THE FIRST GREAT DECISION OF THE KERRY PRESIDENCY
By Arianna Huffington
The choice of John Edwards as No. 2 on the Democratic ticket is the
first
great decision of the Kerry presidency — a mature, self-confident
choice
that bodes well for the Kerry campaign as it kicks into high gear.
It wasn't based on looking at a map and trying to figure out who could
deliver the most Electoral College votes. It wasn't based on whom Kerry
felt most comfortable hanging out with.
It was based on who was the best choice for the country.
Instead of picking a running mate who had the strongest resume on
paper,
Kerry picked the one who had the strongest vision for the country — a
vision that can help Kerry bring heart and soul back to American
politics.
Judging by the hysterical reaction of the GOP, there are many things
about
John Edwards sending a cold shiver down Karl Rove's reptilian spine.
Here
are five:
One. He can help Kerry make this campaign about what kind of America we
want to live in — a campaign not just about policies and programs but
about our fundamental values as a country.
Throughout his primary campaign, Edwards showed an uncanny ability to
frame his positions in the language of morality and traditional
American
values.
"I believe we can build a better life for our families," he said during
a
Democratic primary debate. "But it has to be based on the values of
hard
work and responsibility, not accounting tricks and corporate greed. I
want
to bring your values, the values of Main Street America, to Wall Street
and then to Pennsylvania Avenue. I want to give this White House back
to
the American people."
This is a linguistic battlefield that has been dominated by the right
since the 1960s. Edwards' ability to speak to core American ideals like
hard work, fairness, faith and family — the values that built America —
will help Kerry reclaim key words and concepts like "morality" and
"responsibility" from the recklessly irresponsible and grossly immoral
GOP.
It's not by accident that this is the first quality Kerry cited when
announcing Edwards as his running mate: "John understands and defends
the
values of America. He has shown courage and conviction as a champion
for
middle-class Americans and those struggling to reach the middle class."
George Bush wants to define this campaign in terms of right and left.
John
Edwards will help make sure that it comes down to a discussion of right
and wrong.
Two. Edwards' core theme of the two Americas — "one for the powerful
insiders, and another for everyone else" — helps sharpen the
differences
between the two tickets, and underlines that, far from being a uniter,
George Bush has been the ultimate divider. As Edwards evocatively
paints
it, Bush has created two school systems, two health care systems, two
economic systems, two tax systems and even two systems of government,
all
designed to benefit "those who never have to worry about a thing" — and
at
the expense of ordinary Americans.
This is not a debate Bush and Cheney want to go anywhere near. Because
they know what will happen if the truth of Edwards' message is digested
by
the American public. Edwards has shown a commitment to putting
poverty-fighting front and center in his campaign, sending a message
that
dates back to the beginnings of this country: We are all in the same
boat
together.
"I want to take a moment to talk about something you're not hearing
presidential candidates talk about enough," he said in his signature
stump
speech. "The tens of millions of Americans who live in poverty. We pass
them on the streets in our cities. They are the families that crowd our
shelters and turn to our small-town churches for food. In the America
you
and I build together, they will be forgotten no more."
This powerful and patriotic populist vision stands in direct contrast
to
the dark "every man for himself" rallying cry of the conservative
movement, which is epitomized by Grover Norquist and the Leave-Us-Alone
Coalition, founded on a toxic mix of tax cuts and gutted social
programs.
As Edwards put it during his presidential run (and will no doubt repeat
many times now that he has a much bigger megaphone), "2004 is a
make-or-break election because we need to create one America again. And
that is the one thing George Bush will never do. Dividing us into two
Americas — one privileged, the other burdened — has been his agenda all
along." If it wasn't obvious in 2000, it certainly is now.
Three. Without wearing it on his sleeve, Edwards' comfort with matters
of
faith, morality, and religion will allow Kerry and the Democrats to
make
an unabashed appeal to the millions of Americans whose spiritual
beliefs
are central to their lives.
The Bush Republicans have made it clear they believe that God is on
their
side, blessing everything from the war in Iraq to the president's
multitrillion-dollar tax cuts to the destruction of the environment.
Edwards' central message of fairness and economic justice puts the
question in play: Which is the true political morality? Opposing gay
rights and abortion or heeding the Biblical admonition, "We shall be
judged by what we do for the least among us"?
During the Democratic debates, Edwards was asked if, like Bush, he felt
God is on America's side. He responded by quoting Lincoln, who, when
asked
in the middle of the Civil War to join in prayer that God is on "our
side," replied: "I won't join you in that prayer, but I'll join you in
a
prayer that we're on God's side."
Edwards' championing of those left behind will help America reclaim the
moral high ground that Bush abandoned.
Four. Edwards can help Kerry ride the wave of idealism that was
unleashed
after Sept. 11. Rare among populist politicians, Edwards radiates
optimism
and inspires hope. "This election is not about what we are against," he
said before the Iowa primary, "it is about what we are for. … We offer
a
new beginning for America based on hopes, dreams, and endless optimism
—
not fear, greed and attack politics."
This spirit is the perfect antidote to the pessimism the GOP is
desperately trying to tag Kerry with. And it doesn't hurt that Edwards
has
got charm and charisma to burn, is the most natural politician the
party
has to offer, has a great story of humble beginnings and triumphing
over
adversity and personal tragedy, and can move an audience to tears with
his
heartfelt oratory.
Five. Edwards has made a very successful career out of eating folks
like
Dick Cheney for lunch in courtrooms all across America. He'll know
exactly
how to wield Halliburton like a stiletto. I give Cheney 30 minutes
before
he drops his first F-bomb. I can't wait.
The Republican attacks on Edwards as "unaccomplished and
inexperienced,"
"out there in left field" and, above all, "Kerry's second choice,"
sound
like wishful whistling past the graveyard. Edwards' selection has not
only
energized the Democratic base — which was pretty energized anyway — it
has, more importantly, the potential to arouse the dormant passion of
the
50 percent of eligible voters who have given up on voting.
All in all, not a bad payoff for a fallback plan.
© 2004 ARIANNA HUFFINGTON.
www.fanaticsandfools.org
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