John Edwards' Building A Better America Week

First here are two of my favorite public figures, Keith Olbermann interviewing (please G*d let it be so) Future President John Edwards on Countdown last week

And about that Republican debate, it was so effective that even Republicans are now considering John Edwards the best choice for America. Maybe it would've helped his cause if Mitt had gotten his facts straight

But that's in the past; let's move forward.

As momentum for the Edwards campaign grows in the early states, today the campaign receives the endorsement of Congressman Bruce Braley, the most senior Iowa Democrat to endorse a candidate during this campaign. Braley will announce his endorsement of Senator John Edwards at a community meeting in Waterloo, Iowa. Braley is supporting Edwards because he believes Edwards is the best candidate to take on the special interests, take back the White House and bring real change to our country.

Today, Edwards also kicks off "Building a Better America" week to highlight his proposals for restoring the American Dream. Edwards has challenged Americans to rise up and meet the great moral test of our time to ensure our generation leaves this country better for our children than it was when our parents gave it to us.

"I'm proud to endorse John Edwards for president," said Braley. "Throughout this campaign, on issue after issue, John has proposed bold ideas to end the power of special interests in Washington and restore our government to the American people. John is the only Democratic candidate who grew up in rural America, and he has most specific, most progressive and most far-reaching ideas. I truly believe he is the best Democratic candidate to lead us to victory in 2008. With his leadership, I believe we can make his vision of One America a reality."

"I am honored to receive Bruce's support," said Edwards. "He is a true leader and a strong voice on behalf of Iowa's families. Bruce is committed to ending the power of special interests and making sure all hard-working Iowans have the opportunity to work hard, get ahead, and leave their children a better future. I look forward to joining with Bruce to change our country."

Braley was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 and represents Iowa's first congressional district. He serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure where he is Vice-Chairman of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. He also serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Small Business, and is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology. Like Edwards, Braley worked hard to help pay his way through school. After earning a law degree, Braley worked as an attorney to protect workers and hold corporations accountable to their employees and consumers.

To highlight his plans to build a better America where every family has the opportunity to fulfill the American Dream, during "Building a Better America" week, Edwards will highlight five core proposals:

• Universal Health Care: Forty-seven million Americans live without health insurance. All of us struggle with the skyrocketing costs and inconsistent quality of care in our health care system – a system that fails to ensure that even insured Americans get the care they need. Edwards will create a true universal health care system that covers everyone in America, brings down costs, and creates more choices and security.

• Good Jobs: Approximately 25 million jobs are at risk of moving offshore within the next decades, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Edwards will invest in the good jobs of the future by creating a new energy economy based on clean, renewable energy, rejecting failed trade deals in favor of new smarter trade policies, and eliminating tax incentives for corporations to invest overseas.

• Excellent Schools: America still has two school systems that are separate and unequal. Every year 200,000 qualified students cannot afford college. Edwards will invest in teachers with higher pay and a new National Teachers University, overhaul No Child Left Behind, and invest more to turn around struggling schools. His College for Everyone initiative will let everyone work their way through college.

• Affordable Housing: Affordable housing in safe neighborhoods near good schools and good jobs is a key to opportunity. Homeownership is a cornerstone of the American Dream and helps families build wealth and security. Edwards will help families save for a down payment with a new Get Ahead tax credit, create 1 million housing vouchers to let families live where they choose, build more economically integrated housing.

• Strong Families: Two-third of mothers now work, but American workplace policies are badly outdated. The U.S. is one of only five countries in the world without paid maternity leave. Edwards will work with states to offer eight weeks of paid leave to new parents and workers with serious illnesses in the family. He will also create a universal Great Promise program of early childhood education and more than double the child care tax credit.

John also lays out the moral test of our generation

Looking for something substantive? Here's John Edwards at the Iowa Heartland Forum hosted by the Center for Community Change from December 1st.

And if you live in Iowa please watch this and this video (it's pretty amazing).

Change America. Vote Edwards.

[UPDATE: John "won" the NPR Democratic Debate. Totally. Progress always.]

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