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Posted on 07/06/2004 8:37:51 AM PDT by tellw
Why Edwards Hurts Kerry: He’s weakest on issues that matter most.
For several months during the Democratic-primary season, the political chattering class swooned over Sen. John Edwards's "Two Americas" speech. But the speech — which may have been the single most important factor in earning Edwards a spot on the Democratic ticket — was carefully crafted to win the support of the Democratic core voters who dominate state primaries. Now, in a general election, the speech — and the man who delivered it — may come to be seen more as a good performance, and the work of an able politician, but an unsatisfactory answer to the problems facing America at this moment.
Perhaps the most notable thing about "Two Americas," at least as it delivered from Iowa to New Hampshire to South Carolina and beyond, was that it said nothing — literally nothing — about the issue of terrorism. Nor did the speech cover the war in Iraq, which Edwards voted to authorize. Nor, for that matter, did it discuss foreign affairs in general. In fact, the only mention of foreign issues in "Two Americas" was Edwards's promise to restore America's image in the world to "the image we used to have, America as the shining light on top of the hill, beacon of freedom, democracy, human rights."
A look at exit polls conducted after Democratic primaries shows just how little Edwards appealed to voters concerned about national security. In New Hampshire, for example, among voters who felt the war in Iraq was the major concern facing the United States, just three percent voted for Edwards, placing him barely ahead of fringe candidate Dennis Kucinich. Among those who felt that terrorism/national security was the top issue, just five percent voted for Edwards. The results were much the same in several other primary states.
Doubts about Edwards and national security were also suggested in another exit-poll question which asked voters which single candidate quality most influenced their vote. Of New Hampshire voters who answered that having the right experience was most important, just three percent chose Edwards, again placing him barely in front of Kucinich. Of voters who said they most valued a candidate who stands up for what he believes, just five percent chose Edwards. None of that bodes well for Democrats' efforts to cast Edwards as a credible commander in chief.
Party strategists will undoubtedly answer that in the general election it is the presidential candidate who really matters, and that in the area of national security, voters placed much more trust in John Kerry. That's true. But given that the war in Iraq, and to some extent the larger issue of national security, will likely dominate the fall campaign, it's also true that Kerry has chosen a running mate who is extraordinarily weak on those issues that matter most
G'hardt would have definitely put missouri in play, and that
may have been enough all by itself. I live in south carolina,
and I just don't see how edwards puts either carolina in play.
I will be blunt.
I have seen what H1B's and offshoring have done to people I care about. I spent 18 of the last 31 months unemployed. Frankly, I was enraged at the callous, "Let them eat cake", "Start your own business" obliviousness of globalists at what offshoring and outsourcing are doing to American workers. I still am.
I am conservative but parties need the occasional defeat to nudge them in the right direction. For a while I was of the opinion that it would not be such a bad thing for Bush to lose to a non-antiwar Democrat and the party to come back in four years minus the WSJ editorial page cheap labor globalists.
But as a Christian, the sheer godlessness of the DU types sickens me. If the Dems win, so has gay marriage. And what is next ? "Transgenerational love" ? Group marriage ? These people are foaming at the mouth with eagerness to tax churches and silence the Christian voice. As a Christian, I cannot let these people win. I cannot let America be turned into a San Francisco toilet. If the Dems lose, let them know that gay marriage was the reason why.
In the final resort, both parties abound in free traitor globalists. The fight has two fronts.
Where were the case(s) tried - in the South, urban/rural, wealthy/poor. This looney-tune may have a larger appeal than he's being given credit for. From what I've heard - he is a dynamite public speaker & gets the crowds excited. Something like a good lawyer in closing arguments.
There are many here among us that think he is but a joke. A truly damgerous attitude - attack an image, not the ideas.
"It is not at all close in this state."
I'm in VA too and thought I saw a poll last week that had Bush 48% Kerry 43%. That's close for VA. I think Edwards did real well in OH as well, especially in the more urban areas & places where jobs have been lost.
How much do you want to bet that on sunday morning it was still up in the air...
For the record, I am against outsourcing in general, but understand that making brooms and such can be done elsewhere. I have a big problem with companies sending skilled jobs in technology and manufacturing overseas, especially when many of these companies own lucrative contracts with the US government funded by tax payer dollars.
I can't speak for Sam, but why would someone vote on just one issue? Why would I vote for Kerry? Terrorism will abound if he gets in the WH. Kerry may also pretend that he is against outsourcing, but he could care less about the middle class as the Heinz corporation has 2/3 of its operations overseas.
Why is the subject "Gay Marriage" at all? Most people (including me) don't care about gay marriage - it is not what this election is all about. National Security and the economy are the two big issues in this election - and Bush/Cheney are the best men for the job in that respect.
No it splits economic Know Nothings from those who actually have a little knowledge of how an capitalistic economic system works. Just another RAT appeal to ignorance and envy.
Outsourcing is just another RATmedia slogan to capture the heart of the Leftists/Victims.
Question: What is John John and the Pony Boy gonna do when terrorists get ahold of chemical or biological weapons?
Answer: They'll pee their pants --- and then file a lawsuit against Osama bin Ladin.
I hope you're right. I agree that most states you mention are solid red. But I'm not entirely sure why people keep focusing on the fact that Edwards didn't win some of these primaries. It will be a narrow race in many states, and any little swing helps. They're clearly going after the youth vote even more than usual, and Edwards helps there by perception alone.
I do not believe these polls, any of them. I can not point to any evidence but I am getting the same feeling that I got in 92, when the press was telling us it was the worse economy since the great depression. Family and friends who were self employed told me I was nuts, that I didn't know after all I was in the Navy and in a military town. I stuck to my guns and said the economy was good, and as soon as the election was over you would read about it. Well the very next day USA Today had a headline, the recession had ended a year ago.
I rubbed everyone's nose in it for weeks.
I am telling you now, they are lying. They know Kerry is going to loose big time. I said it before, I will say it again Kerry will win 5-6 states max.
Rest assured, the Dems will use the issue in certain localities. But they won't hammer it nationally because it's just not a winner. And by saying this, I don't mean to imply that campaigning on "free trade" is a winner. Neither will energize those that matter.
It splits the smugly arrogant from those who do not regard people with less than college degrees as subhuman losers. And it is that half of America with less than college degrees that has seen its standard of living crumble since deindustrialization.
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