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I gave John Edwards more money than I've given to any candidate in my life, and I'm
glad I did. He raised critical issues about America's economic divides, and got them on
the Democratic agenda. He was the first major candidate to stake out strong
comprehensive platforms on global warming and health care. He hammered away on the
Iraq war, even using scarce campaign resources to run ads during recent key Senate
votes. He'd have made a powerful nominee-and president.
I've been going through my mourning for a while for his campaign not getting more
traction, so his withdrawal announcement didn't shock me. But sad as I am about his
departure, I feel good about being able to switch my support to Barack Obama, and will
do all I can to help him win.
I've actually been giving small donations to both since Iowa, while hoping that the
Edwards campaign would belatedly catch fire, and exploring ways the two campaigns
could work together. With Edwards gone, I think Obama is the natural choice for his
supporters, and that Edwards should step up and endorse him as his preferred nominee.
All three major Democratic candidates have their flaws and strengths-they all have
excellent global warming plans, for instance. But Edwards wasn't just being rhetorical
when he said that both he and Obama represent voices for change, versus Clinton's
embodiment of a Washington status quo joining money and power.
Here are a dozen reasons why I feel proud to have my energy, dollars and vote now go
to Obama:
1. The Iraq war: Obviously, invading Iraq remains the most damaging single action of the
Bush era. Obama spoke out against it at a public rally while Clinton was echoing Bush's
talking points and voting for it. Obama's current advisors also consistently opposed the
war, while Clinton's consistently supported it. It's appropriate that Clinton jumped to her
feet to clap when Bush said in his recent State of the Union address that there was "no
doubt" that "the surge is working."
2. Clinton's Iran vote: The Kyl-Lieberman bill gave the Bush administration so wide an
opening for war that Jim Webb called it "Dick Cheney's fondest pipe dream." Hillary
voted for it. Obama and Edwards opposed it.
3. The youth vote: If a Party attracts new voters for their first few elections, they tend to
stick for the rest of their lives. Obama is doing this on a level unseen in decades. By
tearing down the candidate who inspires them, Clinton will so embitter many young
voters they'll stay home.
4. Hope matters: When people join movements to realize raised hopes, our nation has a
chance of changing. When they damp their hopes, as Clinton suggests, it doesn't. Like
Edwards, Obama has helped people feel they can participate in a powerful
transformative narrative. That's something to embrace, not mock.
5. Follow the money: All the candidates have some problematic donors-it's the system--
but Hillary's the only one with money from Rupert Murdoch. Edwards and Obama refused
money from lobbyists. Clinton claimed they were just citizens speaking out, and held a
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That's why this Edwards supporter is proud to do all I can to make Barack Obama the
Democratic nominee and president.