WHO IS JOHN EDWARDS? (Brought to you by RNC Research Dept!)

An Unaccomplished Liberal In Moderate Clothing And A Friend To His Fellow Personal Injury Trial Lawyers.

“Edwards has become a captive of the trial lawyers and the left-wing special interests in Washington. He has lost touch with the average American. Clearly, he is not ready for ‘prime time.’”
(Marc Rotterman, “Way Out Of Touch,” The [Raleigh] News And Observer, December 8, 2002)

• Short Of His Work To Protect The Interests Of Personal Injury Trial Lawyers, Edwards’ Four-Year Record Is Devoid Of Accomplishment And Leadership.

• After Edwards’ Lackluster Performance In May On NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Many Democrats Felt That He “May Not Be Ready For Prime-Time.”
(CNN’s “Inside Politics,” May 8, 2002)

• A Recent Research 2000 Poll Revealed That Edwards Would Lose North Carolina By 17 Points In A Hypothetical Presidential Matchup With President Bush.
(Research 2000, Press Release, July 16, 2002)

• More Than 4 Of Every 5 Dollars Raised By Edwards For His Hard Money PAC, New American Optimists, Have Come From Personal Injury Trial Lawyers.

• Nearly Every Penny Donated To Edwards’ Soft Money PAC Since Early 2001 Has Come From Personal Injury Trial Lawyers.
(Jim VandeHei, “Trial Lawyers Fund Edwards,” The Washington Post, September 3, 2002)

• Edwards Consistently Caters To Personal Injury Trial Lawyer Interests By Fighting Tort Reform And Facilitating The Initiation Of Lucrative Lawsuits Against American Companies.
(Editorial, “Tort Terrorism,” Wall Street Journal, June 20, 2002)

• From 1999-2002, Edwards Voted With Senator Ted Kennedy 90% Of The Time And Senator Hillary Clinton 89% Of The Time.
(CQ Vote Comparison, CQ Online Website, www.oncongresscq.com, 106th and 107th Congresses)

• In An Interview With Robert Novak For The American Spectator, Edwards Even Claimed That He Could Not Recall A Single Conservative Position He Has Taken While In Congress.
(John McCaslin, “Dependably Liberal,” The Washington Times, October 15, 2002)

Edwards Lacks The Accomplishments And Demonstrated Leadership Needed To Be President

In June Of 2001, The Washington Post Highlighted Edwards’ Lack Of Accomplishment In The Senate. “[Edwards’] role in the legislative battle of HMO regulation gives him something he badly needed, which was an opportunity to grab hold of a big issue and develop a record in the Senate, a crucial building block for someone who showed great promise but not many accomplishments during his first two years.”
(Dan Balz, “The Rights Time, The Rights Place,” The Washington Post, June 30, 2001)

Roll Call’s Stuart Rothenberg Claimed That Edwards Needs To Display Leadership Ability And Not Just Talk About It. “After watching Edwards, I learned that the United States needs to ‘show leadership’ in the war against Afghanistan. I know it, because Edwards repeated that mantra as if it had been programmed into his brain. Voters clearly want ‘leadership’ from their leaders, but repeating a phrase like a trained parakeet does not make someone a leader. . . . Edwards is right, of course, that voters want to elect someone as president who displays leadership qualities. But that means Edwards needs to display leadership ability, both in the Senate and by proposing ideas and grappling with tough choices, not by regurgitating some phrase that Bob Shrum probably told him to use.”
(Stuart Rothenberg, “Golden Boy Edwards Needs to Do More Than Promise To Lead,” Roll Call, May 9, 2002)

Political Strategist Ed Rogers Discredited Edwards’ Leadership Abilities. “[A]n accomplished figure who has been well regarded within his party, and has been acknowledged by his peers to be a leader. John Edwards is none of that.”
(CNN’s “Crossfire,” January 2, 2003)

One Of Edwards’ Constituents Criticized The Senator For Having No Accomplishments. “We have one liberal, Sen. John Edwards, who extols his own accomplishments, even though he has none except for being a multi-millionaire ambulance chaser. Edwards says he’s a small-town man from North Carolina who relates to the little people. Hogwash.”
(Tom Freeman, Letter To The Editor, “Public Schools Weakened By Democratic-Supported Unions,” The Asheville Citizen-Times, November 18, 2002)

In Late 2002, Cox News Service Noted The Lack Of Major Legislative Accomplishments During Edwards’ Four-Year Senate Tenure. “The freshest of the fresh faces is Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, a 44-year-old former trial lawyer who has been dubbed ‘the next Bill Clinton’ by The New Yorker and ‘a perfect politician’ by Vanity Fair. But Edwards is up for reelection to the Senate in 2004, and may have to decide between a Senate or White House run. Republicans back home aren’t likely to want to let him do both. Edwards is sponsor of a Patients Bill of Rights bill in the Senate, but has no major legislative accomplishments thus far.”
(Scott Shepard, “Democrats Face Major Obstacles In Trying To Regroup After 2002 Election Disaster,” Cox News Service, November 8, 2002)

• Even Edwards’ Most Notable Legislative Efforts Have Done Little But Protect The Financial Interests Of Personal Injury Trial Lawyers. “A lot of this debate [over the Patients’ Bill Of Rights] now centers around that, caps on liabilities, limiting liabilities. Part of the problem there is that John Edwards and others don’t want any caps on liabilities.”
(Congressman Charlie Norwood, NBC’s “Meet The Press,” August 5, 2001)

Ralph Nader Criticized Edwards’ Lack Of Legislative Accomplishment. “John Edwards was a very good trial lawyer and talks populism in a fresh though not very specific way. . . . But has he introduced or supported fundamental reform legislation on health care, labor rights, consumer protection, military-budget reform, corporate crime (one of his specialties as a tort lawyer bloated corporate welfare hundreds of billions of dollars), access to government by ordinary citizens? No, instead he has been very cautious letting his new style and fresh looks lead the way rather than what he could have done, proposed and articulated for a deeper democracy.”
(James Fallows and Ralph Nader, “Who’s An Anti-Semite?” Slate Magazine, April 30, 2002)

In March Of 2001, The [Wilmington] Morning Star Criticized Edwards’ Weak Record. “Our junior senator is smart, charming, a smooth talker, nice looking, and a progressive Southern Democrat. And did we mention smart? But his only experience in politics is two years in the U.S. Senate. He’s built a solid record on TV talk shows, but not a solid record of legislative accomplishment - yet.”
(Editorial, “Let Sen. Edwards Learn His Trade,” The [Wilmington] Morning Star, March 7, 2001)

Political Columnist Robert Novak Noted That Many Democrats Were “Appalled” By Edwards’ May Performance On NBC’s “Meet The Press.” “The same Democrats who had been enchanted by Edwards were appalled. But even with a firmer grip on issues, the first-term senator faces an uphill climb. John Zogby’s poll of Democratic voters shows Edwards eighth out of eight hopefuls with 1 percent, well behind Gore in first place with 46 percent.”
(Robert Novak, “Who’ll Stop Gore In ’04?” Chicago Sun-Times, May 9, 2002)

Edwards Is “Getting A Little Above His Rais’n’” With His Presidential Run. “My first instinct is to ask, isn’t Edwards getting a little above his rais’n’?”
(Rob Christensen, “Edwards’ Rapid Rise,” The [Raleigh] News And Observer, May 12, 2002)

Political Commentator Charles Cook Questioned Whether Edwards “Is Ready For The Big Stage.” “Edwards, a former trial lawyer who specialized in suing on behalf of injured children, can expect to raise enormous amounts of money from trial lawyers around the country and among party activists seeking a younger and fresher face compared to the balance of the field. The key question is whether he is ready for the big stage.”
(Charles E. Cook, “Ladies And Gentlemen, Start Your Engines,” The Washington Quarterly, Summer 2002)

CNN’s Robert Novak Said That Edwards’ May Performance On NBC’s “Meet The Press” Revealed That He “May Not Be Ready For Prime-Time.” “John Edwards of North Carolina, Judy, has been the flavor of the week for several weeks as the coming guy for the Democratic presidential nomination. He’s good looking, articulate. He’s new. But he really may not be ready for prime-time, because our old friend Tim Russert really led him down a lot [of] cul-de-sacs on tough questioning. Senator Edwards is kind of used to the provincial questioning he gets on the campaign circuit, stumbled on a lot of things. For example, he said he thought that the Taliban were coming back in Afghanistan, but he was against U.S. troops. He was against tax cuts, but he didn’t want to go with Teddy Kennedy -- a very confused performance. That’s just not me saying that. I have talked to a lot of Democrats, very disappointed. They still think Edwards is a real comer, but he has got to really work on his answers when he gets into the political big-time.”
(CNN’s “Inside Politics,” May 8, 2002)

Roll Call’s Stuart Rothenberg Argued That Edwards’ May Performance On NBC’s “Meet The Press” Illustrated That He Has “A Long Way To Go” To Win The 2004 Democrat Nomination. “Everybody seems to be talking about Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) these days. The hotshot magazines are all writing about him, and he isn’t having any problems getting face time on television. But if the freshman North Carolina Senator really wants to emerge as his party’s nominee in 2004, he needs to acknowledge the obvious: His appearance on NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press’ last weekend showed that he has a long way to go to beat out House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (Mo.), Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) and former Vice President Al Gore for the Democratic nomination.”
(Stuart Rothenberg, “Golden Boy Edwards Needs To Do More Than Promise To Lead,” Roll Call, May 9, 2002)

Recent Polls Reveal That Edwards Suffers From Extremely Low Name Recognition And Is Unlikely To Challenge Other Prominent Democrats For The Party’s 2004 Presidential Nomination

An October Newsweek Poll Of 314 Democrat Voters With A +/- 6% Margin Of Error Revealed That Only 3% Of Those Questioned Would Most Like To See Edwards As The Democrat Nominee For President In 2004.
(Newsweek, Press Release, October 29, 2002)

An October Marist College Public Opinion Poll Of 330 Democrats Or Democrat-Leaning Independents With A +/- 5.5% Margin Of Error Revealed That Only 3% Of Those Questioned Would Choose Edwards As The 2004 Democrat Presidential Nominee.
(Marist College Institute For Public Opinion, Press Release, October 11, 2002)

A September Elon University Poll Of 719 North Carolinians With A +/- 3.7% Percent Margin Of Error Revealed That Only 31% Percent Of Those Questioned Would Support A 2004 Edwards Presidential Candidacy.
(Elon University, Press Release, September 20, 2002)

A July Research 2000 Poll Revealed That Edwards Would Lose North Carolina By 17 Points In A Hypothetical Presidential Matchup With President Bush.
(Research 2000, Press Release, July 16, 2002)

A July TNS Intersearch Poll Of 682 Democrats And Democrat-Leaning Independents With A +/-3.7% Margin Of Error Revealed That Only Seven Percent Of Those Questioned Would Choose Edwards As Their Presidential Nominee In A Field Devoid Of Al Gore.

A June Public Opinion Strategies Poll Of 500 Likely North Carolina Voters With +/- 4.3% Margin Of Error Revealed That President Bush Would Defeat Edwards By 19 Points In A Head-To-Head Presidential Match-Up.
(Public Opinion Strategies, Press Release, June 28, 2002)

For 20 Years, Senator Edwards Was A Personal Injury Trial Lawyer.
(Dale Eisman, “Poised For A Shot At The White House,” The Virginian-Pilot [Norfolk, Va.], July 28, 2002; Rebecca Miller, “After Private Party, Edwards Goes Public With Presidential Hopes,” The Associated Press, January 2, 2003)

Edwards Embraces His Record As A Plaintiff’s Lawyer. “Now, he actually is a plaintiff’s lawyer; that’s where he made his fortune. But rather than trying to explain this away or turn it into a twist ‘John McCain, war hero, running as man of peace’ he actively embraces it.”
(James Fallows and Ralph Nader, “Who’s An Anti-Semite?” Slate Magazine, April 30, 2002)

Edwards’ Best Friends: Personal Injury Trial Lawyers And Their Cash
More Than 4 Of Every 5 Dollars Raised By Edwards For His Hard Money PAC, New American Optimists, Have Come From Personal Injury Trial Lawyers. “Edwards’ days in the courtroom may be behind him, but the former trial lawyer is relying heavily on old colleagues from around the country as he prepares for a 2004 presidential bid. More than $4 of every $5 raised by Edwards’ political action committee, the New American Optimists, has come from lawyers or their family members. . . .”
(John Wagner, “Lawyers Fill Edwards’ PAC Pockets,” The [Raleigh] News & Observer, May 1, 2002)

Edwards’ Soft Money PAC Received Approximately 90% Of Its Contributions In The First Quarter Of 2002 From Personal Injury Trial Lawyers. “Of the $471,000 raised in the April 24, 2002 statement, $423,000 of it, over 90% was contributions from trial lawyer friends of Edwards.”
(www.irs.gov)

Edwards’ Soft Money PAC Received More Than Three-Quarters Of Its Contributions In The Second Quarter Of 2002 From Personal Injury Trial Lawyers. “Edwards has been on a fundraising frenzy over the last three months, raising nearly $2 million in ‘soft money’ -- the type of donation soon to be banned, with three-quarters of it coming from trial lawyers.”
(Jim VandeHei, “Trial Lawyers Fund Edwards,” The Washington Post, September 3, 2002)

The Washington Post Reported That – With One Exception - Nearly Every Penny Donated To Edwards’ Soft Money PAC Since Early 2001 Has Come From Personal Injury Trial Lawyers. “Steve Bing, a Hollywood producer and top Democratic donor, sent Edwards a $250,000 check. But nearly every other dollar donated to Edwards’s soft-money account since early 2001 came from trial lawyers -- $1,859,000 to be precise, according to the Public Citizen analysis.”
(Jim VandeHei, “Trial Lawyers Fund Edwards,” The Washington Post, September 3, 2002)

Since 1997, Edwards’ Senatorial Committee Has Raised At Least $2.07 Million From Lawyers And Lobbyists - (Approximately 50% Of All Contributions).
(The Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, October 4, 2002)

Edwards Advisers Act “Giddy” Over Personal Injury Trial Lawyer Money. “[Edwards’] advisers get almost giddy when talking about the potential for turning ATLA [American Trial Lawyers Association] contributors into Edwards presidential donors next year, when White House fund raising gets under way in earnest.”
(John Wagner, “Edwards Looks To Lawyers,” The [Raleigh] News & Observer, June 28, 2002)

Edwards Puts Personal Injury Trial Lawyer Buddies Over Protecting American Business

Edwards’ “Arm-Twisting” Defeated An Amendment To The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act That Would Have Imposed Limits On Personal Injury Trial Lawyers’ Ability To Sue In The Wake Of A Terrorist Attack. “These ruminations on the increasingly weird captivity of the Daschle Democrats by the lawsuit industry come after a party-line vote on an amendment to impose modest limits on trial lawyers after a terrorist attack. Naturally, it was defeated thanks to manic arm-twisting by Majority Leader Tom Daschle and Senator John Edwards (himself a trial lawyer with White House aspirations).”
(Editorial, “Tort Terrorism,” Wall Street Journal, June 20, 2002)

A Wall Street Journal Editorial Criticized Senate Democrats For Selling Out On Terrorism Insurance For Personal Injury Trial Lawyer Donations. “Senate Democrats will have lain themselves flat for their lawyer patrons in return for campaign dollars with which to fight the battle for Senate control this fall.”
(Editorial, “Tort Terrorism,” Wall Street Journal, June 20, 2002)

Two Years Into Edwards’ Senate Term, He Was Scrutinized For Sponsoring Legislation That Made It Easier To File Lawsuits Against HMOs. “Tort reform activists point to tort lawyers cum lawmakers passing legislation that makes it easier to sue . . . Terrance Scanlon, president of the Capitol Research Center, cynically notes that Edwards ‘is now sponsoring a bill that would allow for huge lawsuits against health maintenance organizations, directly benefiting trial lawyers.’”
(Geoffrey S. Underwood, “In The Tanks: Torts Tanks?” United Press International, June 14, 2001)

Edwards Opposed Caps On Malpractice Awards. Edwards is unpopular among doctors and the medical profession because he supports unlimited awards in medical malpractice suits.
(Jill Zuckman, “Medical Bill Debate Pits Doctor vs. Lawyer,” Chicago Tribune, June 24, 2001)

In July Of 1999, Edwards Voted Against The Conference Report Of The Y2K Liability Legislation That Capped Punitive Damages In Civil Suits Related To Millennium Computer Problems.
(H.R. 775, Roll Call #196: Passed 81-18: R 52-2; D 29-16, July 1, 1999)

In June Of 1999, Edwards Voted For An Amendment That Would Have Removed Language From The Y2K Liability Legislation That Protected Computer Companies From Frivolous Lawsuits.
(Amendment to S. 96, Roll Call #161: Rejected 41-57: R 3-51; D 38-6, June 10, 1999)

In 1998, Edwards Promised The People Of North Carolina That He Would Be A Moderate Voice In The Senate

Edwards Praised Senator Helms And Claimed That He Would Vote Frequently With Him If Elected.

Senator Lauch Faircloth (R-NC): “He is absolutely a clone of Bill Clinton. I wonder if that man that made the sheep over in Scotland might have worked on Edwards for Clinton.

CNN’s Jonathan Karl: But Edwards is a Democrat who vows to fight for big tobacco; a Democrat who vows to slash Washington’s bureaucracy; a Democrat who praises Jesse Helms.

Edwards: Senator Helms has actually been very kind to me and my family, personally. Karl: Edwards says he would frequently vote with Helms. He’s also running ads, mocking his opponent by tying him to Bill Clinton.

(Begin Video Clip, Edwards Campaign Ad) Announcer: Lauch Faircloth keeps hitting John Edwards with Bill Clinton. But it is Lauch Faircloth who has voted with Bill Clinton over 200 times. Is Lauch liberal?”
(End Video Clip) (CNN’s “Inside Politics,” November 2, 1998)

Edwards Said That He Would Not Cancel Out Senator Helms’ Votes While In Washington. “Edwards said his top priorities will be working for public education, health care reform, the environment and the protection of Social Security. He said he will continue some of Faircloth’s policies, such as opposing oil drilling off the Carolina coast and saving the Cape Hatteras lighthouse, in all likelihood by moving it. And Edwards again rejected Helms’ claims during the Faircloth campaign that he will cancel Helms’ votes because he is liberal. ‘We won’t be canceling each other’s votes,’ Edwards said. ‘There will certainly be things we disagree about. I think the reality is Senator Helms has been there a long time. He understands the rules and how things work in the Senate, and I’m interested in having his advice about that.’”
(James Rosen, “Edwards Offers Peace To Political Foes,” The [Raleigh] News And Observer, November 5, 1998)

Edwards’ Voting Record Matches Those Of Senators Ted Kennedy And Hillary Clinton:

• From 1999-2002, Edwards Voted With Senator Ted Kennedy 90% Of The Time.
(CQ Vote Comparison, CQ Online Website, www.oncongresscq.com, 106th and 107th Congresses)

• From 2001-2002, Edwards Voted With Senator Hillary Clinton 89% Of The Time.
(CQ Vote Comparison, CQ Online Website, www.oncongresscq.com, 107th Congress)

• Edwards Received A 0% Rating From The Small Business Survival Committee For His Voting Record In 2001.
(Small Business Survival Committee Website, www.sbsc.org, accessed December 1, 2002)

• Edwards Received A 17% Rating From The National Federation Of Independent Business For His Voting Record In 2001.
(National Federation Of Independent Business, www.nfib.com, accessed December 1, 2002)

• Edwards Voted Against The Creation Of A Demonstration Public School Choice Voucher Program For Disadvantaged Children.
(Amendment to S. 1, Roll Call #179: Rejected 41-58: R 38-11; D 3-46; I 0-1, June 12, 2001)

• In 2000, Edwards Voted Against The Creation Of Tax-Free Education Savings Accounts For Children To Be Used In The Payment Of Public Or Private School Tuition.
(S. 1134, Roll Call #33: Passed 61-37: R 52-2; D 9-35, March 2, 2000)

• In June Of 2000, Edwards Voted Against Tabling An Amendment That Would Have Repealed The Ban On Privately Funded Abortions At Overseas Military Facilities.
(Amendment to S. 2549, Roll Call #134: Passed 50-49: R 48-6; D 2-43, June 20, 2000)

• In October Of 1999, Edwards Voted Against Passage Of A Bill To Ban Partial-Birth Abortions.
(S. 1692, Roll Call #340: Passed 63-34: R 48-3; D 14-31; I 1-0, October 21, 1999)

• Edwards Called For A Federal Prescription-Drug Benefit And Lamented Over The Lack Of Universal Health Insurance For Children. “Moving to health care, Edwards - his words being recorded by a National Public Radio reporter sitting near his feet - again called for a federal prescription-drug benefit and decried the lack of universal insurance coverage for children. ‘In America,’ he intoned, ‘that’s wrong, and we need to do something about it.’”
(Eric Dyer, “Testing The Waters?” [Greensboro] News & Record, June 23, 2002)

• In 2001, Edwards Voted To Table An Amendment That Would Have Prohibited The Use Of Public Funds For Needle Exchange Programs In The District Of Columbia.
(Amendment to H.R. 2994, Roll Call #328: Motion To Table Passed 53-47: R 5-44; D 47-3; I 1-0, November 7, 2001)

• In 2000, Edwards Voted For An Amendment That Would Have Broadened Current Federal Hate Crimes Legislation.
(Amendment to S. 2549, Roll Call #136: Passed 57-42: R 13-41; D 44-1, June 20, 2000)

• Edwards Voted Against President Bush’s Bipartisan Tax Relief Package.
(H.R. 1836, Roll Call #170: Passed 58-33: R 46-2; D 12-31, May 26, 2001)

• Edwards Voted Against Permanent Repeal Of The Estate Tax.
(H.R. 8, Roll Call #151: Failed 54-44: R 45-2; D 9-42, June 12, 2002)

• In 2001, Edwards Voted Against A Capital Gains Tax Rate Reduction.
(Amendment To H.R. 1836, Roll Call #115: Failed 47-51: R 40-8; D 7-43, May 21, 2001)

• In 2000, Edwards Voted Against A Bill That Would Have Reduced Taxes On Married Couples.
(H.R. 4810, Roll Call #215: Adopted 61-38: R 53-1; D 8-37, July 18, 2000)

• In 2000, Edwards Voted Against A Temporary Suspension Of The Gasoline Tax.
(S. 2285, Roll Call #80: Failed 43-56: R 43-12; D 0-44, April 11, 2000)

• Edwards Argued That President Bush’s New Source Review Plan “Defies Common Sense.” “Jeffrey Holmstead, an assistant administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, said senators and the media fail to understand the Bush plan. He said changes to the Clean Air Act are needed to free refineries from multiple layers of regulations that often stop them from upgrading with pollution-control technologies. . . . ‘It defies common sense to me,’ said Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C. He said he was skeptical of Holmstead’s assertion that air quality would improve. . . .”
(Karen Masterson, “Port Arthur Activist Testifies Against Easing Clean Air Laws,” The Houston Chronicle, July 17, 2002)

• Edwards Voted Against Allowing Private Industry And The NHTSA Input Into New CAFE Standard Development. In March of 2002, Edwards voted against a bipartisan amendment that would have removed current CAFE (fuel efficiency) standards and would have allowed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop new regulations. The amendment also allows both private and public interests greater freedom to cooperate on the development of future environmental standards.
(Amendment 2997 To S. 517, Roll Call #47: Passed 62-38: R 43-6; D 19-31; I 0-1, March 13, 2002)

Edwards Could Not Recall A Single Conservative Position That He Has Taken On An Issue As Senator. “‘I could give you an answer to that question if you give me a little time to think about it.’ - Democratic presidential aspirant Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, asked by columnist Robert D. Novak in . . . the American Spectator to recall any conservative position he’s taken in the U.S. Senate [Mr. Novak likens Mr. Edwards’ plea to President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s request in 1956 for a couple of weeks to report some accomplishment by Vice President Richard M. Nixon].”
(John McCaslin, “Dependably Liberal,” The Washington Times, October 15, 2002)

Edwards Disagrees With Kerry, Daschle And Lieberman On Trade Promotion Authority. Edwards voted against trade promotion authority, but Kerry, Daschle and Lieberman voted for it.
(H.R. 3009, Roll Call #207: Passed 64-34: R 43-5; D 20-29; I 1-0, August 1, 2002)

Edwards Disagrees With Lieberman On Tort Reform. Unlike his Senate colleague Lieberman, Edwards adamantly opposes liability limits and civil justice reform.
(Jill Zuckman, “Medical Bill,” Chicago Tribune, June 24, 2001; Senator Lieberman, Press Conference, July 15, 1999)

For Use Of Force Resolution Against Iraq: Edwards voted for the Congressional resolution granting the use of force against Iraq.
(H.J.Res. 114, Roll Call #237: Passed 77-23: R 48-1; D 29-21; I 0-1, October 10, 2002)

Against Trade Promotion Authority: Edwards voted against trade promotion authority.
(H.R. 3009, Roll Call #207: Passed 64-34: R 43-5; D 20-29; I 1-0, August 1, 2002)

Against Permanent Estate Tax Repeal: Edwards voted against a permanent repeal of the estate tax.
(H.R. 8, Roll Call #151: Failed 54-44: R 45-2; D 9-41; I 0-1, June 12, 2002)

For The Education Reform Bill: Edwards voted for the “No Child Left Behind” Act.
(H.R. 1, Roll Call #371: Passed 87-10: R 44-3; D 43-6; I 0-1, December 18, 2001)

For The Democrat Patients’ Bill Of Rights: Edwards co-sponsored and supported the Democrat Patients’ Bill of Rights.
(S. 1052, Roll Call #220: Passed 59-36: R 9-35; D 50-0; I 0-1, June 29, 2001)

Against President Bush’s Tax Relief Package: Edwards voted against passing a $1.35 trillion tax cut package to reduce income-tax rates, alleviate the “marriage penalty” and gradually repeal the estate tax.
(H.R. 1836, Roll Call #165: Adopted 62-38: R 50-0; D 12-38, May 23, 2001)

For Reducing Tax Cut Ceiling: Edwards voted to reduce Bush’s proposed tax cut ceiling by $448 billion over 10 years.
(H. Con. Res. 83, Vote #69: Adopted 43-47: R 4-46; D 49-1, April 4, 2001)

For McCain-Feingold: Edwards voted for the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill. (S. 27, Roll Call #64: Passed 59-41: R 12-38; D 47-3, April 2, 2001)

Against Ashcroft Nomination: Edwards voted against confirming John Ashcroft to be Attorney General.
(Roll Call #8: Confirmed 58-42: R 50-0; D 8-42, February 1, 2001)

For Granting China Permanent NTS: Edwards voted to grant China permanent normal trade status.
(H.R. 4444, Roll Call #251: Passed 83-15: R 46-8; D 37-7, September 19, 2000)

Against Repealing Marriage Penalty: Edwards voted against cutting taxes for married couples.
(H.R. 4810, Vote #226: Passed 60-34: R 53-1; D 7-33, July 21, 2000)

For Delaying National Missile Defense: Edwards voted to delay implementation of a comprehensive national missile defense system.
(Amendment To S. 2549, Roll Call #178: Motion To Table Passed 52-48: R 52-3; D 0-45, July 13, 2000)

Against GOP Managed Care Plan: Edwards voted against approving the GOP managed care plan, including limited right to sue plans for damages in federal court.
(Amendment To H.R. 4577, Roll Call #166: Amendment Passed 51-47: R 51-4; D 0-43, June 29, 2000)

Against Restricting Use Of Genetic Information: Edwards voted against approving the GOP plan to restrict use of genetic information by health insurers.
(Amendment To H.R. 4577, Roll Call #165: Amendment Passed 58-40: R 55-0; D 3-40, June 29, 2000)

For Expanding Federal Hate Crime Protections: Edwards voted for including gender, sexual orientation and disability in federal hate crime protections.
(Amendment To S. 2549, Roll Call #136: Amendment Passed 57-42: R 13-41; D 44-1, June 20, 2000)

Against Extending Trade Benefits: Edwards voted against extending certain tariff benefits to the nations of the Caribbean, Central America and sub-Saharan Africa.
(H.R. 434, Roll Call #98: Passed 77-19: R 47-6; D 30-13, May 11, 2000)

Against Limiting Federal Discretionary Spending: Edwards voted against limiting fiscal 2001 discretionary spending to $600.3 billion.
(H. Con. Res. 290, Roll Call #85: Passed 50-48: R 50-4; D 0-44, April 13, 2000)

For Increased Minimum Wage And Bankruptcy Reform: Edwards voted to overhaul the bankruptcy law and increase the minimum wage.
(H.R. 833, Roll Call #5: Passed 83-14: R 50-2; D 33-12, February 2, 2000)

For Abortion Rights: Edwards voted to support Roe v. Wade’s right to abortion.
(Amendment To S. 1692, Roll Call #337: Amendment Adopted 51-47: R 8-45; D 43-2, October 21, 1999)

Against Banning Partial-Birth Abortion: Edwards voted against passage of a bill to ban partial-birth abortions.
(S.1692, Roll Call #340: Passed 63-34: R 49-3; D 14-31, October 21, 1999)

Against Reducing Federal Taxes: Edwards voted against reducing federal taxes by $792 billion over 10 years.
(S. 1479, Roll Call #247: Passed 57-43: R 53-2; D 4-41, July 30, 1999)

Against GOP Patients’ Rights Plan: Edwards voted against approving the GOP proposal to increase rights of patients in managed-care health plans.
(S. 1344, Roll Call #210: Passed 53-47: R 53-2; D 0-45, July 15, 1999)

Against Prohibiting Ground Troops In Kosovo: Edwards voted to kill an amendment to prohibit deployment of ground troops to Kosovo without congressional approval.
(Amendment To S. 1059, Roll Call #145: Motion To Table Passed 52-48: R 17-38; D 35-10, May 25, 1999)

For State Grants To Hire New Teachers: Edwards voted against killing an amendment authorizing state grants to hire teachers and reduce class size.
(Amendment To S. 280, Roll Call #41: Motion To Table Passed 55-44: R 55-0; D 0-44, March 11, 1999)

Against Impeachment Article I: Edwards voted against convicting President Clinton on impeachment Article I, alleging grand jury perjury.
(Roll Call #17: Article Failed 45-55: R 45-10; D 0-45, February 12, 1999)

Against Impeachment Article II: Edwards voted against convicting President Clinton on impeachment Article II, alleging obstruction of justice.
(Roll Call #18: Article Failed 50-50: R 50-5; D 0-45, February 12, 1999)

For Dismissing Impeachment Charges: Edwards voted to dismiss impeachment charges against President Clinton.
(Roll Call #4: Motion Rejected 44-56: R 0-55; D 44-1, January 27, 1999)

Liberal/ Conservative Americans for Democratic Action (ADA)
90 (1999)
85 (2000)
95 (2001)
TBD

National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL)
100 (1999)
100 (2000)
100 (2001)
TBD

National Right to Life Committee (NRLC)
0 (1999-2000 Combined)
0 (2001-2002 Combined)

National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB)
8 (1999-2000 Combined)
17 (2001)
TBD

Democrats don't have anybody. They have no platforms and no candidates. They have, what,
a year or two to propel one of these guys to national prominence?

Careful...you're scaring me...what you're saying sounds like 1992 all over again.
(Lots of potential Democrat candidates either fall by the wayside, a young governor
from a small southern state beats a popular wartime President...)

BUT...maybe with FoxNews and the Internet, it just won't be as easy for Sixty Minutes
to go through that "we've got to save" the Democratic candidate with a
prime Super Bowl fluff interview...

We can't afford to under-estimate any of the DemocRATs...we've got lots of work to do!

And I am HORRIFIED that the Clintons are behind him.

Well it all depends on whether Hillary is running or not .. if she is not .. You can bet the house they will back Edwards

We can't afford to under-estimate any of the DemocRATs...we've got lots of work to do!

YEP .. and pay a great deal of attention to what the Dems are saying now

They sound like GWB in the 2000 election

They want a new kind of Washington .. they want to work for the people .. etc ..

Seriously listen to all the talking hacks also .. it's obvisous the all received their talking points

Without reading this entire thread, let me say this. Edwards is shockingly lacking in intellectual capital to make a serious run for the presidency. So far, his vague populist nostrums that I have watched and heard on talking head shows and in CSPAN carried speeches have been even less satisfying than that watered down beer they sell in Utah. Unless he is a very quick study, this guy will crash and burn. He will be ripped to shreds by the press, because the mainstream press is hostile to that sort of thing, in part because while liberal on social issues, they dislike contentless populism, or populism in general. He is a mental clone of that guy who secured the Dem nomination for governor in Florida, whose name presently escapes me due to a senior moment. Just why the guy didn't do his homework, and try to attain some quick gravitas before going prime time is a mystery to me. I don't understand it at all.

Well, with any luck, perhaps it will be a "twofer" when he is exposed and MAYBE the people of NC will make sure he lives in that big old house he bought in Georgetown, with no need to return to North Carolina!

Edwards is no Bill Clinton. Clinton had a near total mastery of the issues, indeed in that department he was the most impressive politician I have ever seen. That is why he secured the nomination. I would love to have been able to debate Clinton. Debating Edwards would be an exercise in ennui.

It's like he's SURE he can get the nomination. Grown in a petri dish to run, just like Bill Clinton.

It comes down to the Independant and Third Party Voters

I listen to Edwards yesterday when a reporter asked him about lawyers and tort reform and how could he distance himself so it won't hurt him .. Edwards said something like,(not his exact words) .. well if tort reform was needed to protect the american people then he wasn't afraid to address it

What is he going to say next .. that he is for closing the borders

I'm telling ya, that is what the Dems are after .. just like what they did in 92 and Ross Perot

Fast Eddie...he's the gov with the hair growing out of his ears right? LOL! Sounds like he's got his hands full :)

YEP and I don't know how he is going to pull it off considering that he promised to cut property taxes the same day he is sworn in to office

I can just hear the DNC honchos in their cave right now trying to select a viable candidate:

"John Edwards? -- too pretty."

"John Kerry? --too ugly."

"Hillary? -- too smelly."

"Dick Gephardt? - no eyebrows."

Clinton had a near total mastery of the issues, indeed in that department he was the most impressive politician I have ever seen.

I agree Edwards is not as good as Clinton is .. but one thing I have noticed with Edwards, he doesn't have a problem with flat out lying about anything and with a little coaching .. he could pull it off

True .. but if Clinton is backing Edwards .. you can bet they will work on Edwards .. remember their goal is regaining power

But that all depends if Hillary runs or not ..and I haven't ruled her our yet

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.