Report Card: John Edwards
One more reminder to please observe the ground rules of this discussion when commenting.
Edwards says the right things.
Edwards has an image problem. He's constantly running through his story as the son of a mill worker and a letter carrier, and the main issues that make him different from the rest of the crowd are initiatives designed to help the poor. However, the millionaire white guy and former big money trial lawyer who gets $400 haircuts and invests in sub-prime lenders is an image that's hard to shake. Still, I think Edwards is genuine on most issues that are important to him, and many of those are issues that I care about also. The problem is that he seems to be willing to shift his other positions to make himself more palatable to a larger range of voters. I liked him in 04, but I'm not sure about this time around. I'll revisit that thought if Edwards remains viable after the SC primary on Saturday.
Things you never knew about Edwards
Holds a bachelor's degree in textile technology from State
Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition (0%!!!?)
Helped author the first anti-spyware legislation
Was already on the short list to run as VP with Gore in 2000
Originally went to Clemson
Bonus Points: genuine concern for the poor.
Minus Points: so many changed positions that it is hard to know where he stands.
Most interesting links I found:
= Great! 
= Good. 
= Mixed feelings or indifferent. 
= Not good. 
= Scary! 
= Believe it when you see it.
Campaign Logo (a little better than average)
Hair style (advice for Edwards: if you spend $400, get your money's worth)
Fiscal Policy - supports liberal government spending believes social programs and reducing national debt are more important than tax cuts believes federal budget should be manipulated to help end poverty
Energy and the Environment - opposes drilling in the Artic Wildlife Refuge opposes developing more nuclear power supports renewable energy over cleaner types of non-renewable supports drastic cuts in greenhouse emissions
Economy and Trade - supports tax incentives to discourage overseas outsourcing mixed position on free trade pro-union supports increasing the minimum wage
Health Care - Supports universal health care, but I could not find a real plan or outlined approach
Education - believes No Child Left Behind is underfunded opposes charter schools and vouchers supports universal, free public pre-school and univeral, free public post-secondary education
Domestic Surveillance, Patriot Act, Enemy Combatants - supports some expanded domestic surveillance supports closing Guantanamo opposes torture, no exceptions
Executive Authority - accepts limits on presidential authority
Campaign Reform - supports campaign finance reform supports public financing
Foreign invlovement - supports increased foreign aid supports UN peacekeeping and humanitarian missions willing to hold direct talks with enemies supports withdrawing from Iraq supports stiffer sanctions on Iran
Immigration - supports government aid for undocumented persons opposes driver's licenses for undocumented persons supports a "road to citizenship" for undocumented persons
Gun Control - supports some gun control
Abortion - believes abortion is a constitutionally protected right opposes partial birth abortion ban
Death Penalty and Crime- supports ending some manditory minimum sentencing supports capital punishment
Gay rights - believes same-sex marriage is a state, not federal, issue opposes don't ask don't tell opposes marriage amendment flip flops on the position of his faith on the issue
Stem Cell Research - supports stem cell research
Internet Neutrality - supports neutrality
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