Edwards on Hardball last night

[Skwmom]

This is the comment that Edwards made on Hardball last night which I think is very offensive (am I just being overly sensitive?):

MATTHEWS: What are you going to say if Terry McAuliffe or one of the leaders in the party, like Ed Rendell, comes along tomorrow night and says · tomorrow morning and says, "You know, this guy Kerry has won so many of these primaries and caucuses, he`s probably going to win them all. Why don`t we unite?"

EDWARDS: I don`t think there`s a chance in the world they`re going to say that. I haven`t heard a peep from anybody about that. Instead, what I`ve been hearing is exactly the opposite. That No. 1, the longer the race goes on, "particularly so long as it`s a race between somebody like Senator Kerry and myself," that it`s very good for the Democrats. (Somebody like Senator Kerry and myself - what was wrong with the other candidates?)

.....And No. 3, I think most important, Democratic voters deserve a choice. There`s 75 percent of these delegates that haven`t even been chosen yet.

[cheezus]

1. how is it offensive?

I don't see it

[AP]

2. If he's saying what people have told him, I'm not sure that you can blame

him for repeating it.

Do you have a link for the quote -- I'm not clear whether the parenthetical is his or yours.

[mohc]

3. I think what he is saying

Is that Kerry and he are not going to attack each other like other candidates might have. The less they bloody each other, the better shape they will be in for the battle against Bush.

[Skwmom]

6. How did Clark attack the other candidates?

Edwards had a 50 page paper put together on how to attack the other candidates and Kerry handed out flyers smearing General Clark (and I think Edwards did too plus lets not forget Shelton).

[mohc]

9. A 50 page paper

That was never used. Clark was attacking Kerry and Edwards in the week leading up to the TN-VA primaries. He was simply inaccurate about their positions/votes on the Bush tax cut and some other issues. No one here is completely clean, but Edwards has run the most positive campaign, and Kerry has had the benefit of being able to direct attacks at Bush because he is the front runner.

[Skwmom]

16. There was a lot that Clark could have used to attack

Kerry and Edwards. He chose not to. Unfortunately, the Republicans aren't going to be that kind in November.

[kanrok]

4. My, how easily we are offended by John Edwards the "PI lawyer"!

What on earth is so offensive about this? He was making the (valid) point that it's now a 2-person race.

[Skwmom]

8. I think it is offensive:

Somebody like Kerry and myself (party insiders nobody else need apply) and the voters should have a choice. Wow what a choice.

[kanrok]

10. No, you're right to be offended

not.

[AP]

13. Blame the people who have told Edwards that. He was asked whether

he has been told to drop out. He said, no, people have been telling them that they think Edwards v Kerry is good for the Democrats.

[DjTj]

5. Edwards runs a positive campaign...

...so we won't end up with a bloodied up nominee in a Kerry-Edwards race.

[tishaLA]

7. The grammar is the most offensive part of it IMHO

I hate when people say "between 'X' and myself" when they should say "me".

OK. Going out of schoolmarm mode now.

[cheezus]

11. i used to get upset about grammar too, but

I took a linugistics course a couple semesters ago. Blew away my preconceptions about language. Speaking perfect "standard American English" makes you look smarter and of a high social class, but it's not inherently better than any dialect.

[spooky3]

21. at least he didn't say "between X and I"

That's my pet peeve! :-)

[SangamonTaylor]

12. He's referring to good competition

So many votes have yet to be cast that it's rediculous and undemocratic to 'call' the nomination this early. Plus, if Kerry can't take the gentle criticism of JRE, then he needs tougher skin. JRE is just saying that competition is healthy for the Democratic party 1) because it keeps dems on the news, and 2) because it will help the eventual nominee (whoever that should be) in the GE.

[ShaneGR]

14. Be honest, if Edwards said he didn't like Cheeseburgers....

you'd be offended. You don't like Edwards. That's fine.

[SangamonTaylor]

17. but i like Cheeseburgers.....

i'm so conflicted now inside!

Maybe I'll go 3rd party :)

[spooky3]

22. I'm offended by your liking cheeseburgers.

Just kidding! :-)

[Warren Stuart]

15. How is this offensive?

I see your comment "What what wrong with the other candidates?" and am still puzzeled, by the offense you have taken.


I think what Edwards was getting at, was that a close race would keep the interest level up. The longer this race goes on, the better it is for the Democrats.

[cspiguy]

18. Edwards has to explain why Kerry should not be the nominee

he only talks about himself but never makes the case that he should REPLACE Kerry as the presumptive nominee.

[AP]

19. Jobs. He cares about American jobs more than he cares about anything else.

The only way you make anything in this world if you have nothing is by selling your labor.

It's the only thing Edwards had growing up, and it's the only thing most Americans have. Edwards has showed that he has a better grasp of this fact than Kerry.

[PurityOfEssence]

20. What on earth is offensive about that?

Is there a problem with the concept of "someone like myself"? What are you reading into that?

Edwards is a strong candidate, and his message is in step with the values of the Democratic Party (economic fairness, plurality, etc.) as well as with a reasonable number of voters. Perhaps he's talking about "someone with a viable chance" when he's referring to himself and Kerry.

This is a good guy. It's monumentally tiresome to hear so many people combing through every word he says to try and find a morsel of negativity. If you want spitting negativity, just read a random campaign statement from Lieberman, Gephardt, Dean or Clark in his last few weeks.

He's a good guy.

He's also the very best candidate this party's had in 40 years, and a vast agglomeration of people just thirsts to make sure we don't have the very best standard bearer possible. It's baffling.

He really is that nice. He really does care. He really does have an incredibly liberal and responsibly voting record. He's the real thing, and he's got star power.