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Edwards ask voters to give him shot at Bush
By Tracey Lamm/MVM News Network
FORT MADISON - North Carolina Sen. John Edwards was an hour late getting to Fort Madison Thursday night.
But, the capacity crowd didn't seem to mind the wait.
His late appearance was brought about because of a day full of campaign stops across Iowa where Edwards encountered higher than expected turnouts. Alpha's Annex was filled to capacity.
The Edwards' campaign has caught fire in the last several days, coming on the heels of an endorsement by the Des Moines Register and a citation in the Congressional Quarterly Review, which noted that Edwards ranked number one of all congressmen in voting against initiatives proposed by President George W. Bush.
Edwards spoke about the division that exists in the U.S. today.
"There are two Americas. There's the one for those with privilege and power and one for everybody else. There are two tax systems. One for the wealthy who have lawyers and accountants who find every loophole and one for you, the working people, who work hard and pay their taxes," Edwards said.
Before Edwards appeared, campaign staffers handed out a 54-page booklet outlining his proposals for the White House should he get the nod to represent the Democratic party against Bush in November. Edwards is just one of several Democratic presidential hopefuls to stop in Southeast Iowa this week, before the Democratic caucus Monday night.
Edwards touched on poverty and the 35 million Americans who live in poverty.
"It's not something that politicians like to talk about because these people don't vote. On any poll, it's way down the list. We have a moral responsibility to lift those Americans out of poverty," Edwards said. Among the things he would do are raise the national minimum wage and make available affordable housing.
Edwards has also outlined ways for Americans to build a nest egg, including a dollar-for-dollar match for personal savings up to $1,000 in the form of a tax credit.
"Twenty years ago, middle class families were saving money and had financial security and there were jobs. Now, most middle class families are going into debt," Edwards said.
A prescription drug benefit for seniors, health insurance for everyone, including small business and the self-employed, and finding ways to lower health care costs, including authorizing the reimportation of drugs from Canada are all measures Edwards supports.
Internationally, Edwards said new leadership should be focused on the U.S. image.
'We have two different images around the world. There's the symbol of freedom and democracy. The symbol of George Bush, where we go on our own, not work with our allies," Edwards said.
He proposed the U.S. be a leader in a global nuclear compact with the teeth behind it to stop the development of nuclear weapons.
He also spoke to political pundits who have said he anyone interested in the presidency must win at least five southern states.
"The south is not George Bush's back yard. It's my backyard and I will beat Bush in my back yard. You give me a shot at Bush and I'll give you the White House," Edwards said.
But, the capacity crowd didn't seem to mind the wait.
His late appearance was brought about because of a day full of campaign stops across Iowa where Edwards encountered higher than expected turnouts. Alpha's Annex was filled to capacity.
The Edwards' campaign has caught fire in the last several days, coming on the heels of an endorsement by the Des Moines Register and a citation in the Congressional Quarterly Review, which noted that Edwards ranked number one of all congressmen in voting against initiatives proposed by President George W. Bush.
Edwards spoke about the division that exists in the U.S. today.
"There are two Americas. There's the one for those with privilege and power and one for everybody else. There are two tax systems. One for the wealthy who have lawyers and accountants who find every loophole and one for you, the working people, who work hard and pay their taxes," Edwards said.
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Edwards touched on poverty and the 35 million Americans who live in poverty.
"It's not something that politicians like to talk about because these people don't vote. On any poll, it's way down the list. We have a moral responsibility to lift those Americans out of poverty," Edwards said. Among the things he would do are raise the national minimum wage and make available affordable housing.
Edwards has also outlined ways for Americans to build a nest egg, including a dollar-for-dollar match for personal savings up to $1,000 in the form of a tax credit.
"Twenty years ago, middle class families were saving money and had financial security and there were jobs. Now, most middle class families are going into debt," Edwards said.
A prescription drug benefit for seniors, health insurance for everyone, including small business and the self-employed, and finding ways to lower health care costs, including authorizing the reimportation of drugs from Canada are all measures Edwards supports.
Internationally, Edwards said new leadership should be focused on the U.S. image.
'We have two different images around the world. There's the symbol of freedom and democracy. The symbol of George Bush, where we go on our own, not work with our allies," Edwards said.
He proposed the U.S. be a leader in a global nuclear compact with the teeth behind it to stop the development of nuclear weapons.
He also spoke to political pundits who have said he anyone interested in the presidency must win at least five southern states.
"The south is not George Bush's back yard. It's my backyard and I will beat Bush in my back yard. You give me a shot at Bush and I'll give you the White House," Edwards said.
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