Idiot Box TOON on Edwards dropping out says it all

[n2doc]

[TexasObserver]

1. good one

thanks

[Hart2008]

2. RFK said "It's on to Chicago! Let's win there!" John Edwards: "I quit."

Jerry Brown fought all the way to the convention.

:thumbsup:
:applause:

RFK said "It's on to Chicago! Let's win there!"

:patriot:
:cry:

John Edwards just quit after only two real primaries where delegates were awarded.

:thumbsdown: :puke:

To say that ending poverty and corporate control in the U.S. was his goal and that he would fight all the way to the convention, and then to leave so early is really lame.

People who donated money based upon these promises, should sue the Edwards campaign for breach of contract.

I'll put on my asbestos flame suit now, but all you Edwards supporters have been had.

:hangover:

[AP]

3. He said that McCain is going to get the nomination, and that staying in would be distraction for the

Democratic party that would make it harder for the Democrats to beat the Republicans in the fall.

[Hart2008]

4. He promised to fight until the convention. He took people's money, and then quit.

There were only 4 contests with delegates awarded.

Will he give the money back that his campaign took from people now?

It amazes me that people like you are so forgiving when your guy gets caught lying to his supporters.

He never intended to stay and fight all the way to the convention.

He stayed in long enough to knock Dennis out, and then folded shop as fast as possible.

Face it, you were had.

Edwards was nothing more than a Judas goat, leading you lambs to the slaughter.

[SammyWinstonJack]

5. ....

:boring:

[AP]

6. I think he doesn't want a Republican president in 2009. Pretty awful of him, eh?

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. I think the poster just wants to offer false pity and knock Edwards and his supporters.

Plenty of that on DU. Secretly probably glad Edwards did drop out. :evilgrin:

[Hart2008]

9. No, I'm not glad Edwards dropped out. Edwards rhetoric was great, but never matched by his deeds.

Edwards did the best job of sounding like a traditional Democrat.

His Senate record, didn't match his campaign promises.

Edwards talked a good game...

but talk is cheap and deeds are precious.

In the end, we judge people based on their actions and deeds, not their rhetoric.

[Hart2008]

8. Yes, so then let him give the money back then.

He said donate to me and I will fight until the convention.

After only 4 of 48 recognized state contests with primaries, he quit. (exluding DC, territories and Dem's Abroad.)

It is a simple breach of contract.

If he wasn't going to stand and fight, he shouldn't have said he would.

He shouldn't keep that money.

He need to return it so that those people can decide to whom they want to donate.

Or don't you think the people who were conned out of their money should have the right to decide and exercise their own judgment as to what is best for their party?

????????????

Edwards promised to empower people, but just took their money and ran.

:yoiks:

[Darth_Kitten]

10. Maybe the DLC should give their money back..........

n/t

[Hart2008]

11. I am in favor of that too, but it has no relevance to my post. n/t

[AP]

12. Comments like these border on cliche.

You should read this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4346936&mesg_id=4346936

[Hart2008]

13. You poor child of the darkness! You don't expect your candidate to do what he promises?

You rightfully demand that Bush be held accountable for lying, but refuse to demand the same of your own candidate.

'Tis a pity really.

I know a candidate who did give back campaign contributions when he decided not to run.

Keeping that money is wrong, but Trippi made himself some nice commissions from collecting it all.

Very pathetic.

[AP]

16. Right-o.

[never_get_over_it]

14. PLEASE

I am not happy with John Edwards getting out and actually I wouldn't mind getting my money back because the last two contributions I made BECAUSE he said he would stay in to the convention although I thought he would probably get out after super Tuesday - and I am angry he didn't wait one more week

BUT to say he knocked Dennis out is RIDICULOUS - Dennis was my first choice since 2004 he is the ONLY DEM who actually voted against IWR which brought me to him and then found out I agree with him about 100% of the time - John Edwards did not knock Dennis out the M$M did and once they were through with Dennis they moved on to John Edwards

Face it M$M as in 2004 will pick our nominee....and we will lose once again in November....

[Hart2008]

17. The point is that he stayed in just long enough to box Dennis out.

As a Hart supporter, I know all about the MSM and their tactics...

If Edwards had said he would drop out before Super Tuesday, would you have sent him money?

I think not.

Without Edwards, we might have a real alternative to the current duo.

He shouldn't have promised to fill this role if he didn't intend to back up his words with action.

[Inspired]

22. You crack me up! You blame Edwards for Dennis not winning!

Dennis had a zero chance of ever being president. Talk about a waste of money. There wasn't one single Democratic candidate who would have lost to Dennis in a one-on-one contest. Except Gravel.

Pout much?

[Hart2008]

32. I never said Dennis could win, but people unhappy with the top two now have no voice.

The convention is the highest organ of the party.

The only practical way to select delegates to the convention is if they are pledged to Presidential candidate.

With a candidate winning 15% of the vote, these people had a vehicle to select delegates to the convention.

Now they don't, except for Gravel, who isn't on many states ballots.

Some people want to have convention that is more than a superdelegate led coronation, which is now what it will be.

[never_get_over_it]

25. I agree with you about Edwards

but I wouldn't have been that upset if he had gotten out after super Tuesday - that at least would have made sense - getting out this Wednesday makes no sense to me - and I hate it when things don't make sense...however I do not agree with you about Edwards impact on Dennis - and Dennis had to get out to go concentrate on his House seat....

[Eric J in MN]

33. Dennis Kucinich left the presidential race to concentrate....

...on the Congressional primary for his seat.

[Inspired]

18. John Edwards suspended his campain and it was one of the most UNSELFISH

moves by a politician that I've seen in a long, long time.

[SammyWinstonJack]

21. Thank you!

:thumbsup:

[never_get_over_it]

26. STOP IT

that is ridiculous - there is something going on behind the scenes - unless there is something going on with Elizabeth's health - but since he went to the basketball game the night of the debate I doubt it is Elizabeth's health

getting out this week was ridiculous grossly unfair to his supporters and contributors and I for one unless it becomes very clear to me WHY he did it will NEVER support him again - he is a liar like the rest of them....

[Inspired]

28. Of course there was something going on behind the scenes!

DUH!!!!!

He took one in the gut for the party. That is why he got out. This election was never about HIM. It was about US. The decision to stop was made after McCain won Florida because it became evident that we have to try to be a united party in order to beat McCain. That means NO brokered convention. He got out when both Obama and Clinton promised to carry on his message about poverty. THAT is what his campaign was about. The message. Whoever follows through with it the best, will win his support and mine.

I am one of those supporters and contributors. Don't worry about how this was unfair to me. If he asked me to give a little more right now, I would. And I am so glad he went to a basketball game the night of the debate. He deserves it for what he had just done for the Democratic party and our country.

Now, YOU stop being ridiculous. Of course there is more to this story and there was a lot going on behind the scenes. So what?

[SammyWinstonJack]

30. Thank you for this explanation Inspired.

[never_get_over_it]

34. Oh goodie he took one for the party

and left the progressive in the party in the dust - he could have gotten out next week and had virtually the same friggin impact and maybe kept Obama and Clinton leaning a little more to the left for a little longer. If he had stayed in and THEN dropped out NEXT Wednesday his statement I'm in until the convention would have looked more believable to at least this supporter - because he could have honestly explained to us WHY he was getting out because he didn't do well on Super Tuesday It was not a huge surprise that McCain won Florida and Edwards did not give us a real reason why he left.

I responded to a post that said it was one of the most unselfish things ever and I'm telling you if they cut some kind of deal behind the scenes which of course they most likely did - it is hardly unselfish - which is what I was referring to when I said STOP IT - you can call you what you want but it was hardly unselfish.

And I'm VERY glad he went to the basketball game - for two reasons one I hope he friggin enjoyed himself but more importantly I was VERY worried that he might have dropped out because something had gone very wrong with Elizabeth's health and now because he went to the basketball game I'm not quite as worried about that - I LOVE HER and want her to stay well and strong for a LONG LONG TIME.

[SammyWinstonJack]

29. A liar?

:eyes: I continue to only support him, I'll vote for him in the primary.

[never_get_over_it]

37. And you know what

I'm glad you are going to vote for him in the primary. Edwards has always been my second choice - and I do believe he lied to us - maybe he didn't mean to - and so maybe he isn't a liar - I'm just pretty pissed he got out before Super Tuesday - I most likely will get over it - but I am also pissed because if I knew he was going to get out on Wednesday BEFORE super Tuesday I would have voted my heart and voted for Dennis....

[Hart2008]

39. My point exactly. n/t

[never_get_over_it]

40. I don't think it was your point exactly

your point was that John Edwards forced Dennis out and I don't think it was him - it was the M$M and all the people who loved Dennis buying into what they were told over and over and over again NOT by John Edwards but by the media that Kucinich couldn't win so they went for electability and went to their second choice - I just don't think you can blame Edwards for that because if it hadn't been Edwards the Kucinich supporters bailed for it would have been someone else

It was the M$M who marginalized Dennis in 2004 AND 2008 and once they were done with him they marginalized John Edwards

and by the time I voted Dennis had already called it quits....but if Edwards and Kucinich were both out of the race I would have voted for Dennis - because there was no way I'd have voted for either Clinton or Obama...

[Hart2008]

41. Many Kucinich supporters voted for Edwards on the electability issue.

There was room in this race for one anti-establishment candidate.

Edwards made sure it wasn't Dennis.

[never_get_over_it]

47. You think John Edwards ran to keep Dennis out

please snap out of it....I LOVE DENNIS but your argument is kooky.....

[Hart2008]

51. He competed to be the champion of economic justice and traditional Dem's...

and after securing that support and taking the air out of other candidacies, he left these supporters without a voice in this process.

[lisainmilo]

48. We agree about one thing...

We are lambs being led to slaughter..but not by Edwards!

[THUNDER HANDS]

15. that fundraising drive was to pay off his debts

he probably knew after he lost Iowa he was done.

[Hart2008]

19. So then you are saying that he lied when he promised to fight all the way to the convention? n/t

[THUNDER HANDS]

20. i never believed it

but he couldn't say anything else, unless he wanted to pay off all the debt using his own money.

[never_get_over_it]

27. Oh that really helps his cause

so he solicited money saying he would use it to go on all the way to the convention but was really did it to pay off past debts - then he defrauded people like me and I think I will just contact the campaign and tell them I want my money back....

[Gloria]

24. No, the counry was had by the media...a direct cause of his getting out

[Hart2008]

36. The country has been had by the media for the past 25 years. That's not the point.

There were enough people voting for him that he was receiving delegates and was in a position to change the party at the convention. That is what he promised to do.

He sold those people out.

For what?

A promise to be AG?

Time will tell.

[SammyWinstonJack]

53. Exactly right!

[saltpoint]

31. Cheap shot.

[Hart2008]

35. He lasted 2 real primaries, 2 caucuses and two beauty pageants. Now that is cheap!

Let me tell you that I love Edwards's rhetoric.

It is where I believe the party should be and for what it should stand.

I just wish there was more fight behind the words.

And Trippi shouldn't have been taking all that money when was Edwards ready to get out.

Trippi did this stuff before with the Dean campaign. Trippi had to give some of his fees back.

This isn't a cheap shot.

[saltpoint]

50. I just added it up again. Cheap shot.

[Hart2008]

55. I think a man should do what he promises. You think that is cheap shot.

Here's the record from the Edwards' campaign emails:

That's why this campaign moves on to February 5 and "Super Tuesday" when millions of Americans will cast their vote and help shape the future of the Democratic Party and, most importantly, help shape the future of America.

Thank you for standing with me as, together, we take this campaign to the Democratic Convention, to the nomination -- and then to the White House.

Your support as we move forward means that the voices of millions of voiceless Americans will be heard.

Sincerely,

John Edwards
January 27, 2008

Dear Friend,

Last Friday, I challenged you to help us raise $360,000 by January 31.

Here's the good news: thousands of you responded and now, with 48 hours to go, we're just $73,000 from raising more money for this campaign in one month than in any previous three month period.

That's right -- we're that close to setting this fundraising record for the campaign. Will you help us get there?

Click here to help us raise $73,000

Raising this money gives us the opportunity to expand our efforts in the next round of key states that will vote or caucus on February 5. It allows us to buy time to broadcast spots, purchase newspaper advertisements, organize public events with John Edwards and expand our phone bank calls.

That's why we appreciate so much your response to the challenge so far -- and why I'm asking you to help us raise the $73,000 that will put us over the top.

Click here to help us raise $73,000

This is still a three-person race for the Democratic nomination. We have identified the key February 5 states where we know John Edwards will have a strong showing -- and where we are going to win delegates.

Over the next 7 days, John is crisscrossing the country, taking his message of bold change into these key states. This is the message he has said he intends to carry all the way to the Democratic Convention, the nomination -- and then on to the White House.

Your continuing support means a great deal to John and to this campaign.

I know you can help us set a new campaign record between now and January 31 -- and your contribution today will make a difference for us as we head toward the important contests on February 5.

Thank you for all you do.

--Joe Trippi
Senior Advisor, John Edwards for President
January 29, 2008

Dear Friend,

Let me start by saying, "Thank you." You have stood with Elizabeth and me throughout this campaign. Your support has sustained us as we have traveled across this country.

Earlier today, I suspended my campaign for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. I made this announcement from where our journey began just over 12 months ago: New Orleans.

....


Thank you.

John Edwards
January 30, 2008

The record here is that one day before the campaign was suspended, Trippi was shaking down supporters for donations.

That is wrong, and Trippi has done this before!

This from a former Deanic and Edwards donoer:

I noticed Edwards raised funds until the last minute. Probably Trippi's doing. He pulled financial shenanigans with Dean in '04, personally benefiting obscenely from Dean's insurgency. I submitted an op-ed to the LA Times (Demanding that Trippi return the monery) and within a day or so he announced he was rebating some of his fees.

[calmblueocean]

38. yes yes yes. Edwards quit a week after promising he was "in it for the long haul"!

I always had problems with the disconnect between Edwards fine words and his deeds, but that was disgraceful.

[V4Edwards]

46. Please see my response #43

Jerry Brown's opponents were not historical choices - they were white men.

RFK's opponents were not historical choices - they were white men.

Read my response #43 very carefully. I hope you will then understand.

[Gloria]

23. Elizabeth knew the score....how effective can you be later on

if you are ignored and demeaned by the media??? He got out with her input...she was very upset by the media, previously saying she wanted to "tear her hair out" by the crap they were doing....I don't know how she didn't clobber Matthews when he was patronizing her that last time..

Edwards lives to fight another day...not politically, maybe...but if he ever decides to head any organization that could really do something...he had to go out with some dignity, on his own terms, not futher destroyed by the media...They all shed crocodile tears for him on MSNBC, in hushed and reverent tones--which was actually an improvement over being ignored or left out of polls or or dismissed.

GET IT???

[V4Edwards]

43. Everyone, please do not hate John. The explanation is simple . . .

John Edwards meant every word of it when he said he would fight through to the convention. He did not lie to any of us. It was just that after the results from South Carolina came in it all became crystal clear. Yes, I'm sure there was extreme pressure from the Democratic Party for him to quit - but that alone would not make him do it. He did intend to fight to the end.

Remember John grew up during the racially explosive 60's and early 70's. He has seen the ugly face of racism up close and personal - probably in a way that someone who is not from the south cannot understand. And let's be clear - John Edwards does not have a racist bone in his body.

The demographics out of South Carolina were truly shocking. Obama got the African American vote - okay so that was expected. Clinton got the women's vote - expected also. The shocker was this - and it could not show up in states like Iowa and New Hampshire - John Edwards got only 1% (or was it closer to 0%) of the black vote. And this is his birth state. He spent more advertising money here than anywhere else. And this is the group that his policies help the most by far. How crushing was that for him?

And so the analysis in his mind begins. Who are the people who are voting for him? Most of them enthusiastically support his candidacy and know his policies, but there may be a very small minority who are voting for him because he is the "white male choice". This is exactly what John does not want. He wants people to vote for him based on his merits not based on the color of his skin and/or his gender. He realizes that he does not want to be in the race on Super Tuesday in 20+ states and be the choice of last resort for racial and misogynist bigots - not when he is not likely to receive more than 20% of the vote in any of the states. He realizes that sometimes a historic symbolic choice between a black male and a white woman - may be something that we just have to see how it plays out. He does not want to amass more delegates after Super Tuesday and then have to play the divisive role of "kingmaker" and perhaps alter a historical course. He knows he has to step aside to let the healing begin. This was quite simply the most unselfish and statesman-like thing he could do. There are some times when it is more courageous not to fight, and this was one of those times. John Edwards put aside his own personal ambitions for the good of the country that he loves. He deserves our respect.

[V4Edwards]

44. I was responding to reply #22 not reply #23

Just wanted to clear that up. Sorry #23!

[V4Edwards]

45. ok one more time - I was responding to #38!

I hope you will rethink that "disgraceful" comment

[Hart2008]

52. You mean "He does not want to amass more delegates ON Super Tuesday!

Before we can change the country on the issues of poverty and the two Americas, we must first change the priorities of this party. The way to create that change requires having delegates to the national convention. Delegates= more power to the cause. The reality is that by allowing this to become a two person race, the role of "king/queen maker" will assuredly be played by the approx. 800 superdelegates to the convention, and not the elected delegates. Without a group of reform minded delegates, the superdelegates can now safely continue the status quo corporatocracy, and the historical course of reform is altered.

The historic choice was between two Americas: one an America of social justice, and the other an America of corporations, where we are set against each other by race, gender, sexual orientation, or anything else that allows the oligarchs to divide and conquer us. While talking about creating the former, Edwards surrendered to the latter.

There may well also be a small percentage of women voters who hate men who vote for Hillary and blacks who vote for Obama who hate whites. No one has asked them to leave the race because of that, nor should they. To say that John Edwards had to leave the race because he is a white man is offensive to the great dream of Martin Luther King, Jr., i.e., that we judge people not on the color of their skin, but upon the content of their character.

It is always easy to be selfless with other peoples money, but the people who paid for a candidate who promised to fight all the way to the convention were cheated.

[SammyWinstonJack]

54. I don't hate John. Not at all, nor do I think he lied too us. .

I respect him. I think he got a bum deal and that pisses me off.

[n2doc]

42. One more toon from TOLES

[alfredo]

49. I haven't heard the cries of class warfare. It only happens when

we fight back.