In Friday's Washington Post, Howard Kurtz reports that the new John Edwards campaign against any Democrat accepting Rupert Murdoch contributions has a slight flaw:
"John Edwards will never ask Rupert Murdoch for money -- he won't accept his money," said a statement e-mailed to supporters. Not so fast, Murdoch's people say. His publishing unit, HarperCollins, paid Edwards a $500,000 advance -- and $300,000 in expenses -- for his 2006 book "Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives."
"We assume the senator is going to give back the money from his advance," News Corp. spokesman Brian Lewis said.
Edwards spokesman Eric Schultz said his boss donated the book payments to charity and that the expense money went to staffers and vendors. Citing the announcement that prompted Edwards's e-mail -- Murdoch's $5 billion deal to buy Dow Jones -- Schultz said, "This is about whether or not Murdoch should expand his media empire and use the Wall Street Journal to further promote his right-wing agenda."
....While the Edwards mailing accused Fox of trying to "demonize the Democratic Party and call it 'news,' " he has boycotted the cable channel only since Jan. 23. Before that, Edwards appeared on Fox programs 33 times.
(Fox reported the Edwards book deal on Thursday night's Special Report.) But Greg Pollowitz uncovered the real knee-slapping line out of Edwards: "The basis of a strong democracy begins and ends with a strong, unbiased and fair media –- all qualities which are pretty hard to subscribe to Fox News and News Corp."
If our liberal media were really "unbiased and fair," those co-presidential candidates John and Elizabeth Edwards would be in much worse shape in this campaign. There are two relatively new Elizabeth puff pieces this week, which don't mention hiring Christian-hating feminist bloggers, or Mrs. Edwards endorsing "rage," to mention two negative angles. There was the obligatory Dan Balz front-page press release in The Washington Post, and Liz Halloran's piece in U.S. News & World Report. (At least Halloran briefly featured a fine harrumph from Jonah Goldberg.)
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Comments Policy
}}---> Tim
August 3, 2007 - 07:04 ET by Cool ArrowTell me you're not making this up.
Thank God for Rupert Murdoch. Back in your spider hole Edwards.
We've been in Bizarro World
August 3, 2007 - 07:12 ET by sarcasmoWe've been in Bizarro World since yesterday's Shep Smith story. Since this is Bizarro World, the unbelievable must be so, but please consider: if Rupert were really so great for those of us considered to be on the political right, he'd either fire Mr. Smith after yesterday or reassign him to the commentary department, wouldn't he?
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
}}---> No, sarc
August 3, 2007 - 07:19 ET by Cool ArrowShep's handlers would remind him what his job is. Maybe they will. Let's email him.
Are you sure you'd be able
August 3, 2007 - 07:38 ET by sarcasmoAre you sure you'd be able to believe him in the future? I'm not. I'd believe him more as a Fox News lefty-commentator, after yesterday's AGW-rant.
Hell, you folks have been wanting an excuse to get rid of Gabler and get a more-sane lefty on Fox News Watch for as long as I've been here! Here's your chance on a silver platter! Dump Gabler, reassign Shep, and give Chris Wallace more work in general! A simple way to improve Fox News (they might also want to tell the truth about some other issues, too, but I'll stick to personnel issues for now).
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
}}---> too smooth, sarc
August 3, 2007 - 07:46 ET by Cool ArrowWallace can have any job he wants on Fox. Except Brit or Bill's.
Or of course, the best Newscaster in the world....Dominica Davis.
You can't make this stuff
August 3, 2007 - 07:58 ET by ricklailYou can't make this stuff up. Even Hollywood writers couldn't do this good of a job.
He doesn't live in a spider hole. He lives under a rock.
A bonafided and certified member of the beer guzzling, NASCAR watching middle class.
}}---> Even Hollywood?
August 3, 2007 - 08:00 ET by Cool ArrowOh, yeah?
Ever see Harper Valley PTA?
Yeah but everything on
August 3, 2007 - 08:15 ET by ricklailYeah but everything on Harper Valley was not make up. I see that every day around here. Same as Peton Place. I could write a soap opera on the real things that go on around here.
When I was a teen we used to sit at the Pure station in town and watch who was running around on their wives/husbands. I could have either made a lot of money in blackmail or a book but I didn't.
Having followed John Edwards ever since he was elected senator from our state, nothing he does or says surprises me. I know him to be a first class hypocrite.
A bonafided and certified member of the beer guzzling, NASCAR watching middle class.
He is blessed with no
August 3, 2007 - 08:41 ET by Free ThinkerHe is blessed with no self-awareness. I think it its truly a psychopathical hypocrisy because he doesn't even flinch when he makes a fool of himself.
oops... dam
August 3, 2007 - 07:04 ET by USA4freedomoops...
dam internet!
well with all those millions, I guess its hard keep track of just..$800,000.
a true man?? of the people..
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Do as I say, not as I do.
August 3, 2007 - 07:05 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsLiberal mantra:
Do as I say, not as I do.
Do as I say, not as I do.
Repeat endlessly.
D
I don't support our liberals or their mission.
Edwards is hypocritcal, phony piece of trash
August 3, 2007 - 07:13 ET by Six String SpiffDoes Edwards ever think about what he says, or does? Everytime he makes a 'bold' statement, he has to back pedal when realizing he has done exactly what he has been preaching to the filthy masses. And who is HE to be lecturing the candidates?! Has he forgotten that his hopes are still in the toilet?
"I'm just like every other hard working American."
Well, that's funny because I certainly don't have the luxury to send one of my servants to the very store I have launched an attack campaing on, and purchase a PS3. Must be nice. Oh and who can forget the $400 haircuts?
"Global Warming is a very real threat to our lives and everyone should do what they can to reduce their energy consumption."
Ok, so I guess we should just ignore the fact that you have a mansion that you rarely stay in that still manages to use as much as six times more than the typical home?
"This war is nothign but a bumper sticker."
Oh ok then. So I guess all of those people that died on 9/11 really don't exist, and were possibly part of some politcal gain conspiracy? What about all of the other attacks - some being foiled, others being unfortunately successful - the occurred in other countries? Are those on that bumper sticker? I think your rhetoric is a bumper sticker. As a matter of fact, it is.
"No Democrat should accept money from Rupert Murdoch!"
* Assistant whispers something in his ear...*
"Ahhh I didn't mean to say that!"
Scum. Hypocritical, empty, phony, Scum.
What the MSSM doesn't report can kill you.
}}---> Channel this
August 3, 2007 - 07:25 ET by Cool Arrow"I am channelling the victims of 911, and they tell me to vote John Edwards. They didn't die in vain, they died in New York. They love being a bumper sticker, bathed in the sweet incense of my tailpipe" - Smarmy Swami John
Everyday it seems John or
August 3, 2007 - 07:23 ET by Free ThinkerEveryday it seems John or his wife do something that makes me laugh and start the day with a smile. This further convinces me that he is on the Clinton payroll because nobody is that stupid.
Hypocrisy?
August 3, 2007 - 07:46 ET by BeukeboomJohn Edwards = HYPOCRISY?
Big shock there, right?
hmmm...800 grand, that
August 3, 2007 - 09:12 ET by gopstevehmmm...800 grand, that should pay for a few of his haircuts, manicures, etc.
Dear Newsbusters, Please
August 3, 2007 - 09:41 ET by ckc1227Dear Newsbusters,
Please allow me to apologize on behalf of those in my state of NC who elected this bozo to the senate.
As a Floridian, let me say
August 3, 2007 - 09:44 ET by sarcasmoAs a Floridian, let me say this message scares the heck out of me. ;) So far, for some reason, the nation is letting us off despite our politicians.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
Ditos! I didn't vote for
August 3, 2007 - 12:58 ET by ricklailDitos! I didn't vote for him. I saw through him when he first starting campaigning. Calling him a bozo is a slap at Bozo the clown. Call him ozob, a backwards bozo. I like Dennis Miller calling him an empty suit.
A bonafided and certified member of the beer guzzling, NASCAR watching middle class.
He sounds like my dad when
August 3, 2007 - 09:45 ET by msh1973He sounds like my dad when he use to say, "do as I tell you, not as I do". My dad was just pulling our legs, but I think Edwards is serious.
Another visual
August 3, 2007 - 12:11 ET by Carbon SasquatchI see Col. Klink yelling at Sgt. Shultz, "How many times have I told you, not to listen to what I say?"
Never go to a gunfight with a caliber that starts with less than four
Edwards is beginning to
August 3, 2007 - 09:51 ET by daveinbocaEdwards is beginning to chart new territory in the Mark Twain wasteland which he called electoral politics. John-boy Pretty-Hair actually says the GWOT is a "bumper-sticker" and we are supposed to put this dolt in a foreign policy position? At least Obama has strong opinions and answers hypothetical questions, even though his answers prove he's not ready for the Presidency. Obama did live overseas and did travel a lot---but Edwards is an ambulance-chaser who won the lottery and now thinks his looks and malignant spouse will get him the Dhimmi nomination?
He's as dumb as he is pretty!
advance
August 3, 2007 - 10:31 ET by dubuquemanThe sleaze of this is actually underreported. Let's remember that these outsized "advances" given to politicians for books that generally don't sell well are not driven by business considerations (i.e., an expectation that the book will recoup the advance) but are backdoor ways to heap money onto a politician. Recall that Newt was pilloried for a similar incident. The icing on the cake was the absurd amount given for "expenses." One would think that the only expenses a publisher would pay for were those to promote sales of the book, so the publisher would want to control the money, not just hand a big sum to the author and hope for the best. Maybe it even provided Edwards an out from income taxes on the 300 grand. His hypocrisy is astounding.
"Home: The Blue Print of
August 3, 2007 - 11:59 ET by Chris Norman"Home: The Blue Print of Our Lives"
Must be a big book considering the size of his home...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
You guys keep forgetting he
August 3, 2007 - 12:21 ET by Airforce_5_OYou guys keep forgetting he is a lawyer. There is nothing wrong with bad mouthing someone and taking their money. They do it all the time. It just depends on which face your looking at.
The only thing you should feel when shooting insurgents is the rifle recoil.
I didn't think there could
August 4, 2007 - 02:01 ET by fitzfongI didn't think there could be a worse, less qualified candidate for President in 2008 than Hillary Clinton. But along came naive BHO and the sleaziest hypocrite yet, John Edwards. A truly despicable ambulance-chasing dirtbag whose ill-gotten riches came from bankrupting doctors and making medical care more expensive and dangerous. John Edwards is a duplicitous, arrogant coward who has to trot out his ailing wife whenever he needs more campaign money. I don't know how any jury could have been fooled by this jackass, but I guess it's not that hard to find a stupid jury. Even more troubling is the fact that he managed to con Harper Collins out of $800,000. Perhaps he could use some of their execs on a future jury.