Posted on 07/21/2003 6:56:41 AM PDT by CedarDave
Sunday, July 20, 2003
Presidential Hopeful Slams Bush Values
By Loie Fecteau Journal Politics Writer
Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards on Saturday said he wants to win the Democratic nomination in 2004 because he wants to have a debate with President Bush over values.
"George Bush honors and respects only one thing wealth," Edwards said at a state Democratic Party meeting at Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute. "His values are not our values."
Edwards, a U.S. senator from North Carolina and one of nine Democratic presidential contenders, said Bush's tax cut policies are designed to benefit the wealthy.
"(Bush) wants to make sure that those that have (wealth), keep it," Edwards said. "In Bush's America, the family you're born into controls your destiny. That is not the America we believe in."
Bush has argued his recently enacted tax cut package will create jobs and help foster a stronger economy for all Americans.
Attorney General Patricia Madrid, who chairs Edwards campaign in New Mexico, told Democrats at the meeting that she believes Edwards is the only presidential candidate who can defeat Bush.
"He is the smartest," Madrid said of Edwards. "He is one of the best trial lawyers in this country."
Madrid noted that Edwards is backed by several other New Mexico elected officials, including Sen. Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, Rep. W. Ken Martinez, D-Grants, Rep. Kandy Cordova, D-Belen, and Rep. Pauline Ponce, D-Roswell.
Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson, who was present for Edwards speech, said he does not plan to endorse a presidential candidate before a planned Feb. 3 presidential nominating caucus in New Mexico.
But Richardson said of Edwards, "The fact that he was here speaking to us, that counts a lot with me."
No other presidential candidates spoke at the meeting, but several sent representatives, including former state Democratic Party Chairman Fred Harris, who spoke on behalf of former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.
Former state Democratic Party chairman Jamie Koch urged support for Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., while Albuquerque City Councilor Eric Griego said he is backing Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
Tilda Sosaya of Albuquerque spoke on behalf of Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio.
Edwards, who said he plans to campaign hard in New Mexico, previously visited the state in April when he met with Richardson in Santa Fe.Copyright 2003 Albuquerque Journal
And I'm sure that Edwards would be happy to debate Freepers about this at his second home on the private island in North Carolina, if only the security guards would allow riff-raff like ordinary taxpayers on the private island. ;-)
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