Anti-poverty Group Says Edwards an Ally in Struggle Against Poverty (in response to NYT hit piece)

[draft_mario_cuomo]

You can bet you will never hear this in the CMSM. Here we have a leader of a group that actually knows about the issue, works to help alleviate poverty, vouching for Edwards and explaining why JE is a sincere advocate for the poor. Yet, the CMSM will ignore this in their obsession to continue sending warning flares to any future "top tier" presidential candidate to tell him or her to not even contemplate daring to discuss poverty.

==ACORN President Says Edwards an Ally in Struggle Against Poverty


ACORN’s President Maude Hurd issued the following statement following publication of the New York Times front-page piece June 22, “In Aiding Poor, Edwards Built Bridge to 2008.”

Press stories that question Senator John Edwards’ commitment to ending poverty require a strong response from those of us who spend our lives in that fight. ACORN is the nation’s largest grassroots community organization working to eliminate poverty in America.

As ACORN’s president, I can personally attest that Senator Edwards has been a steadfast ally in this struggle – from raising wages to rebuilding the Gulf Coast.

One of the best ways to end poverty is to pay workers fair wages. In the summer of 2005, I traveled with Senator Edwards to cities and states across the country, launching ballot initiative campaigns to raise the minimum wage above the shamefully low $5.15 an hour.

While Senator Edwards could have chosen to do anything else with his time, he chose to spend it on the road with low-wage workers and their allies who were fighting to lift workers out of poverty. Edwards worked directly with grassroots community-faith-labor coalitions on the ground, leading rallies and press conferences to galvanize public support and working outside the spotlight to help organize support and raise funds to bring wage increase proposals to the ballot.

Last November, voters rewarded the efforts of Edwards, ACORN and our allies by resoundingly approving six state ballot measures to raise the minimum wage. As a result, more than 1.5 million of the country’s lowest-paid workers will get a raise. The ballot measures were just the most high-profile victories in a year that saw an unprecedented 17 states raise their minimum wage – many for the first time – including Edwards’ home state of North Carolina.

This movement in the states helped create the public pressure for a long-overdue increase in the federal minimum wage, which was passed last month and will help another 12.5 million low-income workers make ends meet. In addition to his work to raise wages, Senator Edwards has made an ongoing commitment to work with ACORN and others in the struggle to rebuild the Gulf Coast and help Katrina Survivors return home.

In making poverty the defining theme of his campaign, Senator Edwards has shown his true colors. It is a sad statement that someone working not only to raise the issue of poverty, but to offer ambitious solutions and his put his feet on the ground to end it -- is attacked rather than applauded.==

http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=4174&tx_ttnews=19141&tx_ttnews=8306&cHash=963e4cd12d

[Forkboy]

1. Kick

[draft_mario_cuomo]

2. Thanks. I notice those who criticize him on this are silent about ACORN's statement

Who to believe? People who are actually in the trenches fighting for social justice each day or some armchair critics who bash JE to promote their own candidate?

[PurityOfEssence]

10. Yes. So where are the usual vigorous, sneering partisans?

It seems mighty cowardly and dishonest for them to not at least address this.

Let's give it some time and see what develops.

[ChiciB1]

3. I Was Just Watching A Sundance Channel Production (A Rerun)

that Michael Stipe from R.E.M put together about Hurricane Katrina! David Brinkley was also featured and they called it "In The Sun" and then cut several versions of the song to either download or buy!

Many thought JRE used NO to promote a false image, but I never did. This article is just SUPER and confirms once again that here is a man, who now can afford what many of us can not, who still went out almost immediately after 2004 and started talking about POVERTY!

Say what you will, this is just ONE reason I have supported him for such a long time. I have seen NO OTHER candidate do any more than he has... long before anyone got on the band-wagon! John, Elizabeth and his family have "heart" that can't be taken away. As is the case with EVERYONE one of us he has made mistakes, but maybe MY blinders work better than some.

This is GREAT news and thanks for the post!

Go, Johnny, Go!

[draft_mario_cuomo]

8. I agree. It is a shame his critics will ignore ACORN's statement nt

[Mythsaje]

4. I've officially declared for Edwards...

He's my guy.

[ChiciB1]

5. Way To Go!! I'm Thinking That He Just Might Make It....

after the "hoopla" dies down!

Just wanted to kick this because the information is worth reading!! Needs one more recommendation here. I think??? My posts don't usually make THE PAGE, so I forget sometimes!!

[Mythsaje]

6. Nope. It's got eight now.

That's as many as most of mine have gotten recently. LOL

[Duppers]

7. another

K & R

If big Al doesn't pitch his hat in, JE is my guy.

[ChiciB1]

9. Well, I'm Impressed By All Ya'll Who Are Coming Out Or In...

No matter... Whoopee!