Edwards would 'seriously consider' VP offer

[book_worm]

CNN) – John Edwards said Tuesday that if he were asked to accept the vice presidential slot or a cabinet position in a potential Barack Obama administration, he would “seriously consider” whatever the Illinois senator asked him to do.

It has been widely reported that the former North Carolina senator is on Obama’s vice presidential shortlist. On Tuesday, NPR interviewer Guy Raz called the former Democratic presidential candidate’s presence on the list an “open secret,” and asked Edwards whether he’d weigh accepting a vice presidential offer, or might take himself out of consideration as Virginia Senator Jim Webb had done Monday.



http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/08/edwards-would-seriously-consider-vp-offer/

[saracat]

1. He is just being "polite" to the presumptive nominee.

[Colobo]

19. It would be nice to see Obama/Edwards, don't you think?

[Inspired]

31. I'm not holding my breath but it would be a great ticket.

Obama and Edwards have chemistry.

[saracat]

41. No. It would be a waste of Edwards. he should be AG.

[Clark2008]

2. No.no.no.no.no.no.

He's such a phony!!!

I won't vote for that ticket. No.

I won't vote for McCain, either.

Geesch. Phony

[uponit7771]

3. Edwards?!?!?! He was second most progressive candidate

[Clark2008]

12. Not according to his voting record.

His rhetoric, yes. His REAL record, absolutely not.

Phony.

[cascadiance]

23. Would you rather vote for someone with a bad record who DOESN'T talk about doing good things?

I'd rather take "the risk" on someone with more progressive agendas (and I don't think there's any PROOF that he's any more of a phony than just about any of the other major candidates), than look for someone that has a bad record and gives NO indication of wanting to do the progressive things we want. It's far more likely that you will be disappointed in the latter, unless you don't WANT progressive agenda to happen.

We really DON'T have an option for someone that you can prove is not a phony that has true progressive agenda that has a chance in hell of getting nominated as VP. Kucinich? Don't think that Obama will take him.

Edwards is our best shot, and you can't argue that he doesn't poll well either. He is polling better than the other "likelies".

I'm just trying to get my arms around whether Obama himself is going to be OK, after this FISA vote disaster today!

[Stop Cornyn]

24. Some folks get a hold of a meme and can't get it out of their heads notwithstanding contrary facts.

[anonymous171]

5. Oh come on! He's not a phony!

I supported Obama from the start, but I always respected Edwards. He knows his stuff and doesn't mind telling the people the truth.

[Clark2008]

13. Then why didn't he vote that way when he had a chance?

Sorry. Don't trust him as far as I could throw him. He does everything out of political expediency.

[Inspired]

7. You won't vote for that ticket? YOU are the phony then.

[Clark2008]

14. Absolutely not.

It's not phony to vote against a phony. I don't trust Edwards (and I have far more experience with him than most of you) and; therefore, could never vote for him. I had to get my son to push the button last time when Kerry picked his sorry ass. Won't do it again.

[Inspired]

15. I seriously doubt if you have had more experience with him than I have. Try again.

[politicasista]

25. LOL!

I wish Clark was VP. He wouldn't have allowed Darth Cheney to slide and he was an excellent surrogate/attack dog for Kerry in 04. I think he would have played by the campaign rules and not put out an internet myth on 11/2/04 and not saying anything about it since.

[PresidentObama]

33. If you wouldn't vote for the Democratic ticket, then you're an idiot.

[waiting for hope]

4. I heard that Interview ...

and toward the end, he was asked what he could do since he doesn't hold a public office anymore, Edwards responded very nicely and pointed out how effective Al Gore has been. With his Half in Ten initiative, I think he could be very effective.

[LittleClarkie]

6. Eh. Will he follow the directions of the campaign this time?

Or use the public stage to continue a quasi-campaign for the presidency as it is said he did during the Kerry campaign?

[Inspired]

8. Linky please to where and when he did this???

[LittleClarkie]

9. This is the article that gave me that impression

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/01/kerryedwards-ne.html

[Inspired]

16. Not really good enough of a source for me and it really didn't say anything too profound.

[karynnj]

22. Here's another one

Read Edwards own comment that he opted NOT to use the campaigns slogan. Remember that in 2004, the campaign was hit because there seemed to be inconsitency on what the slogan was.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/21/us/politics/21edwards.html?_r=1&scp=15&sq=Edwards%20Kerry%202008&st=cse&oref=slogin

(Note ONLY EDwards is quoted here, the Kerrys were in Africa where Kerry was on SFRC business.

[Inspired]

27. You are really hung up on a stupid slogan.

Yeah...this slogan shit, which I really had never even heard of before, cost Kerry the election. You are unbelievable.

[karynnj]

47. I have never said it cost or Edwards cost Kerry the election - ever

What I did say is that it backs what Little Charlie said. If what he did was reasonable then why do you care that it gets repeated. To me it is a red flag that he didn't get the role of VP - secondary to the Presidential nominee. That Edwards is the source of the quote and it was said in 2007 - he still did not get that to some it could look unsupportive of the guy who gave him the oppurtunity. Question: Do you think that a VP should be willing to use the team's slogan - where the slogan is picked by the President. (A slogan works through repetition and - if well done - tends to define the campaign (in a marketing sense).

You may not have heard it - but it was a criticism in 2004.

[PresidentObama]

35. A slogan? If this is the best you can do, stop trying.

I'm getting sick of people blaming everything that happened in 2004 on Edwards.

[Inspired]

38. They obviously didn't have their boots on the ground, Kerry2008.

Edwards worked his ass off. I saw it first hand and to say otherwise is to be ignorant of the facts.

[PresidentObama]

44. I love John Kerry...but he gets blame for a lot of our mistakes in 04'

And planned on supporting him in 2008, but he didn't run...BUT...

He made mistakes in 2004. And instead of embracing that fact and learning from it, some of his fellow supporters want to point fingers. Blame the Clintons. Blame Edwards. Blame McAulifee solely (it was partly his fault, but still...)

It was John Kerry's campaign. As his campaign fumbled and made mistakes, he had the final say. Senator Kerry is one of the greatest politicians in our party history, and SHOULD be President. But I believe some are blind to the fact HE made mistakes as well, and want to pretend he's perfect. He's great, and an idol of mine--however he is NOT perfect!!

[karynnj]

49. I have not seen a single Kerry supporter who doesn't

admit that Kerry made some mistakes - but everyone on your list did too. Kerry, himself has spoken both of things he thought were mistakes and also things he is proud of. I dod not think he is perfect, no one is. I incidentally have never heard Edwards or McAuliffe accept ANY blame - both have though spoken at length of Kerry's faults. The same goes with Bill Clinton - who started his negative critiques of the campaign early in the general election - even from a hospital bed! (he did the same to Gore).

My post DID not blame Edwards for tha loss - it DID say that he was not the ideal team player - he isn't.

I answered a question - and I suspect that the reason it caused a problem is because many here likely agree that Edwards, who was lucky to be on the ticket, should have used Kerry's slogan. It is also interesting that my narrow, provable example - with link- is more attacked than Little Charlie's broader assertion. That likely says something.

[PresidentObama]

53. This may sounds controversial, but Edwards has very little blame, if any, for 2004 and the mistakes.

At the end of the day, it was Kerry's campaign.

I respect and admire John Kerry, and share a lot of loyalty towards him. I regret that he let his campaign make a lot of mistakes like it did, and I'm happy he's accepted a lot of the responsibility. I fail to see how his VP nominee should get much blame for the loss, Edwards did his job. He towed the party line, and yes he had some disagreements--like a STUPID slogan--but at the end of the day, the mistakes weren't his to make. It was the Kerry campaign.

And it's unfortunate. I wish we had President Kerry, and it's tragic he didn't run again in 2008!

I'm proud of Senator Edwards for his efforts in 2008, and I'm proud I got to support his candidacy in 2008 when Kerry said he wouldn't run. You can point fingers all you want, Edwards isn't the one to blame.

[karynnj]

54. As I said I didn't point fingers

and just as Kerry wasn't perfect, neither was Edwards.

[PresidentObama]

58. No he wasn't. But it wasn't his campaign, and he didn't make the final call.

He did his job, and did it well.

And if a quote about a slogan is the best you got, quit trying.

[karynnj]

48. Did anyone say he didn't - Kerry did as well.

[politicasista]

52. Nah, people never give Kerry credit for that either

Nah, he lacked energy and stole Iowa. :sarcasm:

[karynnj]

56. Yep - with Diebold machines - he stole Iowa!

Here's some Iowa footage from all the candidates - Kerry's at the end and it is good to watch this again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1KTHmM2mzk&NR=1

[politicasista]

57. LOL!

Thanks for the link. :hi:

[PresidentObama]

34. What a sleazy lie.

[Maddy McCall]

72. Believe it or not...

There are still people in GDP who are fighting the 2004 primary wars.

:rofl:

[LittleClarkie]

75. Resurrecting the thread to comment, but whatchagonna do.

First of all, I wasn't here for the 2004 primaries.

If I had been, I'd have been a Clarkie, not a Kerrycrat. I didn't warm up to Kerry til after. Waaay after.

Second, I always thought that Kerry and Edwards were pretty close. I loved Edwards speech in the Senate on his way out praising Kerry as a great American. He sounded sincere. I loved the stories I'd heard that the two families still socialized, and that Edwards kids sometimes went over to the Kerry household.

So I felt like a damned fool when I started to hear that perhaps this rosy picture had been an illusion. There were bits in Elizabeth Edwards book putting down the Kerrys as being elitist. I remember reading something about how Edwards won't take Kerry's calls, even when Kerry called to say how sorry he was to hear about Elizabeth's reoccurring cancer. There were those here who thought it was rotten that Kerry didn't endorse Edwards over Obama. But how do you endorse someone when you can't even get them to take your calls?

Then there was this article

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/01/kerryedwards-ne.html

I'd always thought that Kerry and Edwards worked as a pretty good team back in 2004. Thats how they were portrayed at the time. Silly me, it was my first campaign, and I swallowed the illusion that was presented. I'm not even concerned with whether or not their relationship with each other in 2004 was a contributing factor in their loss. I'm not finger pointing. I just liked the story that they'd been friends.

I wanted this stuff not to be true. And that has nothing to do with any damned primary. But now I'm kinda pissed at Edwards, because it sounds like he never accepted his role as vice-presidential candidate, and never stopped running for president, and turned out not to be the man I thought he was. I wish he'd have never run for president this time, because I used to like both him and Elizabeth quite a bit. When I was trying to decide between Obama and Edwards and Biden, hearing all this stuff was a major strike against going with Edwards, despite having heard some good things about him from someone who's brother knew him.

And the only reason any of this is relavant THIS time is whether or not he's gotten over that tendancy. If he hasn't learned to work as a teammate in a campaign where he is the second banana, then he'd make a lousy choice of vice president for Obama.

That was the bottom line.

Sorry for the resurrection, but I wanted to set the record straight. I am decidedly not still fighting the primary of 2004. I didn't even fight that fight back then. I couldn't have. I was still a sheeple then, and didn't wake up fully til a bit after the primaries were over.

[LowerManhattanite]

10. I very much like both Clark and Edwards for Veep...

But it would be worth more than a few bucks to see the “Tiger Beat” pin-up griefers heads explode were JE to accept the oh-so-unworthy #2 slot. LOL!

[lukasahero]

11. Oh please no

Not again. Please no.

[high density]

17. Open secret? LOL

The pompous media never fails to amaze me. They made up their own list. They don't know who is and isn't on Obama's list. Given Obama that already has most/all of the strengths that Edwards possesses, I find it hard to believe he was ever on any short list of VPs.

[liskddksil]

18. This would help liberalize the Obama campaign

While I think he would also be great as AG there are many positives for picking Sen. Edwards. One is that he because ran during the primary with the most liberal policy proposals other than Kucinich, he might be able to bring Obama back to the left. Edwards knows that the DLC is not to be trusted, because of the bad advice he received from them on the Iraq bill, which he now regrets. I believe Edwards would try to prevent Obama from tacking any more to the right than he already has with the FISA fiasco of today. On the healthcare issue, his influence might help gain support for the Edward's plan, which offers the choice between private and public plans, which could lead to single payer overtime if the American people choose it. Picking Edwards could help bring back in some of the people that might have become disillusioned with the campaign in the past few weeks. In addition, as wth Gov. Schweitzer, the pick can help with rural and blue collar voters in the west, south and midwest.

[vanboggie]

20. Edwards is the only candidate who would make me want to vote

The voting process is a sham anyway, but at least I'd feel better about going through the motions. Without a progressive like JRE on the ticket, this is the most disappointing and unexciting election in my long lifetime.

Yes, I'll vote for Obama anyway, but I will vote absentee and won't be working for his election. The man voted for FISA for godssakes.

[Inspired]

29. It's nice to see someone gets it. Thanks vanboggie.

[vanboggie]

60. Misery loves company

There are many of us who get it. I'm talking the in-the-trenches people who have been working to get Dems elected for years. My enthusiasm for our system of government shut down the day Edwards was forced out. He was getting my donations till then. I think I'll go over to the ACLU site and spend the rest of my election cycle dollars there.

[jobycom]

21. "Seriously consider?" Like, does anyone believe he's not trying to bribe or blackmail Obama

to put him on the ticket?

Lucky for us and the world, Edwards doesn't do anything for Obama. His gung-ho support of the war back in 03 and early 04 made Zell Miller and Joe Lieberman look liberal, and his lack of any serious experience compounds Obama's biggest weakness. And he couldn't even carry his home state in the last election, so any arguments that he makes Obama strong in the South are weak.

If Obama chooses him, it will be a clear sign that he has pictures.

[Inspired]

28. I hope you are joking.

If not, you are living on a different planet than I am.

[jobycom]

32. There was a humorous intent on the last line, but no, I was dead serious.

Edwards on the ticket would be the one thing that could make me stay home, and you don't know me enough to know how extreme that is.

Not sure what planet you are from, but welcome to Earth. Give it a shot--it's not always pleasant, but it's real.

[Inspired]

36. Edwards on the ticket would make you stay home?

I don't expect to see Edwards on the ticket. However, for any Democrat to say they would stay home IF he was on the ticket is bizarre. That's not the world I live in, whatever you call it.

[jobycom]

37. Learn to read, or don't post.

I said "could," not "would." There was no ambiguity.

And there's a point where a "Democratic" ticket would cease to be one. Putting Edwards on a ticket with Obama would be really, really close to that point.

[Inspired]

39. Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

Your last sentence in this post was also bizarre.

[jobycom]

46. You seem to think that whatever you think you are saying is obvious.

All I can guess is that you like Edwards for some reason, but you've posted three times to insult me and imply that I'm wrong about something involving Edwards without telling me what. What is your disagreement? Since you can't disagree with facts, I assume it's not that Edwards was more gung-ho than Miller or Lieberman. Did his change of heart after polls showed him falling in 04 because of his war view convince you he's a liberal? Or is the story of how he tried to manipulate John Kerry when he said "I've never told anyone this before" and then told him a story about his dead son that he had told John Kerry before? Or was it the way he turned on Clinton and accused her of his sin--a sin she never committed?

Speak if you have something to say.

[Az_lefty]

26. he would make a great AG...can't imagine him running as VP again.

not that he wouldn't be great at it, it's just he's already been down that road.

[DevonRex]

30. I'm glad he would consider it. Shows that he wants what is best

for the country, being willing to do something that he might not really want to.

[tritsofme]

40. Luckily you cannot consider an offer that will never be extended.

Obama isn't stupid enough to put that man on the ticket.

[Divine Discontent]

42. it's easy to diss what is most likely not going to happen

I, for one, would be thrilled to see him the VP choice, although I'd prefer Clark. Mr. Edwards is very well liked in Ohio, and would certainly be able to go and speak on Mr. Obama's behalf and gain him votes from DEMS in Midwest states that might otherwise go to McSame. Clark would have a similar effect, albeit, I think for different reasons (military experience).

[tritsofme]

43. Those states that might otherwise go GOP went GOP in 2004.

With Edwards on the ticket.

If him being out campaigning for Obama helps the ticket(not that I agree it does), then I don't care.

I just don't trust Edwards near any level of governmental power.

[Divine Discontent]

70. is it the bilderberg thing?

anyhow, I met him in FL, and he spent an awful lot of time talking to people who only gave him 15 bucks. He had a genuine interest in our comments to him. I like him. I realize the past issues with him, I'm not negating them, I just think it's possible for people to change and see the light.

[tritsofme]

74. My opinion of him has worsened over time.

I could deal with Edwards c2003.

But I just can't stand Edwards 2.0, and he has really annoyed me more than any other Democratic politician since the end of 2004.

[PresidentObama]

45. Great the Kerry/VP speculation smearing is over. So let's start on the Edwards/VP speculation smears

Act like a Democrat, will ya!

[tritsofme]

63. I've always vocally advocated against Edwards.

Being in any position of public trust.

Anyone else is more than welcome to join me.

[PresidentObama]

66. I, and many others, trust Edwards. If you don't, that's fine.

Stop smearing Democrats on a Democratic board, and keep your Right Wing feelings to yourself.

[tritsofme]

69. Disliking Edwards = right wing? I don't think so.

Mr. Edwards has given me, and many other Democrats many reasons to dislike him over the years.

[barack the house]

50. He is as good a choice as any and would balance the ticket well.

[tritsofme]

67. Balance in what way? Two young one term senators without much foreign policy

credentials?

Edwards' weaknesses mirror Obama's, and he adds no strength to the ticket.

[barack the house]

51. He is as good a choice as any and would balance the ticket well.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

55. Edwards is one of the good guys, but after his lukewarm fighting spirit of '04, I'll pass..

AG is where he would shine I think.

[Faygo Kid]

62. Yeah, he was a lap dog then. I love John (metaphorically), but that was awful.

He better grow a spine as VP nominee, because he was a great presidential candidate, but a lousy "got your back" guy.

Kerry should have gone with his first choice, Gephardt. Couldn't have done worse.

[Awsi Dooger]

59. Notice the immediate swarm of Clark supporters ripping Edwards in this thread

Sheesh. It's like raw meat. You wonder if they live for anything else.

Now, multiply by a billion and you approximate what DU was like in '04, during the primaries and leading to the VP choice and its aftermath.

Naturally Edwards would consider it. He knows damn well he can't earn the nomination on his own, after two failures. The only potential path to the White House is 8 years as Obama's VP during a successful presidency. By that point states like Virginia and Colorado and Nevada should have moved demographically in our direction.

Edwards is unfairly ripped for '04. A VP is mostly useless other than impact in his home state. And Cheney is hell to debate, regardless of what he's like as a human and politician. We don't have anyone who could make Cheney look bad in that setting.

Edwards was precisely worth the typical 3-3.5 points in North Carolina, based on partisan index relationship from '00 to '04. But that was irrelevant in a GOP-leaning national scope of '04. In '08 Edwards probably wouldn't be worth quite that much in his home state, a blase attitude after North Carolina was represented on the ticket in '04. But since this is a Democratic year and the state figures to be about 5 points closer than '04, everything else being equal, Edwards could make North Carolina interesting. But likely a close defeat.

But really, with Webb and Strickland gone, and apparently Warner and Kaine, we don't have anyone to sway a major state from the VP slot, unless Bob Graham is summoned at advanced age.

[Divine Discontent]

71. always been that way

I am a big fan of BOTH, unfortunately, MOST Clark supporters have mocked John horribly in the past 4 years.

[ecstatic]

61. Strikes me as odd... but

I'm just going to :) and keep my mouth shut.

[Egnever]

64. Wow thats John for ya

Always behind the curve. Except when it comes to poverty issues I suppose.

[theliberalking]

65. Polls suggest that Edwards is the strongest VP candidate

He helps Obama beat Republicans by a larger margin than others.

[PresidentObama]

68. Exactly. You hit the nail on the head. While that certainly doesn't mean he SHOULD be the VP....

...it's a strong talking point in his favor!

[Divine Discontent]

73. thank you, and I stated above - in the Midwest states - John will be a plus

some don't wanna hear that, but it's true AND after having went through a GE, he knows now what he did wrong, and would be a very articulate defender of Obama - I noticed a HUGE difference in seeing him FIRST HAND at a rally about how forceful and knowledgeable he seemed and FOCUSED he was this time. In '04 I wanted Clark, I got Kerry, but supported him, he's a nice guy, Edwards was pretty good but definitely was lacking in '04, now, I find him properly aware of how things go, and he is on top of the issues and PROVED it in the debates.

Thanks for the info...