So yesterday we learned that John Edwards received a $495,000 donation from the Mellon family to the 527 group, run by Edwards’ former campaign adviser, that is running ads for him in Iowa.
Now, the AP reports:
Last month at a town hall meeting in Bow, N.H., Edwards referenced the Mellon family as part of the Gilded Age interests and used it as an example of how he’ll fight back against special interests if he’s elected.
Edwards said “back in the period where, you know, the Rockefellers and the Mellons and the Carnegies, all these people, owned most of America or a big chunk of America and they used their money and power to dominate what was happening in the government and to dominate what was happening in the economy.”
On Saturday, Edwards had dropped the Mellons from his remarks.
“You remember before Franklin Roosevelt was president, America was mostly owned by a few families. Rockefellers, etc.,” he said.
When asked about dropping the Mellon family from the statement, he said it wasn’t on purpose.
“I wish I were that skillful. There was nothing intentional about that,” he said. “What I’ve said about the past I still believe. I believe very strongly that what FDR did … was transformational for this country, and I think we need a president who will stand up to these people.”
Read more.
December 30, 2007 at 10:18 am
Oh, he’s that skillful for sure.
December 30, 2007 at 11:11 am
When are the media going to seriously call out this flip flopper. I swear, it’s a good thing for Edwards that he’s been ignored by the media for practically the entire primary season. He’s our Mitt Romney and it’ll be a shame if Iowa choses this phony.
December 30, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Apparently election time conversions don’t matter, inconsistencies don’t matter, what he said four years ago or yesterday does not matter — his supporters respond viscerally to the man’s words — they believe he is sincere. Here you’ve posted a stunning example of how easy it is for this man to slip into lie mode, Remind any of you of another aw-shucks-I-feel-your-pain politician — all the while inciting peoples’ aggression both for and against? He’s the New Bubba maybe more than folks are counting on. Good grief, can’t we be done this nonsense already? I saw Ralph Nadar sing Edwards’ praises a few days ago on some news show — but he prefaced his support with “If we can believe him…” Can we?
December 31, 2007 at 9:39 am
I have been wondering how he gets by without offering any specifics of how he is going to combat corporate greed. Is planning big tax increases or urging unions to go on strike more? To me he is a big phoney with firey rhetoric and no substance.