I really want to like John Edwards and I very much approve of many of his campaign positions, but one thing just keeps coming back to me that cripples him in my view.
Of course, rarely will any of us find an 'ideal' presidential candidate to support. Likely the closest I ever saw for me personally was Howard Dean. Both Dean and Edwards talk a tough talk, but Dean had something Edwards lacks. A sense of being genuine.
Where does John Edwards fall flat? Join me below the fold.
Gay Marriage. I'm sure you saw that coming just form the title of the diary.
I was a major Dean supporter in 2004. Money, Volunteer work, and frozen fingers out canvasing in Iowa. Dean was not, and still is not, pro gay-marriage. But, what Dean had was a public record having been governor of Vermont and did adjust his views over time on the issue, whereas he evenutally signed the civil unions law. Dean's support of civil unions was one of the main reasons his internet campaign grew so quickly.
None of the Democratic front-runners openly support 'gay marriage' and instead, they all profess their wants of an equal-but-separate status, be them 'civil unions' or whatever. This is nothing shocking. Civil Unions and the equal but separate positions are popular with voters in America. The average American is somewhat shamed to not recognise same-sex unions but not yet ready to treat them 100% as heterosexual marriages.
So now, today, go the front-runners for the Democratic nomination. Clinton, Edwards, and Obama. None of them are 'for' gay marriage but all are for some form of equal but separate status. For Clinton, this is understandable. She blows as the wind does and will toss out whatever she thinks you need to hear. Obama is green in national politics so isn't going to stay far from the 'middle'. Edwards, however, who is not longer an elected official, doesn't have the same excuses.
John Edwards wife has gone on public record as supporting gay marriage. Now I don't know about anyone else, but I think if my life partner held such a belief, it would be something I'd know a heck of a lot about and it would have been debated between us until we were both comfortably on the same page.
When I think of John Edwards, and his professional history, I know of his trial lawyer experience. What are the hallmarks of a good trial attorney? Look good and speak well. Appear intelligent, honest and trustworthy. Know how to play the jury.
John Edwards is all of those. He knows how to look good. He knows how to appear honest and trustworthy. And he knows how to play the jury (in this case, the voters).
But on the gay marriage issue, his sugar coating flies off.
I don't believe he is personally 'stuggling' with this issue. I think it's very clear that politics forces him to remain on the equal-but-separate talking point. I simply cannot believe that he is married to such a strong woman like Elizabeth who supports gay marriage yet he himself is still stuggling.
On the recent CNN/YouTube debate, he got nailed on his stance by a baptist preacher. John Edwards uses his religion to avoid answering the question about his lack of support for gay marriage. Even when he was pressed by a man of the cloth, Edwards had nothing. He makes it sound like we need to offer him sympathy for this stuggle. That's bullshit. The GLBT community has to put up with a heck of a lot more stress than him getting over his little religious hangups.
Because of Edwards limp-wrist approach to the gay marriage issue, I am left to bring all of his other slick talking points into question. Is John Edwards genuine? I don't believe so.
Sorry, in advance, if Edwards is your guy.