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Edwards' populist message draws 400 to Mack's Apples
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By TRENT SPINER
Union Leader Correspondent
Monday, Jul. 30, 2007
LONDONDERRY – During the second day of his latest presidential campaign swing through New Hampshire, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards continued to share his populist message of bringing health care to all Americans and ending poverty and the war in Iraq.
Edwards also criticized Democratic front-runners Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for a fight they are having over how they would run foreign policy if elected, according to Eddie Vale, a campaign spokesman.
"I believe that when we are trying to fight these powerful, entrenched interests that the last thing we need is to have two Democratic presidential candidates fighting with each other instead of fighting for the change that America needs," Edwards said. "I'm not interested in trading one crowd of insiders for another crowd of insiders. I think we need to take the power away from this group of insiders."
Standing beneath a willow tree, he spoke to a crowd of about 400 gathered on a field at Mack's Apples, a working farm.
"The two Americas are: big multi-national corporations and very wealthy Americans and then everybody else," he said. "That means people who make $70,000 on average are clearly in the other America. They have trouble paying for college tuition or health-care costs, gasoline, housing costs, and what we want to do is to create opportunity for everybody in this country."
He said 37 million Americans have trouble feeding and clothing their families on a daily basis.
On his first day as President, Edwards said, he would close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and end any forms of domestic spying programs. Also, as soon as elected, he would draw down 50,000 combat troops from Iraq, with the others following in nine to 12 months. He also said his promise of health care for every citizen would be funded through re-establishing taxes on wealthy individuals that were cut during the current Bush administration.
Andy Mack Sr., who runs the farm, said he was impressed but not persuaded. He said he was still "conflicted" between Edwards and Obama, but would be paying attention right up to the primary.
Bill Steward, an independent voter from Derry, said he also remained undecided.
This was Edwards' 11th trip to New Hampshire during this primary season and his first to Londonderry, according to Vale.
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YOUR COMMENTS
I'll keep this short. Gary of Derry wrote:
"The lowering of taxes on EVERYONE has given us the roaring economy that we now have."
well, for one not everyone got a tax cut and the majority of those cuts went to the ultra-rich. More importantly, however, the roaring economy we have now?! Economists say we barely missed a recession a few months back and are on the verge of one now, inflation is high, the lending industry is in shambles, the national debt is outrageous, and the dollar is worth less than half of one UK pound now. But oh yes, the economy is roaring. Give me a break, the "useful idiots" eating up the words of "liars" are not people who favor universal health care, but those who buy that our reckless handling of our economy is good either in the short or long term.
- Michael B, Bedford, NH
Edwards and his mantra of populism is totally void of common sense. And then to read Londonderry's resident dunce, Andy Mack, say he was impressed makes my head spin.
Do people who like to hear populist speeches just live in a fantasy world of what they wish the world were like? They obviously don't like truth and they have no concept of "consequences of actions". Everything this article quoted Edwards as saying he would do would have horrendous effects on our nation, our world, our economy and our way of life but hey! they sound great to those with their heads in the sand.
1. Git'mo and the domestic spying program are essential to root out terrorists on our soil. Ending them would empower the enemy.
2. Getting troops out of Iraq before they can defend themselves would ignite a genocidal bloodbath and virtually be giving their oil fields to our enemies. Not good for our economy.
3. Raising taxes on the rich to pay for healthcare for all. Where do I start??? The lowering of taxes on EVERYONE has given us the roaring economy that we now have. Reversing that will reverse our economic fortunes. And by the way, everyone on the planet has access to our healthcare system because there is a law that emergency rooms cannot turn anyone away, including non-citizens. How's that been for the health care industry in the southwest? Bad laws and regulations have hurt the healthcare system not any lack of accessability. Liars continue to speak populist dogma and useful idiots line up to devour it.
- Gary, Derry
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