Blogtown, PDX

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Politics Want Some Syrup With That Waffle, Senator?

Posted by Scott Moore on Thu, May 3 at 2:20 PM

Others have already written at length about Sen. John Edwards’ campaign stop(s) in Portland yesterday, so I won’t go over all the details. But here are the highlights:

*He pledges to close the Guantanamo detention center on his first day in office if elected, and then give the prisoners there a fair trial.
* “The most powerful tool for ending poverty…and strengthening the middle class is the organized labor movement.”
* “We need a national predatory lending law…There are more payday loan shops in Oregon than Starbucks and 7-11s combined.”
* Universal health care.
* Reducing 80 percent of the U.S.’s greenhouse gasses by 2050.
* The phrase “global war on terror” is “a political frame, political rhetoric that [the Bush Administration] has used to justify everything they’ve done.”

Photo courtesy of the talented and generous Josh Townsley.

The lowlight:

Edwards continues to waffle on same-sex marriage, saying repeatedly that he has a “great internal conflict” about it. “I’m for treating gay couples with respect, and I’m for civil unions and all the substantive rights, by my conflict is on the word ‘marriage,’” he said. “At this moment, today, I don’t support gay marriage,” but said he continues to “struggle” with it. He did add, though, that his daughter thinks his “conflict” is nuts, and that in another generation there won’t even be a debate.

Afterwards, I chatted with someone who said, “He probably needs to just be honest and say, ‘I haven’t made up my mind, and I’m not going to before the election.’”

Addendum: Worth saying—Edwards’ appearances are the first by any ‘08 candidate, and considering that Oregon won’t make a primary vote until May ‘08, after most of the important primaries are done, it’s questionable how much time any of the candidates will spend here. The fact that Edwards kicked off his Oregon campaign with a free, completely open-to-the-public event (albeit one followed by a $1,000- and $2,000-ticket fundraiser), should win him some populist points.

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Comments

clarifications--

Oregon's primary still could be 2/5; I need to hear back from Ways and Means, but as far as I know HB2084 is still active, having passed out of the Rules Cmte already.

Also, he ended up doing TWO free events, by showing up and speaking at the MoveOn rally against the veto.

I'm not sure it's "waffling" to say you're against marriage but for civil unions. I don't agree with it and you could make a case for the positions to be inconsistent, but hasn't he been on record with this same position for a while now?

Posted by torridjoe | May 3, 2007 4:09 PM

TJ, I'm not holding my breath for the primary date change--I'll even bet you a beer it won't happen.

As for "waffling," it's the "great internal struggle" that gets me. "Internal struggle" implies that he's still trying to make up his mind, and that, gee, it could change tomorrow, and who knows, because he's still struggling with it. Internally.

Which I find impossible to believe. I can't believe that someone who's running for president hasn't actually worked out a solid position on one of the biggest issues of the decade.

I'm with you--I'm fine with him saying, "I'm against same-sex marriage, but for civil unions, and it was a hard decision." Obviously, I don't agree, but it doesn't come off as trying to please everyone like the "I'm struggling with it, internally, I really am" bit, which sounds like he's stringing along GLBT supporters. "Just stick with me, Gay Vote, 'cuz I still might beat this thing if I struggle hard enough."

Still, he's closer to it than Clinton and Obama. I guess I expect more from him?

Posted by Scott Moore | May 3, 2007 4:38 PM

Also, about that second event--I wasn't counting it because it wasn't technically his thing. It was a moveon rally that he attended. Splitting hairs, etc.

Posted by Scott Moore | May 3, 2007 4:39 PM

Working backwards, I'd think showing up to something that isn't his thing is worth even MORE populist points, wouldn't it?

I see your point on struggling. I didn't take it that way--it's possible to still be conflicted, I think--but I get it.

I'm not sure an early primary will happen either--but it's premature to say it WON'T happen IMO. It's already cleared one committee.

Posted by torridjoe | May 3, 2007 6:58 PM

FINE! He was at two events yesterday. Three if you count the big money, private fundraiser in the evening. Maybe the price tag on that one cancels out the populist points he gained at the veto protest.

As for the early primary, my offer still stands. I'll owe you a beer if it happens, you owe me a beer when reality strikes and it doesn't. Deal?

Posted by Scott Moore | May 3, 2007 11:36 PM

heck no--the more likely outcome is no change. But it's not dead.

Posted by torridjoe | May 4, 2007 12:13 PM

FINE again! I'll buy my own beer. Thanks for NOTHING, TJ.

Posted by Scott Moore | May 4, 2007 12:34 PM

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