Talking About a Revolution
John Edwards has started a revolution. It's a revolution against the entrenched interests in Washington, the corporate interests that have dominated our government and endangered our democracy with their lobbyists. For anyone paying attention, there is no doubt that John Edwards is correct when he says "Washington, DC is broken. The system is rigged, and it's rigged against you."
Yes, Edwards has started a revolution. It is a revolution where we the people will take back our government, and we are going to win it. Follow me into the underground for more.
As Tracy Chapman said in her song, talking about a revolution sounds like a whisper, at least at first. This revolution has not been televised, much. The corporate media has been largely ignoring or smearing John Edwards, but there are encouraging signs that his message is getting out anyway. The whisper is building to a roar.
(The video above was made by NCDem Amy in 2006, before Congress raised the minimum wage. It needs to be raised again.)
Let's consider the following news items tonight, all of which make me hopeful that we will win with Edwards.
1) Support is growing in the early states
2) Edwards is the most electable candidate
3) Howard Dean's DNC: leveling the playing field
4) Unions united with us
5) Voters agree on lobbyist issue
Support is growing in the early states
Support for Edwards seems to be growing in the early states.
A recent Time poll shows his Iowa lead is growing. Edwards now leads there by eight points in a four-way race, and by five points if all current candidates are included. (Keep in mind that some candidates may drop out before January.)
A recent poll in South Carolina shows that Edwards is in second place with 24% of the vote.
He's also picking up endorsements in South Carolina, including the endorsement of Spartanburg Councilwoman Linda C. Dogan, caught on video by our own OneCarolinaGirl.
On Thursday, Edwards met with African-American leaders in South Carolina, seeking support for his slate of programs to help working families who are struggling to get by.
"I didn’t win the primary in 2004 by accident," Edwards said. "The fact that I’m from here and I understand the issues matters. I feel good about where we are."
It’s too early, Edwards said, to worry about his standing in polls.
"What I know is that in 2004 at this stage I was a distant third or fourth, and I won the South Carolina primary, and I didn’t win anything that came in front of it. What that says is that when people focus there is going to be a natural movement to me."
S.C. Rep. Leon Howard, D-Richland, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, is working for Edwards’ campaign to help that movement along.
Howard has been hired as a consultant to the campaign and was at Thursday’s meeting at Benedict College. He said a diverse group of Midlands leaders came out to discuss "dinner-table agendas."
Howard said he was courted by all the Democratic candidates for president but chose Edwards.
"I had time to evaluate the real substance of the candidates and what these candidates could bring to the table to move this country forward," Howard said.
Edwards’ plan to tackle poverty, Howard said, was chief among them. The kicker, though, was Edwards himself —the fact that Edwards’ plan for outreach and grassroots in South Carolina includes heavy doses of Edwards himself.
"I was very much impressed with his outreach," Howard said. "His outreach being John Edwards himself."
And, anecdotally, crowds at recent Edwards events in New Hampshire have been unexpectedly large.
Edwards is the most electable candidate
People want change, so it's really no surprise that in head-to-head matchup polls against Republicans, Edwards typically comes out furthest ahead. His challenge is to beat the candidates in the Democratic primary who have more money. If he can do that, beating the Republicans should be easy for him.
Howard Dean's DNC: leveling the playing field
The DNC may seem like an unlikely ally in the fight against entrenched interests, but remember that Howard Dean is now the chairman. These days, the DNC is working on leveling the playing field in the Democratic primary race. The DNC recognizes that the nominating process is flawed, and their current rules reflect an effort to get more diverse voices involved. Their recent move to enforce their rules helps keep the biggest fundraisers from having WAY too much of an unfair advantage. (This way they only have too much of an unfair advantage!)
Frontloading the primary season with large states that take a lot of money to campaign in, such as Florida and Michigan, would be a huge advantage to the people who can raise the most money. The DNC enforcing their rules is an encouraging sign. Donna Brazile explains the move in an excellent op-ed in today's Washington Post.
The DNC tried to address this problem by letting two states join Iowa and New Hampshire in the coveted "pre-window" period before Feb. 5. States were invited to apply, and 12 of them, plus the District of Columbia, did so. The process was fair and democratic. Florida, which had a chance to become "first in the South," did not apply. Now it is asking for another chance.
In the end, the DNC chose Nevada and South Carolina to bring further regional, racial and economic diversity to the "pre-window" primary period. Florida's plan to move its primary forward represented a unilateral move that would completely disrupt the system on which everyone had agreed. The rules and bylaws committee had no choice but to enforce the rules. Our recommendation is not the end of the line for Florida. Indeed, the state has 30 days to bring its plan into compliance.
I love the way she closes her op-ed.
Starting in January and perhaps ending on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008, tens of millions of Americans in as many as 24 states will go to the polls. Candidates are raising record sums of money, and outside organizations are likely to spend even more to influence the process. We've never had a presidential campaign season like the one we're watching. It's time for both parties to take steps to reform the process.
As we begin to contemplate the calendar for 2012, and the rules that will govern that process, both major parties must craft a system that makes sense for voters and candidates. We can begin by setting a reasonable starting date -- I suggest the time when the snow gives way to tulips and daffodils. We can make sure the nominating schedule does not unfairly favor the rock stars of politics. And we must make sure the campaign finance laws allow more than just the candidates with deep pockets and ties to big donors to be competitive.
Perhaps by 2012 both major parties will commit to reforming the nominating process to give as many people as much of a voice as possible. We're long overdue for a rational system to elect a president of the United States.
John Edwards recognizes that the DNC should enforce its rules, and has signed the four state pledge, as have the other candidates.
This election, more than any other, is about real change and choosing the candidate who is going to fight for that change," said Edwards. "Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina need to be first because in these states ideas count, not just money. These are places where voters get to look the candidate in the eye and measure their policies, ideas, and integrity. That’s why I am signing this pledge. This tried-and-true nominating system is the only way for voters to judge the field based on the quality of the candidate, not the depth of their war chest.
I'm glad to see the Democratic Party unified in this. It is a hopeful sign for our Democracy.
Unions united with us
Two key unions have decided to stand with John Edwards in his fight, and more are likely to follow.
The Carpenters Union has endorsed Edwards.
"Our endorsement is based on the Senator's outspoken support for all of organized labor and his focus on America's working families," said Carpenters President Douglas J. McCarron. "In addition to his support for labor, our leadership was particularly impressed with the Senator's strong stand on trade."
"We also believe that Senator Edwards will have a great appeal in a general election," McCarron continued. "He has the ability to reach out to moderate voters, including the members of our union, and to address their very real concerns about jobs, health care and the economy."
Their formal endorsement will come on September 8th, at a rally in New Hampshire.
On Labor Day, the Steelworkers Union will endorse Edwards at a rally in Pittsburgh.
Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting, but when it comes to fighting for the rights of working people, Edwards will fight for us every day and night of his life.
Voters agree on lobbyist issue
Voters understand that the system is rigged as well as Edwards does. In fact, 75% of voters in a recent Gallup poll agree that it is unacceptable for politicians to take lobbyist money.
To close, here are some links to some of today's other great Edwards diaries:
Breaking: John Edwards signs Four State Pledge by okamichan13
Edwards on the Move in SC; Mojo Rising by Tom P
Guerrilla vlogger: Edwards in Portsmouth by mbair
Edwards' leadership on the issues: good policies, good politics by desmoinesdem