Edwards addresses race in South Carolina

Notice Edwards' race talk is about things that matter and not about "shucking and jiving" or calling an opponent racist...

-snip-

"You know, when I talk about two Americas, I am deadly serious. It's not just schools, it's not just health care. Race plays an enormous role in the economic conditions of Americans," Edwards said to applause about five minutes into his speech at the crowded Darrah Hall on St. Helena Island.

"We could pretend it's not true, but decade after decade of slavery followed by decade after decade of segregation followed by decade after decade of discrimination has an impact. It has an effect," he continued. "If you're African-American in this country today you have about -- on average -- about 10 percent of the net worth of white families. Ten percent -- average net worth of black families is about $8,000; white families is about $80,000. And let me tell you, we're not moving in the right direction. African-American children who were born into middle class families in the 1960s are now living in poverty."

The standing-room-only crowd of about 250 people, most of them white and all of them warm in the stuffy meeting room, received Edwards' words well. According to Census Bureau estimates, Beaufort is home to just over 12,000 people, about 25 percent of them black. (About 28 percent of all South Carolinians are black.)

Later in the town hall, a man asked Edwards to distinguish himself from his two rivals and he obliged, beginning with this crowd pleaser: "Any three of us could be so much better than Bush."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/12/573169.aspx

Hope he has to move to larger venues!

He is not a racist and no one has called him that.

called one another a racist. And offensive that people simply make shit up.

They haven't been called racist. They said things that are disappointing and no thought out but I would never consider them racist.

They did not stamp "the Clintons are racist" on it but did everything up to that point. What do you think the point of that memo was...What about his national co-chair's comment on Hillary and Katrina?

unsupported shit at Obama and hope someone will believe you? I already said that Jackson's remarks were deplorable, but if that's all you can come up with, that's hardly evidence of anything. And it's hardly a surprise that Jackson shot off his mouth. He has a history of doing so.

You've made accusation after accusation and you haven't provided a single thing to back them up. That speaks to your credibility- or rather your lack thereof.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/12/read-obama-campaign-memo-_n_81220.html

And Obama's spokesperson? And the 500 threads on and referencing both? Suuurreee....

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2008/01/obama_spokesperson_asks_is_there_something_bigger_behind_bill_and_hillarys_race_comments.php

But I don't think for a minute that the Clintons are racists. I think we have different definitions for the word racist.

rather than playing 5th grade games (what's wrong with the mentality of the others?) is ignored by the media. This country is in deep shit!

I like how he stands above the fray.

Thanks for staying positive. I'm a little off this evening.

it's really corporate media vs edwards - that's the biggest battle raging.

(from the link in the OP)

"I think that we just have a different approach," he (Edwards)said. "The difference between Sen. Clinton and myself is that I have believe the system in Washington is stacked against ordinary Americans. I don't think it works, and I think you have to be willing to challenge it to bring about change. ...

"The difference between is his approach to change is more conciliatory, for lack of a better word. You know, he wants to bring everybody together, bring the drug companies, the insurance companies, the oil companies, bring 'em to the table and make a deal with 'em, negotiate with 'em. I just don't think it'll work. If that worked, it would have worked a long time ago."

~~

Thanks, jackson_dem. K&R

when talking about his rivals.

Clinton or Edwards. Links, please.

that was really genteel and civl eh what.

Dont answer. You're attitude is beginning to get on my nerves, speaking of uncivil and your game of "link" link"

When he implied Edwards could not be trusted because of a few votes he flyspecked.

we need to keep this man and his ideas going and get him elected.

Thanks for whatever you can do.

K