Posted on 11/16/2006 9:19:05 PM PST by woofie
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards acknowledged Thursday that amid his criticism of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., a volunteer member of his staff asked the world's largest retailer for help obtaining a hot new Sony Playstation 3 for Edwards' family.
Edwards, a potential 2008 presidential candidate, told The Associated Press that the volunteer "feels terrible" about seeking the game unit at Wal-Mart while his boss claims the retailer doesn't treat its employees fairly.
"My wife, Elizabeth, wanted to get a Playstation3 for my young children. She mentioned it in front of one of my staff people. That staff person mentioned it in front of a volunteer who said he would make an effort to get one. He was making an effort to go get one for himself," Edwards said.
"Elizabeth and I knew nothing about this. He feels terrible about this. He made a mistake and he knows he should not have used my name," Edwards said.
Wal-Mart had noted in a news release Thursday that on the same day Edwards was criticizing the company in a conference call with union-backed activists, the volunteer staff member had asked a Raleigh, N.C., electronics department manager to obtain a PS3 for the ex-senator's family.
Earlier Thursday, Edwards had said in a statement e-mailed by spokeswoman Kim Rubey: "We instructed no one to contact Wal-Mart on our behalf."
From Wal-Mart headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., company spokesman David Tovar said the Edwards staff member left a voicemail at the Raleigh store and identified himself as an Edwards staff member.
When the manager returned the call, the staff member again identified himself as working for Edwards, and Wal-Mart said it confirmed it with Edwards' office. The retailer issued a written statement Thursday accusing Edwards of not wanting to wait his turn.
"While the rest of America's working families are waiting patiently in line, Sen. Edwards wants to cut to the front," the Wal-Mart statement said.
This summer, Wal-Mart hired Edelman executive Leslie Dach as its public relations director and put him on the company's executive team. Analysts predicted the retailer would likely become more aggressive toward its critics.
Edwards, the Democrats' vice-presidential candidate in 2004, spoke Wednesday to supporters of union-backed WakeUpWalMart.com on a conference call launching the group's holiday season campaign to pressure Wal-Mart for better labor standards.
In the call, he repeated a story about his son Jack disapproving of a classmate buying sneakers at Wal-Mart.
"If a 6-year-old can figure it out, America can definitely figure this out," Edwards said.
Previously, Edwards has appeared at WakeUpWalMart rallies.
Edwards said the volunteer was "a young kid" unaware of what he called flawed Wal-Mart policies. He called the Wal-Mart statement an effort to divert attention from its own problems.
The Breck Girl says, "Do as I say, not as I do."
LOL!
Funny as hell! Love the way the phony bastard lied and weaseled when he got caught! So did he get his game or not?
Bump
Culture of corruption bump.
Typical Dem......put the whole blame on Wal-Mart for his HIS own people did.
Other's have said this differently, but I think it's funny that in this story we have Edwards saying a "6-year-old" can understand how bad Walmart is, but his own STAFF PERSON was too ignorant to know better.
Whoops... wrong picture...
His wife is just a "beard" for him, anyhow. That, or she was born without "gaydar" IMHO.
silky boy could have just pre ordered on E-bay and avoided all the political fallout $10,000,349,657PS2 on e-bay
There is something particularly vile about them choosing specific businesses for condemnation and attack.
True.
Like Leona Helmsley, John Edwards thinks taxes (and waiting your turn in line) is for the "little people".
I don't really understand why the dems are so mad at Wal-Mart in the first place. I understand their arguments but most of it is stupid. Most libs tell me they hate Wal-Mart for what they do to the little guy. Well I always say I am a little guy and Wal-Mart has helped me tremendously by saving me some money, god forbid. The Libs also say they don't pay their employees properly. Ok, than why do people even bother applying there if it is so terrible? I think this whole issue is a shot in the foot of anyone who tackles it. Now ole Johnny boy shot himself in both feet. What a moron.
I actually knew a kid like this when I was 13. His name was Lenny. Lenny came from a wealthy family like the Edwards kid and constantly made fun of the clothes others were wearing because he claimed his was of better quality. Anyway, one day Lenny and I were walking across a patch of wet grass when he started up on his routine making fun of my "cheap" pants. The instant he got his critique out, his legs suddenly split and they slipped in opposite directions due to the wet grass. He did a perfect split on the grass which also split his pants right down the middle. An astonishing moment in which true justice was served.
So one of those people standing in line for days doesn't get one because he WANTED one.
My thought too. What's the deal here? Edwards has to have his personal servants shop for gifts for his own kids?
Anyone want to bet the Walmart employee is a distant relative of Hillary? /sarcasm
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