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Stephen Beale
Union Leader
Jul 11, 2007
BEDFORD – Elizabeth Edwards told a crowd at a house party yesterday that her husband has the character and commitment to change necessary to win the Democratic nomination and be elected President.
The wife of former South Carolina Sen. John Edwards touted his ideas on issues such as universal health care, energy independence and eliminating poverty with barely any mention of the war in Iraq.
She also sharply criticized President Bush, saying his landmark education reform, No Child Left Behind, punished teachers and was intended not to fix schools, but rather as an excuse for vouchers. She said she did not know whether her husband would rescind the law or revise it if elected.
"We need to make certain that our schools our meeting our children's needs," Edwards said. "Teachers do not go into teaching for the big bucks. They go in because they want to make a difference in young people's lives and we need to be assisting them rather than punishing them for making that effort."
Edwards also reminded voters of her husband's campaign to eliminate poverty. As President, he might be able to make a difference in domestic policy, said one voter, but how would he be able to prevent the exportation of jobs?
"You're not going to get back those jobs," Edwards responded. "You know, China has Sock City. A million people live in Sock City. They make nothing but socks. There is no chance that you're going to compete on an economy of scale with Sock City."
Instead, she said government should focus on creating jobs in new, emerging industries such as energy independence and biomedicine. Federal restrictions placed on stem cell research by President Bush, Edwards said, put America behind other countries in these industries.
Of all the candidates, Edwards said her husband was the most electable, which is why, she added, conservative pundits such as Ann Coulter have been so strident in attacking him. Edwards also accused other Democratic campaigns of spreading negative views of Edwards, although she declined to name any one specific.
The only other Democratic candidate she specifically referred to was Hillary Clinton. Edwards said some people have asked her why she would urge women voters to not support Clinton.
"As it turns out, on the issues most important to women, John is the best candidate," she said. "I'm for the promotion of all women. I'm not just for the promotion of one of us."
Several voters at the house party said they still needed to learn more about her husband and the other candidates before making up their minds - and that was just fine with Edwards.
"We actually invite that," she said. "We want you to look closely. Get a microscope and look closely at each candidate." One voter also asked how Edwards, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, was feeling. "I'm feeling well, thank you," she replied.
Beth Saltzman, the host of the party, said 200 people attended - more than any other house party she has ever hosted.
Q&A: Educational Disparity
John Edwards answers a question about educational disparity at Hanover Middle School in Hanover, N.H. on September 27, 2007
Paid for by John Edwards for President Contributions to John Edwards for President are not tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes.
© 2006 John Edwards for President, 410 Market Street, Suite 400, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
