[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkseNDz1Cgg]
As the race goes on it becomes increasingly clear that, with the exception of Rudy Giuliani, who is in a league of his own with regards to demagoguery, John Edwards is the candidate who is most wiling to say anything for potential political gain. We are also reminded, as was painfully apparent in 2004, that John Edwards is not ready for prime time as he doesn’t even consider the consequences of what he says.
After Hillary Clinton had difficulties answering the question on drivers licenses for illegal immigrants, John Edwards responded with an internet video. His stock comment to reporters was “What we saw in the debate were the politics of double talk. I have a really simple rule — if you get asked a yes-or-no question you shouldn’t give a yes-AND-no answer.”
I guess this simple rule was as short lived as Edwards’ belief that Democratic candidates should not disagree with each other. Edwards does not seem to realize that he is performing on a bigger stage than a southern court room and his grand standing is not enough to win without his statements ultimately being challenged. After criticizing Clinton for not having a yes-or-no answer you would think he would realize that sooner or later someone would ask him the same question. You would also think he’d be prepared with a yes-or-no answer. He wasn’t.
Edwards returned to face George Stephanopoulos, who previously humiliated Edwards with repeated examples of how he has flip flopped on the issues as he decided to recreate his personae for a new political race. Stephanopoulos asked Edwards the question which he argued Clinton should have had a yes-or-no answer to. Edwards required eighty-eight words to answer, contradicted his 2004 position, and conceded his current answer was the same as Clinton’s. From the show:
Mr. Stephanopoulos: “Do you believe illegal immigrants should be denied driver’s licenses?”
Mr. Edwards: “Well, I think, first of all, that’s for states to decide, not for the President of the United States to decide. But beyond that –“
Mr. Stephanopoulos: “So the 40 states that deny illegal immigrants driver’s licenses that’s okay with you?”
Mr. Edwards: “Let me finish. I think that is their decision to make, not the president’s decision. But here’s what I believe. I believe that, first of all, we have to have comprehensive immigration reform. And for anybody in this country who is making an effort and on the path to obtaining American citizenship, yes, they should have a driver’s license. If they’re not making any effort to become an American citizen, and we have a system for doing that, my own personal view is, no, I would not give them a driver’s license.”
In further back and forth to clarify, Mr. Stephanopoulos noted that Mr. Edwards, when he first ran for president in 2004, unequivocally supported giving licenses to illegal immigrants. Then the moderator played a video of Mrs. Clinton’s debate response — in which she said the controversy underscores the need for comprehensive federal immigration reforms — and Mr. Stephanopoulos suggested her stance sounded like Mr. Edwards’ position now: “You’re saying the same thing, right?”
Mr. Edwards: “That’s true.”
