TPM Election Central | Talking Points Memo | Elizabeth Edwards Hits...MoveOn!

« Howard Dean Hits Boehner Again Over "Small Price" | Home | GOPer Drops Out of Race Against Dem Zack Space »

Elizabeth Edwards Hits...MoveOn!

By Greg Sargent - September 14, 2007, 2:50PM

Elizabeth Edwards, in a new interview:

MoveOn.org should not have labeled Gen. David Petraeus “General Betray Us” in a controversial newspaper ad, Elizabeth Edwards said in Des Moines Friday.
“Someone who’s spent their life in the military doesn’t deserve ‘General Betray Us,’” said Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards.

Ben Smith puckishly wonders if this is a "Sister Souljah moment." Indeed, you've got to wonder what the thinking is here, since all this does is give the MoveOn story legs. And, right on cue, it's already up on Drudge...

Late Update: An Edward supporter writes in and notes that Elizabeth's comments aren't surprising considering her upbringing as the daughter of a Navy pilot and points out that Elizabeth goes on to praise grassroots organizations like MoveOn.org in the original article.

28 Comments

| Leave a comment

i really want to admire what elizabeth edwards is doing, but she's making it increasingly difficult with her ill-timed remarks. she's savvy enough to know exactly how this will be played and that she just provided another round of criticism and marginalization of one of the most effective organizing tools on the progressive side.

if she felt so compelled to remark, she might have broadened out her comments to something like: 'political discourse from all sides has gotten much too coarse. blahblahblah....'

Posted by linda
September 14, 2007 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink

Why wonder? Perhaps she was asked about it.

In any event, if we are to criticize Coulter and others for calling names and questioning patriotism, is it not consistent to say the same thing when and if it happens from this side?

MoveOn could have easily made it's point without the invective.

Elizabeth Edwards seems to be talking about discourse that can fairly criticize on substance without creating more antagonism.

I see nothing wrong with what she said.

Posted by EricD
September 14, 2007 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink

Anyone from a military family has to see that moveon.org should have gone after Bush not the General. Bush has betrayed us, and going after the General who is just a lap dog of Bush is hitting below the belt. Miliary are brainwashed as soon as they join, and General Patraeus no matter how much a suck up he may be is still a soldier who is in Iraq serving his country.

Posted by rssrai
September 14, 2007 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink

petraeus is IRRELEVANT. Moveon should have talked up Fallon in their add.

also don't think this is an accident. The GOP will be beating up Hillary nationally, driving her stratospheric negatives even higher. Elizabeth is helping the press beat up Hillary.

the whole petraeus thing is a distraction. Petraeus' Boss wants out of Iraq - move on should have emphasized that plus Fallon calling Petraeus chickenS$$T

Posted by Outside the beltway
September 14, 2007 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink

I don't see why Petraeus is untouchable. Whether he deserves "General Betray Us" or not, I don't see why his lifetime of military service exempts him from critcism since he is now clearly acting as a partisan political player and not as an unpolitical military officer.

Posted by DB
September 14, 2007 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink

I'm sorry to say Elizabeth has been a big disappointment this time around. She should be running for an elected office in her home state since she has so much to offer about so many things.

Posted by Sally
September 14, 2007 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink

She is right though. MoveOn was right about the point of their ad, but saying a general is a traitor is going to far. Mostly, it is just unnecessary to call him names to make the point.

Posted by jsamuel
September 14, 2007 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink

Moveon was wrong. As sEricD has already said, we don't like it when Coulter slings mud and resorts to name calling - Well the same holds true for Moveon.

I cancelled them as soon as I read the article as I won't be associated with that type of nonsense. What did they do, hire Rove to write copy for them?

Posted by Harvey Orens
September 14, 2007 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink

I don't have any problem with her statement. She's right. Petreus is implimenting Bush's policy. MoveOn is a good organization, but their ad was not helpful.

Posted by Tom Wells
September 14, 2007 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink

Last time I checked on Google's News service, I found over 2,000 references to the Move On ad about Petraeus. That ad was incredibly stupid because it plays right into the right's hands. It was politically tone deaf. I am sure that in certain zip codes it played real well, but those are probably zip codes that we already were going to carry.

Most Americans think that Petraeus is doing the best job he can. Why go after him? What does it get you? Far better to go after Bush and Cheney.

What the right is trying to do is make it hard for Democrats to accept funding from Move On. I don't think they will be successful, but why give them the opportunity?

Posted by mrgavel
September 14, 2007 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink

Unfortunately with the play on his name, MoveOn diluted their message a bit. The criticism should be the policy not what the guy's name us. Most of the country is already agaisnt the war, this kind of hot-button stuff isn't necessary to get MoveOn very valid points across. If they avoid the petty stuff, they can reach more people and have a greater effect. Keep the eyes on the prize.

Elizabeth was right to say something and be honest when asked. The left gets it wrong sometimes too. Defending a mistake doesn't help us in the long run.

Posted by Josh Medeiros
September 14, 2007 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink

To DB above:

noone's arguing Petreus is untouchable. Just better to attack him on the policy level, and not on the personal level.

Posted by Josh Medeiros
September 14, 2007 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink

There is a difference between a politician labeling a general like that or a grassroot organization.

By becoming a willing tool in Bush's propaganda war against the american people General Petraeus has become fair game.

The general has betrayed the American people.

Posted by Gandhi
September 14, 2007 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink

I agree that Elizabeth Edwards had praised Move ON, but she could also have ignored the ad and refused to say anything negative about it, without praising it either. And with her husband trying to seduce the anti-war crowd, this is bound to hurt his campaign.

Posted by Daniel
September 14, 2007 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink

Smarter dems please. Moveon's ad got the job done. petraeus is a bush lap dog. Moveon made the point so elected dems didn't have to.

"I would have said, ‘Petraeus, mistaken again,’” Harkin said. “But ‘Betray Us?’ That’s going too far.”"

Seee that? Elected dems can tut-tut the moveon ad while adding their own dig on petraeus. Perfect.

Posted by hadenough
September 14, 2007 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink

Frankly the MoveOn ad was dumb and a distraction. The Republicans are already looking at Bush's speech as a set back because it reminded voters of the real author of the war, George Bush. If MoveOn had just said Petraeus was a front man for Bush, it'd be fine.

As it ran it was an absolute gift to the Republicans, for two days they were able to talk about something other than the war itself and Bush.

Maybe it would have more political for Elizabeth Edwards not to say anything, but it's pretty clear at this point that's not her style.

Posted by AJ
September 14, 2007 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink

Elizebeth Edwards was wrong to make the comment she did. Her husband is trying to pitch himself to the Progressive Movement within the Democratic Party. For the most part, the Progressive Movement agrees with MoveOn.org's Ad. Her comment is going to make that pitch harder.

As far as that goes, she is wrong about the ad as well. Generals are not off limits. Gen McArthur was frequently critisized and lampooned by both the press and grassroots organisations during the Korean War. As were Generals throughout American History. Teddy Roosevelt (not really a General but a Colonel) was lampooned and lionized at the same time.

The facts speak for themselves on the testimony Petraeus gave. His words were straight out of the White House talking points and when he strayed, he got an angry phone call from the White House and recanted the next time he got the mic.

The problem isn't the MoveOn.org ad, the problem is the spineless Democrats. Once again, even though facts were on their side, they rolled over and begged for mercy at the onslought of the Republican Attack Machine.

Posted by Michael Caine
September 14, 2007 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink

What's the big deal? Did you all read the article? This is a nothing story that is simply glomming on to the storyline that "Elizabeth Edwards says controversial/wacky things". All she had to say was that their characterization of the general was poor just as Senator Harkin had said previously. Bullshit storyline journalism.

"Don't let the facts stand in the way of a good story!"

Posted by oleeb
September 14, 2007 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink

E.Edwards did not have to comment on Move ON ad, by her stab in the back. Democrats don't seem to get it- they keep apologizing for gaffes made by others! Take a page from the republican play book, did you see any of them regret the "swift boating" of war heroes like Cleland, Kerry or McCaffery?

Posted by Buddy
September 14, 2007 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink

Face it---Elizabeth Edwards and John Edwards are not big league material. EE is nice enough, but she's not thoughtful. She wants John to win so much that it has impaired her judgment.

Posted by Marky
September 14, 2007 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink

John Edwards was big league enough to come pretty close to being elected VP...Is Big League enough to be out front with detailed objectives on every important issue.

Move-on is not connected to the Democratic Party.
They have and will continue to fan the sparks of progressives. I sent them another $25

The General DID betray us by his BS.....

Posted by nogo war
September 15, 2007 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink

I forgot to add her quote that says it all

“But I’m probably not going to agree with everything that any one group says.”

Does anyone feel differently?

Posted by nogo war
September 15, 2007 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink

I have to agree, I think the moveon ad was just plain stupid. It's not that I agree or don't agree with the statement it made, it just was distracting and unhelpful, leading to more grandstanding during the testimony.

One has to think that the $65,000 it cost to run this ad could have been much better spent. Frankly, I don't think I'll be dontating much more money to Moveon.org.

Posted by mike
September 16, 2007 10:05 PM | Reply | Permalink

runescape money runescape gold runescape money runescape gold wow power leveling wow powerleveling Warcraft Power Leveling Warcraft PowerLeveling buy runescape gold buy runescape money runescape items runescape gold runescape accounts runescape gp dofus kamas buy dofus kamas Guild Wars Gold buy Guild Wars Gold runescape accounts buy runescape accounts runescape lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold runescape money runescape power leveling runescape money runescape gold dofus kamas cheap runescape money cheap runescape gold Hellgate Palladium Hellgate London Palladium Hellgate money Tabula Rasa gold tabula rasa money lotro gold
buy lotro gold Tabula Rasa Credit
Tabula Rasa Credits
eve">eve">http://www.vgoldseller.com/eve-online-c-892.html">eve isk
eve">eve">http://www.vgoldseller.com/eve-online-c-892.html">eve online isk
eve">eve">http://www.vgoldsupply.com/eve-online-c-1191.html">eve isk
eve">eve">http://www.vgoldsupply.com/eve-online-c-1191.html">eve online isk