John Edwards for President-Edwards: Time to take responsibility

Edwards: Time to take responsibility

Jun 9, 2007 6:59 AM

Adam D. Krauss
Foster's Online
Jun 9, 2007

ROCHESTER — Jim Voyles is a retired school teacher from Wakefield who says he fears the Bush administration has so divided America that no progress can be made on Iraq, health care or education.

He says "it's really hard not to talk to a Republican, a committed Republican, without them thinking a Democrat is an agent of the devil, and as a committed Democrat it's really hard for me to find another committed Democrat that doesn't think the Republicans are not agents of the devil.

"And," he added, "I know that just isn't the way that is really is."

On Friday afternoon, when given the opportunity to address Voyles' point during an afternoon house party, Edwards unleashed a Kennedy-esque mandate.

"You hear a lot of politicians talk about responsibility, your personal responsibility, take responsibility for yourselves," he said, on his way to universal applause. "How about if all of us together join hands and take responsibility for our country. I think America is waiting for a leader who asks them to do that, and asks them not to just stay at home and watch television ... ."

Edwards, a former U.S. senator from North Carolina and 2004 vice presidential candidate, said the United States again finds itself at a moment similar to when President John F. Kennedy, on Jan. 20, 1961, famously declared: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

Voyles, who was 19 when Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, said Edwards' remarks resonated with him, but he still left the event undecided on which Democrat to support.

Steven Maimes, a Rochester researcher and Edwards supporter, said he thinks the country is ready to act. "We need to be brought together somehow, and if we don't put forth the effort ourselves to do that then it won't happen," he said.

For about 35 minutes, Edwards addressed more than 100 people, including multiple city councilors and state legislators, on the front lawn of the Fiddlehead Lane home of Abbie and Jack Collins. It was a perfect setting for a presidential candidate: with wind chimes blowing, he spoke in front of an American flag hanging in the doorway and patriotic bunting stretched along the home's front porch. It was the first of four events in the day, with others spread across Derry, Nashua and Manchester.

Though the audience was made up of supporters and undecided voters, everyone gave Edwards a warm reception. They sang "Happy Birthday" two days before he turns 54. Applause followed just about everything he said, though the loudest applause may have come when Voyles declared himself to be a proud member of Red Sox Nation. (Red Sox fans note: Edwards said he knew the team was up in the 9th inning Thursday, but he wasn't sure of the outcome.)

Edwards spent just a few minutes covering issues like economic disparity, universal health care, high gas prices and access to college before opening up the event to questions.

Carole Appel of Dover gave the candidate a chance to practice how, should he become the Democratic nominee, he would respond to Republican efforts to twist his words on fighting terrorism.

"I have a very simple thing to say to the American people: If you like what's harpened in Iraq, you should vote for these guys," he said, referring specifically to Rudy Giuliani and John McCain. "They're going to give you four more years of it."

To combat accusations he's weak on fighting terrorism, Edwards said "our response is: Do you feel safe now? Do you think George Bush made you safer? All this chest-thumping. These guys are going to continue, they're going to do the same thing. We need to be aggressive, but we also need to be smart ... and we need to undermine the forces of terrorism over the long-term."

Before he left the event, Edwards picked up on that last point in an interview with Foster's.

"The way you do it is you have America lead an international effort to deal with hopelessness, despair, lack of education in the world. I think America ought to lead an international effort to make education available to 100 million children in the world who don't have it — primary school education," he said. "I think America should lead on the spread of disease by leading on sanitation, clean drinking water efforts. We should lead on economic development ... . Those things have the impact of creating hope and opportunity and having America seen as a force of good ... ."

He said there also needs to be a plan to take care of soldiers returning from war and strengthen the military.

Edwards addressed his electability in a general election, saying, national polls are "fairly clear that I, among the top three Democratic candidates, I'm the one that consistently beats (Republicans) Giuliani, (John) McCain, (Mitt) Romney ... ." He said "if I'm the nominee against any of those guys, I think there's a terrific chance" Democrats can win crucial southern states.

Edwards didn't name any of his Democratic opponents by name, but it appeared he was aluding to differences between his health care plan and that of Barack Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois whose plan does not mandate coverage for adults.

"The only way that you can ever be universal is to require by law that everyone be covered," Edwards said.

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Edwards: Time to take responsibility

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