holy crap

This e-mail was sent out by the John Edwards for President campaign today:

Yesterday, in Spain, the world's leading climate scientists warned that our planet will suffer "abrupt and irreversible" damage from climate change if we do not take action immediately.

Yesterday, in Los Angeles, a coalition of environmental and progressive organizations held a presidential campaign forum on global warming.

All of the Democratic and Republican candidates were invited to attend. Only three cared enough to show up: John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich and Hillary Clinton. It was John who dominated the forum with his bold ideas for dealing with climate change.

Take a few moments to watch the video and listen to what he had to say:

http://johnedwards.com/r/44538/434322/

Here's what two of the bloggers covering the forum had to say. From Devilstower reporting for Daily Kos:

"John Edwards hit the ground running -- almost literally. He tore into the subject at a pace that made me breathless just listening to him, and he was more than willing than the other candidates to make definitive statements. He hearkened back to Kennedy, and made a call for national sacrifice. Edwards also seemed the best informed on the latest UN report."

And from Todd Beeton at MyDD:

"Edwards was in his element at this forum. This forum actually gave him the perfect opportunity to expand on his calls for an end to lobbyist influence and for unequivocal bold leadership -- 'no half measures.' This forum pretty much crystallized the primary difference between Clinton and Edwards. The choice couldn't be more clear."

http://johnedwards.com/r/44539/434322/

John Edwards believes that the threat from global warming demands urgent action. That's why he's led the debate by being the first Democratic candidate to call for an 80% reduction in carbon emissions and why he has made stopping global warming a centerpiece of his campaign.

Progress is being blocked and thwarted by oil and gas companies spending millions of dollars and deploying hundreds of lobbyists in Washington to make sure America stays addicted to foreign oil and fossil fuels. It's time to fix the broken political system in Washington that bends to corporate power and feeds off its money.

If we're going to do that, then John needs your support today. With just 47 days until the Iowa caucuses, we need to make sure voters in the critical early states hear John's bold ideas on climate change and global warming.

Please take a moment to make a contribution to our campaign -- and then forward this e-mail to your friends and ask them to support John as he takes on these vested interests.

Sincerely,

--David Bonior
National Campaign Manager, John Edwards for President

The irony is that I'm leaning Clinton. But the fact is, the differences were stark. Clinton: a call for pragmatism and incremental change and Edwards: a call for an undoing of the status quo and for a pretty radical and immediate transformation of the way Washington works.