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SaveElmer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 09:05 PM
Original message
"Unions balk at Edwards track record"...more votes to apologize for..
Edited on Wed Nov-14-07 09:06 PM by SaveElmer
More obfuscation on his record...and more flip-floppery!!!



Unions balk at Edwards track record
By Sam Youngman
November 15, 2007


Former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) has made support for and from organized labor one of the centerpieces of his 2008 presidential campaign, but some labor officials say Edwards is new to their cause and the former senator’s rhetoric is at odds with his record.

With the Democratic candidates set to debate Thursday night in Nevada, a state where labor still carries considerable clout, Edwards’s rivals and the unions backing them are criticizing the former senator’s past support for issues that are anathema to the labor community.

...

In 1998, while running for the Senate, Edwards did not come out in favor of repealing right-to-work laws in North Carolina, and he has only opposed a national right-to-work law. While North Carolina is hardly considered to be a labor stronghold, the former senator’s record and his relationship with some unions in the state were used by some unions to judge him as unworthy of an endorsement.

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), which endorsed Sen. Chris Dodd (Conn.), said Edwards’s unwillingness to advocate a repeal of the right-to-work measure was a sticking point for the membership when it was seriously considering supporting the former senator’s bid.

“How do you walk picket lines and be for right-to-work?” Jeffrey Zack, an IAFF official, said. “It’s surprising that it wasn’t disconcerting to more people.

...

Edwards has also come under fire for his support for normalizing trade relations with China after he was elected to the Senate and for voting for fast-track authority for the president. Edwards has said since that he regrets both votes, and Wednesday he told the UAW in Iowa that he would reverse trade policies.

Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) were clearly impressed with Edwards when he addressed the group this summer, but members from North Carolina and his past positions on trade and right-to-work were ultimately what led them to endorse Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) instead, officials said.

“He walked out of there completely convinced he had our endorsement,” IAM official Rick Sloan said. “What he failed to realize was the jury was still out.

...

On the China issue, the adviser said Edwards was facing a lot of pressure from both the agricultural and technology sectors after the state’s manufacturing base had been shattered by NAFTA. Edwards acknowledged at the time, “There are people who might be hurt by this,” according to a report in his home-state newspaper, and early this year he said he would not support the same policy he voted for in 2000. (how surprising)


http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/unions-balk--at-edwards-track-record-2007-11-15.html

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Tellurian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 09:08 PM
Response to Original message
1. You beat me to it.. I was just going to post the Hill article..
The fair haired boy's horns are showing! Ooops!
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SaveElmer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:14 PM
Response to Reply #1
6. Sorry...
Just stumbled on it
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Tellurian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:49 PM
Response to Reply #6
18. Was a good stumble..
after reading the comments section, people are really up in arms about his 2 faced double talk. But it needs to be made clear in black and white just so people understand this isn't about politics, it's about who will do the best for the People not just at election time but ALL the time.

actually, this is manna from heaven. Edwards stuck his foot init when he 1.) intimated he wouldn't support Hillary if she were the nominee..and 2.) pointing the finger of dishonesty her way, when there were three, big, fat, fingers pointing back at himself.

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Renew Deal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-15-07 09:53 AM
Response to Reply #1
28. Horns are showing?
What the fuck is wrong with you? This is a fellow Democratic candidate.
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Adelante Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 09:10 PM
Response to Original message
2. That China trade vote really fucking irks me nt
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Tellurian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 09:12 PM
Response to Reply #2
4. Edwards kissed up to the WH's wishes his entire term in the Senate..
He really is a smooth talkin piece of work!
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Adelante Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-15-07 09:49 AM
Response to Reply #4
27. Kucinich is blasting him now
And, at least one then-member of the Senate, John Edwards, who has been railing lately in favor of higher safety standards for Chinese-made products, defended his 2000 vote supporting expanded China trade with the famously reported comment, “it does us no good to pretend that these remedies are perfect and that people will not be hurt.”

“Senator Edwards knew seven years ago that people would be hurt, so why did he vote for China trade?”Kucinich asked. “How credible is his newfound consumer protectionism and his campaign advocacy for trade reform to save American jobs?”

Kucinich, D-OH, noted that Edwards, who became a millionaire as a trial lawyer with considerable expertise in product liability matters, “knew better than any other member of the Senate what the risks were in sending U.S. manufacturing jobs to a country with almost no labor standards, no health and safety standards, and no environmental standards.” Beyond that, Kucinich pointed out, Edwards’vote in favor of the 2000 China trade agreement has resulted in the loss of more than 973,00 manufacturing jobs and more than 1.2 million jobs total, according to studies released by the AFL-CIO.

“If he knew then that this trade agreement would hurt people and put Americans out of work, he had a moral responsibility to vote against it,” said Kucinich, who has a perfect record in his votes against unfair trade agreements. “Like his now-regretted vote in favor of the resolution that led to the Iraq war, his votes on trade issues raise questions of judgment.”“When candidates stand in front of a union audience or in front of the cameras, they bemoan the three millions jobs that have been lost because of ‘free trade’ agreements,” Kucinich noted. “When they had a chance to vote as a member of Congress, they strongly supported those agreements. That means they voted against American workers, and, as recent events have shown, against American consumers.”


http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/%91made-in-china%92-hazards-began-with-%91made-in-washington,-d.c.%92/


That's a very good point he makes about product liability.

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Cameron27 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 09:11 PM
Response to Original message
3. It's hard to believe that they knew all this
and some unions still endorsed him.
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SaveElmer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 09:26 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. Well he has been working the last 4 years to hide it...
Apparently he has had some success...
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FrenchieCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:18 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. Helps that although the media doesn't report on him quite as much as the others....
they are also holding the dirt for "just in case" they really need it; if he's the nominee. It won't be pretty or fun to watch...that's for sure! :(
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liskddksil Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:18 PM
Response to Original message
8. Another hit piece
Edited on Wed Nov-14-07 10:21 PM by liskddksil
Wow is today a new record. Maybe that's because we're actually gaining in the polls.

While I disagree with some of Senator Edward's past decisions. I am convinced he has changed for the better after what happened in 2004. His opposition to Peru's free trade deal, which even Peru labor unions believe is a bad deal, and includes privitization of their social security, is a major distinguishing factor between him and Senator Obama and Senator Clinton, who both support the measure.
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SaveElmer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:22 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. Comfort food Edwards supporters always feed themselves...
Telling themselves that responding to Edwards ridiculous attacks somehow means we are scared he is gaining...

As long as it makes you feel better...
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liskddksil Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:27 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. statistically tied in Iowa 6 weeks out
even though we've been outspent like 6 to 1 sounds pretty good to me.
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SaveElmer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:28 PM
Response to Reply #10
11. After having spent four years campaigning there...
He is worse off in the polls than he was at the beginning of the year...
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saracat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:28 PM
Response to Reply #10
12. Yup.
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Andy823 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:30 PM
Response to Reply #8
13. Yep, I think you are right
Seems like the Hillary gang is out in full force, and usually going after Edwards. I see them on DS the last week or so, really going after Edwards, look's like the same thing going on here. I think it has to do with him taking her on in the last debate, and doing a great job of it if I do say so myself. It will be interesting to see the debates tomorrow, and then see who they go after on Friday! :hide:
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Clark2008 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-15-07 12:40 PM
Response to Reply #13
33. What do you say to those of us who think Edwards is the poorest
choice for the nomination, but still don't have a candidate - Hillary or Obama or anyone else?

I fall firmly into that position.
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BootinUp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:53 PM
Response to Reply #8
21. Why are you convinced?
All of his position changes can be explained by his overriding desire to win a primary over his true positions, whatever they are.
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liskddksil Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 11:46 PM
Response to Reply #21
25. Because he knows what matters now
Whereas in his previous campaign, he was cought up in the consultant driven world of Washington, where he was trying to do what he could to survive in a red state. However, after the 2004 campaign, and his experiences he has learned from his mistakes. Now I believe he has been liberated, from the system, and striving to what's right, even if he takes unpopular positions.
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saracat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:31 PM
Response to Original message
14. Too bad there is nothing positive to pose about the alleged 'front runner'.What has she done for
unions lately? BTW, what has she done for New orleans , or for any poor people, or does she just throw expensive fundraisers for herself?
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SaveElmer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:32 PM
Response to Reply #14
15. The standard pivot technique employed by Edwards supporters...
Edited on Wed Nov-14-07 10:33 PM by SaveElmer
Can't defend the pathetic record, daily flip-flops, and "regretted votes" of their chosen one...so try and pivot to make it about Hillary...

I can understand it though...not alot there to defend....
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saracat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:41 PM
Response to Reply #15
16. Surely you refer to your own candidates supporters? They have nastered the art of defending
the indefensible! Mark penn at his finest! hey about those IOWA push polls run by Lance Tarrance the managing Dirctor of Penns firm, coincidence?
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SaveElmer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:51 PM
Response to Reply #16
20. No referring to yours...
IWR, China trade, drivers licenses for undocumented aliens, Right to Work laws....

What will poor Johnny "regret" next?
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saracat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:58 PM
Response to Reply #20
22. Ah no, it is going to be to Hillary's regret that she ever embarked on this.
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Andy823 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:41 PM
Response to Reply #15
17. At least
He "regrets" some of his votes, can Hillary say the same? Can she even admit she was wrong?

Edwards learned a lesson on voting his Iraq vote, did Hillary? If she would have learned anything, would she have voted "again" to let Bush and Cheney invade "another" country?

As for the "pivoting", well since the last debate, and her "flip flop" answers, it seems like every Clinton attack dog has been turned lose on Edwards. Guess he got under someones skin, eh? :rofl:
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SaveElmer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 10:49 PM
Response to Reply #17
19. Some of his votes...
Haven't seen much he hasn't regretted...IWR, Right to Work, China Trade, drivers licenses for undocumented aliens...and on and on and on...

Christ, even when he does try to take responsibility he can't...he "apologizes" and "takes responsibility" for his IWR vote out of one side of his mouth, and blames Bush and Clinton aides for misleading him out of the other...



MR. RUSSERT: Why were you so wrong?

SEN. EDWARDS: For the same reason a lot of people were wrong. You know, we—the intelligence information that we got was wrong. I mean, tragically wrong. On top of that I’d—beyond that, I went back to former Clinton administration officials who gave me sort of independent information about what they believed about what was happening with Saddam’s weapon—weapons programs. They were also wrong. And, based on that, I made the wrong judgment. I, I, I want to go another step, though, because I think this is more than just weapons of mass destruction. I mean, I—at the—I remember vividly what I was thinking about at the time. It was, first, I was convinced he had weapons of mass destruction. That’s turned out to be completely wrong and false. I had internal conflict because I was worried about what George Bush would do. I didn’t have—I didn’t have confidence about him doing the work that needed to be done with the international community, the lead-up to a potential invasion in Iraq. I didn’t know, in fairness, that he would be as incompetent as he’s been in the administration of the war. But I had—there were at least two things going on. It wasn’t just the weapons of mass destruction I was wrong about. It’s become absolutely clear—and I’m very critical of myself for this—become absolutely clear, looking back, that I should not have given this president this authority.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16903253/
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Tellurian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 11:02 PM
Response to Reply #19
23. Edwards Bankruptcy Vote is a real killer..
which makes the middle class highly susceptible to Poverty.

Remember who Co-Sponsored the Iraq Vote?.. John Edwards in case anyone has forgotten..

and promoted the Iraq War for two years on the White House website?


The K-L Amendment is exactly where it should be, stripped of any language that can be interpreted as a blank check for going to War.

How can anyone support Edwards' despicable Voting Record?

* Edwards supported a bankruptcy bill that was vetoed by President Clinton. In 2000 John Edwards voted for the Bankruptcy Overhaul bill.
While this bill included a slight increase of the minimum wage, its major design was to revise bankruptcy laws to make it easier for courts to force debtors to repay their debts, while before the law had allowed debtors to discharge their debt. 12 Democrats and 2 Republicans rejected this bill, including Chris Dodd, Ted Kennedy, Paul Wellstone, and Tom Harkin. President Clinton eventually vetoed this bill because it was too hard on debtors.

* Edwards voted for the same bill in 2001, again choosing financial interests over working families. In 2001 Edwards voted for a similar Bankruptcy Overhaul bill that again required Americans facing bankruptcy to undergo debt repayments instead of debt relief. Specifically, the bill required debtors able to pay $10,000 or 25% of their debts over five years to file under Chapter 13, which requires a reorganization of debts under a repayment plan, instead of seeking to discharge their debts under Chapter 7. Edwards voted with nearly the entire Republican caucus in supporting this bill, as well as voting to end debate on the measure. Chris Dodd voted to reject this bill, joining Senators Durbin, Feingold, Harkin, Kennedy, Kerry, and Wellstone. In all, the bill was rejected by 13 Democrats and 2 Republicans.

* Edwards would not allow relief for people who were forced into bankruptcy from medical bills. Edwards also sided with the entire GOP caucus to vote against the Wellstone amendment to the 2001 bill. This amendment would have provided an exemption for debtors who were forced to file for bankruptcy due to medical expenses, under the rationale that health expenses are often unpreventable and can be an especially debilitating cost to low and middle income families. Chris Dodd was one of the 34 Democrats who voted for this amendment?a group that included Senators Clinton, Durbin, Feingold, Harkin, Kennedy, Kerry and Wellstone.

* Edwards rejected a means test amendment that would have protected debtors from sudden financial misfortune. On the same bill, Edwards again voted with the entire GOP caucus to reject an amendment that would have included a more consumer friendly means test than that included in the original bill. The amended means test would have used the average of a debtor's last two months of income to determine their ability to pay a certain threshold amount of debt, instead of the last six months of income. The amended means test was designed to protect debtors who face financial difficulties from sudden job loss or disability. Paul Wellstone, who authored the amendment, said the original test "will make it impossible for families to rebuild their lives." 22 Democrats supported this amendment, including Chris Dodd. Dodd was accompanied by Senators Clinton, Durbin, Feingold, and Kennedy.

* Edwards supported the final version of the Bankruptcy bill that "punishes the vulnerable." Months later, Edwards again voted for the similar version of the Bankruptcy bill that emerged from negotiations with the House of Representatives. He also voted to limit debate twice on the bill, stifling further amendments or arguments. This version was not substantively different from the earlier versions, as it still made it significantly harder for working Americans to discharge their debts through the bankruptcy system. Chris Dodd rejected this bill, along with Senators Durbin, Feingold, Harkin, Kennedy, Kerry and Wellstone. 14 Democrats and 2 Republicans voted against the final measure.

The bill Edwards supported "punishes the vulnerable and it rewards the big banks and credit card companies for their poor practices," said Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., a leading opponent of the legislation. "We are heading into hard economic times and we're going to make it hard for people to rebuild their lives."

Edwards has been part and parcel of the GOP agenda all the way. Edwards voting record is one of the worst of our Dem Senators. Edwards is helping create poverty in the middle class with his bankruptcy vote and earning millions for himself when working for the Hedge Fund sector. The same Hedge Fund sector that was buying sub-prime mortgages for their investment portfolios.. The same "POVERTY" he now professes to help as the centerpiece of his presidential campaign. It must be hard for Edward's supporters to understand the meaning of the words "poverty" and "hypocrisy", when their candidate, John Edwards exemplifies it so well. Why shouldn't he, he voted for it!
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Cameron27 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 11:11 PM
Response to Reply #23
24. The bankrupcy bill...
those look like some of Chris Dodd's quotes. He really took him apart on that:

http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=102959
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jillan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-14-07 11:49 PM
Response to Reply #24
26. Dodd is stepping it up - and I love it!
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Broke Dad Donating Member (345 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-15-07 10:46 AM
Response to Reply #19
31. Re: So this is how Hillary responds to all the union endorsements of Edwards
Storm troopers may not adequately describe the fascist tactics of Hillary's manure spreading organization. Let me point out the obvious to the DUers about the Hillary posts here:

1. Attack anyone and everyone who points out that emperor Hillary has no clothes, no convictions, no accomplishments except her own advancement.

2. Lie about other candidates.

3. Deny her Tyson Foods, Walmart and Arkansas corporate union busting roots at the Rose Law Firm.

4. Respond to good news about progressive candidates by flipping it and trying to make it a negative.

5. Spin and cover Hillary's mistakes like no tips, planted questions and crappy debate performances.

Hillary will not be the nominee and Hillary will not be the next president unless she steals them like W did. She is political godchild of Nixon and the Dem version of W.
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Tellurian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-15-07 12:22 PM
Response to Reply #31
32. Next time it would be good to provide examples..
After all, Hillary will be the nominee. We do not want to hear whining you weren't heard.

If #3 is all you've got, it been debunked a million times. She left all affiliations behind because of their worker employment practices and said so in her resignation letter.
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Renew Deal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-15-07 09:56 AM
Response to Reply #15
29. lol, How about "Everybody is doing it" and "That's a republican talking point."
Those are the standard answers for Clinton supporters that can't defend the pathetic record, daily flip-flops, and "regretted votes" of their chosen one...so try and pivot to make it about everyone else.

I can understand it though...not alot there to defend....
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ClassWarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-15-07 09:59 AM
Response to Original message
30. And more RW memes.
"Flip flopper?" Why not call him "the Breck Girl" while you're at it?

:eyes:

NGU.


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