“The American voters have made their choice, and so have I. There is one man who knows that this is a time for bold leadership... knows in his heart there is a way to create one America.”
This evening in Grand Rapids, Michigan, John Edwards has endorsed Barack Obama. On the heels of today’s National Abortion Rights League (NARAL) endorsement, the Edwards endorsement makes this a very big day for Obama. Yesterday, Hillary Clinton won the West Virginia primary, a contest in which although she won the vast majority of white voters, Edwards, no longer a candidate, came away with seven percent of the vote.
In a rousing, impassioned speech, Edwards had kind words for Hillary Clinton, whose name was met with boos. He extolled Clinton’s health care proposals and her principles. “It is hard to get out there every day when the odds turn against you,” he said of Clinton’s drive and character.
“We must come together as Democrats. Stand up for the future of America. We are a stronger party because of Hillary Clinton. Now, what brought all of us here is the profound belief that we can change this country. When we can make two Americas one America.” He discussed the division between the walled world of Washington and all of us who stand outside — the empowered and the powerless. His tale of two Americas resonates in the working class state of Michigan. “Our job is to tear that wall down and give America back to the people. In health care, in education, the world sees America not as the shining light," he said, but as the country that condones torture. “We can change this,” the way we are viewed in the world.
"This will not be easy," he said. "But this election is about taking down the walls that divides us; to see what is possible. Barack Obama knows that to his core.”
“One America," said Edwards, "when we finally end the moral shame of 37 million who wake up in poverty. Our America does not allow our veterans to come home from tours of duty in Iraq only to live in terrible poverty, sleeping on grates.”
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Elen
Obama and Edwards.....What a great ticket!
2 - bliffle
Obama and Edwards IS interesting. We have the 'elitist' from a single-parent home who just managed to pay off his college loans recently and has a net worth of about $1million, and a 'populist' multi-millionaire.
That should cover the bases.
3 - Clavos
Each succeeding event in the Obama campaign makes him look more and more like the "same-old, same-old," he told us he wasn't.
Still, the Edwards endorsement should generate quite a few votes...
for Hillary.
4 - Zedd
Clavos,
Specifics please?
5 - Barbara Barnett
I thought at one time an Edwards-Obama ticket would be great; now I'm more in the Obama-Rendell or Obama-Webb camp. They can do Obama more good in PA and VA, repsectively.
6 - Baronius
Webb? Between him and Obama, they have almost a full term in the Senate. Really bad idea.
7 - Barbara Barnett
That's what (obviously) works against Webb as VP. I would like Edwards, I'm just not sure whether he can help Obama in the same way a guy like Rendell can. Rendell is a Clintonista in the big swing state of Pennsylvania. And Rendell is Jewish (which could play well with Jewish voters and defuse the Lieberman factor).
8 - KYJurisDoctor
Someone PLEASE ...
... tell BILLARY Clinton to STOP agonizing us with her NONSENSICAL campaign!
9 - Dr Dreadful
I wonder what Archie will do if McCain picks Lieberman as his VP...
Now that'd be fun to watch!
10 - Ruvy
YAWWWNNNNN.....
I'm waiting for some news articles around here. Does nobody care about 60 people dying in Jaipur - or Grad missiles slamming into shopping centers.
It is all just Obama-shit and surviving the popularity contests in Micronesia?
What a shallow people!
11 - Matthew T. Sussman
Let's see...
"60 people died today. That is sad. Dying is bad."
I need 290 more words before I have a full-fledged article. But what I have so far is fuckin' compelling.
12 - Barbara Barnett
Ruvy--terrible about what happened in Ashkelon today. And the tragedies both in China and Myanmar.
In the US, the very life and soul of the country are at stake. Picking the correct candidate and electing that person president will mean the difference between the US staying on the same, corrupt path to Hell (paved with good intentions or not) and recovering our soul. It is time for our country to do a "cheshbon nefesh," an accounting of our very soul and what it means to be the United States.
Who sits in the White House post Bush is the most critical question we face today. From that all other policies, issues and crises will be addressed or not.
13 - Clavos
In the US, the very life and soul of the country are at stake
A bit hyperbolic, Barbara.
I doubt the country will expire if John McCain is elected.
14 - Barbara Barnett
Clavos--
hyperbole admitted. Sometimes it's just needed, for effect if nothing else. McCain won't change anything. Won't undo the damage; will make the Supreme Court even more conservative than it already is; will likely lead to a further theocratization of this (he'll need and be beholden to the Hagees and Parsleys of the world if he wants to get elected.) Maybe I'm not being all that hyperbolic...
15 - Ruvy
And a stupid white politician endorses a black one is compelling, right?
Let's see if we can help you out, Matt.
From Googlenews....
1. China Daily
China scales up rescue operation
BBC News - 1 hour ago
China is mobilising 30,000 extra troops and 90 helicopters to help with the rescue operation after Monday's devastating earthquake.
2. Times Online
Jaipur blasts, LoC firing set Indo-Pakistan talks agenda
Pakistan Dawn - 40 minutes ago
Seven synchronized bombs exploded in the picturesque city of Jaipur Tuesday evening, killing more than 80 people and wounding more than 200.
3. Lebanon reverses decisions that angered Hezbollah
Los Angeles Times - 58 minutes ago
The government's move follows days of violence. It had outlawed the militia's communications network and fired a pro-Hezbollah official at Beirut's airport.
That's an American site, Matt.
Not compelling enough? Well, 14 years ago today, our cat, Flash, was born....
16 - Matthew T. Sussman
Well, gosh, Ruvy, sounds like you are really passionate about these news events, and have things to say about them! That's great to hear. We encourage that kind of thing.
Do you want me to re-forward you the instructions on how to submit a new BC article?
17 - Ruvy
Barbara,
Heshbon nefesh? Deciding what to do about Obama's antics are Heshbon nefesh? Please don't make me laugh. The fool, if he is elected, will be better for Israel than McCain - at least we in Israel will see who the real enemy is (hint: it ain't Hamas, HizbAllah or even the PLO). That will help us throw out American puppets like Barak, Olmert and Netanyahu, and may even inspire Israelis to ditch the European puppets, Peres, Beilin and Mazuz.
Maybe Obama'll be better for America also, but your political and financial problems are too difficult for any mortal to solve. At least apply the term Heshbon nefesh in its proper context. Attempting to divide the Land of Israel (as in "Two States for Two Peoples") requires Heshbon nefesh, because it violates the Torah. But leaving us in Israel aside, if you want a "spiritual accounting" (that's what Heshbon nefesh means for you Hebrew challenged folks out there in Yankeedoodleland) to deal with America, you need to look far beyond Obama, McCain and all the other shits who are leading you to hell.
You need to look at the hard questions:
Why is that ten year old girl dressing up to be a slut when she can barely have sex? Why is she being pushed to have sex on TV, video games, magazines and everywhere else in American culture?
Why are those teenagers drinking themselves drunk at a kegger when they are barely 14?
Why is that kid afraid of the "lunch tax" at school? Why are other kids allowed to collect one?
Why did that woman just have an abortion? Doesn't she understand that aborting a five month old fetus is killing a soul? Why is the beer swilling pig who got her pregnant so happy?
Why did my neighbor cheat on his property taxes this year?
Why did that IRS auditor force a poor family into living on the streets to collect taxes?
Why did those kids yell at a deaf man trying to sell cards with a sign-language alphabet on it? Why are they laughing?
Why is that CEO who just fired 14,000 people making $20,000,000?
Why are people looking away from that homeless man searching the garbage pail for food?
Those are the kinds of questions a Heshbon nefesh deals with. To be precise, look at an Orthodox prayer-book, a Sephardi one, and note. After the amida (Standing Prayer) comes a vidui (Confession) that is recited every single day, three times daily. It is the same Confession recited on Yom Kippur.
That, Barbara, is Heshbon nefesh - a spiritual accounting. That is hard, and real.
And I haven't even scratched the surface, Barbara, and you know it.
Your elections, for the supposed most powerful person on earth, are a joke, compared to a Heshbon nefesh.
And you know that, too.
18 - Dave Nalle
Well, I guess now Obama has the official stamp of full-on nation-destroying, mindless socialism and we can all move forward hand in hand in a lockstep towards our future of living in government authorized cubicles and eating soylent green.
Dave
19 - Ruvy
we can all move forward hand in hand in a lockstep towards our future of ..... eating soylent green.
Don't forget to ride your bike each day for two hours to generate the electricity to run your
government approved cubiclegated compound, Dave.20 - Ruvy
Oh, BTW, calling Obama or any other Democrat in the States a socialist is insulting socialists the world over, including yours truly.
21 - Cindy D
Great article Barbara.
LOL @ Dave.
I, for one, will surely expire if John McCain were to be elected president.
I agree KYJurisDoctor, I wish Hillary would call it a day, partly because there is no one on the left or right who actually understands what McCain is saying in his healthcare plan. I am hoping Obama will make him explain it. So far, McCain won't comment to anyone who understands enough about what it seems to be about, to ask questions.
One thing for sure is, the middle and lower classes would be paying more taxes if McCain were elected. He's hiding his tax increases for the bottom earners in his healthcare reform proposal. Right where the people who didn't go to college (and are therefore more likely to vote for him) won't notice them.
Anyone who cares to have a look at what he actually wants to do (not the generalized fluff on his website, which doesn't tell you anything), I will be grateful if you can enlighten me.
22 - Doug Hunter
Soylent green is an EPA approved climate neutral product, however you will still be required to wear your government issued methane sequestering underpants to prevent AGE (anthropogenic gaseous emissions) caused by the digestive process.
23 - Clavos
One thing for sure is, the middle and lower classes would be paying more taxes if McCain were elected.
The middle and lower classes will be paying more taxes no matter who is elected; the politicians are all rich; even when they raise taxes on the rich, they raise them more on the middle class.
The base taxpayer in this country is the consumer, who not only pays income, property and sales taxes, but all the taxes corporations pay, as well.
24 - troll
...which is as it should be in a free market
we are each responsible for our governments
25 - Doug Hunter
Also, Edwards quixotic crusade against poverty is the most idiotic piece of pandering bullshit.
POVERTY DOES NOT EXIST IN THE USA AS DEFINED BY THE UN.
To make up for it the bleeding heart graduates from the leftist arts colleges, who can't make it anywhere in private enterprise so they take a government position monitoring 'the problem', arbitrarily make a new definition of poverty based on percentage of median income.
This arbitrary 'poverty' farce does not include food benefits, housing benefits, medicaid or other government benefits or address the fact that yes, some people choose to not report income for the purposes of avoiding taxes (gasp!!!). It is simply a proxy for income inequality. The only way for there to be less 'poverty' is for the rich and middle class to make less therefore driving down the bar, or on top of free food, housing, and healthcare cutting a check for a couple thousand a month to anyone who doesn't want to work thereby raising them above this imaginary 'poverty' threshold.