Clark and Edwards at the DNC

I caught Wes Clark's and John Edwards' speeches to the DNC this morning. Clark was good, I thought--much better than in 2004. He played to his strengths--the 'Commander in Chief' thing--by talking mostly about Iraq, the ethic of the military, and Bush's betrayal of the soldiers. (He also casually mentioned--twice--that he had led the forces that ended conflict in the Balkans without losing a single American life.) There was some economic justice stuff (he mentioned the gender pay gap, which was good), but the real focus was on Iraq. I thought the single most effective bit was asking (I paraphrase) where is the justice when sergeants and corporals are punished for abusing prisoners, while the commanders and the lawyers who approved the policies remain in office, unaccountable? I also liked the fact that he began with a shoutout to Dean and the 50-state strategy.

Edwards had a more effective speech, I thought--I got teary once or twice anyway, for whatever that's worth. Not surprisingly, there was a lot more on domestic stuff, presented anecdotal style (the 8 year old girl who should be doing her homework but is crying instead because she has to go to bed hungry because her father lost his job two years ago--that sort of thing). He was very forceful on Iraq, saying the time is over for non-binding resolutions that Bush will ignore. (Of course, in reality, Bush will ignore binding resolutions too.) He said almost everything progressives want to hear, and he said it in a stirring way; what I can't judge is whether he can say it in a way that will appeal beyond the limits of progressive ideology.

Neither said anything about Iran, which is disappointing. As Ezra says, the real test isn't how you respond to this war; it's how you respond to the next war.

Anyway, my notes of Edwards' speech are below the fold...

Starts by mentioning the loss of Molly Ivins. Elizabeth is here, and wearing a red pin to illustrate the importance of women's health issues.

Why are we here? We're here because somewhere an 8 year old girl will go to bed hungry. Doesn't have to be that way. Here because somewhere housekeeper is walking the picket line to get decent healthcare and benefits. Somewhere young man will have a college acceptance letter and know that even with part time job and 3-job mom he still can't afford it. Somewhere a mother will be working in the kitchen - knock on door - chaplain & officer with the name of her son who volunteered after 9/11.

Half a world away a 5 year old boy with 2 yo sister in refugee camp - both watched parents killed - carry his sister everywhere because she's all the family he has left. Doesn't have to be that way.

Here because somewhere dad comes home after 2nd shift and feel fever on daughter's forehead, go to emergency room and beg for healthcare. Doesn't have to be that way.

Everywhere people need us to stand up for them, stand up for what's right. Will you stand up with them?

If we don't who will?

King at Riverside 40 years ago spoke about Vietnam escalation: "there come times when standing silent when you know you should speak out is a betrayal." That time has come again. Betrayal not to speak out against escalation. Betrayal for president to send more to die in Iraq knowing it won't succeed. Cannot stand by and allow him to do it.

Cannot be satisfied with non-binding resolutions. Have to stop escalation.

News for you, Mr. Pres - You're not the decider; the American people are, and they've decided about you a very long time ago.

Bush counting on us not to stand up, not to fight, not press what we know is right. Silence is betrayal. Bush, Cheney, Rove don't think we have the backbone. Counting on us to be weak, political, and careful.

Time for speaking up about what's happening here. 37 million, 1 in 5 children living in poverty. Causes many, complex, solution has to be comprehensive. Can we have the backbone & guts to stand up for them?

Cannot walk away from the heart and soul of what the party is and should be.

47 million don't have healthcare - silence is betrayal. Victims of dysfunctional system getting worse every day. We have to stand up for them. Can we Democrats finally say we stand for universal healthcare? Leave no one behind.

Time we stood up for an energy policy not dictated by oil companies and enviro policy not dictated by polluters. We know climate change is there, know it's serious, can't leave it there for our children and grandchildren.

By speaking out, not breaking faith with our forefathers - keeping faith. We are better than this. Not the country we saw at Superdome, not Abu Ghraib, not Guantanamo, not government behind closed doors, spying on own people, we're better than that.

Democrats party of action, not reaction; principle, not appeasement. Have to leave behind half measures. Time for courage.

Every American gets a real chance, real opportunity. Time to stand with the people who made America great--work in factory, mills. Unions will never fail to stand up for their members, I am proud to stand with them. Will you stand with them?

Time to be patriotic about something other than war. Time to take action now. Tomorrow begins today. We can take responsibility, take action today. Because everywhere in America people are counting on us to stand up for them. Always been the party stood with working, needy, children, elderly. We don't need to redefine the Democratic party; need to reclaim.


[That's all, folks]