Will Edwards embrace the Jena, LA race issue in an attempt to gain ground among SC black voters?

[Ninja Jordan]

Edwards has put his neck on the line with the Iraq war, being the only mainline candidate to call for an end to funding and immediate return of troops. This kind of maverick position has helped him in progressive Iowa. Anyone think he touches the hot-button 'Jena Six' issue now, in an attempt to make gains among black primary voters in South Carolina? So far, none of the mainstream candidates have addressed it much. I personally think it would be a smart move on his part. He HAS to gamble, while Obama and Hillary don't. This is a gamble that might help him.

[daninthemoon]

1. How is Jena a hot button issue. the whole thing seems pretty black

and white. (pardon the pun). Every candidate from either party must surely see the injustice. Even George Wallace eventually recanted this kind of crap.

[Ninja Jordan]

3. Not here to argue with you, buddy.

If it wasn't 'hot-button,' then Hillary and Obama would be attending the rallies down there.

[babylonsister]

2. He already has a statement out:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1844847

[FrenchieCat]

4. Can you point me to the "Immediate return of the troops" that Edwards is for?

I though that Kucinich was for Immediate return of the troops, not necessarily John Edwards, who speaks rather of bringing home 50,000 troups out of the 150,000+ there now possibly immediately, or thereabouts.

Also, I believe that both Hillary and Obama have spoken on the Jena issue....quite a few days prior to Edwards' statement......so if this is what you call a "Red Button Issue", then Edwards loses on timeliness and cannot earn the label of "maverick" (McCain made me hate this word) on this issue that your OP speaks of.

Obama made his public statement
http://www.barackobama.com/2007/09/14/obama_comments_on_repeal_of_je.php

as did Hillary:
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=3264

Then came John Edwards with his.

:shrug:

[Ninja Jordan]

6. Dueling written statements isn't exactly what I had in mind.

I guess my question is whether you believe Edwards will go above and beyond releasing a written statement--and contrast himself with the other two (Hillary and Obama).

I am not here to nitpick on candidates, either. I don't favor any of them quite frankly. I just like discussing political strategy.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Why should I believe that Edwards will do "more" than the others?

I don't necessarily believe that he "cares" anymore than the others do...even if you think so.

Maybe if Edwards reads DU, and reads your post, it will give him an idea.

At the end of the day, politics is dicey.......opportunism is not anything anyone wants to have to defend themselves against.

[Ninja Jordan]

10. Looking opportunistic is a big risk, certainly.

[sandnsea]

5. Obama already spoke out Sept 10

"When nooses are being hung in high schools in the 21st century, it's a tragedy. It shows that we still have a lot of work to do as a nation to heal our racial tensions. This isn't just Jena's problem; it's America's problem."

"There are a number of signs that the system is not working in this case. It's a problem when criminal charges are brought against some students for fighting, but not others. It's a problem when a public defender doesn't call any witnesses. And it's a problem when a prosecutor decides to try teenagers as adults for a school fight, a charge that could leave them in jail for the majority of their lives. That is why I join my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus in calling on the judge to consider all the relevant factors and calling on the District Attorney to drop the excessive charges brought in this case. And I, along with other members of the CBC, will continue to monitor this case closely."

"Going forward, we have to fix our criminal justice system. Whether it's Jena 6 or Genarlow Wilson, it's long past time for us to admit that we have more work to do to ensure that our criminal justice system is fair. We must ensure that both victims and defendants can receive equal justice under the law, regardless of race, wealth, or other circumstances."

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/09/10/obama_demands_fairness_in_jena.php

[AtomicKitten]

8. And risk Jackson accusing him of acting white?

... Edwards has put his neck on the line with the Iraq war, being the only mainline candidate to call for an end to funding and immediate return of troops. This kind of maverick position ...

Maverick position? Was cosponsoring the IWR and rallying for the invasion of Iraq also considered "maverick" in your view? Dayum.

[Ninja Jordan]

9. Jesus Christ, I'm not here to argue about it.

WHATEVER you want to call it, Edwards has taken a clearly stronger position re: withdrawal than either Obama or Hillary. I don't even have a preference of candidate, I just wanted to start a thread about the underdog (Edwards) of the big three and possibly discuss strategy about how he can gain some ground. Am I here to engage in a circular firing squad? HELL NO.

[AtomicKitten]

11. I just don't agree with that premise.

When it comes to the Iraq War, only Kucinich, Gravel, and Obama were against it from the get-go. Edwards on the other hand was at the front of the parade rallying to invade Iraq. That's a fact, and withdrawal would be a moot issue had he not succeeded.

How Edwards deals with any issue is entirely commensurate with how much he figures he can gain from it. Not a particularly ringing endorsement on sincerity to be sure, but if you still believe, mozel tov.

[Ninja Jordan]

12. I don't entirely CARE whether Edwards is being sincere.

My OP isn't some ringing endorsement of Edwards. The goal was to spark some objective debate about what he, as a cadidate, can do to gain some ground vis a vis the Jena Six isssue. I see that is impossible without the potential discussion degenerating into a tit-for-tat crapfest.

[AtomicKitten]

13. Edwards will do whatever is expedient for him.

That was and is my answer to your OP. I'm sorry discussing everything you wrote in your OP was too much for you to process, but you did make comments worthy of response regardless of how much you protest.

I do care about the sincerity of the candidates and I'm not a big fan of political opportunism, and that appears to be precisely what you are advocating. Ewwwwww.

[Ninja Jordan]

14. My tit's bigger than your tat!

yawn