Edwards contradiction?

Posted: Friday, July 13, 2007 4:45 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro
As we mentioned yesterday, during the NAACP forum Edwards called for ex-convicts’ voting rights to be re-instated. But a rival campaign tipped us off that Edwards voted against a 2002 amendment that would have done just that. It was introduced by Sen. Harry Reid and co-sponsored by Sens. Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Russ Feingold (D-WI). The measure failed 63-31.

It would have been tacked on to a bill -- introduced by Dodd -- to help fund states to meet federal election technology requirements. The bill passed 99-1.

Of the Democratic presidential candidates who were in the Senate at the time, Clinton voted for Reid amendment; Edwards, Dodd and Biden all voted against.

“The vote was to protect the underlying bill to expand voting rights,” the Edwards campaign said, and quickly pointed out, “Dodd sponsored the bill and voted with Edwards.”

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Comments

So you guys honestly don't get how legislation is made and negotiated in DC?

Insulting post; way to buy into the superficial stuff and assist with "rival" campaign spin.

You can't even name the "rival" campaign? Ugh.

Gary, Des Moines, IA (Sent Friday, July 13, 2007 6:00 PM)

This is typical of First Read and NBC. Can you be any more anti- Edwards? No sense asking that.

David, Chattanooga, Tn (Sent Friday, July 13, 2007 8:40 PM)

Hillary Clinton was picked by God to be President of the USA, just like both Bushes and her husband. The republicans have long depended upon a core group of loyal conspirators involved in the JFK slaying (elder Bush) and W's underage cat house gang (the teenage Condi Rice an avid participant). The Clintons innocent (OK, well, Hillary was innocent) meritocracy and hugely successful first two terms have yielded better results for the nation in their eight years than for the twelve years of the two Bushes combined. Mr. Edwards' voting record is moot.

Ross C. "Bubba" Nicholson, Tampa FL (Sent Saturday, July 14, 2007 7:11 AM)

Impeachment is the answer!

HOT DAM (Sent Saturday, July 14, 2007 7:42 AM)

A good report would include whether or not the Reid amendment was legitimately a poison pill meant to sink the bill, as Edwards' statement implies; without exploring that question, we don't even know if there's a story here.

If the Reid amendment was not a poison pill, and the statement by Edwards was misleading, there is indeed a story here. However, if Edwards is right and it was a poison pill, then this is not a story at all - but we don't get a shred of evidence either way. Either this article is lazy and incomplete in nailing Edwards on a lie, or is lazy and irresponsible in implicating a lie where none exists.

Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Saturday, July 14, 2007 9:01 AM)

OOOOOOH, score one for you on a gotcha and a -10 for the American people. Too bad you didn't go into the injustice of creating second class citizens with the effect (not un-noticed by Republicans) of disenfranchising mostly the poor and minorities from voting.

Russell in Maryland (Sent Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:42 AM)

Regardless of the machinations on this particular bill, Clinton's vote is just one small reason why Hillary is running neck and neck w Obama for the black vote.
All these other presidential candidates including Obama and Edwards can be saying "coudda", woudda", shudda", all they want; but the proof is in the pudding. She has been voting "right" ever since she got into the Senate and ever since the first Presidential election. She has been not only talking the talk but walking the walk.

Not inconsequential is the high esteem in which Bill is held as the anointed "first black president".(Google it if you think this is something I invented) He is hugely popular everywhere he goes among blacks.

Nick Dorsey (Sent Saturday, July 14, 2007 2:52 PM)

Gee - more Paris Hilton trivia from First Read - but nothing about Hillary's haircuts....

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) had her own minor version of the Edwards treatment after her Senate campaign spent nearly $3,000 in fees and travel for two sessions with stylist Isabelle Goetz.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/04/AR2007070401258.html

Lisa, Douglas, GA (Sent Saturday, July 14, 2007 2:53 PM)

Bet it has to do with the initials H.C., but I could be wrong. Is Edwards also in favor of giving guns back to criminals after they are released from jail? Sounds like he is not strong on crime. Maybe crime to him is just on a bumper sticker.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Sunday, July 15, 2007 1:28 PM)

Ex-cons are a voting bloc for the Democrats?

Who could have predicted that?

I'm all for it!!

Teddy Bundy, Staark FL (Sent Sunday, July 15, 2007 8:12 PM)

John Edwards is a gay moron.

Michael Moore (Sent Sunday, July 15, 2007 9:14 PM)

Another First Read hit on Edwards. Zzzz....

Lisa, Douglas, GA (Sent Sunday, July 15, 2007 11:21 PM)

FirstRead either has no clue as to how the legislating works or thye are carrying water for Edward's rivals. Instead of covering real substantative issues FirstRead is showing how its solidly part of MSM.

Marty (Sent Monday, July 16, 2007 8:55 AM)

you guys are digging really deep on this one, why didn't you go ahead and throw something in about what he pays his barber again for the umptenth time, if you want to do something to compare candidates post how much romney pays for his hair cut or hillary or any other candidate, is bill o'riely working with you guys now or what

MK,MO (Sent Monday, July 16, 2007 9:03 AM)

MK,MO -- guess what, they did throw something in later about Edward's haircut -- good call.

Russell in Maryland (Sent Monday, July 16, 2007 5:53 PM)

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