Edwards Exits, Stage Left
John Edwards … over and out. I really thought he would stick with it through Super Tuesday but, in reality, I suppose the timing makes sense.
If you’ve been barely passing all semester, chances are you’re not going to be able to pull an A+ out of your ass come next week’s big exam. So dropping out now was probably a wise decision on his part.
I have been supporting Obama for some time, but have often said that I would probably have taken the Edwards route if I thought he stood a reasonable chance of making it to the general election. I figured this day would come, though. I just didn’t know when.
After all, his campaign coverage has been practically nil in comparison with Obama’s and Clinton’s. It was particularly noticeable throughout the debates, and mainstream media attention is, of course, crucial for any candidate’s success.
Is he not black enough? Not buxom enough? Nah, that’s probably not it. After all, they give plenty of coverage to the typical run-of-the-mill white boys of contrary political orientation.
So why is he clearly lowest man on the MSM totem pole? His message has consistently been as good, if not better in some instances, than his fellow Democratic opposition.
I’m glad he managed to hang in there for as long as he did, though, if for no other reason than to force the still-in-the-running dynamic duo to step it up a notch or two.
As his senior campaign adviser Joe Trippi said, “Look, the guy led on every single issue out there, whether it was poverty, the economy, global warming, or universal health care.
“He moved the progressive agenda much further than any other candidate - so much so that both Clinton and Obama adopted a lot of his language and agenda. Which is a great thing to have done.”
His populist viewpoint put pressure on his opponents to vie for union endorsements, and he was the first out of the gate with comprehensive plans for universal healthcare and education, forcing the others in the field to play catch-up.
Edwards was also the only one who consistently hammered corporate America for hurting middle and lower-income Americans, by sacrificing their health care and pension benefits in lieu of higher profits and salaries for the shareholders and CEOs respectively.
“The corporate greed that is destroying the middle class in this country is stealing your children’s future. It is stealing the future of Democrats’ children, Independents’ children, Republicans’ children.â€?, Edwards said.
Well, there you have it.
That, my friend, was the real deathblow to this campaign. Good night, John-Boy.
Considering that all major media outlets are owned by just a handful of massive corporations, it’s no wonder that they had little interest in touting his agenda.
With most news outlets having fallen into the hands of large conglomerates, conflicts of interest predictably interfere. They are in it for the money, after all, and are obligated by law to put profit ahead of all other considerations. Responsible journalism? Who needs it.
So Edwards has thrown in the towel. He may be gone, but I hope not forgotten, and that he has influenced both the Clinton and Obama camps in positive and permanent ways.
I wouldn’t hold my breath expecting either of them to jump on the corporate greed bandwagon, though, lest they, too, be shunned and suffer similar fates.
john edwards, edwards presidential campaign, presidential campaign, 2008 election, presidential campaign, presidential race, corporate media, mainstream media
January 31st, 2008 at 2:20 am
He will continue to lead in his plans. Sometimes the lone wolf moves the furthest.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:50 am
Once again you have nailed it exactly. Edwards was a threat to the stranglehold the corporations have on our nation. And as you point out, the media are an extension.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:09 am
This is a beautiful tribute to Edwards.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Excellent entry, Doug. As to your question on who I will support, I have not decided yet. I am not attached strictly to the Democratic Party so I am waiting to see if Bloomberg hops in, who comes out of the other parties and what happens after Super Tuesday. I am hoping for some inspiration from somewhere before election day
January 31st, 2008 at 4:32 pm
“is message has consistently been as good, if not better in some instances, than his fellow Democratic opposition.”
I was really proud of the campaign that John ran. It was clean and he managed to stay out of the big feuds for the most part.
I agree, he had a good message, but it wasn’t heard by enough people. Even when Rudy was low in th polls he and Ron Paul got just as much if not more coverage than John Edwards.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I agree with little navigator, “This is a beautiful tribute to Edwards.”
January 31st, 2008 at 5:05 pm
[...] Presidential hopeful John Edwards, a great candidate in my estimation, has bowed out of the running, after finding himself in a Ralph Nader-like spot between two stronger(?) candidates. When Edwards [...]
January 31st, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I think that he should be proud of what he was able to accomplish and really do wish that I could have considered him as a viable option. It’s rather pathetic that good candidates (I suppose even on the other side of the fence, they might think much the same … those few that think, anyway) that those crazy enough to apply for the position of leader of the nation can be shut down at the whim of the network bigwigs.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Nick - Bloomberg, hmmm. That’s an interesting take, the thought hadn’t crossed my mind. No surprise, there’s not a lot of it left, I’ll admit. But I think I remember something on Edwards website, where someone was even proposing if John got the nomination, choosing Bloomberg as his running mate. I know little about Bloomberg, since he never made the decision to jump into the race, but in case he decides to do so, I’ll go check him out and give him a pre-screening.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Bloomberg is a D than switched to an R just to run for major of NY.
I’m open to listen to anyone who thinks Bloomberg would make a great president. But from where I sit, I’m definately scratching my head in confusion. Why Bloomberg? What are his qualifications?
I look forward to your pre-screening, Doug.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:03 pm
I’m on it, little navigator. I’m intrigued.
February 2nd, 2008 at 1:35 am
Doug (and little navigator),
I wrote a piece on Bloomberg last summer at the following address:
http://censorspace.com/?p=169
Bloomberg is an independent now, he registered as a Republican for a less-crowded primary in 2001 and switched to independent recently for God knows what reason.
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 am
Yes, I know he switched to an Independent, but he’s a Democract. Switching parties to run for an election is his thing.
I don’t like when candidates do that. Stick to your true party and try to win an election that way. If you can’t win within your own party, then tough. Don’t switch just to run.
Btw, I like Bloomberg. His personal story is amazing.
February 3rd, 2008 at 2:02 am
Nick, Read your very well-written article, and although I doubt if Bloomberg decides to enter the fray this time around, I think he’s certainly someone who may be worth watching. Of course, I’m still checking him out. By the way, I tried to comment … but this IP address has apparently been blacklisted. That was a wasted paragraph!