What Does Edwards Obama Endorsement Mean?
By dlaw
Wed May 14, 2008 at 05:25:33 PM PST
Section: Diary
Topic: Alternative and Community Media
Simple:
That's up to you, Edwards supporters.
You supported a candidate. You were proud of that and you still are. It meant something to you and people trust your judgment of what something means politically.
Either John Edwards's endorsement means something or it is a political convenience.
John Edwards changed enormously between serving in the Senate and running in 2008. In the Senate he was a proud member of the DLC, which Hillary Clinton helps lead. He then moved decisively away from that group. Hillary Clinton did not. Why did he do that and why did that lead him to endorse Obama?
Senator Obama is an African-American. How does Senator Edwards negotiate the politics of race and how does his choice reflect that?
Senator Clinton is a woman who has stoop up for women's rights. Why has NARAL joined Edwards in endorsing Obama now? Is Edwards just another man
"piling on" to defeat Senator Clinton?
What principles and approaches do you think John Edwards most agrees with in the Obama campaign?
There are tough, divisive issues out there. How will John Edwards help deal with them? How will he help re-unite the Democratic party after making this endorsement?
Is he simply bandwagon-hopping?
How would YOU have John Edwards use this event to push his/your agenda forward?
The forces of cynicism would quickly dismiss Edwards or any other endorser this year. Why shouldn't they?