Edwards Evening News Roundup-Tuesday 6/12 Edition

Tonight's diary will be short and to the point. I have two very sick family members that need me right now. Hubby has been running a temp for almost a week and we have no idea what the problem is and MIL is coughing a lot and not eating...it's not good at my house right now. Hubby leaves for France in a week and a half and that scares me to death to think of him going out of the country as sick as he is right now so any good thoughts and prayers would be much appreciated.

Now, with that all said, follow me below the fold and we'll look to see what John has been up to today.

John Edwards wants U.S. to back G8 on climate change

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Tuesday said the United States should join the Group of Eight in a call to cut global warming gas emissions in half by 2050.

Edwards, speaking in the Texas state capital of Austin, said U.S. climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions should be cut by 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, according to a statement released by his campaign.

"Global warming is an emergency that requires immediate action from the world community," Edwards said. "Before the United States can rally the world to take action, we need to show leadership here at home. We should be leading the charge in this area, not turning our back on the world."

http://www.reuters.com/...

Edwards' $15 Fundraiser Attracts Casual Voters

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. -- The $15 ticket price for Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards' fundraiser Monday night attracted jeans, shorts, sandals and untucked shirts amid the formal dresses and suits.

The cost of the "Small Change for Big Change" event was also low enough to bring out the curious who haven't committed to Edwards, along with those fully supporting his campaign.

"I love it. It's a great idea," said Michael Grady, 50, a Hollywood priest who was dressed casually in jeans. "We were just talking about if Hillary (Clinton) came we would never see her because you wouldn't get in for 15 bucks. No way near it. And you won't get near her, probably, if you're a nobody. I wouldn't be able to afford $1,000 to see a political candidate."

snip

The crowd of 200 at the Rusty Pelican restaurant overlooking downtown Miami enthusiastically cheered the anti-war message Edwards launched into immediately after taking the microphone.

"We have such important work to do in this country, starting with ending this war in Iraq," Edwards said 25 seconds into his speech. "If this war is still going on when I'm sworn into office as president of the United States, I will end this war."

He delivered a shorter version of his standard stump speech, talking about raising wages, reducing poverty, re-establishing a positive world image and providing health care for everybody.

"So far, I'm the only candidate with a specific, truly universal plan," Edwards said, asking the crowd to look at other candidate's health care proposals. "If, by law, it's not required that every man, woman and child be covered, it's not universal, and we need universal health care in this country."

http://www.local10.com/...

Edwards Iowa Campaign Announces 99 County Chairs

Edwards Campaign First In Iowa to Announce Chairs in Every County in State

Waterloo, Iowa – As Elizabeth Edwards visited Iowa for the grand opening of the campaign's Waterloo office, the John Edwards for President campaign today announced that it has signed up county chairs for all 99 Iowa counties.

The Edwards campaign becomes the first campaign—Democratic or Republican —to announce county chairs for each of Iowa's 99 counties. These chairs—including elected officials, educators and influential business and community leaders—will work to organize their county for Senator Edwards and spread the word about his detailed and specific plans, from ending the war in Iraq to guaranteeing health care for every American.

In April, Edwards announced that the campaign had signed up a rural chairperson in all 99 counties to focus specifically on organizing the rural portions of every county. The county chairs announced today will work with the rural county chairs and others throughout their county to mobilize support for Senator Edwards.

The announcement comes just days before Senator Edwards will visit Iowa to discuss his plans to end the war in Iraq, pass truly universal health care and revitalize the economy of small towns across America. Mrs. Edwards return to Iowa to accompany him for several stops during the three-day campaign swing.

"All of us—right here in Iowa and across the country—need to take action to start changing our country today," Senator Edwards said. "I appreciate the support of the many business, civic and community leaders who have agreed to lead our campaign effort in every Iowa county. They will also advise me on the issues that matter to Iowans -- because I believe it's time America had a president who put the concerns of everyday Americans first."

"John and Elizabeth Edwards understand the challenges that regular Iowans face—from paying the health care bill to sending your kid to college," said Joy Lowe, a county coordinator for Black Hawk County. "But even more importantly, Senator Edwards is the candidate with the best and most specific ideas about how to help families in Iowa, as well as to end the war and improve our standing in the world. I'm honored to be part of this campaign because I believe he's not only our best candidate, but he'll make a great president who can deliver for Iowa families."

For a list of the County Chairs go here...
http://johnedwards.com/...

Edwards Continues To Gain Support From LGBT Community
     

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Senator John Edwards' campaign to transform America continues to gain momentum in the LGBT community. Today, the campaign announced the support of several prominent community leaders from across the country. In April, the campaign announced the support of 25 national LGBT leaders, which can be read at http://www.johnedwards.com/...

"As a first-generation college graduate from rural North Carolina, I come from a similar background to Senator Edwards and believe he understands on a gut level issues of justice and equality" said New York based activist Kevin Jennings.

Northern California activists Jeff Soukup and Jeff Anderson said "We are proud to add our voices to the growing chorus of LGBT leaders from across the country who are enthusiastically endorsing John Edwards for president."

The LGBT leaders endorsing Edwards for president are:

Kevin Jennings, New York LGBT Community Activist

Jeffrey Davis, New York LGBT Community Activist, Managing Director of Lehman Brothers

Gregory G. Simoncini, Commissioner of Illinois Human Rights Commission, former Board Member of National Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, former Board Member of Lambda Legal

Stephen Handwerk, Board Member of National Stonewall Democrats and Co-Chair of Louisiana Stonewall Democrats.

Jeff Anderson, former Co-Chair of John Kerry for President National LGBT Finance Committee

Jeff Soukup, Board Member of Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, former President and COO, PlanetOut Inc., and former Co-Chair National Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund

Pam Cooke, Board Member of National Stonewall Democrats

http://johnedwards.com/...

Edwards Gains Support In Texas

Prominent Democratic leaders endorse Edwards for president

Austin, Texas – As Senator John Edwards visits Austin today to attend a "Small Change for Big Change" grassroots fundraiser, the John Edwards for President campaign announced that 20 Texas Democrats are endorsing Edwards for president, including several members of the Texas State House of Representatives. These Democrats join Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Congressman Charlie Gonzalez, and former Congressman and 2006 Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Chris Bell, all of whom have previously announced their support for Senator Edwards.

Former Congressman Max Sandlin said, "John Edwards is a rare candidate - he has both the courage to stand up for the core values we believe in as Democrats, and the ability to compete everywhere in the country, including here in Texas."

"John Edwards has spent his life speaking out for those without a voice," said Texas House Democratic Leader Jim Dunnam. "I am proud to support a Democrat who will fight for working Americans and bring about real change in our country."

"We need a Democrat in the White House in 2008 to fix the damage done by the Bush Administration and put our country back on track," said state Representative Garnet Coleman. "John Edwards is the best Democrat to take back the White House and restore America to its place of leadership."

"John Edwards is a true leader who can bring together all Americans," said state Representative Trey Martinez Fischer. "He has bold plans to transform our country—plans to end the war in Iraq, guarantee health care for every American, halt global warming and strengthen the middle class."

"I encourage all Texans to join me in supporting a great Democrat, a great husband, great father, and most of all a great American—John Edwards for president," said Charles Soechting, the immediate past chair of the Texas Democratic Party.

Current Elected Officials

Dallas Mayor Laura Miller - Dallas
State Senator Kirk Watson - Austin
State House Democratic Leader Jim Dunnam - Waco
State Representative Trey Martinez-Fischer, Vice Chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus - San Antonio
State Representative Garnet Coleman, Immediate Past Chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus & Chair of the Texas Legislative Study Group - Houston
State Representative Joe Farias - San Antonio
State Representative Stephen Frost - New Boston
State Representative Mark Homer - Paris
State Representative Paula Pierson - Arlington
State Representative Craig Eiland - Galveston

Former Elected Officials:

Former U.S. Representative Max Sandlin - Marshall
State Senator Babe Schwartz - Galveston

Other Prominent Texans for John Edwards:

Charles Soechting - Former Texas Democratic Party Chairman - San Marcos
Hank Gilbert - 2006 Commissioner of Agriculture Democratic Nominee - Tyler
Jim Marston - Director, Environmental Defense Texas * - Austin
Enrique Moreno - El Paso
Frank Herrera - Former Chair, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund * - San Antonio
Mikal Watts - Possible 2008 Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate - San Antonio
Liz Carpenter - Austin
Karen Dulaney Smith, Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees - Austin*

• For Identification Purposes Only

http://johnedwards.com/...

Well that's it for tonight's EENR. So glad you could stop by...hang a while and chat. Always lots of good company here at the EENR.