Edwards Is For Consumers

Anyone who’s “political” understands the game’s rules. A cardinal one in local races is rationality doesn’t always determine voter choices. We hear “well, he goes to my church” or “she’s from around here” or “I’ve known the family forever” as much or more than hearing something like he or she would do the job well and in the best interests of the public.

So nobody should be surprised at the lack of rationality in the attraction Hillary Clinton has for women voters or the attraction Barack Obama has for black voters or the attraction Mitt Romney has for Mormon voters or Mike Huckabee for born-again Baptists. It’s natural.

And, maybe, that’s Democrat John Edwards’ problem with voters. Edwards, who’s been in the top three, hasn’t so far been able to break through and carry a caucus or primary. He is the one who continually attacks the giant multinational corporations for the damage they have done to the American economy. He’s the consumer’s guy – the one who would work to repair the damage of two terms of the Bush administration pouring the nation’s wealth through Halliburton’s funnel.

He believes what Theodore Roosevelt said in 1910 is true today: “There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.” Jobs, health care costs, fuel prices, Exxon-Mobil’s domination of the economy and courts – he understands.

Ivan Swift,
Toney, 35773