Edwards- King of Hypocrisy

[2rth2pwr]

From Shrill to Shill: It looks like that pro-Edwards "527" group defended by Paul Krugman as a "labor 527" and a "527 run by labor unions" actually got about a third of its money "in a single check from an entity linked to Rachel Mellon, the widow of Paul Mellon, who inherited his share of the great American fortunes." ...

Obama's point in attacking Edwards on the 527 issue was, of course, not that it was wrong to accept union help but the transparent phoniness of Edwards boasting "I support public financing of federal elections"--and saying "these <527> groups should not be a part of the political process"--when this one is run by his former campaign manager and obviously set up to help his campaign. http://www.slate.com/id/2180876/

The Alliance for a New America, the pro-Edwards 527 which has been described as a labor group, has received more than half a million dollars from private sources.
According to the group's filing, which isn't online at the FEC's site yet, but which the commission provided upon request, the 527 has raised and spent almost $1.7 million. http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1207/Private_money_in_Edwards_527.html

Though more than half of that money comes from a set of unions, largely SEIU members, $495,000 came in a single check from an entity linked to Rachel Mellon, the widow of Paul Mellon, who inherited his share of the great American fortunes. Another $25,000 come from the Silicon Valley entrepreneur Andrew Rappaport and his wife.
The $495,000 check came from Oak Spring Farms LLC, which has written large checks to groups associated with Edwards in the past. The New York Sun's Josh Gerstein reported last year that the company is linked to a lawyer who holds power of attorney for Mellon, who was then 96. Mellon may be best known as a close friend of Jackie Kennedy's.

Mellon contributed the maximum to Edwards earlier this year, as did the lawyer, Alexander Forger, with each of them writing one check March 5, and another later in the month. Forger hasn't responded to a voicemail left at his office by Politico.

The FEC filing documents spending on television and radio ads that promote Edwards' plans.
ALSO: Matthew Mosk reports that Forger is an active Edwards supporter, who co-hosted a fundraiser for him.

[chimpymustgo]

1. Go away. JRE is on the rise! nt

nt

[2rth2pwr]

3. Denial is not a river in Africa. nt

[Triana]

48. And that is why he's getting attacked so viciously (n/t)

[LSK]

2. WHATS HYPOCRITICAL ABOUT UNIONS SUPPORTING EDWARDS?

Unions as in We the People as in the middle class as in my father a 40 year electrician.

And its a crime for rich people to support Edwards? What do the Mellons do? Do they have some Corporation that is trying to write legislation??

[cali]

10. The "hypocrisy" lies in Edwards strong denunciation of 527s

and then being supported by them. Much as I don't support Edwards, I don't really have a problem with this- except for the part about Mrs. Mellon being 97 and her attorney giving her money to the 527 by using his POA. And that can't be blamed on JE. Anyway, hypocrisy is part and parcel of politics at that level.

[2rth2pwr]

13. Alliance for a New America, which is being advised by Nick Baldick,

campaign manager for Edwards' 2004 presidential bid.

"I suspect that if John called his former campaign manager and political director and said 'we're not going to engage in 527 activity' that would probably have some influence," Obama said.

Obama's campaign said Baldick's firm is S&B Public Solutions and Federal Election Commission filings show that he has been paid $78,451 for "consulting" work, with the latest payment being made in June.
http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2007/12/obama_makes_charge_against_edw.html

[LSK]

15. Elizabeth Edwards just said they want their Heathcare Plan passed by July 2009

Why are you trying to prevent me from getting Universal Healthcare?

What is wrong with you?

[2rth2pwr]

36. You'll have to do better than that.

That's the crassest defense of a candidate I've seen in a long time.

[Froward69]

39. you are that dense???

you are looking forward to mandatory health insurance with Edwards??
actually read his website. and see.

Joe Biden is far closer to universal health care than edwards.

[DS1]

4. If you had any idea how stupid and desperate you look going after the Mellons

you'd delete this silly little post of yours.

[2rth2pwr]

17. I'm sure the Mellons are a fine family

An advocate for tighter campaign finance regulations, Meredith McGehee, said 527 groups and politicians like Mr. Edwards should not be permitted to take untraceable donations from companies...
His son, Paul Mellon, who died in 1999, had a home in Virginia known as Oak Spring Farms. In addition, according to New York City property records..In addition, according to New York City property records, Mr. Forger, holds a power of attorney for Paul Mellon's wife, Rachel Lambert Mellon, 96.
http://www.nysun.com/article/39763?page_no=2

[billybob537]

5. 1.7 million are you fucking serious?

That's such an insignificant number I can't believe you mentioned it.
Willard Mitchell Romney has spent over 80 Million of his own money Have you been watching Faux news again?

[2rth2pwr]

9. Obama calls on Edwards to stop 527 ad

OSKALOOSA, Iowa – With advertising dollars increasingly flowing into Iowa from outside groups just before the presidential caucuses, Sen. Barack Obama charged Saturday that one of his leading rivals is being hypocritical by denouncing such groups, while also benefiting from them.

http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2007/12/obama_makes_charge_against_edw.html

"We found out today that there's an outside group spending $750,000 – just bought three-quarters of a million dollars worth of television time – and the individual who is running the group used to be John Edward's campaign manager," Obama said during a stop here. "So, you can't say yesterday, you don't believe in 'em, and today, you're having three-quarters of a million dollars being spent for you. You can't just talk the talk."

[PresidentObama]

6. Momentum for any candidate on DU= More Attacks! Go figure....

[emilyg]

20. Glad it's your candidate today

and not mine.

[PresidentObama]

23. Just wait for your candidate to get any sign of momentum, then you can have the attacks back ;)

[Mythsaje]

7. This just in!

People opposed to bottom-up Class Warfare (or, rather, those who want the battle to continue in much the same vein as it has) are getting desperate.

[cali]

16. it's utterly absurd to make the accusation that people who don't support

JE, support the status quo, or are getting desperate. It's what you obviously would like to think, in order to demonized people who don't agree with you. That ain't truth.

[Mythsaje]

21. Cali--it's obviously not a big issue.

For me it's the ONLY issue. Everything else is just a reflection.

[cali]

22. I don't know how you can judge that it's not a big issue to other people

It's true that it's not the ONLY issue to me, but it is up there in the top three, and it has been for a very long time- in large part because of my dad, who was saying these things 30 years ago. And I give JE some credence on the issue because he has been speaking out for the past 4 years on poverty.

[Two Americas]

37. sure you can

Of course we can assess what is and isn't important to other posters, and it happens here all the time.

Those for whom labor issues, and the plight of the have-nots are a priority rank what Edwards says about that above his flaws. Those who don't, don't. They may be wrong, they may be being fooled, others may disagree with them, but we can certainly say that this is their top priority and that for others it is not. Nothing wrong with that.

[Two Americas]

35. no way to tell

The problem is that you can't tell what people are really saying. Are they actually opposed to what Edwards is saying? I believe that some are, but don't come out and say that.

You can't really say with any credibility that Mythsaje is motivated to "demonize" people since he is merely responding to others who most definitely are trying to demonize Edwards and Edwards supporters. Nor does it make sense that anyone would "like to think" that people are not being straightforward. Most people would like to think that these attacks would never be posted here and would like to think that everyone here is being sincere and honest. I know that is what I would like to think. What sort of sense would it make to demonize the demonizers and then be demonized for that? We are going in circles here.

Whether or not other posters agree, there are many Edwards supporters who have thought things through, who have come to a reasonable and sane conclusion to support Edwards, and who do not need to think evil things about his detractors to buttress their decision.

He is guessing at why people are making so many attacks on other candidates. That is all anyone could do. The ferocity of the attacks on various candidates is so over the top, that it is only to be expected that people would question what is driving that.

[saltpoint]

8. What could Mario Cuomo have been thinking in praising John Edwards, I wonder.

That dumb-ass Mario Cuomo!

[LSK]

11. Paul Mellon Wikipedia page

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Mellon

Whats the problem?

[MethuenProgressive]

14. Paul's dead, and your guy is writing 1/2 Million dollar checks "from" his 95yo widow.

You should hope top Edwards fundraiser A. Forger knows a good trial lawyer.

[Adelante]

24. 97 year old widow, to be exact nt

[MethuenProgressive]

12. Does the 95 yo Mellon know a top Edwards fundraiser is writing $495,000 checks on her accoun

"Matthew Mosk reports that Forger is an active Edwards supporter, who co-hosted a fundraiser for him."

[PresidentObama]

18. Wow, another anti-Democrat post from MethuenProgressive.

Who would have guessed?

:sarcasm:

[MethuenProgressive]

26. Here's that John Edwards anti-Democratic Party quote his supporters love:

"It's a lie any Democrat would be better than any Republican,"
Which Republican will he support when Edwards quits just weeks from now?
McCain? Probably. A McCain/Edwards ticket would have huge support with his DU backers.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MethuenProgressive]

31. "You should be ashamed of the level of lies you continually post here."

You should be ashamed of the level of lies you continually post here.

It's a direct quote from Johnny Edwards.

[Moochy]

47. Whats in a name?

Why do people choose leftish sounding names? Right-Wing McNutJob picks "LeftyDude" as a screen name and quickly ends up on everyones ignore list despite his best efforts to smell liberal.

[ThatPoetGuy]

19. So, only two-thirds of the money came from labor unions, then?

It's sickening to watch the scum-slinging and dishonesty of these attacks on Edwards and Krugman.

Scum-slinging and dishonesty -- I guess that makes you an Obama supporter. No one else is doing that here.

Krugman is not now and has never been a shill. He stated an informed opinion about Obama's health-care industry, and Obama immediately began to swiftboat him.

Obama has complained about the influence of money on the presidential campaigns. Obama has spent A LOT more money trying to buy the Iowa election than Edwards has. Now Edwards receives support from outside sources that like his populist message, and Obama wants to stifle their voices.

Obama had spent about FIVE MILLION DOLLARS trying to buy Iowa last I looked. The 527 in question was planning to spend $750,000.

Here is what that 527's ad said:

"The price of dependence on foreign oil; Health care in crisis; Government run by corporate lobbyists; Isn't it time someone had a plan to take them on?" asks the ad's narrator. The ad goes on to detail the "Edwards plan" that would -- among other things -- "Ban campaign cash from lobbyists; End tax breaks for Big Oil; Stop job-killing trade deals; Stand up to insurance companies for real health reform."

At the ad's end, the narrator urges: "Ask all the candidates for their plans to level the playing field."

Where is there anything harsh or unfair in that ad?

Obama's essential point on Krugman was that Krugman should not be allowed to criticize him.

Obama's essential point on the union ad was that unions should not be allowed to criticize him.

He's whiny, prayerful, and dishonest. He has a disturbingly fascist tendency to attack anyone who doesn't support everything he says. He has no problems attacking liberals, and he seems to think that Reid and Pelosi haven't been accommodating enough.

[Adelante]

25. Anybody remember campaign finance reform? Election reform?

Those good things?

In discussing the role being played by 527 groups in the 2008 presidential caucuses and primaries, some published media reports have stated that these political groups can raise and spend unlimited contributions in the presidential race, as long as they do not explicitly urge people to "vote for" or "vote against" a presidential candidate and do not coordinate their efforts with a presidential candidate or campaign.

This statement is wrong.

-snip

"Despite the FEC findings of widespread illegal conduct by 527 groups in the 2004 presidential election, it appears that 527 groups are blatantly and arrogantly at it again in the current presidential race," Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer stated.

"These 527 groups are spending large sums of unlimited contributions on what they claim are 'issue ads' but what instead are unquestionably 'campaign ads' being run to influence the 2008 presidential election." Wertheimer said.

"Given the past FEC determinations that illegal expenditures were made by numerous 527 groups in the 2004 presidential election, no one should be making the assumption that the 527 groups currently spending millions of dollars in Iowa and New Hampshire are doing so legally," Wertheimer stated. "In reality, these 527 groups may be making illegal expenditures in 2008, just as 527 groups did in 2004."

http://www.democracy21.org/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC={91FCB139-CC82-4DDD-AE4E-3A81E6427C7F}&DE={F3CFEA71-36DA-4056-89EF-12168391CB5F}

[MethuenProgressive]

27. For $495K, some quickly forget.

Edwards bagman Al Forger hoped no one would notice.

[ShadesOfGrey]

29. Your guy Richardson is on CSPAN right now...

ya watching?

[PresidentObama]

30. MP is probably not, too busy attacking Democrats.

[ShadesOfGrey]

32. Yea, that's what I figured.

Seems to really have a thing for Edwards. Hair envy or something.

[MethuenProgressive]

33. Quoting Edwards is "attacking Democrats"? Well, he says what he says.

You guys are getting all moist for that McCain/Edwards ticket, aren't you?

[MethuenProgressive]

34. It's Saturday's speech - I already posted the full text yesterday.

But thanks for the headsup.
edit: just watched c-span - love it when they keep the cameras rolling after speeches!!

[Armstead]

38. Don't know if this is the same Alexander Forger, but here's some info

Since all of the news references on Google only refer to his as "a lawyer listed in New York city property records as holding power of attorney for (Mellon)".........(Funny how quickly memes travel)...Here's the only other reference to Alexander Forger attorney I could find on a reasonably quick search.

It's from American Lawyer Lifetime Achievement Awards...If it's the same guy, the description gives one good reason he is supporting Edwards. And a r4eason totally consistent with Edwards message....And presumably he is smart enough not to be fleecing rich widows to advance worthy causes.

(Maybe I'm wrong here, but when dealing with mud, one has to work with what one can..)


http://www.americanlawyer.com/LAA.html


Alexander Forger
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy

In private practice, Alexander Forger's clients are the kind of people for whom money is no object and influence is inherited; in public service, he has always dedicated his strongest efforts to those who have neither money nor influence. As chair of New York's Legal Aid Society, Forger helped bring top-level legal advice and assistance to the indigent. When he went to Washington to serve as president of the Legal Services Corporation under President Bill Clinton, he fought fiercely in Congress to rescue a federally funded program that gave poor people meaningful access to the courts, restructuring the organization to adapt to severe budget cuts and restrictions on the types of cases that it can take. If charity begins at home, then Forger's assistance to his partners came in the form of tough love: helping revitalize an old-fashioned firm and ensuring its competitiveness in the modern era of global business, while also urging a greater commitment to pro bono and public service.

[cali]

40. he sounds like a pretty damned good guy to me

I almost think this is worth an OP as there have now been three or 4 threads about this. I can't imagine someone like this taking advantage in order to promote a favorite cause.

[Armstead]

43. I would post it as an OP, but my uncertainty is too much to do that

I'm not 100 percent certain it's the same guy...Maybe 80 percent.

If I have time to look into it more to confirm it's the same guy, I may post it.

[Two Americas]

41. Why Edwards?

For those motivated to undermine and attack people who are supporting Edwards, would it not behoove you to understand why people are supporting Edwards?

For many of us supporting Edwards, his message of fighting for the downtrodden, the left behind and the suffering against entrenched wealth and privilege is so important that it dwarfs all other concerns.

We believe, and have seen evidence that this is also true for the majority of people in the country.

We believe that this message is the heart of what it means to be a Democrat, and is the very foundation for all successful Democratic party approaches to political and social issues, both well documented in the past, and for the future as a vision and a firm statement of principles and priorities that will rally the troops, bring back the "Reagan Demnocrats" to the fold, and revitalize the party.

We believe that this message is the message with which the party has always had the greatest electoral success.

We believe that merely by speaking this message Edwards has transformed the national political discussion, regardless of what he has done in the post or what he may do in the future, and that this is the most significant thing to happen in the party in over thirty years.

We believe that the public is disgusted by the hair-splitting, and the nit-picking, and with the character assassination and smearing that is going on between the supporters of the various candidates.

We don't care if Edwards is perfect, we care about keeping his message alive. We aren't looking for the things that others find lacking in Edwards, because we believe that the severity of the crisis for the poor and working people is such that anyone strongly speaking out for them is much more important than anything else we could be looking at or thinking about.

We are not against other candidates or other Democrats, and we are not in love with "our guy" nor are we hating "your guy" - we are for the struggling and suffering people in the country and will stand strongly with anyone who is speaking for them.



Note to Edwards supporters - I took the liberty of speaking for you here, and if you think I have it wrong don't hesitate to correct me.

[2rth2pwr]

42. "...is so important that it dwarfs all other concerns."

Sounds like a license to kill.

[The River]

44. 4 Months on DU

and you're credible how?

[Two Americas]

45. ...or to save

Perhaps it is a context within which we can save millions from despair and crushing poverty, from fear and anxiety, from illness and suffering.

[FrenchieCat]

46. Edwards supporters are Edwards supporters for a reason,

and nothing said about John Edwards will change them. They are a tolerant group and have no problems with....

Voting for the Bankruptcy Bills,
http://jre-whatsnottolike.com/2007/08/19/edwards-and-2001-bankruptcy-bill/

voting for China Free Trade,
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=106&session=2&vote=00251

voting for Yucca Mountain as a depository,
http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20071118/ELECTIONS/111180127

voting to support "right to work" legislature,
http://www.joebiden.com/newscenter/pressreleases?id=0136

profiting from Fortress Hedgefunds in multiple ways throughout '05-'07, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/22/AR2007042201339.html
while claiming no knowledge of what Fortress was actually doing in May,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/10/AR2007051002277.html
and his decision in Mid August of this year to continue to keep his money invested in Fortress (read last sentence of first paragraph)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/18/us/politics/18edwards.html?ref=us

calling out Iran and then changing his tune,
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?pid=161493

Edwards taking no pro-bono cases.... http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0921189.html

or his co-sponsorship of the IWR while advocating support for war and waiting 3 years to "apologize",
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/WesDem/175

or his implying that his race and gender makes him most electable,
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071028/NEWS08/310280075

or apparent "confusion" between Edwards' various "help to the poor" enterprises, and which ones did what and for whom - http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/22/us/politics/22edwards.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

or the limitation he brings as a candidate due to his acceptance of matching funds (something he didn't really want to do),
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/09/28/385769.aspx


etc.....

Edwards candidate supporters are extremely tolerant of all and/or any positions their candidate has taken.

The commercials against Edwards while he has no money to defend himself will be nonstop. It will be a pity to see.

[The Doctor.]

49. Oh, I get it... if you think public funding is a good idea, you should refuse private donations...

That way, you can let your campaign fail and never be a President who might support public funding.

Got it.

[SoxFan]

50. Kick

Hate to break it to the Edwards crowd, but if Forger is doing what it looks like he's doing, your guy is in political trouble.

It's not the first time Edwards' supporters in the legal community have run amok:

Attorney Geoffrey Fieger, best known for representing assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, has been indicted on charges of conspiring to make more than $125,000 in illegal contributions to the 2004 presidential campaign of Democrat John Edwards
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/24/politics/main3201864.shtml?source=RSSattr=Politics_3201864

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E4D91F3AF937A15757C0A9659C8B63

Tab Turner, his law firm, Turner & Associates of Little Rock Arkansas, and Edwards for President (the principal campaign committee of John Edwards’ 2004 campaign) have agreed to pay a total of $59,500 in civil penalties for violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act) and FEC regulations over prohibited corporate contributions and making contributions in the name of another.
http://www.fec.gov/press/press2006/20060622mur.html