It's Not Over

By now everyone has heard the sad news that John Edwards is dropping out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.  This may be the end of his campaign, but it isn't the end of his ideas.  And the MOMocrats are going to be around to keep reminding Senators Clinton and Obama about John Edwards' ideas.

For all we've heard about the presidential candidates *cough*OBAMA*cough* being socially media savvy, moms who blog have been pretty much ignored, except by the Edwards campaign.  While companies and PR people can't wait to market to us or hear what we think about the latest mop or kid video on the market, nobody besides Edwards seems to give a flying fart what we think about public policy.

I'm a Democrat.  I'll vote the party line, whether the nominee is Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama, but I'd much rather be active and involved in choosing our next presidential candidate.  Right now, I honestly don't know who I'll vote for.  I want to see what HRC and Obama do now that Edwards has dropped out.  Will one of them pick up the torch that Edwards set down?  Will they really make poverty an issue in their campaigns?  Or will they go back to letting someone else drive policy?

Up until now, John Edwards has been driving policy in the Democratic primaries.  Clinton and Obama have been following merrily along.  Now that John Edwards isn't forcing the situation, will they even still care about the Two Americas?  Only time will tell.  In the meantime, Senators Clinton and Obama, you need to earn our votes.  You need to prove to us that you are the one to lead our country out of the green hole that's been swallowing us.

Up until now, you haven't been paying much attention to us, the parents who blog.  It's not that you don't care what bloggers think.  All we have to do is hop on over the Daily Kos or the Huffington Post and read about the kind of access you give political bloggers.  Oh, we know you care. You just haven't seemed to care unless you can directly see a result in terms of political support or money.  It's not so clear cut with us, the parents who blog about anything and everything.  But make no mistake, we vote, we're well educated, and we talk and write about politics in a personal way.  People read our blogs.  Some people actually do care what we think.

So, here's what I say: Take heed, Senators.  The internet is viral.  If one of our fellow mom bloggers can get thousands of women across the country heading to the gym in an attempt to replicate her Big O on the treadmill, just think what we could do for your ideas and your campaign. Individually, we may not be much.  Together?  Oh, together we are a force.  But you have to prove to us that you're the right person for the job.

Ignore us at your peril.

Sincerely,
One Pissed Off Mommy Blogger

Cross posted at Stephanie's personal blog, Lawyer Mama, in a very different form.