Edwards campaign emphasizes issues over image alone… how refreshing!
You and I know how play-it-safe campaign experts always tell candidates:
stay vague; that way no one will disagree with you. Say “end the war!” but don’t
say when. Say “health care for all!” but don’t say how. Well, John Edwards
must have been absent the day they taught how to dodge and weave in candidate
school — because this is not that kind of campaign.
In New Hampshire this weekend John visited more than a thousand people
across the state. In living room after living room I saw how folks lit up when
they realized this was something different — something worth fighting for.
The Concord Monitor story about John’s trip ran with the headline: “Edwards
offers specifics aplenty” — and that speaks volumes. We can bring this new
kind of politics to voters nationwide. But to get the job done, we need your
help.
We need to raise $97,798 by the end of this week to hit our critical $1
million dollar fundraising goal. You can help support the politics of substance
and push us over the top:
Just click here to make your secure contribution right now.
This campaign is not about calculation, it’s about courage.
In yesterday’s New York Times, columnist Paul Krugman summed up the
difference well in his piece titled “Substance over Image.” He wrote:
All the leading Democratic candidates say they’re for universal care, but
only John Edwards has come out with a specific proposal. The others have only
offered vague generalities … with no real substance.
And here’s more of what the Concord Monitor had to say about John’s weekend
visit to New Hampshire:
In message and delivery, former senator John Edwards used a string of house
parties yesterday to set himself apart from the leading Democratic
presidential candidates who have called on New Hampshire voters recently.
Edwards laid out his plan for universal health care… Edwards then encouraged
questions on any topic … “If you don’t bring up Iraq, I will,” he told the
crowd at the Nashua [event.] … In Salem, he talked about improving
relations with Iran … In Concord, Edwards talked about finding a competent and
accountable leader for rebuilding New Orleans … In each place, he called for
the United States to stop the genocide in Darfur and to take action on global
warming.
“When people know where you stand, when (your opinion) isn’t fuzzy, they can
disagree with you,” he said in Salem. “I believe it’s more important to say
who you are.”
Most politicians stay away from clarity and substance, because when you put
out real ideas and real proposals, people can disagree with you. But if you’
re serious about changing America, it’s the only way to go.
Success in this new kind of politics depends on each one of us pitching in.
We need to reach out to voters in living rooms, town halls and on the
airwaves all across the country. And as more and more people sign up to help, we
need more outreach materials to mail, and more organizers on the ground in key
states. All of this is critical to our victory, and none of it is cheap.
To keep our campaign on track, we need to hit our goal of raising $1 million
dollars online by the end of the week. The good news is we’ve only got
$97,798.07 to go, and with your help I know we can make it.
Please click here to chip in what you can today.
Thank you,
Jonathan Prince
Deputy Campaign Manager
John Edwards for President