I think one of the most overlooked moments in the debate was when John Edwards was tearing into Hillary Clinton for taking money from special interest groups, and then one of the other candidates pointed out the money that Edwards receives from trial lawyers, and Edwards just crumpled, saying something to the effect of "None of us up here is pure."

Yes, John Edwards is a trial lawyer who has made millions of dollars. Isn't that just a statement of fact? If that can be construed as a caricature, it's because the public at large has a caricatured idea of trial lawyers - if they didn't, they wouldn't support tort reform. Trial lawyers actually do a lot of good in our society - they're often the only means to keep corporate malfeasance in check when congress and the executive branch won't. For instance, congress and the executive branch refused to do anything about asbestos - because they were in bed with the asbestos manufacturers - and it was the efforts of trial lawyers that proved to be the biggest curb on this public health hazard.

So maybe John Edwards should stand up for trial lawyers. Maybe he should take Obama up on his offer. It might not only help his campaign, but help dispel some of the myths about how our legal system works. When conservative politicians dismiss "trial lawyers" and call any litigation that threatens the corporate bottom line "frivolous lawsuits," maybe people need to be reminded that when you've been fucked by government and by big business, sometimes the best thing to do is call in a few good trial lawyers.

Er... Obama is not bringing up the whole haircut issue, is he? I think what he's saying is that Edwards was not this huge populist that he used to be in the Senate (I've no idea, I'd have to take Obama's word for it, if I thought it actually mattered), and making a point that while Edwards was out there making money for HIMSELF as a trial attorney, Obama was out there working for "the people". Again, you can make a (credible) point that this is somewhat of a cheapo shot ("I'm more of a populist than him, neener neener") but call it a "caricature"? Hardly.

Another possibility is that the right-wing cut-throat strategies have so polluted our airways that even Obama's borderline cheap shot sounds like something measured and polite in comparison.

Again and again, Obama engages in the worst practices of the right:

1. Embraces despicable anti-gay bigot Donnie McClurkin as a spokesman for his campaign.

2. Drums up a non-existant "Social Security Crisis" to score points.

3. Now embraces the "Trial lawyer" bullshit against Edwards.

As a monthly contributor to the DNC for the last 6 years, I'm really getting sick of his crap. He won't be getting my vote or money.

I almost always agree with you, Tim, but not this time. Pointing out differences between you and your opponent seems fair in general, and becomes a problem only when it crosses some, admittedly vague, line. A lot of what is said about Hillary Clinton seems over that line, and that is my interpretation of Obama's comment about her. His comments about Edwards don't appear to me to go that far.

http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/denver/sprengelmeyer/archives/2007/11/obama_on_paul_a_diplomatic_dod.html

It took Sen. Barack Obama a split second to answer on Thursday, when an audience member in Fairfield, Iowa, asked if he thought he could beat the Republican presidential front-runner, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

"Absolutely. Current polls show that I am beating Giuliani..."

The Democratic crowd roared its approval, and Obama's elaboration was drowned out by cheers.

But then, another question brought on an awkward moment.

"What about Ron Paul?"

Obama paused.

Paul isn't near the top of any mainstream GOP presidential polls, but the maverick, former Libertarian Party presidential contender just stunned the Republican establishment by raising more than $4.2 million in a single day this week, mostly from his formidable Internet movement.

Wanting to get to his closing comments, and perhaps wanting to be diplomatic, Obama quickly dodged:

"I'll worry about Ron Paul if he gets to the general election."

And Edwards went on Cable News to tout his flawless strategy in the General Election: Hammer the Republicans on the War. Once Paul starts plowing primaries and it appears that Paul is going to get the nod, if there is anything left of the Edwards campaign, it will be dead in the water.

That's what he did. He was a lawyer who advocated for his clients. In trials. The only caricature being put on the profession here appears to be by .. you!

He's an arrogant, bigoted, pandering, unqualified, anti-American empty suit who will never get my vote under any circumstances.

Would Obama prefer a system of justice where people facing trial weren't allowed to hire their own lawyers? Or a system where there were no trials at all?

I'd like to hear his argument against trial lawyers. If he's going to start flinging this phrase as an accusation, then let's finish the thought, please.

Barack Obama was running for President as votes were being cast to send him to the US Senate. Maybe if Sen. Obama had used his short time in the Senate to build a solid national reputation instead of relying on a maudlin speech that everyone seemed to like more than I can understand, he would be a much stronger and more viable candidate today. His brief Senate career is unremarkable and there have been too many cowardly, defensive missed votes(Mukasey, Kyl/Lieberman, MoveOn...).

He got too far ahead of himself, and he's in over his head. It takes more than saying "We can do better." in a crisp suit.

It takes more than saying "We can do better." in a crisp suit.

I have to disagree with you on this point. Isn't this the Modus Operandi of your typical politician?

and he was also a pretty good president.

From wikipedia:

"Admitted to the bar in 1837, [Lincoln] moved to Springfield, Illinois, that same year and began to practice law with John T. Stuart. With a reputation as a formidable adversary during cross-examinations and in his closing arguments, Lincoln became one of the most respected and successful lawyers in Illinois and grew steadily more prosperous."