February 04, 2007
Two Americas
Of all the demogogues of both the left and the right (yes, you read that correctly) John Edwards has to be scored at or near the top on any list. Really!
John Edwards, he of Two Americas fame. You know who I mean, the Vice Presidential Candidate in 2004, the one that ran as second banana to John "I have the hat" Kerry? Yeah, that one!
The fellow that rants about how we treat our poor, but who sues the crap out of docs who treat the poor to enrich himself. The same guy that is building his own multi-million dollar dwelling somewhere in the Carolinas when he could use some of that ill gotten gain to help so many homeless folk. Now Mr. Edwards, who really, honestly thinks he has a shot at the Presidency (gag me with a spoon folks) has weighed in on Iran and their nukes. Yeppers, and like his former running mate, he was against them before he was for them. His first shot at it when speaking before the Herzliya Conference in Israel:
...Let me be clear: Under no circumstances can Iran be allowed to have nuclear weapons. For years, the US hasn’t done enough to deal with what I have seen as a threat from Iran. As my country stayed on the sidelines, these problems got worse. To a large extent, the US abdicated its responsibility to the Europeans. This was a mistake. The Iranian president’s statements such as his description of the Holocaust as a myth and his goals to wipe Israel off the map indicate that Iran is serious about its threats." [emphasis added]"My country hasn't done enough...abdicated its responsibility to the Europeans"? When it is his party demanding those very things? Since he spoke in Israel, I guess we ought to just mark it up chutzpah!
Ahh, but dear readers, that is not the half of it. Two weeks later, in an interview with Ezra Klein, Edwards answers a question thusly:
Klein: Can we live with a nuclear Iran?How's that for double speak? Yeah, yeah, I know, repubs do it too. So, that makes Edwards duplicity OK? Nope, all it does is underscore the need to elect honest folk, of which you will find damned few in the halls of Washington D.C.Edwards: "I’m not ready to cross that bridge yet. I think that we have lots of opportunities that we’ve … " [emphasis added]
Two Americas? You bet. One that is sick of the duplicity of politicians of all stripes and one that will defend this kind of crap because it comes from one of their guys.
A tip 'O The GM Derby 
to Oxblog
Two Americas - One where John Edwards uses a tax dodge to avoid paying Medicare taxes on $5,000,000 in self-employment earnings whereas "working families" pay Medicare taxes on 100% of theirs.
The Edwards loophole, Robert Novak, 03/01/2004
Manipulating the IRS code to maximize his personal wealth comes at the peak of a campaign where Edwards has raised himself from the lowest of also-rans to become a strong runner-up by propounding his concept of "two Americas" -- including one America where the rich play dirty tricks on the other America. In an early presidential debate in Columbia, S.C., last May 3, he promised "a better life for our families" that would be "based on the values of hard work and responsibility, not accounting tricks and corporate greed."
There is no record that Edwards, during his six years in the Senate, ever even considered legislation to close the giant loophole of the personal corporation. He must know that loophole well, because he is a lawyer who took advantage of it. He has not been seriously challenged on this so far, but surely will if he is put on the ticket in Boston this summer.
Posted by Woody at February 4, 2007 03:36 PM
Edwards is just playing the same game that nearly every Democrat does. At the Herzliya Conference he said what he knew would appeal to that crowd.
When he speaks before one of these rabid appeasing defeatist organizations he will say something completely different and hope no one notices. Maybe he doesn't even notice himself.
A cadre of politicians learned from their master that they can redefine reality as easily as the meaning of words like "is" to suit their purposes.
They did not realize they would lose their soul in the process.
P.S. I can count half a dozen examples of Democrats who demanded we work with our allies but then decried it when we did. One of the most recent examples was our excellent cooperative efforts with Ethiopia in Somalia. It didn't take long before Peter Beinart writes in Time Magazine about the U.S. "outsourcing" our security.
And just as many examples from the same loony lefties who swore we should take unilateral action or undertake unilateral negotiations with North Korea.
Posted by Mike's America at February 4, 2007 07:34 PM
There are two Americas, and Edwards's house takes up most of one of them.
Posted by Assistant Village Idiot at February 4, 2007 08:55 PM
Two Americas is not the story. The real challenge befor us is a political leadership without the courage to lead America. Both Democrats and Republicans are selling America at a discount.
Our friends in Europe are treatening the US with a carbon tax if we do not embrace global warming treaties. What has Bush's response been to date? Silence. Why? Fear. The appropriate response should be that he will consider taxing luxury cars and assorted luxury goods. Given that this will fall largely upon German automobiles and european manufacturers it will send a signal to our European friends that if they wish to play tough we are happy to oblige them.
The US needs to start acting like a world power relative to our European friends. They are a bunch of back stabbing wimps. If we slowed our trade with Europe they will feel far more pain than the US.
Next we have teh EU suggesting that they will not share financial data with America becasue we represent a privacy threat. Again we should act in a firm manner suggesting that it would be fine for them to with hold the information if they must but should be aware that there will be real consequences. The US will need to review all miliatry contracts of european-based corpprations in light of new security concerns. This again will prompt european comapnies to think twice about staying silent.
Posted by beal at February 4, 2007 09:11 PM
As Mike said, Edwards is playing political games. No way will his own Party hold him accountable. The days of honorable politics is long gone.
However, I see a larger problem in America--Balkanization. What can Americans unite over? Is everyone marching to his own drummer?
Posted by Always On Watch at February 5, 2007 09:33 AM
Mr. Dean sounds like a Hillary wannabe, but much less skilled. I don't think his snowball will hold up well when Hillary turns up the heat.
Posted by civil truth at February 5, 2007 10:53 PM
