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Edwards: "Democratic Voters Have Made Their Choice, And So Have I"

In his endorsement speech, Edwards boiled it down:

"The reason I am here tonight is that the Democratic voters in America have made their choice, and so have I."

Edwards rattled through some of his familiar, if now distant, exhortations about "one America." In a rousing summation, he talked about the struggles of the poor, the difficulties of those coping without health insurance, and veterans who were returning home only to face neglect.

"No more in our America," Edwards concluded, "when Barack Obama is President of the United States of America!"

But most significantly, Edwards effectively said, "The Democrats have made their choice. The primary is over," precisely at a moment when the Hillary campaign is making the opposite case. You really couldn't imagine a moment more perfectly scripted for the Obama campaign, coming right after Obama's lopsided loss in West Virginia, than this.


Comments (298)

Hillary,

Time to do it. Time to pass on your quest.
You'll look good doing it, Hillary--really!
The news cycle will say great things about you!
For a moment it will still be about you.

--okay, I can dream, can't I?

Edwards is a charlatan.

He had everyone believing he was a Howard Dean populist.
It first, took a look at his senate record, and laughed till I was rolling in the floor.

His senate record was a conservative and play-it-safe as it gets.

Kerry despised Edwards because instead of being a running mate, he only campaigned for himself. He refused to attack, which is what the VP candidate does.

Kerry told the NYT Edwards wanted him to lose so Edwards could run for president again.

He has such a bleeding heart for the poor that after Kerry lost, Edwards spent the last FOUR YEARS working on nothing more than getting himself elected president.

This operator spent an entire YEAR before the Iowa primary, campaigning in Iowa. He figured he'd have it made. People in Iowa thought the guy was a loony. He IS a loony!

And being obsessed with nothing more than himself, he waited to endorse until he could see who he thought would win.

The fact that Clinton's health and economic plan are far to the left of Obama's, and closer to Edwards didn't mean a thing.

Because Edwards does not care about the poor, the candidates or anything. He is a tight vortex of ambition.

Finally, and only recently, he ran down to Jimmy Carter's housing for the poor to "help out" ie give himself some creds.

At least the poor are finally getting a little something out of this shyster!

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I can't help but notice that you only said this after he disagreed w/ you.

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Now we know who Obama's running-mate will be. Another backroom deal. Bidness, as usual.

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Doubtful, 2 Senators on the same ticket? I would expect a Governor, someone with executive experience, and someone who can deliver a state that Obama can't win, that's not Edwards...

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There's not a chance in hell that we'll see an Obama-Edwards ticket in November.

Just another sore-loser Clintonian know-nothing knee-jerk reaction here.

Move along!

This is actually a reply to "present"

Edwards came in second in the Iowa primaries. I don't think that demonstrates your first lame assertion, on the contrary, it disproves it entirely. The rest of your assertions are equally if not more lame.

Sour grapes?

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I kept waiting for Edwards to say, "Mr. Obama, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!"

Okay, well it would have been funny to me.

Anyway, the real impact of this endorsement is the confirmation in the minds of Edwards voters who were on the fence of who they should go with. Edwards' pledged delegates should all fall in line behind Obama now, and that's big. This is MORE than enough to negate the impact of the West Virginia defeat, and it's going to be more than enough to narrow the gap in Kentucky (although I doubt it will be overcome).

All in all, THIS

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IS

EXCELLENT

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NEWS

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FOR

HILLARY!!!

Hillary!!!!!

:(

EXCELLENT

Hold on. I'll get the pom poms. Pathetic.

was a bit awkward to bring up the jetski thing. Alludes to all the backroom machinations to bring Edwards there.

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Um. Humor.

Get some.

It alludes to The Daily Show on Comedy Central . . .

D'oh! I forgot!

I knew I'd seen that somewhere but could not remember where. Time seems to have shrunk or elongated. Not sure which. Thanks for the reminder, y'all!

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The broadcast networks refused to fall for the Obama campaign's play to pre-empt Clinton's W.Va. victory party. Neither CBS nor NBC carried any of the Obama-Edwards appearance, although both showed extensive excerpts of their interviews with Clinton. ABC cut away from the Michigan rally seconds after Obama introduced Edwards. If Obama hoped for a big coup this evening, he didn't get it. Now let's see if Elizabeth shows up at a Clinton event.

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Would you like a comfortable chair while you wait? It's going to be awhile....

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Yes, but who gets the ratings?!

CNN carried Edwards' comments. Fox did too.

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Local TV ran Edawards and Obama live here in west Michigan.

A packed stadium, crowds outside, two rocking voices for CHANGE!

It just ended. I'm pumped.

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Warning.

Mortally wounded Clintonistas can be hazardous to your health

Contact your local animal control

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Responding to myself, I held my reaction to Edwards' endorsement of Obama to let my passions cool overnight, however, as a former Edwards fan, I am very disappointed that he didn't remain neutral and let the process play out. He should have allowed Clinton to continue making her argument for only an additional 3 weeks. There was no downside risk to him in this at all. Especially considering that we are in the very late stages of the primary season, should Obama falter for any reason between now and the Denver convention, Edwards' endorsement will be seen as a failure of judgment, constricting whatever options he had open to help the party seniors to heal the divisions and achieve unity.

Therefore, I find myself reconsidering his late-emerging populism, and now see his sudden and unexpected endorsement move as purely serving his personal ambitions.

I think he did it precisely to take the air out of Hillary's win. As an Edward's supporter, myself, I was surprised that he did this, but I am hoping he got some concessions on policy, or perhaps an offer to be AG. If anyone can clean up the DoJ, it would be Edwards.

The fact that this announcement was timed like this makes me hope that Obama made some populist leaning concessions on policy, or the adoption of some of Edwards well thought out consumer oriented policies. That would rock, totally.

It's all good.

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Wait, so the media is biased for Obama or against him? What is it this week? I just can't keep up with you guys any more.

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Hillary, it's time.

It's waaay past time for her to go

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So uh, what happens with Edwards' pledged delegates now?

In case anyone hasn't noticed, one of TPM's esteemed trolls, fogu2, has been placing "."s after pro-Obama statements in other threads. As we all know, a "." signifies remembrance and respect of a recent death - the internet equivalent of "RIP".

So, to follow in the footsteps of fogu2, I suggest we all pay our respects to the most recent death in our Democratic Party, the death of Hillary Clinton's campaign.

.

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huh??

oh brother!!

dowhat??

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. !!!11!

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ᵨᶘƪᵩ

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Yeah, Edwards is using fuzzy math like someone else I remember.

And now he's singing a new tune:

It's no longer 2 Americas. Now its 1 America.

Hahahaha.

What will it be in November? MAybe 3 Americas?

Or maybe if Obama were ever to get control 0 Americas because he clearly doesn't have a clue as to how to run a country. A part time teacher and community organizer to be our next Pres.?

uhhh....

I don't think so.

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Here, Rae K, it's not so hard. I'm willing to help you!

Repeat after me:

President Obama.

There, don't you feel better now?
~

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From your comments and the way you write, you should apologize to all the 'teachers' in your past... and that's a professor of constitutional law.

Perhaps you would prefer a corporate executive like Bush? Or perhaps an uber-leader executive/congressman/SecDef like Cheney? Or are you just wedded to candidates that haven't lived a life with the plebs in the past three decades?

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No fuzzy math, RaeK... he's saying Obama can unite America and win the election.

And now, in the spirit of unity, I'm going to share with everyone some of your most eggregious quotes on TPM:

"ugly little fucker..."
"WOOPED OBAMA'S SKINNY ASS"
"you nimnuts"
"If Hillary isn't the nominee, VOTE McCain!"
"MCCAIN WILL CREAM YOU!!!!!!!!"

Hillary supporters, let this be a lesson... don't let yourself become something you hate.

Maybe it's just me, but somewhere along the line, Senator Clinton's campaign seems to have stopped functioning as an actual candidacy, sharing the same party and most of the same issues as Senator Obama's... and now it increasingly serves as a badge of pain, pride, entitlement, and self-victimization, frozen in time like a confederate flag on the back of a busted up pick-up truck.

There are lots of us out here who initially supported Gore, Edwards, Kucinich, etc., but we've moved on, to the point that most of us are pretty content with things as they stand. We want to concentrate on beating McCain.

You need to decide where *YOU* stand. Do you support the issues that Hillary Clinton does, and support her when she says that it would be foolish not to back the Democratic nominee... or do you support RaeK, John McCain, an end to Roe v. Wade, more war in Iraq, a possible war in Iran, and an end to any hope for affordable health insurance?

I mean, if you want that, register as a Republican, but if you don't, do what Hillary suggests and support the Democratic nominee.

Ask any of us who have already moved on from our candidate of choice... There is, in fact, life after the Democratic primaries, even if your candidate loses.

Wow, Mark - wonderful response. I was originally an Edwards supporter and I was disappointed when he dropped out, but I was able to look at the other candidates and select the one that I thought best represented my values and would do the most for this country. So I selected Obama. I truly believe that at least some Hillary supporters have been with her from the beginning and are personally and emotionally invested in her success or failure - if she fails, they fail. It is not about what's best for the country; it's about getting Hillary into the White House. Which is why at least some of them won't vote for Obama in the fall and will vote against their interests. Sad, really.

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Wonderful response, markkraft. It gets so tiring to read Rae's broken record childish stuff.

Wow, this response gets a big "RECOMMENDED" from me. Thanks, Mark

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Mark, you have put it so succintly clear, it would be an injustice if I were to try to put it differently.Thank you for your well-thought out response.I tip my hat in your direction...

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Who is "bitter" now?!?!?

Obama: You're not the chosen one, RaeK. It was Dean who was chosen. You see, he found me and told me about your girl Hillary. You're just a fool.
RaeK Sunday: Why are you talking about Dean? Don't say this to me.
Obama: I did what your sister Hillary couldn't. I broke you and I beat you. It was Dean who told me about you. He's the prophet. He's the smart one. He knew what was there and he found me to take it out of the ground in all 50 states, and you know what the funny thing is? Listen... listen... listen... we put him in the DNC chair, votes in hand, just like that. He has his the party now. A prosperous little business. Three special election down-ticket races producing so far. Five delegates a day.
[RaeK Sunday cries]
Obama: Stop crying, you sniveling ass! Stop your nonsense. You're just the afterbirth, RaeK.
RaeK Sunday: No...
Obama: You slithered out of your Billary's filth.
RaeK Sunday: No.
Obama: They should have put you in a glass jar on a mantlepiece. Where were you when Dean was suckling at your party's base? Where were you? Who was nursing you, poor RaeK- one of Carvilles's sows? This land has been had. Nothing you can do about it. It's gone. It's had. You lose.
RaeK Sunday: If you just take the popular vote in Michigan, Barack...
Obama: Drainage! Drainage, RaeK, you boy. Drained dry. I'm so sorry. Here, if you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake, and I have a straw. There it is, that's a straw, you see? You watching?. And my straw reaches acroooooooss the room, and starts to drink your milkshake... I... drink... your... milkshake!
[sucking sound]
Obama: I drink it up!
RaeK Sunday: Don't bully me, Barack!
[Obama roars and throws RaeK across the room]
Obama: Did you think your song and dance and your superstition would help you, RaeK? I am the Third Revolution! I am who the party has chosen!

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OMG, Pat Buchannon is going off on Chris Matthews right now on MSNBC.

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Please tell me someone is getting this on YouTube. I'm at work (barely working obviously) and can't watch.

Check this website - Jed is going to get the segment up on YouTube as soon as he can...

http://www.obamaiswinning.com/

Here's the link to the YouTube of Pat B's meltdown:

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/05/pat-buchanans-r.html

Enjoy!

Thanks Carol!

Jed is rallying the troops over at DailyKos to write letters & emails to NBC demanding Buchanan's termination. Probably won't do any good but it can't hurt.

Nice link--Chris Mathews and Andrea Mitchell handled that very well.

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Pat Buchanan needs to be fired wow. What a total nutjob

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Pat Buchanan is on very thin ice...wow

Why do MSNBC host keep inviting bigot Pat Buchanan.

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Because he makes the right wing look bad.

Pat's made motive is to keep the racial divide alive. Today's endorsement is a big blow to the Republican suppression.

Pat's main motive is to keep the racial divide alive.

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The other way kinda makes sense too. ;)

Don't worry, we gotcha.

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Yes. He's a racist SOB!! How embarassing for MSNBC!

Pat Buchanan is piss the pundits are calling white folk in WV uneducated, poor and racist. He totally went overboard.

it wasnt the pundits. the pundits were discussing the exit polling where more than 50% of the voters there said race played a factor. Pat totally overreacted.

"Present":


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Holy shit - I have never seen Chris Matthews (and even Andrea Mitchell) so riled up - Pat Buchanan really needs to go. He is such a blatant racist and bigot - why has he not been fired from MSNBC? Wow - I bet Dan Abrams (or whoever is running things over there) is going to pull Buchanan right off that set and tear him a new one. He's disgusting - did you see that he wouldn't even answer Matthews' question about wanting to see a world where race doesn't matter? What a Grade-A asshole!

Yeah Carol, I was watching MSNBC during that whole "exchange" between Chris and Pat. I couldn't believe how angry Pat was defending the dignity of uneducated white voter's. Hell, he sounded more populist than John Edwards ;-)

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In Pat Buchanan's own words:

He encouraged Nixon not to visit the widow of MLK, because it would:

"outrage many, many people who believe Dr. King was a fraud and a demagogue and perhaps worse.... Others consider him the Devil incarnate. Dr. King is one of the most divisive men in contemporary history."

"There is a legitimate grievance in my view of white working-class people that every time, on every issue, that the black militants loud-mouth it, we come up with more money.... If we can give 50 Phantoms to the Jews, and a multi-billion dollar welfare program for the blacks...why not help the Catholics save their collapsing school system."

On former Grand Wizard David Duke:
"Take a hard look at Duke's portfolio of winning issues and expropriate those not in conflict with GOP principles, [such as] reverse discrimination against white folks."

Trying to justify apartheid in South Africa, he denounced the notion that...
"white rule of a black majority is inherently wrong. Where did we get that idea? The Founding Fathers did not believe this."

On Hitler:
"an individual of great courage...Hitler's success was not based on his extraordinary gifts alone. His genius was an intuitive sense of the mushiness, the character flaws, the weakness masquerading as morality that was in the hearts of the statesmen who stood in his path."

On Jews being gassed to death from diesel exhaust fumes at Treblinka:
"Diesel engines do not emit enough carbon monoxide to kill anybody."

Ugly, hateful man.

Yeah Carol...That was funny to me....They were laughing at Pat...made me laugh...

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Pat...Buchannon...MSNBC...CANT...WATCH...

[Switch to CNN]

Lou Dobs....FENCE...BORDER

[head explodes]

LOL (ducks behind plastic sheeting stolen from Gallagher show).

Thank you for this.

We flipped to just about every channel but Nickelodeon trying to find some coverage of this without crazy screaming people and no luck.

Why switch to Nick when you can get slimed by the MSM?

Pat Buchanan is just a bit old fashioned. He's from another time zone is all.

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The 50s

The 1850's

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(*sniff* ... looks so peaceful ... almost lifelike...)

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LOL

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Yeah = pre-1864.


Buchanan has always been a White Supremacist and surely the network knew that when they hired him, since he's written books on it and everything.

It's no damn secret.

A different time zone...lol

Yuupp......so is Rev Wright.....Care to parse?

Kaboom.

Good one.

lol..you know they dont like to talk about the double standards...

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Woah! Did you all see that Buchanan meltdown!! Jesus, that was crazy.

He accidentally said Obama belongs to Philly and Hillary belongs to "us".

It was insane. Even by Pat standards

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MSNBC's resident racist! He'll be on Morning Joe in the morning, no doubt. Shameful.

Here's the exact quote: