CNN

God willing, Obama is the best candidate for American people.

John Edwards is a puppet for the unions and trial lawyers and he comes across as a hypocrite. Do you know how much he has collected for speeches at major universities as Director of the Center for Poverty, Work and Opportunity? Answer: $285, 000 – in one year! How many square feet in his North Carolina mansion? Answer: 28,000 square feet. How much does a haircut cost John Edwards? Answer: $400.
Sure he is a smooth talking lawyer who sued Doctors who are all too human, but the man would ruin America by raising taxes (yes, he can afford to pay more, but most people cannot). Why bother to even do business if there is no profit motive involved? Corporations are made up of common people and stockholders who invest in a company with the expectation that profits will be distributed. With Edwards as President let's just see how many people will be thrown out of work when corporations are bullied out of existence by our government and sucked dry by lawyers and unions.

Funny...when someone tells you what Giuliani's accomplishments are (putting people back to work...reducing crime..etc) – its countered with pure rhetoric...."Rudy is a crook" – really....prove it...if thats all you have is rhetoric....then Giuliani is our next president....HRC can't win....far too many flip flop videos on YouTube....Edwards can't win...because everytime we look at our insurance bill we think of his hundreds of millions from suing insurance companies....and we all know why our premiums are so high....Obama...has honesty....(which I like) – now if he would embrace the JFK speech...."ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country" – I believe he would win....as it sits....70% of the population describes themselves as "moderate" – social liberal and fiscal conservative – thats Giuliani

The little place known as Iowa will NEVER speak for me.

Where does a guy that went from rags to riches get off trying to convince people that the system is rigged? And rather than wag his finger at us about the poor, why doesn't he turn around and tell the poor to live up to their end of the bargain (don't get pregnant, stay in school, obey the law, don't use drugs)?

There are simply too many inconsistencies: I cant not get passed his veil of hypocrisy. These so called "idependent groups" that are running these negative ads in Iowa are headed by former staff members of his campaign........ And, notice how he always responds in generalities when he does not have a stock answer: this is usually followed by "the real question is". Does he really think he comes across as authentic?

John Edwards roared onto the national stage four years ago by coming in a strong second to John Kerry, a war hero and multi-term senator, and beating both the media-darling Howard Dean and a workhorse Democrat, Dick Gephardt. Iowa is retail politics; people get to see, hear, and touch these candidates, so if Iowa vets you, you deserve it.

Edwards won his senate seat despite the Jesse Helms machine, and polls (FoxNews, for one) showed on election night 2004 that he would have won it again if he'd run for re-election. He didn't lose North Carolina; Kerry was the "loosing" (only one O, please) part of the ticket, and he and Shrum wouldn't let Edwards campaign in the south.

Democrats have a recent history of giving candidates just one bite at the apple, but it's worth noting that FDR ran as VP on a losing ticket before he went on to save democracy. I look at this way–48% of voters nationally have already voted for John Edwards. That's 59-million people who envisioned and accepted the guy as vice-president, and as someone who worked for Kerry-Edwards in the critical swing state of Ohio, I can attest that for many people, Edwards was seen as the stronger of the two. He has the highest favorability rating of all the democrats, and the poll averages at RealClearPolitics.com have shown for months that he consistently beats Republicans by bigger margins than Hillary Clinton or Obama can. (Currently, Edwards beats McCain by 3.7 pts. while Hillary loses and Obama ekes out a tie.)

This guy is the real deal, someone who can campaign in 50 states and galvanize voters with a "people's campaign" that relies on message rather than big-money donors. The Republicans are afraid of him. One RNC strategist, John Feehny (sp?) told MSNBC on December 11th that his party "would be happy with either Clinton or Obama because we'll beat them. Edwards is the one who scares me. He's a southern democrat, and they're the ones who win."

"John Kerry raised millions of $$ after his win in Iowa" and yet I don't ever remember a president John Kerry. These contests mean nothing, they are just about money. Whe if ever, will the people become intelligent enough to grasp the meaning of the hoax being played out here?

For God sake people......Just do some research, then go to the polls in November and vote, then live with the decision for four years. If you don't vote, if it's to much to ask of you, then just keep your comments to yourself. No vote, no right to complain.

Don't flatter yourself haircut sunshine boy, Obama's not attacking you because he's afraid you're winning, he's attacking you because he's pointing out to the American people the hypocrte you are in once saying you wouldn't take monies from those 527's and now you're accepting money from them. But just because a snake sits by your side as a friend he never said he wouldn't bite you because afterall he's still a snake, and that's you John, still a snake.

John Edwards and the Democrats believe that forcing successful people to pay a higher percentage in taxes solves the problem of the wage-earner needing to buy a big screen TV. That's not right. ANYONE could take office and proceed to penalize rich, successful people and profitable corporations by taxing them to death and giving that money to people who are not motivated to work hard, take personal responsibility and be accountable for their own success. You don't have to have any qualifications or track record of leadership if you're appealing to voters who want our country to simply tax the rich and give that money to the unmotivated people. That's socialist thinking and that's what John Edwards believes is the course for our country. They're already grabbing almost the first third of my paycheck. Am I taxed enough?

On the other hand, conservative thinking is let the workers have more of their paychecks to begin with. Only a few candidates are proposing the excellent and overdue idea of a consumption tax that REPLACES the fed. income tax. Think about getting to KEEP what you gross on your paycheck. Hillary, Obama and Edwards are wrong for America because they have no answer other than re-distributing the wealth – - – and that's socialism. When it takes one-third of what people earn to keep the government running, then that government is too big, isn't it?

Jesse,

How many of the lawsuits he litigated were to sue OBGYNS for not doing
C-sections on women who had babies born with cerebral palsy?
He was said to have "channeled" dead babies in the court room. There was no evidence that C-sections would have prevented the cerebral palsy and a late study shows that C-sections don't lower the rate of cerebral palsy. Has he apologized for his behavior?

How many of you supporting Obama notice that media has already abandoning Obama and rallying around Edwards all of a sudden? Democrats should careful enough to see through this right-wing conspiracy. All they want is to stop Clinton, and it doesn't matter to them whether that person is Obama or Edwards.
Also Bloomberg is considering running as a third party candidate if the democrat nominee is either obama or edwrads and republican is Huckabee. This shows what kind of a weak status they give to anyone other than Clinton.
Republicans hate Clinton, at the same time they fear her. They know that they can't mess with the Clintons. We democarts should understand this challenge and work to send the strongest candidate Clinton to the front.

Kevin from Landover, MD
"Even IF Edwards won Iowa. He will then loose NH, NV.SC."

Don't you dare speak for us. Maryland will get her chance.

Edwards/Biden '08

Ahem !!!! when did Obama attack Edwards? Once again people... Imply that someone is a drug dealer is an attack, calling one naive is an attack, digging up a kidergarten essay is an attack...

POINTING OUT FLAWS AND HOLES in your platform is not an attack

To Grace Smith,

First, to the best of my knowledge there is no town in SC named "Charlton" - at last it doesn't seem to exist on Google maps. If you do, in fact, live in our wonderful city of ~Charleston~ I suggest you learn how to spell it.

Second, why should anyone other than his wife care if John Edwards has fathered a child out of wedlock? It probably isn't true, but even if it is - so what? The only time I care about a politician's private life is when they are being hypocritical about it - trumpeting their pro-life values while paying for their daughter's abortion, or seeking to deny gay people their rights while trolling for a little man-on-man nookie in airport bathrooms. John Edwards isn't doing any of that, so frankly I don't care WHO he sleeps with.

What I do care about is ending a needless war that is killing thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis, creating a "minimum level of dignity" that allows anyone who is trying to do their best for their family and their society to be assured of a living wage, good education and healthcare, and resources for retirement, rolling back the attack on civil liberties, and creating opportunity for all, not just for some. And if all of that is accomplished by someone who has a little trouble keeping his zipper up, well, I can live with that.

I agree with those writing in defense of people over corporations. The Constitution does not begin with "We the Corporations, in order to form....". It's supposed to be about people.

John Edwards has made his fortune representing people against powerful corporations. These corporations need to be held to account for the actions they take. Keep in mind that when a person is wronged by a corporation, they are up against resources (legal) that they will never be able to fight without someone like John Edwards, an experienced lawyer, on their side.

He may be exactly what we need at this point in time.

Edwards is an ambulance chaser whose legal career helped raise the costs of corporate insurance and consequently the health care costs of all. What Edwards doesn't understand (nor does Hillary, Obama or Biden) is that at the end of the day the only one that can pay for anything is the consumer.

Too bad the democrats failed all their basic economic classes in high school.

Mark,

What he did was fight on behalf of clients who were mamed by corporations that cared more about profits than their patients/customers. How is that any different than what he says he is fighting for now?

Some people say the amount of the lawsuits that he fought for were rediculous. Well, how would you feel if you were scarred for life, both literally and figuratively? How else will corporations be incentivised to change their practices if all they are given are slaps on the wrist?

I would still prefer Obama over Edwards, but I could really get behind an Edwards candidacy too.

In all my years in watching politics I have never seen a more crooked and FAKE politician. This man talks about Poverty and a one america,,,give me a break. The man is a wuss and ontop of that uses his wifes Cancer to help his campaign. That MR. EDWARDS is low and people see right thru your elementary tactics.

CNN bias?

Is CNN coverage of the Iowa caucus bias towards Hillary? I could not help but notice that CNN has Candy Crowley covering John Edwards, and Suzanne Malvo covering Obama's camp. Who did they send to cover Hillary? Nobody.

Hillary supporters should write into CNN requesting Anderson Cooper or someone else to cover Hillary.

VOTE CLINTON 08!!!

Edwards leaves out some very important points.

1. Edwards lost Iowa in 2004.
2. Edwards lost the Primary bid for the Democrat Presidential candidate.
3. Edward then went on as part of the 2004 loosing ticket for the general election as V.P.

Even IF Edwards won Iowa. He will then loose NH, NV.SC. Which means Hillary would possibly be the nominee. So a Vote for Edwards in Iowa is a vote wasted and for Hillary (NOT FOR CHANGE). Why go through all this and then WASTE your vote Iowa? You voted for Edwards already in 2004 and he LOST it.

I really wonder how he thinks he will not be hamstrung by the public financing rules that limit spending in every state until the convention. Edwards will be very vulnerable to Republican attacks if he can't respond with advertising because of these limits. I guess he will count on those shadowy corporate 727's that he is using in Iowa. Half a million dollars from some unknown corporate entity is spending on his behalf in Iowa. How is that for a person who declares he will fight those darn corporations. We don't even know who has bought him because it is a secret.

He's Lying because his lips are Moving!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone here care to say exactly how Senator Edwards made his fortune? Why is what he did any different than obscene corporate profits?
Why are his lies different than Hillary's?

Exactly! There's certainly nothing wrong with making money but Corporations by their very nature care about the bottom line and not people. We need someone on our side to even out the equasion. We're never going to get rid of Corporations and don't want to, what we want is people first and Corporate profits and interests second and we want them out of our politics, health care, etc

xtina from Chicago says that John Edwards has antiamerican and socialistic views on corporations.
As a European following the presidential campaign in the US, I get a little confused here. I thought the American dream was about the small guy being able and allowed to make money, but also about a society where money doesn't rule over the small guy. Isn't that what Edwards is talking about? Am I wrong?

What's wrong with profit? I guess everyone has forgotten about ENRON. It was so long ago. Perhaps people who think this way should have been on the ENRON payrol and lost they're pension and life savings. Maybe these voters should be the ones who lose benefits and jobs from hostile mergers. Capitalisim and Profit at any cost equals crime.

Excuse me, but I have been following this campaign very carefully and at no time did Barack Obama "criticize" or "attack" John Edwards. He DID bring up the fact that an ex-campaign manager of Edwards has started a 527 group that is pouring millions of dollars into Iowa to attack and criticize Barack Obama, though. Obama wonders if Edwards is so against the power of special interest groups, why he is allowing this special interest group to do this, and I am wondering the same thing.

Xtina,

There is nothing wrong with companies being profitable. But the free enterprise system exists to serve the people, not the other way around. And unfortunately, as companies get larger and larger, crossing oceans, transcending borders, and encompassing multiple continents, they gain power in exponential ways. And unlike our great country, these multinational monoliths are not democratic institutions, and they are rarely magnanimous in their dealings with employees or, increasingly, customers. This should be an area of concern for any fair-minded person. We all know that there are many positive aspects of the free market system, but there are drawbacks as well. John Edwards is trying to shine a light on the abuses - both intentional and circumstantial - that are occuring. And that, Xtina, is MOST DEFINITELY NOT anti-American. However, turning a blind eye to the suffering that is occuring in America's middle- and lower-classes while trumpeting "profit = good," which you indirectly seem to be doing, most certainly is.

What a lousy job of filming an interview. We get a full face view of the reporter and very clear and loud volume on her questions. We get to look at the back of John Edwards head and can barely hear him. That's some first class film work! I'm sure you guys can do better than this!

Edwards got some amazing news today as he is leading in one Iowa poll and rising in another, which speaks really well of his chances come Thursday.

sounds like a couple of staffers for competetors campains......

Why isn't the media asking John Edwards to do a paternity test to prove that he's not the father of Rielle Hunter's unborn child?

I get it. They want to leave it for the Republicans to do it.

Socialism, Communism, welfare and wealth redistribution sounds like something you give lazy poor people, Well the facts are that is what our greedy,corrupt anti American corporations receive. A democracy is government by and for the people it was not designed to be ran by multinational corporations who care nothing about the success or soveriegnty of America. They care only about their bottom line and how much corporate welfare the can get.
I find it amusing that many political ticker bloggers feel they have a masters degree in economics and believe in free trade and globilization. I suggest they pull their heads out of the sand and see were this dogma has taken our country economically.
Vote Edwards, 2008

Edwards win in Iowa will make the Democrat race a real contest and that will be good for the party. He probably doesn’t have the same amount of money than Hillary or Obama; but he has name recognition for real, and people can easily be motivated to support his candidacy and provide enough resources to win the Presidency. he has the best progressive ideas, real agenda and is working hard for the nomination. Edwards wants to change and re energize the Democratic party and is fighting for it, his message is clear and sound. When the big press give him enough coverage his message will reach across party lines to independents and some republicans fed up with Washington gridlock and the powers of big corporations and BIG MONEY.

Go Edwards! show that no one can buy the nomination, not even with the Washington oiled machine, lobbyists, big powers or big tv celebrities or big Hollywood and the controlled media.

Having executive experience means absolutely nothing just look at George Bush he had all kinds of executive experience. There is only one factor that needs to be considered for electing our next president and that is will he or she truly represent the interests of the people. I beleive John Edwards is the only candidate who has the guts anf the courage to stand up to the corporate interests that are destroying the future of our great country and the American dream for everyone but the wealthy elite. Guiliani, Clinton Obama and most of the other candidates are basically employees of big multinational corporations. Vote Edwards or watch America return to the days of the robber barons.

Edwards is right and the right man for the Democratic party. He's electable and can win!
Talking about experience,here are parts of Senator Dodd's comments yesterday in Des Moines, Iowa.
Laura Bush is a wonderful person, a delightful first lady, but I don’t think anyone would assume necessarily she is ready to be president of the United States,” Dodd said. “Now, Hillary Clinton has been elected to the Senate, and that adds a bit more to all this.”
Dodd went on: “But the idea that, for the last 10 or 15 years, because you’ve been next to events as they’ve unfolded somehow qualifies you to do this job is an exaggeration. That’s not experience. That’s witnessing experience. There’s a distinction.”
Dodd used his own wife, Jackie, as an example.
“Jackie would tell you first off she has been around to witness a lot of things, but she wouldn’t take credit for the Family and Medical Leave Act,” Dodd said. “The experience of witnessing history is not the same thing has having helped create it. And I think that is a distinction that people ought to be aware of.”
Dodd also expanded on remarks directed at Obama.
“Barack Obama, I mean, how — I mean, talking about the future and giving soaring speeches is very good, and it’s a good experience,” Dodd said. “But I don’t think it’s as deep as what people are looking for in a Democratic candidate that can win the election and bring our country together.”

I think Senator Dodd is right!

Edwards is right and the right man for the Democratic party. He's electable and can win!
Talking about experience,here are parts of Senator Todd's comments yesterday in Des Moines, Iowa.
Laura Bush is a wonderful person, a delightful first lady, but I don’t think anyone would assume necessarily she is ready to be president of the United States,” Dodd said. “Now, Hillary Clinton has been elected to the Senate, and that adds a bit more to all this.”
Dodd went on: “But the idea that, for the last 10 or 15 years, because you’ve been next to events as they’ve unfolded somehow qualifies you to do this job is an exaggeration. That’s not experience. That’s witnessing experience. There’s a distinction.”
Dodd used his own wife, Jackie, as an example.
“Jackie would tell you first off she has been around to witness a lot of things, but she wouldn’t take credit for the Family and Medical Leave Act,” Dodd said. “The experience of witnessing history is not the same thing has having helped create it. And I think that is a distinction that people ought to be aware of.”
Dodd also expanded on remarks directed at Obama.
“Barack Obama, I mean, how — I mean, talking about the future and giving soaring speeches is very good, and it’s a good experience,” Dodd said. “But I don’t think it’s as deep as what people are looking for in a Democratic candidate that can win the election and bring our country together.”

I think Senator Dodd is right!

yea...but rudy is a crook

"As long as ambulances ply in America, I will never worry about money"

- Famous Edwards quote in response to critics who say he's out of money

Now that the vid. is operational, my comments are:

- Ms. Crowley had a big chunk of John Edwards' time and she focused mostly on money. Why? Can't these reporters ask candidates "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE that qualifies you for President?" Is the avg. American sitting around fretting about lobbyist money and campaign reform?

-John Edwards received the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of dollars of air time in this little interview and he didn't steer her to talking about his accomplishments or anything to do with leadership !

-He suggested that profitable corporations are not a positive thing... I totally disagree . What's wrong with profits, John? As a government official you can't say, well THIS company over here is making too much money, we're gonna have to take some of it away and give it to less successful industries and companies. That's anti-American and socialist, and in believing this way, John Edwards represents all that's wrong with the Democratic party today.

The video appears to be unable to play; but as far as Edwards goes , he has no executive experience. Being a Senator is not the ideal job before taking the Presidency because all they do is sit around, hold hearings, debate and take our tax money by little increments – taking more and more every year!

Compared with Rudy Guiliani who reduced the welfare rolls of NY by 640,000 people and made a crime-ridden city safe again; and compared with Mitt Romney who left a surplus in Massachusetts and successfully won in a very blue state, Edwards has NO leadership experience or track record of having to make important decisions or reduce government spending.