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.
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.
So, the filthy rich kid ridicules his classmate for getting his clothes at Wal-mart, and his dad not only applauds this snobbery but trumpets it to the press. The egalitarian spirit of the Democratic Party shines again.
"Charles Healy got an offer he couldn't refuse.
The 19-year-old showed up outside the Best Buy in west Little Rock at 2 pm Wednesday, braved a cold, rainy and windy night and was first in line to purchase the highly anticipated Sony PlayStation 3.
Thursday morning at 9 o'clock, Healy, A University of Central Arkansas freshman, was offered a $1,000 for his prized place in line.
He sold.
"It was a nasty line," said Learrix Green, 26, who bought the No. 1 spot with his employer's money after seeing the 36 hopefuls in front of him. Store management had enticingly left the number of the machines vague, saying only that "a minimum of 26" would be available.
Green said that, in addition, he was receiving $1,000 from his boss to wait until this morning at 8 and purchase the unit for his employer's children....(snip)..
And former first-place-holder Healy stay on and was paid another $200 to hold someone else's place in line until about 6 p.m.
snip...
LOL..sw
"His kid disapproves where other kids shop? Hello teach your kid better manners and to mind his own business."
Even his worthless kid is a hypocrite. Enjoy your PS3 from EVIL WAL-MART!
LOL!
ROFLMAO. That sounds like it should have been in "A Christmas Story". =)
Jean Shepherd. I know this sounds like utter BS but I swear to God that for at least a 4 year period Jean Shepherd read almost every story I sent him each week. Once I was listening in on the car radio with a date and she was utterly amazed that I could recite what Shepherd would say about a second later. The reason is that he was reading another of my stories (that one was about a Killer Perch called "Gums") so I already knew what he was going to say. I know this is making me sound like Speed_Addiction but if someone can pull up radio tapes of a bunch of Jean Shepherd shows I can match some of the stories he told with stuff that I had published in a local newspaper at the time.
True or false story?
Too young to be involved in social politics?
ETM wants to know!
I think 6yr old is young for social blather.
LOL... No doubt he's lamenting all the black churches burning during his youth as well.
You know, PJ, once again it seems you and I have similar tastes in humor. I became a big Jean Shepherd fan back in the 1970s.
Hillary Clinton Hit List:
X John Kerry
X George Allen
X John Edwards
X ?????
"If a 6-year-old can figure it out, America can definitely figure this out," Edwards said.
I call B.S. on this ridiculous fish story.
And leave it to a slip-and-fall, class action trial shyster to concoct a tale that brags about his young child acting like an arrogant, elitist prick.
The Republican Party should contract with Wal-mart for lessons on playing political hard ball.
If only pubbies beginning with President Bush would learn to fight back immediately....
Then you MUST have heard some of my stories without knowing it. The first story I sent to Jean was about some cockroach races I used to organize. I sent the story in and told all my friends to listen to Jean Shepherd since he might read my story. After two weeks they were dubious then one night he read my cockroach racing story. Of course I called up all my friends for vindication. After that Shepherd read my stories on the air fairly regularly for about 5 years since I sent the stories to him about once a week.
I love Walmarts proactive stance on this. Edwards is such a hypocrit.
Hahah- I forgot about that pic- great one!!!!!
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