| Sen. John Edwards appeared at Scholz Beer Garden in Austin, Texas today to meet, greet, and speak to over 1,000 local supporters. Provided below is a brief wrap-up based on reports from several of our writers and other friends who were in attendance.
We were told that over 1,000 people signed-up to be in attendance, and more paid for their entrance at the door. Whatever the number, Scholz' was at full capacity, that's for sure.
State Senator Kirk Watson (D-Austin) spoke to start the event. A former mayor of Austin, Senator Watson's endorsement of Edwards today came along with the endorsement from other Texas Democrat leaders -- Rep. Jim Dunnam, Rep. Garnet Coleman, and Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer (Source). Rep. Martinez-Fischer also spoke at the event, telling the crowd it's time to pay less attention to platitudes, and more attention to the beatitudes.
After a fun set from Marcia Ball and her band, longtime local hero and "America's #1 populist" Jim Hightower gave a rousing introduction to Senator Edwards, who took the stage to thunderous applause from the crowd. Senator Edwards began by telling the crowd we must immediately end the war in Iraq, and that in his first day in the White House he would close Guantanamo Bay.
The overall theme of Edwards' speech focused on how America needs to lead again, and how we have left to many people behind -- both nationally and globally -- over the past six to seven years. Specifically, Edwards addressed the following areas: - Climate change - Chastising President Bush's shallow calls at the G8 summit, Edwards said we must reduce our own emissions by 80% by 2050, invest more dollars in carbon sequestration, and not allow a single new coal plant to be built anywhere in this country.
- Poverty - Edwards said the U.S. must take a lead in ending poverty at home and abroad. He noted that over 37 million Americans live in poverty, and that he's done work at the poverty center in North Carolina to fight against poverty in America.
- Health care - Edwards laid out his health care plan, which he states (and Obama agreed in the most recent debate) is the only completely universal health care plan. Mental health care should be treated just as regular health care, and Americans should be able to "take their health insurance with them" wherever they live.
Edwards also spoke briefly about the issues of education, torture, and an active participatory democracy throughout the country. Overall, it was a very well-attended, exciting event. |
