It's a sad day for America and Americans when all reporters can think of to ask Edwards about is the cost of his haircuts. Edwards was right to refuse interviews with them. Why don't they ask him if he has any definite ideas regarding rebuilding New Orleans? Or anything else substantive, for that matter?

You can tell that John Edwards is the candidate Republicans (and their lackeys in the media, and yes, MSNBC, I am talking to you, especially Chuck Todd) fear most.  Why on earth, with all the problems in this country, are you guys so fixated on John Edwards' hair?  How about asking how much Mitt Romney spends on HIS coif?  Or on his suits?  Or ask him about what on earth made him strap a dog carrier to the roof of his car with the family dog in it and then drive 12 hours at highway speed?  Why not ask him about animal cruelty?  Why not fixate on Rudy Giuliani's unsavory relationship with Bernie Kerik or his divorces or any number of things from his days as a less-than-popular mayor of New York?

Perhaps it's because John Edwards would defeat ALL OF THE REPUBLICANS soundly, and you "I got mine and eff you" Republicans don't want that to happen.  So at least be honest about it.

I did hear a report about this article. Edwards, Kuchinich and Biden all spoke yesterday . Edwards had the largest crowd. They all talked about the importance of unions.hillary was to speak this morning.

According to the blog (which I realize has only a couple lines from what I'm sure was a much larger transcript), Edwards only gave a bio stump speech. He really didn't offer the reporters there any substance to ask about - again, unless the couple lines above don't capture the flavor of his talk.

When you talk everyday for 20 months, there simply isn't enough substance to provide fresh material at every stop. But I'm guessing all these candidates have position statements ready, and they strategically pick the time, place and audience to bring them out. Maybe Edwards ought to roll one out now, just to get reporters off the haircut.

I understand from another Washginton Post article that one Washington plastic surgeon does big business removing age spots, wrinkles, moles etc from politicians shortly before campaign season. How much does that work cost? How about those fancy suits they all wear and imagine the cost of the dental work. WHO CARES?

JJ in NJ--Excellent, thought-provoking post! I wouldn't be surprised if the mainstream media's fixation on Edwards' hair when reporters could be asking about Romney's coif, how he treats his dog, or the other things you mention points to their true bias: their corporate media employers want to keep a business-friendly GOP in power and Romney, or any other Republican for that matter, would be their man.

This is also one reason why New Orleans and her need to recover have basically been kept on the back burner by the mainstream media. And except for last week's Democratic forum, never come up in debates. For to run stories on it regularly and to treat it as the valid campaign issue it should be treated as would call Americans' attention to the hardships New Orleanians have been putting up with and the slowness of the recovery. And remind them of how incompetently the Bush Administration not only handled Katrina as it was happening but is continuing to bungle the recovery--and make the Bush Administration (and by extension, since Bush constitutionally cannot be elected for a third term, the GOP) look bad. We saw this sort of crap during the 2006 elections when news out of New Orleans was similarly censored for the most part in an obvious effort to keep both houses of Congress Republican. I can count on the fingers of one hand the New Orleans and other post-Katrina stories that aired between the special Katrina anniversary coverage and the 2006 election.

I think the best we as voters can do is demand that we hear about where candidates stand on real issues that affect real Americans--such as Katrina recovery, poverty, outsourcing, health care, "pain at the pump," etc. Anything like Edwards' hair care expenses or other trivia is "wagging the dog."

It is eminently relevant to his candidacy for President that Edwards spends so much on a stinking haircut.  Why?  Because he made it an issue by the "Two Americas" mantra and the like.  Now, I don't begrudge a financially successful person the perks that come with that success.  That is not the issue.  But when someone is constantly stumpiing about poverty in America while having the gall to spend an amount of money commensurate with that made by a minimum wage worker in a entire month on a damned haircut (!!!), that is a disconnect that I simply can not reconcile.  I like Edwards, but he needs to explain to more practical Americans like myself, how that profligacy washes with his populist message.  Is his poverty emphasis simply a sop to so-called bleeding heart liberals who are dying, like I am, for someone - anyone - to pay some attention to the unfortunate fact that America the beautiful is ignoring its less fortunate, uninsured citizens?

Ironic that Edwards is the most relentless in trying to talk policy and concrete ideas and the media refuses to engage him on them, instead being relentless on the superficial aspects of his personal financial decisions, all while complaining that candidates don't talk policy.

Who is the hypocrite?

Since when does what people do with their money, legally (Not spending it on illegal drugs like Rush Limbaugh) become news?  If Edwards finds comfort in overpaying for Tonsorial Splendor, good for him.  Not everyone if 'Flowbee' material.

Edwards, Biden and Kuchinich took questions from the audience. Clinton did not.

Edwards/Obama - yeah that's the ticket

In regards to John Edwards' speech, I actually saw it on Cspan last night. It was excellent. He said plenty. The sound bites that you get from the news are nothing.  He took questions afterwards and he obviously puts a lot of thought into his responses. He isn't afraid of taking questions about what he will do either.  He is exceptional.  The brush the media chooses to paint him with is so unjust.  Any one running for a major office has had stylist come in and help with their appearance. This bit about Edwards' hair reminds me of the media response about Al Gore's brown suit. Who cares about all of this fluff?  All of the people running for president are far more wealthy than the average citizen.  Edwards is not the richest either!  As a people we need to get together and force the media to report news.  I don't want to see another two hour car chase and garbage about Al Gore's son.  I care about what the person that is running for the president is going to do to put our country back together and on the right track.  Is he/she going to get us out of Iraq, get universal health care, put people to work, fix immigration and with it the whole issue of fair trade practices?  There are so many other issues of importance--too many to list. The media thought Al Gore's son was more important than the commutaton of Scooter Felon Libby.  People THINK about all of this and while you're at it go see Sicko.  Tony Bend (not sure of spelling here.) said that in Europe the government is afraid of the people and in the United States the people are afraid of the government. He felt this is why we don't have universal health care. Think about it! We need to stand up and make our government accountable as well as the media which is so controlled by special interests.  All you have to do is follow the money.

They still have a steelworker's union in this country?????  well, I'll be darned!  Thought they got thrown under the bus.

Hillary and Sam Walton!
Do you think Hillary Clinton’s as a board member of Wal-Mart profiteering off child, prison and slave labor is a legitimate issue in 08? Do you think Hillary commitment to U.S. workers, small business, and environmental standards due to her profiteering based on exploitation while on the board is a real issue? Do you think Bill Clinton was influenced as President by Hillary to support and expand on this trade policy that puts profits ahead of human rights and Americans via the relationship with Sam Walton?

GP-Read an official biography of the Senator and you’ll find her six-month stint on a child-protection task force. Yet you won’t find her SIX YEARS on the board of directors of Wal-Mart Corporation. She may have earned a Grammy for “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child.” But it takes a Governor’s wife to provide cover for Wal-Mart’s profiteering off systematic wage-enslavement of children in its factories in South America.

Sam Walton called Hillary, “My little lady.” Sam paid her an eyebrow raising sum for a director - equal to 60% of her entire not-insubstantial salary as a lawyer. By contrast, Wendy Diaz (her real name), a 13-year-old in Honduras, was paid 25 cents an hour to make shirts for the “little lady’s” label.

Hillary’s rake-in was made possible by Wal-Mart’s 100% union-free operation and out-sourcing of 100% of its manufacturing, some to prison factories in China. Now, you could say that Hillary couldn’t hear the screams of the kiddies in Kamp Wal-Mart in Honduras. After all, she relied on the intelligence provided her by the President (of Wal-Mart).

READ MORE

http://controlcongress.com/uncategorized/hillary-and-sam-walton

Vridar, Seattle / at least edwards aknowledges the 2 americas problem does exsist, I hate to tell all you people but all the candidates are wealthy, is edwardws sincere about his coments on poverty and giving more people a shot at the american dream, he's definitly the most likley to be since he was not born into the wealthy elite like his opponets, as for the hair cut cost I have asked for a comparrison between what all the candidates pay for personal hygenine and since no one will respond to that question I would guess it safe to say edwards isn't at the top of that list

A question. Why doesn't the media research the prices of all the candidates haircuts now? Hmmm, I wonder, of course ,ccain and guiliani would not have to worry but maybe there's some plastic surgery bills lying around somewhere. With all the scrutiny about a haircut lets see every candidates expenses. come on media, get with the program.

John Konop--That is quite a story about Hillary, Walmart, and Honduran sweatshops! Reminds me of what happened some years ago when Kathie Lee Gifford caught heat over the fact that her clothing label consisted of garments made by people in sweatshops in Honduras. I wonder why we haven't been hearing more about this.

Sounds like a bumper sticker campaign......

the media truly seems intimidated by edwards policies, and the fact that he hasn't been bought off by the powers that be, sounds like a good man for the job, nice hair too.

why doesn't the media have a list of how much each presidential candidate spends on personal hygiene since it seems to be such an important issue to them? most likely it would then be discovered that edwards spends less on his hair than the candidates the press is trying to shove down everyone’s throat, god forbid that ever comes out.

Vridar, if I'm understanding you correctly, what you're saying is that if someone comes from a humble background and becomes wealthy, he is OBLIGATED to become an "I got mine and eff you" Republican -- because being wealthy is all about being a scumbag and pulling up the ladder behind you.  Is that your view?  What Edwards does with his money is his business, and in case you haven't noticed, he too would pay a lot more taxes under his own plan.  Unlike Republicans, he wants all Americans to have the same opportunities he had to better himself.

Edwards DOES have the right to spend as much as he wants on a haircut, a shave or anything else.  He is a wealthy man who grew up in a working class family like many of us did and many of us still ARE.  He KNOWS what his parents lives were like and his life as a child growing up probably in the mill village without a silver spoon in his mouth.  I would expect he knows and respects the value of a dollar as much or more than any of them.  From the sound of his upbringing, Obama was never a deprived child - I may be wrong but appears to have had a childhood filled with all he needed materially.  If ANYBODY comes from the lower income level in this or any nation by working their way there and taking care of their money - they DO have every RIGHT to enjoy all the privileges that brings.  Just because Edwards MADE it and he wants to try to lead others to MAKE it in this nation -- does NOT mean he is supposed to still look for a discount haircut or suit - those days are BEHIND him.  If any one of US had the money for a $400 or $500 haircut or facial or WHATEVER and we wanted to use OUR money for that - it is nobody's business to criticize.  Why does the media and so many people act as if this man should APOLOGIZE now for being wealthy and having what he wants when he wants it?  His haircut was LEGAL, it was not immoral, he stole from no one, his family wasn't left needing something ---- Get off that stupid soapbox.  Sounds like people are either so jealous of a man that DID make it -- are you complaining about sports figures and the big bucks they spend on whatever they want?  How about movie stars?  How about any number of people?  Yes, plenty of crooked politicians in Washington and in our states are spending OUR money as if there is no end to it.  When John Edwards spends MY TAX DOLLARS getting a $400 haircut - then I will scream. Till then - find some substance to criticize the man or leave him alone.  The press does NOT want to hear him speak truth on our economy and the issues affecting the poor, hard working people in America.  The press, owned and controlled by big business wants this poorly paid class of people to continue and to grow -- after all if they are paid a decent wage and offered affordable health insurance - my goodness, they just might save and invest a bit and be able to get out of the rut.  But the above would mean a little less for the greedy business owneres as Walmart who say they must pay low to keep prices low. Prices would be low anyway to compete - the TRUTH is they pay LOW so they can profit HIGH and add more and more millions $ to their net worth. The press do NOT want John Edwards telling the truth to the masses about the reasons they are being paid such low wages with no benefits.  The press and the big business that own and control media want people to continue to buy into the old "pay them more and the price goes up".  What about "pay them more and trim just a little bit off the criminal profit margins?'  Yes, companies should make net profit - they have to if they are to continue.  Yes, they should make decent profits.  But today, decent is not in the vocabulary.  Greed - greed - and more greed.  How many millions does it take to be enough to look down at the backs those millions were made on?  How many millions until now and then a few rewards for those working stiffs who MADE the millions?  Once upon a time in this nation, owners and companies made decent profits, workers were paid decent, liveable wages with insurance and retirement benefits.  Then those at the top got so GREEDY that there never was enough of a bottom line - What is always cut?  Labor, insurance, pensions for the workers.  NEVER the criminal salaries and perks for CEO's. Never the bottom line just a fraction so some of the blessing could be spread around? They know Edwards is going to expose this system for what it is, who benefits from it and how it should be changed.  Much, much better to keep a silly haircut the center of their questions. By the way, anybody on this post every paid $400 for a haircut?  If you had the money and you wanted a particular stylist - would you?  I expect each and every one of us would if that is what we wanted. He sure gave the hairdresser a lot of free advertising from this ---- and it keeps on going.

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