Posted on 07/07/2004 10:09:33 AM PDT by MississippiMalcontent
Jackson, MS) - The man John Kerry tapped to be his running mate forgot his roots to further his career by smearing Mississippi and an honorable Mississippian, says State GOP Chairman Jim Herring.
"Mississippi voters won't forget John Edwards' shameless distortions of Judge Charles Pickering's record or his vicious attacks on Judge Pickering's character," said Herring.
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Edwards led Senate opposition to President Bush's nomination of Pickering to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Democrats on the Judiciary Committee blocked Pickering's nomination to the court for over a year until President Bush bypassed the process by giving Pickering a recess appointment earlier this year.
"Democrats blocked Judge Pickering because he is a pro-life, pro-family conservative," said Herring. "John Edwards led the charge to further his presidential ambitions by selling out to liberal extremist groups. As a Southerner, he knew better. His sleazy attacks on Judge Pickering show how far he is willing to go to advance his career."
In a March 25, 2002 profile of Edwards, Business Week wrote "the real leader of the Pickering Posse is a freshman senator for North Carolina (Edwards) with a silver tongue and a burning ambition to be President." The article noted, "While Edwards has cultivated an image as a New Democratic centrist, he has done plenty to endear himself to the party's left wing - even before he pickled Pickering. Pro-choice and pro-environment; and he was one of just two Southerners who voted against a constitutional amendment to criminalize flag-burning."
Herring believes Mississippians won't be fooled by the liberal left-wing Democrats challenging President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. According to the National Journal, "Kerry and Edwards aren't all that different, at least not when it comes to how they voted on key issues before the Senate last year. The results of the vote ratings show that Kerry was the most liberal senator in 2003, with a composite liberal score of 96.5. But Edwards wasn't far behind: He had a 2003 composite liberal score of 94.5, making him the fourth-most-liberal senator." (Richard E. Cohen, "How They Measured Up," National Journal, 2/28/04)
And political analysts say Senator Edwards' Southern roots aren't likely to be an asset to the ticket.
UVA Professor Larry Sabato said: "[Edwards] has only one term in the United States Senate. There's no other public office experience. It is really going to be impossible for John Kerry to stand up and say if he does pick Edwards 'I picked the most experienced person best able to take over the presidency if need be.' It is just not true and anybody would know it... don't forget Edwards does come from North Carolina but he is not particularly strong in his home state. He barely won the senate seat. Most polls over the last six years have shown him with low popularity. I am not sure he can carry North Carolina." (Fox News, "Fox and Friends," 7/6/04)
Neither Kerry nor Ecwards will set ONE foot in MIss durign the campaign.unless their plane is forced to make an emergency landing..
I saw some of Edwards' horrific, over the top smearing of this fine man. It was appalling. I can't help but think that playing clips of it from time to time would be useful in revealing Mr. Sunny Side of the Street.
Pickering Ping!
Edwards "can smile, and while he smiles, cut your heart out with a bloody axe".
C-Span footage of Edwards unfairly and gleefully trying to destroy Pickering's reputation, for the benefit of the cameras and to make a name for himself, should be required viewing for everyone who thinks he's such a nice man. He ain't!
He's as pretty as a pet snake.
I couldn't agree more. I learned to despise John Edwards by watching him question the President's nominees, including Pickering. I have nothing but contempt for him and his cynical use of emotions, regardless of truth.
It will be funny to wake up the morning after the election and see that he couldn't even carry NC! What a birthday present that will be!
God Bless the Great State of Mississippi!
They have quite a few states they might as well not bother to visit! I live in one -- Kerry came in 3rd here in Oklahoma with a very low RAT turnout.
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