So, John Edwards is dropping out of the presidential race. From trade to an ability to really talk about unions and on whole lots of other issues, Edwards shaped the Democratic presidential debate.
The question is: what now? I’m hoping that he becomes the Al Gore of economic struggles. Gore rose dramatically in stature–far beyond what he ever achieved as a political figure or a candidate running for office–when he became THE political voice on climate change. I’m hoping that Edwards, who made it clear that the campaign to end poverty in America was the calling of his life, now continues that fight. As a non-candidate, more people (and, maybe even, the pathetic press) will tune into a message that comes from someone who is not running for office.
Working Americans–the people who Edwards wanted to represent and whose policies and positions were superior to the other major candidates–will need an advocate for them past the general election. In the past several months, I’ve told virtually every person or audience that I’ve spoken to that, no matter who wins, we–that would be, labor advocates or people trying to build an economic justice movement–will still have a fight on our hands because the system that a new president would confront (whether they feel audacious and hopeful or not) will be hard to change without a movement out in the country demanding that change.
We still face a battering of wages, disappearing pensions, 47 million people without health care, so-called "free trade" deals that Democrats don’t seem united to vanquish from the agenda, unprecedented greed in the CEO ranks…you know the drill.
Edwards has a role to play as a rallying force for those people who want to change the economic system.
Edwards, seize the moment.
P.S. Of course, the traditional press will give Edwards WITHDRAWAL from the race far more coverage and treatment than they ever did while he was running. Shame.
P.S.S.: the more I think about Edwards dropping out, the more sad I am because I think there will now be a space for the remaining candidates to stop talking about (or just paper it over) the economic warfare being waged against millions of people.
