My Close Encounter with John Edwards - Democratic Underground

helderheid

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Mon Jun-04-07 10:24 AM
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My Close Encounter with John Edwards

Edited on Mon Jun-04-07 10:24 AM by helderheid

By Laura Bonham
June 2, 2007, Salt Lake City, UT

It was with great surprise that I opened an email inviting me to a fundraiser for John Edwards in Salt Lake City. The surprise was not that there was a fundraiser, but that John Edwards would be there. This was an opportunity I couldn’t miss.

I’m fascinated by this candidate. There are two things about him that really appeal to my progressive heart – two BIG things. First, I tire of hearing that no one knows what the Democratic Party stands for. John Edwards is doing more for the Democratic Party on that front than any other candidate by talking about poverty. This issue defines Democrats like no other. We are the party of the workaday man, those who require a leg up, of small business owners, of a strong and stable middle class.

Secondly, he is walking the walk. Like PDA he is organizing in communities, trying to get folks volunteering, engaged in local politics, coming together to seek solutions. The man himself is organizing at the grass roots. I’m a grass roots organizer and this really speaks to me. And, it’s what needs to be done to save our Democracy from corporate fascists.

His plane arrived late, so the 90 minute event got cut to an hour. I had only a moment with him. I passed him my business card (and got the PDA war palm card to one of his staff people). I used my thirty seconds to introduce myself as PDA and asked if he had heard of us. He responded yes. I told him we had our eye on him, and were with him on the war, global warming, and poverty, to please check out our web site. He said he would. He put his arm around my shoulder, we smiled for the camera and he was on to the next person.

Edwards worked the room for about thirty minutes, then took the stage. He sizzled. He is definitely running on the left, maybe not quite so far as we would have him, but there's no doubt he's courting the progressive vote.

He started with some humor - "This is a great country, the only country where a person can rise up from being the son of a mill worker to buying $400 haircuts!" He expounded on limousine liberals and just plain old rich fat cats who do nothing to correct injustice. He segued to poverty issues, healthcare, the war - saying if the war is still raging, “on the first day of my presidency I will begin the withdrawal of American troops.” He talked about a kinder, gentler foreign policy and connected the dots very nicely between the issues, adding that “it's all related - there is no foreign and domestic policy, there is only one policy and that is humanity.”

He talked for thirty minutes and then, whoosh, he was gone.

I’ve suffered through many moderate or downright conservative speeches by visiting Democratic dignitaries to Utah. It was so refreshing to hear a powerful and engaging voice speaking from the left for a change. Apparently the audience of about 200 felt the same way.

It’s still very early in the race, but progressives would do well to pay attention to Edwards. He’s with us on a number of issues, is organizing the PDA way, and he’s got what it takes to win.

Please visit this article, http://blog.pdamerica.org/?p=951">"Who Will Progressives Back?" on our blog and post your comments about this or other 2008 presidential candidates.

http://pdamerica.org/articles/news/2007-06-02-20-55-06-news.php