# John Edwards is a very impressive Presidential candidate **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 6, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017 "2007-02-06T00:47:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/21 "2007-02-06T04:21:00Z")
He’s rich and he has a big house. Not only do I think he shouldn’t run for president, I think he should be taken out back and shot. Nothing about his platform, just personal attacks about his house? Since when do you have to live in poverty to care about helping the middle class or the poor? If we’re going to criticize presidential candidates for having a multi-million dollar house then we might as well quit because we cant vote for anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/22 "2007-02-06T04:22:41Z")
Excellent, **Sam Stone**. Just to pile on, conspicuous consumption is right! In this day and age, I can’t imagine living in that type of house. I too want to make money, be rich even, and live comfortably, but I would never build that kind of palace for myself. I couldn’t be comfortable in it. A nice, well-appointed city condo and maybe a nice, well-appointed house on the ocean. Throw in a cabin on a lake somewhere, who knows. But a 28,200 ft.[sup]2[/sup] complex? What the _fuck_?! ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/23 "2007-02-06T04:26:44Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] If we’re going to criticize presidential candidates for having a multi-million dollar house then we might as well quit because we cant vote for anyone. [/QUOTE] Straw man. A lot of not-so-very-rich people can afford “multimillion” ($2M+) houses. Any fairly successful doctor can do it. Edwards is mega-fucking wealthy and flaunts like a sunvabitch. Hey, the way you consume means something, and he’s trying to combine palatial living with populist presidential ambitions. Do the two mix? Not. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/24 "2007-02-06T04:29:04Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] The house is only one of the buildings. You didn’t count the 15,000 sq foot recreation building adjoining the house, which has the swimming pool, racket courts, a huge lounge, two bedrooms, and a kitchen. Or the 2,200 square feet of heated buildings that exist for no reason other than to prevent him from having to actually step outside while going from the house to the rec center. All told, the developed, heated space is 28,200 square feet. This guy probably has the environmental footprint of my entire neighborhood. If he told me I had to cut back on the meager amount of energy -I- use for the good of society, I’d sneer in his face. I’ve got nothing against big houses. I’ve got something against a guy who has the biggest house in Orange county telling everyone else that they have to make ‘sacrifices’ for the planet. You first, Johnny Boy. Mind you, there’s a golden opportunity here for him. All he has to do is sell the big house, give the money to the world wildlife fund or Greenpeace or Habitat for Humanity, and move into a modest home in a nice neighborhood. Hell, he can even have, say, 5,000 square feet in a gated community, to give him protection and give him space for a big office and an assistant or two. Then he’d have all the credibility in the world to ask other people to make sacrifices. Think that will happen? [/QUOTE] How big is McCain’s house? We know he has a few bucks. Think he’ll be selling anything off? “…The latest personal finances report, filed last May, shows assets worth a minimum of $27.5million for the McCains, with the company accounting for about half of that. The company portion does not include his wife’s retirement plan from Hensley or the Anheuser-Busch stock held by her and their dependent children.” [http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/special3/articles/0123biz-hensley.html](http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/special3/articles/0123biz-hensley.html) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/25 "2007-02-06T04:45:56Z")
If you assembled the ideal Democratic politician, you’d get something like Edwards, but somehow he’s always struck me as less than the sum of his parts (the parts here being his looks, wealth, Southern accent, speaking ability and personal magnetism). Maybe that’s why he seems phony. The Democrats don’t need an old-style Democrat - since those haven’t exactly been winning elections lately - or someone who appears to have been assembled by a focus group, they need something new and better. I think any political race is improved by having a variety of candidates. From the point of view of wanting a Democrat to win, I wouldn’t want anybody from 2004 to be a serious contender for the nomination next year. I think they all have the mark of failure on them. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/26 "2007-02-06T04:54:36Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] How big is McCain’s house? We know he has a few bucks. Think he’ll be selling anything off? [/QUOTE] It’s not the house, it’s the hypocrisy. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/27 "2007-02-06T04:56:26Z")
[QUOTE=hajario] It’s not the house, it’s the hypocrisy. [/QUOTE] Something it seems McCain is getting better acquainted with every day. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/28 "2007-02-06T05:00:15Z")
I’ll start caring how rich McCain is when he starts campaigning by bitching that rich people have too much and that he’s God’s gift to poor people and the environment. Look, it’s not political. When I see rich celebrities fly their Gulfstreams to environmental conferences (usually in places like Banff, the Swiss Alps, or some other scenic recreational area), it makes me not just dislike them, but disdain them. I’ve got no problem with Steve Forbes running for President. He’s rich, and proud of it. He doesn’t pretend to be something he’s not. His message is more like, “I’m rich because I have the qualities that would make me a good president - intelligence, economic knowledge, yada yada”. He wants everyone to become rich, because rich is good. No hypocrisy there at all. Likewise, I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for Ralph Nader, despite the fact that I think he’s nuttier than a tree full of squirrels. But the man walks the walk. He lives a lifestyle WAY below his means, because he’s following his own principles. I admire that. I admired Jimmy Carter when he put his message of charity and volunteerism out there - and then demonstrated it by strapping on a toolbelt and building houses for people. I’ve got no time for people like Edwards. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/29 "2007-02-06T05:01:28Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Something it seems McCain is getting better acquainted with every day. [/QUOTE] Sure but not about that issue. That he has a nice house is not relevant. He’s a hypocrite about other things. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/30 "2007-02-06T05:10:56Z")
Now that we’re off the house thing, how exactly is he a hypocrite? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/31 "2007-02-06T05:16:15Z")
To be fair to Edwards, I don’t know how much he bitches about people having too much money. He’s got a populist agenda that is more about getting the government to raise poor people up and to try and keep American companies from “exporting” jobs overseas. But I do agree that if you’re going to make environmentalism a major theme of your campaign, you shouldn’t be living the type of lifestyle that he does, that’s for sure. His bit about Two Americas is tiresome class-warfare rhetoric if you ask me. We’ve had one inexperienced president for 8 years-- I can’t see why we’d want another. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/32 "2007-02-06T05:26:56Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] I’ll start caring how rich McCain is when he starts campaigning by bitching that rich people have too much and that he’s God’s gift to poor people and the environment… [/quote] You’re probably right. I think it’s safe to say McCain won’t campaign for the plight of the poor or the environment. ---
**Author:** ![nitetime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e47c2d/32.png) [@nitetime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitetime)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/33 "2007-02-06T05:43:38Z")
I’m almost certainly voting for the democrat just on principle next election, but I would hate to have to vote for Edwards. He has an aura of phonyness that creeps me out. It makes me feel better now that I see a lot of people get that impression. It’s not even about how hypocritical he is; I never knew much about him before this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/34 "2007-02-06T05:45:04Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] To be fair to Edwards, I don’t know how much he bitches about people having too much money. He’s got a populist agenda that is more about getting the government to raise poor people up and to try and keep American companies from “exporting” jobs overseas. But I do agree that if you’re going to make environmentalism a major theme of your campaign, you shouldn’t be living the type of lifestyle that he does, that’s for sure. His bit about Two Americas is tiresome class-warfare rhetoric if you ask me. We’ve had one inexperienced president for 8 years-- I can’t see why we’d want another. [/QUOTE] It worked for the Kennedys so who knows. I’ve been reading the right blogs and Edwards house is THE topic. This is apparently an issue for people that dislike Edwards. For the average voter, I don’t think it matters so much. This isn’t the 60’s or 70’s where politicians come from humble origins. People are used to and almost assume politicians are wealthy. McCain sold his house for $3.75 million, down from $4.25 million, they’re all wealthy. I think these personal attacks are coming out so early because he has Republicans worried. He very well could take some southern red states and it’s something I doubt that Clinton or Obama will do. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/35 "2007-02-06T06:06:25Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] I think these personal attacks are coming out so early because he has Republicans worried. He very well could take some southern red states and it’s something I doubt that Clinton or Obama will do. [/QUOTE] It’s not as if this is going to shock Edwards, or that he’s not prepared to speak of his own personal wealth as him being fortunate enough to prosper under a system that favors the advantaged and which he wants to change. I think this is just setting his issue on a tee, frankly, ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/36 "2007-02-06T12:32:08Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] Now that we’re off the house thing, how exactly is he a hypocrite? [/QUOTE] Here’s one way, and the way that grates on me the most. He ran for the Senate from NC (my state) knowing full well he would run for President in two years. The last four years of his term he was effectively AWOL. He promised to do a job and reneged. The Senate seat was just a stepping stone for him. I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him. I am really hoping for a Democratic victory, but voting for Edwards will be difficult, if not impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/37 "2007-02-06T12:48:50Z")
Get ready for a whole slew of “Wow, I really think I should vote for a Democrat, but I just could never bring myself to vote for [fill in the blank] because of [suddenly crucial personal issue X]” from all of our conservative friends. “Now, I’d consider voting for a Democrat if they ran Zell Miller, or Joe Lieberman, but not someone who [personal issue X].” Look, do the right thing, or don’t do the right thing. Be part of the solution, or keep being part of the problem, but spare us all the faux concern over trumped up nonsense cut and pasted from right wing blogs. This isn’t 2000, or 2004, and frankly, your shit is tired. His house? His house is going to be the issue for Edwards with you guys? Now I more fully see the picture about the “where’s the beef” John Solomon WP front page article about Edwards selling his house. I don’t know who you think is going to best be able to make change for poor people, but I can tell you what should be painfully obvious. It won’t be a poor person. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/38 "2007-02-06T13:24:57Z")
I can’t imagine a better scenario for Democrats to take a few Southern states than Edwards vs. Giuliani (currently the frontrunner Republican polling). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/39 "2007-02-06T13:34:59Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] How many sq. ft. is GW’s house? [/QUOTE] The Prairie Chapel Ranch house is a 10,000 square foot, four bedroom home that is passively solar heated, equipped with sliding screens to take advantage of natural breezes for cooling, and uses underground tanks to collect household wastewater and rainwater to use to irrigate the landscaping. It is in many ways a model home for sustainable building practices in dry climates. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017/40 "2007-02-06T13:36:28Z")
He’s a used car salesman. IMHO, although Kerry by no means ran a great campaign, he made a fatal error by picking Edwards. An ambulance chasing lawyer is not who most Americans want in the White House. sure, most candidates have a legal background, but this guy just oozes slime. If he wasn’t a successful tort lawyer, he would have been whoring it up for Enron or some other big business. And I don’t mean that in a good way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-is-a-very-impressive-presidential-candidate/391017.md?page=3)