Today, MoveOn announced that John Edwards won their straw poll on the candidates responses about global warming in their virtual town hall on the subject. Edwards got more than twice as many votes as any other candidate.

From their press release:

Former Senator John Edwards won MoveOn.org Political Action's poll on the climate crisis which asked, "Which candidate's position on dealing with the climate crisis do you prefer?" Of the field of eight Democratic hopefuls, Edwards received 33% of the total votes cast–more than twice the support of the next two candidates, Rep. Kucinich and Senator Clinton, who each garnered 15.7%.

MoveOn member vote results:

Edwards 33.10%
Kucinich 15.73%
Clinton 15.71%
Obama 15.03%
Richardson 12.60%
Biden 3.06%
Dodd 3.01%
Gravel 1.78%

MoveOn will run print ads in newspapers in early primary states Iowa and New Hampshire next week, announcing the results of the straw poll on the climate crisis. Fundraising for the ads begins today.

"The enormous response we got from our members on this issue emphasizes how important it will be for our next president to make solving the climate crisis a top priority in 2008," said Eli Pariser, Executive Director of MoveOn.org Political Action.

"MoveOn members want leaders who will take on the oil and coal industry and create a clean energy economy. That's probably why Sen. Edwards' support of cap and auction systems – which force polluters to pay citizens—and his call for more green collar jobs received such strong backing," added Ilyse Hogue, Campaign Director of MoveOn.org Political Action.

MoveOn will run a print ad that congratulates the top three candidates. You can see the ad, and contribute to help pay for it, here.

Here are YouTube videos of JRE's responses to the questions asked by MoveOn members:

How does your plan differ from those of other candidates?

Would you auction off carbon emissions and use the proceeds to develop alternative energy?

How will Americans, just not corporations, benefit from the new energy economy?

By Laura

ACORN is a community organization that works to support the needs of low and moderate income families and promote social justice.  They are well acquainted with John Edwards, who traveled around the country with ACORN President Maude Hurd, long before he announced his campaign for the presidency, trying to get the minimum wage raised in various states. They were successful in six states.  When the New York Times recently smeared John Edwards with nasty innuendo about his poverty work, in an article where they refused to talk to any of the beneficiaries of that work, ACORN president Maude Hurd stood up strongly for John Edwards.  This is her statement:

As ACORN's president, I can personally attest that Senator Edwards has been a steadfast ally in this struggle - from raising wages to rebuilding the Gulf Coast.

Press stories that question Senator John Edwards' commitment to ending poverty require a strong response from those of us who spend our lives in that fight. ACORN is the nation's largest grassroots community organization working to eliminate poverty in America.

One of the best ways to end poverty is to pay workers fair wages. In the summer of 2005, I traveled with Senator Edwards to cities and states across the country, launching ballot initiative campaigns to raise the minimum wage above the shamefully low $5.15 an hour.

While Senator Edwards could have chosen to do anything else with his time, he chose to spend it on the road with low-wage workers and their allies who were fighting to lift workers out of poverty. Edwards worked directly with grassroots community-faith-labor coalitions on the ground, leading rallies and press conferences to galvanize public support and working outside the spotlight to help organize support and raise funds to bring wage increase proposals to the ballot.

Last November, voters rewarded the efforts of Edwards, ACORN and our allies by resoundingly approving six state ballot measures to raise the minimum wage. As a result, more than 1.5 million of the country's lowest-paid workers will get a raise. The ballot measures were just the most high-profile victories in a year that saw an unprecedented 17 states raise their minimum wage - many for the first time - including Edwards' home state of North Carolina.

This movement in the states helped create the public pressure for a long-overdue increase in the federal minimum wage, which was passed last month and will help another 12.5 million low-income workers make ends meet. In addition to his work to raise wages, Senator Edwards has made an ongoing commitment to work with ACORN and others in the struggle to rebuild the

Gulf Coast and help Katrina Survivors return home.
In making poverty the defining theme of his campaign, Senator Edwards has shown his true colors. It is a sad statement that someone working not only to raise the issue of poverty, but to offer ambitious solutions and his put his feet on the ground to end it -- is attacked rather than applauded.

Alicia Russell, the chairperson of Arizona ACORN, also lauded Edwards for his work with ACORN when she introduced him.  Her state, Arizona, is one of the states where Edwards helped ACORN to get the minimum wage raised.  It should be no surprise then that Edwards got an enthusiastic reception from ACORN members, who know his work well.

I want to thank Machka, who recorded the webcast and made the videos available on YouTube. Links are throughout this diary.

Video part 1

Edwards praised the Congress for recently raising the minimum wage nationwide, but said we have a lot more work to do.  He announced that when he is president, he will raise the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour, and index it for inflation.

"I have a very simple view about this.  I think that anybody working full time in the United States of America should not live in poverty.  Period."

Just as ACORN has praised John Edwards, John Edwards praised them during his speech:

I have to be honest with you about something.  I met with your board a few weeks ago.  I was on the way over here looking for your agenda seeing if there's anything I -- there's nothing I need to study because your agenda is basically my agenda, and the things that I care about are the things that you care about.  But I want to say one thing to all of you who are out there active, organizing, working.  Sometimes people say to me, they say "ACORN: they get in your face, man!"  And I say "GOOD!  I hope they keep getting in your face.  I hope they keep speaking out.  I hope they keep standing up with backbone and courage for people who need someone to speak for them."

Edwards then went quickly through some of his proposals for ending poverty, including College for Everyone, supporting the right to organize and allowing workers to join unions by signing their name to a card, helping families to save, passing a national predatory lending law, true universal health care, and expanding the section 8 housing voucher program to provide more affordable housing.  These are just some of his many excellent proposals, which he has laid out in detail on his website.

Video part 2

Edwards explains his College for Everyone program as follows:

"We say to every young person in America, graduate from high school, qualify to go to college, commit to work at least 10 hours a week your first year, we pay for your tuition and books.  Very simple."

I find it disgusting that the mainstream media continues to smear John Edwards's dedication to fighting poverty.  I have heard him speak on it many times, and I have seen what he has done on it, and I know he walks the walk.  You can feel the depth of his passion for this issue when he says:

"This is the cause of my life.  It always will be.  You know, when we talk about these various policy ideas that all of us care so much about, and that you all have worked so hard on, and in some cases I've been able to work with you on, you know, it's a great thing to have policy ideas -- it is.  But we need a President of the United States who wakes up every single morning and in their gut cares deeply about this cause.  There are lots of issues facing the president.  For example, ending this war in Iraq, which desperately needs to be done.  But we need a president who wakes up every morning gnawing inside about ending poverty in America.  You are looking at the candidate who has laid out a specific set of ideas and agenda to end poverty in America -- not to reduce it, to end it in the next 30 years, which I completely am convinced is achievable.  We need a president who will go out on the White House lawn and say to America, to the entire country, that this is a huge moral cause for our country.  It says something about the character of America what we're willing to do about the issue of poverty.  It says something about America what we're willing to do about 37 million of our own people who wake up every single day worried about feeding and clothing their children.  And I have to say to all of you, and I mean this, you know, Elizabeth and I had to make a decision a few months ago about what we're going to spend our lives doing.  And we, like all of you, we've all faced these kind of challenges, we're faced with some serious challenges in our own family, but these causes, the plight of the poor, the disabled, the disenfranchised, all those who desperately need a voice in this country -- this is the cause of my life.  It's the cause of Elizabeth's life.  And I'm here to tell you, as long as I'm alive and breathing, I will stand up for that cause."

After a relatively brief speech, Edwards was asked a number of specific questions by ACORN leaders.  The question-and-answer period was at least as important as the speech itself, and was a part of the program where people already familiar with Edwards's many proposals might gain new information.

Video part 3

The first question asked about the patchwork quality of government services, and the problem of people who are eligible for those services often not knowing about them.  Edwards was asked if he would work with community groups like ACORN to reach out to and enroll everyone in the services that they are entitled to.

To paraphrase his answer, it doesn't do any good to have programs that people don't know about them.  The responsibility for educating people about these programs should not just be left up to community groups like ACORN, but is the responsibility of the president of the United States.

The second question asked about protecting people's assets and stopping predatory lending practices.

Edwards said he would support federal predatory lending laws and would create a new consumer commission responsible for regulating and monitoring lenders.  He said that beyond counseling for families in debt, we need a national home fund for families in danger of losing their homes.

Video part 4

Next, Maria Blanco from New York ACORN asked him about what provisions he would support for immigrants to become citizens.

He said he would consider it his responsibility as president to move the immigration reform issue forward.  He considers it a moral issue, because we can't have a first-class group of citizens and a second-class group of laborers.  He spoke of America as a nation of immigrants and proposed creating a realistic path to citizenship.  He said it's not doable for prospective citizens to have to pay $10,000.  He said there should not be a touchback provision, where immigrants have to return to their country of origin in the process of applying for citizenship, because this is not realistic for many.  He would support having illegal immigrants pay a fine for having broken the law and require that immigrants who want to become citizens learn to speak English.  He also would require better policing of our southern border.

Sonia Mercer Jones from Baltimore city asked him about rebuilding American cities.  There were three parts to her question:

1.  Would he support a requirement for community impact statements?

2.   What would he do to expand affordable housing?

3.   What would he do to expand public school programs?

Edwards said he would absolutely support community impact statements and that programs for cities need help everyone in the cities.  He pointed out that, just like we have two Americas, most American cities also have two cities, where some residents are neglected.

He repeated his call for a million new section 8 housing vouchers and for rebuilding and restocking our affordable housing supply.

He also talked about making sure that all schools in America provide quality education, no matter where they are located, and about providing incentive pay for inner-city teachers.

Video part 5

Bertha Brown from Pennsylvania ACORN asked about improving income, wages, and working conditions.  There were three parts to her question as well, but she noted that Senator Edwards had already answered one of them and thanked him for it.

1.  She was going to ask about an increase in the minimum wage, but instead just thanked him for the promise he had already made.

 2.  Would he support the healthy family act, which would provide sick leave for people to take care of their family members ?

 3.  Would he support an increase in the earned income credit?

Edwards pointed out that he had also addressed number three already, but expanded his answer, saying that he would expand the earned income credit, get rid of the marriage penalty in it, and also expanded to single people.

He said that a healthy family act, which provides a minimum of seven days for workers to take care of sick family members was only asking for very low amount of time, and is the least that we can do.

Next, Tony from Texas ACORN asked about what he would do to rebuild New Orleans.  While asking her question, she acknowledged that Edwards had already talked about this a little bit, and said they know about his commitment to this issue.  In fact, several of the people asking questions indicated in one way or another that they already knew that Edwards was committed to their issues.

She asked him whether he would support the Gulf Coast housing act introduced by Senators Dodd and Landrieu, and also what he would do as president to help rebuild New Orleans?

Edwards talked about going to New Orleans with several hundred college kids, an effort in which ACORN was also involved, to work in New Orleans over spring break.

He said that nothing has changed in New Orleans except with the efforts of community groups like ACORN.  He said that yes, he would support the Gulf Coast housing legislation, but he would go far beyond that.

As president, he would appoint someone to be responsible for making sure progress was made in New Orleans, and he would ask that person for their progress report every day, making sure that whatever needs to be done gets done.

He spoke of the need to make sure people's lives are restored, and said that he would put the people of New Orleans to work rebuilding it, so that residents could have jobs.  He also said he would rebuild the levees.

Video part 6

The final question was about protecting the right to vote.  Maxine Nelson from Arkansas asked the question and pointed out that there has been an organized campaign to keep people from voting, especially in minority areas.  Her question also had three parts:

1.  Will an Edwards Department of Justice enforce the voter registration act?

 2.  Does he support the ballot integrity act introduced by Senators Feinstein and Dodd?

 3.  There have been false claims of voter fraud that were made in the past couple of elections as a way to suppress voting.  Will John Edwards work with groups like ACORN to speak out on this?

Edwards gave a very strong answer on these questions, and it was particularly satisfying to me, because this is an issue I have been very concerned about.

He said he will work with ACORN to speak out against false claims of voter fraud.  He noted that those false claims are nothing more than an excuse to keep legally registered voters from voting.  He spoke of the need to make sure voter registration organizations are able to do their job, and said he would support the ballot integrity act.  He spoke of the need to stop voter suppression, and added that we need to get rid of black box voting and vote on paper ballots, so that were sure that votes are getting counted.  (Edwards is the first presidential candidate to call for open source voting on paper ballots, although he did not specifically mention open source in this speech.)

Hearing John Edwards speak is always delightful and refreshing, and the ACORN forum was another such experience.

by Laura

On April 14th, Step It Up 2007 organized events all over the country to call attention to the problem of global warming and demand an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. The variety of events was great and with the rallies across the country combined, it was the largest global warming demonstration in the history of this country. Even presidential candidate John Edwards, who has a strong plan for energy and stopping global warming spoke at one of the rallies in Florida.

In Washington, DC, participants made a giant human postcard in front of the Capitol Building. We spelled out "80% by 2050," the goal for carbon reduction, in people. Photographers took aerial photos with the help of a crane. People cheered. People sang. People got silly. It was a great day.

The Human Postcard

I may have received one or two other emails about it, but I knew about this event largely because of John Edwards' One Corps. I'm a member of that organization, and they've been really emphasizing action on global warming and for Earth Day. This month, they're asking us to take a 2 part action. The first part was to participate in a local Step It Up 2007 rally on the 14th. For the second part, we will organize our own local actions. Join One Corps to get involved.

The whole thing was a lot of fun. It felt very optimistic, like we're on the cusp of a turning point and people are starting to pay attention to this issue. One of the great personal aspects of it for me, though, was meeting some of the other One Corps members from other DC area chapters.

The event featured some great speakers: Gene Karpinski from the League of Conservation Voters, a spokesperson for Congressman Chris Van Hollen, students involved in the global warming movement, and councilmembers from DC. There was some great music as well. I shot video of most of the event, so here are the links for that:

Step It UP!
This video summarizes the event with excerpts and is the one you should watch, if you can only watch one.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

A little music before the main event

I'm not very good at estimate, but the Step It Up 2007 organizers have estimated that there were over 1000 people there. This seems accurate, as it took a lot of people to make that human postcard.

Making the human postcard took a long time, but it was quite amusing. It took a lot of organization to get us all arranged perfectly from the photographers perspective. While that was happening, the event organizers led us in cheers like "80% by 2050," with each section shouting a different part of the cheer, or the same thing for "Step It Up." A more complex chant was "Oooh. It's hot in here. There's too much carbon in the atmosphere. Take action! Take action! And get some satisfaction!" Hey, we even did the wave.

Here are a couple of photos of participants being arranged for the human postcard:

You might notice that there aren't too many light colored shirts in those two photos. That's because everyone with white or light colored shirts was kept aside, then placed strategically to make the photo "pop." That included our One Corps contingent, with our white t-shirts. Our shirts got a lot of notice in general. I noticed a lot of people photographing us and heard a lot of talk about John Edwards. (It should be noted that the groups organizing the event have not endorsed him yet, although the League of Conservation Voters has praised his global warming plan.)

I hope that Congress gets the message. I know Gene Karpinski of LCV said that the new Democratic Congress, led by Speaker Pelosi and Senator Boxer, are working on a bill to cut carbon 80% by 2050. My research tells me this is the Boxer/Sanders Bill, S. 309. Disappointingly, of the presidential candidates who are current sitting Senators (Clinton, Obama, and Dodd), only Senator Dodd has co-sponsored that bill. Let's keep up the pressure on our Senators so it passes, and for those who are considering supporting Senator Obama or Senator Clinton for president, ask them why they haven't co-sponsored the Boxer/Sanders bill.

Edwards has committed to 80% by 2050.

If you want a president who has committed to an 80% carbon reduction by 2050, I suggest you give your support to John Edwards.

One last photo of the event:

Cross-posted from Daily Kos

by Laura

John Edwards is leading the Democratic pack on so many issues. He's way ahead of the other Democratic candidates on the related issues of energy and global warming, where he's issued a specific plan for energy independence, stopping global warming, and creating a new energy economy. Edwards has already committed to reducing carbon emissions 80% by 2050, the goal being widely called for by scientists and environmental organizations.

It's great to see a presidential candidate with bold, specific plans for saving our world. That's why today's multimedia links diary focuses on Edwards' plans for energy independence, stopping global warming, and saving our planet.

It's time to be patriotic about something other than war!

Today's multimedia diary includes a new section: action items. This section is at the end and contains some quick action items you can take on this issue.

John Edwards at Step It Up rally in Fort Myers, Florida

Edwards: You know, anybody who has any doubt about whether global warming's occurring should be in Fort Myers today.

John Edwards at Step It Up rally (short excerpt)

John Edwards discusses Global Warming plan in San Francisco

Edwards: We are 4% of the world's population emitting 25% of the world's greenhouse gases.

John Edwards on Climate Change

Edwards: Climate change, global warming. This is an emergency. This is not an issue for the future.

John Edwards on Changing the Way We Use Energy

Edwards: We can reduce our dependence on oil. I'm convinced of that. Reduce our dependence on oil, conserve energy, and transfer the way we - in a really bold, serious way - the way we use energy in America in a way that will create over a million jobs, not lose jobs.

John Edwards on the Need to Fight Global Warming

Edwards: The planet has to survive, so we have a pretty simple question to begin with.

John Edwards: U.S. Should Be World Leader on Global Warming

Edwards: We ought to be leading on global warming.

John Edwards: We Can't Leave Global Warming For Our Children

Edwards: And it's time we stood up for an energy policy that's not dictated by the profits of big oil companies...

John Edwards: Warming Frightening; No Baby Steps

Edwards: I don't think that incremental baby steps are enough. Now, if that's what you want, I'm not your guy.

Saturday Morning E-Cast: Reduce Your Carbon by John Edwards

Edwards: I also happen to believe if we deal with it in a smart way and boldly, we can actually transform the way we use energy, we can address global warming, AND we can help create a new energy economy for this country.

Achieving Energy Independence & Stopping Global Warming Through A New Energy Economy (The Edwards platform on Energy and Global Warming)

Edwards: "Our generation must be the one that says, 'we must halt global warming.' Our generation must be the one that says 'yes' to renewable fuels and ends forever our dependence on foreign oil. And our generation must be the one that builds the new energy economy. It won't be easy, but it is time to ask the American people to be patriotic about something other than war."

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Here's How by John Edwards

Edwards: My energy plan calls for an 80 percent reduction in American carbon emissions by 2050--the amount necessary to halt the worst effects of global warming according to the latest science--and to freeze the growth of our electricity usage for a decade through efficiency programs.

John Edwards commits to 80% by 2050! (Step It Up 2007)

Quote: This is an incredible step in the right direction and bodes well for our upcoming day of action on April 14. Politicians are finally getting the message that voters want a change of direction on global warming and won't settle for less than a strong, bold commitment.

Edwards rallies 350 to energy, clean air causes (The News-Press)

Quote: Edwards appeared as featured speaker at the Step it Up 2007 rally to press Congress into passing regulations to cut carbon emissions like car exhaust by 80 percent by 2050.

Edwards calls for action on global warming (Bonita Daily News)

Quote: He noted that similar Step It Up rallies like the one he was attending in Fort Myers were happening around the country Saturday, and he voiced support for the Step It Up goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050. "This is an aggressive goal, but it is an achievable goal," he said.

Edwards Calls for End to Coal-Fired Power Plants (AP)

Quote: Edwards said charging polluters could generate up to $40 billion to invest in clean technology to "get us off our addiction to oil."

Step It Up in Ft. Myers, Sat. 4/14 by AlphaPaint1

Quote: Pinellas County One Corps member Kathy Fair and I had a wonderful time, and made some new friends, at the "Step It Up" rally in Ft. Myers, Florida today. And guess who joined us?!

John Edwards Courts Local Media (KGO TV - with video)

Quote: Edwards came to California today to call for a ban on coal-fired power plants. The former North Carolina senator met with reporters today to talk about his plans to combat global warming.

Edwards Announces Bold Energy Plan

Quote: In a speech today at the Biomass Energy Conversion Center, Senator John Edwards outlined a bold plan for America to achieve energy independence and halt global warming. Under Edwards' plan, America can lead the world in stopping climate change, create 1 million new jobs in a new, clean energy economy and freeze our growing demand for electricity.

League of Conservation Voters Applauds John Edwards' Global Warming Plan

Quote: Senator Edwards has outlined the most comprehensive global warming plan of any presidential candidate to date.

League of Conservation Voters: John Edwards on Global Warming

Edwards: "Global warming is a problem that is here, now, and not going away. The United States must lead - lead smart, lead courageously, and lead by example. It is time to ask the American people to be patriotic about something other than war. We need investments in renewable energy - more efficient cars and trucks - and a national cap on carbon emissions."

ReduceYourCarbon.com
Pledge to reduce your personal carbon emissions.

Sign up for One Corps. John Edwards One Corps is planning Earth Day events all over the country on April 22. Join us!

Want a president who will pledge to cut carbon emissions 80% by 2050? Contribute to John Edwards.

by Laura

Elizabeth Edwards has been all over the news since her announcement that her breast cancer has returned. This brave woman has been an inspiration to people all over the country as she continues her fight for transformational change in America right alongside her husband, John Edwards.

Today's multimedia diary is a continuation of a series of multimedia diaries on the Edwards campaign. These diaries attempt to create a way to access a lot of information about the Edwards campaign all in one place. Today's diary is a tribute to Elizabeth Edwards, but it is more than that. Her situation has shone a light on the health crisis that any family may face at any time. It has reminded us that, while Mrs. Edwards will get good care, 47 million people in this country are without health insurance. Therefore, this diary focuses not just on Elizabeth Edwards, but on the health care crisis in America and how John Edwards will fix it.

Video:

Elizabeth and John Edwards Press Conference on Elizabeth's Cancer March 22, 2007

Elizabeth Edwards: Right now we feel incredibly optimistic. I expect to do next week all the things I did last week, and the week after that, and next year at the same time, all the things I did last week.

ABC News: Elizabeth and daughter Cate Edwards

Quote: There is no sense that this is a sad house, despite their mother having just discovered her cancer is back.

I'm not praying for God to save me (ABC News)

Elizabeth Edwards: There's going to be a day before each of us die, and you have to think a little bit about how you want that day filled. Maybe when you're doing that judging thing, think about how you want the day before you die to look. I want that to be a productive day about which I am enormously proud, as opposed to a day where I had the covers pulled up over my head.

Elizabeth Edwards in Cleveland (excerpts) March 2007

Elizabeth Edwards: The notoriety has brought a lot of unwelcome attention, of course, but also it has brought some gifts as well. And one of the gifts is a gift that I talk about in my book "Saving Graces," and that is the gift of support that you get from your friends and from people you don't know, when people see you have a need.

Elizabeth Edwards in Cleveland (longer) March 2007

Elizabeth Edwards: There are a lot of people getting a lot less support than I get and if you know them, make this attention to people facing dire news a calling to you to be supportive of them.

John Edwards on Health Care at SEIU forum (Part 1) March 2007

John Edwards: What we have is a dysfunctional health care system in the United States of America and what we need is big, bold, dramatic change, not small change.

John Edwards on Health Care at SEIU forum (Part 2) March 2007

John Edwards (to business owner): We have extraordinary health care costs, which you're dealing with every single year in the operation of your business. Those costs have to come down.

John Edwards on Health Care at SEIU forum (Part 3) March 2007

John Edwards (to nurse): Well, we have a huge nursing crisis in America, which obviously, you know about firsthand. I think a part of that crisis is dealt with by achieving a truly universal health care system, where everyone is reimbursed at a fair rate for the services they're providing and in the context of achieving this universal health care system, we can regulate in a way that requires that the staffing be adequate.

John Edwards on Health Care (excerpts from speech at Howard University, March 14, 2007)

John Edwards: I am proud of the fact that I am, as of this moment, the only candidate for president, Democratic or Republican, who's laid out a substantive, specific, truly universal health care plan.

John Edwards on Universal Health Care at town hall in Newton, Iowa 3/10/2007

John Edwards: Here's what this universal health care plan does. Basically, it's founded on the idea of shared responsibility, which means all of us are going to have to play a role in having truly universal health care.

Edwards universal health care plan: a message to Iowans

This is the video the Edwards campaign is sending on a DVD to 70,000 Iowa voters.

John Edwards: For the country as a whole, what's good about my plan is it brings down health care costs. We've got cost containment in a lot of different ways: lower administrative costs, better use of technology, making sure that we use the most cost-effective drugs and treatments that are available. There's just a systematic approach that doesn't exist today.

John Edwards - Energy Plan, Iraq, Universal Health Care March 2007

John Edwards: We fill in the gaps in the health care system. Mental health parity, mental health treated just like physical health, chronic care, long term care, preventative care - all covered.

Elizabeth and Cate Edwards on ABC's Nightline

In this last minute addition to this diary, Elizabeth and Cate Edwards discuss Elizabeth's prognosis and the strength of her family.

Articles and blogs:

Thank You by Elizabeth Edwards

Elizabeth Edwards: I want you to turn that compassion and determination now away from me and toward others. Either toward the particular others around you who need your love and support, because, I promise, your love and support is powerful, or toward the collective others who need us to fight for universal health care, or for economic justice, or for an end to this war. You can do both, of course, (please do) but I have to say how much I have thought about those collective others today.

Edwards Family Returns to NH (AP) April 2, 2007

Quote: As for criticism of their decision: "I don't worry for me because we've got tough skin. And, honestly, having been through the death of a child, it's just words. You want to hurt us, you're going to have to do a little better than that."

Back on trail, Elizabeth Edwards pushes stem-cell funding (CNN)

Quote: "I think that we're foolhardy to not be engaging in federal funding of stem-cell research in the most aggressive way we possibly can," the wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards of North Carolina told a luncheon meeting of supporters at the City Club of Cleveland.

A Complicated Balance of Policy and Personal (New York Times, April 1, 2007)

Quote: All political campaigns start with a script, brace for it to be rewritten by unforeseen events and then adapt, for better or worse. But few, if any, presidential candidates have faced a situation quite like John Edwards's as he responds to audiences consumed with curiosity and compassion about his wife's recurrent cancer while still trying to push his agenda.

The Topic of Cancer by Sherman Yellen (Huffpo)

Quote: Instinct tells me that Edwards alone among the viable announced candidates could win the '08 election by speaking honestly to a country that is starving for plain progressive talk. Part of his appeal is undoubtedly his remarkable wife. Her keen intelligence, her great warmth, and her extraordinary humanity show us how to face adversity and get on with the business of living. She is the true pro-life candidate. Trust me on this - the C word for Elizabeth Edwards is not cancer, it is challenge; no, better than that - it is celebration.

My Visit to the Edwards Campaign in Chapel Hill by be inspired (Daily Kos)

Quote: That evening at the party and the next day, as I volunteered at campaign headquarters, I had the sad but inspiring privilege to witness firsthand the strength, courage, and determination of Elizabeth and John Edwards as they expressed their resolve to continue to fight for the people of our country. Their love for each other was evident, as was their love for America.

John and Elizabeth Edwards by Michael Grant

Quote: Reading the stories again, it seems obvious that John Edwards knows what he is doing. Both of them say she is going to live for years. John would certainly not do or say anything to throw doubt on that. In fact, it dawns on me, he can't. Love won't let him. Suddenly I know exactly what I would do. I would support her. I would no more quit the campaign than tell my wife anything else than she was going to live forever. Elizabeth Edwards will never in her lifetime hear John Edwards waver. It's the one thing she knows she can always, always, count on. She knows it, and he knows it. The value of that should be obvious to all.

John and Elizabeth Edwards Open Up about Cancer and Family (People)

Elizabeth Edwards: We also explained that it wasn't going to go away this time - and that prompted questions about whether I would die from it. John was honest and said that this cancer can kill. Then he said, 'Everybody at the table who's not going to die, raise their hands.' They understood - or I hope they understood - that we're all going to die and nobody has any guarantee of how much time they have. The only thing we have control of is how you spend the time, that precious time.

Buzzflash Wings of Justice Award: Elizabeth Edwards

Quote: Indeed, this is how we personally would wish to face cancer -- with the fortitude and optimism of Elizabeth Edwards. In the face of a deadly attack, she has chosen to embrace life.

In the Hospital, Mrs. Edwards Set Campaign's Fate (New York Times, March 24, 2007)

Quote: Saying she hoped to be "heavily involved" in her husband's campaign, she said: "My feeling is, if we gave up what we have committed to as our life's work, wouldn't I be getting ready to die? That's what I'd be doing. This cause is not just John's cause, it's my cause."

Catty about Cancer (Barbara Ehrenreich)

Quote: As for Elizabeth Edwards, all I know is this: When I was being subjected to chemotherapy six years ago, the one thing that kept me going was work. Every morning I would go down to my desk in the basement to confront the computer screen and the stacks of books and papers around it. I ended up not using the chapter - on ancient Roman games - I was writing at the time (for the book just published as Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy), but I desperately needed to be at least 2000 miles and 2000 years away from my affliction. So I say to Elizabeth, if I may call her that: Get out there, girl, and campaign like hell!

John Edwards opens up about the son he lost (AP)

Quote: When asked during last Thursday's news conference how they could stay focused on the campaign -- and perhaps eventually with running the country -- Mrs. Edwards cited her husband's work on the Wade Edwards Foundation. "He has an unbelievable toughness, a reserve that allows him to push forward with what needs to happen," she said. "It's what happened after our son died in 1996."

Choosing to Live (Eugene Robinson, Washington Post)

Quote: Having shared so many triumphs and defeats, having endured innumerable rubber-chicken fundraisers, having shaken hands and kissed babies and done all the endless things a candidate and his spouse are required to do, Elizabeth and John Edwards had to make a decision. They don't know how her health will progress over the next months and years. They could spend that time nesting with their family. Or they could spend it amid the exhilarating chaos of a presidential campaign, grabbing for the brass ring they've long had in sight. Do they really have a choice? Run, John and Elizabeth, run. Enjoy the campaign, every thrilling minute. Enjoy it together.

Elizabeth Edwards cheered by outpouring of sympathy (AP, March 27, 2007)

Quote: "You can't stop when people are cheering for you all along the way," she said. "It makes the private journey we are going through now easier."

Edwards sends video to 70,000 Iowa homes

Article includes a video about the Edwards health care plan on the same page.

Quote: "I keep hearing people describe me as a `populist'," Edwards says late in the six minute, seventeen-second video, which alternates between the candidate and unnamed Iowans speaking about their health-care worries. "If being a populist means you feel deeply and strongly committed to regular people having a real chance and not getting run over by big, powerful interests - oh yeah, if that's true, I'm a populist."

Universal Health Care through Shared Responsibility - The Edwards Health Care Plan

John Edwards: "We have to stop using words like `access to health care' when we know with certainty those words mean something less than universal care. Who are you willing to leave behind without the care he needs? Which family? Which child? We need a truly universal solution, and we need it now."

The two previous multimedia diaries are on a range of topics, including health care. I have not repeated health care links in this diary that I included in previous diaries, so additional information on health care and other topics may be found here:

Multimedia recap of John Edwards news #1

Multimedia recap of John Edwards news #2

If the above has inspired you, please consider making a contribution to the Edwards campaign through ActBlue.

Cross-posted from my diary on Daily Kos.

(by Laura)

Yesterday I saw John Edwards speak at Howard University in Washington DC as part of his college tour, so yesterday was a good day! I got there early enough to sit in the third row in the center, so I got some good videos of the event, considering I'm using my tiny digital camera. (Definitely not a professional video set up.)

John spoke for about 25 minutes about our leadership in the world, the example we set at home, climate change, health care, poverty, and education. Then he took questions from the audience.

I've been a fan for a long time, so I feel quite familiar with most of his positions on the issues. Most of it was the same old amazingly inspiring and revelatory, life-changing excitement, if one can ever describe JRE's standard fare as "same old." There were a few new twists, though.

JRE started off by speaking about how America is now seen through the eyes of the world and why it's so important that we change that perception. (Click here to view part 1.)

He then turned his focus to the example we set for the rest of the world by what we do at home and how we address the problems in our own country. (Click here to view part 2.)

Later, he spent some time on the issue of poverty and some ideas for solutions. He also spoke about the ability for young people to create real change and the importance of getting involved. (Click here to view part 3.)

I encourage you to look at all the videos. Yes, most of this is old news to me, but it's wonderful, and if you're not familiar with John Edwards' take on the issues, you really should see this. After all, I went to see him again even though I knew most of what he would probably say. That should tell you something about how different from normal politics this really is!

The pieces of the discussion that were new to me all came during the audience question period.

The first person to ask a question was from a climate change organization. She thanked JRE for pledging to make his campaign carbon neutral and for being out front on the issue of global warming. She asked him whether he would commit to an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, a step which she described as the only scientifically viable way to solve the problem. His one word answer: "Yes!"

In this part of the video, he also gives an extensive answer to a question about public school education.

Another audience member asked about the recent lawsuit by Viacom against YouTube for copyright infringement, and asked about how we can protect alternatives to the mainstream media. John gave a good answer, speaking about how net neutrality, vigilance against media consolidation, and the ability of average people to have their voices heard on the internet are all vitally important for democracy.

Finally, someone asked about his health care plan, which JRE was happy to "bore" us on.

Well, I can tell you, I never get tired of hearing John Edwards' ideas. He really is inspiring and refreshing. It's just so good to hear someone speak the truth and not dance around the issues!

In the interest of shorter videos on specific topics, I made a few issue-oriented excerpt videos. These consolidate what he said in his speech with the questions asked by the audience and his answers. They are on the same four topics that the audience members asked about.

On climate change

On education

On media issues

On health care

Cross-posted from blog.johnedwards.com/user/sirius