This Is How You Respond To A Right Wing Talking Point?
Chris Bowers says that John Edwards’ response to a query about why, despite railing against special interests, he takes so much money from trial lawyers is “perfect.”
CLINTON: Well, John, trial lawyers have given you millions and millions of dollars. So…
EDWARDS: And what they expect from me is they expect me to stand up for democracy, for the right to jury trial, for the right for little people to be heard in the courtroom. And that is exactly what I stand up for.
That is not the same thing. That is not the same thing as corporate lobbyists who are in there every single day lobbying against the interests of middle-class Americans. And I think we need a president who can stand up.
Bowers is right that the optics of his response are good. He is unwavering, he goes straight on offense and he skilfully interweaves his trail lawyer support into his wider message. But, when you actually sit down and read it, it seems like patent BS. I mean, you don’t have to think that trial lawyers are a parasitic drain on the economy (I don’t) to see that Edwards is clearly trafficking in nonsense when he says that support from trial lawyers and advocating on behalf of their political interests has anything to do with the “right for a jury trial.” And while we are far from the day of politicians saying that they accept special interest support because they need the money to win elections, it shoudn’t be too much to expect skeptical, inteligent bloggers not to go absolutely gaga over typical politician BS.
