Edwards' Iraq ad response

Posted: Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:20 AM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC’s Mark Murray
As we mentioned earlier, tonight, the Edwards campaign is buying two minutes of airtime on MSNBC to respond to Bush's speech on Iraq.

Here are some excerpts from Edwards’s ad:

"Unfortunately, the president is pressing on with the only strategy he's ever had - more time, more troops, and more war."

"In January, after years of evidence that military actions cannot force a political solution, the president announced a military surge to force a political solution. In May, he vetoed a plan to end the war, demanded more time to show the surge could work, and Congress gave it to him. Now, after General Petraeus reports the surge has produced no progress toward a political solution, what does the president want? More time for the surge to work, when all of us know it won't."

"But Congress must answer to the American people. Tell Congress you know the truth -- they have the power to end this war and you expect them to use it. When the president asks for more money and more time, Congress needs to tell him he only gets one choice: a firm timeline for withdrawal."

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Comments

"There is a light at the end of the tunnel"westmorland."We are winning"Bush
The hippies have lost another war,those democrats, the soldier on the ground,feel free to blame whoever you need to feel like you are not at fault.

kenn"WHAT MORE TO SAY"O (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:32 AM)

I like Edwards, but it's easy to demand that others do something when you are standing on the outside. Why didn't he stay in the senate and fight the war with his vote? This allows him to attack the sitting senators if they don't follow his demand, and there is little chance that they, or the rest of the democrats will.
It's a, "straw man", strategy that he hopes will make him the true anti-war candidate. I don't think it will work, but you never know...

George (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:33 AM)

Edwards sounds exactly like some sleaze ball courtroom clown attempting to twist, distort, shade, and misrepresent reality and truth. Why in the name of decency and common sense would any rational person want this slick huckster to serve as POTUS? Aside from this reality check, that ever-present smirk of his resembles the face of the Joker in Batman's series. Joker he is; joker he be.

Robin, Gotham City (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:44 AM)

George, I think he's asking Americans to stop sitting back and contact your Congress and let them know you want American soldiers home! If Americans would let Congress know how they feel, both Republican and Democrats, we might actually get what the majority of Americans want. Pretty much like what happened with comprehensive illegal immigration. It's time for Americans to remind Congress and the White House that it's Americans who actually vote, not big business! It will be interesting to see how many people actually call! (Or write!)

New Independent (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:46 AM)

Maybe we should have Ann Coulter give the response to John Edward's speech, errrr, ad.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:02 PM)

Robin you're the joker. Or the lame sidekick.

Either way, I hope you get to court someday and no one will defend your name-calling self.

Edwards is right.

Gary, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:03 PM)

"The truth is an offensde, but not a sin."
Bob Marley from the song Jah Live. Give 'em hell john Boy.

Kristian O, Miami FL: (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:29 PM)

Edwards voted for the war...just saying...it's easy to have the guts now...where was he when he could have made a difference.

Al, KS (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:45 PM)

George - Edwards did vote against the war - 6 months after it began. Good on him! because the $20B for reconstruction has been a TOTAL failure!

We need John Edwards in the White House!

Charlotte, NYC (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:48 PM)

We need a president with morals and integrity - who speaks Truth to the American people.
John Edwards will be a great President!

annefrank, FL (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:51 PM)

Robin - you must have affordable health care but many Americans do not.
If you like our socialized police and fire departments - you'll love universal health care.
C'mon and join us - for the good of our country! www.JohnEdwards.com/issues

William, Chicago (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:54 PM)

Robin, the truth hurts, doesn't it? the war has been mishandled by shrub, and EVERYBODY knows the war has to be settled politically...except bush. That's all Edwards said, of course, in the context of a political campaign. George, you have a point on staying in the Senate, although his VP run with Kerry probably led him to give up his seat in expectations of sitting as the VP. best laid plans...

Mark Y; Westlake Village, CA (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:56 PM)

The next few weeks will be interesting. How many republicans will sacrifice their political future by continuing to side with Bush?

HP, Kansas (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 1:04 PM)

Maybe we should have Ann Coulter give the response to John Edward's speech, errrr, ad.
jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:02 PM)

Go with your best I always say.

nuanced (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 1:09 PM)

BTW, The Hsu Sham has taken on a whole new focus. word is he may have bilked investors for another $40 million in recent shady business proposals. Hillary can run from this, but she can't hide. Time will tell.

Kristian O, Miami FL: (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 1:17 PM)

Thank you Mr. Edwards, for speaking the words of the American people. Someone needs to balance what will surely be another propaganda-fest, attempting to justify the acts of our current Idiocracy.

The only thing "Ann Coulter" should be doing is shaving her head, putting on her combat boots and donning her swastika. She has worn a costume long enough.

John J. Disgusted, MaleBovineFeces, TX (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 1:22 PM)

Hey dumby, the republicans pulled us out of Vietnam. The republicans pulled us out of korea. And most recently the Republicans turned tail and ran out of Lebanon. Dont be mad because your Goofy, lame duck President got you into an unwinnable war!

Dustin Ketchem, Covington GA. (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 1:41 PM)

William you left out one we also have socialized education. So let us have socialized health care or do away with fire, police and education.The super rich could send their children to private schools and they could become neo-cons and lead the untutored masses into more and bigger wars.

Rufus Gibbons, DC (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 1:53 PM)

Edwards is the most thoughtful and articulate candidate in the race. Take 15 min. and look at his detailed and elegant proposals for issues ranging from the war to energy to poverty. He is seasoned and sincere, with the integrity needed to restore our county’s standing with itself and the world.

DK (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 1:59 PM)

Drat, now I'll have to watch Bush just so I can watch the Edwards ad afterwards and do a comparison.

Hey, do you think Chris Matthews will finally mention Edwards on his show now that Edwards bought an ad on Matthews network? Probably not, you say!

Yeah, that's what I thought too.

Matthews is so far up Hilliary's nose that he can't see the possibility that any other candidate could possibly win the nomination. And if one gets close he sure isn't going to give them any airtime on his show.

pmorlan (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 2:04 PM)

New Independent - Congress knows what Americans think. There are dozens if not hundreds of polls that all indicate that the majority of Americans no longer support our presence in Iraq and want some sort of withdrawal.

That being said, it never hurts to send mail. :)

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 2:11 PM)

Comgress should use clause#6 of the consitoution.It Says in case of removal of the president from office or his death,resiiination,or the inability to discharge his powers and duties of the said office,the same shall on the Vice President and the congress may by law provide for the case of removal,death resignation or inability both of President or vice President declaring what officer shall then act as President and such officer shall act accordingly,until the disability be removed or a Vice president shall be elexcted. Congress shoul have them both arrested given a trial like Saddam and hung for what they have done to our country and the peopleRemember It BY THE PEOPLE.FOR THE PEOPLEof the people.

Dolores Fleming (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 2:26 PM)

Hey there Robin of Gotham:

After reading your city of origin I feel compelled to urge you to escape Gotham's grasp. As you may or may not know, people have recognized Gotham, for more than 500 years, as a city of feckless inhabitants. More recently, Gotham has been purported to be the secret and underground location of Rush, Sean, Fox, et al's K.A.O.S headquarters. My advice to you is Get Out, Get Informed, and Turn Off Fox.

Bridget, Prairieville, Louisiana (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 2:40 PM)

Exclusive! John Edwards ad content to air on MSNBS after the President's speech. It will go just like this: $400 dollars for a haircut. $150,000 to travel through New Orleans to find poor people. $2,000,000 dollars for a two minute ad that airs on the lowest rated (least watched)news program on tv...priceless. I'm glad we don't have to worry about this fool.

Mike PAV (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 2:58 PM)

We need John Edwards in the White House!

He is welcome to take the tour with everone else.

LM Cooley, Bradenton FL (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 3:29 PM)

How in the hell can you respond to something that hasnt even been said yet? This is the BS that goes on in Washington, no matter what Bush says, Edwards already has his mind made up. What an idiot Edwards is.

IntheMiddle, Texas (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 3:35 PM)

Robin of Gotham, Mike PAV. You are the reasons why this country is doing so poorly. Go back to school and study history. Edwards is the only viable candidate and may be the next FDR. :You obviously don't understand how a plaintiff's lawyer must invest out of his pocket with no guarantee of a win in the courtroom. Eddwards did this. He is intelligent understands how this great country of ours was founded. The middle class was built by Unions. Edwards also understands this. Unfortunately, your type of belief supports wars based on lies, economic disasters and you're dragging us all down with you. May we all survive this next Great Depression which now the largest bank of England is projecting. Please go back to civics class.

Nadia, Seattle, Washington (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 3:50 PM)

I'm glad to see one of our candidates just telling us how he feels. I'm sick of the wishy washy responses from the Clinton campaign about this and I am sick of the (to steal a quote) "holier than though" attitude from Obama. Maybe the candidates would seem more in touch if they would end this "I know better than all of you" attitude that they like to display. I am prepared for our first female president, but I'm not voting for one just because she is a woman. And I wouldn't vote for Clinton because I want change...not the same old stuff. And I look forward to the day we have our first president belonging to a racial minority group. However I would like to see a little bit more substance to Obama's proposals. He may be a good VP but I don't see the president thing yet. Good to have hope, but hoping doesn't get the job done.

Go John go.

Andre, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 3:53 PM)

George said:

"I like Edwards, but it's easy to demand that others do something when you are standing on the outside. Why didn't he stay in the senate and fight the war with his vote?"

John Edwards is a CITIZEN of the United States of America.

He has as much of a right to speak out about what HIS GOVERNMENT is doing as you and I do.

Just because he is running for President does not change the fact that HE SHOULD BE SPEAKING OUT.

We, the People of the United States, which includes John Edwards, should speak out when we see the country heading in the wrong direction.

You don't need to be a Senator to do it, and neither does John Edwards.

Should George McGovern also shut up?
What about Jimmy Carter?
Al Gore?
Bill Clinton?
George HW Bush?
Should Richard Clarke shut up now?
What about Richard Cohen?

Just because you are no longer in office does not mean that one should be quiet.

When John Edwards was in the Senate, sure, he voted for and co-sponsored the resolution that gave Bush the "AUTHORITIY" to go into Iraq. It didn't give him the green light. He claims that 9/11 did that.

John Edwards also, after seeing that the Bush policy was a failure, chose not to vote for the infamous $87 billion at a time when the war was still relatively popular.

That took guts.

On the other hand, Clinton vote for the resolution and also for every funding bill put before her except for the last one.

Obama got to the Senate in 2005, after it was clear that Bush had screwed up Iraq, and he still voted to give Bush money after money for Iraq.

Edwards = voted to authorize it, but never to fund it beyond the initial authorization (the co-sponsoring is less important than a vote that passes a bill, because you could co-sponsor a bill that fails).

Clinton = voted to authorize it and constantly to fund it.

Obama = voted constantly to fund it when he got to the Senate, wasn't in the Senate to vote against it, but said he opposed it.

The only one running with no responsibility for the mess in Iraq is Dennis Kucinich.

OEST, Raleigh, NC (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 4:16 PM)

Troop surge + troop pull-out = 0 sum gain/loss
Stay the course all over again. "Just give us a little more time" (to steal, lie and kill more of our Patriotic troops).

Don't forget when Bush says how the DEFICIT is coming down, HE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 1/2 TRILLION for his wars. That is OFF BUDGET.

Better watch FOX NEWS if you want the REPUBLICAN TRUTH. All other get the real truth on other channels.

Conservative?

Mike La Tour, West Palm Beach, Fl. (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 4:23 PM)

OEST - thanks for setting the record straight on John Edwards.
Obviously, some commenters here are duped by the corporate media.
John Edwards is exactly the president we need!

Michelle, Tifton, GA (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 4:40 PM)

John Edwards has a counterterrorism policy than actually counters terrorism. No timeline, no funding. NO EXCUSES. As John Edwards said "it's time for Americans to be patriotic about something other than war. Join us at John Edwards website. By the way, The campaign was the first to go "green". For those of you who call him sleazy because he was a trial lawyer, so were John Adams and Abe Lincoln.

T. Johnson Cincinnati, OH (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 4:43 PM)

Mike - you've been duped by the media on Edwards' haircuts. Many people appearing on TV have their hair done in TV studios prior to on air appearances.
But - you've been duped to believe Edwards expensive haircuts were routine. And most likely you've been duped on other issues also. <sigh>

Charlotte, Chicago (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 4:47 PM)

Like all Liberals, Edwards knows the situation requires a political solution, and like all Liberals, he does absolutely nothing about it. If the Liberals and Congress WORKED on a political solution, and where successful at DOING THE JOB WE ELECTED THEM TO DO, it may seem like a Bush success.

Instead of doing their job in support of the military campaign (the reality is it takes both efforts to be successful) they sit on their hands waiting for next November and hoping for the worst. Their refusal to do their job is TREASON. By refusing to do their job, they are providing aid and support to our enemies, they are assisting in America's defeat while brave American troops and innocent Iraqis die.

Boulder, Colorado (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 4:49 PM)

it amazing people want the iraq congress to set up a constitution in 6 months but it took our country 2 years to do ours. if a democrat wins the election they will do to this county what is illegal in most of the 50 states.

John Bell oak harbor wa. (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 4:54 PM)

Pundits from this station, speaking about the Iowa polls, always say there's a tie between candidates Hillary and Obama or between Edwards and Hillary, but only when either candidate is ahead in the polls in Iowa, do they say there's a tie. Look, John Edwards
is ahead of Hillary and Obama in Iowa, may not be a big difference, but he is ahead. This man has to buy time on your crappy cable station, while the so called front runners get out their message, with you pulling behind them. Why don't you just be like Oprah and say you favor either Hillary or Obama and be done with it instead of trying to behave like you are not bias. People here accusing John Edwards of being a hypocrite, because you mention unimportant tabloid crap about his hair, have hypocrite, racist people like Ann Coulter on your station, who you paid, not the opposite way around, to falsely accuse
a decent human of lying, so that another phoney Bush republican occupys the White House for the next four years, and continues to tear American apart and down,
while maintaining only two classes of people the rich and the poor. Because the middle class will no longer exist, by the time republicans get rid of social security, by having only wall street investment firms controlling the stocks in 401k plan, which under a stealing CEO can be gone in flash right at retirement and corporations outsourcing US jobs. While you people are trashing Edwards, you better think about your future. If you are rich
I guess it doesn't matter, but if you are not you certainly will continue to be poor.

Alessan. NYC (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 5:00 PM)

It is easy to predict exactly what bush will say. There is only one note in his song and it's a flat one at that. John Edwards is a serious qualified candidate who is fighting the good fight. Go Johnny Go!!

Pacheck, Huntington Beach, CA. (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 5:10 PM)

I would like to see our troops come home. I would also like to see Santa Claus come twice a year instead of just once.

Has anyone considered what will happen if we leave Iraq? Iran (a much bigger threat to us) will fill the power vacumn left in the region. Overnight the world will become a much more dangerous place.

We need leadership right now. We are being led by politicians. No great statesman has stepped forward to give us leadership. President Bush's problem isn't that he is not doing the right thing. His problem is that he does not have the ability, that Reagan, Churchill and Roosevelt had, to communicate to the American people why we are doing what we are doing and why it is important that we succeed.

The difference in being a politician versus a statesman is that a statesman does that which has to be done no matter what popularity polls say. We need more statesmen in Washington that will see to it that we finish what we start.

Ron Clamp (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 5:15 PM)

Yes - the CORPORATE media expends much effort maintaining a wide distance between Edwards and Hillary. That's where Obama comes in. Obviously, a 2 year senator wouldn't be hyped as a rock star by the media unless they needed him to be the buffer - and project the illusion of a competitive 2-way race.
If the media ever compared Edwards and Hillary - they'd realize Edwards is about substance - while Hillary is all fluff.
Anyone supporting Hillary is as duped as Fox News viewers.
First Read is STILL concealing that Rupert Murdoch is supporting Hillary - and the reason for the media's pro-Hillary coverage. Perhaps Fox News viewers are voting for her?

Richard, FL (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 5:21 PM)

Very true Alessan!
John Edwards plans and solutions are to help the middle class - which is why the CORPORATE media smears him - and promotes candidates raking in the corporate moolah and indebted to the corporatists.
People need to wake up!

And to Ron Paul supporters: he wants to end Social Security and Medicare! Jeeeez!

Sharon, Okla (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 5:25 PM)

Republicans what a shame for our country. The reason why the democrats have not been able to stop this crazy war is because they need about 20 republican votes to join them and veto President's Bush PERSONAL desicion to continue with this war.

Like all BAD Loosers, you can not admit that you made a mistake by trusting Bush & Chaney and because of your republican pride you do not want to take a step in the right direction and joint the democrats & independent senators and stop this bloddy war before it gets even worst.

Mr. Chabey is a lot richer than ever because all his private companies are doing extremely good with their inversions in Irak. Chaney and his friends are a lot richer today at the expense of 5,300 dead Americans soldiers, 27,000 badly injured American soldiers and a criple American economy.

Lets stop this REPLUBLICAN BUSH-IT if you know what I mean and vote against this war.

victor, Bloomfield New Jersey (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 5:29 PM)

Well said Alessan. I wish the media would stop with the Hillary and Obama Love fest. The only reason why they are political "rock stars" is because the media pays attention to those two fighting over nothing like a bunch of school kids. Why doesn't the media give some free air time to other viable candidates. Name recognition is half the battle, and how are you going to get it when only two names get the attention. And why don't we let the Obama and Clinton campaigns pay for their time on TV like every one else. I thought they were the ones winning the fundraising wars.

Andre, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 5:51 PM)

Edwards really is a bum he made all his money sueing companys over bogus silicone brest inplants and they proved him to be nothing but a frod and a phony.

w. smith (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 6:11 PM)

boulder...it's your republican senators who are sitting on their hands, stonewalling every effort made by the Democrats to end this fiasco. With leaders like McConnell, Boner and that dumba$$ from SC for you guys, who needs enemies? It is a real pity when "elected" officials put party and re-election above the good of the country. I guess that is in the republican handbook. Have you made your small sacrifice for the party?

Don in LA (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 6:24 PM)

We have the best non-representative government money can buy.

Bush and Congress ignore the will of the MAJORITY and waste trillions of dollars borrowed in the names of our grandchildren to enrich themselves and special interests they serve and protect.

Is this the "dee-mock-crow-cee" Bush talks about?

America is sick of both Bush and Congress.

x32792, Winter Park, FL (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 6:32 PM)

Here's my John Edwards story. I attended an event for him in the heart of Georgia. With an audience of people who mostly made over 200K a year, he told them all-to their face-that he intended to raise their taxes to pay for health care. Think that was in his political best interest. Probably not.

At the same party, Congressman Jim Marshall was in the audience-someone from whom I am sure Sen. Edwards would love to have an endorsement. Marshall, a Democrat, has been unwavering in his support of the war, and, yet, John Edwards said that the war needed to end and the troops needed to come home-starting now. Was that in his political best interest? Probably not.

John Edwards tells the truth-not just when it serves his immediate need, but because the truth needs to be told. He has taken these kinds of risks throughout the campaign. He was the first to propose universal health care. Now, they all talk about it. He was the first to say that he made a mistake in his vote on the war, and he apologized for it-something Hillary Clinton has never found it within herself to do. Now, he has invested in buying time in the MMM so that, tonight, the American people can have a voice. The Democrats in Congress have refused to lead on this issue-THE issue of our time. Someone needs to step up, and so, true to form, he will.

Amy, Macon, Georgia (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 6:42 PM)

I love how people quote "polls" as being the truth. "Figures lie, and liars figure." Watch the Penn and Teller show called Bullsh*t on Polls. A poll cannot possible ask millions of Americans their opinion, so why does everyone say that a poll is clear evidence of what the country wants? I'm a citizen, and I have never once been asked by a Poll of my opinion. If we pull out, than shit will hit the fan, and we will have a situation 10 times worst than what we have.

John Doe, NJ (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 6:48 PM)

Hey, I have an idea,,,,,,,,, let us get every body in the area together and put them in a room and have them talk eye to eye,,,,,, and get this thing done,,,,, If you think that is stupid,, look what it did for North Korea,,,,,,, let them figure out what they want and how to get it done, then this will be over alot quicker with a lot less problems to our troops,,,,,, mmmmmmmm,

Scott Lamb (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 7:01 PM)

Frankly criticism of those who have changed their minds is simply ridiculous. We have a president who doesn't seem to be able to learn from his mistakes. Isn't it about time we had a president who can. That's not flip-flopping or cowardice or opportunism...it's called wisdom.

Paul, Seattle (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 7:13 PM)

It is nice to hear someone who admitted he made a mistake and is not afraid to tell it like it is. Edwards is right on. This is an oil war and the Oil Companies along with Iran are the winners thus far. I feel sorry for our political pawns (our blessed troops). Bush and Cheney are very, very sick. Our entire political system is broken. I am ashamed of our government. Whacko Neo Nuts.....

Jim Franklyn, Hollywood Florida (Sent Thursday, September 13, 2007 7:44 PM)

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