Edwards Amps Up Anti-War Stance

ABCNews’ Raelyn Johnson Reports: Former Senator John Edwards is ramping up his anti-war stance and is asking the American people to help him do so.

Today, in a commencement speech delivered in Henniker, New Hampshire, Edwards asked a graduating class to join the American people to "reclaim patriotism" over Memorial Day Weekend in an effort to end the Iraq War.

"Each of us has a responsibility as Americans, a duty to our troops and to each other to do all we can to support the troops to end this war. This Memorial Day Weekend that means more than just getting in your car, driving to the beach, or a parade, or a picnic and saying the words, ‘we support our troops’."

For Edwards, more means sending care packages to troops, organizing prayer vigils and holding public gatherings in support of them. Other items of actions can be found at supportthetroopsendthewar.com, a website Edwards launched today that helps direct people to participate in local anti-war activities and events.

Edwards voted to authorize use of force against Iraq in October 2002. According to Kerry-Edwards campaign insiders, he was vociferous in inner-circle debates against saying that vote was a mistake throughout the 2004 campaign.

However, in this campaign, Edwards has been aggressively outspoken on Iraq and the recent congressional showdown with President Bush on the war supplemental bill. He believes Congress should use its power of the purse to end the war.

"If you and Americans across this country rise up and demand an end to this war, Congress will find the courage, and the President will find he has no choice," Edwards said today.

Edwards is pressuring Congress to stand up to President Bush’s veto of an Iraq supplemental that includes a timetable for troop withdrawal. Against compromising to end the war, Edwards has repeatedly asked Congress to send "the same bill again and again."

It’s clear that Edwards’ anti-war message is one we’ll hear throughout the campaign, again and again.