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.
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.
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