Obama on Edwards' consistency

Posted: Saturday, January 05, 2008 9:41 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan
In Jefferson, Iowa, a voter asked Obama why he should choose him over John Edwards. It was just three days before the Iowa caucus, and Obama delivered an answer that questioned Edwards' "consistency" and said that on principle issues he hadn't voted against what he was for now.

Here's Obama's full answer:
"If you are then choosing between Edwards and myself, then I would say this. He is a fine person, w/ a beautiful family whos run a very good campaign. But I would say that if you look at the track records of who has really brought about change when then were in a position to do it, then I can make a claim that you can trust, that you can count on.

"When I was in the senate I fought and got the power of lobbyists reduced, that's not something that john has invested in, even though he's talking about it now.
When I talk about getting troops out of Iraq, I was opposed to the war at the start when it was unpopular to be against the war. John was for it.

"When I talk about trade, and that we should have environmental agreements in out trade agreements. I didn't support NAFTA, didn't vote for permamnet trade relations for china, John did.

"When I talk about the hardships of working families and some of them for no fault of their own because they got sick become bankrupt and there were laws passed pushed by the credit card companies that made it harder to get out of bankruptcy and John voted for that provision. I had rejected similar provisions.

"On NCLB he and Hillary had a chance to vote and say they wont implement it unless its fully funded, he rejected that. I am saying this only because you have to look at where somebody has been to know where they are going.

"He says now that those were mistakes and I have no reason to doubt that he believes that but I guess the point I am making is in my gut, there is a consistency of who I am fighting for, what I believe in, choices I have made in my life that can give you some assurance of when I get into the White House I am going to be fighting for you and I am not going to be different as time goes on."

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Comments

I urge Edwards to not be kind to Obama by defending him in this debate. His campaign and supporters in Iowa trashed Edwards over and over and doesn't deserve the courtesy that Edwards is giving him.

Colin Mincy New York, NY (Sent Saturday, January 05, 2008 9:46 PM)

WOW! THAT'S ALL YOU CAN SAY

WOW (Sent Saturday, January 05, 2008 9:51 PM)

I expected the first part to be more defining with Clinton on the attack. For a moment there she went on the attack, and lost her temper, but all in all, the status quo has not changed for all the candidates. No one has made a mistake so far. But the biggest surprise is to see Edwards aligning himself with Obama!

Brian Little, Oakbrook IL (Sent Saturday, January 05, 2008 9:55 PM)

Edwards is being a sissy. Sucking up again for being a VP once more. What will Obama supporters who spew hatred towards Edwards (like Marbw) do now?

Simon, IA (Sent Saturday, January 05, 2008 9:56 PM)

When hatred towards Edwards is spew is because Senator Obama is attacked first....Now don't get me wrong many of us who supports Senator Obama also likes Edwards too......

Hatred Spew (Sent Saturday, January 05, 2008 10:00 PM)

I don't think that Obama would chose Edwards as his running mate. Kerry made that mistake. Kerry/Edwards didn't even win Edwards' precinct. If he is so good how come his friends will not vote for him to be VP.

Johnny Raleigh (Sent Saturday, January 05, 2008 11:04 PM)

The Boston Globe (the paper that endorsed Obama) has a spot on piece about Obama.

Obama borrows from Edwards

By Sasha Issenberg, Globe Staff

NASHUA, N.H. -- After beating John Edwards in Iowa on Thursday, Barack Obama has decided to join him -- repeatedly poaching his opponent's themes, language, and even jokes.

"We shouldn't just be respecting wealth in this country -- we should be respecting work," Obama told an overflow crowd in a high-school gym today.

You need to read the whole story. Anyone whose been following this campaign knows what Obama has been doing. It's nice that someone in the media is finally honest enough to call him on it. Hey MSNBC when are you guys going to be honest and call him on it?

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/01/obama_borrows_f.html

pmorlan, Louisville, KY (Sent Saturday, January 05, 2008 11:34 PM)

Again, Hillary misunderstands Obama's appeal and the whole "change" thing on a fundamental level. I am not interested in someone making policy changes. All of them are for making similar policy changes. I am more interested in making changes to American politics itself, and that is where Obama's appeal lies. No major issues are going to be addressed in a meaningful way without the kind of broad-based appeal to independents and Republicans that Obama can offer. Hillary is in the process of getting run over by a freight train that will have completely passed her by before she even knows what hit her. She'll probably go to her grave without understanding it.

Steve, Sioux City, IA (Sent Saturday, January 05, 2008 11:49 PM)

I don't see how Edwards can win. He is way behind in every poll. The only reason he finished strong in Iowa is because he virtually lived there for five years.

Gerard Kilroy Trenton, N.J. (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 12:20 AM)

Obama is telling the truth. I agree that that Edwards made a noble attempt to keep the debate on point. Hillary was caught off guard.

Kevin, FT. Lee, VA (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 12:42 AM)

Edwards and Clinton are phony.

joseph pierre, fort lauderdale, fl (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 1:07 AM)

I can't believe that Obama would make any noticable changes to American politics when he is in the pocket of the corporations that run this country. If you want to take back America you must vote for John Edwards, the only candidate that has not taken corporate money in his campaign and owes no alligence to anyone except his supporters. I think Obama is charismatic and intelligent, but we need more.

V Frazier Clearwater, FL (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 1:10 AM)

I agree with you Steve (Sioux City). I like how Obama answers the questions truthfully even if it may not be a pretty answer. One reason I dislike Bush is because he doesn't come out and tell us the hard truths, instead it's brushed under the rug and then denied when it finally comes to the surface.

Mike, Troy, AL (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 1:26 AM)

pmorlan,
thanks for that web site. That should be pointed out to all the Obama groupies who chant "change." Why settle for someone who mimicks change when you can have the originator of the message of change. I look forward to seeing Edwards as the next president.

Earl (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 1:58 AM)

Why are you making this about Obama and Hilary. Steve, this article is about Obama and Edwards. If I wanted Edwards name left out, I wouldn't be reading this article, I'd be watching maintstream newscasts. John Edwards also beat Hilary BTW, not many people foresaw that. It's a confidence booster for some that might vote for him and the media is totally overlooking it. It's momentum for Edwards because it's allways about the other two, but HE was the runner up. That's huge for his supporters and should be reported by the media as a step in the right direction for the Edwards camp and not lumped with Hilary as dissapointing loss. The only loser in the Iowa caucus was Hilary Clinton.

Ryan, MN (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 1:59 AM)

ryan, MN (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 2:25 AM)

Acropolis Review has some interesting questions about Al Gore's endorsement this year.

Jake (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 2:39 AM)

Obama-Edwards 2008. John Edwards is just the attack dog Obama needs in a VP!! Edwards knows that. Obama will not be able to do his "hope mongering" without an attack dog. Great tag team!!!

Sidmore (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 2:55 AM)

It's pretty smart of Edwards and Obama to team up to take Hillary out. In all honest, as an Edwards supporter, I think Edwards' only real chance to get the media coverage that he deserves and to become the only alternative to Obama is to take Clinton out. The move was purely strategic.

Justin, Richmond, KY (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 3:45 AM)

I AM A HUCKABEE SUPPORTER, WHO WILL WIN IT ALL, BUT I MUST SAY EDWARDS WON THE DEM DEBATE HANDS DOWN, PEOPLE ARE VOTING FOR OBAMA, AS VOTE AGAINST THE SLEAZE OF THE CLINTONS, AND THE FACT EDWARDS LOST LAST. IF I WAS A DEM EDWARS WOULD GET MY VOTE---IT NICE THE KIDS LIKE OBAMA, BUT EDWARDS IS REAL

DAVID ANDERS , PHARR, TX. (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 6:15 AM)

I DONT CARE WHO THE DEMS PUT UP, THIS COUNTRY IS NOT GOING TO ELECT MILITARY HATERS, WHICH ALL DEMS ARE, JUST TO SATISFY SOME YELLOW BELLIED KIDS WHO ARE COWARDS, AND DONT KNOW THE COST OF FREEDOM. AT THEIR AGE ITS CARS, BOOZE, SEX, AND PARTY. I TAUGHT THEM FOR 35 YEARS AND IT NEVER CHANGES.

DAVID ANDERS , PHARR, TX. (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 6:21 AM)

I honestly think voters should check out Mr. Obama's past. His education, his religion, the way he was brought up, his beliefs. Sure he has a lot of curb appeal but just who is he? What does he believe? Does he believe in America? It's People? I heard comments about Romney and his Mormom faith. That seems to be a major issue for some...What about Sen. Obama's faith. I am not anti anything with the exception of radical religious zealots who wish to destroy my country and my life, who hate me for being American, for citing the Pleadge of Alligiance, for putting God first: those are the people I have issues with. I don't care of they are religious zealots who think their way is the only way, they can do that in their little corner of the world but just not mine. Again, where does Mr. Obama stand on these issues? I know where Clinton and Edwards stand but not Mr. Obama. Sure, he has a lot of ideas but so do the other candidates.

Mike Wood, Fayetteville, AR (Sent Sunday, January 06, 2008 1:29 PM)

Thank you Mike Wood, Finally someone stands up to Mr. Obama. We trash the republicans for their religious backgrounds because they don't mesh with ours. For some reason no one wants to touch Obama. Does it not scare anyone that Obama was raised in the enviornment that we are trying to fight. The man doesn't know how to show simple patriotism. Easy as that, and that is who we want as our next President? He is stealing all of his plans from Edwards and Hilary because he has none of his own. And when Hilary stands up for Edwards, Edwards beat her down. Edwards got some really bad campaign advice and he lost my respect and the republicans gained a vote. GO HUCKABEEE!

Heather, Iowa (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 10:29 AM)

David Anders, supposed educator, has forgot we are fighting a senseless war. Dems are not military haters, war is not the answer to everything. Do you know we are in Bosnia , Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and other places around the globe? Who is here to protect us, thank goodness for the right to bear arms.
Dems are not military haters, but I dare you trade in your wonderful life to trade places with our troops in these places. No vote for a candidate that voted for war and your Texas resident is the reason why we are in this mess. Don't mess with Texas, I guess not, because Texas politics is the cream of the crop! Not so!
Topic is on Obama, Edwards, common ground is good sometimes, it's not slash and burn, so people are left breathess to place negative energy. Come on, we are better than that.

FED UP already, FL (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 11:25 AM)

John Edwards is the most viable candidate in the democratic party to beat a republican in Nov. Sure, Obama and Clinton have star power (shhhh! because they are a black man and a woman) and don't forget Oprah. I say Edwards/Obama is the winning ticket. Combined, they've got enough experience. But not too much to be corrupt (Clinton). Also, Edwards can capture the southern /rural/heartland vote (important) and Obama would capture, the right/left coast liberals, young people, women, and the black vote. Together, they could do alot of good and turn this country around.

Jamie, Jupiter, FL (Sent Monday, January 07, 2008 12:55 PM)

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