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.
From Drudge.
Hey man, those private jet-trips get boring!
Its for the children
LOL! Ouch.
Ahhh! I get it Mr. Edwards, you have sicced your kid on other kids at school based on where they shop. But it was not out of snobbery, but out of your six year old's better nature. He was out to help out the other ignorant little tyke.
Yep, I believe you. And I really think you will have Osama and Chavez and Iran shaken in their boots when you get elected because you showed up Wal-Mart.
Edwards is doing a Kerry and blaming it on a staffer (volunteer).
What a guy.
[No wonder NC wouldn't even re-elect him to the Senate nor give him his home state as VP.]
Sometimes, you just can't improve on a story.
His kid disapproves where other kids shop? Hello teach your kid better manners and to mind his own business.
These people TOLD their staff to get it for them. "Mention," my foot!
I'll take Walmart and Edwards for 300 Alex.
This is just nothing more than just a publicity stunt from the former S and P and VP candidate (also hot-shot trial lawyer) for some much needed publicity for his 2008 P run.
/shrug
Oh I see. Blame the wife.
What a friggin coward and liar. But, then again he is a lawyer and a politican.
10 to 1 that in the next few years we will read about the Smeal's kid, I mean Edwards kid being ADD aftering playing the PS3 too long. Then Fast Eddie will sue Sony for making a product that reduces attention spans.
Your too serious.
That settles it, I'm shopping a Walmart from now on. Edwards is a pandering, grandstanding empty suit, and I salute anyone who puts him and his ilk in their place.
F'ing A#1 d-bag. And that's not what I really think.
But Edwards and Kerry can make the crippled walk again. Doesn't that count for something?
Elizabeth was misunderstood. The children really wanted more Breck for their Daddy. The aides mistook "3 cases of Breck" for "Playstation 3".
Happens all the time.
John John - try eBay like everyone else!
Douche bag?
Stuff like this makes American politics worth all the pain. BULLSEYE!.
Edwards should wait in line like everyone else for a PS3, then gift wrap it, and have his son give it to the classmate he scorned for wearing Wal-Mart sneakers. Then take the cost out of his son's allowance for a few years...
Somebody is stealing Amy Carter's schtick.
I know that this in not possible for some to believe, but I have seen this happen when I was on Admiral's staff. The wife or Admiral says something in jest or has a thought and immediately the staff goes into "The Admiral wants...." mode and everything is taken way out of proportion. I know that because he is a democrat that we are not allowed to believe this story, but I do believe it is at least possible to be fair.
That's only for low life tax paying slugs. Edwards is above that.
Learn your place.
I cannot believe someone on his staff did not know his position on Wal Mart...
Oh man, naps, just when everyone was having such a good time. Of course you are right...but it's still a great story.
Personally, I think the story HE tells about his son is appalling, but very typical of the way liberals think about others.
"If a 6-year-old can figure it out, America can definitely figure this out," Edwards said.
What a class-conscious MAJOR LEAGUE A-HOLE!
There is something very messed up about democrats. Seems to me Wal Mart is none of their business and an unlikely public enemy number one.
Typical blame the little people stuff.
Mike Hatch blamed everybody but himself for losing the MN gov. race.
Until he was called on it.........
http://wcco.com/local/local_story_320071806.html
Elitist!
Not even in the least. Edwards is a full blown ass.
Well done!
Oh these rats, they have a way of bending the truth. He didn't acknowledge a thing, he twisted it around so HE was not involved at all! SICKENING!
Yes, the staffer decided to "make it happen" but is it unlikely a politician's wife is going to know it will happen? Come on, we weren't born yesterday.
The "mistake" here was the volunteer happened to call Wal-Mart, not Best Buy or some other place not on John-boy's list.
Sending the volunteers to shop for his children...no wonder he's always talking about 2 Americas.
I GOT my PS3, SUCKAH!
Outsourcing?
Walgate?
Until wonder boy Jack can tell us a better place to get a month's supply of prescription medication for $4 that doesn't rely on taxpayer money, I'd say the little brat should keep his mouth shut. Wal-Mart is OK in my book.
His kid sounds like a little clone and a brat. Edwards ought to know that not everyone has his money and that people can still shop where they can afford to and where they like. Sounds like his kid needs a lesson in manners before a bigger kid punches his nose for him.
I go there to connect with the little people ....Edwards should try it sometime
EX-politician! LOL
At the Wal-Marts I know, a Department Manager wouldn't have control over those game systems anyway. They treat those limited-availability game systems very, very carefully - only a full blown manager or assistant manager would have any ability to set a game system aside, but almost certainly not the authority to do so, not for anyone. And even an assistant manager getting away with that, against store policy, is verrrrrrry unlikely, not with dozens of people waiting patiently in the lobby for theirs.
"In the call, he repeated a story about his son Jack disapproving of a classmate buying sneakers at Wal-Mart."
What does this say about the Edwardses? And the Breck girl is apparently happy about this?
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