Edwards' cool levels debate field

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Edwards' cool levels debate field
206
Tue, 10-05-2004 - 1:56am
Here's the original link: http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/politicians/edwards/story/1699641p-7949529c.html


By ROB CHRISTENSEN, Staff Writer

RALEIGH -- If Vice President Dick Cheney thinks he'll be facing the "Breck Girl" - the epithet Republicans like to pin on John Edwards - he may be in for an unpleasant surprise in their debate Tuesday.

Edwards is a canny fighter who outprepares his opponents, according to lawyers who have faced him in the courtroom. He isn't afraid of more experienced adversaries, has a large bag of rhetorical tricks and connects with audiences.

"If I'm going in a knife fight, and I have my choice, I am taking John Edwards," said Jim Cooney of Charlotte. "John doesn't like to lose."

Cooney ought to know. He dueled with Edwards in 10 cases.

Cooney is one of many Tar Heel lawyers who debated Edwards before a jury during the 1980s and 1990s, when Edwards made his fortune as a trial lawyer before being elected to the U.S. Senate.

Their advice for Cheney: Under no circumstances take Edwards lightly.

Edwards' strengths:

* He prepares thoroughly.

* He connects with his listeners in their language.

* He makes complex arguments easy to understand.

* He takes his opponents seriously.

Edwards made a living off more experienced lawyers who saw his mop-haired choirboy looks, small-town charm and wide grin and took him for a lightweight. That's one reason he rarely lost a courtroom debate.

And in some respects, the Cheney-Edwards debate also would seem a mismatch. Cheney is the very image of experience and authority -- a former White House chief of staff, defense secretary, congressman and corporate CEO.

But former rivals say Edwards has a history of besting people like Cheney: white-haired, "pillar of the community" corporate lawyers, respected doctors and all sorts of experts. He also has a history of taking on large institutions -- hospitals, insurance companies, trucking firms -- and coming out on top.

If Cheney goes after Edwards' inexperience in government, several lawyers said, he'll be walking into a trap.

"He's made a career of going up against the experts, leaders in their fields, whether it's medicine or epidemiology or engineering," Cooney said. "The first time Cheney gives him the lecture -- 'Well, young man' -- it will be interesting to see how he handles that. Various experts have tried it before, and it has not worked very well.

"He is well-experienced in going up against people who are experts and who believe very strongly that they know a lot more than he does."

Made-for-TV style

Intense preparation is Edwards' trademark, and few expect him to be stumped or surprised by a question. Nor can he be rattled easily.

"I would be surprised if he is intimidated by Dick Cheney," said Tex Barrow, a Raleigh lawyer who has faced Edwards. "I have never seen him intimidated by anybody. ... He will be very well-prepared and be very passionate about his positions."

Edwards has never been regarded as a great courtroom orator in the Clarence Darrow mold. His style is more conversational. It is a style that is suited for more intimate settings like the courtroom -- or the TV studio -- than a large hall.

Indeed, some say Edwards' vice presidential acceptance speech in Boston in July was a bit flat.

"In many regards the debate will be a more natural setting. ... It's just his background," Barrow said. "It's one on one. The courtroom is a lot more intimate exchange than a speech to several thousand people."

He also rarely hammers home a point, preferring to lay out the evidence and let the jury come to the conclusion where he led it. His style is to distill the major points, removing the jargon, so that everyone understands his points.

"He'll use 25 years of experience in talking to jurors and look into that television camera ... and make every person in the living room think he is talking to them," said Billy Richardson, a lawyer who has worked with Edwards on cases. "He is secure enough to let them form their own conclusions. That is a powerful technique."

One of his favorite techniques, the lawyers say, is to ask the rhetorical question of the type Ronald Reagan asked in his 1980 debate: Are you better off than you were four years ago?

Nor is Edwards afraid to take someone apart. He just does it with Southern charm and a smile.

"It is not John's style to be mean or sarcastic," said his former law partner, David Kirby. "John has the ability to destroy a witness or a witness' position in a polite manner."

Edwards once dismantled an economist -- testifying for the opposition -- whose sons he had coached in soccer and with whom he had been friendly.

The North Carolina lawyers who have watched Edwards in the courtroom say there is no way that he will take Cheney lightly. They also say that Cheney would be foolish to prepare lightly for Edwards.

"Knowing John," Cooney said, "he has played out all the angles that Cheney could launch and his response to Cheney's attack, and how Cheney will respond to that, and how he would respond to that. He plays four or five moves ahead -- like chess."


Staff writer Rob Christensen can be reached at 820-4532 or robc@newsobserver.com.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2004
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 12:05am
Cheney knows HIS SIDE of the issues and is old blood. He is boring and monotonous, usually that is a compromise you make for stability, but he offers none. He does not offer any human qualities. He offers empty rhetoric and a chance for a good nap any time he opens his mouth.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 12:08am
I also liked how he showed respect to Cheney and his daughter. And I, personally, agree with what he said (Edwards) on their plan for the whole gay marriage thing. That they should be able to have the same benefits. Oh and his kids are cute. Did you see at the end of the debate they were all on stage and Edwards went over to Cheney and asked him to come meet his parents?
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2004
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 12:39am

Hi graysmom99!


Welcome to the board!

Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board

Visit My Website!

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Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2004
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 1:18am
I know! How cool is that he showed so much respect to Chaney by takeing his parents over to meet him, this is truly ( to me) a great guy! I like someone in charge that thinks about our walfare along with his family's and includes them in his political life. Hey did you see the documentary Drew Barrymore did on the age group of 18-35 year olds who don't vote? It was real good, she even went to alabama, and talked with people who marched with MLK to get the right to vote, Gosh those people where so brave! they showed the police beating them and turning dogs on the people black and white, what a horrible time in our history? If you can catch it, it's on the station we have talked about before, then got bashed about ( roll eyes )!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 1:41am

<<"I think he was very well educated on the facts,I am glad he brought up that SH did not attack us on 911 OBL did.">>....


Doesn't it strike you as ODD how it is the democrats who keep connecting 9/11 to Sadam Hussein, by denying it?


Bush,

Djie

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 1:48am
Russert and Brokaw both said Cheney won. Edwards did nothing but attack and gave no specifics on anything. Empty promises from 2 empty candidates. Kerry and Edwards voting records prove they are full of hot air.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 1:52am
Excellent response! Cheney has the experience and knowledge. He is steady and dependable.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 2:00am
Cheney is strong and dependable. He know's what he is doing and is serious about his job. Be grateful that we have a president and a vice-president who are doing something to fight terrorism. You have never lived in a foreign country where everything you do is controlled. Experience counts and we need it to protect our country. I don't think people take this new kind of war seriously.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 2:11am
I saw it and thought it was really great! I'm glad they're trying to get more people younger to vote. :) Great for Ms. Barrymore!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 2:32am

<<"I'm sure Edwards will do fine-he is after all a successful trial lawyer and so an experienced public speaker, he's no dummy and I'm sure he'll be well prepared.">>.....


Yep, and it showed in his performance.....


>>"IFILL: Mr. Vice President, picking up on that, you both just sang the praises of the tops of your ticket.

Without mentioning them by name at all, explain to us why you are different from your opponent, starting with you, Mr. Vice President.
Cheney said his piece w/o mentioning Bush.

Edwards: >>"IFILL: You just used John Kerry's name. EDWARDS: Oh, I'm sorry. I broke the rule."<<......and again: >>"John Kerry made clear on Thursday night that -- I'm sorry, I broke the rule. We made clear --"<< .....

Djie

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