Letters to the Editor
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John Edwards' hair
Like Mr. Ose, I live in Chapel Hill. My wife and I own a 1300-sq-ft condo, less than 5% the size of Mr. Edwards' home.
I have only 3 words for those who have a problem with this.
Franklin. Delano. Roosevelt.
The greatest president of the last 100 years was also quite rich, also owned a large estate. Indeed, he was raised in wealth, unlike Mr. Edwards. One might conclude that FDR was even further separated from the lives of ordinary people than John Edwards is accused of being.
The least progressive president of the last 100 years, George W. Bush, was, like FDR, also raised in wealth. Much of Mr. Bush's background and environment can be compared to FDR's.
What does any of this prove? What can be inferred from Mr. Edwards' house or his haircuts, regarding his policies or his behavior as president? What can be inferred from Franklin Roosevelt's and George W. Bush's easy road through life, before they reached the White House?
With the guidance of history, I can't see that anything certain can be concluded from these facts of the presidents, and presidential candidates, private lives. Liberals and conservatives can be found everywhere, with every level of social and monetary status. If you approve of Mr. Edwards' proposals, and believe that he can be effective as president, vote for him. If you don't, don't.
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The Green-Eved Monster Raises its Ugly Head
The $400 included the otherwise billable travel time for the haircutter; there's no issue here. When you have as much to work with as JE has, I say "go for it". As for those loonies who think your social conscience vanishes if you live in a house larger than the average, let's wait a few years. We might be talking about institutes or Presidential libraries. How 'bout getting back to the REAL issues?
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Here's a much more important question
What was the sexual orientation of the person who gave John Edwards a $400 haircut, and does it bother anyone else as much as it bothers me that he can't get married when he plays the "Lord of the Rings" the Video Game?
And yes, it's true that your social conscience does not disappear just because you are wealthy and live in a big house. But when you live in a house that consumes several times the amount of energy and resources than that your average American's, and when the traveling that you do creates dozens of times as many carbon emmissions as your average commuter, it does minimize your credibiilty when attempting to tell others how to live when it comes to the environment. No matter who you are.
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Yuppie Android gives Servants the Day Off
If John Edwards is doing his own shopping, you can pretty well assume he's doing it so someone will notice and pen an article like this. How can people be taken in by such transparent propaganda?
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Moron Alert
I should have added that anyone who thinks it makes sense to spend $400 on a haircut is too stupid to be President. Its a judgement question; does a short-haired man with a $400 haircut look any different than with a $50 haircut? Of course not. Its like when Gary Hart dared the reporters to follow him around, and then went over to his girlfriend's house. I don't trust someone that lame to be President.
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Kevin Klan Kid
Shouldn't it be O'Reillly with that line of crap. John Edwards exudes authenticty, and should be the next President of the United States.
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He has earned the "Big House"
Yes, John Edwards has a large house. He is also a self-made millionaire - only becoming a millionaire perhaps within the last 20 (or maybe even 10) years. His fight was against corporations who made such shoddy equipment that normal everyday people and children were horribly disfigured or killed. I won't go into all of that detail here.
I make only an average salary per year - yet I don't begrudge John Edwards his large house at all. And I certainly don't question his passion for helping the poor, the working poor, and the lower middle class. To those who ask why does he have such a large house - perhaps there is an explanation. This is a man with young children. This is a man who lost his beloved 16 year old son in a car accident. I would think that he wants to hold his young children as close to him as possible - on the campaign trail and off.
This is a man who is now a very public figure. This is a man who was very athletic in his youth. I'm sure he is encouraging such athleticism in all of his children. Much of the square footage for his home is in the athletic facilities. I feel that John Edwards wants his home to be his sanctuary. He has a daughter who will probably marry in the future and will have children. He wants a place for her to return to away from the prying public. This is a man who will either be our next president or who might be appointed to a cabinet position. This is a man who could not walk the streets of the incredibly small college town of Chapel Hill without being recognized instantly. He needs privacy.
But once again, my theory is that, especially since he lost his eldest son, he wants a wonderful home place for his young children. Oh, he could do it for less square footage but why does he have to? He has to invest his money somewhere. And perhaps the most important thing to know is that John Edwards wants EVERYONE in America to have the opportunity that he has had to be successful and he will work more than any other of all the rich candidates to make sure that happens.