Why Many 'Dean People' Are Starting to Support John Edwards

Written by: Dan Wood on May 15, 2007 4:27 PM EDT

I attended the recent California State Democratic Convention without a particular preferred candidate for President in 2008. By the time it was over, however, it was clear that many 'Dean People' like myself had decided that John Edwards is the candidate to support.

After returning from the convention, I built a website called Deaniacs for Edwards to help focus Deaniacs' attention on the John Edwards campaign.

And after reading this thoughtful analysis of John Edwards from Daily Kos that corroborates my thoughts about him, I have decided to go out on a limb and predict that John Edwards will continue to gain support from progressives, and eventually even gain DFA's endorsement when the time is ripe.

Here's why I think that so many Deaniacs are coming around to John Edwards:

John Edwards's message, which he made clear in his Convention speech, is all about moral leadership.  Just as Howard Dean brought the California delegates to their feet four years ago after a string of lackluster candidates' speeches with his message of standing up to Bush, ending the war, and taking our country back, Edwards had an overwhelmingly resonating message in his speech about America's place in the world and how the rest of the world sees us.  "The world must see America as a force for good, again," he says.

Fellow Deaniac Sanford C. agrees that "his speech in San Diego was almost as electric as Howard Dean's in Sacramento in 2004."  And as fellow Deaniac Miles K. says:

This year, I was delighted to discover John Edwards doing precisely the same thing that Dean had done: Edwards is unapologetically staking out positions not only grounded in pragmatism, but also elevated by high principle.

Of course, it's not just about who can give the best speech.  It's about his leadership and the issues he cares about deeply.  Rebecca B. writes about Edwards's focus on Poverty:

Edwards was my second choice after Dean in the last race, and what I really admire about him is that he has stuck to his (sometimes unpopular) message about "The Two Americas"--that there are a whole lot of people who do not get to experience all the wonderful things that are supposed to go along with living in a rich and powerful democracy, that poverty happens to a lot of hard-working people, and that it is shameful that so few people in government notice or care.

Another theme that Edwards supporters notice is his courage.  Another Deaniac, Jeremiah F-P., writes:

I supported Howard Dean because he had the courage to speak truth to power at a time when it seemed like the whole political world supported Bush’s war.  John Edwards has that same courage today.  He demonstrates political courage in opposing Bush’s escalation and in his economic proposals that stand up for most Americans but that anger the economic elite.

I personally believe that we need a leader who will take bold steps to reverse Global Warming before it is too late for our species.  I keep thinking we need a President who can kick off an "Apollo Program" that will bring our nation together with a specific goal.  I was pleased to hear all the candidates mention global warming — I recall it hardly being mentioned in previous years — but Edwards went just beyond a couple of talking points.  He conveyed an understanding, with specifics and bold leadership that none of the other candidates seemed to have.  Up until this point, I had been hoping that Al Gore would jump into the race and save the day.  But I no longer need to wish for this.  John Edwards can do what is needed to solve this crisis; it doesn't need to be Al Gore himself.  (I've now retired my  hopes for Al Gore, which is sensible considering that he is unlikely to jeopardize his efforts to depoliticize the issue of Global Warming by becoming a candidate.)

Of course the big issue that brought so many of us behind Dean, four years ago, was his oppostion to the War.  Four years ago, John Edwards defended his position on trusting the President and voting for the War.  He unambiguously now admits (and has since 2005) that he was wrong. His shift is not a flip-flop or disingenuous; It's clear that he has grown as a person and as a candidate.  Being able to admit you were wrong takes courage.  Other candidates also voted for that war, but have just swept their past under the carpet.  I'd rather have a President who is in sync with much of the country, that first thought we were going after the bad guys and now realize we have to stop this mess.

The California Convention had an impressive array of candidates, but until John Edwards started speaking, I was not ready to get behind any of them.  By the end of the speech — halfway through, in fact — I knew I had found my candidate to support.  I could tell that he got a big reception from the crowd, but what impressed me much more was what happened right after.  I decided to go to a separate room where I had heard that his supporters would be meeting.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but I figured that I was his newest supporter so I should go there.  The room filled, and filled, and filled to beyond crowded.  Looking around, I saw a lot of familiar faces, familiar because of my involvement in various DFA groups and events around the San Francisco Bay Area.  (I think I might have even said to the person next to me "I see Dean People." )  These were other Deaniacs who had decided at that moment that they had found their candidate.  I hope that you, too, will join the campaign of the strongest progressive candidate, John Edwards.

"It is time for the President of the United States to ask Americans to be patriotic about something other than war." - John Edwards

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