| Speech notes. Sen. Edwards
started his speech with the "somewhere in America today...it doesn't have
to be that way" theme he used at the DNC winter meeting. Edwards
talked generally about the importance of the union movement, and he specifically
mentioned a couple of IAFF priorities, the Public Safety Employer-Employee
Cooperation Act (collective bargaining) and funding for SAFER. He
called for universal health care, stating that "I am the only candidate,
at least until now, to have a specific, substantive truly universal health
care plan." He also spoke to conditions at Walter Reed and for veterans
returning from Iraq. Edwards sought to distinguish himself from the
other candidates. "When they're not talking to you, do they talk
about organized labor? When they're not talking to you, do they use
the word union and do they use it proudly? Have they walked picket
lines? Have they helped to organize workers across this country?"
Edwards spoke for a bit more than 13 minutes.
Photos
Former
Sen. John Edwards (D-NC)
Former
Gov. Jim Gilmore (R-VA)
Sen.
Barack Obama (D-IL)
Rep.
Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
Sen.
John McCain (R-AZ)
Sen.
Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
Sen.
Chris Dodd (D-CT)
Sen.
Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Gov.
Bill Richardson (D-NM)
Sen.
Joe Biden (D-DE)
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