Edwards forced to comment on Paris Hilton

[Capn Sunshine]

Paris who?
(I kinda wish Paris would get counseling from Big Dog. That might scare her straight.)

At a press conference today in New York City, John Edwards tackled some of the more weighty topics in the race for the White House. After reminding reporters that “terrorism is still alive, and ongoing, and a serious threat to America and to the rest of the world” and outlining his plan for a 10,000 member “Marshal Corps” to win back the hearts and minds of people around the world, one intrepid member of the press corps attempted to hold the feet of Mr. Edwards to the fire on what is surely the issue on the minds of most Americans.

Here’s the exchange:

At a press conference today in New York City, John Edwards tackled some of the more weighty topics in the race for the White House. After reminding reporters that “terrorism is still alive, and ongoing, and a serious threat to America and to the rest of the world” and outlining his plan for a 10,000 member “Marshal Corps” to win back the hearts and minds of people around the world, one intrepid member of the press corps attempted to hold the feet of Mr. Edwards to the fire on what is surely the issue on the minds of most Americans.

Here’s the exchange:

Reporter: Senator you speak all the time about two Americas, can you just tell us briefly, you know, what you think the message sends that Paris Hilton got out of jail after three days, when she was originally supposed to spend 45 days in jail?

Mr. Edwards: Um, I’m gonna stay out of the Paris Hilton story.

(laughing)

Although I saw it seems to be completely dominating the news, I had the television on just before I came down. Uh, I still do believe, without regard to Paris Hilton, that, uh, we have two Americas and I think what’s important is, it’s obvious that the problem exists.

The issue is what are we going to do to create one America with universal health care, with more economic equality, having, raising the minimum wage, access to decent housing, access to college for kids who can’t afford it? Those are the tools, some of the tools, that allow us to close the gap that exists in America today between those who are doing well and everything else. I think the next president of the United States is going to have a huge responsibility. Last year the top 300,000 income earners earned more than the bottom 150 million, and that gap is not healthy. It’s not healthy for our economy, it’s not healthy for our democracy, and I think we need to do something about it — without regard to Paris Hilton.

Obviously, this is a classic rendition writ large of John Edward's classic theme of "two Americas" It's like the estate tax deal. I never understood why the party never rolled with calling it "the Paris Hilton tax relief act" Since she's a prime recipient of the rollback of the purported "death tax".

[sandnsea]

1. It has nothing to do with Paris Hilton

The attention needs to be on those who have been forgotten, not those who already benefit from massive media attention. Focusing on rich people gives the right the opportunity to haul out the "class warfare" rhetoric, completely diverting attention away from those suffering.

They just played some tapes from people in filthy jails and being abused. Would abusing Paris Hilton somehow make it okay that these other people are abused? Isn't at least part of the issue how badly we treat people in jail and prison in the first place?? No matter how much attention is paid to Paris Hilton, it will never lead to a substantive discussion of the problem of prison abuse.

[durrrty libby]

3. People in prison are treated very well here

Their medical care alone is better than many Americans receive

I don't know where you get this abuse crap, but it is a bald-faced lie

[laylah]

6. I don't know where you get your information

but you are wrong, very, very wrong. I volunteered in a local med-sec prison for 3 years. I knew of one inmate that had to sue to get his Hep C treatment! The number of men walking around with untreated hernias was unbelievable. Men without their teeth because they couldn't get any. And those are just a few of the "better" stories. People who think inmates have it so well, haven't a clue!

[Divernan]

9. Privatized prisons make their profits by cutting medical care and food costs

I have read horror stories, especially of inmates with cancer getting no meaningful treatments.

[durrrty libby]

11. My info is first hand. I give out those HepC meds and

and supervise millions of dollars of medical care a year

Volunteers see very little

Don't worry, the baby rapists are treated better than most grannies

I don't need a clue. I could write several books

[ElizabethDC]

7. Well, it probably varies from prison to prison

They were showing some clips on MSNBC of some prisons that had pretty filty conditions.

[durrrty libby]

13. Yes it is easy to get a few nasty clips to make things

interesting, but there are thousands of federal and state rules

that keep things on the up and up

Sure, once in a while bad things happen, but day in and day out the officers

that work in prisons should be praised and paid better. They have a very scary job

[LBJDemocrat]

18. That doesn't mean you should turn a blind eye

to medical neglect and prison rape. And there have been some pretty crooked prison guards, like Charles Graner.

[durrrty libby]

19. Blind eye? Another load of shit. How dare you!!

Go ahead find a few bad Officers. They are far and few


There are bad lawyers

There are bad docs

There are bad drivers

There are very very bad DUers

[tkmorris]

10. A couple of things here

First of all if you need to disagree with someone, it might be more helpful if you just do that instead of calling them a bald-faced liar.

Second of all, you are quite wrong as it happens. Prisoners in many prisons across the US are treated worse than animals. Abuse is rampant, violence among prisoners is ignored or encouraged, living conditions are awful, and so on.

What area are you from anyway?

[durrrty libby]

12. I am not wrong , none of your business and don't bother with

the manners lesson. I have my reasons for saying it


Here's the thing...People post unbelievable crap here all the time


It is maddening, and I am sick of it

They just make shit up for the hell of it

If I know the truth about something, I am going to say it


If I wanted to read fairy tales on purpose, I would go to freepland

[tkmorris]

14. If you can't even identify the area

Then your words have very little impact, and in fact your statement on prisoners care, which already strained credulity, sinks to the level of meaningless, agenda-driven, blather.

As to the manners lesson, my apologies. It really is pointless. I could try to teach a pig ballet, and likely have more success. Your objective seems to be to stir up trouble, and as such your lack of civility is more of a tactic than any dearth of social skills.

You and your "baby rapers" have a real nice day now, hear? :hi:

[durrrty libby]

15. I don't care if you don't believe me. I really don't

I will say the truth and that is that



Your loss honey. Continue to enjoy your lala land

[laylah]

20. what? then you

disable your profile to avoid further debate on this issue? :hi: see ya.

[durrrty libby]

21. No I never filled one out So what.

It is funny how presumptuous and wrong people here can be

[Tarheel_Dem]

22. Sounds as if you have an underlying contempt for your fellow

DU'ers, so the next logical question seems to be...why continue to post here? You made very broad, sweeping statements as if you've worked in, and can speak for every correctional institution in the country. The abuses that other DU'ers have pointed out are very real & much more widespread than you seem to want to admit. Either that, or you just plain want to be argumentative.

[tkmorris]

23. You are exactly correct

And I will go further and state that his contempt for DU'ers is not underlying his postings, but rather slathered all over them like cheap paint. ALL of his posts here seem to in some way be designed to cast aspersions (or asparagus, if you prefer) on core Democratic ideals.

I won't offer any opinion as to his purpose in doing that, certain possible conclusions are against the rules, but a good general rule is to know your fellow DU'ers. Not all of them are liberal activists, or even moderate Dems.

[Dr.Phool]

2. Paris Hilton for President!!!!

At least she's smarter than the one we've got now. Maybe she'll nuke Wal-Mart.

[partylessinOhio]

4. Hate still rules in America. Much of it is directed at Paris Hilton.

It is so misplaced.

Bush is the terrorist, the subversive, the drunk, the grim reaper of our troops.

Edwards was smart NOT to get sucked in.

[FrenchieCat]

5. ""the Paris Hilton tax relief act" --EXCELLENT Framing on that Capn Sunshine....and

"Paris who?" would have been a perfect response. Would have spoken much on the frenzied state of our media versus what we should find to be important in the large scheme without so many words.......

In respect to Edwards' actual response, might have been more politically savvy to let that same media say what he has said.....as they have....all day, thus far. Than he could have come back with "the media agree with what I have been saying for quite some time now".....at a later point in time.

[illinoisprogressive]

8. how stupid and shallow. Why would a presidential candidate give a shit.

[Capn Sunshine]

16. It was a cheap ratings trick I'm sure

The obvious upside for the reporter was there- Edwards showed great aplomb by his deft parry IMO. But The Paris Hilton jail story can be used to show the great disparity in things, certainly.

As an aside, it funny how people can mention freepland here and expect any objection to their own content and origination to go away.

[polichick]

17. The "two standards of justice" issue is important...

Especially for a candidate so aligned with the poor.