2nd Presidential Hopeful in Montana

John Edwards Sweeps Into Missoula

By Greg Lemon, 9-04-07

	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

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. 

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