ABOUT FIRST READ

First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Edwards on the budget

Posted: Thursday, December 13, 2007 2:13 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Tricia Miller
DES MOINES, Iowa -- The balancing the budget question is one Edwards gets often on the trail, and his answer today was the same. You can hear the overtones of the implied "Two Americas" rhetoric as he blames budget problems on "structural deficiencies" and strives for policies that would "strengthen and grow the middle class" after he has rooted out corporate power and greed overwhelming the government. His answer on tax policy in America also falls along those same lines. His solutions to funding new or expanded programs often includes rolling back tax breaks for those who make at least $200,000 (while leaving current tax rates for the middle class alone).

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

Note to republic candidates,this is how adults have a debate.
Edwards is advocating a rigorous socialist agenda. He packages it in benign rhetoric.
Why are you calling Edwards Two Americas theme "rhetoric"?  I will be keeping an eye on this throughout the day and I certainly hope such language is used to describe other contender's campaign themes.  
Edwards is right, if you make over $200,000 a year you are wealthy, not in the same middle class as the rest of us and should pay more taxes - you can afford it, we can't.  It is just plain and simple, it costs those of us who make less than $50,000 per year the same to buy a gallon of milk, a gallon of gas, or loaf or bread but we don't have the money to do anything extra at all, much less save for retirement and to be honest with you, I did not get and stay drunk and stoned til I was 40 (like georgie boy) so I have no will to work til I'm 70! Had to work even while in high school and college, already tired of it all and ready to retire as soon as I can. I should not be held hostage by someone who never really worked a real day in his life (again - georgie boy and his partners in crime).
I will be supporting Edwards for the simple fact he seems like the only one not scared to go after insurance companies. Some people pay almost as much in car insurance, as they do on there car payment. Health insurance is getting to be more unaffordable for people every day. I can remember one of bush's dumber statements, he would not supporst a bill to bring in cheaper prescription drugs from Canada because he didn't know if they were safe, but when asked what he would do if America had a shortage on a certain kind of drug, he said he would import it from Canada. There is a reason there is plenty of insurance companies on the fortune 500 list, they are corrupt and will do anthing to get there money, and someone needs to stop them.
There are two americas.  Everyone in the middle and working classes know this ALL two well.
People need to be able to afford insurance,car home and health, but please someone tell me how can you afford these at today's premiums it does not matter if you are making min wage or unemployed the cost is still the same!!!!! People do not CHOOSE to be uninsured    THEY DO NOT have the Money!!!!!!!!
I am one that feels John Edwards understands this fact.
Though John Edwards is now a very wealthy man, he still remembers "where he come from" and all his life as a lawyer he has fought for "the little man" against "Big Business". He is a good hearted Southern white man that loves his country. I am a thinking Southern black man that loves his country. Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama cannot win against the Republicans in "08, in my opinion. I am praying that America will see through the glare of the Bill/Hilary, Barack/Oprah media glare and see America's true "man of the people", John Edwards.
I am a Hispanic that as the brother before I am also supporting John Edwards. Edwards gets it. He knows the source of the problem, and he has the track record to proof that he will fight for the vast majority of the American people.
Edwards makes a lot of sense to Me. He has ideas that I have and would rally to make My campaign agenda if I were to run.

his failure will be the same as hilary's when it comes to MAKING change happen in a corruption encrusted government. We have 15% of the Senate not doing their jobs because they are campaigning for a new job. John Edwards, at the end of the day, is one of them.

The only way to make change is to change it.VOTE for ANYONE who is not an incumbent or has any experience in politics-as-usual. We need a virgin to throw down the volcano and I'll write in My own name before I cast a ballot for a political prostitute.


SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=514493

First Read e-mail alerts


Sign up for First Read alerts
The first place for key political news and analysis

Syndicate This Site

Add First Read to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google