Terry McMahon's Awesome Blog

A friend of mine posted to the NYU Law Democrats listserv today asking leaders of the various "NYU Law for ____" groups to post why they support their candidate. Since I've taken it upon myself to launch Law Students for Edwards, I figured I'd write a little something. And since I'm starved for posts here, I might as well post it here:

First off, I can speak only for myself, but I really think it's all just a gut feeling. But even though you don't choose who you fall in love with, I'll detail my opinion of John Edwards in hopes that some folks will consider things they previously haven't. (Side note: I love everyone running and would be thrilled to work for any of them in the general.)

I signed on with the first Edwards presidential in March 2003 for a bunch of reasons. My first goal was taking back the White House, and I thought Edwards was most likely to win. I still do: I have a long-held theory that the best presidential candidates are the ones who appeal to the mainstream and the base. Rocket science, I know, but I was always amazed at how our current president could appeal so well to both economic and social conservatives, while making swing voters and the mainstream press still think he's an effective leader. That's a tricky balancing act and I think Edwards, then and now, is especially well positioned for it. Everyone always tries to come up with ways to figure out electability, and, well, I think that's it. I also like deserving underdogs, which is why I'm a Democrat and probably while I like trial lawyers, especially real honest ones like Edwards. (For the record, the reason you didn't hear about awful plaintiffs Edwards represented is because none exist. I know for a fact they looked.) And even though we've all heard it a million times, I like his story: a guy who majored in textiles at NC State in case the lawyer thing fell through, since his dad, not having his own college degree, was shut out for promotions he deserved at the mill. So that's why I liked Edwards before I worked for him.

I thought he acquitted himself really well in the campaign (aside from losing, which I think is more the result of the Terry McMahon Curse). I would read through his policy book (I don't know if it's online, but I still have it) and find nuggets of small-bore policy proposals that weren't exciting but could help countless people live better lives: exactly the politics I look for. I also thought the distinction he drew in his tax plan - we should cut taxes on work-based income instead of on wealth-based income - was a stroke of genius, as did Will Saletan at http://www.slate.com/id/2084686/ in a really terrific article from those heady days in 2003. So that's why I liked him as a candidate: I liked how he framed the debate to focus on the people who, as Bill Clinton put it, worked hard and played by the rules.

I think his 2005-2006 was the best off-cycle performance of any presidential candidate I've ever seen. He met with foreign leaders to learn about the rest of the world. He started a poverty center, focusing on an issue that helps himself the least and helps the country the most. He built up an exciting internet presence (PC Magazine just called johnedwards.com the best campaign website, and let's not forget that Dean '04 manager Joe Trippi just came on board) and he spent 2005 and 2006 campaigning for Democrats in almost every state, while successfully advocating for a minimum wage increase in a bunch of states too. I don't know what he could have done better.

As for this campaign, he's taken all those experiences and become more himself and less a politician. What I love the most about Edwards '08 is that it's about as far as a presidential campaign can go from being about the candidate. It's about ending poverty, it's about re-establishing America's position in the world, and it's about returning the sense of community to America. But he never claims that only John Edwards can do all that; rather, his online operation is geared around a community service organization, OneCorps, that adopts a new progressive policy every month that can be helped by real-life actions by everyday people. (Cut down your carbon footprint, that kind of thing.) He wants to change the campaign structure from waiting for a savior to take back the White House to taking steps now to make a real difference.

I think his "it's not about me" approach is best illustrated by a remark he made a few days after they announced that Elizabeth's cancer had returned. Now, sure I was inspired at their strength in deciding to make the most of every moment they have. But what really got me was this quote from their 60 Minutes interview:

First of all, there's not a single person in America that should vote for me because Elizabeth has cancer. Not a one. If you're considering doing it, don't do it. Do not vote for us because you feel some sympathy or compassion for us. That would be an enormous mistake. The vote for the presidency is far too important for any of those things to influence it.

It's not about him, it's not about her, it's about the mission. That's why I support John Edwards.