John Edwards 2008: What’s not to like

ABC News’ Rick Klein Reports: When an Iowa resident asked former senator John Edwards Thursday whether the United States should follow the Cuban healthcare model, the 2004 vice presidential contender deflected the question by saying he didn’t know enough to answer the question.

“I’m going to be honest with you — I don’t know a lot about Cuba’s healthcare system,” Edwards, D-N.C., said at an event in Oskaloosa, Iowa. “Is it a government-run system?”

But just three days earlier, the candidate was asked a question about the Michael Moore documentary “Sicko” — which focuses extensively on the Cuban healthcare system.

As Willie Nelson’s classic “On the Road Again” blared, Edwards leaned out of a window of his campaign bus dubbed “Fighting for One America”, to hear an off-camera voice howl, “I wanted to ask ya, is it required that everyone go see “Fahrenheit 9/11″ and “Sicko”?

Edwards, in between autographs outside Dan’s Pizzeria in Onawa, Iowa, replies, “I watched Sicko,” later adding, “It’s a great movie.”

ABC Political Radar 8/17/07
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/08/sicko-twister.html

Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday called rival Barack Obama’s debate response that he would be willing to meet with leaders of rogue nations “irresponsible and frankly naive.”

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Rival John Edwards, who campaigned in South Carolina on Tuesday, echoed Clinton’s comments in the debate.

“I would not commit myself on the front end openly to meet with [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, [North Korean leader] Kim Jong Il, [Venezuelan President] Hugo Chavez,” Edwards told reporters in McClellanville, S.C. “I think there’s a real potential that would be used as a propaganda tool.”

Associated Press 7/25/07
http://www.buffalonews.com/180/story/126613.html

MOULTONBORO, N.H. –Former vice presidential candidate John Edwards, who is considering another run for the Democratic nomination for president, said Saturday the United States should start pulling troops out of Iraq immediately.

The former U.S. Sen. from North Carolina told reporters America should “make it clear (to Iraqis) we are leaving, and the best way is to start leaving. We should take 40,000 combat troops out now.”

Edwards, who has said he regretted his vote as a U.S. senator authorizing President Bush to declare war in Iraq, said he would ask the country’s military leaders for a strategy “to have the (rest of the) troops out in roughly 12 to 18 months.”

“There is no chance other countries in the world will help Iraq as long as we are an occupying force,” he said.

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Asked about the possibility the United States might change its policy on Cuba when Fidel Castro dies, Edwards said he has supported the United States embargo of a Castro-led Cuba, but if Castro, who recently underwent intestinal surgery, should die, this country should “evaluate his successor and then decide” whether to lift the embargo.

Boston Globe, 8/5/06
http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2006/08/05/john_edwards_calls_for_immediate_withdrawal_from_iraq/