Still Voting For Edwards

This is an Opinion piece done by Eli Densky which is just too well written to not read in full. It's rather lengthy, so it's not presented in it's entirety here. The original can be viewed at:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20080115/cm_huffpost/081664

Eli Dansky
Tue Jan 15, 5:22 PM ET

I'm voting for John Edwards in the February 5th California primary. I'm
more certain of this now than ever before. I'm told that my continued support
for Edwards's candidacy, like the candidacy itself, is either an egomaniacal
fool's errand, racist, a betrayal of the Democratic party, or all of the above.

I'm even told the candidate who espouses the progressive politics I hold
dear is grounding Senator Obama's ascendancy. While I don't pretend to speak for everyone who supports John Edwards for President, I can say that if Edwards jumps off the ballot before California, Barack Obama is not, at present, my second choice.

Anyway, Edwards's continued presence in the race is keeping everyone honest.

Edwards has sharpened his '04 pitch into a more pointed indictment of those
responsible for the widening gulf between the Two Americas. Edwards paired his
critique with a set of policy proposals that are in line with the progressive
agenda (with the shameful exception of same sex marriage, but I've no doubt
Elizabeth Edwards will right his ship on that one). The proposals are more
generally liberal and forward thinking than any other candidate taller than
4'5".

Further, Edwards staked out positions on Health Care, on the Environment,
on Education, before both Obama and Clinton. He has already had a measurable
impact on the Democratic party, by showing the big money candidates that not
only would it be okay for them to advocate UHC and the like, it would be
politically dangerous for them to hold out much longer. He did it first, and he
did it best (the MSM myth of indistinguishable differences between the
candidates is shattered by actually reading the materials respective campaigns
have written). The next president will not have the luxury of a campaign
competitor to test the waters or think up creative new initiatives to push them
to keep up.

No matter if you attribute Edwards's rhetorical evolution to political
expediency or political maturity. The fact is, he is where he is now, and he has
grabbed the establishment of the party with both hands and pulled it along
(Hillary Clinton referred directly to corporate interests in her victory speech
in NH for the first time I've heard her do so in a major address.)

Yet I am still told that Edwards' campaign, only seven pledge delegates
behind the leader after only two primary contests, is an exercise in vanity. I
am told by voices on this site that Edwards supporters are delusional and are
feeding a power hungry Naderite's elephant sized ego. I am told that all must
hop aboard the Obama train to stop the Clinton machine. Or, alternately, join
with Hillary to save the economy and country from 'Bama the Kid. Above all,
whomever you choose, get away from that crazy man!

Lovely pitch. It's this type of "pitch" from Obama supporters that has
assuaged any guilt or worry of squareness I felt about not being a part of the
spirited support of Obama, or the considerable symbolism that his or Clinton's
election would mark. It is clear from the rabid dumping on Edwards's allies that
Obama's "new kind of politics" is no different from the cynical calculations of
old.

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