Obama Praises Edwards, Criticizes Clinton
DENVER -- At a rally at Denver University today, Barack Obama thanked John and Elizabeth Edwards for their role in the election.
"John has spent a lifetime fighting to give a voice to the voiceless and hope to the struggling and at a time when our politics is too focused on who's up and who's down, he consistently has made us focus on who matters," Obama said to the thousands who packed the university's Ritchie Center.
"John and Elizabeth believe deeply that two Americas can become one and their campaign they have ended but it lives on in all of us who believe."
Campaign staffers confirmed that John Edwards called Obama yesterday while Obama was in El Dorado, Kansas. Edwards phoned Obama to tell him that he may be dropping out of the race and called him again this morning to inform him of his decision.
"I congratulated him on a great race and what a gracious way to end by going back to New Orleans," he said.
Soon after Obama praised Edwards, he quickly went after Hillary Clinton in a speech which was intended to focus on his own electability.
"I know it is tempting, after another presidency by a man named George Bush, to simply turn back the clock, and to build a bridge back to the 20th century. There are those who will tell us that our party should nominate someone who is more practiced in the art of pursuing power, that's it's not yet our turn or our time," Obama said.
"There was also a time when Caroline Kennedy's father was counseled by a former president to 'be patient,' and to step aside for 'someone with greater experience.' But John F. Kennedy responded by saying, 'The world is changing. The old ways will not do…It is time for a new generation of leadership.'"
Caroline Kennedy introduced Obama at the Denver event and sat on stage while he spoke. Former Democratic presidential candidate Gary Hart, former Denver Mayor Frederico Pena, and former Denver Broncos receiver Rod Smith were also in attendance.
Obama's jabs at Clinton grew fiercer and more obvious as went through a laundry list of criticisms of her.
"It's time for new leadership that understands that the way to win a debate with John McCain is not by nominating someone who agreed with him on voting for the war in Iraq, who agreed with him in voting to give George Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iran, who agrees with him in embracing the Bush-Cheney policy of not talking to leaders we don't like and who actually differed with him by arguing for exceptions for torture before changing positions when the politics of the moment changed."
"Talking tough and tallying up your years in Washington is no substitute for judgment, and courage, and clear plans. It's not enough to say you'll be ready from day one – you have to be right from day one."