Obama And Edwards Split On Poverty Plans

Edwards Wraps Up Rural Poverty Tour; Obama Takes On Urban Problems

(CBS)  By CBS News Political Unit intern Whitney Smith.

---

On the last day of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards' three-day tour of poverty stricken rural America, rival Sen. Barack Obama spoke Wednesday in Washington about how to improve life for the poor in urban America.

Obama spoke of the need to improve the odds for urban America, advocating an expansion of the earned-income tax credit and subsidized transitional jobs programs. He also urged the coupling of government assistance with local philanthropies and businesses to create organizations that combat poverty in urban communities across the nation.

At one point, Obama seemed to take aim at Edwards, who has tried to make poverty the main issue of his candidacy.

"This kind of poverty is not an issue I just discovered for the purposes of a campaign," Obama stressed just nine minutes into his comments. "It is the cause that led me to a life of public service almost twenty-five years ago."

The timing of Obama's speech - scheduled on the same day that Edwards scheduled his tour's finale in Kentucky - suggests that Obama plans on fighting Edwards for title of defender of the poor. In fact, Obama pointed out he turned down lucrative offers at major law firms to return to the south side of Chicago as a community organizer, while Edwards went on to make millions as a trial lawyer before beginning his career in public service.

Jonathan Prince, Edwards' campaign manager, told reporters on a conference call Wednesday that while Obama had "been working hard throughout his life to make a difference," Edwards was "committed to the issue of poverty long before he was in public life."

Asked about Obama's comment, Prince responded by emphasizing Edwards' record on the issue, adding, "I have no reason to think that Senator Obama was talking about Senator Edwards at all."

With a slight jab of their own, Edwards aides claimed their candidate is setting the agenda when to comes to issues like poverty.

"It's just another sign of the effect that John Edwards is having on this race by leading on these issues and getting other candidates to follow," said Edwards strategist Joe Trippi.

Edwards has called poverty the cause of his life and points out that after his unsuccessful vice-presidential bid in 2004, he returned to the state he represented in the Senate to run University of North Carolina's poverty center.

In a new campaign ad airing in New Hampshire, his wife Elizabeth also takes up the theme, telling voters that Edwards "has an unbelievable toughness, particularly about other people, and that is his ability to fight for them."

Yet Obama supporters, such as Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, who introduced the Senator at today's speech, believe that Obama has exhibited the most commitment to inner cities and offers the "best…plan for urban America."

Edwards' and Obama's recent plans to fight poverty have different demographic aims, too. Edwards' tour targeted "restoring hope to rural America," traveling in eight states in the South and the West, while Obama only traveled from the U.S. Capitol across the Anacostia River to speak to communities plagued by unemployment, inadequate health care and weak economies.

Both Obama and Edwards stressed the need for government intervention to reduce poverty. Both candidates talk about the importance of job growth and family literacy. Both propose programs to partner low-income families with nurses that offer home visits to help prepare new mothers and mothers-to-be. And both men have invoked Bobby Kennedy's poverty tours through the Mississippi Delta and Kentucky 40 years ago.

Obama talked about the plight of Washington's poor, who live in the shadow of the White House and the Capitol.

"The streets here are close to our capitol, but far from the people it represents. These Americans cannot hire lobbyists to roam the halls of Congress on their behalf, and they cannot write thousand-dollar campaign checks to make their voices heard," said Obama.

Meantime, in rural southwestern Virginia, some voiced concerns to Edwards that the attention his tour brings might reinforce stereotypes the rest of America harbors towards the rural poor.

"These challenges don't define the people of this area," Edwards said, the Associated Press reported. "Their strength and defiance and courage define them. We're here to help."

CBSNews.com Senior Political Editor Vaughn Ververs contributed to this report.

[SIDNEYWILLIAMSMD]

Hussein Obama: Give us a break. You did not discover poverty for this campaigne. That is a remarkable statement. Next you will tell us that you are the candidate of the common man. Only John Edwards with the $400 haircuts cares more than you. Next you will tell us you are more of a feminist than Hillary Clinton.

[realpatriot1]

doctorwho4,

If you read the article or learned about Obama's background before attacking you would know that as the 1st African-American leader of the Harvard Law Review Obama could've worked for any top notch law firm in the country for top dollar but chose instead to fight poverty on the south side of Chicago.

He's earned the right to make the claim. For that matter, so has Edwards.

I'm still waiting to see any committment to the poor from the other candidates from both parties.

[infidel_us]

Talk about LOSING WARS......the dems have been fighting the 'war on poverty' for the last 40 years. I think it's time we END THIS WAR and bring the troops home!

Note to libs: The word 'Troops' is a metaphor for MY TAX DOLLARS!!!!!

[realpatriot1]

infidel_US,

We don't need to cut and run in the War on poverty, we need to fight to win. Like in the middle east we need to learn from our mistakes and move forward with a better overall strategy, not give up the fight.

Just as we've falied to succeed in the middle east largely by not effectively leveraging all of our available resources(coalition-building, armored vehicles,etc.) we've use our resources ineffectively to battle poverty.

I've worked for non-profits and I know how much more could be done if government provided both the seed money and the oversight to weed out the corruption. Of course, in order to do that we need to also weed the corruption out of government itself.

But we can't give up the fight here or overseas. We need candidates that will apply the lessons of the past and offer new apporaches for the future.

[rushlimpdrug]

thanks to the candidates for caring about poverty so much while the country goes down the toilet.
- high cost of college tuition
- more import products than export
- more illegals
- unsecured borders
- Americans get fatter
- high drop-out rates
- laughable war on drugs
and on and on

[infidel_us]

realpatriot1,

My friend, Jesus himself said, "the poor will always be among you." I have no problem helping people who need a hand, but I have a BIG problem supporting deadbeats because of the poor choices THEY themselves have made.

If that makes me a cold hearted neocon, so be it.

[adventurepa]

I'm still waiting to see any committment to the poor from the other candidates from both parties.
Posted by realpatriot1

Realpatriot,
We will be waiting a long time!
Always love seeing millioniars talk about the poor. They need to live in the shoes for a week to get an understanding what the poor are up against.

Posted by infidel_us
but I have a BIG problem supporting deadbeats because of the poor choices THEY themselves have made.

If that makes me a cold hearted neocon, so be it.

Dont worry infidel_us, you'll always be a cold hearted neocon.

[realpatriot1]

infidel_US,

I don't like helping deadbeats either, I prefer to help people to help themselves. Anyone who has been poor can think of someone who at some point lent them a helping hand and most are grateful for it.

Our common friend Jesus was right that the poor will always be with us. He was also correct that we must love our neighbors as ourselves.

Poverty will never be entirely eliminated but much more can be done to alleviate it and there has been plenty of progress both here and abroad.

That needs to continue. The abuses within anti-poverty efforts does not.

[infidel_us]

Dont worry infidel_us, you'll always be a cold hearted neocon.
Posted by adventurepa at 10:16 AM : Jul 19, 2007

That may be. But at least I can say I support three children thru Catholic Charities down in Nicaragua. I KNOW where that money is going. I can see results. What do they know that our federal government doesn't?

And you probably also want to let these morons run our healthcare, don't ya? Ooooo...you better hurry.....Jerry Springer is almost on.

[infidel_us]

realpatriot1,

I would like to see a lot more self reliance come from within. As one can clearly see from the failure of our government run schools, throwing money at the probelm solves nothing.

[motherjones-2009]

I am shocked by all the negative publicity for Edwards. I don't see how it's so beyond comprehension that someone who earned their own fortune through legitimate work (the American dream?) could want to help disadvantaged people do the same. There's been so much criticism for Edwards, but none for the innumerable idiots (bush)who've "earned" their fortune by inheriting it from daddy, who most likely made that money off of *** everyone over in decades past

[prinzowhales]

Who loves the poor, the most? Who's loved them the longest? Who's pitting the labour of working Americans against the dollar a day wages of Communist China? Who's Big Labour-fakirs pose as the friends of the working man and then sell him out to their banker bosses? Well, Bilderberger Edwards? Well, Weasel Obama? The Democratic Party has betrayed the interests of working Americans for decades, colluding with the Republicans in passing anti-American trade policies and rewarding industries that export Americans jobs. Trust the Democrats on economy and they will perform the same way they did on getting us out of Iraq.

[infidel_us]

by inheriting it from daddy, who most likely made that money off of *** everyone over in decades past
Posted by motherjones at 11:32 AM : Jul 19, 2007

Before you get too self righteous, you better look at the Kennedy's. They made their family fortune from bootlegging and from old man Kennedy taking advantage of insider trading while he was chairman of the SEC.

Aside from talk and drwoning women, I don't see where he gives any portion of his income to the poor.

Or is it good enough for you that they stand there and talk the big talk - like Edwards?

[motherjones-2009]

The right wing loves to bash poor people--it's a "blame the victim" mentality. That's why you never see the right wing visiting Appalachian areas - not enough people, not enough photo ops and surely not enough money. Rethugs refuse to visit areas like this because there is not any bang for their buck.They look at a hungry child with disgust saying they should pull themselves up by the bootstraps. They then drum up some fake outrage for burning flags or ***.

[name_verify]

DNC NEWS UPDATE

Okra Winprey says to send checks payable to Barak the Magic Negro.

(the man from the L.A. paper says he's black but not authentically...)

[motherjones-2009]

Aside from talk and drwoning women, I don't see where he gives any portion of his income to the poor.

Posted by infidel_us

My post was about John Edwards; not the Kennedy's. Since you brought it up, the Kennedy family has done much good work for the underprivileged . Their foundation funds many worth causes.

By the way, if you want to talk about dead women, I have to ask what you have to say about Margie Schoedinger.

[donnie900]

Redefine Service. A government is supposed to provide some kind of a service to its people. And not make them afraid, and pick on them. Treating them like animals.

For too long legislators have gotten famous pointing their fingers at the poor in this country. With deliberately antagonistic solutions to their problems.

If we really are a super-power, we should at least have health care. Doncha think?

[donnie900]

President Clinton provided free air conditioners (which, btw are only about 50 bucks a piece) to poor old people in the middle of a hot summer. And yet his crime was being seduced in an extra-marital affair. Doncha see the irony in that bullshyyt?

I do.

You have to attack "the military mind".

[infidel_us]

I have to ask what you have to say about Margie Schoedinger.
Posted by motherjones at 12:17 PM : Jul 19, 2007

I don't know. Probably the same thing you said about Juanita Broderick, Jennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, and about half a dozen others.

[motherjones-2009]

don't know. Probably the same thing you said about Juanita Broderick, Jennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, and about half a dozen others.
Posted by infidel_us

Juanita, Jennifer, Paula,and Kathleen ALL have something in common besides their claimed encounters with President Clinton---they're still ALIVE!!!!!!! Margie Schoedinger was found with a bullet in her head. Isn't it odd the "liberal" media didn't report on the strange death of the woman who filed a rape law suit against bush and wound up dead nine months later?

[infidel_us]

death of the woman who filed a rape law suit against bush and wound up dead nine months later?
Posted by motherjones at 12:50 PM : Jul 19, 2007

Not really. Maybe she went in for a partial birth abortion and they botched the job. Better yet, maybe even the liberal MSM knows a wacko conspiracy theory when they se one and decided not to embarrass themselves further. You know, like the Dan Ratherbiased memos......

[infidel_us]

Okra Winprey says to send checks payable to Barak the Magic Negro.
Posted by screen_name_ at 12:11 PM : Jul 19, 2007

LOL...and just send Edwards' checks directly to his hair stylist! The same Edwards who charges $55K to give a speech on poverty. :) Two Americas, indeed.

[infidel_us]

Juanita, Jennifer, Paula,and Kathleen ALL have something in common besides their claimed encounters with President Clinton---Posted by motherjones at 12:50 PM : Jul 19, 2007

CLAIMED ENCOUNTERS???? Is this the N.O.W.'s preferred code for rape and groping? I like the way you libs exist in your own world of double standards. I'm sure that makes living with yourselves a lot more bareable. Have another glass of demjuice, mom.

[pepperp1]

I am shocked by all the negative publicity for Edwards. I don't see how it's so beyond comprehension that someone who earned their own fortune through legitimate work (the American dream?) could want to help disadvantaged people do the same. There's been so much criticism for Edwards, but none for the innumerable idiots (bush)who've "earned" their fortune by inheriting it from daddy, who most likely made that money off of *** everyone over in decades past
Posted by motherjones at 11:32 AM : Jul 19, 2007


It is called attack your opponents strength; a rich person can be absolutely be a benefactor of the poor. But remember the right hates the poor is their is subsides for the poor there is less money in the Treasury to start wars and steal with no bid contracts for your bonors er donors. What poor church are you aware ever seen the Vatican? Dismiss it for what it is an attack by his opponents on his character not negative publicity.

[prinzowhales]

'Ma' Bush says she thinks of little Billy Blythe Clinton as being like a "son". Her little man George, while being associated with the deceased Margie Schoedinger, has left a photographic legacy of fondling the heads of bald-headed men. He was known in his fraternity as "Lips" for his affinity for "that certain part of the male anatomy".

The male prostitute and White House press corps member, who ran the Talon News site and pitched soft ball questions to the Chimp at press conferences while advertizing himself for sale for *** on the net--always as the teapot, never the cup, if you get my drift--spent numerous overnighters at the White House according to security logs. This young unfortunate is strongly suspected of being the little newsboy who was kidnapped in Iowa by associates of the 'Boy's Town Ring' run by a Republican operative in Nebraska who went to jail for ripping off a Credit Union he ran...the ones who ran the White House midnight tours for male prostitutes under Bush41. Is it any wonder that Laura always looks like she skunked on Qualudes?

[pepperp1]

Juanita, Jennifer, Paula,and Kathleen ALL have something in common besides their claimed encounters with President Clinton---Posted by motherjones at 12:50 PM : Jul 19, 2007

CLAIMED ENCOUNTERS???? Is this the N.O.W.'s preferred code for rape and groping? I like the way you libs exist in your own world of double standards. I'm sure that makes living with yourselves a lot more bareable. Have another glass of demjuice, mom.
Posted by infidel_us at 12:59 PM : Jul 19, 2007

Personally I could care less if he porked them all, these were sins from his past and he was in denial when he lied he has repented and received forgiveness from God and Hillary his wife and it is even the right move on. Thinking back those many years ago, it is a shame he didn%u2019t pay for that ***, then the right would not have been so silly about the whole mess.

[mudrose-2009]

Okra Winprey says to send checks payable to Barak the Magic Negro.
Posted by screen_name_ at 12:11 PM : Jul 19, 2007

LOL...and just send Edwards' checks directly to his hair stylist! The same Edwards who charges $55K to give a speech on poverty. :) Two Americas, indeed.
Posted by infidel_us

And little Billy Jefferson Clintoid said today that the WAR is lost.

Seems like all three have an agenda and their theme is so retro it's pathetic. We've got black magic and his war on poverty, the hedge fund follies bumpersticker, hair spray, let my wife do all the talking on the controversial issues so you can't say it was me saying those things and an upcoming Jimmy Carter wanna-be. Do we really need the Clintoid roaming in the WH bedrooms again? Do we need of these ninnes in our spanking clean WH especially after we had to have it cleaned the when the Clintoids left?

[motherjones-2009]

In the amazing seven- page document, filed 12/2/02 at Fort Bend County Court in
Texas, Margie Schoedinger claimed that bush had abducted, drugged, raped and
beat her. Unfortunately, Margie Schoedinger never got to see her case in court with bush, because just under a year later, on 22nd September 2003, she was dead with a bullet in the head.

why, when %u2018Monica Lewinsky%u2019 is a household name, have you not heard of Margie Schoedinger?


There was a near complete media blackout of the events surrounding Margie Schoedinger%u2019s death in September 2003. This despite the enormity of the story.

[infidel_us]

pepperp1,

BIG difference between paying for poody and TAKING it without permission. If you can't see that, you must be a muslim.

[infidel_us]

But remember the right hates the poor
Posted by pepperp1 at 01:00 PM : Jul 19, 2007

Not true. The right hates INCOME REDISTRIBUTION by liberal democrats. They take everyone elses money, just not their own. If that's ok with you, move to Norway.

[infidel_us]

This despite the enormity of the story.
Posted by motherjones at 01:37 PM : Jul 19, 2007

Only to ultra leftwing moonbats, mom. :)

[mudrose-2009]

But remember the right hates the poor
Posted by pepperp1 at 01:00 PM : Jul 19, 2007

Not true. The right hates INCOME REDISTRIBUTION by liberal democrats. They take everyone elses money, just not their own. If that's ok with you, move to Norway.
Posted by infidel_us

I agree. Does all this income redistribution make it to the poor? We can ask Ray Nagin. With all that chocolate down there, and all the private donations to boot, see any improvements? But that's FEMA's fault. And yet, all see socialized medicine as their salvation. It'll be government sponsored euthanasia. But the right hates the poor. Actually not as much as the left.

[motherjones-2009]

Only to ultra leftwing moonbats, mom. :)
Posted by infidel_us

Is there ANYTHING

[infidel_us]

mudrose,

I'm originally from New Orleans, and I can assure you I KNOW what folks you are referring to.

But, in all fairness, the BIG picture is far more depressing. Lyndon Johnson's 'Great Society' was supposed to end poverty. All it did was rob a segment of society of dignity and enslave them all over again.

But because it was democrats doing the enslavement for political power's sake, it was swept under the rug. After two generations grew up in poverty, and poverty begets poverty, is it any wonder we are where we are today?

[motherjones-2009]

Only to ultra leftwing moonbats, mom. :)
Posted by infidel_us

What do you suppose would have happened if one of Clinton's accusors ended up dead? The uproar would have been deafening and family value rethugs like you, infidel, would have been leading the charge.

You happily overlook *** mongering, child molestation, even murder among your rethug brethren. You need help, dude.

[lars008-2009]

John Edwards Pushes $100 Million School Busing Boost...
Edwards has plan to diversify schools
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0707/4957.html
MoveOn.org: Edwards Best on Climate Change...
Edwards wins online poll on climate change
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/07/11/edwards_wins_online_poll_on_climate_change/
Man Snoozes During John Edwards's ABC Town Hall...Then Vanishes
http://newsbusters.org/stories/abc_sleeping_man_john_edwards.html

[lars008-2009]

bubba clintoon saya she is not trying%u2026 she is one%u2026 hahaha
'I DON'T THINK SHE'S TRYING TO BE A MAN'
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mlNW1yTpgss

CHELSEA VISITS THE TROOPS

Then there was the soldier who was talking to Chelsea Clinton.
She asked him how he felt about fear. He told her there were only 3 things he was afraid of.........

1) Osama
2) Obama
3) and Yo Mama

[lars008-2009]

hahahahahaha

Valerie Plame's Lawsuit Dismissed
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8QFR71G1&show_article=1

[lars008-2009]

hahahaha kerry's commie buddies said nobody was killed...

Kerry: No Bloodbath In Vietnam After US Redeployment
Sen. John Kerry said during a C-Span appearance that fears of a bloodbath after the US withdrawal from Vietnam never materialized. He says he's met survivors of the "reeducation camps" who are thriving in modern Vietnam. An award-winning investigation by the Orange County Register concludes that at least 165,000 people perished in the camps.
http://www.breitbart.tv/html/3274.html

[infidel_us]

What do you suppose would have happened if one of Clinton's accusors ended up dead?
Posted by motherjones at 02:22 PM : Jul 19, 2007

What makes you think some didn't? Accusers don't always have to be females.

[motherjones-2009]

What makes you think some didn't? Accusers don't always have to be females.
Posted by infidel_us

Who? Is this the best you can do--pull some lame innuendo out of your a**ss. Give us a NAME. All you guys know how to do is make stuff up.

[pepperwood2]

CHECK this out. DON'T MISS IT! We're finally going to get our way. Hope to see you there. 2008 can't come, soon enough for me. History is in the making. Happy days are here again.

Democratic Presidential Candidates Pander to Homosexual Lobby. Debate to be devoted solely to gay issues. HRC is calling it a historic event.

The 90-minute event is scheduled for Aug. 9 in Los Angeles. According to HRC, all major Democratic and Republican presidential candidates were invited. The list of those who have accepted: Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.; Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.; former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.; former Sen. Mike Gravel, D-Alaska; Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio; and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

"This event, which marks the first time in history the major presidential candidates will address a live GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) television audience."

Gravel published an open letter to the GLBT community.

"I promise to use the HRC forum to advance the gay rights agenda and educate the American public that gay rights is one of the great moral issues of our time," he said. "I will call upon all Americans to stop listening to the televangelists, psychologists and politicians and to do what is right & feels good".

In other words, Mackey said, the GAY AGENDA will come across loud and clear.

[infidel_us]

Who?
Posted by motherjones at 05:13 PM : Jul 19, 2007

From 1999
"Last week on The Today Show, Linda Tripp declared that she had received "threats to my life, threats to the lives of my children" from the president (via Monica Lewinsky). Similarly, *** Morris referred last month in the Washington Post to "the list of the 25 people who have died in mysterious circumstances in connection with [the Ken Starr] investigation." Does the president's scandal-management team include a hit squad?"

"The Paula Jones suit's victims include Bill Shelton, an Arkansas state trooper, and Kathy Ferguson, his fiancee, who both committed suicide. (Ferguson's ex-husband was named as a co-defendant in Jones' suit.) Flytrap's victims include Ed Willey, husband of Clinton-accuser Kathleen Willey, who committed suicide, and Mary Mahoney, a former White House intern gunned down in a holdup at a Starbucks."

There's a lot more.....just try reading something besides dailykoz and Rosie O'Lardass websites. :)

[name_verify]

A homeless person just crapped all over Edwards door step! Now where's he going to sleep?