Posted on 04/05/2002 1:34:46 PM PST by Gritty
April 5, 2002
Early on in the study of techniques of negotiation, one learns to ask lots of questions, even those likely to elicit a “none of your business” answer. Even a nonanswer provides information. Likewise, citizens may ask politicians questions for which we really don’t expect an answer. This column features questions that I asked Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) in a letter, and his written response.As background, prior to entering politics, Sen. Edwards represented a child who had been severely and permanently injured by sitting on a drain in a swimming pool. The drain cover, manufactured by Sta-Rite Industries, had been improperly installed. Sta-Rite was not blameless, but someone else did the improper installation (see a summary at www.kentlaw.edu/7circuit/1999/may/98-4259.html). In speeches, the senator proudly describes the case as one little girl against a powerful corporation.
* * *
My letter (with pleasantries removed):
Dear Sen. Edwards: From time to time in your speeches, you have referred to Lakey v. Sta-Rite as a classic good-versus-evil case. The clear implication is that your motive in this case was to save the public from “powerful companies.” Your former law firm makes the same case on their Web site.
Alas, there are a few of us skeptics out here who believe that your motive was simple greed, rather than the public good. But, you can easily disabuse us of this outlandish notion by answering a few questions.
Press reports indicate that the total payment to the little girl was $30.9 million. Is this accurate?
We can stipulate that the little girl deserves the money. But, the question is, how much of her money did you and your law firm keep for yourselves?
Based on the number of hours you spent on the case, please estimate the your compensation rate, on a per hour basis.
Although I recognize that this information is not normally disclosed, I believe the fact that both you and your former law firm have clearly and repeatedly suggested your motive was the public good, you are obligated to provide the information to the public, so we can decide for ourselves.
* * *
Sen. Edwards responded (again, pleasantries excluded):
Dear Mr. Fogle: As you noted in your letter, information regarding attorneys’ fees is not normally disclosed. Although I no longer practice law, it is my policy not to publicly discuss the terms of private contractual agreements that I have reached with clients.
Let me say that I am proud to have helped children and families work through some of the most difficult times in their lives. For 20 years, I fought for the rights and dignity of ordinary people. I am proud of what I did in leveling the playing field. I also have a great respect for and trust in the jury system, which is a part of the foundation of our democracy.
* * *
I don’t know the actual numbers, of course, but based on the usual compensation for personal injury attorneys, we can estimate that the lawyers kept around $10 million for themselves. Now, I have no ax to grind with lawyers, and, in fact, have good friends and relatives who are lawyers. And, I certainly have no objection to people making money — but, if I took $10 million from a child who will need expensive medical care for the rest of her life, I know that I would not be proud of what I did.
J. P. Morgan once said, “A man always has two reasons for what he does — a good one, and the real one.”
Now, I’m sure Sen. Edwards sincerely wanted to help the little girl and her family, but, in my humble opinion, he was more driven by greed, and by his dislike for “powerful” corporations. And, based on his voting record, his animosity extends to small businesses as well.
Each year the Small Business Survival Committee (www.sbsc.org) selects Senate votes affecting small businesses, and prepares a scorecard. In 2001, Sen. Edwards scored a flat zero, i.e., he voted against the interests of small business 12 out of 12 times. In contrast, moderate Demo-cratic Sens. Miller and Cleland of Georgia scored 64 percent and 42 percent respectively.
Sen. Edwards refers to himself as “in the middle,” but he is no moderate. He continues to fool some of the people all of the time.
John Fogle, a Times-News community columnist, can be contacted at info@fogle.com. His column appears on the first Friday of the month.
As a small business owner, I am so glad to know that my Senator is so concerned about my interests. /sarcasm
PING! PING! PING! Hey you PINGERS, if anything ever needed pinging-this is it.
As a Trial Lawyer, your interests are definitely HIS interests.
I note this "Southern Moderate" was a keynote speaker a few days ago at the Liberal Convention. He's a wolf-in-sheeps-clothing if there ever was one.
Edwards has North Carolina fooled the same way Clinton had Arkansas fooled; sleight-of-mouth!
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| # | Description | # | Description | # | Description | # | Description | # | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Property Rights | 6 | Marriage Penalty | 11 | Campaign Finance | 16 | Medicare Lockbox | 21 | Gas Tax 2 |
| 2 | Edu. Sav. Acct. | 7 | Education Policy | 12 | Defense Spending | 17 | Morning After Pill | 22 | Soc. Sec. Tax |
| 3 | Tax Cuts | 8 | Troops in Kosovo | 13 | Military Abortions | 18 | Sub. Missile Prog. | 23 | Estate Tax Repeal |
| 4 | 2001 Budget | 9 | FEC Nomination | 14 | Hate Crimes | 19 | Missile Defense | 24 | Natn'l Mon. Desig. |
| 5 | Gas Tax 1 | 10 | Nuclear Weapons | 15 | Ergonomic Stand. | 20 | Estate Tax | 25 | Kyoto Treaty |
The Edwardsite in the middle is saying, "that's how weuns in mah fambly does it too."
Gotta confess, I can't understand the other chart.
Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina addresses the Florida Democratic Party State Conference 2002 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Saturday April 13, 2002. Edwards said it's time for leading Democrats to make clear their differences with the Bush administration without making personal attacks. (AP Photo/Scott Audette)
Sheesh! If the media keep putting out pictures like this they may have to quit calling him Pretty Boy! ... hehe!
Actually, the tables indicate that Edwards voted against the preference of the ACU in all votes except #12 Defense Spending, #18 Sub Missle Prog, and #25 Kyoto Treaty. Sen. Helms, OTOH, voted with the ACU on all critical votes.
Thanks to RedBloodedAmerican for "fixing" this up for me!
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