Posted 11:02 AM by Robert

Senator Edwards Speaks Truth To Power!

There's a lot of fuss being raised over Senator John Edwards' claim that "When John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve are going to walk. Get up out of that wheelchair and walk again."

Senator Edwards should be commended for speaking truth to power.

Of course it's completely absurd to think that John Kerry's election to the Presidency would help anyone in the position of Mr. Reeves to walk again. There is, in fact, a nearly 0% chance of that happening - and Senator Edwards obviously knows that.

But rather than uncharitably construing Senator Edwards' claim as a lie or transparent demagoguery , one should construe his colorful claim as merely expressing his opinion of the chances that John Kerry will be elected president. Yes, John Edwards is simply telling his running mate and the nation that in Senator Edwards' opinion there is, in fact, a nearly 0% chance of that happening, too. Sure, Senator Edwards might have expressed himself differently, and said something like "When pigs fly, people like Christopher Reeve are going to walk. Get up out of that wheelchair and walk again." But he had more courage than that.

It's important that John Edwards be able to face up to the power of John Kerry and give him the bad news with the good. And it's also important that we all give Senator Edwards the benefit of the doubt. He should be commended.