2nd Presidential Hopeful in Montana
John Edwards Sweeps Into Missoula
By Greg Lemon, 9-04-07
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| Caption: Top: Presidential hopeful John Edwards addresses a crowd of more than 1,000 in the University of Montana's UC Ballroom Tuesday evening. Middle: An audience member waves an anti-war sign during Edward's Tuesday evening speech at the University of Montana. In his opening remarks, Edwards stressed the need to end the current war in Iraq as quickly as possible. Bottom: After his speech, Edwards awaits the first of a couple audience questions read by ASUM president Dustin Leftridge. Photos by Anne Medley | |
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John Edwards came to Missoula with a message:
“I think the system in Washington is rigged,” he told a packed, cheering room of supporters in the University Ballroom at the University of Montana Tuesday evening.
America doesn’t have universal health care, Edwards said, because lobbyists for the drug and insurance companies are convincing lawmakers it’s not any good.
“Health care in America should not be a privilege for the privileged,” he said to a near constant refrain of cheers. “We have a dysfunctional health care system in America. It does not work.”
America hasn’t made any significant change in addressing environmental concerns because lobbyists for the oil and gas companies are telling Congress global warming is a myth.
As president, Edwards said he would ask Americans to conserve in their homes, offices and cars. For other countries in the world, like China and India, to commit to real environmental change, America must set the example, he said. The crowded cheered again. During the entire speech Edwards’ words and ideas were drowned by applause.
Even before Edwards took the stage, the crowd was teeming with energy. They shouted, clapped, waved homemade signs and kept their eyes glued to the side door everyone expected Edwards to enter by. Children were crying. People were fidgeting and pushing against each other. They took pictures of themselves and waited. It felt like the anticipation before a rock concert when the lights are low and the crowd is winding itself like a spring, waiting for the curtain to open.
The University Ballroom was hot and it was close quarters. If you moved two feet in any direction, someone filled in behind you, particularly if you were close to the side door. Many people were holding their phone cameras up over the heads of the crowd ready for him to emerge. A concession table near the entrance sold beer and wine, and, in typical Missoula fashion, several people were passing time drinking Moose Drool out of bottles and red wine out of cheap plastic cups.
Edwards was the first Democratic presidential candidate to stop in Montana this year. His stops around the country are called “Small Change for Big Change.” People in attendance paid $15 for a ticket and crowded the small stage Edwards spoke from. Before the rally the woman checking people in said 300 people would be in attendance, but after, an event organizer said about 1,000 people came.
Edwards has spent a good deal of time this summer in Iowa, where he leads Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama in the polls. But the national polls show him running third behind Clinton and Obama.
Montana’s Gov. Brian Schweitzer introduced Edwards, who showed up about a half hour late. So while the crowd was gathering, Schweitzer took the stage and told a few jokes and assured everyone Edwards was coming.
Schweitzer came back to the stage 15 minutes later to introduce the former U.S. Senator from North Carolina.
Edwards has pledged not to take any PAC money during his campaign and pledge that pleased Schweitzer who is well know for his disdain of lobbyists.
“John Edwards is a guy who told the K Street lobbyists they can keep their money,” Schweitzer said. “He understands the Constitution and he knows there’s no fourth branch of government.”
Edwards’ appearance was brief, but pointed. He criticized President Bush for wrecking America’s international image.
“George Bush hasn’t damaged America’s leadership in the world, he’s destroyed it,” he said.
In Missoula, just like everywhere else he’s campaigned, Edwards called for an end of the war in Iraq. It’s what America wants and why citizens elected Democrats to power in the House and Senate in 2006.
In fact, Congress should not send a single funding bill to the President without including a timetable for troop withdrawal. If Bush vetoes it, they should send it back again, Edwards said.
Edwards also would institute a plan for college education for all high school graduates. The thrust of the plan would be essentially a work-based scholarship. Any high school graduate, who wanted to go to college and was willing to work 10 hours a week while in school, would get the education paid for.
Edwards also supports stronger labor unions, an increase of the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour, and capping carbon emissions. 
Changes are also needed in America’s foreign relations.
“America needs to be a force for good in the world again,” he said.
It might mean investing in things that aren’t directly for the country’s benefit, like giving money to third-world countries for education, health care, and clean water.
“The world needs to see us out there meeting our responsibility for humanity,” he said.
“We need a president that asks Americans to be patriotic about something other than war.”
After his speech Edwards took only a few questions and then left.
Katherine Smith from Hamilton was impressed with Edwards and feels it’s important for Democratic candidates to have a presence in the Rocky Mountain West.
Grassroots efforts have been crucial for Democrats in the region and Edwards obviously understand that, she said.
“He recognizes grassroots and how important grassroots movements are to the West,” she said.
She pointed to the fact that during his speech, Edwards said he would visit all 50 states as a presidential nominee. That kind of effort is needed, Smith said, and would be appreciated by the grassroots movements not only in the West, but around the country.
[End of article]Aw shit I wish I could have been there. I forgot about it.
Mr. Greg Lemon, you have written a very, very fine newspaper story. Facts, buildup, audience observations, trenchant qoutes, balanced reporting and more. Very well written.
Helena
Go Edwards! Give us our dream!
Comment By Patia, 9-04-07Good pictures, too.
Thanks.
I missed the darned thing!
Great photographs, the close up of Edwards is classic!
How pathetic:
"America hasn’t made any significant change in addressing environmental concerns because lobbyists for the oil and gas companies are telling Congress global warming is a myth."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwasgPfsv4I
I was helping work the crowd outside and I can say for a fact we hit capacity in the ballroom. I think we were closer to 1,000 folks in there -- might be worth double-checking that number. We definitely had to lock some people out.
Comment By Matthew Frank, 9-05-07Thanks, Matt. You're right. An event organizer said after the event that about 1,000 people came, and I've made the change in the story.
Comment By MS, 9-05-07if edwards is the "2nd presidential hopeful in Montana," then who was the first?
Comment By Matthew Frank, 9-05-07Mitt Romney came to Helena in June for the Montana GOP convention. Click here for the story.
Comment By Greg Lemon, 9-05-07MS
The first candidate to come to Montana this year was Mitt Romney. He spoke to the Montana Republican convention in June.
Click here for the story.
Thanks,
Greg Lemon
The organizers certainly underestimated the interest (hunger?) Missoulians have for personal appearances by presidential hopefuls. Why, when it was apparent that the crowd was much larger than anticipated, didn't they open the divider and use the south ballroom as well? Why did they not take down the Grizzly screen that made the stage look pretty, but blocked the view of at least 1/3 of the people allowed into the room?
Thanks to Edwards and his campaign for booking this stop. Now let's see more of the candidates make an appearance.
Awesome - thanks for the update. And, Greg -- I'm glad things worked our and we got you in. Sorry for the confusion outside the doors yesterday. We built a ship for 300 and we handled 1,000 instead. Great story.
Comment By Marion, 9-05-07How much of a carbon footprint did they leave for the whole thing??????????????
Comment By don austin, 9-05-07Thank you for your coverage of the John Edwards appearance. While big media continues to ignore him and skew poll numbers, his supporters realize, that like a rolling ball gaining momentum down a hill, his grassroots support is far and away ahead of the other candidates.
Also, polls have continuously shown Edwards as the democrat who fairs better against each and every republican candidate. Big corporations and big media are joining together to dismiss Edwards because they are selfish and could care less about the average American citizen. They do not want their bottom line to be effected.
Glad I met you Greg and Matt. Very fine story. This was a brilliant speech and you did a great job in conveying the substance of John Edwards' address. He is excellent at crafting a narrative of the vision he has for America with the policies that can make that vision work. He shows you what is wrong, but never without telling you how to make it right. And this speech reminded me of JFK's call to national service and of commitment of young Americans to right the wrongs. And it reminded me of RFK's compassion for those who have been shoved to the side of the road. John Edwards said he was sick of Americans being told to just watch TV and let Bush and Cheney take care of things. Instead of a big daddy, John Edwards is our brother in arms. He called on us to join him because he can't do it without us. You leave more energized than when you came in.
Comment By Marion is a troll, 9-05-07Thanks for ignoring her!
An Internet troll, or simply troll in Internet slang, is someone who intentionally posts controversial or contrary messages in an online community such as an online discussion forum, with the intention of baiting users into an argumentative response.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll
That's my job.
Only semantic trolls use wikipedia.
Wonderful article! So glad that so many in Montana could hear JRE's message. Having visited Missoula over the summer, if I were John Edwards, I'd be back again. Absolutely beautiful and the nicest people around. I'm sure Missoula residents can spot an authentic person when they see one. JRE is definitely the real deal!
Comment By mike, 9-05-07Yes, a good article on a good man... John Edwards represents the best of America at a time when America has forgotten what the best can be. He's a poor miner's son who rose from obscurity to attain an extensive and honorable education, came to prominence defending the defenseless, used his success to provide for his family through hard times and medical difficulty, and now speaks truth to power in a way and with a courage that puts even old "Straight Talk McCain" to shame.
Comment By Jon, 9-06-07I am still a believer in Obama- despite Quinlan's(Newsweeks) call for Hiilary & Obama, I am in favor of John & Obama or Obama & John! Not against women but if Hillary gets nomination Repubs will win!
Comment By Marion, 9-07-07Jon, I sincerely hope you are right. I do not doubt for one minute but that Hillary is going to be the Dems choice.
Comment By Kim, 9-07-07Read Time magazine's current issue for more on John Edwards and how he came to be the candidate he is today.
Also an interesting article on the effect having grey hair would have on public perception of a public figure's intelligence, attractiveness, credibility and how distinguished they look. Though none of the 6 (Hillary, Edwards, Obama, Pelosi, Schwartzenegger and anchorman Brian Williams) were rated more attractive with grey hair, only Hillary and Ah-nold suffered in the intelligence, credibility and distinguished categories, while all the others had increases in those categories with grey hair. What does that mean?
I found this article interesting writing if not a little one-sided. I am a MT native and a UM alum from the 70's, but living in GA since the mid-80's. Living next door Mr. John (Never saw a law suit I didn't like) Edwards, I have been a witness to one of the most pandering politicians in Congress. Before you all fall down and bow to this candidate, make sure you check the facts he throws out at a moments notice. Be aware that he, as well as his fellow democratic candidates, have big plans for "your" money. If you keep drinking the left wing Kool-Aid and believing "the government knows what's best for you and your money", you will get what you asked for. Remember that the government that can give you anything you want can take everything you have. I am proud to be a native Montanan, but many have lost the independent sense of freedom and liberty and the hope for a limited federal government.
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