SC: Edwards Wraps Up Early Campaign Blitz in Chapel Hill

WRAL.com ^ | Dec 30, 2006 | JIM DAVENPORT

[upchuck]

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Presidential hopeful John Edwards, returning to the scene of his only primary victory in his 2004 bid, said Saturday that fellow Democrats should focus on running Congress rather than trying to impeach President Bush.

He also disagreed with an audience member who suggested, on the day Saddam Hussein was hanged in Iraq, that Bush should face the same fate.

But Edwards said he "unequivocally and without any question" rejected an escalation of the war. "There is no military solution to what is happening in Iraq," he said to cheers from a crowd of 1,800 at Brookland Baptist Church, one of the state's largest black churches.

...

Another questioner, Davey van Greenen, asked Edwards whether Bush should be tried and face the same fate as Saddam. "He should be hanged in public himself," van Greenen said to considerable applause.

"I'll say to you very directly I don't agree with what you just said," Edwards responded, to similar applause.

Edwards' biggest ovations came on domestic issues, particularly health care. "We should say finally and without equivocation it is time for universal health care in America," he said.

He also said he wants an increase in the minimum wage, a better education system, national energy independence and a United States that is a world leader.

"It's time for us to ask Americans to be patriotic about something other than war," he said.

Edwards, who was born in South Carolina but launched his political career from North Carolina, won the 2004 primary here with 45 percent of the vote to John Kerry's 30 percent.

The stop at one of South Carolina's largest black churches came as the one-term senator neared the end of his multistate announcement tour. After a New Orleans launch, Edwards headed to Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

[upchuck]

Memo to Edwards:

This South Carolinian would prefer you stay out of this state.

IMHO, I don't see how enyone who is a true believer and a member of the Baptist Church could get excited by Edwards or any Donk.

[upchuck]

South Carolina Ping

Add me to the list. / Remove me from the list.

[Republican Wildcat]

But Edwards said he "unequivocally and without any question" rejected an escalation of the war. "There is no military solution to what is happening in Iraq," he said to cheers from a crowd of 1,800 at Brookland Baptist Church

I'm sure we will soon be hearing criticism from our friends in the liberal clergy denouncing this event as an inappopriate mixture of politics and religion who criticized the "Justice Sunday" event.

[Txsleuth]

He is being totally transparent in his pandering...

I guess he is going to try to be the 2nd "black president"...ugh

[EternalVigilance]

Wow.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

We need a trial lawyer as president like we need pandemic dysentery.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Does Edwards realize how small he is, doing this in the middle of the nation's mourning for Ford?

[LdSentinal]

Another questioner, Davey van Greenen, asked Edwards whether Bush should be tried and face the same fate as Saddam. "He should be hanged in public himself," van Greenen said to considerable applause.

See? Republicans deserved to lose control of Congress to Democrats like these./s

[Arizona Carolyn]

Reading between the lines: he wants us to hand more of our money over to the government for welfare and he wants to cut the military. Yep, he'd be a real winner. /s

[taxesareforever]

A demorat in a black church again. How do they get away with this?

[CTSeditor]

Who?

[onyx]

Typical. democrat campaigning in a black church.

[SittinYonder]

"He should be hanged in public himself," van Greenen said to considerable applause.

Davey should be investigated by the Secret Service for this. It's one thing to suggest that someone stand trial for war crimes, even face the death penalty. But we don't execute prisoners by hanging any longer in this country. Therefore, I am left to assume that Davey is making some sort of threat about lynching the president.

Mr. van Greenen - if that is his real name - should be locked up post haste.

[Howlin]

You notice he didn't dare do any of this campaigning in North Carolina.

And certainly not his home town. They voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004.

[Howlin]

Republicans deserved to lose control of Congress to Democrats like these./s

Plenty around here agree with that; they were quite happy right after the election.

[kcvl]

he said to cheers from a crowd of 1,800 at Brookland Baptist Church, one of the state's largest black churches

I guess it's okay for DEMOCRATS to campaign in CHURCHES?!!!

[decal]

"Mr. van Greenen - if that is his real name..."

Do a websearch on his name - you'll even get a site that shows where he lives.

Took me about 90 seconds - the authorities can do it if I can.

[NJRighty]

"He should be hanged in public himself," van Greenen said to considerable applause. "I'll say to you very directly I don't agree with what you just said," Edwards responded, to similar applause.

"I don't agree with what you just said"? What a meek response. Was he just afraid of his audience? How about "Mister, if you really meant that, you are a sick and dangerous man. I do not want your support. Please leave immediately"? Ah who the heck am I kidding, this is John Edwards. These leftists never stop amazing me with the drivel they speak.

[Goldie Lurks]

"He should be hanged in public himsef [President Bush] van Greenen said *to considerable applause*.

Their is definitely something wrong in church when a congregration applauds a statement such as van Greenen's.

Their statement of belief: "To Glorify God and Edify Humanity"

[RunningWolf]

Thanks for the article upchuck.

I saw very recent 30 second clip of John Edwards, and I saw a genuine sincere man there.

'Eyes open, Ears up Wolf'

Regards