But the former Moore County resident emphasized a series of issues in which his views differ widely from those of President Bush, a possible opponent in 2004.
Edwards was in Pinehurst to address a joint gathering of the North and South Carolina press associations.
He offered strong support for the Patients’ Bill of Rights, questioned aspects of the president’s budget, and said the United States should play a critical role in world leadership.
The Patients’ Bill of Rights, passed by the Senate, faces fierce opposition in the House of Representatives, where President Bush supports an alternative measure. Edwards cosponsored the bipartisan bill with Sen. John McCain and Sen. Ted Kennedy.
In his opening remarks, Edwards referred to his successful 2000 campaign days, which started and ended with rallies in Robbins.
True to his roots, Edwards declined to remain for lunch with the newspaper editors and publishers in favor of his mother’s home cooking in Robbins.
“Growing up in Robbins actually played a pretty significant role in my life,” Edwards told the group. “I have come to understand that families in Robbins are representative of families all over the state.”
For the benefit of those from South Carolina, Edwards pointed out that he was born in Palmetto State and lived there in early childhood.
“It gives you a perspective,” he said of his childhood experiences. “What I learned is that those people are relentlessly optimistic. They believe there’s nothing they can’t do and their children can’t do if given the opportunity. Our business in government is to give them that opportunity.”
Edwards said Congress can supply that opportunity by giving people greater control over government and over their own lives. This means, he said, that they should have control over their medical treatment, the election process, education reform, the right to privacy and the right to economic prosperity.
The “people back home,” he said, don’t have millions of dollars to spend on lobbying that big insurance and HMO companies have or to influence government through election campaign gifts.
“The question is not what’s good for Democrats or good for Republicans,” Edwards said. “The question is what’s good for the country, what’s good for democracy. We have to start the process where they believe that they have some control over their government.”
On the issue of the federal budget, Edwards said, “There’s a lot of monkey business with the budget. There are a lot of gadgets and gimmicks that people never hear about.”
During a question and answer period, Edwards said he believes the federal government can afford a tax cut, but not the tax cut supported by President Bush.
“Fiscally, it’s not a responsible budget,” Edwards said. “We have not been straight with the American people.”
The government, Edwards said, must keep a balanced budget.
“We should have aggressively paid off the national debt,” he said. “That’s the responsible thing to do.”
Edwards, as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, will soon take his first trip to the Middle East. He wants to study terrorism, which he called “the greatest threat to national security.”
Edwards said it is important for the United States to remain “engaged around the world.” This country’s leadership is important to the world, he continued.
“It’s vital to our national security, whether it’s in Korea, the Middle East or the Balkans,” he said.
During the question and answer period, he also addressed issues ranging from federal court appointments and the economy to concerns of the newspaper industry.
