Former Aide Takes Shots at Edwards (says he was not comfortable around gays)

[Herman Munster]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/23/AR2007052301499_pf.html

Robert Shrum, the veteran Democratic strategist who worked on John Edwards's 1998 Senate campaign in North Carolina, does not remember his onetime client very fondly. In his new memoir, "No Excuses: Concessions of a Serial Campaigner," Shrum recalls asking Edwards at the outset of that campaign, "What is your position, Mr. Edwards, on gay rights?"

"I'm not comfortable around those people," Edwards replied, according to Shrum. He writes that the candidate's wife, Elizabeth, told him: "John, you know that's wrong." Edwards's pollster, Harrison Hickman, who was in the room during the discussion, says Shrum "is sensationalizing and taking out of context what was an honest discussion about lack of exposure to these issues and openly gay people. I don't remember anything that expressed any kind of venom or judgment about gay people."

Edwards spokesman Eric Schultz says Shrum "has a very casual relationship with the truth. Bob is obviously more interested in selling books than reporting honestly and accurately about what happened." While praising Edwards as a man of "many innate political gifts," Shrum says he hoped the senator wouldn't run for the White House in 2004: "I was coming to believe he wasn't ready; he was a Clinton who hadn't read the books."

[stellanoir]

1. selling books indeed

this is so unbelievably lame.

[Inspired]

2. Shrum is scum in my book. n/t

[devilgrrl]

3. But he looks like the "Breck Girl"!

:eyes::sarcasm:

[panader0]

4. I don't believe that I'm a homophobe, I am tolerant toward all

and have taught my kids to feel the same way. When I was younger though, about 19 or so, I was propositioned a few times ("Can I please suck your dick") and it did freak me. Since then, I have had several gay friends, and several arguments with fellow construction workers who were gay bashers. I pointed out that so many great people in history have been gay (I'm into literature). Hatred is based on fear.

[durrrty libby]

5. Schrummy is a fool

[WinkyDink]

6. Shrum is not merely a "former aide"! Though he IS a loser non pareil.

[dsc]

7. What matters to me is Edwards' record and it honestly was pretty poor

in the early part of his term. He got better when he ran for the nomination but started off poorly. I honestly don't care why.

On edit a link to back me up.

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=21107

[dhill926]

8. it's not whether he's comfortable or not anyway...

it's about whether he believes they should have equal rights under the law. I'm assuming he does.

[Clark2008]

11. You'd assume wrongly, then.

He struggled with the question of “how we achieve this?.whether it is through civil unions or partnerships.” He indicated that he is certainly for all of the non-discrimination and equal benefits provisions.

However, he said that it was a “jump for me to get to gay marriage? I am not there yet.” He said that this was a “great conflict for him” and that he continues to struggle with the question internally. He ended by alluding to the fact that his daughter (and most in her generation) support marriage equality. (The crowd applauded after this last statement).

http://pandagon.net/2006/12/29/john-edwards-addresses-marriage-equality-question-in-nh-town-hall-gathering/

[terrya]

14. Edwards' position on same-sex marriage is the same as Obama's.

And Hillary Clinton's. And Bill Richardson's. And Joe Biden's. And Christopher Dodd's. Etc, etc.

Actually, only Dennis Kuchinch supports full marriage equality.

We're not talking profiles in courage with our Presidential candidates on this issue.

[dsc]

15. Unless Clark has changed his mind, he has the same position

[Lex]

19. Well, see, we don't want to talk about that now do we?

Better to make Edwards look like he's the only one who isn't on board with gay marriage yet.

[EFerrari]

9. This not only isn't credible, it makes no sense.

[Lex]

10. Those grapes taste sour.

nt

[Clark2008]

12. Why? It matches up with the candidates own words.

See Post 11.

[Lex]

18. Wesley Clark is against gay marriage. I assume this applies to him too?

Just to be clear.

[illinoisprogressive]

13. I'd need to hear it from someone other than Shrum. I think there is tension between them

I know his book is trashing Edwards but, shrum is kinda self serving. I'd really need to hear more from others to back it up before I can think it is true.
I am not an Edwards supporter but, just want to be fair.

[KamaAina]

16. But, but, but Ann Coulter as much as called him a (gay man)

and if Coulter said it, you KNOW it has to be true! :sarcasm:

edit: caps

[blm]

17. Take the strategist class with a pound of salt - I'm no Edwards fan, but Shrum is going

to do what all strategists do - put the blame anywhere except where it belongs - on ELECTION FRAUD. They ALL do it to some degree - including the strategists working for Edwards now who point all fingers at Kerry as if the election was never won by Kerry-Edwards.

Strategists will NOT point to election fraud, because if the election process was fully secured, Democratic candidates would actually be able to get their votes counted and TAKE THE OFFICE they earned in the election, and the startegists and pundits would be in danger of losing their million dollar salaries for advising them on all the bullshit stuff they get hired to tweak.