Townhall.com, Where Your Opinion Counts
Talk Radio:   Bill Bennett   Mike Gallagher   Dennis Prager   Michael Medved   Hugh Hewitt   
BREAKING NEWS  LeftArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican   RightArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican  
Columns, funnies & more in your inbox!
  • Check the boxes and send us your email address to receveive your free newsletter
  • Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
  • Townhall.com’s weekly inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes in the world of politics. When news breaks, we report.
  • Signup to receive the latest daily Townhall cartoons

Townhall.com The Blogspot for Political, Conservative and Republican Blogs and Bloggers


Friday, January 26, 2007
"Cribs" with John Edwards
Posted by: Mary Katharine Ham at 8:17 AM

The Edwards estate in Chapel Hill, N.C.:


A couple thoughts on this:

1) At 28,000 square feet and 100 acres, if there are two Americas, I'm sure John can pony up and house at least one of them.

2) If a Wal-Mart had wanted to clear-cut that much land in Chapel Hill, the unwashed, protesting, green masses on Franklin Street would still be screaming about it.

3) L.L. Cool J = Limousine Liberal Cool John

4) "The recreation building contains a basketball court, a squash court, two stages, a bedroom, kitchen, bathrooms, swimming pool, a four-story tower, and a room designated 'John’s Lounge.'"

John's Lounge? Senator, I served with Jay-Z, I knew Jay-Z, Jay-Z was a friend of mine. Senator, you are no Jay-Z.

5) A recent New Republic article asked how Edwards had become the "poor man's candidate," touring the country's labor unions and strike sites with comfort.

I'd guess he had them all over for squash, at the same time. Union guys love squash.

6) "He estimated that the tax value will exceed $6 million when the facility is completed."

I wonder how many free health clinics that would have funded.

7) "...we can invest in some of the cleaner alternative sources of energy — wind, solar, biomass. There are a whole series of things that we need to do." -- John Edwards, in his announcement speech in New Orleans.

Weird, I don't see any windmills or solar panels in that picture.

Listen, I got no problem with the guy being rich and spending his money how he wishes, but it is supremely obnoxious that just about every liberal politican lives like the top 1 percent they've been denigrating for the past six years. That 1 percent is full of George Bush's buddies, but Democrats know none of them, right? The rich are not evil. For the most part, they are people who have worked hard at something they're good at, and the market has deemed them worthy of healthy payment.

Sadly, John Edwards spent his working career building this luxurious life for himself from fairly humble beginnings, and he will spend the rest of his political career trying to convince the rest of America that his story is an impossibility in "George Bush's America."

"Hey, thanks capitalism! Now that I've made it, the rest of y'all enjoy socialism. Love, John Edwards."

I smell a campaign slogan.



View in ascending order View in descending order
Ronald Wilson Reagan writes: Friday, February, 16, 2007 2:58 PM
John' Woody
Despite all the millions he made in extorting insurance companies, I bet he still gets a woody every time he hears a siren
bdrg writes: Wednesday, February, 07, 2007 7:01 PM
the barn
He uses the barn to store his hair products.
kparker writes: Wednesday, February, 07, 2007 10:02 AM
John’s Lounge
Umm, I'm pretty sure "John’s Lounge" is just for wifey consumption; I don't see anything called that on the actual floor plans of the recreation building, whereas there is a prominent and centrally located "hot chick's room"...
canttakeitanymore writes: Thursday, February, 01, 2007 7:19 PM
global warming

where can I buy land like Harry Reid did at 166 bucks in acre, so when we go back to living in the caves to prevent global warming, I want to get my cave set up before everybody catches on to my idea
pedro writes: Saturday, January, 27, 2007 2:22 PM
Johnny Edwards
Hey NebraskaJohn, I'd be interested n your assertion that the Edwards' charitable giving is "unquestioned." They said they donated 8.5% of their income over a ten year period to charity. They never released their Schedule A to indicate what "charities" they gave to -- and 8.5% isn't eyebrow raising on any level.

On a more frivolous matter, Edwards' s tax return indicates that his legal name is "JOHNNY." (Unfortunately, the tax returns do not include Schedule A).

(http://www.taxhistory.org/thp/presreturns.nsf/Returns/07921AB261F711F685256F08004FB033/$file/edwards03.pdf)
baslimthecripple writes: Saturday, January, 27, 2007 1:03 PM
biomass.
Hmmmm, biomass, is that like ster manure? If so, doubtless there is plenty of that arond John's place and I don't see any steers.

PS: And no he is no relaton.
one hot minute writes: Saturday, January, 27, 2007 2:13 AM
"our house, in the middle of the street"

Great post, MKH.

I don't think the 1980s British mod band Madness was singing about the Edwards family in their paean("Our House")to middle class life.

But you know you've struck a nerve with the Edwardian brigade when they staunchly deny that Senator Hair Gel has ever even played the 'income bracket' card in his campaigns.

It's a travesty that Edwards' tax policies work against middle class folks who are trying to climb the ladder.
CC writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 11:39 PM
Making money
There's nothing wrong with it. But to make your fortune by bringing hospitals and doctors to their knees is not something to be proud of.
Reason writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 11:18 PM
Ugly house, but irrelevant
Could Edwards have built an uglier palace? Really, a teal-roofed, architecturally dull mansion next to a red barn. Only the color blind could tolerate this mess.

Perhaps I haven't followed Edwards closely enough, but I don't recall Edwards denigrating the rich. I know he doesn't think they are "evil." Arguing that a society, where the rich gets richer, the middle gets squeezed and the poor gets poorer is unhealthy does not translate into hatred for the rich. You may disagree with his analysis, but his home is irrelevant.

As long as Edwards hasn't argued that it is bad to be rich, then I think Ham's thoughts are a little out of place.

anti-socialist writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 5:29 PM
CobHuskerJohn
"Amazingly, John Edwards is one of the .05% or so of multi-millionaires who is a self-made man. Edwards grew up super-poor, and on scholarship attended an amazing university, was top of his class, etc etc."

Nothing amazing about someone who used the court system to gain vast sums of wealth through extortion - liberals do it daily. He's nothing less than a Marxist pig.
Maniac writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 3:38 PM
Maniac
Typical of the elitist left. They want to abscond with our hard earned wages through high taxation, mess with our health care through socialized medicine and take away our property all in the name of some public purpose that they want nothing to do with in their own lives. I hope the ambulence chaser who did more to increase medical costs than any second rate HMO enjoys his palace in the hills. But some day the average citizens who get handed some lame minimum wage will rebel against these self-righteous phonies. For more, check out http://www.musingsofamaniac.com
Petrovian writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 3:27 PM
Typical opportunist and hypocrit libs
With no shame. My golly, why are millions of other "good" liberal so easily deceived? Or, perhaps they are blind?
Tar Heel writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 3:18 PM
Secret Service
A friend of mine did some work on the house...word is that they have already built a wing for the Secret Service. Now that is arrogance. He did nothing for the citizens of NC during his joke of a term in the Senate, and now he thinks he can be president.
Tar Heel writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 3:14 PM
His America
I'd like to live in his America too, as long as I didn't have to ruin the careers of good doctors to get there.

You should see his seats at the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill. People from the "poor America" don't get those seats.
NebraskaJohn writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 3:09 PM
This column is, how do I put it, WRONG
Ham said

"The rich are not evil. For the most part, they are people who have worked hard at something they're good at, and the market has deemed them worthy of healthy payment."

which, I hate to point out, is factually inacurate. The evil part obviously is totally subjective. But the second part, that idea that most rich people (as in the top 1%) are rich because the market has rewarded them is easily disproven.

In fact, the stats on inherited wealth show that over 99% of those with 10million dollars or more were born with over a million dollars in their families accounts.

Amazingly, John Edwards is one of the .05% or so of multi-millionaires who is a self-made man. Edwards grew up super-poor, and on scholarship attended an amazing university, was top of his class, etc etc.

And so I don't begrudge him his purchase. One of the first things I would want to do if I became super-rich, would be to indulge in some of the things I never had. His record of charitable giving is unquestionable, as is his record of public service.

This column is mean-spirited, factually untrue in several places, and distracts from real public discourse and debate.



And for the record, no this does not mean I support JE for President. I just can't stand to see someone be so obviously factually wrong as Ham was in this column.
CC writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 2:47 PM
Hair salon
With all the time it takes all the people who do John's hair, where is the salon?
Founding Father writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 2:40 PM
Conservativeman..
...my conservative brother I must disagree with you that "J" would actually allow his servants to live in huts in the trees on his humble estate. No, no, no. He wouldn't stand for it.

The huts are not the issue. They furthers his "Two-America agenda quite nicely. Its just that he (and his elitist brethren alike) would NEVER stand for the poor to actually live right next door (gasp)to them and their own homes.

NIMBY anyone?
conservativeman writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 2:22 PM
Other America live in servants huts
There is two America's here we just don't see the 2nd one. The public low income servants huts are hidden in the trees so they cannot be seen by L.L.cool J. in his lounge.
There is also the very quaint summer homes of the many illegal aliens that will be needed to keep up the estate.
Founding Father writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 1:44 PM
Two Solar Panels...
...Wow. I stand in awe of the power emulating from the two solar panels. That will power what? Half an alarm clock?

Stick to the obvious big picture: John Edwards and the Elitist Left see two different Americas alright, the Good Rich and the Bad Rich (based SOLELY on political affiliation).

Liberals are pathetically hypocritical.



gregflynn writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 12:49 PM
Facts
There are two sets of solar panels on the roof which are clearly visible.

Centipede grass is brown in the winter.
MagicalPat writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 12:35 PM
Mr. Saigon
John Edwards wants to be the last one on the wealth helicopter, condemning the rest of us to a life of mediocrity, begging for the scraps his government will toss us.
pilgrimsix writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 11:31 AM
Secret Service
I would be willing to bet that there are plans about how to accommodate the Secret Service.

What does he need a tower for?
rivlax writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 10:26 AM
Drainage
What about the little bridge under the connector to the barn? Is that a natural stream that goes under it or a drainage ditch? What eco regs had to be adhered to for that?
lynnwahl writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 10:13 AM
Ground cover
With all that bare dirt and no ground cover, isn't he going to have an erosion problem? Soil, that is, not reputation.
DefeatNotAnOption writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 9:25 AM
Ha ha ha
Do as I say, not as I do!

The problem is: John Edwards nor his supporters see any hypocrisy in any of this.

Is this really his house or is this some kind of joke?
Ennuipundit writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 8:56 AM
Dang
John didn't need to ask Wal-Mart to get a PS3, he could have bought Sony!
Sign Up to Post Your Comments Sign Up to Post Your Comments
Please take a few seconds to sign up, then you’ll be able to post your comments immediately, use the action center, get podcasts, create your own blog and more! If you are already registered, click here.
Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
Salutation:
First Name:
*
Last Name:
*
Email:
*
Address 1:
*
Address 2:
City:
*
State:
*
Zip:
*
Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
(Bi-Weekly) We highlight the best opportunities from our partners for surveys, action items and more.
 


Your Blog Postings:
Last updated 19 Minutes 41 Seconds Ago
Last updated 47 Minutes 18 Seconds Ago
Last updated 48 Minutes 48 Seconds Ago
Last updated 49 Minutes 32 Seconds Ago
Last updated 50 Minutes 43 Seconds Ago
 

Archives of our Conservative, Republican, Political Blogs

Blog Search



Townhall Conservative, Republican, Political Blogs Townhall Blogs
Townhall Conservative, Republican, Political Columns Columns
Your Townhall Conservative, Republican, Political Blogs Your Blogs
By Month
 December 2009
 November 2009
 October 2009
 September 2009
 August 2009
 July 2009
 June 2009
 May 2009
 April 2009
 March 2009
 February 2009
 January 2009
 December 2008
 November 2008
 October 2008
 September 2008
 August 2008
 July 2008
By Issue
 A Culture of Life
 Budget & Government
 Campaigns & Elections
 Education
 Energy & Environment
 Faith & Family
 Foreign Affairs
 Health Care
 Immigration
 Jobs & Economy
 Judges & Courts
 Media & Culture
 Property Rights
 Safety & Security
 Science & Technology
 Second Amendment
 Social Security
 Tax Relief
Advertisement

Comments Comments

Dang!
 Re: What Counts as a Warning?
  By Jack
Axe
 Re: Authorities Say Terrorism To Blame For Christmas Plane Bombing In Detroit
  By NOTW
You know. . .
 Re: This Christmas, 78% of Americans Identify as Christian
  By Cicero
a good warning would be
 Re: What Counts as a Warning?
  By matthew
Warning
 Re: What Counts as a Warning?
  By Kenny Z
Jo
 Re: Obama: Maybe We Should Do Away With Filibuster
  By Kenny Z
The Pathetic Loser writes. . .
 Re: Pope Benedict XVI Attacked During Christmas Eve Mass
  By Cicero
Rhymes with
 Re: This Christmas, 78% of Americans Identify as Christian
  By Careful with that axe, Eugene
Rhymes with
 Re: This Christmas, 78% of Americans Identify as Christian
  By Careful with that axe, Eugene
NOTW
 Re: Authorities Say Terrorism To Blame For Christmas Plane Bombing In Detroit
  By Careful with that axe, Eugene
Ignorance
 Re: This Christmas, 78% of Americans Identify as Christian
  By Jo
Ignorance
 Re: This Christmas, 78% of Americans Identify as Christian
  By Jo
Axe
 Re: This Christmas, 78% of Americans Identify as Christian
  By Jo
Crazy Ronna
 Re: This Christmas, 78% of Americans Identify as Christian
  By Careful with that axe, Eugene
axeman
 Re: Authorities Say Terrorism To Blame For Christmas Plane Bombing In Detroit
  By NOTW
RHymes With...
 Re: This Christmas, 78% of Americans Identify as Christian
  By Careful with that axe, Eugene
killer
 Re: Top 10 Quotes On The Health Care Bill
  By Jo
Axe
 Re: This Christmas, 78% of Americans Identify as Christian
  By Ronna
Axe
 Re: This Christmas, 78% of Americans Identify as Christian
  By Ronna
Kenny Z
 Re: Obama: Maybe We Should Do Away With Filibuster
  By Jo

The Latest on Town HallThe Latest on Town Hall


Blog Roll Blog Roll