have "a chance."

[applegrove]

9. Change starts with power. Who gets into power matters more than

anything. It doesn't matter if it is Edwards, Clinton, Obama or anyone else from the Democratic Party. All that matters is that we pick a candidate who can and will win the election come November.

[mondo joe]

10. I can't see campaigning on change but saying change doesn't start with Washington

politicians.