AP: Kerry/Edwards

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2004
AP: Kerry/Edwards
157
Tue, 07-06-2004 - 8:12am
Kerry Picks Edwards to Be Running Mate

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040706/ap_on_el_pr/kerry_vice_president&cid=694&ncid=716

By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) selected former rival John Edwards (news - web sites) to be his running mate, picking the smooth-talking Southern populist over more seasoned politicians in hopes of injecting vigor and small-town appeal to the Democratic presidential ticket, The Associated Press learned Tuesday.


Kerry offered Edwards the No. 2 spot on the Democratic ticket in a telephone call Tuesday morning, and the North Carolina senator accepted, said two senior Democrats familiar with the conversation.


Kerry planned to announce his pick by e-mail to supporters, then at a rally in Pittsburgh.


Edwards was the last major candidate standing against Kerry in the Democratic presidential race. He emerged as a favorite second choice of Democratic voters, thanks to his youthful good looks, a self-assured manner and an upbeat, optimistic style. He saved his harshest criticism for President Bush (news - web sites), who he accused of creating "two Americas" — one for the privileged, another for everyone else.


Some Democrats were concerned that Edwards, whose only political credential was a single term in the Senate, lacked the experience in international affairs, particularly in wartime, to be a credible candidate to assume the presidency in the case of death, resignation or removal.


Indeed, Kerry privately complained to associates during the campaign that Edwards hadn't served long enough in the Senate — or politics for that matter — to deserve a shot at the presidency. Aides said he was won over by his private meetings with Edwards, his performance as a campaign surrogate since the primary fight ended and pressure from Democratic leaders who pushed Edwards as a vice presidential pick.


Edwards seldom criticized Kerry or any of the other Democrats while running a generally positive campaign. The two had few major policy disagreements — both supported the decision to go to war in Iraq (news - web sites), for example, and both voted against the $87 billion package for Iraq and Afghanistan (news - web sites).


One division was over the North American Free Trade Agreement: Kerry voted for it, but Edwards campaigned against NAFTA, which the Senate approved before he was elected. Edwards made trade, jobs and the economy the centerpiece of his campaign, questioning Kerry's vote on NAFTA but not pledging to seek its repeal.


They also differed in some ways on how to approach some issues. Both called for rolling back the Bush tax cuts, but Kerry proposed eliminating the tax cuts for those who make more than $200,000 a year while Edwards set the ceiling at $240,000. Kerry voted against the ban on so-called "partial birth" abortion passed by Congress, but Edwards did not vote. A more clear-cut difference was Kerry's opposition to the death penalty and Edwards' support of it.


Kerry finished first and Edwards second in the Iowa caucuses in January, surprising front-runner Howard Dean (news - web sites) and driving regional favorite Dick Gephardt (news - web sites) out of the race. Dean finished second to Kerry in the New Hampshire primary, and as Dean lost the next dozen delegate contests, the race became a contest between Kerry and Edwards.


Yet Edwards could never muster enough momentum to overtake his Senate colleague. He won only a single state during the competitive phase of the primary, his native South Carolina, and ended his bid following the 10-state Super Tuesday elections on March 2. North Carolina gave Edwards a victory in its first presidential caucus on April 17, but the vote meant more as a boost to his standing at the Democratic National Convention and to his potential as a running mate.


Edwards, 51, was born in Seneca, S.C., and grew up in Robbins, N.C. His father was a mill worker, and he announced his presidential campaign from the factory, then closed, where his father had worked and where he had swept floors to earn money for college. He earned a bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University in 1974 and a law degree from the University of North Carolina in 1977.


A Methodist, Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, have three children: Cate, Emma Claire and Jack. Their son Wade died in a traffic accident at age 16 in 1996.


Edwards worked in private practice in Nashville and Raleigh, N.C., for nearly two decades, earning a fortune from medical malpractice and product liability judgments. Although Edwards portrayed himself as a champion of ordinary people hurt by large corporations, the American Tort Reform Association described him as "a wealthy personal injury lawyer masquerading as a man of the regular people."


Pouring millions of his own dollars into North Carolina's 1998 Senate campaign, he challenged Republican Sen. Lauch Faircloth. The incumbent failed to persuade people that Edwards was no more than a lawsuit-happy lawyer, losing his seat to the upstart politician by 4 percentage points.


In the Senate as well as on the campaign trail, Edwards tended to take a moderate stand on issues. Outside of North Carolina, he gained more public attention from media-coined nicknames like "Golden Boy" and as People magazine's "sexiest politician."


On behalf of Senate Democrats, he was part of the team that deposed former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and others linked to the impeachment case of former President Bill Clinton (news - web sites). Although Edwards had served just two years in the Senate, Al Gore (news - web sites) considered him as a running mate in 2000 before choosing Sen. Joe Lieberman (news - web sites) of Connecticut.





Edwards supports abortion rights and opposes private-school vouchers and partial privatization of Social Security (news - web sites). He backs domestic-partner benefits for same-sex couples yet opposes gay marriage — and a constitutional amendment against it. He does not favor drilling for oil in the Arctic refuge.

In education policy, Edwards proposed offering one year of free tuition at public universities and community colleges for students who agree to 10 hours of community service a week and wants to double federal spending on public-school teacher training.

Edwards' health care proposals focused on providing better care and coverage for children. He has proposed tax breaks to make children's health coverage affordable to families that agree to buy it. Under his plan, a family of four earning less than $60,000 would pay less than $370 a year for their kids' insurance; a lower income family of four would pay about $110.

He also advocates subsidies to help two-thirds of uninsured adults buy health coverage. People aged 55 to 65 could buy into Medicare, under his proposal, and unemployed workers who are not wealthy could continue coverage from their last jobs with 70 percent federal subsidies.




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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 3:43pm

Welcome 'Kelmo245!'


It's great to hear from a new voice. Hope you stick around.


Renee


Renee ~~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 3:48pm

Hey there! I want it noted that I started my 'Welcome' message before yours was posted.


Renee ~~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-28-2003
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 3:51pm
"when someone steps up to say you are not being nice to me "

Isn't that kind of expected in a debate board??? I don't expect people who disagree with me to be all sweetness and such... In debates things get heated up -- that's why we enjoy it. I can't tell you how many times I see people respond with "ROFLMAO" -- isn't that technically laughing at someone?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2003
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 4:00pm

Aww, Renee! What a nice welcome!! Now where's mine? ;)


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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2004
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 4:10pm
AH HA!

Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2004
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 5:08pm


I thank you for your blessing, but it would take something bigger than you to get me to leave the boards. So thanks for not suggesting it. No I dont think everyone should be able to post here, because there are alot of people who are just down rite nasty and mean. >>>>>

I wasn't talking to you...I was directing that to palak. She seemed to get offended so bad that I laughed at her SOURCE of information...not her.

Did I ever said Britogal3 feeds off of making others feel bad or belittled? No I think not, again you are assuming I am speaking about you. Man, now I know how Bush feels when he says 2 things in seperate sentences and people insinuate that both of them are connected somehow..... ;)>>>

Huh? You said "she" which meant "me" because I was the one who supposedly made her feel insulted...it's not that hard to put together...if you didn't mean me then who in the world were you talking about?



Maybe for good reason you have been ripped to shreds, and we have heard this song and dance before from you. So because others have done it to you, you will do it to someone else. Good going on changing the "Golden Rule"! >>

Maybe not...maybe some just are mean spirited in general and I can honestly say I am not mean spirited nor do I try to insult anyone. I have only sang that "tune" about a certain cl who is bias and completely unfair in her role and leadership. When else have I sang that tune? Anyways does it matter? I didn't do anything to anyone...I was laughing at the source not the poster. There is a difference.



Perhaps this is not the right board for you. This is not about getting even and making people feel bad. THis is not about laughing at others opinions and beliefs. Debating doesnt mean intentionally hurting someone or going after their opinions. If someone wants to believe Michael Moore, more power to them, just as there are still people believing Bush.>>>

Getting even? By laughing at using Moore as a credible source of information? I'd laugh at a Republican or conservative for using Hannity and Colmes or Rush too. This isn't revenge...I think it's a bit drastic to call it such for all I did was laugh at a source used with all rights to may I add...it is indeed laughable, sorry. I wasn't laughing at an opinion or belief either...hello what in the world are you going on here? I laughed again at her SOURCE she used to support her accusations of the President. If she is going to use such a non-reliable source I am going to laugh at that. THis is getting way blown out of proportion...where were you to defend me when I sang my "tune"? Figures!!!

HOwever, I have noticed quite a few people saying that they are leaving this board, and that is really sad. They are not leaving becuase of the topics, they are leaving becuase people are becoming hateful and harsh in replying to posts.>>

Hateful and harsh? I have done nothing of the sort. I laughed...by golly some people need to chill out. When was I hateful or harsh? Again where were you to defend a conservative Bush supporter when getting blown to pieces on another thread? Is it just liberal or Bush hating people you defend? Ok gotcha. What a way to be fair and kind.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2004
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 5:11pm
Thank You Thank You Thank You!

Talk about exaggerating! I laughed...big deal?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2004
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 5:17pm
But that is your opinion and that is your choice. But for someone to be rude about you having an opinion is not good manners at all. >>

Good manners? What are you talking about? LOL...oh no I laughed again...shoot me!

I have never quoted Michael Moore and I probably never will, but that is my choice.>>

This wasn't about you though.

Secondly, I didnt say someone was being rude or nasty to me, do not care cuz I will get rude and nasty rite back.>>

So you don't practice what you preach huh? Is that good manners to give it right back to them? Talk about revenge. Why is your post wreaking of hypocricy and double standards? Hmmm???

But when someone steps up to say you are not being nice to me and then the other person laughing at them, then that is a problem.>>

LOL, Please tell me you are joking. When did anyone say "you are not being nice to me" and then I or anyone else resumed in laughing at them? What on this green earth are you talking about? Seriously?

::sigh::

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2004
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 5:19pm
Yah Renee, you did it! I am so proud of you :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2004
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 5:19pm
I believe you mean WHEN Cheney decides to go after Edwards. The Bush campaign has been downright despicable in their ads and they attacked Kerry and Edwards within hours of the announcement. I think the response you posted would be a fabulous response for Edwards to make and think you should send it to the campaign. As far as I'm concerned November cannot come soon enough!

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