Tired of the John/Elizabeth Edwards "We eat at Wendys" schtick

[Proud2BAmurkin]

I don't know about you but most people I know who started out making $28,000 between them and got filthy rich (like the Edwards) are more obnoxious than most people I know who were always rich, so E Edwards shouldn't be comparing the Edwards with the Kerry's.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,1538640,00.html

[babylonsister]

1. Amen. Comment most unbecoming... nt

[Name removed]

2. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Richardo]

3. I don't get why this is so offensive.

I mean I really don't get it.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

5. She didn't just criticize Kerrys she compared them to herself

that's obnoxious

[supernova]

12. She merely said that they lived differently

Nothing earth-shattering about that.

[nini]

9. I don't either

I just don't read much into that other than their lifestyles are different - which the are. :shrug:

[Missy Vixen]

19. I'm with you, Nini

>their lifestyles are different - which the are.<

I think an awful lot of John and Elizabeth Edwards. They took an event which I'm told is one of the most shattering in life (losing a child,) and turned their understandable pain and grief into triumph, if that makes any sense. Their son will always be with them. So will their caring, compassion, and their heart for those who don't have the material blessings they do.

Good for them that they shop at Target and eat at Wendy's on their anniversary. One thing's for sure -- this is the crucial difference between those who pretend to be concerned for the plight of others and those that are. If they're shopping at Target, they know how much the everyday stuff costs the average person. If they're making an effort to see it from the least of us, they can help.

I admire them both.

Julie

[ForFuxakes]

23. Amen Sister!

Very well put!:applause:

[nini]

36. I admire them and the Kerrys

I wanted Teresa Heinz-Kerry as first lady like you wouldn't believe. She simply rocks.

Elizabeth Edwards is a class act and wouldn't come out and say the things the way people are interpreting them. I don't get it.

I hope she comes on here and sets them straight. :-)

[sufrommich]

41. They probably know the price

of a gallon of milk.It wasn't too long ago that we were all poo pooing George sr. for being out of touch with the average American.I admire the Edwards and don't see why the OP would assume arrogance because they went from poor to rich,what's that got to do with anything?Why would their financial status matter any more than Kerrys?It sounds an awful lot like turning your nose up at "new money".She sounds like she was simply trying to say that they understood the demands on the middle class and the working poor because they lived it.I'm O.K. with that.

[Bunny]

16. Me either.

Never mind that she actually *does* eat at Wendys. I guess she's just a poseur. :eyes:

[babylonsister]

18. I think she was subtly dissing Kerry, speaking of him having

an 'impediment' because of his background. She was also distancing her family with the Wendy's/Target remark despite the fact that they too have plenty of money. And I dunno, but I imagine Kerry has eaten plenty of fast food.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,15386...

snip//

Time: Was John Kerry's privileged background a problem?

Edwards: I'd be telling you things that weren't true if I said that he didn't have an impediment. He did. He was certainly able to be painted as someone who didn't understand what people did with their free time or what their concerns were when they sat around the table. But I don't think that if you looked at his policies you would have found that to be a fair conclusion.

Time: You write about the Kerrys' plush lifestyle. How would you describe yours?

Edwards: It's a different kind of luxury, I think. I know the people whose artwork is on my walls--they're not the old masters. I shop at Target. We eat at Wendy's. Even though we have a lot and I feel very blessed, we are basically the same people we were when we first started out and made, between us, $28,000 a year.

[Richardo]

21. It's still not offensive.

She's just pointing out how perceptions were for Kerry vs Edwards :shrug:

[babylonsister]

27. I never said offensive, but thought it unbecoming and, more important,

unnecessary.

[ForFuxakes]

29. If you will remember....

His impediment was his wifes money...

He was blasted by the MSM b/c of it...

Lighten up will ya!

[babylonsister]

33. Excuse me, but I'm entitled to my opinion, so please don't

tell me how to act or react.

[Karenca]

4. Specifically because they dine at Wendy's only once a year--

on their wedding anniversary.

She wasn't telling the whole truth there.

[nini]

6. oh hold on

Because they still shop at Target and eat at Wendys - they're obnoxious.

I make a hell of a lot more money than I did 10 years ago and I still shop at Target etc.. I still LIVE like I make 28k - there's nothing wrong with that.


What she says about Kerry isn't all that bad - I really don't know why people are getting all pissy about it.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

8. No not that she shops at target but she uses it to compare her with Kerrys

which sucks

[nini]

34. My interpretation is that the image of the Kerry lifestyle was the issue

The Kerry's have big money and enjoy a lifestyle that most equate with not being able to identify with the masses. She's not saying they are like that. There's a difference.


My take on the Kerry's is that they're very well off - BUT they are also down to earth good people. Many cannot separate having a lot of money from being out of touch. It's the perception of the Kerry's on this issue that hurt him with some.


Not that the Edwards are better because they struggled early on and still live like most of us.

I seriously don't see how everyone is taking her comments this way. She's NOT that kind of person.

[supernova]

13. Me neither, Nini

I also live off very little compared to what I make. And I intend to keep doing it too.

[supernova]

7. Well, it might be true for the Edwards

You're comparing old money to nouveau riche. That is true in some cases, but not all.

[pinto]

10. Geez. She was asked a question, gave her opinion, pretty diplomatically.

Didn't sound obnoxious to me at all. :shrug:

[Parche]

11. wendys

The reason they eat at Wendy's is that is where they had their first meeting or anniversary,
or something to that effect..............

[Karenca]

22. Yes

And the whole truth is that they do eat there.....

but it's ONLY once a year, on their anniversary.

She didn't tell the whole truth.

[Parche]

37. wendys

I dont know why everyone is making a big thing about that.....it is something special
to them each year. (Is it a Republican conspiracy???!!!!)

[Karenca]

39. It's not because they go to Wendy's once a year that's illiciting

the comments here.

It's because she didn't have to offer negative remarks against Kerry,
especially since she ONLY pretended that they dine at Wendy's all the time....trying to make her
family look like "regular people" as opposed to the Kerry's.

But I agree, this is no big deal. I still like the Edwards very much. Especially John.

[sufrommich]

46. Once again I ask

Is there some kind of proof out there that she's lying about eating ai Wendys occasionally?This is ridiculous.

[Parche]

51. edwards

She could have done that better, agree
But I know they really like the Kerry's and as they were both sad at having the election
stolen from them.

[sufrommich]

43. Howdo you know

that they only eat there once a year?

[Karenca]

47. They mentioned it during at interview I heard---

They said it was an anniversary tradition.
On their wedding date, they repeat what they did the night of their vows

[sufrommich]

48. I know.I read that interview

I don't recall her saying"We go to Wendy's on our anniversary but avoid it like the plague for the rest of the year".

[Karenca]

50. suffromich, she said they go to Wendy's ONCE a year.

What's so difficult to underdtand about that?

[sufrommich]

53. I know what she said

she said they go to Wendys on their anniversary,which obviously is only once a year.Nowhere did she say"but that's the only time we go ".I asked how any poster could know that she is lying when she says they go to Wendys on dates other than their anniversary.

[Karenca]

57. suffrom, listen

The Edwards have a country estate - on a 100 acre plot in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

They also have a Wilmington area beach house.

I really don't give a fuck where they eat.

If it suits you to believe that the Edward's dine at Wendy's, fine.

[William Bloode]

59. I have a 350 acre ranch,

And a place in Calabash, and a cabin in the mountains. And i still eat at Wendy's. Whats not to believe?

[sufrommich]

60. Oh for god sake.

In post # 39 you stated as fact that EE is "only pretending" that she eats at Wendy's.I asked you how you know that.I take it you don't.I'm done .

[Karenca]

49. And also, during the interview, she raised her hand and showed

her wedding ring...She mentioned that it was the original wedding band,
even though they could now afford a much more elaborate one.

She was making a point of their love for one another at that time,
nothing more.

[ForFuxakes]

14. I find it interesting

That you have disabled your profile...

Exactly who are you to judge this family. From all accounts, they have survived through tragedy and have done well in life. So what if they eat at Wendy's...who cares?

I take it from your post that you are somehow jealous of their success in life. Never mind that they lost a child and John has always championed the under-privalaged and those hurt by businesses. Quit being so petty!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

15. Oh God Talk About A Non-Issue. Are You Just Lookin To Be Mad At Something?

My apologies, but this has to be one of the absolute pettiest gripes I've seen on DU.

[President Jesus]

17. Newsflash: politicians are corny

I know this comes as a major shock.

Think about it...these are the same cornballs that ran for student government and gave valedictorian speeches that included the phrase "we are the future."

[Name removed]

20. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jersey Devil]

24. Thanks mods, but this whole string should be canned

There's no need for this kind of crap here.

[high density]

25. I'm tired of the Edwards' PR firm

It's really annoying and even more obvious at this point.

[ForFuxakes]

32. ?...Que

To what "PR Firm" do you mean...those that are posting here in defense of the Edwards?

[Robbien]

26. Thank you oh so much for your "concern"

It is so nice of you to be soooo "concerned" about the poor dum dems.

Thank you again for your "concern".

[Fleshdancer]

28. Earned wealth is far more admirable to me than inherited wealth

as for this article with Elizabeth, I don't find her comments to be obnoxious at all.

[etherealtruth]

30. Is it really schtick?

I don't know them personally, but I believe it is entirely possible, despite quickly earning a large amount of money, that they remain lovely people.

There's something about losing a child that can make wealth (almost) irrelevant. Again, I don't know them personally.

I like and admire (at least the public persona's of) the Edward's.

[Catchawave]

31. I found nothing offensive in that interview.

Time brought up the Kerry comparisons not EE. :shrug:

[KittyWampus]

42. And Elizabeth E. bought into the Mediawhore's bullshit take on Kerry

so if she wasn't obnoxious, she's unable to handle the Mediawhore's attempts to get Democrats to trash each other.

[Skidmore]

35. Oh, for pete's sake. For months and months,

there has been a thread here or there about the Edwards, who I consider to be decent and caring people with integrity. All of a sudden, today we have threads oozing vitriol over an anthill. The woman is entitled to her opinion, and was in a position to form one. How you are able to determine that the Edward family is obnoxious because you've known a couple of obnoxious people in your life is beyond me. Do you know them? Have you been around them? Until I have better factual information to get to those conclusions, the Edwards have my respect and appreciation for the community minded work they have done throughout the years.

[ForFuxakes]

38. Bravo

:applause: :woohoo:

[wicket]

45. Amem Skidmore

I can't believe some of the crap being thrown at the Edwards on here. :evilfrown:

[ronnykmarshall]

40. Oh goody .... a new bash day

Lemme get this straight ..... Tuesday is Nancy Pelosi bash day. Wednesday is now John and Elizabeth Edwards' bash day. Thursday is John Kerry bash day. And EVERY DAY is bash Hillary Clinton day.

[Catchawave]

44. Do we really need two threads for Elizabeth bashing ?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2233692&mesg_id=2233692

Sometimes I don't even recognize DU :cry:

[Shakespeare]

52. Why do you hate the middle class?

Hey, if you can say something so ridiculous (bashing people who've actually accomplished something instead of inheriting their wealth), then SO CAN I.

This thread is bullshit and should be locked.

[nam78_two]

54. As an aside-on the whole Wendy's/Walmart thing

Not ripping on E.Edwards here..I think she is cool.

But, if I were making a lot of money, I wouldn't shop at Wendy's or Target just because the products you get from their are just a lot more likely to come from abused workers, abused animals etc.

I am a little suspicious of extremely cheap stuff. It isn't a snobbery thing.
When I look at a large slab of food that costs $1, I just assume that someone or something got screwed over to make it this cheap.
I think this is because, in my unscientific estimation, the "free markets" are mostly right now not that free. And there are lobbyists working overtime in washington, to keep the prices of certain items artificially low and some artificially high.

I would highly recommend the movie "The corporation" on that topic. Our system right now is so screwed up, that I can understand why people who don't make much money have to go for what is cheapest, if you have a large family etc. But, I do feel that if you make a lot of money, being a conscientious consumer-say buying items where the workers are likely to have been paid a living wage, buying free range meat rather than factory farmed, buying greener products, is a good idea.

Just me two cents :).

[philosophie_en_rose]

55. Bill Clinton has the same background; and the same strength.

I like the Edwards family, and they remind me the most of my own family. (absent the eventually-got-rich part).

:shrug:

And her comments were not really an attack on John Kerry. They were about his image - and a lot of people (not among us) didn't relate to John Kerry due to his background. Naturally, this is not necessariliy a good thing. (i.e. Morans thinking 43 is a Texan, while 42 is stuffy). But it's not just a facade in Edwards' case and I think it's fair to use the advantage that he has - which his knowledge of what it means to grow up like the rest of us.

It's also, in my opinion, one of Bill Clinton's greatest strengths. He's motivated to help people because, unlike some other politicians, he can look back to his own experiences and the "little people" when considered broad global initiatives.

[ultraist]

56. Kerry does have an impediment

That is the truth. He does not connect well with regular Americans and his Swiss boarding school, blue blood upbringing is very evident. There is a reason the Repub smears stuck and ads, like showing Kerry windsurfing or on his expensive boat were effective for the Repubs.

I volunteered for the Kerry-Edwards ticket and Kerry certainly would have made a fine president, but the fact remains, he does not connect that well with regular folks.

I met John Kerry, Theresa, Alex & Vanessa Kerry and Andre Heinz during the campaign. In fact, I spent an entire day with Andre Heinz and Alex Kerry. They are not your average Americans and their trust fund, privileged background permeates their worldview and the way in which they communicate, just as with John Kerry.

Elizabeth spoke the truth and I applaud her for it.

:applause:

[WildEyedLiberal]

58. Funny, because I've met Kerry too

And I thought he was one of the most down to earth, genuine people I've ever met. I certainly got no hint of trust-find privileged condescension - quite the opposite. No hint of pretension at all. I have a feeling any other politician would have subtly made me feel conscious of my working middle class background, but not Kerry. Kerry didn't grow up rich either - his family had connections, but he didn't grow up in a mansion and vacation in the Hamptons. He went to a Swiss boarding school because his dad was a European diplomat and was stationed in Europe. How is that "elitist"?

I'm very much an ordinary person and I think you are dead wrong about Kerry.