Is John Edwards the greatest rags-to-riches story ever?

[freesqueeze]

Here’s a guy whose parents could not cover the $100 hospital bill when he was born. They had to deal with a loan shark to cover the bill and when his dad commented “they would have hauled away our furniture if we hadn't paid it back” his mom asked, “What furniture?”

Fast forward about fifty years and here’s the same kid running for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Of all the Democrats in the race, Edwards is the wealthiest with a fortune some estimate at $60 million.

I see a huge difference in people, like Edwards, who earn their fortunes and all those charter members of the lucky sperm club.

Have we had a President with such a humble beginning, since Lincoln?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. Bill Clinton is pretty good too

IMHO

[freesqueeze]

3. Good Point

But I think Edwards edges him out slightly. Clinton had stability. His childhood home in Hope looks like a pretty nice place.

Now, in the area of "riches" I think Edwards came a lot further.

[TwilightGardener]

18. Clinton had "stability"? With a drunken, abusive stepdad?

No, Edwards was the one with a stable household, and I don't think he was all THAT poor. Lower middle class, maybe.

[Mass]

53. You may want to read about Clinton's life.

This said, if you mean that Edwards made a lot more money than the public servant Clinton was all his life, you are probably right. I am however not sure that it is a positive, whatever personnal flaws Clinton has.

[JI7]

59. Clinton had no stabliity and to this day he wants to be loved by those who hate him

see his relationship with pappy bush.

[Warpy]

2. It can go both ways, but Edwards clearly remembers where

he started out in life and means to keep remembering it. Others are successes and want to forget, along with kicking people on the ladder below them in the face so there will be no competition.

Whether or not he'll actually be able to turn this country around so it favors the people instead of a few rich men is anyone's guess. The rhetoric is comforting, though.

[Beaverhausen]

4. At least he keeps the "two americas' issue front and center

I don't hear any other candidates talking about working to lower the numbers living in poverty.

[freesqueeze]

7. I always wonder...

do poor people vote?

[freesqueeze]

38. And why is it

That nobody's talking about the lower classes? Is this somehow a political negative to care about the financially less fortunate? I suspect that too many Americans blame the poor for their poverty.

[freesqueeze]

5. Ahhhhhhh...

the rhetoric is so warm and toasty.

[sandnsea]

6. People still borrow money to pay doctor bills

Nothing unusual about that. God I'm sick of hearing about poor John Edwards. He's no different than 90% of the country.

[freesqueeze]

9. I'm not comparing him to the rest of the country...

The idea is, look how far he's come.

Too many of "the rest of the country" are living in poverty; a rags-to-rags story.

[sandnsea]

13. So he chose to sue for big money

Big deal. Other people chose to be public defenders or advocate for environmental groups or just set up practice in a small town. You can't judge a person's impact on the planet based on how much money they have. Nothing personal, I'm just sick of the whole Edwards mill worker saga.

[freesqueeze]

15. Nothing personal taken

I don't hear anyone saying wealth is a measure of a person's value.

But, winning suits agains corporations on behalf of consumers is not a negative in my book.

You're sick of his story and I think it's the most interesting biography in the race. I'm not endorsing Edwards, but I am happy to hear someone on the national stage talking about income disparity.

[TwilightGardener]

21. I think he has one of the LEAST interesting biographies in the race.

McCain's life story is much more interesting. Obama's--more interesting. Bloomberg's--more intersting. Sorry, son of a mill worker who goes to law school and earns shitloads of money--an achievement, to be sure, but not that exceptional.

[GreenArrow]

8. Reagan

Maybe Nixon.

[freesqueeze]

11. Reagan was pretty middle class

But Nixon there you have a real contender. He turned down a full scholarship to Harvard because he couldn't afford the tangential expenses.

[GreenArrow]

23. I believe the Reagans were pretty poor during his

early childhood.

[Clark2008]

36. So were the Edwards.

They were very upper middle class. He just doesn't point that out.

[Catchawave]

42. Dad worked his way up to management

John worked his way through college and law school.

Sounds like the American Dream to me. By the way, Edwards is the son of a mill worker, maybe you've heard? "Very Upper Middle Class" ?

Here, READ: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/10/05/from_mill_town_to_the_national_stage_boston_globe/?page=full

[BOSSHOG]

10. I think Bloomberg should be in the running somewhere

[freesqueeze]

12. I don't recall...

a President Bloomberg.

[BOSSHOG]

14. Silly Me

didn't read your entire post. I'd have to give a nod to Clinton. Dad dead before he was born. StepDad beat up on Momma and drank alot. I think the young man has done very well for himself.

[freesqueeze]

17. agreed

Bill has made all us southern rednecks proud.

[BOSSHOG]

19. I lived in Fayetteville in the 60's and 70's

and attended the UA when he was a prof up there. I had the opportunity to interview him when he was Governor. One helluva nice guy. Now, he's one guy I'd like to have a beer with.

[MannyGoldstein]

16. There Was A Fellow Named "Abe Lincoln"

Lincoln didn't have a hedge fund that specialized in predatory lending... and Lincoln didn't co-sponsor the Mexican-American War (in fact, he was bounced from Congress for being so vocally against it)... and his dad wasn't a solidly middle-class manager of a textile plant... but despite these shortcomings, I think Abe deserves a spot in rags-to-riches history.

[Beaverhausen]

20. Uh, Lincoln is mentioned in the OP

might want to re-read it.

[Clark2008]

22. Considering he was upper Middle Class?

No.

[MannyGoldstein]

25. Don't Let The Apparent Truth Bother You

Doesn't seem to bother anyone else...

[Clark2008]

35. Huh??

Isn't it the truth that shortly after Edwards was born, his father took a promotion to manager, moved out of the dingy house he showcased in ads during his first presidential run and grew up upper middle class?

I've done a lot of research into Edwards and that's what I came away with.

Or, are you agreeing with me?

I'm sorry. I didn't understand your post.

[MannyGoldstein]

37. I'm Absolutely Agreeing With You

Sorry, my humor is too dry - I need to add sarcasm icons or something. I have this happen a lot!

[Clark2008]

48. It's OK.

I actually like dry humor. It's just inflection doesn't carry well in print.

:hi:

[Pastiche423]

60. You are correct

He definitely was not poor in high school.

[greenissexy]

24. At what point does rich become glutton?

Even after he had more money than he needed, he still kept taking. I respect his success, but there is a point where you're not simply surviving by having enough to eat and a roof over your head, you're taking from others.

[freesqueeze]

27. Interesting point, comrade.

"there is a point where you're not simply surviving by having enough to eat and a roof over your head, you're taking from others"

So, you don't believe in savings at all?

[greenissexy]

32. Savings

WTF does savings have to do with $60,000,000.00? Even if he spent $100 a day to get by, he'd still have enough money to live for 1,645 years. If you call that "savings," then I'd like to see a copy of your bank statement. That is gluttony pure and simple. Think how many working families could make house payments or rent off just the interest from that fortune.

[Catchawave]

44. Edwards is a GLUTTON ?

That's a new one :spank:

You have to remember, Edwards' wealth was earned by hard work, not inherited. Big difference. Support the Democratic candidate of your choice, but don't hang a "Paris Hilton" on him. Geesh.

READ: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/10/05/from_mill_town_to_the_national_stage_boston_globe/?page=full

[MannyGoldstein]

49. Nah

His house, Casa Mother Teresa, is 28,000 sq feet of under-indulgence.

[Catchawave]

51. Huh? The main house is only about 10,000 sq ft

..or a little over twice the size of mine. Aren't there more important things that should concern you more?

[jillan]

26. Didn't he make alot of his money from a Hedgefund that

played a little dirty:eyes:

[Catchawave]

47. Linky?

I'd like to learn more :D

[John Q. Citizen]

28. Dennis Kucinich had and still has a humble life style. He saved the rate payers of Cleveland

$200,000,000 dollars by sticking to his promises even though the Banks and the Private Utilities forced him from office over it.

He didn't keep any for himself. But he is a card carrying union member. Any other card carrying union members run for President?

[Freddie Stubbs]

31. Card carrying union member?

I didn't know the Keebler Elves were unionized. ;)

[LWolf]

67. IATSE. n/t

[WinkyDink]

46. Once lived in a car.

[AngryAmish]

63. Reagan

[John Q. Citizen]

70. That's true, now that you mention it.

[BeyondGeography]

29. As long as we're doing a suffering derby around here

how about one month's exposure to Dad your entire life, an often absent Mom and being raised through adolescence by white grandparents while being seen by the world (which was in synch with his own feelings) as black?

That's Barack Obama's childhood, if you didn't know.

Many candidates and Presidents had it rough; Edwards' childhood doesn't really appear to stand out in my book.

[freesqueeze]

33. Obama's is a great story...

he was neglected but not poor. I like Obama plenty, but he hasn't come from as low and moved up as far up the financial ladder as Edwards.

But Obama's story is plenty interesting.

[BeyondGeography]

34. Lots of great stories out there...what the hell

Here's to JRE as well.

:toast:

[Mass]

52. Edwards was not poor either. He grew up in the middle class family.\nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. LBJ came from a poor family

[calteacherguy]

39. At first, I thought the title of your thread was a joke...

but you appear to actually be serious.

The answer is a resounding NO. Edwards was not born into poverty, and there are many other Americans who have achieved more than him who were born into poverty.

[Catchawave]

43. Sigh.

READ:

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/10/05/from_mill_town_to_the_national_stage_boston_globe/?page=full

[freesqueeze]

55. But, have any of those Americans

become President?

[illinoisprogressive]

40. there are alot of good stories but, edwards has a good one.

[SaveElmer]

41. Ulysses S. Grant...by far

1860 he was working for his younger brother in a tannery, and selling cord wood on the street corner for extra cash...

Eight years later he is the savior of the Union and President of the United States!!!

[MonkeyFunk]

45. Not even close

There are no "rags" in his rags-to-riches story.

[BringBigDogBack]

50. Hyperbole.

[JI7]

54. Reagan and Nixon

[Bonobo]

56. Maybe so, but maybe it's not such a nice story...

In my experience in life, it is not through the exercise of good deeds that people amass material wealth, but rather through bad deeds or at least by "looking the other way".

It's true. I know it is. You probably do too. We all make choices. I personally am not impressed by a person who has directed his life towards the goal getting mega-rich.

So... nice rags to riches story, but it's a shitty, lonely, dirty story usually behind the scenes.

[freesqueeze]

57. I am inclined to agree...

However, what does this then say about the rest of the field; all rich beyond my wildest dreams. Will our sceptical nature crush our enthusiasm?

[Bonobo]

58. They may all be pigs, but there are pigs and there are pigs...

[freesqueeze]

62. But they're OUR pigs.

If some of the slop splashes over to us...so be it.

[ellisonz]

61. By far the correct answer is Andrew Carnegie.

;)

[LWolf]

64. No.

I don't know who the "greatest" story would be. I don't even know if "riches" should be a great thing. What about "rags to prosperity?"

Out of the current crop of candidates, I believe Dennis Kucinich is the greatest example of climbing out of poverty.

<snip>

Counting the homeless is tricky, and homeless advocates said they were aware of the data's shortcomings. Still, many said it was important to acknowledge that people are living on the streets and to provide a count that could be improved upon in 10 years.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a Cleveland Democrat, yesterday called on the bureau to release the homeless figures because they are a "moral index in our society."

At age 11, Kucinich lived in a Dodge with his mother, father and four younger siblings for four months. His dad was out of work; his mother was ill.

"We lived in our car around 32nd Street," the congressman recalled. "In the evenings, we parked overlooking the steel mill. I'd watch that big sleeve of fire in the sky as I'd go to sleep. It symbolized hope for me then.

"We need to know because we need to provide services for these people," Kucinich said. "It's also an indication of the strength of our community and of our economy."

http://www.progress.org/archive/housing6.htm

[ddeclue]

65. Well...I'm backing Edwards but...

Carter, (Bill) Clinton, Johnson, and Truman have all had tremendous rags to riches stories too.

Carter came from a pretty poor South Georgia farm family - they did better than many in their town but certainly not the Rockefellers.

Truman came from a Missouri farm family that was much worse off than Carter's and wasn't married until age 40, became a Senator at 50 and President at 60. The Trumans were never financially successful until he was President.

Johnson came from rural Texas and was also dirt poor but pulled himself up by the bootstraps and into Congress, then the Senate, then the V.P. and finally the Presidency.

Doug D.

[EffieBlack]

66. Hardly

His parents were lower income, not poor (poor people can't even borrow the money to bring their babies home from the hospital). While Edwards by no means had a silver spoon upbringing, he had a stable, two-parent home, his father worked regularly and was able to afford to buy a home and give his children all the necessities. I admire how far he's come in his life and what he's made of himself, but he is not even close to being "the greatest rags-to-riches story ever."

His story pales in comparison to those of many others who didn't have a fraction of the advantages that Edwards had in his life. For example, Dr. Ben Carson, the renowned heart surgeon born to a single, third-grade drop-out mother. He struggled through school and was called "dummy by his classmates. Despite this, his mother pushed him hard, required him to read two books a week and give her written book reports, even though she could barely read them. He eventually improved in his studies and graduated at the top of his class. He went on to go to Yale and then Medical School of the University of Michigan. He is now one of the top heart surgeons in the world had has repeatedly made medical history with his innovative procedures.

Or Deval Patrick, another son of a single mother who grew up in some of the worst housing projects in Chicago, yet went on to become Governor of Massachusetts.

Or Oprah Winfrey, whose mother left her as a child and who struggled through a difficult childhood and adolescence, an unwed pregnancy and sexual abuse. She, of course, is now one of the richest and most famous people in the world.

John Edwards story is compelling and deserving of admiration for what he has become. But he is NOT the greatest rags to riches story ever.

[Eurobabe]

68. Not really n/t

[beaconess]

69. Not at all

He was a white kid growing up in a stable two-parent family who was able to access all that America has to offer to white people with dreams and motivation. He didn't have to go to segregated schools or sit in the balcony, or be treated as a second class citizen. He had plenty to eat, nice clothes to wear, and didn't have to worry about whether he'd have a place to live next week. When he graduated from law school, he could be hired by just about any firm in North Carolina - at a time when those firms weren't hiring black lawyers. I think he's achieved much and respect him enormously. But he's certainly not some kind of amazing anamoly - people do what he did all the time - especially those with the advantages he had in life.

Bill Clinton's story is much more compelling. Edwards doesn't even come close to Lyndon Johnson's saga. And Obama's is also extremely admirable - as a black kid with a white mother, an absent African father, and an unusual name, his journey from where he started to where he is now is nothing short of remarkable.

[Nederland]

71. Edwards made his money

...off the misery of others. Not a very happy story.