The Political Universe 10.30.07: Edwards Blasts Clinton
Posted by Jason Easley on 10.30.2007
Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards delivered speech yesterday that not only criticized Hillary Clinton, but also questioned her morals. I’ll tell you what Edwards said, and ask why more Democratic candidates haven’t followed his lead? Plus, the Iowa Democratic Party moved their caucus to January 3. I’ll let you know why this is good for the state, but bad for the candidates. All this and plenty more is inside the Tuesday edition of the column.
Edwards links Clinton to "bankrupt political leadership"
In a speech yesterday at St. Anselm's College in Manchester, NH, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards leveled some strong criticism at frontrunner Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY). "I saw the chase for campaign money at any cost by the frontrunner in this race -- and I did not join it -- because the cost to our nation and our children is not worth the hollow victory of any candidate. Being called president while powerful interests really run things is not the same as being free to lead this nation as president of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. If protecting the current established structure in Washington is in your interest, then I am not your candidate," Edwards said.
Edwards talked about how the American people responded after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, and how the government has let the American people down. "In every instance we see an American people who are good, decent, compassionate and undeterred. And, American people who are better than the government that is supposed to serve and represent them. And what has happened to the American "can do" spirit? I will tell you what has happened: all of this is the result of the bitter poisoned fruit of corruption and the bankruptcy of our political leadership."
Later he talked about Clinton's homeland security fundraiser, "And a few weeks ago, around the sixth anniversary of 9/11, a leading presidential candidate held a fundraiser that was billed as a Homeland Security themed event in Washington, D.C. targeted to homeland security lobbyists and contractors for $1,000 a plate. These lobbyists, for the price of a ticket, would get a special "treat" -- the opportunity to participate in small, hour long breakout sessions with key Democratic lawmakers, many of whom chair important sub committees of the homeland security committee. That presidential candidate was Senator Clinton."
"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 -- and history tells us that when that bus stops there it is the middle class that loses. When I asked Hillary Clinton to join me in not taking money from Washington lobbyists -- she refused. Not only did she say that she would continue to take their money, she defended them. Today Hillary Clinton has taken more money from Washington lobbyists than any candidate from either party -- more money than any Republican candidate. She has taken more money from the defense industry than any other candidate from either party as well. She took more money from Wall Street last quarter than Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and Barack Obama combined," Edwards continued.
Interestingly, Edwards is the first Democratic candidate to indirectly question Clinton's morals. "I am not perfect -- far from it -- but I do understand that this is not a political issue -- it is the moral test of our generation… Down one path, we trade corporate Democrats for corporate Republicans; 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."
This speech really was Edwards putting all of his cards on the table. He is in a tight three way race in Iowa, where he needs a win to probably keep his campaign alive. The sad thing about Edwards's speech is that he is 100% correct. What difference does it make if we replace the Republican machine with a Democratic one? The Democratic Party has thrown out it values in a desperate quest to win the White House. This is the sort of thing that Obama should be talking about, but he has slumbered through most of this campaign, and Edwards has taken on the role of the angry liberal populist.
If Obama spoke with half as much passion as Edwards does about Clinton, then there might be a real race for the Democratic nomination. If Edwards had Obama's resources, Clinton might have been in some trouble, but outside of Iowa, Edwards is a distant third. Without a win, or some serious good fortune, Edwards will probably end up finishing third among the Democrats. After the presidency of George W. Bush the Democrats should be looking to return to their roots instead of becoming GOP lite, but it seems that winning matters more to many Democrats than fixing our broken political system.
The radio show
This week on the radio show George, Will, and I play a game of buy or sell. Our topics include Hillary Clinton, Ron Paul, and war with Iran. You can listen to the show by either clicking this link, or by using the media player below.
Iowa Democrats move caucus to January 3, 2008
On Sunday night, the Iowa Democratic Party State Central Committee announced that they had voted to move up the date of the state's Democratic caucus from January 15, 2008 to January 3, 2008. This move was expected after Republicans in the state moved their caucus to the third, as both Democrats and Republicans agree on the need to keep their state's first in the nation status.
"This date maintains the important common-sense principle of beginning the delegate selection process in the same calendar year as the election for which we are selecting delegates," said Scott Brennan, Iowa Democratic Party State Chair. "But the overarching principle is to retain the importance of the caucuses. Holding the caucuses on the same day as the Republican Party of Iowa shows solidarity and unity in working to protect Iowa's First-in-the-Nation status, an important argument in the years to come."
What does all this mean? Well, a new University of Iowa poll shows Clinton and Obama locked in a virtual dead heat in the state. Clinton is at 28.9%, Obama 26.6%, and Edwards is third with 20%. While Mitt Romney is now at 36.2%, and looks to be running away with the state, the twelve fewer campaign days mean that the Democratic candidates will be working even more furiously to shore up their support in the Hawkeye state. I understand the pride that comes with first in the nation status, but is it really all that important in the 2008 frontloaded primary schedule?
I think that it is, but not in the same way that it used to be. Iowa used to be the launching pad, or the coming out party for a candidate, and it seems that Mitt Romney is trying to use Iowa and New Hampshire for just this purpose. However for a frontrunner like Hillary Clinton, who is looking at a bonanza of delegates on February 5, Iowa is a potential trap that could derail her momentum and open the door for either Obama or Edwards. I still say that everything is starting way too early next year, and if voters are subjected to long, tedious, negative campaign featuring the likes of Giuliani and Clinton then I would expect voter turnout to sink even lower.
Dan Martin's excellent column looks at building a national consensus from the center.
That's all for me today. I may be back tomorrow night with a Democratic debate recap, or I may give it a look and decide to sit this one out. Either way, I'll be back here on Friday with more political news and views. Have a great week.
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