Posted on 05/20/2007 12:40:39 AM PDT by Zakeet
Let us say right up front that it's terrific that John Edwards lives in a country where he can lose an election and still land a $480,000 part-time job as a consultant to an investment firm that keeps its hedge funds in the Cayman Islands as a tax shelter for its clients. This truly is the land of opportunity.
We're also encouraged to hear that, according to the former Senator's spokesman, "John Edwards is running for President to give every American the opportunities that he's had." While there may not be enough half-a-million-dollar-a-year part-time consulting gigs to go around just yet, the hedge fund industry is growing. And there's always private equity if you find yourself, as Mr. Edwards described his 2005 circumstance, making $40,000 a year at an antipoverty think tank and wanting to learn something about "capital markets." Thus did he turn, in his time of need, to Fortress Investment Group LLC, pride of the Caymans.
[Snip]
Mr. Edwards did tell the Associated Press that he took the job not merely to make money, but also to learn about the relationship between the capital markets and poverty. How refreshing it would have been, then, for Mr. Edwards to have emerged from his toil in the crucible of high finance to explain that all is not moral darkness in the upper reaches of the investing class; that people who invest in businesses help alleviate poverty and make the economy strong; and that it is risk-taking that offers Americans their best--indeed, their only--chance to have "the opportunities he's had."
It was not to be, alas. Mr. Edwards said instead that if he's elected President he'll still try to abolish offshore tax shelters. At least he'll have already made his money.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
Message to you little people: Do as I say, not as I do.
all i want to know is if the breck girl’s $400.00 haircuts were one of the perks offered to him that enticed him to take the hedge fund job?
I know there probably have been bigger jerks who have run for President (John Kerry comes to mind) but has there ever been a bigger hypocrite than the Pink Sapphire to run for the office?
I have voted for President since Reagan’s first term and this guy takes the cake for chutzpah.
Reminds me of John F. Kennedy; a showhorse in the Senate who never accomplished anything. Ran for the presidency on his looks, and in his case his old man’s money.
Took the mafia to carry Illinois, LBJ and Sam Rayburn to steal Texas; when JFK got to the White House he did not have a clue: see Bay of Pigs.
Edwards would be a criminal JFK.
Fairly or unfairly he has become a comic figure of humor. Even during the recent Republican debate the “Breck Boy” was referred to. Someone used the expressing, “spending money like John Edwards at a beauty salon.”
As for his landing a good part-time job, that’s the reason people will spend millions to win a high elective office that pays only a fraction of the money spent to get the job.
“It’s the perks stupid.”
Edwards really gives good reflexion on the Gaydar.
Sadly, way too many people believe shysters like Edwards.
Yes. he was doing research on evil capitalists, doncha know.
Thanks for posting this. I saw this in the Journal the other day. Vote for Hypocrisy! Vote Democrat!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.