Is John Edwards flip-flopping on his interest in the #2 spot?

During a trip to Spain earlier this month, John Edwards categorically ruled out any interest in the No. 2 spot on the Democratic ticket this time around. Been there, done that, he said in interviews published June 6 in the Spanish newspapers El Mundo and El Pais.

On Sunday, though, the former North Carolina senator -- who sought the top job this year and was Sen. John Kerry's choice for vice president in 2004 -- left the door open ...

... to serving as Sen. Barack Obama's running mate.

Asked on ABC's "This Week" whether he intended his statements to the Spanish papers to be "Shermanesque" -- along the lines of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's response in 1884 of "If drafted, I will not run; if nominated, I will not accept; if elected, I will not serve" -- Edwards told host George Stephanopoulos:

"I intended it to say that this is not a thing that I'm seeking.  I think Sen. Obama, first of all, has earned the right to make this decision for himself.  I think he has enormous choices available to him, really great choices available to him.  And I think he'll go through this process in a thoughtful, orderly way, and he'll decide who he wants to be his running mate.  And that's exactly how it should be done. "

The discussion continued:

     STEPHANOPOULOS:  And you haven't ruled it out, though, completely, even though it's his decision? 

     EDWARDS:  Well, I'd take anything he asked me to think about seriously, but obviously this is something I've done and it's not a job that I'm seeking.

Yeah, but ....

-- Leslie Hoffecker

Comments

[Francis]

And how is this flip flopping? He basically said no, unless Obama really wants him which is unlikely.

[Scootmandubious]

Edwards was my 1st choice among the viable candidates. I would vote for that ticket in a heartbeat and work my tail off for them.

[GC]

Who would possibly want John Edwards on the ticket? He has no national security cred and I'll never understand why poor Americans buy into his crap. All Edwards does is give the Republicans another reason to scream elitist.

[angel]

obama/edwards. can't get no better than that

[hinnis]

Just as I thought. Edwards shows himself to be just another opportunistic politician. I can understand why his wife was not with him when he endorsed Obama. Even she could not stomach it.

[Mike]

This is another case of hyping with the headline. Nowhere in the blog posting is the term "flip-flopping" used. Just another case where a pundit is assigned to chronicle every breath a likely politician is likely to take. In... Out...In... Out.

[Chuckles McGee]

@Francis-

You're right- he's not flip-flopping. "I don't really want to be VP, unless Obama really, really wants me to be." is entirely consistent. I bet this article got about 10 times as many views with "flip-flopping" in the headline than "Edwards doesn't want to be VP"

[What an Insult]

John Edwards is an INSULT TO THE DNC, he held out to ensorse anyone till the last minute, therefore neither Hillary nor Obama would select him, GIVE ME A BREAK!!!

[tiddle]

John Edwards is just another politician. Why would he not run as veep again, if he gets the chance, since he's never qualified enough to be the nominee?

But putting Edwards on Obama's ticket will put it even more far-left than it already is now. Edwards won't bring anything to the table. He's not even a sure-win, except his home state.

Edwards is pathetic.

[Clay]

I told my students I was going to teach one book but then I decided to teach another one. Thank heavens I'm teaching a class of students and not running for office, else Leslie Hoffecker might call me a flip-flopper.

[Chuck]

Great, a racist and an ambulance chaser. This nation is doomed.

[John]

Using the words "flip-flopping" is not accurate in this case.

Using the words "flip-flopping" is boring writing.

Please be more creative.

[Joe]

Elitist my foot. As anyone who knows anything about John Edwards knows, he comes from a working class background, is extremely intelligent and has more national security experience than the current occupant of the white house had when he was selected. Of course the Republicans would scream elitist, but they're going to do that no matter who Obama chooses. I think he'd make a great running mate and an even better VP.

[Moon]

They say that the being Vice President is the only job that no one wants, but no one will turn down.

[kaye]

Edwards should have stayed out of the race to begin with. His wife is seriously ill and needs all the support she can get while going through treatment. If he were any kind of a father or husband, he would have made his family his first priority during this difficult time. If he were to be offered the VP position ... he would more than likely accept it ... unfortunately for his wife and family. He's a selfish idiot with concerns only for his political ambitions .... a classic politician in other words.

[Cheryll]

But John is backing Obama...that still spells elitist to me! Or socialist..call it what you want!

[kaye]

Edwards should have stayed out of the race to begin with. His wife is seriously ill and needs all the support she can get while going through treatment. If he were any kind of a father or husband, he would have made his family his first priority during this difficult time. If he were to be offered the VP position ... he would more than likely accept it ... unfortunately for his wife and family. He's a selfish idiot with concerns only for his political ambitions .... a classic politician in other words.

[eddie johnson]

Perhaps even Edwards is uncomfortable with Obamas friend here and abroad. Read On:
In October 2005 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a conference in Tehran, said he that "Israel must be wiped off of the map." Speaking to a large gathering of students on an October 26 program titled, "The World Without Zionism," Mr. Ahmadinejad called on Palestinians to take control of the land, saying that "The establishment of a Zionist regime was a move by the world oppressor against the Islamic world." On December 11, 2006 the "International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust" opened and was called for by and held at the behest of Ahmadinejad, and it was basically a Holocaust denial conference.

Despite this in July 2007 and afterwards Barack Hussein Obama said that he would be willing to meet with the Iranian President (as well as various other dictators), anywhere, anytime with no preconditions. He has since retracted such statements but apparently its too late.

Ahmadinejad declared on Monday june 9, 2008 that Israel “has reached its final phase and will soon be wiped out from the geographic scene.” At the same time he indicated he looks forward to being able to work with a President like Obama.

Not sure I would think it was WRIGHT to be associated with this guy either!

[IdealSkeptic]

Edwards on the ticket with Obama is one of the very few things that might get me to vote for Obama. And I really, really want to vote Democrat. But I really, really don't want to vote for Obama. But, in regard to what said on both occasions, I'm reminded of what my college professor used to say. "You're going to get splinters if you keep riding that fence."

[Patty Morlan]

Well if this is a flip flop then I'm all for it!

John Edwards would make a great addition to an Obama ticket. He's a tireless campaigner, great in debates (won almost all of them in the Primary according to the undecided voters), anti-corporate lobbyist like Obama and the most recent polling by Survey USA shows that an Obama/Edwards ticket is one powerful ticket in the swing states.

Here's a link to piece on Democratic Underground where the Survey USA polling is discussed.

Evidence of What Edwards as VP Nominee Would Add to the Obama Ticket

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Time%20for%20change/322

[EddienTexas]

what is an elitist?

Born into an Admirals family?
Chasin women in a corvet as kid?
Marrying a MODEL then ditching her when she went through a car windshield and wasnt so pretty anymore?
Having many affairs even though you cant raise either arm above your head.
Flying military planes to rendevous for an adultrous affair and then marrying a filthy rich woman who steals drugs and forges perscriptions from a CHARITY? At taxpayers expense.
Naw no way a lowly admirals son can be an elitest!

McCain surely can not be an ELITEST!

Obama '08

[jesse]

OBSTINATE AND UNWILLING TO LISTEN:
“I DON’T KNOW AND I DON’T CARE”

I believe with all my heart and everything that's in me that if we decide to leave Iraq there will be chaos, there will be genocide and they will follow us home," McCain said. "I'm not prepared to let that happen. We cannot choose to lose. They should have let us win in Vietnam a generation ago."

What about the political consequences?

"I don't know, and I don't care," he said emphatically, repeatedly insisting that he would rather lose a campaign than lose a war.

His wife, Cindy, similarly brushes off the political consequences as she tells audiences that her husband is the only candidate she would trust to oversee the war to the end. "If we lose this race, it's not the end of the world. We have a great life; we have a great family," she said.

October 30, 2007

[ldb]

I feel that John Edwards is the person I would most like to see as president should anything happen to Senator Obama... I feel he would be the most likely to carry forward in a similar manner to Senator Obama as far as bringing needed change. But most of all I think they would be an awesome team for change the Obamas and he Edwards teams. I just think it is the most powerful combination. I think though that John would prefer to be attorney general. But all in all I think he is the best VP and would make a great president.

[PulSamsara]

Barack Obama for President of The UNITED States of America.

[Mary]

Seems as tho all the politicans are flip flopping these days.
Heard where Watts, the black conservation Republican from Oklahoma, who is/was a Congressman now says he will support Obama because the blacks have been treated badly and need support, or something to this effect. Talk about a turncoat. The blacks have come out as big racist in this election as most are voting for Obama only because he's black; they could care less that he's no good as leader for this country. Always have been friends with Black people but now I'm really disappointed in them. They are not using their intelligence. I did not vote for Kennedy and I am Catholic.

[Andrew]

@IdealSkeptic: Just curious, what's keeping you riding the fence on Obama, and why would Edwards sway your vote?

[CAReal]

The ULTIMATE Dream Team: OBAMA / EDWARDS... and a Democratic landslide in November !

[Lee]

McCain still thinks he is in Vietnam he has mental problems, yet to to be solved.

[Luigi]

Looks like Edwards in some trouble with a mistress?

Gotta love liberal values