Welcome to another edition of the Edwards Evening News! This edition focuses on the continuing saga of contractors and cronies run amok in Iraq without accountability with a plan from Edwards to fix problems that Bush won't even acknowledge exist, as well as Edwards' response to Bush's mind-boggling veto turning his back on the health care needs of America's children. After that a bit on the latest SurveyUSA polls in Oklahoma and elsewhere showing a clear advantage for Edwards, and a bit more.
Follow along over the fold!
Edwards Unveils Plan To End The Current System Of Outsourcing Security Missions To Private Contactors
John Edwards spoke out today [great diary Tomp!] on bringing some accountability to outsourced security operations and fiscal irresponsibility in Iraq and put forward a comprehensive plan to:
restore democracy to our military decisions about the war, expand the rule of law, ensure accountability and wipe out cronyism
Edwards recognizes that although the recent Blackwater incident has gotten a lot of press lately, its a lot bigger than that:
"The recent incidents of violence involving Blackwater contractors in Iraq, including the shooting of Iraqi civilians in Baghdad last month, have caused tremendous damage to America's battle for the hearts and minds of Iraqis," said Edwards. "These incidents hurt America's moral standing, both in Iraq and around the world. And they serve as a tragic reminder of how the Bush Administration has outsourced our military responsibilities to corporate contractors and political cronies who operate outside of the rules of engagement and without any meaningful oversight.
"As president, I will end our current system of outsourcing security missions to private contractors. It is imperative that we do so and return to an all-volunteer military that responds to the will of the American people."
For an impressive review of Edwards' speech today on this in New Hampshire along with some video, check out Merbex's firsthand account.
And here's a special treat courtesy of NCDem Amy, Edwards on the Keith Olberman show:
For the detail-orientated - Edwards plan focuses on 5 key areas to fix the incompetence lack of accountability that Blackwater is just the latest example of:
1. Restore Democracy to Our Military Decisions About the War: Edwards will transfer most security missions currently performed by contractors back to military command, narrowly limit the circumstances under which security contractors can be engaged and bring all security contractors within the Pentagon's chain of command.
2. Expand Legal Oversight and Prosecutions: Edwards will ask Congress to expand the range of contractors covered by the Military Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction Act, and work with his Attorney General to ensure criminal allegations involving contractors are always investigated. He will also charge his Secretary of Defense with establishing clear rules of engagement for contractors.
3. Get Cronyism out of Security Contracts: Edwards will ask Congress to pass legislation prohibiting campaign contributions by applicants for and recent recipients of security contracts. He will also ask Congress to pass legislation prohibiting former officials from working as contractors for five years.
4. Establish Strong Quality Control and Accountability Measures: Edwards will charge his National Security Advisor with establishing a regular system of Quality Assurance Evaluations of contractors and will make sure that agencies exercise oversight.
5. Implement a Formal Evaluation of the Role of Contractors: Edwards will order his Secretary of Defense to deliver a comprehensive accounting of all contractors performing security operations and will propose the creation of a new National Security Budget that will include all security activities, so that Congress can better evaluate the role and value of security contractors in the future.
Its time to end the money game in Washington - and in Iraq.
Edwards Statement On Bush's Veto Of Children's Health Care Legislation
As just about everyone knows, Bush used his 4th veto to deny health coverage to over 4 million children today. Pretty horrendous. Edwards sees an expanded SCHIP program as a necessary part of universal health care. Following up on previous statements (see here and here for the most recent) called on Congress to override Bush's mistake:
"Today, we have witnessed a President that has turned his back on health care for children. Not surprisingly, in George Bush's administration, corporate cronies and insurance industry allies always come first, while children's health care comes last. In an America where nearly 9 million children don't have health coverage, Congress must do what is right and fight for these children and override Bush's cruel veto."
and exoriated the crowd of Republican misfits that climbed all over themselves to tag along:
"Even more shocking is that Republican Presidential candidates, including Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney are all lining up with President Bush and against health care for our children. Instead of threatening the health care of children, it's time for Bush, and Republicans like McCain, Giuliani, and Romney to start picking on someone their own size."
Note to the Republican candidates: just wait for the general election - all those press releases sent out today praising Bush for just saying no to children's health care are going to come back to haunt you. John Edwards will make sure of that.
If you haven't seen FamiliesUSA.org's video on this, watch it. And if you have watch it again and sign their petition and help them get the ad up:
3. Oklahomans heart Edwards - SurveyUSA continues to show an Edwards advanatage across the country.
Yep, sure seems like it. Edwards opens up a can whoopass on the Republican contenders [courtesy of Bruinkid's excellent diary], while other Democratic candidates fall short:
GENERAL ELECTION MATCH-UPS
Democrat Republican Margin
Clinton 44% Giuliani 47% Lose by 3%
Obama 33% Giuliani 54% Lose by 21%
Edwards 49% Giuliani 40% Win by 9%
Clinton 44% Thompson 50% Lose by 6%
Obama 35% Thompson 55% Lose by 20%
Edwards 47% Thompson 41% Win by 6%
Clinton 47% Romney 44% Win by 3%
Obama 40% Romney 46% Lose by 6%
Edwards 53% Romney 32% Win by 21%
Its excellent news that Edwards has a great chance to win Oklahoma but unfortunately not so good news for the other candidates as Bruidkid notes from the cross tabs:
What's really startling is the cross-tabs on who Oklahoma Democrats would vote for. With Hillary, at least 25% of Oklahoma Dems cross over and vote Republican. With Obama it's more stark. He actually LOSES the Democratic vote to Rudy, 44%-43%!! And over 40% of Oklahoma Democrats vote Republican if it's Thompson too. Romney even gets 34% of the Dem vote here. I'd expect Independents in a state like Oklahoma to go GOP, but our own Democrats???
SurveyUSA polls have done a great job of making Edwards electability arguments for him in relation to other democratic candidates, especially in swing states. As noted and detailed here, out of 48 matchups between September 20th and October 3rd::
Edwards outperforms Clinton 34 times. Clinton outperforms Edwards 13 times. They tie once.
Edwards outperforms Obama 43 times. Obama outperforms Edwards 4 times. They tie once.
Sure hope people are paying attention. And just think of how this could change the map witht the state races downticket. Sure polls are only a snapshot - but thats one hell of a snapshot.
Some Tidbits
Some fun things to share:
Did you know that Edwards has only spent $13,000 on advertising in Iowa? Expect that to change :).
Edwards released a position statement to the American Antitrust Institute today. They gave it a mixed review, but the details - moving the focus away from mega-corporations - shouldn't surprise anyone familiar with Edwards' positions.
Hope you enjoyed it!