Do As I Say ...
As of recently, Barack Obama's rhetoric has been hovering dangerously close to that of John Edwards on various issues, including org. labor and lobbyist campaign contributions.
In the Aug. issue of Progressive magazine Elizabeth Edwards goes so far as to call Obama an outright copycat, accusing him of "lifting her husband's best lines." E. Edwards: "You listen to the language of what people say, particularly Obama, who seems to be using a lot of John's 2004 language, which is maybe not surprising since one of his speechwriters was one of our speechwriters, his media guy was our media guy. These people know John's mantra as well as anybody could know it. They've moved from 'hope is on the way' to 'the audacity of hope.' I'm constantly hearing things in a familiar tone."
We still weren't convinced. But last weekend's AFL-CIO labor forum in Cedar Rapids, IA, 8/18 p.m. changed that.
As expected, Edwards made his now very familiar criticism of WH Dems who accept donations from lobbyists (namely, Hillary Clinton). Edwards: "We are not the party of Washington insiders. We are the party of the people, and so from this day forward we say no -- no forever to the money from Washington lobbyists."
The only difference -- Obama beat him to it that day, towing the same anti-lobbyist line at an earlier event that day in central Iowa. Obama: "We've got to have a president in the White House who sets bold targets and sets broad goals and isn't intimidated by the barriers and the roadblocks and isn't driven by those who already have an investment in the status quo - somebody who can overcome the lobby-driven, divisive politics that characterizes this issue."
Meanwhile, back at the labor forum, Obama used another token Edwardian statement: "We need a president…who is not afraid to mention unions."
Armed with his strong anti-lobbyist and pro-union message, Edwards continues to fall in 3rd place in nat'l polls of the Dem race. So, one wonders why Obama would want to adopt his mantra in the first place. Does Obama think he can carry the Edwardian message in a way that can tackle frontrunner Hillary?
Time will tell. But, for now, Obama's flattery through imitation only further proves that Edwards has significantly shaped the Dem debate thus far [AMY DUDLEY].
Lifting phrases and not appearing to plagerize can be a slippery slope. Edwards is the original and Obama seems to need to get a piggyback ride ahead on Edward's back. A President has to think on his feet and should only guide speeches. We've had enough of script writers' dazzling wordsmithing only to reveal an empty suit(think GWB) President.
So what you are saying is the Audacity of Hope was adapted from Hope is On the Way? He chose the lines of a LOSING campaign? Fact Check might be in order...
WHAT? Are you kidding? Do you really think Edwards unilaterally thought this stuff up?
Oh, right, I guess "hope" first emerged onto the political landscape in 2004...
Amy, try writing something not first prepared for you by Joe Trippi...
I think Obama is using Edwards's frames to help pick up Edwards's voters and make himself the true anti-Hillary, whether it's justified or not.
It isn't recent and it is more than dangerously close. Elizabeth Edwards is right: Barack Obama is a copycat.
David Axelrod worked on John Edwards' presidential campaign in 2004 and is recycling his playbook for Barack Obama's. Besides Obama, Axelrod has consulted for New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's successful 2006 races. I bet if you keep digging you'll find even more "similarities" between Obama and Deval Patrick.
Senator Edwards is shaping the debate and Obama should be disappointed that he does not have his own policies that are shaping the notion of the election
Obama has been copying Edwards from the gitgo - sometimes word for word. Thanks for noticing Amy.