It’s funny, instead of heads shaking over how far Edwards has fallen, I listened to reactions more along the lines of “come-uppance” – Edwards had finally received what he had coming to him.
You see, for years before John Edwards became Senator, he was a well-known trial attorney, netting millions by shaking down businesses and insurance companies. That trial attorney lifestyle allowed Edwards and his family to live comfortably and never have a care in the world.
No one would begrudge their fellow American for making a living, but it was how John Edwards sold himself and his entire public life that causes many Carolinians and Americans to doubt everything about his “everyman” run at the White House.
Here was a person who mocked the “haves” in the name of the “have nots.” He ridiculed ostentatious and excessive living. In short, Edwards heralded himself as the messiah of the masses – ready to renew America and unite the two countries we had become. What poppy-cock.
The irony here is we and the media knew of Edwards’ hypocrisy fairly early on. From the $400 haircuts to the lavish spending, to the now million-dollar hush campaign Edwards set up to conceal the illegitimate child he had fathered with his New Age girlfriend. This makes Schwarzenegger look tame, doesn’t it?
John Edwards wished he was the character he played in front of the cameras for those 22 months running on vice- and presidential tickets. He could only hope to understand the plight of workers struggling to make ends meet. And yet, we now learn that he had absolutely no clue what hardship was, in economic or any other form.
This is the problem I have with liberals today. Sure, John Edwards was just one man, just as Arnold Schwarzenegger can’t speak for all conservatives (even though he wasn’t conservative by any means. A Republican, yes, but no conservative). But Edwards did what liberals from Mondale to Clinton to Kerry to even Obama do – they pretend to know the struggles of everyday Americans, yet continue to send their children to private school and reap the spoils of these voters who think “change” will come.
Change won’t come with them. For theirs is an agenda that is designed to keep Americans dreaming, yet never to wake up. Economy not rebounding? Let’s spend more. I know what you need. Just vote for me. The other party is for Big Business, Big Oil, you fill in the blank here. Me, I’m for the Little Guy.
Replaying the campaign of Edwards, it was almost comical. He started with coats and ties, then ditched them for more pedestrian wear. Then he held press conferences at homeless shelters, poverty drives, and the like. Yet did Edwards spend one cent of that $900k campaign money on helping his fellow man? Hardly. He knew that if anyone found out about his other life, his vaunted public life would be ruined. How would that help unite the “two Americas”? I’m sure he felt in his heart of hearts he was doing the right thing – covering up so he could continue to fight for the cause of liberals. Please.
The arrogance of John Edwards oozes under our feet and into the streets of Washington. I would like to think that if Edwards had it to do all over again, he would change. He would have remained faithful to his wife, to his campaign, to his cause. I’d like to think that, but given the depths of selfishness we’ve now seen him stoop, I’m not so sure.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member