I GOT my PS3, SUCKAH!
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.
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?
I see The Silky Pony has had the booger removed from his lip.
Picked up my one month supply of blood pressure meds today at Wal-Mart, $4.00.
Funny how the RATS have a logical explanation for everything, just like Jon Carrys joke fiasco! Liars all of them, when they get caught!
Yeah. But, once a politician, always a politician. A tiger cannot change it's stripes.
I always challenge the Walmart haters like John Edwards to get a bunch of their like minded anti-Walmarters together to invest in a new retail store chain and try to out compete Walmart. They never have an answer for this possibility.
It says they are pompous & arrogant, just like all the rich dems, just like Jon Carry referring to our troops as uneducated! They are so above us, their money makes them better than all of us & they are teaching their kids to be First Class Snobs just like themselves.
They are liars even when they don't get caught.
Sad isn't it?
Just a comment here. Some people camped out for days to get one of these things. Others waited in line for hours and hours. But if they have to wait in line for an hour to vote, they are being disenfranchised.
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