Elizabeth Edwards is not afraid to speak her mind. And now she's catching flak for a controversial quote in a recent article about the way in which the Web is dominating the 2008 campaign: The Web can be liberating. "It's about bypassing the sieve of the mainstream media," says Elizabeth Edwards, wife and confidant of Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards. "The idea that you have people standing between you and the voter is diminished, and the capacity to speak directly empowers candidates to trust their own voices." With Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama hogging media coverage, campaigns can push their messages without paying for ads.The implication that Obama and Hillary consider getting attention for being black or a woman "the be all and end all" is, of course, completely absurd, especially given how much black-on-black racism the Obama campaign has faced, and how dizzy everyone got when Hillary showed the tiniest bit of cleavage."In some ways, it's the way we have to go," Edwards says. "We can't make John black, we can't make him a woman. Those things get you a lot of press, worth a certain amount of fundraising dollars. Now it's nice to get on the news, but not the be all and end all."
But what we find really troubling is the implication that, were the laws of physics suspended, the Edwards campaign would do absolutely anything to appeal to more voters, including making John 22, or a college freshman or a great pool player -- whatever it took to get 50 million MySpace friends.
Elizabeth Edwards' comments are Theresa-Heinz-Kerry-grade reckless, certainly, and they are deeply cynical about the way sex and race function in American politics.
Her remarks are also the ultimate in irony. She spent the article praising the Web; now that same engine will work overtime to crucify her.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 73)
1. The nation is not going to take us seriously that we want BIG changes. We don't want big business, oil, insurance industry or pharmacutical companies governing our nation. Only by sending a message that we will be looking at candidates from different backgrounds & orientations to consider for the top spot in directing our lives.
Rosa
Roseanne Hunt at 12:11PM on Aug 8th 2007
2. even if I were a democrat, I wouldn't support this pandering, obfuscating poseur. His socialist philosophy is, however, typical of the core democrat mindset.
tom young at 12:11PM on Aug 8th 2007
3. if the writer thinks sex and race do not funtion in american politics the writer is very naive.
billy simpson at 12:42PM on Aug 8th 2007
4. It's unfortunate Mrs. Edwards is correct. Sorry you choose not to admit it.
Hus at 12:30PM on Aug 9th 2007
5. For WHATEVER reason, even while John Edwards continues to lead the whole enterprise in terms of in-depth, innovative, sensible, bold, far-reaching, and likely-effective policies on a whole raft of the most-critical issues that polls consistantly show Americans care deeply about, the mainstream media consistantly and doggedly refuse to report ANY of that, and continue to glean the tabloid content of the campaign, the gaffes and tiffs and vicious innuendo and all manner of trivial distractions and report those exclusively instead, including always the worst poll results for Edwards here in Iowa when there are LOTS of far-better results just as recent and more reliable to key on.
The LOCAL media are going to have to continue to lead the way on fair and reasonably complete coverage to ever give this good men, and others showing up in the polls below him, the fair shot at the prize they so richly deserve for subjecting themselves.
James Hufferd at 2:37PM on Aug 8th 2007
6. John Edwards is the Eddie Haskel of American politics.
John Gleason at 12:14PM on Aug 8th 2007
7. Do you want to know a political nightmare? What if Katherine Harris yep that woman who started the "Butterfly Ballots" down in Florida runs for President against Hillary Clinton wouldn't THat be a nightmare or what?
Thomas Hoeweler at 12:14PM on Aug 8th 2007
8. If you don't like Edwards, have the guts to say it rather than using a flimsy excuse like the bushits do. The fact is that what Mrs. Edwards said is correct.
DAN at 12:15PM on Aug 8th 2007
9. I understand what Mrs. Edwards was saying and what she meant. It is true - you don't get news coverage in this Country for your great programs or ideas -- you get it if you are Paris Hilton and do something wild, or if you are a black man running for President or a former First Lady that - oh my gosh, wears something other than a turtleneck to your job in the Senate. Mrs. Edwards wasn't being rude, racist or bigoted towards Obama or Clinton -- she was telling it as it is -- John Edwards doesn't have the two big media catching attributes of being black or a woman. He happens to be a white male and that just isn't good enough to get on the evening news. After all the biggest coverage he got out of mainstream media wasn't over his health care plan or views on Iraq, it was about his hair cut for God's sake. More people need to be like Mrs. Edwards and speak up about the tabloid type journalism in our Country.
Karen Landes at 12:17PM on Aug 8th 2007
10. I am all for people speaking their minds but this woman has no sense of perspective or proportion. It does not appear that she and John have ever sat down and had a strategic discussion on how best to win the Presidency. If nothing else, Hillary and Bill and Barack and Theresa all seem to be workig together to reach their common goals. We can now get a glimpse of what we could expect out of Elizabeth Edwards as a First Lady. If John Edwards ever wants to know who shot his presidential aspirations in the foot all he has to do is look in the bed beside him.
LFunches at 12:15PM on Aug 12th 2007
11. I don't care if John Edwards is black, white or purple, the man is, and has always been, a phony. He is so in love with himself that what the rest of us think has no effect at all.
Greg Scandlen at 12:39PM on Aug 8th 2007
12. LMAO John!!!!!
Jackie at 12:20PM on Aug 8th 2007
13. At least once a day I hear one of the main media sources mention how Obama or Hillary or Richardson is the "first ++++++ (fill in the blank)++ to have a good chance of obtaining the nomination for the Presidency. To think their status doesn't give them extra media time from a media that is too lazy to publish real news, like issue proposals, is asinine. I have not decided yet who to support next year, but I can look past the major media stories about the "front runners" and see who is actually publishing position papers before anyone else and that is consistently edwards, although the media doesn't bother with hard stories anymore.
atp at 12:21PM on Aug 8th 2007
14. WOW, the things people will say to justify their positions. Black people have had to struggle with media, negative media forever. Its okay to get coverage as long as its negative and non-productive. Barack is receiving media and financial coverage because he has a purpose. Elizabeth, be careful with your words, we have a responsibility to loving and sensible. I watch Barack and I cringe as a Black American waiting for White America to make the bad choices with words and expression to justify their positions. It's sad in 2007 professional people can still make disrespectful and ignorant comments and be taken serious. Elizabeth, I want to take you serious, watch your words.
Lisa at 12:22PM on Aug 8th 2007
15. Voting : It only encourages them .
JChili at 12:21PM on Aug 8th 2007