Former supporters take aim at Edwards

Edwards is running as the reform candidate, but the question always sticking out is WHO REFORMS THE REFORMER? Edwards had a very underwhelming term in the Senate and decided not to run for re-election when it was obvious that he would not have been elected. His Democratic successor lost to a Republican. If Edwards cannot control his supporters negative acts, and they do not respect him enough to abide by his admonishments, presuming there were some, then how are we to believe that he will not demonstrate that same weakness as president?

This is absurd!

These people are political hacks. People see Edwards is rising, and people are responding to his message.

Candidates do not control outside groups, and ARE NOT ALLOWED to tell them what to do, or not do.

Edwards is being asked to break the law. This is very unfair.

Don't let partisans stop the kind of change Edwards can bring! The corporations are getting really scared now!

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

NO more Clinton dynasty and corrupted Health Industry.
Its time to end 20 years of Clinton/Bush political dynasty.

!!! ITS TIME FOR CHANGE !!!

BARACK OBAMA WAS RIGHT ON IRAQ.

BARACK OBAMA WAS RIGHT ON IRAN.

BARACK OBAMA WAS RIGHT ON PAKISTAN.

BARACK OBAMA HAS RIGHT JUDGEMENT FROM THE BEGINNING.

BARACK OBAMA's JUDGEMENT TRIUMPHS OVER HILLARY'S EXPERIENCE.

!!! VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA !!!

Hey, I used to like Obama until he started attacking SEIU as a "special interest." I'm now switching back to Edwards.

With just a single call to the group, Edward could stop them doing what they are doing. But he is not interested and instead of them helping him, they might end up shifting more of his supporters to Obama. Watch out John, you are going against a very clean guy and you better clean your ways too.

Obama is not helping himself with his stark negativity during the last couple of weeks. It appeals to no one. Plus, he does not come to this argument with clean hands. Though his Hopefund PAC, Obama has contributed over $180,000 to the campaigns of key democrats in the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. This was not something an independent group did on Obama's behalf: it is something he did directly.

Does Obama now plan to ask for those contributions to be returned? He looks rather hypocritical to me.

This argument from Obama is also insulting because his campaign is well aware that it is illegal for Edwards to communicate or attempt to control the actions of a 527. Obama is relying on that fact being a little too "inside baseball" for the average voter to care about. He ought to stop the misleading attacks and get back to the issues.

Next to Hillary, Edwards is the most hypocritical, opportunistic, and weak candidates running for President. He has completely altered his stances from a moderate democrat to far left B.S.er, saying anything to be elected.

Based on his votes for No Child Left Behind, trade w/ China, and worst of all, The Iraq War, Edwards has NO Judgement and he thinks that he can just make up for this dangerous lack of judgment w/ a bunch of lame apologies.

Not a very impressive or high level list of "former Edwards supporters." A husband and wife "precinct captain" team? Give me a break. Obviously Obama is getting a bit nervous about placing third in Iowa.

IF YOU ARE NOT FOR JOHN EDWARDS NOW, YOU NEVER WERE. EDWARDS HASN'T CHANGED. HE IS A REAL FIGHTER FOR YOU AND HIS COUNTRY. SORRY BUT I CANNOT BE SWAYED BY YOUR LOSING STATEMENTS. EDWARDS WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENT.

See, the facts here are that Edwards DID conspire with this 527, and there is documentation to that fact.

So what do you mean, publicly asking him to ask them to stop would be breaking the law? He already HAS broken the law. I'm SO SICK of seeing my mailbox filled with lies, from faces I know. Children depending on me for health care? Hardly; not if they are waiting on John Edwards to get it. He can't even keep his stories straight to the remainder of his committee about whether he read the NIE report about Iraq.

He's spoken with this 527 about what he needs, and that is clear. Sorry John, you will never get my vote.

Obama takes money from Lobbyists. Edwards does not. There is a difference between a 527 that spends independently and a corporate Lobbyist who personally hands you a $2,300 check.

Take a look at the letter writers. With all due respect, they are political nobodies. "Precinct captain in 2004"????

This is a sign of how Obama's friends at the Swamp will publicize ANYTHING Obama puts out.

Edwards admonished Bush for not stopping the Swiftboaters in 2004. Now that he has a 527 working for him, he says he can't stop them. The head of the union paying for the ads (which attack Obama's health care plan and supports Edwards) actually is on record as opposing Edward's plan.

JOHN EDWARDS will win BIG in Ipwa and go on to be President of the United States because he is the ONLY candidate who represents the middle class and NOT the mega-corporations, BIG OIL, the insurance industry, drug companies, and the like.

The morally bankrupt Republican Party would LOVE to run against Hussein Obama (or Clinton), because they know they can beat either of them in the general election, but would have NO chance whatsoever against Edwards.

Why does Obama REFUSE to salute the flag??? Rest assured, the Repuvlicans will use that against him in the general election.

It is unfortunate that Edwards is being shown to be a hypocrite in yet another context. SEIU should know better than to be corresponding directly with his campaign about messaging options. His need to win seems to have overshadowed his desire for real reform. It is just this kind of occurrence that makes it impossible for many Democrats to trust him or his motives. Too many bad votes with apologies after the fact, too many promises that turn out to be empty rhetoric. Edwards time has come and gone. It is time for real change. GObama 08!!

It was reported yesterday in the NYT that there was an orchestrated effort between the Edwards campaign and the 527 to do this advertising on his behalf...it is on the verge of illegal if not completely illegal. Unfortunately this was buried under the news of Bhutto's untimely death.

Clearly, Edwards does not have money and resources that Obama and Clinton do. This is, in part, due to fact that they are willing to take money from lobbyists. When it comes to union support however… he has that. These folks have put their money together to speak to Iowans about the issues that they struggle with everyday, healthcare costs, a living wage, etc. They support John Edwards for two reasons, first, because he has stood with them when it matters. Second, he is the only candidate that doesn’t beat around the bush (no pun intended) when it comes to a plan on making the drastic changes this country needs to equal the playing field. If the talking points in their ads sound like they're describing John Edwards, well, there's a reason for that, he's the one with the best plan to make their lives better. Mud stinging and hypocritical statements by other candidates won't change that.

Obama is using the most underhanded attacks and insinuations while trying to make it look like his hands are clean. The fact is that he is just as calculating (if not more so) than Clinton. If you look past the MSM hype he is nothing more than a Clintonian Center-Right Democrat. John Edwards, as a New Dealer willing to fight against powerful interests for the common people, would be the only one willing to bring change.

It is my understanding Obama is getting help from a 527 organization in California. If this true Obama is talking out of both sides of his mouth.

I am willing to bet that if the Dems nominate Hillary or Obama either one will go down and be defeated next November against the Republican"s Nominee. Edwards has the best chance of winning. Let us be pragmatic we need Edwards

Ladies, gentlemen...we are mud slinging here.

The mere facts that John Edwards is willing to take on Corporate Greed and fairs the 'best' of any Democratic candidate matched up to 'Any' Republican has brought me in from the cold and switched my allegience.

RNC Bruce,

Were it not for your voice in the wilderness no one would know who you support for president.

Who was it again?

Actually, Pravda Doug, I'm not supporting anyone yet for president.

Despite all the personal attacks and attempts to silence me, I will continue to point out the mindless, biased cheerleading for Obama in particular, and Democrats in general, exemplified by the DNC Swamp. The kind of one-sided coverage that mocks the Swamp's claim to cover "politics". And the "empty suit" policy statements of our ritzy Hawaiian prep-school educated senator.

John Edwards is the only true anti-establishment candidate. The establishment media from day one has tried to make this a two person (Clinton/Obama) run to the nomination. John Edwards remains relevant and in the thick of things in Iowa because his campaign is people driven not media driven. Edwards is the only candidate that has the guts and determination to take on the corruption in Washington.

RNC Bruce,

One of us was in the military taking on communism & the Soviet Union.

Hint: It wasn't you.

See if you can get the RNC to give you a little more lead. Our ankles are chaffing.

I think this tasteless letter says more about these people who signed the letter then it does about Edwards. Quite frankly I think Edwards is lucky to be free of them.

This letter reminds me of another Obama campaign convert. Remember that woman who appeared in the video trumpeting the fact that she switched from Hillary to Obama? In the video they film her pulling up her Clinton sign and replacing it with an Obama sign. I'm not a Clinton supporter but it sure turned me off that this woman was seeking the limelight at the expense of Clinton.

Unfortunately we've all seen our share of backstabbers and most of us can't stand them. So why would the Obama people think showcasing backstabbers is good for his campaign?

He better watch out because when he loses in Iowa they will probably all turn on him too. Pitiful.

I hope for Obama that he pays the price for this henpecking below the belt nonsense he's called campaigning. It's pathetic and he should be ashamed of himself. This is the politics of hope? To categorize Edwards as a Washington insider because indepdendent groups want to spend their money to promote his candidacy is a real stretch.

As an independant voter who votes republican as often as democrat, I feel that John Edwards is the best candidate in the democratic field. I believe that Romney is the strongest on the republican side. It is absurd that voters seem to be put off by the fatuous "pretty boy" problem for both of these good smart men. It seems that republicans in particular don't like candidates that are too smart...they prefer an earnest, simple man that they would like to have a beer with. Democrats are so determined to prove that they are "enlightened" that they often vote against their own self interest. Republican are more pragmatic and less idealistic and therefore usually win.

The republicans fear Edwards more than the other candidates by far, as well they should. Obama would be the easiest candidate for the republicans to defeat, because of his name, his race, and his father's religion.

Most people (especially men), if they are honest with themselves, simply don't like Hillary. She annoys people.

The media covers the horse race not the issues and prefers anyone "new". In the end, it is likely to be Romney against Hillary. This is a race that republicans would likely win. Edwards would likely defeat Romney.

We need to quit beating each other up. All of our Dem candidates are good, Obama just happens to be the man for the moment. Were it 2004, or 2012, and Barack was not running, it would be a lot different. JE might look oh so much better.

HRC, well she's best suited for Sec'y of Education -- great gal, nice, charismatic husband, but their time has come, and gone. Let's let that sleeping dog lie, if it will. Just say "NO" to HRC.

As long as we don't have VOE's we're going to be haggling over who gets money from whom, and they all have to suck up to folks to get contributions, which we the people should change, by electing a President who is very much in favor of Voter-Owned Elections - VOE's.

And that renegade warrior is Barack Obama. Along with sweeping ethics and lobbyist reforms, he is in favor of VOE's.

America, our moment is now to elect Barack Obama!

In my humble opinion, John Edwards has failed at two real full time jobs - putting his wife first and looking out for Rielle Hunter, who's expecting.

Before that, he failed by voting YES to invade Iraq.

Before that, he voted wrongly on EVERY SINGLE important vote during his one term in the Senate.

Exactly, what experience does he really have? Oh, I have found this:
http://www.digg.com/2008_us_elections/BUSTED_Private_money_goes_into_pro_Edwards_527

Well, you all (all, what, 8 of you?)can do what you like, I and my husband both supported Edwards in 04 and we support him now. And we are definitely not alone. In fact, most of the people I know who supported him in the past support him now. So there.

Obama is talking out of both sides of his mouth, he has a 527 group in California working on ads for him there.

It's funny, you know, the sour grapes that Obama is showing here with the 'special interests' gig...when Obama tried soooo hard to get the union support, and now when he doesn't have their endorsements, they are suddenly 'special interests?' Really?
http://www.walkadayinmyshoes2008.com/walkadaytour/2007/8/9/sen-barack-obama-walks-in-shoes-of-california-homecare-worke.html

so these people were just "special interests" to you, eh?

Edwards is the best candidate, hands down. if you have any interest at all, please look at johnedwards.com and check out the issues pages, it's sealed the deal for me.

RE: Edwards pulling a fast one with 527s

Read the research the DailyKos did on Edwards’ 527.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/28/151249/52

(1)A 527 is supposed to advocate “issues” NOT candidates. The 527 ads supporting Edwards clearly advocate for him, so it’s not abiding by the law. When you advocate for a candidate, you’re supposed to set-up as a PAC.
(2)The donors of the 527 INCLUDE PACs (see link on DailyKos).
(3)The 527 is run by an Edwards campaign manager who was on his payroll this past spring.
(4)This isn’t the first time Edwards has done this. Before the 2004 Iowa caucus, another Edwards aide, Jonathan Prince, left to form a 527 that spent money on advertising for Edwards in Iowa.

Edwards may be hiding behind a smokescreen of “leagalese” but it is clear that he is exploiting a loophole in campaign finance laws to get more advertising dollars spent on his behalf in Iowa. Also, since PACs are contributing to the 527, Edwards is benefiting from PAC money.

He is playing a game of “the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing” – only they do. Edwards is playing a game of "legalese" with this 527 issue - he talks against them, but when he can't raise as much money as his rivals, he sends out his top brass to start 527s to funnel advertising dollars into Iowa on his behalf, then claims that he is not "coordinating" with them and makes a false show of “asking them to stop”. Edwards is a phony. And it’s one thing if some totally separate group sets up a 527 – it’s quite another if your own people have a history of leaving your campaign before the Iowa caucus (in 2004, now in 2008) to work for a 527 which funnels advertising dollars into Iowa on your behalf.

I from North Carolina and I voted for John Edwards to go into the Senate. But he is just like all the rest of the rich Lawyers in my state. Once they made all the money they can then they decide they want power that money can't buy and pretend to be advocates of the change. I think Baracks record speaks for itself. So vote for Edwards because you feel comfortable with him because he looks like you and talks like you but rediculous to think he is any different from many that have come before him.