Is Edwards going negative now?

[MoonRiver]

I can just surmise from my observations. Does anybody else on DU have an opinion?

[funky_bug]

1. Honey, they all will now

It's the top three, and it gets really nasty from here on out.

I remember a while back, Clark stated that he wasn't going to go negative "yet." He said "I'm not saying I won't, but right now I'm concerned about getting a positive message out" or something to that nature (not an exact quote.)

So today he goes on the attack against Kerry and Edwards, and someone from the Kerry camp says, "Clark said he wouldn't run a negative campaign and now he is blah blah blah," but that's NOT what he said.

He essentially said, "I might." And now that the candidacy is ripe and the tree a bit more bare, he's pulling out the guns and firing back.

Edwards has been mighty silent, but you can bet he'll be hitting it too. He made a dig at Clark last night regarding his OK finish.

Fasten your seatbelt... it gets bumpy now. We were never "above the fray," just under the radar.

[arewethereyet]

2. he will certainly be drawing lines of distinction more strikingly now

which is to be expected.

I doubt he'll take to calling people republicans or other such foolishness.

[funky_bug]

7. One of the reasons I love Edwards

rhetoric... the age old study of reason in argumentation. Edwards was a lawyer, and he'll fight the fight the right way... intelligently. If he attacks Clark, I'll understand why, but I expect he'll fight fair. If not, I've terribly misjudged him. I have a lot of faith in him.

[jenk]

3. this was the response to the lame Clark attack on him

"It's sad to see General Clark making these negative attacks. The fact is, Senator Edwards voted against Bush's tax cuts and has proposed rolling back his tax cuts for the wealthy, he has a plan to fix and fund No Child Left Behind, and has been a strong advocate for more international involvement in military action and reconstruction in Iraq."

[SangamonTaylor]

4. Edwards has better things to say to the American people

...than what is 'wrong' with the other candidate. Edwards doesn't speak of the other candidates because he has an actual comprehensive message that is inspiring people to vote for him.

He'll distinguish himself from the other candidates by emphasizing his positive qualities (such as his connection with middle/working class people) without mentioning how the other candidates (and what many perceive as negative qualities).

[Edwards4President]

5. In the middle of his victory speech, he reminded everyone

"let's not forget that somewhere in America a little 10 year-old girl is going to bed hungry and praying that it won't be as cold tomorrow as it is was today because she doesn't have a coat to keep her warm."

[funky_bug]

8. Sorry to slightly disagree

I mean no disrespect to Edwards, who I will gladly support should he get the nod, but he is starting to dig a bit.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040205/ap_on_el_pr/edwards_25

"This is a very fluid race. It looks like it's narrowed down to two, or maybe three, candidates," Edwards told reporters after a rally at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis, Tenn. "And I think if it's two, it's myself and Senator Kerry. I'll let General Clark argue for whether he should be No. 3."


It's slight, and it is definitely NOT out of line, or dirty in any way... but it WAS a dig. There's more coming.

Look, they've got to fight it out now. They all believe in their candidacy, and they want a chance to be the one to take Bush down. Don't hold it against them, but DON'T canonize them either... lest you be forced to eat your words.

[girl gone mad]

9. You must not have been paying attention..

when Edwards was criticizing Kerry on the issue of sepcial interests.

[uconnyc]

6. NO!

It is one thing to state differences, it is another to go negative.

JRE is constantly is asked about the difference between himself and Kerry and he states things like NAFTA, the fact that he is not a career politician, his southern roots and his upbringing. Nothing negative about that.

[krkaufman]

10. Edwards must win Virginia and Tennessee, so expect venom n/t