John Edwards. Like the message - dislike the 3 multimillion $ homes

[RiverStone]

To be fair, John Edwards was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. By all accounts, he rose to join the millionaire club through hard work and exceptional talent as a trial lawyer. He talks of two America's - the elite class vs the working class and advocating a fair America regardless of one's socio-economic status. I do believe that message resonates.

However, in his personal life he owns at least 3 multimillion dollar homes, with one in Washington, Raleigh, and a gated community on Figure Eight Island near Wilmington. Please correct me if I'm wrong about that. There is the old saying - It's not what you say, it's what you do - and if he believes there is such a disparity between the rich and the poor in our country (and there is) why does he live a rather opulent life personally? Is it fair to reason that those of us who believe the earth's resources are finite and that personally we need to do all we can to reduce our "carbon footprint", as Al Gore frequently says, would practice what we preach?

How many of us that try daily to conserve earth's resources/recycle etc...how many of us would go live in a big energy and resource consuming mansion if we were suddenly blessed with winning the lottery? I assume, not many.

My point is I struggle with a man that preaches to the common folk, but lives a life far separate from them when he goes home at night. I had the same misgivings about John Kerry and his attachment to Teresa Heinz's millions x 100 (though I voted for him).

Who knows if there is a candidate out there that actually walks his/her talk and has not been caught up in the materialistic trappings that comes with power. I doubt Hillary is any different. What about Obama? Kucinich? I just know that I do like lots of what John Edwards says, I just am bothered by the fact he does NOT chose to live a life (materialistically anyway) that reflects those values.

Ideally, I seek a Democratic candidate that lives the values he/she advocates. Anyone know who that may be?


ON EDIT: Some have suggested that I'm advocating that DEM candidates take a vow of poverty. Wrong! I'm not advocating that there should be any litmus test money-wise to be Pres. I'm not suggesting there is anything inherently wrong with him being a millionaire. His dollars do not discount his caring, which I believe is sincere.

I am suggesting that John's wasteful lifestyle (3 homes etc) suggests he does not "get it" when one listens to everything Al Gore says about global warming and living a life of greater simplicity. It is how he has chosen to live that bothers me. I look at the walk and the talk. I understand that may not bother some folks, but I see it as hypocritical when he could voluntarily chose to live in a more energy conscious fashion (smaller homes, less homes?). I take that into consideration when I ponder which DEM I will vote for.

[snappyturtle]

1. Nope. n/t

[etherealtruth]

2. Kennedy, Kerry ...

...and a multitude of others share great wealth and champion causes of those less fortunate.

I agree that our system doesn't really give a chance to those of modest means; this is NOT a good thing. We lose a lot of talented and creative voices.

However, I am far more concerned about those of great wealth and advantage that work only to protect/increase their wealth and power.

[Egalitariat]

97. Kennedy and Kerry are totally different than Edwards

He made his money. They were given theirs.

[karynnj]

134. Kerry was well connected but not wealthy

In fact for the first decade he was a Senator he was on eof the poorest ones. He actually was for all practical purposes homeless for some periods of time because he couldn't afford appartments in Boston and DC along with paying for his daughters' education and support and the cost of returning to Boston each week to be with them.

Kerry could easily have become wealthy - by being a trial lawyer (He did this fro a couple of years was very successful and then chose public service) or getting a job via his connections. Also, consider this is the man who stood up to the entire Senate to shut down a corrupt bank - because it was dangerous to the US (it later turned out to have millions of OBL's assets)

Clearly public service and his daughters were more important to him than wealth. (PS the phrase, "John Kerry and his attachment to Teresa Heinz's millions x 100 " is offensive. He has NO claim on her finacial assets. His attachment to her is as his wife.)

[Egalitariat]

141. He flies on a private jet to an Italian villa whenever he wants....

I call BS on your BS.

[karynnj]

148. When exactly was the last time he did this?

From what I have seen since 2004, both John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry work extremely hard to help others. I was lucky enough to see them at a Boston event this year.

What I said was accurate.

Kerry was one of the poorest Senators for years. He is married to a very lovey, brilliant, extremely nice woman who also happens to be a billionaire. I assume that the two of them could fly off to Italy whenever they choose - the point is they have both chosen not to idle lives of luxury.

[leftchick]

3. Apparently Al Gore does

He has close to a "zero carbon footprint" but he is not a candidate. Yet.

[tammywammy]

64. Really, Gore has almost a zero carbon footprint?

How can that be? Doesn't he travel to and fro for interviews?

[leftchick]

66. I saw him address it on Oprah

he did a pretty good job of deflecting that talking point. In his everyday living he lives a ZERO carbon lifestyle. I am sure you can see the re-run at Oprah's site if you wish.

[tammywammy]

68. Thanks, I'll check it out

I'm not a big Oprah watcher, but if I see that episode coming up I'll tape it (just like I did with today's with Obama).

[Beaverhausen]

70. You can offset your own carbon output in various ways

http://www.nativeenergy.com/Splash/ClimateCrisis/ClimateCrisis.html?ClimateCrisis

Here is a link that was linked from the "Inconvenient Truth" website

[leftchick]

71. thank you!

:hi:

[tammywammy]

72. Thanks for the link

I'll check it out.

[mzmolly]

147. Find out how Gore can be carbon neutral here >

Becoming "carbon neutral" involves two steps, environmentalists point out. The first is to reduce carbon emissions through familiar conservation measures: replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs, using public transit, and so forth. Many online "carbon calculators" help individuals or businesses assess how much carbon they are emitting.

But that only reduces their carbon emissions. To get to zero, they'll need to buy "carbon offsets" by sending money to projects that replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind-power generators, or to projects that remove carbon dioxide from the air, such as tree farms.

For example, a new business-class airline, Silverjet, plans to add a levy of about $26 to its transatlantic fares that will be sent to carbon-reducing projects to offset the carbon burned during the flight.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1206/p13s01-sten.html

Google Carbon Credits if you want more info.

:hi:

[undeterred]

4. Senator Feingold

came from a modest background and I believe he still reports less income than anyone in the Senate. He lives in a modest home in Middleton, WI and has only one home. And he doesn't take corporate money, period.

However, he doesn't seem to have the fundraising muscle to run for president: takes about $50M

[Jackpine Radical]

12. I think Russ has refused to accept regular Senate pay raises

& still draws the salary he got when he went in.

I could be wrong about that, though. In any case, he's "the poorest man in the Senate."

[undeterred]

19. Yeah, I think that's right.

He was only a practicing lawyer for a few years before he became a state legislator. And even though he's done a good job fundraising via the "Progressive Patriots Fund" (which I consider money well spent-) he can't fundraise in the ballpark he would need to in order to run for President. Doesn't rule him out as a VP though.

[dogday]

32. That's Russ for ya

Modest but progressive..... I love that man....

[ikojo]

83. What about Bernie Sanders?

Is he super rich? How did he earn his money?

[Jackpine Radical]

96. I think Bernie's a great guy. I have no idea about his

personal finances. I know something about Russ because I'm his constituent.

[seemunkee]

5. His home in DC sold this week

Sale of the former senator's Georgetown home was scheduled for yesterday after the property languished on the market for more than a year and a half. Oh, and he plans to announce his 2008 presidential bid today in New Orleans.

The final price of the Georgetown mansion is under wraps, but the four-story, six-bedroom, seven-bathroom house (with three fireplaces) was listed at $5.65 million.

The onetime Democratic veep candidate and his family own a 102-acre property in Chapel Hill, N.C. According to land records, that $2.38 million estate includes a home with five bedrooms, 6 1/2 bathrooms and a three-car garage.

No word if the family plans to buy another place in Washington.

[Dr Fate]

8. He announced in NOLA?- Wow- talk about class- I like that. n/t

n/t

[KamaAina]

40. Yeah you right!

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/tpupdates/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_tpupdates/archives/2006_12_28.html#219741



Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards Thursday formally launched his 2008 bid for the presidency from a ruined New Orleans neighborhood in dire need of the kind of populist, grassroots labor Edwards promises to harness on behalf of global warming, economic reform and other issues facing the country.

Edwards, whose candidacy has been transparent for months, said he chose to formally declare in the backyard of a vacant house in eastern New Orleans because it was emblematic of the economic disparity he hopes to talk about in his campaign for the Democratic nomination....

Edwards began his day in New Orleans with a round of interviews on five morning talk shows, then moved to the backyard at 4839 Babylon Street, dressed in jeans, a work shirt and work boots, to address more than two dozen reporters and camera crews....

Edwards has been to the New Orleans area several times since Hurricane Katrina, including several days on spring break early this year when he helped gut houses with several hundred students.

[musette_sf]

80. or to quote Vic and Natly

"Yeah You Rite" :-)

[Jackpine Radical]

10. Waiting for a vacancy in the White House, I presume.

[Dr Fate]

6. Then again, it's nice to have some rich folks on your side.

I dont expect Edwards to wear a hair shirt as a millionare anymore than I would wear one myself as a member of the lower middle class.

Wrong or right-Lot's of voters are impressed by rich folks- and would think of a seemingly poor candidate as unsuccessful.

FDR was a millionare too- he was also essentially a socialist. Dean is a mediacal doctor- no stranger to big pay-checks & nice things either-etc,etc.

[ikojo]

91. Dr Dean also grew up in very privileged surroundings as

a son of a stockbroker. He lived on Park Ave in NYC, not exactly Bedford Stuyvesant.

[KoKo]

139. The Media visited Dr. Dean's home...and showed photo's of the inside...

and he the home was from the 70's and nothing had changed since then. It was very modest by today's standards with "McMansions," all the rage. The kind of house many young DU'ers here grew up in..back then. I don't think it had more than "two" family bathrooms which was COOL in the 70's to have that many.

I've not heard that the Deans have a home on Nantucket or in Florida or in the "Islands." Perhaps that's held secret...but what I admired about Dean and his family is that their house had not changed in all those years. And if he lived in a Governor's Mansion in Vermont...it seems that the house they had when the magazine articles came out reflected a home more like Jimmy Carter and Gerold Ford were comfortable in than the Mansion Edwards has on Figure Eight Island or the home he's Building in Orange County in NC after leaving their family home in Raleigh.

:shrug: I don't know that homes are what we should judge Presidential Candidates by, though, because one can get "stuck" in a timeframe of "Modesty" just as one can get stuck in a timeframe of "wealth" to show off.

The Bush II's from all reports have always lived "modestly" with Chimpie feeding his cats in Texas (before they decided Dogs were much more MACHO) and eating the Tacos and Beans and other "plain food" and not liking to dress up and go about with the DC INSIDERS. But, then Babs and Poppy were not known to have Rockefeller or Kennedy "discriminating tastes" and they were thrown out of office after one term.

It's hard to know...but none of the above went around talking about a "Two Class America, either." Even Jimmy Carter ran on Change...but he was more authentic being a "Peanut Farmer" who was born in the early part of the 20th Century when "automobiles" were a NEW THING.

[Schema Thing]

7. Clark

Worked to fix the family car his son wrecked. It would be cool to have a president who's had to do something like that for financial reasons (and had the character and wherewithal to do it) in relatively recent history.

[Eurobabe]

38. And he still lives in a modest home that he has owned for

years in Little Rock.

[RB TexLa]

9. So for someone to care about other they have to live in homes like them

or you refuse to believe they care?

[RiverStone]

17. John cares, but...

His excessive spending on 3 very big homes suggests he personally choses to live wastefully. Who really needs that many houses?

I said I liked his message. I see his caring as sincere.

Yet, I also said I'd like to see a candidate out there that walks his talk (both personally and professionally).

[RB TexLa]

20. Someone who wants them is who "needs that many homes" n/t

[stillcool]

11. I would prefer to elect someone..

who at least is familiar with how most of us live, than another heir, who's only work experience was sitting for the reading of a will.

[Dr Fate]

15. Edwards was not a rich heir or trust fund kid. He was a tireless, hardworking attorney.

I assume you are not saying that- but I am posting for the benefit of others who might read your post that way...

[stillcool]

61. Thank you...

That was very nice. Usually when I am unclear, I'm corrected in a much different manner! :toast: actually...now that I think about it..I'm probably guilty of the same style of correction....so double thanks!!:toast:

[Chalco]

13. I only have respect for the wealthy who champion the poor.

They are not selfish. The Kennedy's, John Edwards, John Kerry are all honorable in my opinion.

[baldguy]

14. Should a Presidential candidate need to take a vow of poverty before he can run?

[RiverStone]

25. Its not about his wealth....

I'm not advocating that there should be any litmus test money-wise to be Pres. I'm not suggesting there is anything inherently wrong with him being a millionaire.

I am suggesting that John's wasteful lifestyle (3 homes etc) suggests he does not "get it" when one listens to everything Al Gore says about global warming and living a life of greater simplicity. Its how he has chosen to live that bothers me. I look at the walk and the talk.

[baldguy]

35. A rich man is going to have a nice home (or two or three).

He's going to drive a nice car. His kids are going to go to Harvard or Yale or some other ivy league school. It's called capitalism. People are allowed - even encouraged - to by everything they can afford.

And rich people are the only ones who will realistically have a shot at the Presidency.

You should be more concerned about what public policies he supports. Will his positions help working people? Will they allow middle and lower class children to go to college? Will they promote the economy and keep & create jobs here?

You can be supportive of the homeless without giving up your home.

[Rosemary2205]

16. Excuse me but WTF are you talking about?

The man has represented "the little guy" all his life. Without people like John Edwards in court "the little guy" would not have any voice against the powerful. He's also raised millions upon millions for various charities as well as giving a substantial amount from his own pocket. Not to mention all the low key work he does locally that he tries hard not to be publicized.

You think John Edwards is going to be able to get the big money guys who can make a difference to stop by his ghetto apartment every few days for strategy meetings on Katrina cleanup or stopping big Pharm from using poor people as guinea pigs?

Geez. Give me a break already.

[Lex]

18. It's not what you HAVE but what you GIVE. Does he have to poor now

to empathize and try to help the poor?

Does Bill Clinton? Or any philanthropic person?

[gollygee]

21. Do Democratic politicians have to take a vow of poverty?

I was unaware of that.

[Joe Chi Minh]

138. I think Albert's only a stop-gap. What with Tolstoy long gone, he's really

hoping Solzhenitzin will come to the rescue.

[Pastiche423]

22. Global warning

[Little Wing]

23. Hut on Degoba, fit not will everyone

[mondo joe]

24. I'm voting for a president, not a priest. I care about his policies, not

his spending.

[charlie]

26. Kucinich

lives in a modest 1968-vintage home. With a compact car in the driveway.

http://www.boston.com/realestate/galleries/pres_res/10.html

[Tellurian]

73. With all his divorces, he's lucky he has a home at all..nt

[hashibabba]

27. How do we know what else he spends his money on?

So he has two houses (and one he's been trying to sell for a long time that they probably haven't been living in). Do we know how much he gives to charity? How much work does he do for the poor? Just having a couple of big houses doesn't make you uncaring. There are a lot of other things that are important. Like the way he treats people.

[mnhtnbb]

28. Edwards has built a new home in Chapel Hill on a 100 acres he bought

right around the 04 election. He is living there. His plan was to sell his home in Raleigh--but I don't know if it has sold. I don't know whether he still owns a place at the beach--but that is not uncommon in NC.

How he chooses to spend his time--and his millions--is his prerogative.
I don't begrudge him enjoying the lifestyle he earned. He has to be admired for drawing attention to the increasing poverty and growing distance between the have/have mores (Bushie's base) and the have nots in the country.

The R's would like to see Dems criticize Edwards for not giving away his millions. I don't think we should fall for it.

[mondo joe]

29. I agree. I'm pro-choice. About abortion and all other matters of

conscience, which includes how one decides to spend his or her own money.

[Bridget Burke]

36. And those 100 acres are not going to be subdivided & developed....

Although that would make him even more money!

Building one fine home & a couple of "outbuildings" on all that acreage sounds like a pretty good use of the land.

[mnhtnbb]

44. I said in 04 that I thought he was buying land for a presidential library.

Wouldn't that be something if it came true?

I just looked up the deed in the county registrar on-line (I live in Chapel Hill, too)--and it recorded in June 04 BEFORE he had the Veep nomination. He knew he wasn't at the top of the ticket--and I doubt he thought he'd get Veep. Yet he still buys
a huge piece of land. I think he's been planning since then that he would run again.

[KoKo]

140. Your...."understatement" is incredible...

:D

[Triana]

109. "the lifestyle he *earned*...."

that's the key phrase for me. Edwards EARNED his fortune. Unlike so many other pols out there. I don't begrudge him for it. He KNOWS what it's like to have to EARN something because he DID it. That's why he understands it.

[WindRavenX]

114. damn straight

:thumbsup:

[seashorelady]

127. You nailed that one Triana

[RiverStone]

131. Again - its NOT his $$$

With all due respect Triana, nowhere did I ever suggest that JE should be "begrudged" for earning his fortune or being a millionaire. It's not about his wealth. My point lost by many has to do with him, or anyone IMHO, that spends it wastefully.

Kinda fun to be in a minority opinion on DU for a change, glad our big blue tent honors a diversity of views. :)

On this thread anyway, it's been suggested my view of JE's 3 homes is silly, trivial, or none of my business - with a small handful that enthusiastically agree. Could I be on the lunatic fringe for drawing a parallel between excess materialism/building/excavating/producing and this:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/12/29/canada.arctic.ap/index.html

Next to nuclear proliferation and BushCo's war mongering criminal madness - global warming is the biggest issue for humanity. Choosing to live in ways which honors the seriousness of global warming will be taken (more seriously) as people come to realize its not some distant fantasy or science fiction propaganda.

John Edwards earned his money through talent and effort. GREAT!!!! Yet I still hold him as a potential leader of the USA to a standard which models all the principals Al Gore has dropped politics to preach. That we ALL must make changes to save our planet.

If most people think I'm silly for expected people of wealth to adjust what they take from the planet, I'm OK with that. I still would challenge JE or anyone to voluntarily reduce what they consume, use, build, and spend...myself included. Maybe some feel its naive to believe anyone running for Pres could simplify his or her life and be competitive - I feel they would serve as a wonderful role model and garnish more support in doing so....

Cheers~

[Sugar Smack]

123. Hey, fellow Tarheel!

I'm with you all the way! :toast: Edwards is a keen and honest man.

[On the Road]

30. Ralph Nader Lives Modestly

Let's vote for him.

:smoke:

[mnhtnbb]

33. LOL. I suspect a few people in FL are sorry they did in 2000.

[undeterred]

39. Better yet, lets send him to a country on another continent

and let them vote for him. :beer:

[skyblue]

103. Yes!! Let's Do The Republicans Job For Them.

[RiverStone]

115. And never express divergent views?

With all due respect skyblue, its been my experience on DU for the past 5 months that there is plenty of room in this big BLUE tent for diverse and contrary views - even if it may reflect a question about a DEM candidate.

Thank goodness we do NOT march in lock step as so many feeble minded rethugs do - for the criminal BushCo regime.

Your suggestion that by posting a concern about John Edwards, I was doing the "rethugs job for them" is bogus. I have seen many posts critical of Hillary, Kerry, or even the DNC...and yet the poster is still passionately supporting of our DEM party at large, as am I. With whatever disagreements we have as a group - we did damn well last November. So I ask, when then is it OK to question authority? Even a DEM Pres candidate? I say we are strong enough to question and debate and still move towards a common goal. In fact, debate should be encouraged.

[skyblue]

150. To a certain extent, BUT a Green party candidate for President isn't going to fly.

And Secondly one of these candidates may be running for VP. So, the small stuff doesn't really matter as long as they follow roughly what is good for the public and can get elected then great! Remember it's Bush that has the ultra low ratings. With the Presidential Candidates we're still relatively close to the leading Rathug candidate. Priorities should be expressed toward discussing the Republican's values and how they are not beneficial to Americans. And not nitpicking our own candidates who may just be trying to format themselves in a way that can get them elected. We have the candidates that we have and they are not perfect. 3rd party candidates are SPOILERS. I'd rather win then lose with someone who represents my values most closely, but can't get elected. Like, for example, I'd rather have a candidate that would prefer to enable women to have an abortion anytime during their pregnancy (say for example an ob test becomes available that is past the trimester in which women can decide to terminate their pregnancy and this test says that child will not have a good quality of life I'd like that woman to be able to decide what is best for her etc) that candidate probably wouldn't have much of a shot at winning. Or someone who is anti-gun when they have these automatic weapons now that have been approved that fire multiple shots and maybe you're local person who comes back with PTSD wants one will the public be protected: Well in many instances Americans like these kinds of things and want it to be available so they can play with them in their own homes, I don't think that an American who is anti automatic weapons in the home may do well in swing vote states and possibly could not get elected. But I would want that American elected to be President. Uh anyway, no no no, do not beat up on Dem Presidential and possibly Dem VP candidates.

[Bombtrack]

31. Houses are not an example of someone burning money, like a fleet of cars or golf/ski shit

If you're fairly smart you can actually make money by owning big and/or multiple houses.

[Bluebear]

34. Sorry, but this man has represented the little guy his whole life.

I believe he owns two homes, not three, but I am not counting. What politician is not wealthy in this system we have? At least Edwards has been there for the poor as well as for the rich and I think you do him a disservice here.

[Skidmore]

37. Do you have those same reservations about how Hillary or Kerry

spend their money? Just asking?

[Neecy]

41. my goodness...

Are we just going to pick this man apart? You don't like his houses...someone else doesn't like his blackberry or photo ops or whatever...this is exactly the kind of surface shit that gets a moron like Bush elected. I'm more interested in his policies than his homes, or what tie he's wearing, or what his favorite breakfast cereal is so I can snipe at him about THAT.

[Catchawave]

42. This is what Fox/CNN/MSNBC News was discussing today too....

The Merlot Candidate.

Geesh guys, I live in a 1/2 million dollar house and still care about poverty and the Edwards message AND hang out on DU.

Am I a hypocrite?

And for the record, what would 3 million buy in your neighborhood? Here, not so much.

[Clark2008]

55. Three million is a palacial estate in most of the South and you know it!

My God, a $3-million home here in Knoxville, TN is HUMONGOUS!

[Catchawave]

59. Love the Knoxville area....

I'm sure it would :) But I love waterfront, and by my area's bubble, my house on deep water would be 5 million! So we've settled on a pond :silly:

I think the Edwards estate includes many acres, but still, I wouldn't use it to smear him, or I'd have to ask how other Dems live in our "impoverished" world too :)

Gads, Hillary, who I love also, dropped 30 million on a campaign she could have stayed in bed to win. Guess we have to get our priorities in order :hi:

[Tellurian]

76. Or, our insecurities under control..nm

[Lurking Dem]

69. Wilmington waterfront not so much though.

I have waterfront property in SC that I haven't even built on yet that is worth quite a pretty penny.

[Joe Chi Minh]

151. I can believe RiverStone is an extra-terrestrial, as per his ikon; you, too,

Clarkie, if you think your country will want to vote for someone who was more extravagantly jubilant than Bush, when he thought the Iraqis had been smashed into submission by Rumsfeld's blitzkrieg.

"(The campaign in Iraq illustrates the continuing progress of military technology and tactics,) but if there is a single overriding lesson it must be this: American military power, especially when buttressed by Britain's, is virtually unchallengeable today. Take us on? Don't try! And that's not hubris, it's just plain fact."

WRONG...... It was major league HUBRIS. Now you've got the nemesis.

[ikojo]

84. $3 Million house in St Louis would be sweet indeed

With all the amenities in far west county and most likely on the 18th hole.

It would not be tiny I should add.

[Zynx]

120. It's difficult to even spend $3 million around here.

Maybe if you wanted to live on both a golf course and a lake, or in something pushing 10,000 square feet on one of the two.

Or one of the largest Lake Drive castles.

[WI_DEM]

43. I wonder how many homes Ted Kennedy has?

Look Dems have often nominated millionaires as president (FDR, JFK) and they haven't turned out that bad.

[ikojo]

87. 'Tis true, however, John Edwards is the one

of two Dem candidates to reference the economic disparities that exist in America. The very well heeled folk in the conservative corporate media do not like it when class issues are addressed from the vantage point of the working class. So, instead of actually HEARING what John Edwards has to say they rip him to shreds by saying that he's rich like those he complains about. It's a way of invalidating the message.

Wish pugs were held to the same standards but then again they champion the wealthy.

[Trajan]

45. I dont wrong anyone for doing well ...

I wrong those rich who manipulate the system to deny the less fortunate a decent opportunity to rise above their 'station', and to deny ANY help to those who fall through the cracks ...

Edwards is the opposite of greedy ....

I would further posit that, NOT knowing exactly what transpires in the Edward's household(s), one would be merely speculating as to what degree of carbon consumption those households are wasting .... Perhaps there isnt a lit bulb in the place ? .... Maybe cold most the year ? ... What do we know about this ?

[xultar]

46. Houses are a great investment. I don't blame him.

[Cleita]

47. Until we have real campaign finance reform and by that

I mean each candidate is funded equally by the government to run their campaigns, you will have mostly multi-millionaire candidates in federal elected offices. I find John Edwards a little more believable than John Kerry in being able to relate to the common working person because he's been there. John Kerry never has.

Two of our most liberal Presidents have been from wealthy aristocratic families. I think here of FDR and John Kennedy. Harry Truman and Bill Clinton came from humbler beginnings. I guess Jimmy Carter falls somewhere in between. Still it's very hard for a man of humble circumstances to become President these days. Imagine if candidates ran on the abilities instead of their lineage and bank accounts, we wouldn't have had two generations of Bushes effing up our nation.

[karynnj]

135. Kerry was one of the poorest Senators

until he married Teresa.

[styersc]

48. YEA. If the Dems don't run a candidate from a homeless shelter..

...I'm voting for the Republican. I'm sick of all of these college educated, accomplished candidates.

[Bluebear]

49. Let's elect someone we want to have a beer with, not an elite Blackberry user.

:crazy:

[xultar]

54. Elite blackberry users drink beer too. Aparently you don't know that blackberry's are common tools.

[Bluebear]

57. Apparently your sarcasm detector is broken

:hi:

[Midlodemocrat]

50. Sorry. Don't buy it. He wasn't born rich. He worked to get where he

is today. Nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all.

He's a champion of the poor. Frankly, the rich who champion the poor have a bigger impact on the country as a whole. Ted Kennedy. Al Gore.

[OHdem10]

51. Just because a person has wealth

it does not follow that he cannot understand the problems of those
less fortunate.

In the case of John Edwards, he has lived in some challenging circumstances
and I believe he genuinely cares about issues of the poor. According
to the Pundits each candidate will have to raise an exorbitant amount
of money this election. You almost have to be rich and also know
a lot of rich people who will contribute to your campaign to even
get out the door. Rich people have multiple homes. Hillary has more
than one home, Kerry--go down the list. This gives them more freedom
as leaders. They do not everybody and his brother favors, hopefully.

We live in an elitist society where our economy is based on Investing.
The result is small very small group at the top of Income Scale. This
is where the power lies and where candidates must come from in order
to afford to run a Campaign.

FDR did the most for the poor and was a Great President. He was
rich.

[Joanne98]

52. They all own multi-million dollar homes.

I agree it's gross but unless we get a monk to run it's what we have to live with.

[Clarkie1]

105. Clark doesn't. nt

[CarolNYC]

118. Neither does Dennis n/t

[nini]

53. Yep, he should be in a double wide down by the river

:eyes:


how do you know how they recycle, conserve energy etc?

[Beaverhausen]

56. Don't forget- Edwards suffered a tremendous loss in his life

I think it's safe to say that any parent who loses a child has more empathy for people who suffer losses in their lives. Not that others can't, but what he and Elizabeth suffered is just about the worst loss anyone can have.

[Vinca]

58. John Edwards has a choice. He doesn't have to run for the office.

He could just as well put up his feet in one of his expensive homes and churn out a bestseller or manage his investments or play tennis morning until night. He's chosen to try to lift those less fortunate, to make the United States a country to be proud of again, to make a difference in a very bad situation. I don't begrudge him his money or homes. He earned it. The freeper trial lawyer line doesn't play when you know the recipient of his expertise was a little girl who had her guts sucked out by a defective swimming pool drain design.

[pitohui]

60. you've got to be kidding

get help, edwards has worked for everything he has and so he has a home in wilmington? oh crap, like you'd even want a multi milliondollar home in wilmington

be honest, if you and i had that money, we'd be out of the south out of the usa and on to somewhere civilized so fast it would make your damn head spin

he stays behind and tries to lift others up after him

for that he must be punished because in this country we don't tolerate a poor person moving into the upper classes, nope, can't have it, it's like totally tacky

[hfojvt]

112. I feel kinda silly

when I read "Wilmington" I was thinking "Delaware"

It's not about a home in Wilmington. It's about having not one, but three opulent homes.

Although I am not sure there is a greater punishment in this country than becoming President. I joked again today that I used to be President of my workplace - I was blamed for everything.

[k_jerome]

62. opportunist. nt.

[musette_sf]

77. ho-kay

:eyes:

Edwards is an "opportunist".

Kucinich is a "DINO".

Gore "can't win".

you're "100% sure" that Clark will not get the nomination.

and lest we forget, "anyone but Hillary or Obama is an also-ran".

since Hillary is the dream RNC Dem candidate for '08, and the repukes would love for Obama to run so they can Harold Ford him...

and a Hillary-Obama ticket is a fantasy Booga Booga Get Out The Fear Vote '08 ticket for the repukes...

is it fair to assume that you're either (a) a die-hard DLC-er or (b) a repuke?
(and is there a difference?)

you're acting as pig-headed about this, as Carville was when he was trying to do his coup on Dean.

[k_jerome]

78. c'mon, everyone gets piled on here. just joining in.

and Hillary or Obama will be the nominee. just because most of DU supports other candidates.

[musette_sf]

79. so you're just being contrarian?

:eyes:

wow, that's a load off my mind. i would hate for the other candidates to get mowed down by the DLC before they even got a chance.

:eyes:

[k_jerome]

81. no, i support Hillary because I like her...

it is just a relief to me that the majority here do not support her. it bodes well.

[musette_sf]

90. so i'm sure you'd also be liking

Hill snuggling up to Junior and Poppy like they're all just great pals, like Big Dog now does.

personally, i've had a gut full of that BS.

though i voted for him, all i can say now is that Bill was a pretty good president... for a Republican. i'll take my Dems as straight up as possible, with no DLC, thank you.

[k_jerome]

93. thank goodness the majority of Democrats do not...

share your views.

[musette_sf]

124. oh really?

i wasn't under the impression that the majority of Democrats think the Bu$hie-Clinton love fests are just fine and dandy.

but you just go on believing your MSM-juked "polls". it's in the MSM's, and DLC's, best interests to continue to feed "poll" data that supports the RW Wet Dream of Hillary as the '08 candidate.

not only do they guarantee a knee-jerk reaction from RWers, but Hillary and Obama are also the two least qualified potential candidates in the group, from a public service and experiential standpoint. but don't let facts obfuscate your blind support of the DLC.

[Crunchy Frog]

133. You pretty much hate everyone except Hillary, don't you?

And like to express that fact loudly, obnoxiously, and frequently.

Hey, I'm a Clark partisan, but I don't feel a need to piss on every potential candidate who isn't Clark. I actually like several of the other potential candidates, and even the ones I don't like, I try not to piss all over them.

That sort of behavior tends to reflect badly on the candidate that is being advocated for, but maybe that's what you're really up to, discrediting Hillary by pretending to be a supporter.:shrug:

[seabeyond]

63. so what? this is so old and tired. he has money. are you suggesting

he give all his money away to be as poor as those he advocates for? so what that he has three homes

and no.... i dont want edwards. not because he has money

[David Zephyr]

65. Riverstone, I understand your point, but FDR had several homes

and yes, this is a different time, but if that's the only thing that bothers you about John, then that's not much.

I am supporting Wes Clark, but I like John and Elizabeth Edwards a lot.

He's acknowledged his mistake on the IWR and that was my big beef.

John Edwards is a good man and I call him family.

[philosophie_en_rose]

67. John Edwards. Like the message - dislike his patronage of Wendys

I like everything John Edwards says and believe his policies would be great for the millions of people in this country.

But he eats at Wendy's, so he sucks.

How can we support someone that supports healthy meals for school children, when he eats at a fattie place like Wendy's?


:sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm:


:eyes::eyes::eyes:
:eyes::eyes::eyes:
:eyes::eyes::eyes:

[Cleita]

74. Wendy's isn't that bad. I hate fast food but if I have to eat

at one I prefer Wendy's. They have things like salads and baked potatoes that aren't as greasy.

[laureloak]

86. Oh bother. He eats there once a year as an anniversary rite.

But he should go straight to hell for it, right?
-Rolling eyes

[philosophie_en_rose]

101. note the sarcasm in the post, please.

:eyes:

[aaronbees]

111. LOL, exactly!

The lengths some will go to disparage people here never ceases me to amaze me. The original post is probably one of the silliest litmus tests I've seen. The Edwards family homestead issue is something that: a) we really know very few actual facts about; and b) is irrelevant anyways.

[BlooInBloo]

75. I'm WITH ya! What I hate even more is uber-educated people....

... fighting for educational opportunity for everyone.

What assholes.

[ecstatic]

82. I only apply that standard to preachers/reverends

Seriously, driving 600K cars and owning multiple million dollar estates doesn't seem to fit in with the message Jesus preached while on Earth.

As far as Edwards is concerned, I say more power to him. He travels a lot, hence the multiple homes. He wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and I respect his success more than someone who was born rich.

[laureloak]

85. Why does it bother you that Sen Edwards is a succesful

self-made man? Personally, I don't want someone who hasn't been successful financially in their personal lives controlling the purse strings of the nation. They haven't proven that they know how to manage money.

BTW, I was looking for reasons that I might prefer Edwards over Kucinich or Obama and you just gave me a good one. Thanks!

[haele]

88. Okay, he has a Georgetown house and a local house...

Large houses because part of his political job in both cases required that unless he rents halls regularly, he needs somewhere to host parties and or meetings of some sort? Executives at his level do that all the time. Lawyers, higher level University personnel, and Doctors do house parties to socialize/politic with each other all the time. Heck, high ranking officers in the military are expected to open their home for some sort of "diplomatic" command event hosting.

Apparently he's selling the multi-million dollar DC house. OK, that shows he's not expecting to play senator/representative anymore and is letting some other DC up-and-comer to have that house. A couple million for a Georgetown house is not very surprising - the cheapest I could find a 2 bedroom, 1 bath flat was $500K. I'm thinking that is probably the smallest that just one legislative person in DC would want, a bedroom and an "office" that doubles for guests and family when they come into town. It didn't look very large, nor very comfortable.
Think of the way inflation has hit the housing market over the past 6 years. In California, a house could be bought for $200K in 2001, and easily have sold for $800K during most of 2006. If it was a halfway decent sized house in a gentrified area of town with the bells and whistles for entertaining, it could even be listed for a million with very few people blinking.

I'm not going to begrudge the man an expensive house and property out in the country if he has the ability to pay for it and makes use of it. I might feel he could do better with the money, but hey - it's his money, he holds a political position in his community and he has a fairly decent sized family, including a small child.

The supposed third house in the gated community, who knows? He could have bought it for his parents when he made good, a house for one of his grown daughters to use, or it could be a "town house" that doubles as an office when he needs to work in town. He could also be getting ready to sell it, as others have indicated, and be stuck waiting for a buyer in a market that is starting to stall.

Yeah, it's ostentatious for someone who was a public servant to be living high on the hog and have multiple fancy houses - maybe even a small horse farm on one of them. But his money to pay for such living was gained pretty much fair and square, and given the same circumstances in life, honestly, how many of us, especially those of us who were raised through the hard financial sacrifices of our parents - would be spending it much differently?

Who knows, his NC houses could all be totally green and almost completely off the grid, with solar or geothermal power and recycled greywater for landscaping and gardening - which would also increase the value of each house beyond what a normal house of that size would have - and decrease the environmental footprint.

I'd need a lot more concrete evidence to convict him for wealthy wasteful pigginess - especially since over the years he has made a lot of money off going after corporations and wealthy bottom-feeders to benefit working folks.

Haele

[leftofthedial]

89. wealth is immoral

[ChiciB1]

92. Ya Gots Ta Have Lotsa Moola Ta Run Baby!

I'm a BIG Edwards fan, and I think it's a little unfair to call him out for having money. Kerry, Kennedy, Hillary and many many many Democrats have lots!

I think I've heard it said that MOST Senators are millionaires at least one time over!

I think I'll keep on trucking with this guy for now!

[lumberjack_jeff]

94. Here's a couple of nice houses, check em out!

Nice digs! Who'd they belong to?

Well, they belonged to Franklin and Eleanor. I guess he wasn't enough of a regular guy to do anything good for regular guys.

[pitohui]

145. oh man that paint job hurts my eyes!

nice post, jeff

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

95. Quel frommage! Why not just spell out exactly what sq footage is acceptable to your humble meter?nt

[KharmaTrain]

98. Money Is Bad...Especially When You Don't Have Any

How did Mr. Edwards earn the money for those houses? Did he inherit it? Did he win the lottery? Nope, he worked hard for it. He fought many hard court battles to get that money. Somehow, earning money is some sort of evil here on DU. Somehow, if someone earns it, that somehow makes them either insincere or corrupt.

If anything, having money is an attractive feature in many candidates. It means they don't need to be bought and can afford to work for the common good a lot freer than one who worries about keeping donors happy as the sole means to a paycheck...that's one of the greatest reasons so many Repugnicans became corrupt...the money was more important than all else.

If I had a bitch about Mr. Edwards announcement today, it was it was too "informal". It seemed like he was doing a photo-op and not making the most important speech of his career. I was hoping for more fire from him...especially in light of all the misery that was surrounding him in the 9th ward.

[bbgrunt]

99. you're right and I have a hard time trusting him. Especially

when I heard he was involved with, i believe, CFR. One of the things I really liked about Howard Dean was that he still had shag carpeting in his living room. Now that is classy.

[Jcrowley]

100. You make a great point

and it's much later than we think. Everyone needs to be walking the walk.

Concern for global warming is one thing but if your lifestyle is contributing egregiously to catastrophic climate change then your concern is of little good to the next generation and will likely be seen as the height of hypocrisy.

As always actions speak louder than words.

[RiverStone]

113. The global warming question got lost here...

It seems with this thread anyway, a majority don't see hypocrisy in his actions. I simply can't separate his materialism from the message, no matter how well intended and sincere John is. My point was it is not about his wealth - he earned it. I don't begrudge that at all. It is about how JE or anyone choses to either be part of the global warming solution or the problem. And global warming is a HUGE problem.

In my little corner of the universe, I take what actions I can to model that. Live in a small 3 bedroom/1200 sq ft home (I have 2 kids), grow food when possible, buy used & local. Recycle all I can. Have only planted native plants around my house. Live under the stars in a rural area surrounded by trees; not even one traffic light between here and work...hopefully, I will keep learning to walk my talk.

Kinda bummed my point here was not met with much agreement - which surprised me; though on balance, most of my posts have shared the common view of many passionate DUers. Don't mind being surpised at all. Good thing us DEMS don't march in lock step like many of the rethugs; the BLUE tent seems to hold room for a variety of views. I stand by this one.

Well, thanks Jcrowley for acknowledging points well made. Thats much appreciated.

[Gloria]

102. To be fair, Gore jets around a lot, and that's pretty much creating a lot of

pollution and has multiple residences. Gore has made a ton of money judging from a comment by an aid that if he ran he could put $22 million of his OWN money into a campaign.

Edwards made his money honestly. He has houses, but I would argue that what type of life goes on within those houses is what counts.

Apparently, Edwards is NOT trapped in those houses...he's willing to work for others. I think he's sincere, judging from what I saw on CSpan tonight....a 2001 interview I had never seen. I learned a lot from that. He's been very consistent in his concerns and hasn't forgotten where he's come from.

[helderheid]

104. How can anyone fault him for having money? He is one of the only ones talking about the 2 Americas

and the class war in America.

[Clarkie1]

106. Excellent points. K & R. nt

[Beausoir]

107. We need a Wealth-O-Meter. Anyone who makes more money than "we" think they should is OUT!

What bollocks.

Find someway to help advance the cause instead of this silly nit-picking.

[kster]

108. Unless one of these SOB'S

go ON TV to discuss the the secret vote counting machines, Edwards and everyone else can kiss my ass.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

110. If He Wants Those 3 Homes, I Say God Bless Him For It. I'll Never Dictate How One Should Spend

their own money.

None of my business, really.

[Rose Siding]

116. What's the "etc" of his "wasteful lifestye"? (you said "3 homes etc")

You should define that so it doesn't look as though you are gratuitosly inflating your claim. ...To be fair.

Your thesis also causes me to wonder how many homes John and Bobby had -or FDR. How much more the Forgotten Man would have loved him if he'd only had one home!

[ShaneGR]

126. I'm waiting on the John Edwards drives SUVs post...

Can't wait.

[H2O Man]

117. And he often wears

expensive neck ties. How can we possibly support a candidate who wears more expensive neck ties that us?

[Annces]

119. The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth

Maybe when we are ready to accept that it is the meek who really carry the strength, then we will know who to elect.



Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.


The Hebrew word anawim may be translated in Greek as 'poor' as well as 'meek, gentle.' In favor of the second place is the parallelism: to the poor belong the kingdom of heaven--the meek will inherit the earth. (I.e., the land in Greek ge). In the New Testament the word 'meek' is (praus) is found three more times ... (It is devoid of all sociological and economic nuances.) It expresses an ideal which Jesus is the unmistakable model ... It should be admitted that it fits perfectly into the spiritualized character of his redaction and allows him to reinforce the moral importance of the beatitude of the poor . . . The meek are people who have surrendered themselves completely to God. They have broken through the narrow circle of their own wishes and dreams and have opened their hearts to the dream of the kingdom of God to come . . . They have entered God's service. The beatitude demands a great readiness and creative commitment to a future which God wants to realize through men. The meek are all intent on service to their fellow-men...they do not fight to obtain a better situation . . . They are confident that to inherit the land they should be meek, and convince that violence is a way that does not lead to the land which God promises.

Meek does not have the meaning of lowly. Instead, it is a mental attitude in which one does not violently force an opinion. Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr. were meek. They advocated justice through a correct attitude of nonviolence. The changes they induced were not from weakness. They showed courage and faith which transcend injustice.

[mondo joe]

121. The Beatitudes is a poor source for political strategy.

[mondo joe]

122. And if I had his wealth, I'd have a home in the NW, an apartment in Florence

and a brownstone in NYC.

But my politics would not be different than they were when I was in low-income housing.

[ShaneGR]

125. John Edwards watches ESPN!

Amd ESPN is owned by Disney. And Disney loves Republicans. Therefor, John Edwards is a retarded fool who I hate. Oh ya, he's earned enough to buy himself three houses. Because he has so much money, everything he tries to do for poor people is worthless because only poor people can try to help poor people.

/shoots self in head

[seashorelady]

128. In case you didn't know

Edwards' dad had to borrow $50.00 to bring him and his mom home from the hospital, to a mill house. I for one don't begrudge that man and his family one thing.

[flpoljunkie]

129. Interesting to note than he still has several hundred thousands dollars in 2004 campaign debt

Or, is this not that unusual? He is asking for donations to defer the cost of his live townhall meetings as he announces his bid for the presidency this week.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-12-16-edwards-president-2008_x.htm

Edwards already is well known from the 2004 campaign and his profile has risen this year as he and his wife, Elizabeth, went on nationwide tours to promote their books.

Insiders expect this campaign will be the most expensive in history, with candidates needing to raise tens of millions of dollars next year to remain viable.

He said Edwards could become a contender if he continues to hold the lead in Iowa. "If he can surprise people in Iowa, then it becomes a three-way race," Elmendorf said.

Edwards' campaign plans include an aggressive fundraising effort to prove that he belongs in the top tier. Because he currently does not hold federal office, Edwards does not have a war chest like some of his rivals. In fact, he has several hundred thousands of dollars of debt from his 2004 presidential campaign.

[LittleClarkie]

130. I could give a damn about his homes if I like the message

I will not buy into the "elitist" meme that the RW got Kerry with.

[Inspired]

132. This thread is absurd, really. n/t

[Quixote1818]

136. He also gives a tremendous amount to charity.

The guy worked his ass off and made a good life for himself and his family. GOOD FOR HIM! As long as he still gives back to the poor he is cool with me. Better than cool! He is awesome!

This thread is lame.

[Joe Chi Minh]

137. Well, it's nice to be able to afford to see the REALLY big picture,

and put a free-at-source, health-care system for all and wide-spread poverty on the back burner.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

142. You're concerned.

That's what counts.

[renie408]

143. Which house do you want him to sell? How many square feet is the candidate

of your choice allowed?

Jesus.

[bullwinkle428]

144. You're just buying into the RW talking point, which they pull out every other

day to "showcase the hypocrisy of the left" - "how can they pretend be for the little man when they live in the lap of luxury?" Classic Rush Limbaugh, which I can confirm as I used to listen to him regularly years back when I had an interest in talk radio and there were nothing but wingnuts on the air.

[Lurking Dem]

146. The issue can be confusing.

But Democratic principles differ from Communist ones. It's about creating equal *opportunity* for everyone.

He wants everyone to have the opportunity to do as well as he did - through equal access to education, health care, jobs, etc.

[Imagevision]

149. Edwards is enjoying the fruits of his labor, the american dream, get a clue!

[wishlist]

152. The D.C. home has been sold after being on market a long time

He began building his current Chapel Hill home about the same time he put the D.C. home up for sale and after he had already sold the Raleigh home. He did not intend to own and maintain three residences at the same time, but D.C. home took a long time to sell. As far as the vacation home, I believe he bought that many years ago when property was much cheaper and he was still a practicing lawyer not yet in politics. Don't know status of that home, whether he still owns it or rents it out but he does not spend much time there.