John Edwards Quizzed on Milk, Beer Prices (Pointless Presswhore Article)

[wellst0nev0ter]

WASHINGTON - Democratic vice presidential contender John Edwards (news - web sites) may not know how much milk costs in New Mexico, but he's got a handle on his local grocery prices.

Edwards has promoted himself as the down-to-earth candidate who can relate to the struggles of working families, while trying to portray Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) as out of touch.

Broadcaster Don Imus put those claims to the test Thursday, quizzing the North Carolina Democrat about the costs of a gallon of milk and six-pack of beer in Albuquerque, N.M.

"You were just in Albuquerque, do you know?" Imus asked.

Edwards sidestepped the ale question, saying, "I haven't bought a six-pack of beer in years, so I don't know."

<snip>

"I know about what it costs. I think a half gallon of milk costs about $2.30, $2.40," he said. "Is that right?"


A half gallon of non-name brand whole milk sells for $2.29 at the Safeway grocery store in Edwards' upscale Georgetown neighborhood in Washington. It's $2.09 at Smith's Food & Drug Centers in Albuquerque.

LINK

Gee, if Edwards was off by 30 cents, how Gored would he be :eyes:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. a half gallon of milk costs about $2.30, $2.40

He got it right.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=579294

[MountainLaurel]

2. Yep

Same at that store in upscale Georgetown (I've actually shopped at that Safeway, and it's not all that and a bag of chips) as it is in the warehouse grocery filled with immigrants a mile or so away.

[Catch22Dem]

45. I've been there too...

Was looking for some beer. Didn't know I couldn't buy it in Georgetown, so we went to some strip club called...um...I don't remember. I remember a place on K street called Archibalds, but I can't remember the place in Georgetown. Jesus, how did I start talking about strip clubs. I'm such a perv.

[really-looney]

48. Goodguys

[Catch22Dem]

51. Yeah, that was the place

Came highly recommended, but I thought Archibalds was better. Plus, the sports bar upstairs from Archibalds was quite nice too.

[KansDem]

5. No he didn't...

He was a penny off. With that in mind, do you really want him a heart-beat away from the Presidency???(/sarcasm)

After all, "a penny here, a penny there, and pretty soon we're talking real cents"

[Emboldened Chimp]

32. Costs me a lot more than that in CA...

more like $3.40.

[RichV]

49. For a half gallon?

Damn. That's rough. What's a gallon, like $6?

[dsc]

3. I wouldn't know the cost of a six pack of beer to save my life

but in this day and age it is wise for politicians to keep up on the prices of things. This is commonly asked.

[Lex]

6. A six pack of beer is too generic anyway.

Six pack of fancy import to a sixer of Milwaukee's Best, there's a huge spread there anyway.

[dsc]

10. Yeah it definately can be a huge spread

Milwakee's Best is so cheap. At one time it was cheaper than pop. I am assuming taxes have taken care of that but it must be cheap.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

13. Cheapest beer I ever bought was Piels Real draft

got a case for $4. 1977 I believe was the year.

[mark414]

26. here in milwaukee

the beast is still mighty cheap, though is rivaled by other cheap ass beers like hamm's and blatz. most of these are cheap for a reason (though i can't for the life of me figure out why budweiser is priced how it is haha). however, the best of the "cheap" beers is pabst blue ribbon, which also happens to be one of my favorites.

[chelsea0011]

40. Well, it is the King of Beers. That moniker gets a price increase.

[TrogL]

30. It's a loaded question

along the lines of "have you stopped beating your wife".

[Longhorn]

47. Me, either. We buy it in 12-packs! :) n/t

[WI_DEM]

4. that's about what a gallon of milk would be here in Madison, Wi

Imus may know the cost of a six pack, but I don't fault Edwards if he doesn't.

[Shakespeare]

7. Well, y'all have lower prices than anywhere else I've been lately, then.

Milk prices have gone through the roof recently. Edwards' guess is in line with what we've got in CA.

[HuckleB]

12. The fact that it's in line with where he actually shops is what counts.

Milk is a bit more up here in the northwest, around $2.60 a gallon, a bit more to get the GBH-free stuff.

[Lex]

15. 2.60 a gallon? That's very inexpensive.

Here, in NC, I thought a gallon had edged up to about 3.99 or 4.00.

Hmmm . . .

[HuckleB]

19. Yeah, I read the article wrong.

I read gallon, when it was per half gallon.

My bad.

We got it good!

Now if I only drank the stuff.

:)

[benfranklin1776]

8. The inanity of the media rages on unabated and unashamedly

This is what passes for campaign reportage? GOD how pathetic that the man was even asked such a question. He is not auditioning for the Price is Right. As if the ability to recite supermarket prices in Albequerque is a good measure of his ability to formulate POLICIES that affect the lives of individuals.

[HuckleB]

9. Shit. That's some cheap milk.

No wonder some folks drink too much of the stuff.

On edit.

No it's not cheap. I read those prices as per gallon, not per half-gallon. For once, we've got it good on at least one product here in Portland.

Of course, I don't drink the stuff - though my wife does.

[Lex]

11. Really. How much is a half gallon where you live?

Just wondering . . .

[HuckleB]

14. Hey, I'm just a DU poster, I'm not running for office.

:)

1/2 gallon runs usually around $1.79 or so, with a gallon about 80 cents more, though it's fluctuated a bit the past few months, and we pay a bit more to get the GBH-free stuff.

[Lex]

16. No seriously, I was just curious.

Prices for milk seem incredibly cheaper than here in NC.

[Bandit]

39. Not cheaper than where I live.. I bet

$2.90 a half gallon here. $4.95 a Gallon in Juneau Alaska

[HuckleB]

18. Whoops. I'm way off. That's EXPENSIVE milk.

Guess we got it good up here in the Willamette Valley. I read those prices as per gallon, when they were per half-gallon. Dang.

OK. I'll stop complaining now and go back in my hole and hide.

[leQ]

22. here in north iowa, we're about $1.79 for half, and $3.39 gal

hy-vee. i don't know if they're the same all over iowa, but butter is my big gripe. $3.99/lb.

[HuckleB]

24. Now that makes sense, at least.

I've never understood why it costs twice as much to buy milk a half-gallon at a time. Since only my wife drinks it, we usually buy the halfsies, soo... at least your prices make sense in terms of how much you pay for each amount.

As for butter, yeah, it's crazy how much it costs. I finally got access to enough studies seven or eight years ago to convince my wife that we margarine is far worse for you than butter, but the switch definitely jacked up our grocery budget a bit. At least this news is finally hitting the general public.

[Karenina]

17. This is ridiculous.

[calico1]

20. Imus is not a dumb man but

he sure can ask some dumb questions sometimes. First of all, if Edwards was in NM campaigning, why would he be going into stores buying milk? Wouldn't a campaign worker be doing that? Besides, don't they stay at hotels during the campaign? Why would they need to go buy milk? He could have asked what the average price of milk was. The beer question is even more stupid. It can vary a lot based on type and brand. I wonder how Imus knows how much beer costs in NM? I might have asked him that since he is a recovering alcoholic.

[onehandle]

21. I wouldn't know.

I've been drinking rice and soy milk for years. Guess me and Poppy Bush are out of touch.

[Bridget Burke]

23. So, when's Imus gonna ask our "president"?

I'd love to hear his answers.

[HuckleB]

28. Someone should catch him off-guard and ask what fifth of bourbon costs.

I'd love to see him fumble around with that one.

[FredScuttle]

33. or what the going rate is for an ounce of coke

oops....forgot! I-man cleaned up his act (snort)

on edit: could apply to both Anus or *

[progressivebydesign]

42. I honestly DOUBT Bush has ever been IN a supermarket...

.. I'm serious. Talk about being out of touch.. I can guarantee Bush has never shopped for groceries, or vacuumed a floor, or washed his own car. Ever. Nor have his parents. They've had servants for that all his life.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

25. Depending on the brand you buy, milk here in Huntsville, AL is in....

...the range of $3.30 to $4.30 per gallon.

I don't quite understand how the big urban markets can buy milk at a cheaper price per gallon. Any thoughts?

[Shakespeare]

27. The price was for a HALF gallon n/t

[progressivebydesign]

43. Our milk is extremely expensive, too...

unless you find it on sale.. it's at least $4.00 a gallon. No one can figure out WHY milk prices are so high in the Seattle areas.. but the food here is very, very expensive.

[saccheradi]

29. what about those of us who are lactose intolerant???

I bet Dubya has no clue how much I pay for Soy Milk, no matter what state he's in...

[Geo55]

35. Milk?

THEY GET THAT FROM COWS....RIGHT?

[TrogL]

31. Ralph Klein (Premier of Alberta) got asked a similar question

...about the price of Scotch.

When he found out how much it was, he proposed the government do something to lower the price.

Gotta love Alberta politics.

[dolstein]

34. When was the last time Bush or Cheney was asked this question?

NT

[mondo joe]

36. WHAT ABOUT ACIDOPHOLOUS MILK???

My moo cow milk doest need any friends!

[stevedeshazer]

37. My question is this

When is the last time that fried-brains Imus walked into a store and bought milk?

Totally bogus line of questioning.

Imus is much more aware of how much money he raised for his frreaking ranch, which takes up about 2/3rds of his show.

Just some old drunk musing.

[MikeG]

38. I bet W knows the price of beer.

Because he counts the change he gets back from Rove when the Turd Blossom makes a beer run.

[progressivebydesign]

41. Shit! I don't know how much milk costs in New Mexico, either.

Does that make me a worthless human being? 6-pack? I've never purchased one.. haven't a clue what it would cost in my OWN town. Hell! I don't even know what a gallon of milk costs here, either.. it's always on sale! That is just the most stupid questioning of all... really, really important stuff. duh!

[hyphenate]

44. Here in central Mass

a gallon goes for about $3.89. I haven't bought a half gallon in quite a while, but I think the last time I looked, it was about $2.89. I thought it was miserable that for just about a dollar more, I cold buy twice as much.

[JDPriestly]

46. Bet Bush knows how much a six-pack of beer costs.

And so do his daughters.
Edwards isn't out of touch, he's sober.

[lostnfound]

50. Bet Edwards knows how many troops have been killed in Iraq.

A much more important number.

Bet he will never say, "you should have given me that question in advance".