Edwards buys TV time to rebut Bush

Instead of waiting for an invitation, former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) purchased two minutes of airtime on MSNBC Thursday night to rebut President Bush’s nationally televised address to the nation to discuss the war in Iraq.

The Edwards campaign declined to disclose the cost of the buy, but it said that Edwards would “remind the American people that Congress can — and must — force an immediate withdrawal from Iraq.”

The taped ad will feature Edwards speaking to the camera, and his campaign says it is the first time a Democratic presidential candidate has taken to the airwaves to challenge Bush on the war. Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.) is scheduled to give the formal Democratic response.

http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/edwards-buys-tv-time-to-rebut-bush-2007-09-13.html

:bounce:

.. would somebody please post Edwards' rebuttal
from YouTube?

TIA

in the article linked:

"the first time a Democratic presidential candidate has taken to the airwaves to challenge Bush on the war . . ."

:thumbsup:

:applause:

The reaction could be (and something I have been hearing a lot lately) -
Its easy for him to lob stink bombs from the bleachers. If he is so adamant about ending the war now why didn't he stay in the senate and fight? He got us in to this mess - he sponsored the resolution - why did he take off?

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

nt

I'd say.

Predictable though.

I am not interested in any candidate's vote for the IWR, against the IWR or if they have apologized or not apologized. To me it is ancient history - period. However, it is a factor for the campaign as they move to connect with the more casual observers of the political process. But, I have encountered many locals who are not only not supportive of JE but seem angry at him. That is not where I am - I am not angry with or at him.

I am interested in and fascinated by the process - campaign management and message management. I like the whole game - to me the candidates themselves are just a small part of that game. I would have liked to be in the room as they discussed and decided on the large media buy. That had to be a tough call for the campaign. I am interested and pay attention to what is not happening as much as what is happening. For instance, Elizabeth has been pulled back in the past few weeks. When will she be let out again to give media interviews?

I hope that tonight's message is a good one and JE gets fair treatment from the press. It is a bold move and I hope it pays off.

Did he face the same thing that Edwards faces? He was THE anti-war candidate in 68 before he was shot. What is the difference now?

First, I don't believe that he was in the senate at the time of the Tonkin Gulf Resolution so he was not on record for the equivalent of the IWR.

Second - He had great support nationally because of his civil rights advocacy and I think his anti-war views were/would have been secondary, not primary, in the race. John does not have that extra benefit.

Third - RFK had a very high profile as Attorney General before becoming a Senator and thus he simply carried more weight as a national candidate.

Fourth - The press had to be somewhat careful how they went after him because his brother had been assassinated. I don't think overall that JE has been treated fairly by the media but I understand why.

Tell all these hypothetical people that they are hypocrites if they don't attack Gore every time he speaks about the environment because he left public office after losing his last election. Tell them they are hypocrites if they don't attack Carter every time he speaks out about anything because he left public office after he lost his last election. Tell them to send a memo to every candidate who has lost an election that they no longer have the right to speak on anything.

Big difference. In case you haven't noticed I live in North Carolina.

I don't need to be from North Carolina to know Edwards lost in his last campaign the same way Gore and Carter lost in their last campaigns.

This will be a prime DVR moment.

and I have already called his office this week, to show my disgust towards the Petreaus Report.

If Nancy is War Party, then she has forfeited her right to be a Democrat.

I won't see it, but I believe it's a very smart move to strike while the iron is hot, next month I double my contribution in hopes there is more of this to come.

It will be interesting to see how long it takes the other top tier candidates to copy Edwards and follow suit the next time Bush delivers a speech.

Edwards has been clear in his opposition to Bush's continuation of this war and demanding that the war in Iraq be ended immediately, and the troops brought home ---and not a few brigades at a time over a year or more to get down to 130,000 troops in Iraq.

People who hear Edwards speak view him positively, and he reaches across the line to independents/undecided and unaffiliated voters. It was reported recently that Edwards beats all the top tier Repub candidates by an average margin of 12%, and Hillary beats them by an average of only 4%.

THis was a good idea. Hopefully people will remain tuned in to hear him.

:kick: