Can Edwards win the Lou Dobbs Vote?

[Ninja Jordan]

Of all the viable candidates or potential candidates, John Edwards seems to espouse positions on free trade that keep American workers in mind the most. Could Edwards possibly pull in a Lou Dobb-type, independent-conservative leaning voter who wants to reform trade and stop disadvantageous outsourcing that harms the middle class? By making this a central part of his platform, and putting himself out there early and often, Edwards believes he can "own" the issue, as it becomes more salient with the '08 elections.

[babylonsister]

1. Depends. What does he say about immigration? nt

[mcctatas]

2. On many issues, especially employment, outsourcing of jobs

health care etc. I think he's on the same page, but the immigration thing gets the dobbites all apoplectic, so who knows:shrug:

[Ninja Jordan]

3. Yeah,

I think on most issues, Edwards may strike a chord with the "Dobbs" type of voter; perhaps Edwards can hit the immigration issue in a more subtle manner (enforcing laws against employers will reduce illegal immigration etc.).

[silverlib]

4. That's my take, too.

I can't see him stating that immigrants and their children should be locked up in jails like in Taylor, Texas. Hit the employers, not the victims.

http://texascivilrightsreview.org/phpnuke/modules.php?n...

[Recursion]

5. Anti-immigrant feelings are caused by economic insecurity

If people were more secure in their jobs, they wouldn't care so much about people crossing the border. If people could be reasonably sure:
A) They can keep their job or something like it
B) They will have health care even if they lose their job
C) Their children will have a chance at as good a life as they did

I don't think they will care so much about immigration.

[barb162]

6. Dobbs is a populist and very pro-American worker

and very pro American middle class, etc., which I love about him. I think Edwards can get these voters.

[Bozita]

7. IMHO, the Dobbsites are the key to '08

Win them over, it's yours.

They are the unemployed, the underemployed, and the threatened.

Their numbers grow by the day.

[Ninja Jordan]

8. Agreed, and the more voters view Edwards as a leader on such issues, the better.

A populist message will win in 2008.

[sandnsea]

9. No

Edwards isn't a maniacal US first, isolationist, bigoted, gun fanatic. That's who Lou Dobbs appeals to, for the most part. If he gets the Dobbs vote, Dems don't want him. But I don't think he will, because Edwards is talking about a completely different kind of economic justice and equality than Dobbs.

[w4rma]

10. You're wrong. You don't understand the situation at all. (nt)

[sandnsea]

11. Yes I do

We don't need laws about who can't be rented to or cities banning certain groups of people, like was done to the Irish and other immigrants in the past. The hate that is coming out of this anti-immigrant campaign is revolting. Every time Dobbs says the word 'amnesty', he's contributing to the distortion and division. If Edwards allows himself to be connected to this, I don't want him in the White House. We need improved treaties, global assistance, path to citizenship, and fair immigration laws. We don't need armed idiots at the border, cops hunting down immigrants instead of criminals, rental laws that push families out in the streets, and every other ugly thing Dobbs's irresponsible rants are generating.

[dmosh42]

12. The question is about the 'Lou Dobbs' vote.

I think that would mean his endorsement, and the faithful who watch his show. My take is that he (Dobbs) has maintained that any comprehensive immigration plan without the borders being secured is amnesty. I may be wrong, but I don't believe Edwards has fully explained his stand on 'illegals' crossing our border.

[sandnsea]

13. I don't think Edwards has either

Which I said earlier. But if he jumps on the Dobbs distortion of amnesty and building fences, then my position is that we don't want him in the White House. I don't think Edwards supports Dobbs rants against immigrants though. True Dobbs devotees are just a smidgen away from being right wing radical bigots, imo.