Edwards now says "stop these ads"

[BeyondGeography]

==My colleague Lisa Lerer e-mails from Coralville that Edwards took a question about his stance on the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads in 2004.

Then, he'd called on President Bush to "step forward and say three words: 'Stop these ads.'"

Edwards wouldn't be that blunt, but he did address the question somewhat more directly than he had earlier in the day.

"I would prefer that all 527s — not just this one — stay out of Iowa, but I have no legal authority over that," he said.

ALSO: A simultaneous statement from Obama aide Bill Burton, whose conditions seem to have, sort of, been met:

"It's not change when you decry the influence of money in politics but then stay silent when your former campaign manager exploits the biggest loophole in the law to benefit the Edwards' campaign with millions of dollars in ads from an unregulated political fund whose donors are undisclosed. John Edwards can and should call on his former advisor to stop this effort."

UPDATE: The Edwards campaign sent new quotes to reporters under an unequivocal heading: "EDWARDS: STOP THESE ADS."

“I do not support 527 groups. They are part of the law, but let me be clear: I am asking this group and others not to run the ads. I would encourage all the 527s to stay out of the political process," he says in the release.==

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1207/Edwards_would_prefer_the_527_stop.html

We'll see if it means anything.

[zalinda]

1. What the hell do you want him to do?

He or any one in his campaign can't contact these people. If they dare to make a phone call they will be made to look like they are in cahoots with them. And, from what I understand, no one has seen the ads as yet. There is only the assumption that they will favor Edwards, maybe the guy left the campaign under less than ideal circumstances.

zalinda

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. He could have told his old campaign manager it was the wrong way to go

as soon as he first heard of the plan to set up a 527 to use in the primaries. It's not like it is against the law for them to still know each other and generally be aware of what type of endeavor they each are involved in. He could have said so in public back then. It would not have required Edwards to be aware of the specific ad content they planned to run. Edwards had the right stand back in 2004, took no strong stand when this was getting off the ground, and now he is back to issuing the right stand again, and that part of course is appreciated.

[babylonsister]

7. You be the judge; here's the ad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfuy2w0acnc

[Sarah Ibarruri]

10. Who supported this ad? People who are backing whom? nt

[babylonsister]

12. A 527 PAC that supports Edwards. Nice, huh. nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

14. Well then he did right in saying he should stop the ads

And they SHOULD be stopped!!

[babylonsister]

15. I agree. It's a nasty ad and needs to be stopped; I hope the PAC listens

to him.

[ShaneGR]

2. Edwards should jump up and down screaming, with tears in his eyes, begging for the ads to stop.

/sarcasm off

Seriously, considering it's actually illegal for a campaign to coordinate with these 527 groups, it's not even legal for Edwards to contact them to ask them to drop the ads in the first place.

I think the real question is, why is Obama so concerned about Edwards now?

[loveangelc]

13. I think Obama's campaign may be worried about Edwards coming in infront of him.

They never criticized each other like that before...

[Forkboy]

3. Seems he's doing what he can.

Why don't you tell us what you'd like him to do. Maybe we can agree there's more that can be done by him, or maybe we'll agree there's nothing he can do other than speak out, which is what he's doing. :shrug:

[BeyondGeography]

5. He got it right on the second try

His first statement was wishy-washy and he was called on his bullshit. You can't campaign on not being beholden to special interests when you are seen to be benefitting from attack ads paid for by undisclosed donors. The fact that he needed a mulligan only makes him look him more connected to this group IMO, but everyone sees what they want to see.

[Forkboy]

9. "but everyone sees what they want to see."

[cali]

6. Good for him!

and he should repeat it if they don't stop. 527 ads in primaries, really hurt everyone. Save 'em for the general and set them lose on the repukes.

[ray of light]

8. I don't get it. I think I'll go back to ignoring these candidate wars.

[K Gardner]

11. This was reported on CNN very early today, that he said unequivocably that he wanted

the ads to stop. I guess it's a sign of the times, and thank god Edwards realizes it, that you have to send out a piece of paper with the headline PREWRITTEN on it. Because god knows with all the parsing, his words would never get reported or interpreted correctly. Also, for those who keep meming "he should just call the guy".. he can't. He'll write that on a piece of paper next, in case it isn't clear enough.

[balantz]

16. These last minute pains must be fun for the candidates to keep on top of.

I don't think it will hurt Edwards at all as the people there in Iowa supporting him are smart and prepared to get him the Iowa nomination. They know what to look for.

Edit for spelling