Edwards Makes New Push Against Clinton

Democratic Candidate Casts Front-Runner As Part Of Corrupt Washington System

(AP)  John Edwards on Monday cast Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton and her ties to lobbyists as part of a corrupt Washington system that voters should reject in the presidential election.

Edwards railed against the "bankruptcy of our political leadership," an approach that his campaign said would be a major thrust of his efforts in the two months before the first nomination voting. With Clinton appearing to gain strength with every poll, Edwards seemed less to target Republican President Bush's leadership than to cast fellow Democrat Clinton as the insider whom voters should reject

"This corruption did not begin yesterday - and it did not even begin with George Bush, although Lord knows it's been present while George Bush has been president," the 2004 vice presidential nominee said in a speech at St. Anselm College. "It has been building for decades until it now threatens literally the life of our democracy."

"Senator Clinton's road to the middle class takes a major detour right through the deep canyon of corporate lobbyists and the hidden bidding of K Street in Washington," he said. "And history tells us that when that bus stops there, it is the middle class that loses."

Edwards' speech was subdued and direct. The campaign did not set up a flashy venue - he spoke from a podium in a small stripped-down academic auditorium with just one well-worn campaign banner hanging behind him. He read from his remarks and didn't make any attempt to fire up the crowd and draw applause.

He cast the 2008 election as the culmination of an epic struggle between Washington greed and the power of the people. "This is the moral test of our generation," Edwards said.

"Down one path, we trade corporate Republicans for corporate Democrats; our cronies for their cronies; one political dynasty for another dynasty, and all we are left with is a Democratic version of the Republican corruption machine," he said.

Although Clinton has become the clear front-runner in the Democratic primary, she still has a vulnerability - a tight race in the leadoff state of Iowa where Edwards and Barack Obama are within striking distance in current polls. But Edwards' support has dropped, according to a University of Iowa Hawkeye poll out Monday.

The poll had Clinton with 29 percent, Obama with 27 percent and Edwards with 20. Edwards was down six points from August.

Clinton's lead is stronger in New Hampshire, the other early-voting state.

Her campaign said Edwards was turning to attack politics.

"In 2004, John Edwards said, 'If you are looking for the candidate that will do the best job of attacking the other Democrats, I am not your guy,"' said Clinton spokesman Phil Singer. "But now that his campaign has stalled, he's become that guy."

With many voters unhappy with Mr. Bush's presidency, Democratic candidates have been promoting themselves as agents of change. That includes Clinton, but Edwards is challenging her and trying to make the race a referendum on who will bring real change to Washington.

"Maybe I have been freed from the system and the fear that holds back politicians because I have learned that there are much more important things in life than winning elections at the cost of selling your soul," Edwards said.

"I saw the chase for campaign money at any cost by the front-runner in this race," Edwards said. "And I chose not join it because the cost to our nation and our children is not worth the hollow victory by any candidate."

The former North Carolina senator said Clinton has refused to accept his challenge not to accept political donations from Washington lobbyists. Clinton has gained strength in the polls since Edwards started making that case several months ago, but he said he thinks it will make the difference in the election.

Singer responded by questioning Edwards' ties to special interests. Edwards has taken donations from industries that employ federal lobbyists, though he doesn't take donations directly from the lobbyists themselves. "If Mr. Edwards is so concerned about the influence of special interests, he should give back the hundreds of thousands of dollars he's taken from health care, securities, and insurance companies," Singer said.

[usaprophet]

You get the sense that the country is desperate for someone to show us the way. Not the old way. Not the same way, but a NEW WAY. Think about this for a minute. What if we pulled all of our troops out of South Korea? They''ve been there for 50 years. Tens of thousands of them. What if we quit worrying about Iran, but instead, realized that its having a nuclear weapon will not mean the end of the world? What if we pulled all of our troops out of Iraq, and brought them all home? What if we realistically addressed the National Debt, and paid attention to REALLY DOING SOMETHING about stopping illegal immigration? These are the ideas Republican Presidential candidate, Dr. Ron Paul. He''s a ten term Congressman and a physician who has delivered over 4,000 babies. Ron Paul has been married to the same woman for more than 50 years, which means he doesn''t come to the race with the sort of baggage some of the other candidates for the White House do. Paul is given to mulling things over morally. He was once a pious Lutheran, but now attends a Baptist church. He never travels alone with women, and once even dressed-down an aide for using the expression "red-light district" in front of a female colleague. I support the 2008 candidacy of Congressman, Ron Paul for President of The United States. Candidates with the high level of personal integrity and track record of adherance to The Constitution Ron Paul always demonstrates only come around once in a lifetime, if we''re lucky. Go Ron!

[gunownerdan]

Edwards is a member of the CFR(Council on Foreign Relations) just like Clinton, Obama, Richardson, Giuliani, Romney, Thompson, and McCain.
The CFR has hijacked the foreign policy of both parties and their main goal is to destroy American soveriengty and our constitution leading to the formation of a North American Union with Canada and Mexico.
Dr. Ron Paul is NOT a member of the CFR and he is the only anti-war and pro-liberty candidate running for president.
ronpaul2008.com

[sharncedar]

I want to see their children serve, and I dont mean some remf a s s job, I mean boots on the ground combat arms, cavalry scout.

Posted by jraf766 at 07:54 AM : Oct 30, 2007

I would like to see them serve as practice targets, personally. They aren''t good enough to wear the uniform.

[jraf766]

All of the people that are running are corrupted, I dont like any of them, they sent me to Iraq twice, except Ron Paul. However they are part of taking over the middle east with troops blood.

I want to see their children serve, and I dont mean some remf a s s job, I mean boots on the ground combat arms, cavalry scout.

an Iraq veteran

[jowand]

And he''''ll stand up to Iran - not that she will, she couldn''''t even have the courage to divorce a guy who''''d unzip his pants for anyone but her.

Yeah, right.

Another MoveOn.Org paid loser and coward. But hey, he''''s got a Carter smile (as phoney as it is) and a $800 haircut.

Posted by SendReidPelo at 02:23 AM : Oct 30, 2007

Hillary is the moveon.o-r-g-a-s-m candidate not Edwards, he''s just a slip and fall lawyer.

[jowand]

He once was once a pious Lutheran, but now attends a Baptist church. He never travels alone with women, and once even dressed down an aide for using the expression "red-light district" in front of a female colleague. I support the 2008 candidacy of Congressman, Ron Paul for President of The United States. Candidates with the high level of personal integrity and track record of adherance to The Constitution Ron Paul always demonstrates only come around once in a lifetime, if we''''re lucky. Go Ron!
Posted by thefarrier at 10:47 PM : Oct 29, 2007

One SPAM steak medium rare please.

[adian1-2009]

Wrong way, Mr. Edwards. A huge majority of us Democrants do not think you are the best candidate. I suppose that by now you have realized that reality. You wouldn''t be a winning bet against the Republicans. The more you attack our winning bet --Ms. Clinton-- the more you will be alieanating our favor. I haven''t heard Ms. Clinton getting personal against you. You are bleeding from your self-inflicted wounds. You tried to get campaign money from every source. You did not succeed. Now you blame the one that succeeded in that goal. Come on, Mr. Edwards. Accept our rejection of your candidacy and stop trashing your sisters/brothers. Republicans do not need your help for trashing personalities. Stop helping them.

[sendreidpelo]

bee - exactly what it is - certainly NO Custer.

Vote for the cuckolded shrew, you''re probably just like her. No courage, No scruples, No Self-respect, NOTHING.

[sendreidpelo]

Jimmy Carter Edwards Jr. sez he pokes fingers at political ''ho and cuckolded shrill shrew devoid of self-respect.

Well, neither is this ambulance chaser who like his Clinton friends or Boy Obama wants to be President yet like them never served one day in the military. Except maybe the cub scouts.

And he''ll stand up to Iran - not that she will, she couldn''t even have the courage to divorce a guy who''d unzip his pants for anyone but her.

Yeah, right.

Another MoveOn.Org paid loser and coward. But hey, he''s got a Carter smile (as phoney as it is) and a $800 haircut.

[drivelphobe]

Give it up Edwards and go sell Palmade or Brylcream along with your snake oil.

[radiob-2009]

Edwards is telling the "truth" problem is he is not including himself and all other major party candiates in his critique of Clinton. Make all of them take truth serum and a polygraph test before another debate both sides of the aisle and then ask some tough questions.

[idlepugilist]

Fatalists and butt-draggers. You think America is going down the tubes with Hillary or Obama or Rudy, and you''re tired of the early race? Who brought this on? Take a look in the mirror. The insatiable desire for news snippets, and the chance to be heard in this media venue made it necessary for the candidates to plant the seed early. Oh yes, let''s not forget about all the men who fear having a woman president. You''re sounding like muslims.

[jsilver2th]

Colbert Colbert
He''s Our Man

The others belong in the garbage can...

WRIET-IN STEVEN COLBERT FOR PRESIDENT IN ALL PRIMARIES IN ALL PARTIES

[usaprophet]

You get the sense that the country is desperate for someone to show us the way. Not the old way. Not the same way, but a NEW WAY. Think about this for a minute. What if we pulled all of our troops out of South Korea? They''ve been there for 50 years. Tens of thousands of them. What if we quit worrying about Iran, and instead, realized that its having a nuclear weapon will not mean the end of the world? What if we pulled all of our troops out of Iraq, and brought them all home? What if we realistically addressed the National Debt, and paid attention to REALLY DOING SOMETHING about stopping illegal immigration? These are the ideas Republican Presidential candidate, Dr. Ron Paul. He''s a ten term Congressman and a physician who has delivered over 4,000 babies. Ron Paul has been married to the same woman for more than 50 years, which means he doesn''t come to the race with the sort of baggage some of the other candidates for the White House do. Paul is given to mulling things over morally. He once was once a pious Lutheran, but now attends a Baptist church. He never travels alone with women, and once even dressed down an aide for using the expression "red-light district" in front of a female colleague. I support the 2008 candidacy of Congressman, Ron Paul for President of The United States. Candidates with the high level of personal integrity and track record of adherance to The Constitution Ron Paul always demonstrates only come around once in a lifetime, if we''re lucky. Go Ron!

[usaprophet]

Most Americans just don''t seem to care that our country, along with the Constitution upon which it was founded, is being flushed-down the NWO toilet by our nations ruling elite. Most of Congress and the President warn and insite fear in the sheeple about the prospect of terrorism, while they at the same time fund and conduct illegal wars overseas that do nothing but encite the terrorism which their Draconian Laws like the Patriot Act and The Real ID Act pretend to protect us from. Think about it. What would you do, if someone invaded the U.S. for no reason, and took over. You''d be mad as hell, and you''d be making trips to their country in order to give a little payback. Wake up America! It''s not about protecting you from terrorism, or saving our planet from Global Warming, or any of that fear-mongering garbage the tube feeds you 24/7. It''s about feeding the military industrial complex and facilitating the ruling elite''s ability to ratchet-down control over the American people, placing us into a total control grid where they can surveille, track and control everywhere we go and everything we do. It''s the groundwork for totalitarianism. I weep for my country, and for those of you who are so distracted, dumbed-down, or outright brainwashed by mainstream media, which endlessly regurgitates scientifically-crafted streams of information aimed at keeping their eyes closed to the realities of the world around them, that you fail to recognize this. Go Ron Paul!.

[frb01]

The post by AJMarine is right, she promised all kinds of jobs to upstate NY, she has not even deposited one. This is the land that time forgot, the upstate economy is pathetic. I am tired of the media annointing her as the nominee, last time I check it was three months until the first primary. The media touts her experience, eight years as first lady counts. By my calculation she and Edwards are a year apart in experience, Obama is a couple years less, but has time in the ILL legislature. WE NEED ALL VOICES HEARD FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS OF ALL THOSE WHO ARE RUNNING. Everyone counted out McCain six months ago, I think he is running a pretty *** good recovery right now.

[ajmarine1]

In a memo to supporters yesterday, the Obama campaign once again tried to use Clinton''s vote against her. The problem with the Senate legislation, the Obama camp argued, went beyond simply singling out an arm of the Iranian military. "The Kyl-Lieberman amendment contains language that sets forth an entirely new rationale for keeping US troops in Iraq and, if need be, for attacking Iranian forces," wrote Obama advisor Greg Craig, President Clinton''s lawyer during impeachment.

"The problematic language in the resolution says that it is a ''critical national interest of the United States'' to counter Iran''s influence among the Shia population of Iraq. Without a doubt, President Bush can cite that language as authorizing him to maintain and use US troops in Iraq for the purpose of containing Iran, cirtailing Iran''s influence in Iraq, and, if need be, to expand our troops'' activities beyond Iraq''s borders to pursue and attack Iranian forces."

"Senator Clinton ," Craig continued, "voted to approve the new mission for our troops, and she blessed the new rationale for their continued presence in Iraq."


Posted by Ari Berman at 10/26/2007 @ 11:22am |

[tylenol6]

HITLERY CLINTON = NEW WORLD ORDER.........

[cfin5]

I''m impartial to either candidate. Yet I see no reason why Senator Edwards will not summarily thrash Hilliary''s cannasticator right of of thee Ponderosa. Unless it''s a CFR thing of course......wink!

[lochlan-2009]

"It has been building for decades until it now threatens literally the life of our democracy."

"This corruption did not begin yesterday - and it did not even begin with George Bush, although Lord knows it''s been present while George Bush has been president,"

He couldn''t be more accurate. Of course, every educated American knows this. He''s just putting it out there for the record. Hillary, is up to her ears in corporate campaign contributions (corporate IOU''s). And we''re looking at a presidential run that could cost $1 billion. This ship called America is sinking and fast.