Elizabeth Edwards Says She's Scared of 'Rabid Republican' Gun-Toting Neighbor

Associated Press ^ | Monday, April 09, 2007

[presidio9]

Elizabeth Edwards says she is scared of the "rabid, rabid Republican" who owns property across the street from her Orange County home — and she doesn't want her kids going near the gun-toting neighbor.

Edwards, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, particularly recalls the time neighbor Monty Johnson brought out a gun while chasing workers investigating a right of way off his property. The Edwards family has yet to meet Johnson in person.

"I wouldn't be nice to him anyway," Edwards said in an interview. "I don't want my kids anywhere near some guy who when he doesn't like somebody, the first thing he does is pull a gun out. It scares the business out of me."

But Johnson defended the occasion he brandished a gun, saying those on his land didn't have the proper approval.

"I use the gun for protection, and I considered that an appropriate time," Johnson said. "Sometimes you have to take drastic measures."

Edwards views Johnson as a "rabid, rabid Republican" who refuses to clean up his "slummy" property just to spite her family, whose lavish 28,000-square-foot estate is nearby on 102 wooded acres.

Johnson, 55, acknowledges his Republican roots. But he takes offense to the suggestion

[massgopguy]

What this town needs is one of those Anti-Snob Ordinances.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

The picture is x-ed out. Can you repost?

[Jeffrey_D.]

Hey Elizabeth.....

You could,

Oh,

I don’t know?

MOVE!!!

[ErnBatavia]

Elizabeth, just hire a security company...you can afford it.

[fso301]

Edwards, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, particularly recalls the time neighbor Monty Johnson brought out a gun while chasing workers investigating a right of way off his property.

What that means is that Edwards was trying to get a road cut through the neighbors property.

[massgopguy]

Now if some Hoi Poloi walks on to the Edwards’ Plantation will the Secret Service pull guns out. What if it’s just the Wendy’s guy delivering another Side of Beef?

[theDentist]

Gun-toting Republican? Has she seen him toting it about?

[gov_bean_ counter]

Can’t wait ‘til the banjo music starts up...

[theDentist]

Never mind, yes, she has... when he was investigating strangers on his land. BTW: Elizabeth, does you husband own a gun of any sort?

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Yet the guy is a Giuliani supporter? If that is the case then he is no “rabid” Republican, for sure.

Yeah, and if Rudy get's his way, this guy probably won't be able to "tote" any guns anymore, either.

[popdonnelly]

The AP exists to elect Democrats.

[areafiftyone]

I don't have an x on mine but here is the link to the website in case you still can't see it.

Tigerhawk

[Coldwater Creek]

But, but their little children must learn to fly on their own, because their parents won’t be around for them! What fools.

[spectre]

I'm thinking Elisabeth should be making "peace" with people these days..

sw

[rogator]

Not nearly as scared as I would be to have Ted Kennedy for a neighbor, especially if he is still driving.

[fullchroma]

From here:

Across the road from the entrance to the Edwards estate is Big Valley Auto Repair, a modest garage crowded with cars.

There is a sign painted on the fence: “Go Rudy Giuliani 2008,” a reference to the former New York City mayor who is expected to seek the Republican nomination for president.

Monty Johnson, owner of the garage site and one of Edwards’ closest neighbors, is no Edwards fan. Johnson has left standing an abandoned house facing the entrance to the Edwards property.

“He claims to be for the poor people,” said Johnson, 55, a farmer and retired landscaper. “He don’t care about us. I see him jogging. He doesn’t pull over and say, `How are you doing?’ “

[frithguild]

Johnson, meanwhile, has problems of his own. His tract of land has been in his family since before the Great Depression, but is now looking to sell his property. Partly because of the rising property taxes which the Edward’s 28,000 square foot, $5.3 million estate is prodding sharply upward. Partly because he doesn’t want to be near crabby neighbors that are constantly complaining about him:

“I thought he was supposed to be for the poor people,” Johnson said. “But does he ever socialize with any poor people? He doesn’t speak to me.”

[Malone LaVeigh]

102 acres would provide most people with a sufficient buffer to any unpleasant neighbors. If Mrs. Edwards is that sensitive and fearful, they should have taken greater care in selecting their property.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Thanks, but I'll have to look at it later. The reason it's X-ed on my browser is because the originating site (a photo sharing site) is blocked by my company's webfilter.

All the same, I think I may be a different sign from the one that you're talking about. Mr. Johnson and the Edwards live about five miles or so north of me in Orange County, off of a semi-main road through the farmland part of OC. I don't know Mr. Johnson personally, however. The sign I was thinking of is one that's about three miles closer to town on my road, which is also a Rudy sign, but is rather, um, jury-rigged in appearance.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

It IS the sign I’m thinking of! Big Valley, I drive right by there at least five times a week!