Would an Edwards Endorsement of Hillary Make him look Like a Hypocrite?

I like John Edwards a lot...and he was always my secondary choice. This is just a simple question.

Edwards railed against Clinton and everything she stood for when he was running for the Presidency. He even allied himself with Obama calling themselves the "Change" candidates and said Clinton was part of the status quo. Would him endorsing Hillary make him seem like a bit of a phony? I mean, it's a serious question. I think Edwards' supporters have also by and large gone to Obama...except for in a few Southern states...but for the most part it has been that way.

Edwards endorsing hilary? Did something happen today while I was at work?

IndyOp (1000+ posts) Mon Feb-11-08 05:55 PM
Response to Reply #56
110. It was a scheduling conflict - From NBC's Mark Murray:
Per the Obama campaign, the reason behind the cancellation of tonight's Obama-Edwards meeting is purely a scheduling conflict -- and that both camps are working to reschedule.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/11/65592...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4536307

nt

It would show he was only saying what he thought people wanted to hear, not saying what he believed in.

since his anti-corporate stance and pro labor stance is LEAST represented by Clinton, then YES it would appear hypocritical.
However, there could be mitigating reasons for it, like inclusion of programs he wants, etc.

why is there talk of Edwards endorsing everything he's seemingly against?

Obama today was cancelled. I know nothing else, haven't been around to read anything lately. We'll find out soon enough. I also heard Edwards' advisors told him to not endorse anyone, so there might be something to that.

to me like speculation. I hope he doesn't 'cause I'd like to keep believing in his sincerity. I wouldn't care what hilary promised him to make him do it..it would be like him getting sucked in on the IWR all over again.

on the "cancellation"..:)

IndyOp (1000+ posts) Mon Feb-11-08 05:55 PM
Response to Reply #56
110. It was a scheduling conflict - From NBC's Mark Murray:
Per the Obama campaign, the reason behind the cancellation of tonight's Obama-Edwards meeting is purely a scheduling conflict -- and that both camps are working to reschedule.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/11/65592...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4536307#4540652

perhaps they'd like a more private meet-up, which per KO has been scheduled, but they're not talking. ;-)

figured out while the rest of DU is still speculatin'! ;)

Edwards knows Obama is as awash in corporate money as Hillary. On labor issues Hillary is slightly better given her trade positions.

I'm a union secretary. I'm aware of labor issues. And Clinton is NOT labor friendly, unless she wants to get elected and pays lip service to it. Edwards and Kucinich were the only labor friendly candidates.

if he is "selling himself" to the highest bidder than yes. I suspect the Clinton campaign, desperate for some good news to stave off the coming bad will offer him any and everything they can to GET that endorsement-and they will-trust me-they know how to play the game. the bad news is this-it's already lost it's allure now and won't really make much of a difference

Edwards supporters I have worled with support Hillary as she is the only candidate that has any substance to her policies.We may not completely like all she has done but she has been the only one willing to actually incoporate Edwards ideas into policy.Also she is the ONLY one of the two with universal healthcare and her plan was based on John's.That was one of the centerpeices of his campign.To endorse Obama would be turning his back on the real issue of healthcare for all.

Edwards has earned his chops. I'll respect any choice he makes. I'll disagree if he backs Clinton, but he's got that right.

a "game" .Peoples lives are at stake. And Obama does nothing for the lives of average folks in my my opinion.We need universa; healthcare and " negotiating with the insurance companies and Big Pharma , and promising them a "seat at the table" will not get us there.It also shows Obama lacks basic negotiating skills.

I now support and donate to Hillary.

It wouldn't.

It would make him a huge hypocrite. I will have lost all respect for him and by doing this it tells me made a deal with her above his principles.

just another politician who sold his soul to further his career and compromised his principles. It wouldn't be the first time its happened in the world of politicians and it sure won't be the last.

NOT, you opinion on this was not relevent. That is all. It doesn't really matter what those who did notsupport him think about whom he endorses.Just saying :shrug:

Hillary stands for everything Obama stands for. Both are awash in corporate dough.



And these numbers are before Obama became the front runner and began to raise $1 million a day and $62 million in two months...

The "status quo" bs was always a campaign tactic for both Edwards AND St. Obama. Neither truly believes she will not bring change. Hillary is running well to the left of Kerry in 2004.

Obamites remember him saying that about Hillary but they forget he also spoke about having someone who is ready to be president...

On the issues they are about the same. On health care Hillary copied Edwards' plan and on trade Hillary is slightly better. Both are big issues for Edwards. On poverty Obama presumably is better but today there is news that Edwards is impressed with Hillary's proposals to deal with poverty. That leaves only lobbying where Obama had the edge, but as noted above he is as awash in corporate money as Hillary so in reality he isn't better on the issue of corporate influence. On the issues it seems the logical thing would be to endorse Hillary, unless he thinks Obama is more electable (part of the reason Kennedy endorsed Obama).

Either he meant it and he has fundamental differences with her, or he did it only because she was the frontrunner. I don't want to think it was the latter.

special interest concerns, but its probably fair as well for Edwards to say he trusts Hillary more with health care and possibly on poverty - although his rationale there has to be not issue-based, but that he thinks Hillary will fight for it more.

Human nature.

Just the same, it'll be interesting to see what happens.

An Obama endorsement of Clinton would be equally as repulsive.

I will never understand the mindset, so prevalent here, that politicians are some sort of ethical/moral avatars.

that will show people exactly what Edwards stands for, he was touting
change just as Obama, now he wants to endorse Hillary.

He will look so stupid.

Would Edwards be a hypocrit if he endorsed Obama who we have discovered this week is a phony and a empty suit.

which I know means little to most Obama supporters.

That's the logic I'm getting here.

"I like you John, it's just bidness"

just like the rest of us. neither candidate is presenting his take on the issues...so his vote may just come down to electibility. I think he's honorable, but whomever he endorses has little to do with who I will now have to vote for.

He deserves the utmost respect from those of us who supported him. It is his choice to make.

My choice was Hillary. If he chooses Obama, I will still respect Edwards. I just won't agree with him. However, if he ever runs again or accepts a position in a Democratic administration he will have my utmost respect and support.

Obama has an excellent antipoverty platform, and Clinton has nothing specifically targeted to the poor.

that he does not currently look like a hypocrite and a phony.

Edwards and Hillary support it, Obama is against it.

Reason enough by itself for Edwards to give Hillary the nod.

and I assure you, I would NEVER go with Obama while there is ANY second choice. I still voted for John in New York's primary, which I was happy Hillary won, as she has done much for this State in the Senate.

Beyond that, as a trained Trial lawyer, I can spot verbal manipulation a mile away, and Obama uses it at every politically convenient moment. He says nothing, but his cadre cannot discern fluff from facts, substance from form. He speaks marshmallow words of empty rhetoric, platitudes strung together.

And yet, he has been given a free ride. I assume all this will come to a screeching halt if he ever gets the nominee nod.

I pray and HOPE I won't hear the gnashing of teeth and the recriminations which would follow a failed bid, especially if it was all predictable beforehand.