Obama’s Voice, Edwards’s Message

[babylonsister]

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/02/15/7083/

Obama’s Voice, Edwards’s Message
by Robert Kuttner


In watching Barack Obama make big inroads into every major Democratic constituency, let’s pause a moment to credit the field’s third man, former senator John Edwards, now out of the race.

Edwards was the toughest and earliest on the pocketbook issues that Obama is just now getting serious about. If Obama is to persuade the one remaining skeptical constituency - working-class voters in places like Ohio and Pennsylvania - he will have to get even more explicit about Edwards-type issues. But in the end, Obama could be a far more effective bearer of the Edwards message than Edwards himself.Though his message was potent, Edwards’s rhetoric was sometimes too hot. “Corporate greed,” an Edwards favorite, did not resonate with most Americans. To some, his own lifestyle choices - the haircut, the mansion, the prior consulting for a hedge fund - seemed to undercut the message.

And Edwards sometimes emphasized the very poor rather than the broad nonrich electorate. But Edwards deserves thanks for putting pocketbook issues front and center in the Democratic campaign. Obama is now talking more like Edwards. Some of his key advisers have been working with Obama’s campaign, though Edwards himself is keeping his powder dry. Obama has been criticized by pundits for being too vague and generic. “Yes We Can” is an impressive declaration of hope and change, but it is hardly a political program.

For a time it appeared that Obama was the classic “outsider” candidate, like former senators Gary Hart or Paul Tsongas, idealists who usually fell just short. The early Obama coalition included well-educated whites, a bare majority of blacks, independents, and young people. Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, was winning the Democratic workaday voter.

Yet Obama evidently knew something that the cynics missed. By introducing himself to a broad public as a candidate of ideals and generational change, he attracted wide support on the basis of character and leadership - and still left himself room to fill in the details later.

snip//

A century ago, in the great textile strike of 1912 in Lawrence, the women mill workers insisted, “Give us bread, but give us roses.” If Obama wins, the one-time community organizer will have deftly offered Americans both the roses and the bread.

[liberal N proud]

1. I did see a glimmer of Edwards message in a commercial for Obama

When I saw the commercial about health care, there was a couple of lines that resonated with me thinking about the message Edwards was pushing.

Still undecided, there are things I like about both candidates. Just waiting to see what happens for a while here.

[Kittycat]

2. I think that Obama's message is more conforming to Edwards goals.

If Obama gets the nod, I can definitely see him pushing for Edwards agenda.

[babylonsister]

3. I sure has been a long-g-g primary season. And months to go possibly. nt

[Benhurst]

4. Maybe. But I think he does a better JFK than John Edwards, especially

with Teddy Sorenson on hand to write his speeches. Plus the image of JFK the cold war warrior has softened over the years, starting with his martyrdom. I think the now-mythical JFK image goes better with Obama's message of Change and Hope.

[madrchsod]

6. i`m thinking more bobby

the party died the day he was murdered...it`s taken 40 years for someone who may resurrect it

[Benhurst]

7. Maybe. But Obama's speeches are heavy on rhetoric, reflecting Teddy Sorrenson's

writing and similar to those he produced for JFK, the kind of speeches which attract praise from the press. Bobby, at his best, seemed to talk straight from his heart --even his gut, at times, and did not rely heavily on oratorical devices.

[madrchsod]

5. here`s an interesting article from the rockford il paper

http://www.rrstar.com/news/columnists/x1514484105
Obama gives a lecture to GM auto workers - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

(chuck is a rockford republican)



the late illinois senator paul simon told him if he was to succeed in winning people to his point of view-tell them the truth