Edwards Proposes Middle Class Rising Agenda; Outlines Bold Vision to Help All Hard-working Families Achieve the American Dream

Ames, Iowa – On day seven of the Main Street Express bus tour, Senator John Edwards delivered a major speech on his bold vision to lift up middle-class families and make sure that all Americans have a fair shot at the American Dream. At this critical time in our nation’s history, with the economic divide wider now than at any other time in the last thirty years, Edwards unveiled his Middle Class Rising agenda that will help build One America where the middle class prospers and all hardworking Americans can find good jobs, save for the future, and have guaranteed health care and retirement security.

Tells Democrats he will break down the wall that separates Washington from the American people

District of Columbia – Today, at the DNC fall meeting in Washington, D.C., Senator John Edwards will tell Democrats that he is the candidate who will fight to build One America and break down the wall that separates Washington from the American people.

Included below are excerpts from Edwards’ remarks:

We set aside a few days each year in honor of America and those ideals that make us Americans – independence, equality, thanks for the blessings of our inheritance. But this weekend one day stands apart – although it began that way, it no longer commemorates a specific event, it is not dedicated to any one individual – instead it honors the sacrifice of millions, across all the generations of America.

Thank you for having me here today. Thank you.

Five years ago, the Bush Administration went to war with Iraq, a war we all know now we did not need to fight. Today, we see the results of that fateful decision — a civil war with no end in sight… a black hole in our budget… and nearly 4,000 brave men and women in our military who have paid the ultimate price.

A famous philosopher once observed that those who don’t remember history are condemned to repeat it. Unfortunately, the war in Iraq isn’t even history yet, but the Bush Administration is repeating the march to war with Iran — and they’re getting help from people who should know a lot better.

Many of you know that I am the son of a mill worker — that I rosefrom modest means and have been blessed in so many ways in life.Elizabeth and I have so much to be grateful for.

And all of you know about some of the challenges we have faced in myfamily. But there came a time, a few months ago, when Elizabethand I had to decide, in the quiet of a hospital room, after manyhours of tests and getting pretty bad news — what we were going todo with our lives.

Thank you, Doug, for that generous introduction. It’s good to be here in Iowa with all of you today. And it’s such an honor to be introduced by you.

We all need role models, and Doug is one in my book. I think role models are people who wake up every morning, work hard and do the right thing to build a better life for themselves and their family.

That’s what Doug has done, and that’s what lots of hard-working men and women here in Des Moines and all across this country do every day. In America, that should be enough to get ahead. But today, it’s barely enough to squeak by.

Keene, New Hampshire
October 13, 2007

Thank you. Good to see all of you.

There’s been a lot of talk up here in New Hampshire about change lately. But change is just a word when it’s not backed up by real action. Anybody can say it. It’s what you do that shows whether you really mean it.

To actually create change, we should start by telling the truth.

Here’s the truth: the system in Washington is broken. Money is corrupting our democracy. Lobbyists and the special interests they represent are pouring millions of dollars into the system, and stopping the change we need dead in its tracks.

Pace University, New York, NY
September 7, 2007

Thank you for having me here today. Thank you.

On a beautiful, bright September day almost six years ago, a group of 19 men stepped onto four airplanes, intending to kill as many people as they could, intending to terrorize America. Just a few blocks from here, the hijackers crashed their terrible ideology into the American dream.

Nearly 3,000 Americans died on that horrible day in New York City, in Arlington, Virginia, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. They were bankers and busboys, secretaries and firemen, and they were all our brothers and sisters.

John Edwards is introduced by President Jimmy Carter and gives a speech in Americus, Ga. on August 29, 2007. This video contains the entire speech he gave at Georgia Southwestern State University.