I am feeling sorry for myself, my daughter and my country today.
John Edwards leaving the race is a wicked blow. I have spent over a year in the Campaign To Change America and what makes it really hard is that I didn't just throw in my time and and my money - I threw in my soul.
Since Dr. King was murdered in 1968, the silence has been deafening regarding poverty issues and the struggle of the working poor to achieve middle class status. Until John Edwards brought up the subject again, I'd sort of lost track of the fact that we hadn't been talking about it - at least as a nation. So there's that.
This is particularly bad news for Indiana progressives, because it will certainly ensure the Republican nominee Indiana's electoral votes. I know that Edwards would have had a tough time winning our state in the general election, but he had some appeal to rural voters the other two don't. Lets be honest, there are certain constituencies in our state which are not particularly cosmopolitan. So there's that.
It has been infuriating today to hear all the laudatory comments about John Edwards (suddenly) that any objective analysis would have recognized long ago. It's as though the popular media suddenly read his position papers, listened to his speeches, witnessed his works, etc. Had they used that approach earlier, this election might have lost the "Survivor" theme which has characterized so much of the coverage. But "Survivor" is wildly popular and profitable, isn't it?
Maybe we should sell naming rights for our Presidency. The Haliburton/Blackwater Bush Administration just rolls off the tongue. Just think, we could fund wars outside the budget process!
Oh, I guess we kinda do that now.
To be fair, Senator Obama made some very gracious remarks in front of supporters. I thank him for that. Senator Clinton, not so much.
John urged us to not turn away from the fight, not to give up. I'm sure I'll heed his request soon.
Today, it's a little tough.
Don Wheeler
South Bend, IN