Edwards if the First to Respond to DFA on Iraq

Edwards has made it his business to lead on important issues. Check out his response to DFA on Iraq:

Edwards in Atlanta Today

I understand that John Edwards is visiting Atlanta today for a lunch time fundraiser. Tom Baxter with the AJC points out that Atlanta is a hot stop for fundraising because of the concentration of people with high net worth.

Presidential candidates figure that they will need to raise a minimum of 150 million dollars for the primary, a stark reality that makes fundraising the centerpiece for a candidate who actually hopes to win in 2008. No one likes it- not the candidates, not the donors and certainly not the 'grassroots' supporters who often do not get time with candidates because they are not able to write the big checks.

This is especially true in Georgia. As we have become more and more 'red,' we have become more and more politically irrelevant for the Presidential candidates on both sides of the ticket. They tend to come here to pick up checks, not to pick up votes. Used to be that we were at least important as a primary state, but with other states like New York, California, South Carolina, Nevada and others rushing to the front of the line for primary dates, that race may also be over before the first vote in cast in Georgia. We are, unhappily, an export state.

That's the political reality, and we can either wallow in our frustration over that situation or we can get our hands around the idea that in many ways, the state line not a barrier to helping the candidate you favor win next year. Yes, even Georgians can have an impact on who becomes our next President.

Here are some things that we can do:

1) The Net knows no boundaries. Get involved in the Edwards' E-Team or Citizen Journalist program.

2) Volunteer with One Corp or Democrats Work. By becoming engaged in the community, you have the ability to break through stereotypes and influence public opinion about Democrats on the state and national level.

3) Phone lines and e-mail reach beyond state lines. Get ready to volunteer to make phone calls to voters in 'swing' states or in early primary states. Many campaigns engage in just this sort of strategy as election day draws near.

4) Give. Until we have comprehensive campaign finance reform and public funding of elections, don't kid yourself- the money matters. Whether you are a regular political giver or someone who has never written a candidate a check before, now is the time. Think of it this way. When you donate to a candidate, what you are paying for is voter communication. You are helping them to get their message out. If you believe in your candidate, and believe that if only others could hear what they are saying, they would believe in them, too, it's time to get out the ol' checkbook. Some people don't write a check because they feel that their gift will be small and therefore insignificant. That's not the case. Trust me, when you are in the heat of battle, every dime matters. Many candidates I know treasure those $10 and $20 contributions the most because they know that the person who writes that kind of check is likely to be a loyal voter.

Edwards Leads-Again

John Edwards is making leading on tough issues a habit. He was the first presidential candidate to call for universal health care and to put forward a comprehensive plan to make it a reality. He was the first to apologize for his vote to authorize the war in Iraq, and the first to say that we need to get out troops out of Iraq. Now, today, after months of political "if I had known then what I know now" double-speak, Hilliary Clinton is also calling for a March 2007 time line for withdrawal.And on Thursday, Edwards was the first candidate to pull out of the Nevada presidential debate because it was sponsored, in part, by Fox News. His principled stand on this and other issues could've come with a big price tag- he could've been the only candidate to miss the debate in this key early primary state of Nevada. But sometimes when you do the right thing, others ultimately follow, and on Friday, the Nevada Democratic Party pulled the plug on the debate, pointing to the participation by Fox. Edwards has the strength of character, the courage and the vision to lead on all of these issues. I want a leader to be President, not a politico who checks a poll and then decides what he believes.

Georgia Democrats Work/One Corps Event This Saturday

A friend of mine signs her emails "Be the change you want to see in the world." In Georgia, you have an opportunity to do just that this weekend by participating in a Democrats Work-One Corp event this Saturday, March 10th at Sweetwater Creek State Park. This is a great opportunity to join with other Democrats to make a positive difference in the community. If that's not enough incentive, I should tell you that there are free tee shirts involved. Learn more and RSVP here.

Thanks to Thomas Bates, executive director of Democrats Work, for this information.

One Corp is an initiative of the Edwards campaign. Learn about how the online community can help bring about real world action. Join today!

An Excuse to Cut Kids' Benefits

Georgia Republicans have played their hand and have made it clear that they welcome the PeachCare funding crisis as an "opportunity" to give the program a new "look." That "look" will include reduced access to healthcare services for many of Georgia's children. Make no mistake, this is an issue of priorities, not necessity. Will we be able to save PeachCare in Georgia? Probably not in its current form. One Republican blogger opined today that "At Least It Is Happening This Year." I suppose he is hoping that voters will forgive and forget. We can't afford that luxury- too much is at stake.

As John Edwards has said, it is time to advocate for access to healthcare for all Americans. His bold, well thought out plan sets the standard for other candidates. You can read it here.

Despicable

Despicable is the only word I can find that even approaches Ann Coulter's remarks about John Edwards. These remarks were made on Friday to a large audience of The American Conservative Union. Vice President Dick Cheney was in attendance and that bastion of moral authority, Mitt Romney introduced Ann. The clip is below, and I urge you to vote with your pocketbooks on this one. In Ann's "honor," I'm going to donate $100.00 today to Edwards for President. Won't you do the same? Just click here.

Georgia Makes Case for Public Funding of Elections

Senator Cecil Staton, who seldom comes up with an idea I don't oppose, has hit a new low, if that is possible, with SB179, a bill that would allow utility companies in Georgia to contribute directly to political candidates, with the exception of the PSC race. That's just what we need. (You do recall Pipe-gate, don't you? The proposal to have tax payers foot the bill for natural gas pipeline across the state to the tune of, what was it 30 million. Yep, we need legislators thinking about their campaign accounts when considering that kind of bill.)

This points out why when I heard John Edwards propose that elections should be publicly funded, it made so much sense. It does not de-democratize the system. What it would do is level the playing field so that those who have money and those who do not both have greater access to the political process.