Edwards goes down swinging

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_3473

By Michael Kuchta
30 January 2008
ST. PAUL - In what turned out to be the final rally of his 2008 presidential campaign, John Edwards urged Minnesota voters Tuesday night to take their country back from the "monied, entrenched interests in Washington that are literally stealing your democracy."
"We know what needs to be done, we just have to do it," Edwards told an overflow crowd of more than 1,000 packed shoulder-to-shoulder into the Carpenters Union hall in St. Paul. "Enough is enough."

About 16 hours later, Edwards officially dropped out of presidential contention with a farewell speech in New Orleans.

In both appearances, Edwards continued to provide both goals and challenges to his supporters. "Do not turn away from these great struggles before us," he said Wednesday. "Do not give up on the causes that we have fought for. Do not walk away from what's possible, because it's time for all of us, all of us together, to make the two Americas one."


ohn Edwards delivered a populist message at the packed Carpenters hall Tuesday night.

Photo by Michael Kuchta

And justice for all?
In his St. Paul visit Tuesday, Edwards was not afraid to invoke the legacy of Paul Wellstone and to continue to give voice to the disparities in American society. He contrasted ExxonMobil's $40 billion profit with the facts that 37 million Americans go hungry every day and 200,000 military veterans are homeless every night.

He contrasted the head of a health-care company making $200 million a year while 47 million Americans can't afford or can't obtain health insurance, and a "screwed-up tax system" in which the nation's richest CEOs pay lower tax rates than the secretaries who work for them.

FULL story at link.