Edwards' poverty tour ends

David, Chattanooga, Tn — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:44:20 GMT

Edwards....He cares about we the people. He has more ideas to help this country than both Obama and Clinton combined. In the end Edwards is the dems and America's
only hope to get us back on track.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Dave, Tn — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:44:28 GMT

Has anyone figured out how many poverty centers with a 74% Administration cost it'll take to end poverty in this country? That would end poverty for a bunch of political cronies, but for regular folks?

Edwards' poverty tour ends

HMT — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:46:19 GMT

He is the best for our country----I am sure he will beat the favorite republica n cantidate "none of the above""

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Kristian O — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:51:48 GMT

Edwards is playing the game 3 months ahead of where it currently is. He knows that the en vogue cadidates are Hilary and Barack who aren't really talking issues, but playing the mistake free defensive game while raising money. At some point they'll have to get away from the vanilla style and come issues style and Edwards is hoping that the populus will recognize he's already been there and saying that. I'm watching how it plays out. Still real early though.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Desmond — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 21:47:11 GMT

Edwards poverty tour may be ending, but poverty will probably never end. Bottom middle class classified by the IRS are close to that poverty line. And if you have to mortgage your house to pay mediacl bills, you are broke overnight.What did I hear from citizens ater Katrina? They didn't know people lived like that? I lived that life growing up. Was ashamed of my house my parents and our poverty.Don't discard poverty as a campaign issue. I can go 6 miles from where I live and see people hurting. You just have to open your eyes to see them.And sometimes they hide behind the big houses and have nothing inside.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Joe Justice — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:32:19 GMT

I hope we can reach the point where we all can agree that his limited aim of calling attention to the problem and offering solutions is laudable. But I'm afraid our societal discourse is so polluted, it will take a long time. We're so used to being lied to and spun around with that cynicsm swallows up every rational attempt at progress, whole.

So while Romney sits back and laments the Dirty Ocean, Edwards an example of a candidate who actually tries to clean up an aspect of it using community action and his campaign.

It's good for Democrats he is in the race.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Louise Marks — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:53:00 GMT

I grew up poor and have done well as an adult. I cannot ever forget what being poor felt like. Neither can my two sisters who married rich Republicans. We all support John Edwards mainly because of his stance on poverty. We remember. We understand.

John Edwards hasn't forgotten where he came from. That speaks volumes about who he is. The press underestimates how much this issue resonates with Americans and how connected people feel to Senator Edwards because of it.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Harry Cutt, Coiffure, VA — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 01:30:23 GMT

Bobby Kennedy is dead and so is Edward's quest for an ego fueled trip to the Wh-out House.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Will — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 01:45:32 GMT

John Edwards is talking like a real Democrat. This is the leader we need: specific, clear, and focused.

Also: terrific, finally, to read about Edwards' poverty tour without the usual old RNC memes masquerading as "real journalism" down around the third paragraph or so.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Burl, Southeastern Kentucky — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:45:05 GMT

Edwards is probably the only candidate who I feel really cares. What is the advantage of him going to Kentucky? There was no political advantage. He just gave a darn!

I respect this man.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

James Hufferd, Adel, IA — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:04:51 GMT

America take note! We here in Iowa have seen him and have been vetting him and the others for some time now, and John Edwards remains well-ahead, because he alone is talking real and filling in the blanks in a way we like. No spin nor nose-holding required!

Edwards' poverty tour ends

jerry/corpus christi texas — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:07:43 GMT

Talking like a real democrat and still in third place. He told a story on Hardball about how he was a kid, his family walked into a restaurant and as soon as they sat down and looked at the menu, his dad said "let's go". Apparently they did not have enough money to eat there. My question would be this; if you knew you did not have enough money to eat at this restaurant, why did you dad take you there in the first place? A normal man would know the boundries of your budget. The hair issue I guess is passing; now a new issue is forming. Who is the tougher candidate in the family? John or Elizabeth?

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Senaca Wallace, Seattle WA — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:10:54 GMT

"There was no political advantage. "

Presidential candidates don't take a dump without first running it through a focus group. Everything they do is calculated.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

MK,MO — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:29:02 GMT

edwards is the only dem that can win the general election, and the corporations and individuals that have been getting rich off the backs of the less fortunate know that, they also suspect that the free ride they have enjoyed under the current administration would probably be reevaluated under an edwards administration, that is why you see edwards constantly pummeled by the corporate run media, I am convinced anyone who takes a close look at hillary will find that she would cater to the wealthy elite more than the average citizen, she is a good politician, but not a trustable honest person and un-electable, that's why the media seems to give her a free pass on some issues that would prove very detrimental to other candidates, I think her true believes and her agenda are as pro big business and corrupt as any of the repub candidates, obama is also believed to be unelectable by the powers that be, I think they could be mistaken about that but I still think edwards would have the best shot of doing well nationally, hillary has so many skeletons in her closet the repubs know if they just stay quiet until she gets the nomination they can rip her to shreds before the general election leaving the nation to be under the rule of repulsive rudy, edwards is the right person to assure the dems get back in the whitehouse I just hope more people take a look at the big picture and do the right thing

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Independent, Texas — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:57:37 GMT

MK,MO (Sent Thursday, July 19, 2007 9:29 AM)

Agree 100% with this analysis.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Union Baby, Tennessee — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:07:01 GMT

JerryCC, maybe they did not know much about the restaurant? I have done the same thing as there are times that the restaurants look "family friendly" but actually in price are not. It is much more admirable to get up and leave because you know you can not pay for the meal than to charge it to your credit card and hope you can pay the bill later or spend money that should go to other needs. It is called living within your means - something most repugnants know nothing about, at least not the ones I know. There is a $50,000.00 millionair moving into rural Tennessee every week - wonder how they are gonna pay for that $400,000.00 house when all the National Guard troops finally come home and take their jobs back? Guess that is one of the reasons shrub does not want them home anytime soon. That would be a real wake up call about the economy. And just because the unemployment rate is down only means that there are a lot of folks who are either under-employed or who are out of work and benefits. Poverty is real to those of us who are just 6 - 12 months (or less) from loosing a home if you loose your job or have a medical catastrophy. As it is for those already in that position.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Ollie frenchburg ky — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:24:15 GMT

MK,MO, Very good points. I agree 100%!!

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Alan in Phx — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:11:13 GMT

It is interesting to hear those of you who started off in situations that were not great and made it not give yourself or your parents credit. Your parents were in their situation for what ever the reason yet they knew there was something better. They encouraged you to achieve more. Learn more; try harder. You do not praise your own efforts to recognise that there are ways to become more economicly stable.

I would venture a guess that as you look back yes money was tight and yes it was a constant struggle, but you where not destitute poor.

The government had almost no hand in your achievment. It takes personal effort.

We all know people that are not doing well and if we are honest we know that most of their problems are there own doing from bad choices or no initiative. We know very few that just cannot make it on there own, be it mental illness or phyical handicaps and they need the governments help.

Most peoples limitations on their lives are self imposed. The I can't syndrome. It's everybody elses fault. The system is screwing me. Corporate greed. etc. People need inspiration.

Go watch the Will Smith movie The Pursuit of Happyness, misspelling is part of the title, it is a true story of a mans determination to succeed.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Linda Green, Norwalk, CA — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:16:35 GMT

I really hope that Edward's will win. It seems like he would take better care of this country and I would sure appreciate that. The rest of the candidates will probably play policemen of the world. More should be done for the USA. Edward's seems to be the only person to realize that not everyone in this country has extra money stuffed up their @#$.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Desmond — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:19:22 GMT

Alan in Phoenix, the only thing that kept food on our table was the farm my daddy had. To pay the bills he worked hs other eight hour union job. Those of us who chose to further our education relied on government help programs. My one brother used the G.I bill. I used the work-study program.A lot of government asssted programs to help with educaton have fallen by the wayside. My spouse went further on in school due in part to the social security money entitled to them because their father served in world War II.
People are born in to an enviornment placed on them by their parents. There is no choice about that. And some manage to make a little more money than their parents because they have jobs that pay a little more than their parents. But they are still considered poor by the government and many of them lack health care.
I'm sure most people have dreams and hopes for their future.Blithely characterizing them as lazy is an easy way to ignore the problems they face.
And yes, if we hadn't had that farm, food would have been lacking many a day.And all those hand-me down clothes told showed me how poor we were.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

jerry/corpus christi texas — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:44:25 GMT

Every black man in New Orleans needs to see that movie "pursuit of happiness".

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Linda Peacock, Houston, Texas — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:40:59 GMT

Thank you MSNBC, for finally sending a fair story about what John Edwards stands for.
I fully support John Edwards. He´s the man with the plans, that our country and the world needs.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Desmond — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:58:36 GMT

I think it is sad that an assumption is made that the only people who were considered poor , by government standards" in New Orleans were black.Yes, jerry, I am referring to your post.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Bruce in NV — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:00:32 GMT

Has Mr Edwards given an economicly realistic plan to end poverty, without causing more unemployment? Tens of trillions have been spent to end poverty since Johnson's Great Society, and it is an intractable problem.

We lived in projects and ate the government cheese. Me and my siblings all worked our asses off, and are all homehowners and Republicans now.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Alan in Phx — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:36:55 GMT

Desmond your life is exactly what I was talking about. your Dad worked hard for his family. You took notice of that and worked hard to do better. Your father was not a poor man he was wealthy. Poverty is not all about how much you have in the bank.

Your staement that the government still conciders them poor is the problem. DO NOT let the government tell you that you are poor. Governments are in need of statistics and it is in the faceless governments best interest to have about 20% in so called povrety.

What do you think would happen if that changed to 5% and all the services for the poor that employ thousands of federal, state and local workers were no longer needed. They would not close those offices. They would change the parameters for those who could apply and advertise for more customers.

Desmond keep inspiring people in your circle.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

HP Boston — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:39:16 GMT

BRUCE I like that Repugs without asses! sounds becoming. Thank christ for the cheese or YOU WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EAT. Just do not get it, do ya.
You and your family ended the poverty cycle, GREAT!
Government helped!

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Desmond — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 19:19:26 GMT

Alan, we all pay income tax. The IRS classifies all of us based on what we earn.And as for my Daddy he had no aspirations for any of his children to get more of an education than high school. Some of us found a way out and we used government assisted education programs to help us.He had no aspirations for his family. You didn't know my daddy. You cannot speak about his thoughts.He was poor in spirit and poor in wealth.
You are right. You can be "rich in your spirit" but you still need that money to pay the bills.And there are a lot of people who cannot do just that.
Let me tell you a story. Recently, my water softner needed fixing. I had te repairman come in. Have known the man a long time. We had a really nice sub-division built near-by recently. Talking million dollar homes. He started telling me about some of the clients he has there. turns out several of them have little furniture in their homes and some couldn't pay his bill. But on the outside, these people appear to live in very nice homes. They automatically are placed in an upper class level. People are gated off from their community. Puts a sign up of better than the rest.But if you see a neighborhood or a house that on the outside looks in need of repair , you make a lot of assumptions about the people living there. Some just stay away from the site of those homes because, for some, it is an outside poverty they choose not to see.
I dont know if you get the point of that story, but poverty is real and sometimes it is out in the open and sometimes ,to hide the shame, it stays hidden.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

H P Boston — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 19:53:48 GMT

Desmond you are the best. Thanks for being out there
trying to help this world be a better place.
Sure is a sorry world and we need so many more people
like you.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Desmond — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:20:46 GMT

H P Boston, thanks for the kinds words. There is something in the bible about humility. Now that is a lesson I learned well.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Alan in Phx — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:15:10 GMT

Desmond your neighbors that are house poor is a choice not a codition of poverty. They choose to over buy and not enjoy the fruits of their labors correctly. If they can afford to convice a bank to lend to them than they are smart enough to know better. Saving 10% of ones income no matter the amount and living belows ones means pays off in the end.

Your favorite car will be the one that is paid for, I have 3 like that,older in great shape. No credit card bills, pay only cash at holiday time and enjoy everyday. I still hae 3sub teen children that will head to college in the next 10 and we are now researching grants, plan early to make things easier when the time comes.

Economic hardship is different than poverty. When I go to Mexico you see real destitude living.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Desmond — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:39:49 GMT

Alan, most couples now work two jobs to make ends meet. If something happens to one spouse the family suffers.And you are right, the person in the million dollar home with nothing within is living beyond their means.The other has no money to spend and lives in the house they can afford. You can call it economic hardship or you can call it poverty But all those labels do not change the fact that some people have to worry every day about paying their bills and it is not because they are lazy and choose not to work.
Its pretty easy to be dismissed just by looking at one's clothes and ones house. But if you like the clothes and you like the house, the homecoming is there.And I have been to some pretty big cities and some pretty small town. Labels do not help.Hope that works out for you with 3 children yet to go to college. We managed to get our two through. And there were months when it was I have to pay this tuition bill so what do I pay next.Hope you don't hit a snag in there. You never know what life will bring ya from one day to the next.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

JIrby, Colorado — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:58:46 GMT

Most rednecks are ignorant and poor. They should all vote for Edwards. The Republicans sure don't have anything for them.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

james s, portland, oregon — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 03:07:44 GMT

thanks msnbc for this unusually fair and fact-based report on John Edwards. Kudos to your staff here!

Readers can learn more about Edwards detailed plans and compassionate ideas here:

http://johnedwards.com/news/speeches/
----

http://johnedwards.com/issues/
----

and for some video clips of the man in action:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JohnEdwards
----

Edwards' poverty tour ends

portlandval — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 13:53:56 GMT

I believe in Edwards college plan to raise people up from their current status. I started out poor because I had a divorced Mom with lots of kids. We grew up in a one bedroom house . I did my homework in the bathroom on a tiny TV table for a desk. All for some peace and quiet. I got college grants to go to college and earn an advanced degree. I am doing very well today because someone in government believed in investing in young people. All my siblilngs did well thanks to my Mom and distant Dad. But YES, the government helped us with education grants. Those grants seemed to dry up during the Reagan years. I am a living example of how a person can get ahead with a little help despite what their birth has dealt them. Thanks for doing this objective article (FINALLY) MSNBC.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Logan, Charleston, SC — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:40:54 GMT

The Poverty Tour is just another example that the Edwards camp gets it. John Edwards leads and the other soon to be "also rans" follow. Sitting back and play it safe will not win the Democratic nomination in a year about real change. Big ideas and action drivin leadership are what politics and campaigns are sopposed to be about, and Edwards continually proposed big, bold, and specific ideas for transformational change.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Laura P., Baltimore, MD — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:09:04 GMT

Great article! Thanks. I went along on day 2 of the poverty tour as a blogger, and was so impressed by what I saw. He really listens to people and seeks a way to help them solve their problems. His compassion was very evident. When I got home from that day, I thought that if every voter in America could see what I had seen that day, Edwards would get 90% of the vote.

Edwards' poverty tour ends

Drema Osborne, Prestonsburg, KY — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 02:59:43 GMT

I was privileged to hear John Edwards speak in Prestonsburg, KY, at the end of his Poverty Tour. The huge crowd responded to his message with rapt attention and tremendous enthusiasm. I took a lot of pictures of the crowd and 95% of the people had smiles on their faces as he talked. This rich man understands human nature and the plight of us "have-nots" who need encouragement to seek opportunities to improve our lives. His sincerity is obvious. I think a lot of us were uplifted by his words, and motivated to help him with his mission.