1 of 8

Yes

Write now Article Tools

Wealth by itself does not necessarily equate to insincerity. In John Edwards' case however, several aspects of his wealth and how it was acquired make it tough to believe that he sincerely understands or cares about the common man, and that his claims to the contrary are anything more than campaign speeches.

His rich, pampered lifestyle and displays of conspicuous consumption, for example his $400 haircuts (which he reimbursed his campaign for but only AFTER they were reported in the media) and discounted use of corporate private jets, make it difficult to accept any claimed connection to or understanding of "normal" people and their problems. He is in the process of building a 28,000 square foot home on a 102-acre, secluded estate in Orange County, N.C., which is reported to be the largest and most valuable (6+ million dollars ) home in the county. According to Carolina Journal Online the main house is 10,400 sq, ft, with a 600 sq. ft. bedroom and two garages. The home also has an attached, 15,600 sq. ft. "recreation building", containing a basketball court, a squash court, two stages, a bedroom, kitchen, bathrooms, swimming pool, a four-story tower, and a room designated "John's Lounge." For a family of five. Of course he can build his home however he wishes, and as large as he can afford. But to sit back in his gated mansion behind the "no trespassing" signs whilst claiming an understanding of and sympathy for the poor rings false, and is hard to credit.

He claims his meager beginnings give him an understanding of poverty, but his mother, in an interview, stated that their children were always well fed and clothed, with a nice house, but that there was "nothing extra". He not only attended college but law school as well. To me, that is not poverty, but fairly normal if not easy middle class life, and not a membership card in the Horatio Alger Bootstrap club.

He acquired his tremendous wealth as a personal injury lawyer (who as a group typically take 30%) who won record jury awards, and in 1990 was named the youngest member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an invitation-only group of the country's 100 winningest personal injury lawyers. It can certainly be argued that by being personally responsible for increases in lawsuit awards and their resulting increases in malpractice insurance and health care costs, that he has in fact made the plight of the poor worse by making it that much harder for them to afford health care.

Forgive my skepticism over the unselfish intent of a multi-millionaire who needs to charge $55,000 to get his message out on a college campus. I guess I'm just a cynical guy.

For these reasons, I have serious doubts about John Edwards' sincerity in his devotion to the poor.

Learn more about this author, Howard Nichols.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Does John Edwards' personal wealth make him seem insincere in his commitment to end poverty??
We want to hear your view. Write now!