"Obama Calls Edwards a Phoney" - MyDD

From Holden Caulfied at MyDD:


It seems that Obama and I do agree on something. Today O'Barry said that John Edwards has totally reinvented himself to win support from tthe left just in to order further his own personnal ambition.

Obama's sharp attack on him in the Washington Post today by Richard Greene.

"John wasn't this raging populist four years ago when he ran" for the previous Democratic nomination, Obama said. "He certainly wasn't when he ran for the U.S. Senate. He was in the U.S. Senate for six years, and as far as I can tell wasn't taking on the lobbyists and special interests. It's a matter of, do you walk the walk that you talk?"

"If John wants to make the comparison between the work I did as a community organizer -- or as a civil rights attorney or as a state senator taking on special interests -- to him working as a trial lawyer making millions of dollars, I'm happy to have that discussion."

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/11/9/194126/773


Copied from DUer, swag, in General Discussion Politics

Nice repub talking point there Obama,,,,, it'd be like me calling you Osama.

Obama go?

DSB

They've both even given up on playing for teh VP slot with Clinton.
Go Bill Richardson, Go!!

Obama doesn't understand that attorney haters hate all attorneys. lolol

to me to be a far more genuine person than Obama has ever been. Not to mention, way less of an idiot.

sw

DSB

would honesty like to see him go down in flames as soon as possible. I definitely don't want him as a general election candidate.

sw

I think most politicians lie...Some lie more than others...Only candidates like Dennis Kucinich with nothing to lose speak the unvarnished truth...

Do you even have any idea how he governed as a US Senator? What bills did he put forth? What bills did he contest? I don't think you have a clue about Edwards...

I would agree with Obamas assesment,but that's just me.Edwards is far far down the list of candidates I would vote for,not as far down the list as Shillary,but almost.

How do you spell phony?Give me a E...Give me a D...Give me a.............

But,everyone is free to select among the list of phonies who are the current frontrunners.


Vote for a Frontrunner...,don't rock the boat.....,Our party needs to maintain the status quo.

I'll write him in if I have to. I'm done playing the Frontrunner game.

I only posted because it struck me funny to hear about Obama calling someone else a phony.

sw

And my friend knows all the right-wing talking points. I guess Obama does too.

Edward's governing record that you admire so much?

When and where?

He was excellent in the Senate (what little time time he spent there)! He was a DLCer that co-sponsored the IWR and voted for it.

His crowning glory.

As of late, I do not like what Obama has been saying, but he's got this one right. It boggles my mind how and why anyone believes johnnyboy's campaign blather.

He has never, especially when it counted, walked the walk.

Edwards has evolved from a card-carrying DLCer to an "angry populist" over the past couple years. That's a given.

"O'barry"? Caulfied's screed should be dismissed for what it is.

evolution, you know.

Just sayin'...

sw

Obama really is ticking me off lately with the wedgie attacks. I like Edwards, and I'm a Boomer, too.

:mad:

when he seemed to just happen upon a theme that got media attention so he ran with it and reinvented himself from that point on. IOW, first came the speeches, THEN came the actions after 2004 to try to catch up to the words just in time for the 2008 cycle. This is why a lot of people think JE is a phoney. They've been paying attention.

If Edwards wants credibility, he should start by selling that horrible abortion of a palace.

he should give it to the poor, and give away all his money, and wear a hair shirt

no, wait, maybe he should throw himself in a volcano

:sarcasm:

I would not bother to put that icon, but, well, you never know around here

He says one thing and does another.

Takes things almost verbatim from the Republican Play Book.

I will not vote for Barack. Period.

A vote for Barack is for more of the same. The man is a hypocrite.

is really starting to piss me off.

Are really starting to piss me off.

He DID take a left turn; a HUGE left turn. This isn't the Edwards of even one year ago. This is the Edwards who wants to be president. Obama is right.

or any of the other 23,747 things that matter, can we?

(Not directed at you, DSB, just frustrated as hell.)

that denounced the two Americas, one for the have and one for the havenots. Who made a bold move in mentioning the poverty issue. Who passionately argued that those who worked hard for a living were recieving a larger share of the tax burden than the wealthy. Who soared into second place in Wisconsin because he began to differ with other candidates on the free trade, by arguing against a deal that was being proposed. Who proposed a college for everyone plan that grants college tuition for kids willing to work at a state school (sound famaliar?). Contrary to belief, while he is more aggressive this time around, and has certainly evolved on the war, Edwards was very much a populist in his previous campaign.

On the lawyer issue, Edwards certainly made a lot of money. But it was at the expense of negligent corporations, such as a swimming pool manufacturer whose faulty drain which they know of, severly injured a young girl. Again nice try Senator Obama. So much for being the one who wanted an uplifting campaign that unites everyone.

I don't believe for a second the transformation of Edwards.

His election campaign is like a marketing campaign of a second or third best-selling brand - positioning himself wherever the front-runner isn't. It's not a unique phenomenon in politics - but I don't think it's terribly genuine.

When Obama - the number two - takes on the number three, Edwards, I suspect Obama's intent is to drive out Edwards in the early primaries so the contest is between Barack and Hillary.

can let his inner progressive free is running against a former civil rights attorney who now wants to appear moderate.

Who would you rather have as president?

The idea that Edwards' "inner progressive" is emerging - rather than his "inner marketing campaign" is open to question, IMO.

At this historical moment, that's what you think America needs?

OK. Fine.

I hope a lot of Americans disagree with you, because American needs some dramatically new approaches to how we distribute wealth and reward work and protect average people from the avarice of the powerful.

after eight years of mismanagement and undermining of liberties. That would be the
"dramatically new approach" we need.

We're on the same page, but perhaps on a different line on the page.

but whose message is critical of any change except toward compromise (and criticizes people who change to being more liberal), or one who doesn't even really seem to argue that anything needs to change (with, for example, the way lobbyists control legislation and politicians).

without any evidence for a mandate for change from the electorate. The polls, at least, suggest the electorate wants a change from the current maladministration to one that is competent and focused on much more important objectives than using our military to keep warring factions apart in Iraq.

It seems to me you're asking for a mandate of change, i.e. "...new approaches to how we distribute wealth and reward work and protect average people from the avarice of the powerful." But the electorate isn't with you, IMO, nor am I.

into the latent desire for dramatic change. And Barak is playing both sides. "Change" is the theme for his campaign, but everything he says is about compromise.

I get the impression from your body of work, robcon, that you're terrified of a dramatic change. However, I believe that regular people, like the union guys and all their brothers and sisters working for a living who are watching their wages and wealth deteriorate while the extremely wealthy get wealthier do believe that something needs to dramatically change.

I think we all believe it and we're waiting for someone to tap into those feelings.

on the part of the electorate, but you can't point to any evidence of it.

Sorry - I don't believe it because you wish it were true.

for dramatic changes in the way the US rewards work and allocates wealth would find tremendous support among the people.

I'd prefer to use evidence to support my arguments, rather than your evidence-free certainty.

seemingly becoming more divisive for Dems every time he makes a statement lately. Or, maybe he wants to Unite the Repugs for his candidacy by attacking his fellow Dems.

nt

The expectations were so high for him...I thought it would be hard for him to meet them. But, I didn't think he would make mistakes like he seems to be making. His campaign advisers might be giving him bad advice, but what if he's really much different that a lot of folks thought?

Who knows these days with all the crazy stuff going on out there.

n/t

Eventually, someone will post a four-word rebuttal and really show me what-for.

Is Obama going to tell me I am a "phoney" too? This turns me off to Obama for the first time.

He may not have used the exact word but that is what he was saying.

used by the guy who wrote the original post at MyDD — the guy who obviously dislikes Obama.

After I cooled down and re-read it I can see someone took too much liberty in putting in their own words. This thread should be locked.

the essence of what he said was implying that Edwards is NOT sincere.

Like if I said to you- do you walk the walk about being a Democrat?-I'm implying you are not a real Democrat. I didn't say you are a fake Dem outright but I certainly implied it-"You don't walk the talk, I do!"

Journalists are hyping the words-true-it's what they do-make mountains out of molehills. Of course that's what everyone does here on DU too. Is there a mountain there-yeah I kinda actually think there is because Obama is certainly coming off with the "I'm better than all these other people" vibe. I'm the real Democrat. Hillary-FAKER. Edwards-FAKER.

Maybe he's correct, certainly you have to believe in yourself an awful lot-can we say BIG EGO to want to run for president?

Nowhere did Obama call Edwards a "phoney". It's only in the blogger-want-to-bes mind.

Failure to change view with all that has happened in the last six or seven years would be ridicules. Again, who hasn't changed view somewhat over the course of their lives?

we hate * for a number of reasons, one of the main ones being his constant inability to change or see the need for change. When someone under goes a transition of belief or views, why is it no one can give him any credit for that. How many people here hold the same exact views they held 10, or even 5 years ago? Be honest.

the sore spot of just about anyone.

I was looking at Edwards record-wow-you can DO that on line-lots to pick through-http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=21107-

Well, I like to think Edwards HAS evolved. Some go from atheists to believers some from believers to atheists. Not all are phonies. Some are being affected by life events-death, cancer, running for president, having elections stolen-seeing fascists in action-stuff like that.

If you vote one way and later decided you were duped or dumb or wrong-does that make you stupid and a dupe or does that make you wiser? Are you sincere or just playing politics? I like to believe that some are actually evolving but it's hard to ever know for sure until they are tested.

A paper bag, with the dicks sticking out the top like bagettes.

Not everybody, no, not at all(we have a ton of those examples)..but, that's not up for consideration because then he'd have to attack Edwards' policies.

I'm with Edwards on this..and certainly not with ol' unevolved hillary unless you want to count her being a repuke at one point in history.

I guess that seals his commitment to 'change' for progressive Democrats everywhere.

Republican Opposition files are full and ready for Mr. Obama if he wins the Democratic Nomination.

I don't think he will come out as squeaky clean as he is presenting himself to be right now.

I'll be glad when he is finally out of the race.

hE IS GOING OVER THE TOP. oR dID i NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT He stood for.

:)

This is the second time in the last few days he's chosen to go after Edwards, I think he's worried he might finish third in Iowa.

we gotta winner! you nailed it - their internals show Edwards has been gaining steam in Iowa, and frankly, that's where he needs to gain steam. Obama is merely trying to beat up on Edwards gains by attacking him as a money grubbing attorney ambulance chaser.

nice going gay hater!

see, I can insinuate also. oh wait, he actually is, because he put a guy on his gospel tour as the emcee of the event who wants to eradicate the gay existence and knew that beforehand - that doesn't sound like a friend of mine...

Obama will finish 3rd or 4th in Iowa in a couple months and he can realize he needs to change some things about his thoughts and evolve as a candidate, and person, for the '16 elections after the next Democratic president gets out of office...