Why I support John Edwards

I support John Edwards for President because he shares my values. 

Whether it's compassion for those less fortunate, fairness for all, democracy, justice, care for the Earth, or peace and security through diplomacy, Edwards is committed to the same values that motivate me. I know that he would be a good president, because he can articulate those values and has a practical vision for bringing them forth.

Compassion.

Through his work as the founding director for the Center on Poverty, Work, and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina,  Chapel Hill, as well as his ongoing political advocacy efforts, Edwards has demonstrated his concern for those less fortunate, both here and abroad.  He is an outspoken champion of the idea that people who work should not have to live in poverty. 

He backs up his rhetoric with sensible proposals, volunteerism, and by encouraging others to join One Corps, his national volunteer organization. I share his compassion for others, so I have signed up as a One Corps volunteer.

John Edwards also demonstrates his compassion through kindness and respect toward everyone, including political opponents. The 2008 campaign may be rough, but I know Edwards will do his best to make it positive.

Fairness.

John Edwards is working hard to restore the American values of a level playing field and equal opportunity for all.  When the Republican Congress wouldn't act to raise the minimum wage, Edwards got involved with minimum wage efforts in six states.  All six states raised the minimum wage.

I believe in the right of workers to organize. My grandfather was a coal miner in Pennsylvania, constantly in debt to a company store that charged just a little more for the bare necessities than he could ever make. His story was not unique at the time and it isn't too far from the experience of many workers today. Without labor unions, workers have no opportunity to negotiate their way out of unfair working conditions. John Edwards has been working to strengthen labor unions. He believes, like I do, in the right to organize.

John Edwards and I both believe that health care is a basic right and should be available to everyone. We both support universal health care.

John Edwards and I believe in a hand up, not a handout.  We both expect that everyone in society should contribute something, and that those who profit the most from society should give the most back. To me, this is a basic American value.

Democracy.

Edwards and I both support election reform and public financing of political campaigns.  As a candidate, he encourages real dialogue and looks for input from ordinary people.  He sees the Internet as an important free-speech tool and is a blogger himself, as is his wonderful wife, Elizabeth.

Justice.

Edwards would work to restore our Constitution so that we Americans have the freedom and access to the justice system we were intended to have.

As president, he would also ensure that the United States participates justly in the world community.  He would stop the U.S. from using torture on prisoners.  He would work with the world community to stop the genocide in Darfur.  He would engage with the world in international justice efforts such as the International Criminal Court.

Care for the Earth.

John Edwards would lead America to invest in alternative energy and end our dependence on oil.  He understands that we need to do something about global warming now, or we will face the consequences within our lifetimes.

Edwards knows that by investing in environmental technology, we can save our planet and create jobs in the process.

Peace and security.

As president, John Edwards would engage diplomatically with the rest of the world to solve world problems and restore America's leadership role.  He knows that the Bush administration's disregard for the world community has damaged our reputation and our ability to lead.  He would work to regain the world's trust in America.

Edwards would bring troops home from Iraq.  His vote for the war was a mistake.  He admits that.  I think we need a leader with the humility to admit when he is wrong, as well as respect for the rest of the world and willingness to engage with it.

Why am I doing this?

You may be wondering why I'm so vocal in supporting John Edwards so early in the presidential race.  I don't work for the Edwards campaign, except in the same sense that anyone can work for them by becoming a volunteer.  I'm not a political insider.  I'm just an ordinary citizen who believes that John Edwards will be a truly great president.

I came to the conclusion that he would be a great president during the 2004 election, which is why I already know he is my candidate.  When I recently attended a book signing for his new book, Home, I asked him personally to run and promised that I would volunteer for his campaign if he did.  I take that promise seriously.

During my lifetime, America has never had a leader who I believed was as great as he should be, though a couple of them have been good. 

My mother's generation had FDR, whose policies helped to lift both my parents and many of their peers out of poverty, when those policies combined with their own hard work. I was born into a middle class family because of FDR's policies.

I've often envied the people a few years older than me, many of whom were so inspired by John F. Kennedy's call to national service.  All my life, I've been hoping to one day be so inspired by a president for my generation.

It is my firm belief that John Edwards will become one of the greatest presidents America has ever had, if we let him. The strength of that hope is the reason I plan to do all I can for his campaign.