Edwards criticizes Bush as too "academic"

I know John Edwards specializes in emotional appeals, but given his need to appear more substantive, it was strange to see him criticizing President Bush for being too academic on Larry King last night:

JOHN EDWARDS, 2008 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, I think what America needs from their president under the circumstances is, first, trust. They need to feel like they can trust their president. They need to have a sense of honesty and decency that the president is trying to make the right decision, the best judgment under very difficult circumstances.

What I saw was a very academic, analytical speech, making the case for putting more troops in Iraq. And I think that's now what America needed from its president right now. I think the president is profoundly wrong. I think escalating the war is a huge mistake.

But beyond that, what's happened is that the trust in the president has eroded. And America has to feel in their gut that whether he's right or wrong the president's telling the truth.

And instead of all of the statistics and information that he had in his speech, he should have said, "The situation is very bad in Iraq right now. We're doing the best we can with a difficult situation and..."

KING: Is this what would you have said?

EDWARDS: That's exactly what I would have said.

KING: It's bad?

EDWARDS: I would have said, "It's bad. The choices are bad and worse. We have to be honest. I'm going to be honest with you. I'm going to tell what you I believe is the best thing to do under these circumstances."

Coming soon: Edwards blasts Dick Cheney for being too open and forthcoming with the American people.

Comments

[ack ack ack]

Well it's not like Republicans can use this talking point against Edwards. But lols if they do.