Chet Edwards emerging as Obama VP finalist

[RunInRed 16,994]

This would throw the media for a loop...

WASHINGTON -- Presidential candidate Barack Obama is hours away from naming his running mate, as little-known Texas congressman Chet Edwards is emerging as a finalist.

Democratic officials say that Edwards was one of the few Democrats whose background was checked by Obama's campaign, and he was a finalist for the job.

Edwards is among a small circle of people mentioned, including Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and Evan Bayh of Indiana.

Obama was expected to text message his choice later on Friday or Saturday.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obam...p082208.article

Edwards' Bio:

Chet Edwards

Congressman Chet Edwards proudly represents portions of North Texas, Central Texas and the Brazos Valley in Washington. Since first elected to the United States Congress in 1990, Chet has gained seniority and influence and is now one of only 8 House members to serve as a senior member on both the House Budget and the Appropriations Committees. Chet also serves on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, co-chair of the House Army Caucus, and the USO Congressional Caucus.

As the Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, Congressman Edwards is known as a national champion for America’s veterans, troops, and their families. In 2007, he authored the largest increase in veterans funding in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration, an $11.8 billion increase. American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser called Edwards’ record VA Appropriations bill, “a monumental achievement.” This year, both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars recognized Congressman Edwards’ leadership with their national awards given to only one member of Congress. In 2007, he was awarded the Disabled American Veterans' “Going to Bat for Veterans” award for authoring the historic VA funding increases. Working with Speaker Pelosi in 2005, Congressman Edwards introduced the GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century, which dramatically improved veterans’ health care and benefits, and covered the full cost of a college education. Edwards then received the Military Order of the Purple Heart’s "Inspirational Leadership" award in 2005. In 2008, Chairman Edwards played a key role in enacting the new GI Bill of Rights into law.

During his 18 year tenure in Congress including 11 years of seniority on the powerful Appropriations Committee, Congressman Edwards has developed a reputation of working hard and effectively for his Central Texas constituents. This reputation is the result of his commitment to protecting jobs and the local economy by making vital federal investments in key education, health, transportation, and water programs in the 17th District. Securing important federal investments for Fort Hood, the Central Texas Veterans’ Health Care System, and university research programs at Baylor and Texas A&M Universities are also a primary focus of Congress Edwards’ work in Washington.

Having represented Fort Hood, the world's largest Army base, Congressman Edwards has also played a major leadership role in support of the U.S. Army, military families, and homeland defense programs. In 2007, he received the Marix Congressional Achievement Award from the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) in recognition of his work. In 2006, Congressman Edwards was honored with the Award of Merit, the highest award given by the Military Coalition, which represents 36 military and veteran groups. In 2003, the Association of the U.S. Army gave Congressman Edwards its "Legislator of the Year Award." He has been the co-chair of the House Army caucus for over a decade and served on the House Armed Services and veterans Affairs Committees for six years.

Early in his congressional career, Congressman Edwards became known as a leader in the fight against nuclear terrorism, and in 2001, strongly opposed cuts of $100 million to the nuclear non-proliferation budget proposed by the Bush Administration. Serving as a member on the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, Edwards helps to oversee key homeland defense and university research programs to protect Americans from nuclear terrorism. To inspect more cargo coming into U.S. seaports, Edwards supported the implementation of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and, in 2003, helped secure $84 million to the budget to install radiological detectors at the busiest foreign ports, so nuclear materials can be detected overseas before terrorists can get them to targets in America.

As a respected voice on issues facing working families, Edwards has pushed for increased access to health care for children of working families under the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), supported middle class tax cuts, and protected Medicare and Social Security benefits for America's seniors. His pro-economic, pro-agriculture record has also earned him endorsements from both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau Agfund. The U.S Chamber of Commerce has given him their "Spirit of Enterprise" Award for the past several years for his support of business.

Edwards has taken principled stands opposing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, protecting a woman’s right to choose, favoring a comprehensive immigration reform plan gives undocumented immigrants the opportunity to earn citizenship, and leading the fight to protect church-state separation from incursions by the Bush Administration. Congressman Edwards has also been recognized for his innovative, cooperative approaches to protecting private property rights and the environment.

Congressman Edwards is known as a fiscal conservative who believes massive federal deficits and the $9 trillion national debt are harmful to our economy and morally wrong to pass on to our children and grand children. The non-partisan Concord Coalition has given him its "Deficit Hawk" Award.

As a lifelong person of faith, Chet has been honored by the Baptist Joint Committee and earned the Walter Cronkite Award from the Interfaith Alliance for his principled stand to keep government regulations out of our churches and houses of worship. Congressman Edwards has also been honored with the T.B. Maston Christian Ethics Award.

In the 1990’s, Congressman Edwards served on the House Veterans Affairs and Armed Services Committees for six years before receiving an appointment to the Appropriations Committee. He was also appointed Democratic chief deputy whip in 1995 along with Reps. Bill Richardson, Rosa DeLauro, and John Lewis. Edwards, a moderate Democrat, was appointed to help heal the rifts between progressive and conservative members of the Democratic caucus at the time.

Congressman Edwards graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Economics from Texas A&M University in 1974. Upon graduation, he received the Earl Rudder Award, given to two outstanding seniors. He then worked 3 years as a congressional aide to Congressman Olin E. "Tiger" Teague. At the age of 26, Edwards was encouraged by Congressman Teague to become his successor in 1978. Congressman Edwards narrowly lost in the Democratic primary to Phil Gramm, but then went on to earn an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

In the 1980’s, Congressman Edwards worked at the Trammell Crow Company in commercial real estate; and owned and was the President of Edwards Communications, a rural radio station in South Texas. From 1983 to 1989, Edwards served in the Texas Senate. As a Member of the Senate Education Committee, he played an active role in reducing class sizes in Texas' public schools and was named one of Ten Best Legislators by Texas Monthly magazine.

Congressman Edwards was born and raised in Corpus Christi where he was inspired by his neighbor, Dr. Hector Garcia, a Hispanic civil rights icon who founded the American GI Forum.

Chet is a lifelong Methodist. He and his wife, Lea Ann, along with their sons, J.T. (12) and Garrison (11) attend the Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, and the McLean Baptist Church in McLean, Virginia.

http://edwards.house.gov/html/bio.cfm

[Tiger Al 0]

I've not heard him mentioned before now. If true, it would further highlight the organization and efficiency of the Obama campaign. I read over his bio and he sounds very interesting.

[CCTAU 3,369]

Wasn't he the older brother in "Weird Science?"

[WinCrimson 61]

Who picked this guy? CCTAU? He's more conservative than John McCain.

Democrats may have sold out once again. Lieberman part deux.

According to his own campaign website, Edwards:

- “Supported allowing the assault weapons ban to expire in 2004.” (Source: Chet Edwards for Congress / 2nd Amendment Rights) In 2004, part of John Kerry’s platform was supporting the renewal of the assault weapons ban.

- “Chet believes our nation’s first priority is to secure our borders and to protect our homeland and he strongly opposes amnesty in any form.” (Source: Chet Edwards for Congress / Border Security & Illegal Immigration) This puts Rep. Edwards to the right of John McCain on immigration.

- “Chet favors cracking down on lawyers who file frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits that drive up costs.” (Source: Chet Edwards for Congress / Making Health Care More Affordable & Accessible) Bush used tort reform - precisely what Edwards is talking about here - to bash John Kerry over the head on health care during the 2004 election cycle.

- Rep. Edwards voted for “[a] permanent repeal of the unfair Death Tax … [and] reduction of capital gains taxes.” (Source: Chet Edwards for Congress / Tax Relief for Working Families) Just what we need, a Democratic vice president who would favor more taxes like those secured by the Bush administration.

There’s more from On the Issues:

- In 2004, Rep. Edwards voted for the bill that tightened bankruptcy rules.

- Also in 2004, Rep. Edwards voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage as well as voting in 2003 for a constitutional amendment to prohibit flag desecration.

- Edwards voted to replace illegal export tax breaks with $140 billion in legal breaks.

- Edwards voted in favor of the Bush adminsitration’s energy policy and voted against prohibiting oil drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), despite evidence that such drilling would be of minimal benefit to Americans and may damage the arctic environment.

- Edwards voted for fast track authority for trade agreements as well as voting for unfair Bush trade agreements with Chile, Singapore, and Australia.

- Edwards voted in 2002 to approve the use of force in Iraq.

And finally, according to the Washington Post’s Votes Database:

- Edwards joined only 31 other House Democrats to cross the aisle and vote for the Military Commissions Act of 2006, the infamous “torture bill.”

- Edwards joined only 17 other House Democrats to cross the aisle and vote for the Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act of 2006, which endorsed President Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program.

- Edwards joined only 41 other House Democrats in 2006 to cross the aisle and vote for the non-binding resolution that endorsed President Bush’s policy in the Iraq War and rejected any time table for withdrawal.

[RunInRed 16,994]

Oh a moderate, heaven forbid!

The Case For Edwards: By Matt Glazer of the progressive Texas blog Burnt Orange Report:

He is a nationally recognized veterans champion in Congress, with strong military support in deep connections in the U.S. Army and at the Pentagon. Just this year, he's been honored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. And as chair of the House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, he just authorized the largest increase in veterans' funding in the history of the VA.

Edwards is fresh face who won't overshadow Obama. He's a southern, moderate, white male in his late 50s who brings geographic and demographic balance to the ticket. He has humble blue collar roots, and has been known to speak Spanish from time to time.

Chet Edwards is a pretty darn good campaigner, with a record of winning in Republican turf. But in spite of (or perhaps because of) his broad appeal to Democrats as well as Republicans and Independents, he is well respected on Capitol Hill - with a wide range of support among liberals and conservatives. (An example: Congressman John Lewis, a liberal African American from Atlanta who fought beside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, has been known to campaign with Edwards in Central Texas).

[CCTAU 3,369]

Who picked this guy? CCTAU? He's more conservative than John McCain.

Democrats may have sold out once again. Lieberman part deux.

According to his own campaign website, Edwards:

- “Supported allowing the assault weapons ban to expire in 2004.” (Source: Chet Edwards for Congress / 2nd Amendment Rights) In 2004, part of John Kerry’s platform was supporting the renewal of the assault weapons ban.

- “Chet believes our nation’s first priority is to secure our borders and to protect our homeland and he strongly opposes amnesty in any form.” (Source: Chet Edwards for Congress / Border Security & Illegal Immigration) This puts Rep. Edwards to the right of John McCain on immigration.

- “Chet favors cracking down on lawyers who file frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits that drive up costs.” (Source: Chet Edwards for Congress / Making Health Care More Affordable & Accessible) Bush used tort reform - precisely what Edwards is talking about here - to bash John Kerry over the head on health care during the 2004 election cycle.

- Rep. Edwards voted for “[a] permanent repeal of the unfair Death Tax … [and] reduction of capital gains taxes.” (Source: Chet Edwards for Congress / Tax Relief for Working Families) Just what we need, a Democratic vice president who would favor more taxes like those secured by the Bush administration.

There’s more from On the Issues:

- In 2004, Rep. Edwards voted for the bill that tightened bankruptcy rules.

- Also in 2004, Rep. Edwards voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage as well as voting in 2003 for a constitutional amendment to prohibit flag desecration.

- Edwards voted to replace illegal export tax breaks with $140 billion in legal breaks.

- Edwards voted in favor of the Bush adminsitration’s energy policy and voted against prohibiting oil drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), despite evidence that such drilling would be of minimal benefit to Americans and may damage the arctic environment.

- Edwards voted for fast track authority for trade agreements as well as voting for unfair Bush trade agreements with Chile, Singapore, and Australia.

- Edwards voted in 2002 to approve the use of force in Iraq.

And finally, according to the Washington Post’s Votes Database:

- Edwards joined only 31 other House Democrats to cross the aisle and vote for the Military Commissions Act of 2006, the infamous “torture bill.”

- Edwards joined only 17 other House Democrats to cross the aisle and vote for the Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act of 2006, which endorsed President Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program.

- Edwards joined only 41 other House Democrats in 2006 to cross the aisle and vote for the non-binding resolution that endorsed President Bush’s policy in the Iraq War and rejected any time table for withdrawal.

And you , sir are what is wrong with your party today. There is no middle with you guys. You are so far left that it defies logic. McCain will bring in a lot of moderate votes. The dims will not even touch those votes due to "moderate" being a foreign word to them.