Reply #249: Edwards definitely did speak about the poor. [View All]

[sabrina 1]

As you say, when it comes down to the line, if they are speaking effectively for issues of importance like that, we can overlook some things.

I was hoping he might get the VP spot, but for me, the war in Iraq was a huge issue. Back then, being fairly new to politics, I was terrified immediately after 9/11, that Bush et al would start a war somewhere. In my view back then, I placed all my hopes on Democrats to try to stop him as they were the only ones standing in the way of what any rational person knew would be a slaughter of innocent people, and sanity.

I watched the vote and was shattered as I saw one Democrat after another vote with Republicans for war. So when a few of them decided to run for President, I knew I could not support them. Even though Edwards and Gephardt said they had made a mistake, I couldn't accept that. If ordinary people knew what a mistake it was AT THE TIME, I couldn't have much faith in people who seemed to reacting more to the political climate, than to any principle. And if they could change their minds on something as important as that, I worried that they could do so on other issues when it became expedient to do so.

So, Obama being the only who had opposed the war, although we will never know how he might have voted, was the only I could support.

Then, I hoped that Edwards would be his VP, which would have kept the issues he campaigned on, like poverty, on the table.

Now, I really think the focus should be on Congress. If we want representation on important issues like poverty, war, torture etc. we cannot count on one person in the WH to do what is right. But with a Congress that truly represents the people, a president will have a more difficult time getting his way, if it is the wrong way.

Help for poor people, the disabled, the elderly through social programs is under assault everywhere right now.

We do speak out, and many of us speak to those who are supposed to represent all citizens, but very few are listening.