Edwards sees 'two Americas' after Katrina

News Observer ^ | ROB CHRISTENSEN

[Millee]

John Edwards says the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina underscores the "two Americas" theme of his presidential campaign last year.

"We see the poor and working class of New Orleans who don't own a car and couldn't evacuate to hotels or families far from the target of Katrina," Edwards said in e-mail messages to supporters Friday "We see the suffering of families who lived from paycheck to paycheck and who followed the advice of officials and went to shelters at the Civic Center or the Superdome or stayed home to protect their possessions."

Edwards added, "We have been too slow to act in the face of the misery of our brothers and sisters. This is an ugly and horrifying wake-up call to America."

The subject of Katrina is likely to come up when Edwards today launches a lecture series at the UNC Law School's Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity.

Edwards is director of the center, and he recently named as deputy director Marion Crain, a law professor, and Laura Hogshead as assistant director.

The Democratic vice presidential nominee last year was in Chicago last week raising money for Democrats at the Knickerbocker Hotel, meeting with Englewood activists and U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush.

Edwards, who left office in January as North Carolina senator, will help Rep. Brad Miller raise money for his re-election kitty. Edwards, a former senator, is scheduled to appear at a Miller fund-raiser Oct. 10 at the home of Frank and Julia Daniels. Frank Daniels is the former publisher of The News & Observer. The cost of entry to the event ranges from $250 to $1,000.

Meanwhile, Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, Edwards' former jogging buddy and closest friend in the Senate, has been wading into Edwards' political turf.

Bayh, who like Edwards is considering a presidential run, attended a South Carolina Democratic Party fund-raiser in Columbia last week. Edwards, a native of South Carolina, carried that state in the Democratic presidential primary last year.

[evad]

I don't remember that. I'll have to watch it again.

Well, it's a bit of a stretch.

I was referring to when Vinnie was questioning the old lady at trial with the thick glasses and he held up two fingers :)

[Babu]

"Hey Johnnie boy, ... "