After Quitting, Edwards Will Go to Work

Not many candidates close their presidential runs off by volunteering to build homes for the poor.

But John Edwards will.

After he concludes his campaign for the Democratic presidential campaign this afternoon, the former senator from North Carolina will volunteer on a Habitat for Humanity project site in New Orleans.

For Edwards, the act will symbolize his ongoing commitment to make poverty an issue in American politics, and to keep a focus on the plight of New Orleans neighborhoods like the Musicians' Village area will he will be constructing a home later today.

"I think it's a living, breathing example of the heart of my message, what I'm talking about," Edwards says of the impoverished city that was battered by Hurricane Katrina and neglected by officials afterward. "It's the perfect indication of the conditions of poverty that exist in America, particularly in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, which is where I'll be."

Comments (32)

1. I'll say I'm willing to be proven wrong...in 4 years, but...

   If Edwards starts another campaign for Prez (say on the heels of a McCain Administration 2009-2012), then this is simply another bit of electioneering.

   BUT, if 2011-2012 comes and JE is still in the private sector, no move towards any elective office (and no move to USE his HfH work to add "street cred" to a campaign)...

   I'll apologize for my cynical take on John Edwards.

   Posted by Mask at 01/30/2008 @ 10:58am

2. I'd say, he needs to put in 6 years worth, to offset his 6 years in the Senate.....

   Posted by Happy at 01/30/2008 @ 10:58am

3. I hope Edwards continues his anti-poverty work and that this "recent" work was not just part of the "election plan".

   If his voters really are progressives, and not closet DLC types, I suspect they will support Obama now.

   Edwards was helping Obama in the South by splitting the white vote with Hillary, but hurting him nearly everywhere else by splitting the progressive vote with Obama.

   Obama should therefore get some sort of boost if these voters really are progressive. I suspect that some percentage of Edwards voters found his "I'm the only white guy in the race" appealing. What percentage of his voters feel this way is anybody's guess.

   Posted by Metteyya at 01/30/2008 @ 11:03am

4. I'm the only white guy in the race"

   Posted by METTEYYA 01/30/2008 @ 11:03am

   When did Edwards ever allude to that?

   Posted by Hman23 at 01/30/2008 @ 11:12am

5. Thank you, John Edwards, for lifting the tenor of the campaign, for leaving gracefully, for continuing the good work.

   You once said that if either you or Obama withdrew, you expected most supporters to shift to the other. May you prove right.

   And may Jimmy Carter arise soon & deliver his endorsement before it's too late.

   Posted by sloper at 01/30/2008 @ 11:16am

6. Posted by HMAN23 01/30/2008 @ 11:12am

   Does he have to say it, or is it obvious?

   Posted by Metteyya at 01/30/2008 @ 11:28am

7. Posted by METTEYYA 01/30/2008 @ 11:28am

   Well, besides Kucinich, I guess it is obvious he was the only white male in the race.

   OK, I see now. This must be another example of your (unproven) voter psychology I commented on yesterday.

   Posted by Hman23 at 01/30/2008 @ 11:34am

8. With Edwards out of the race, the writers and editors here at The Nation should re-visit their non-endorsement, and endorse the only progressive in the race - Barack Obama

   Posted by Metteyya at 01/30/2008 @ 11:41am

9. Posted by HMAN23 01/30/2008 @ 11:34am

   Haven't you hear, HMAN23? Kucinich is in a battle in Cleveland for his congressional seat and is no longer in the race either.

   Not a voter psychologist - I just know voters will not tell posters the truth about why they support Edwards if they harbor some of these feelings.

   Posted by Metteyya at 01/30/2008 @ 11:44am

10. Posted by METTEYYA 01/30/2008 @ 11:03am | ignore this person

    I will try and place your disgusting pontifications aside while assessing the Obama candidacy, trying to recall that your own personal vitriol does not represent Senator Obama. While I respect you're having done some meticulous work defending your guy, I have little respect for your condescension and apparent loathing for Edwards (and his supporters) who has been praised by prominent liberal journalists as having moved the entire field of candidates closer to the issues. I, like many others, were quite enthusiastic to support Obama that is until we were perpetually disappointed and then began digging a little deeper into his career and record. I see nothing extraordinary and visionary, and his senate record is what I would expect from a liberal senator representing a liberal state.

    By the way, Edwards has an entire career defending poor and middle class families whose children were mutilated, disabled, or permanently injured by corporate criminals and incompetent physicians. The court system is one of the only places in American society where corporate power fears being held accountable. Obama supported the legislation favored by concentrated wealth regarding 'Tort Reform.' Besides taking on big business in the courts, Edwards also has a courageous and impressive history that certianly rivals that of Mr. Obama, the former lecturer of the fascist cloning center at the University of Chicago Law School, who also spent a few years building his post college resume doing some community work. Edwards has worked with unions, set up programs to rebuild homes in New Orleans, ran the poverty center at the University of North Carolina, set up state-based funding for poor kids having their first year of public university fully funded, etc. You really kick the shit out truth to portray Edwards as a phony ‘talker' with no previous experience to substantiate the progressive platform he has promoted throughout the campaign.

    Posted by Oustbush at 01/30/2008 @ 11:48am

11. Metteyya may be a name that originates as "he who's name means kindness" as Metteyya explains it, but he certainly hasn't exhibited much grace here at The Nation's blog threads.

    And for someone who supposedly has a law degree he has proven himself to be about as sharp as a bowling ball in the realm of logical thinking skills.

    Metteyya sounds more to my ear like an in your face used car salesman. The kind that may be successful with a specific subset of consumers, but also the kind that well-informed buyers find garishly revolting.

    I'd humbly suggest that you spend some of your idle time back in school, and learning the art of gracefulness and the science of expository writing and thinking.

    Think of it as the wisest of investments --an investment in your maturation.

    Sincerely, ~BK

    Posted by b_kool_66 at 01/30/2008 @ 11:55am

12. Cheers, Oustbush ;-)

    I believe we've both just given voice to the minds of many readers here at The Nation.

    Well done my friend!

    Posted by b_kool_66 at 01/30/2008 @ 11:59am

13. Posted by B_KOOL_66 01/30/2008 @ 11:59am | ignore this person

    Thank you. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation for the razor sharp commentary you regularly contribute to the site. Very well done!

    Posted by Oustbush at 01/30/2008 @ 12:06pm

14. Thanks for the gracious complement, Oustbush :-)

    And to all here at The Nation, let's give it everything we've got to make Barack Obama the next president of the United States of America!

    Posted by b_kool_66 at 01/30/2008 @ 12:15pm

15. Posted by METTEYYA 01/30/2008 @ 11:44am

    Right. I forgot Kucinich dropped out. Now there is no white male in the race.

    And nice job by the way reducing Edwards' supporters to closeted bigots. I am sure they appreciate the compliment.

    Posted by Hman23 at 01/30/2008 @ 12:21pm

16. well, let's see how heavy the signing statement pen with the next president will be:

    There's new evidence that President Bush has no intention of ending the United States' involvement in Iraq. On Monday, when he signed the fiscal year 2008 defense authorization bill into law, Bush also issued a "signing statement" claiming he reserved the right to disregard a section that bars funding for permanent bases in Iraq. [Congressional Quarterly, 1/28/08]

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/moira-mack/bush-defies-ban-on-perman_b_840 37.htm

    now, "the pen" question would make a good one for the "debates*".

    *brought to you Burger King, 'Have it Your Way".

    Posted by frosty zoom at 01/30/2008 @ 12:22pm

17. a message to all candidates from a GI in mosul:

    "At a U.S. base outside Mosul, scores of American troops and an honor guard stood at attention on the airfield tarmac as five coffins of their slain comrades were loaded onto a plane for the journey home.

    A cold wind blew as the bleak ceremony began. Five groups of eight pallbearers each took turns unloading a flag-draped coffin from the back of five Humvee ambulances, as about 75 members of the fallen soldiers' unit stood at attention.

    At least 100 other soldiers stood erect and silent through the 30-minute ceremony. Even civilian workers at the airport of Forward Operating Base Marez on the outskirts of Mosul formed an honor line as the dead soldiers bodies' were loaded into a gray C-130 transport plane.

    Soldiers refused permission to photograph the ceremony, saying the pain of the sudden loss of five comrades was too great, and that not all the families had been notified.

    'President Bush should be out here watching this ramp ceremony to see what it is really like,' said one soldier, who asked not to be identified.

    'The people who created this war need to be thinking about the families of these 18-year-olds who are dying.'

    from AP

    Posted by frosty zoom at 01/30/2008 @ 12:24pm

18. excellent post, frost. sobering as well.

    Posted by b_kool_66 at 01/30/2008 @ 12:34pm

19. Posted by METTEYYA 01/30/2008 @ 11:03am

    For over almost a month now, atleast since New Hampshire...METTEYYA has been focusing his energy on Edwards, and forgetting the (as IBBLE would say) "50 foot queenie elephant" in the room.

    Now, if Edwards supports Obama, METTE will have to walk back a lot of his JE slamming and explain why the guy he's been calling a "closet DLC'er"...

    is supporting HIS guy!

    Posted by Mask at 01/30/2008 @ 12:36pm

20. Zoom , find the right place to post this stuff.

    Posted by barnesgene at 01/30/2008 @ 12:36pm

21. Like Carter and Gore, Edwards may become the Conscience of the Progressives.

    Posted by barnesgene at 01/30/2008 @ 12:38pm

22. Posted by MASK 01/30/2008 @ 12:36pm

    If Edwards endorses Obama, I may give more credence to his "recent" transformation to the progressive cause.

    If he endorses Hillary, it confirms what I have been saying all along: that he just wants to use the progressive voters to further his own political ambition!

    Posted by Metteyya at 01/30/2008 @ 12:45pm

23. Well, I was looking forward to voting for John Edwards on Super Tuesday, but the celebutard voters have reduced the Democratic Primary to 2 Republicans. Thanks guys. I will not be voting next week. I will not be working during the election campaign, I will not be voting for Democrats come November.

    Celebutard voters swayed by race and sex- not content- have condemned our nation to 4 more years of Republicanism. The one candidate that polled to win against ANY Republican is not out of the race. The Democrats are their own worst enemy. My election is over- hope you enjoy your Republican candidate.

    Posted by NoPCZone at 01/30/2008 @ 12:53pm

24. Edwards has already said that if he or Obama were to withdraw, supporters would rally to the one who remains.

    He may be holding back his endorsement of Obama until after Tues, lest Billary claim victimhood from a gang-up & spin any gains on Tues as huge victories in the face of the assembled powers.

    Perhaps that's also why Jimmy Carter is currently maintaining silence.

    Posted by sloper at 01/30/2008 @ 12:56pm

25. Posted by NOPCZONE 01/30/2008 @ 12:53pm

    Take a deep breath. Although Obama and Clinton may not have been your first choices, I do not think you can equate them with Romney and McCain. C'mon back when you are ready.

    Posted by Hman23 at 01/30/2008 @ 12:57pm

26. Posted by METTEYYA 01/30/2008 @ 12:45pm

    He'll either back Obama, or merely wait and support the nominee after the primaries.

    Either way, you were going after the WRONG TARGET for weeks now and you DEFINITELY should have dropped the whole "Edwards vs. Feingold" Cut & Paste after South Carolina.

    Posted by Mask at 01/30/2008 @ 1:01pm

27. Zoom , find the right place to post this stuff.

    Posted by BARNESGENE 01/30/2008 @ 12:36pm

    well, this was the most oblong of otherwise geometrical incompatible threads to post my "round" post, hence my (trying) to tie it in with debates and signing statements.

    plus, there are 17 goodbye edwards posts so i was kinda stuck.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 01/30/2008 @ 1:19pm

28. stuck.

    Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 01/30/2008 @ 1:19pm

    "stuck" & FROSTY.....hehehehe.....reminds me of a winter trip to S. Lake Tahoe some 12~13 yrs ago when my older son "stuck" his tongue on a light pole outside a casino across the Nevada state line.....we took a photo....:~)

    Posted by Happy at 01/30/2008 @ 1:37pm

29. Posted by MASK 01/30/2008 @ 1:01pm

    Wrong!

    Exposing Edwards' inconsistent voting record with his progressive "talk" HELPED OBAMA by limiting Edwards' appeal to "real" progressives. this is why he has done worse than Obama with progressives, and this is why he dropped out of the race!

    Posted by Metteyya at 01/30/2008 @ 1:54pm

30. Posted by HAPPY 01/30/2008 @ 1:37pm

    haps, find the right place to post this stuff ;o]

    Posted by frosty zoom at 01/30/2008 @ 2:10pm

31. Posted by METTEYYA 01/30/2008 @ 1:54pm

    Maybe...but that tactic was operationally complete, probably after New Hampshire, certainly after SC last week...

    and you kept going with it!

    Posted by Mask at 01/30/2008 @ 2:14pm

32. Posted by MASK 01/30/2008 @ 2:14pm

    With Edwards dropping out of the race, it is certainly "operationally complete" now!

    Posted by Metteyya at 01/30/2008 @ 2:19pm