Another Friday on the John Edwards story, another emergency room visit (”dehydration”) for your old pal Simon. But while I’m sprawled out here in Admissions, I can tell you about some of the interesting stuff Deceiver’s super-awesome commenters have been digging up. Primarily:
Rielle isn’t the first woman who’s embarrassed the Edwards campaign. Trusty ol’ Fortunate Son points out that two Edwards campaign bloggers, Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan, had to resign in early ‘07 because of some silly stuff they’d said on their personal blogs. (That darn right-wing smear machine!) So, Edwards’ vetting process for his bloggers was almost as good as the one for his videographer. And they didn’t even get a consolation prize like Rielle did…
I especially appreciated this Edwards quote about the blogger flap from his 4/6/07 interview at Salon.com:
“I think bloggers in general are a very healthy thing. I think it’s good for democracy…”
Couldn’t agree more. He continues:
“Bloggers by nature, as you know, are right at the edge. That’s how they operate. It’s how they get their message across and how they get heard.”
Glad you understand, John. No hard feelings! And what’s the Web’s most important function?
“Getting information out there that’s not getting out there any other way.”
Oh, you betcha.
Keep in mind that this interview was less than a week after his last payment to Rielle for those cruddy campaign videos almost nobody got to see. Which was at least three months after Rielle claims she was fired. Now that Edwards’ stated timeline of the affair has fallen to pieces, it seems likely that he was still seeing Rielle at the time he gave that interview, or soon would be again. And there he was, praising the information-disseminating power of the Web. I almost admire his chutzpah.
- It’s also worth noting that on April 9, three days after that interview, Elizabeth made an uncharacteristic personal attack against a “rabid, rabid Republican” neighbor of theirs in Raleigh. Was this an attempt to deflect possible media scrutiny of the affair? Purely speculation, of course. (FS again.)
- FS also points out that Fred Baron and Lee Rohn are both board members of something called Public Justice. Of course, these days people are more curious about what those two attorneys have been doing in private…
- FS is also questioning the timeline put forth by Newsweek’s Jonathan Darman, questioning the practices of the Internet Archive Wayback Machine, and questioning the sudden, unexplained exit of Edwards media consultant Marius Penczner in Sept. ‘07.
- Fellow Deceiver supercommenter Kris gets in on the action, pointing out the close ties between the Daily Kos and the Edwards campaign. (No wonder Lee Stranahan was kast out.) Kris also delves deeper into Edwards’ alleged financial subterfuge here, and has some further questions about those campaign videos here.
That should be enough to hold you guys for a little while, right? This story keeps developing, seemingly by the hour, so feel free to post any relevant links in the comments. Or, you could go outside and get some fresh air. Maybe fly down to St. Croix…
Another ER visit? Sorry to hear that. Best advice left in my high school yearbook: Remain hydrated.
Stay well. And wet.
Warren Buffet said today he’s suprised some smart youg lawyer hasn’t Class Actioned John Edwards for fraud. Me too. If anyone does, I want part of that. I want my money back. He sold me a defective product.
John Edwards public image has not just subjectively gone down in flames, his numbers have crashed too.
“Voters who said they have a “very” or “somewhat” negative view of the two-time presidential contender jumped 22 percentage points from 27% in January to 49% in August.”
http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/documents/WSJ_NBCPoll_prtl_082108.pdf
Any truth to the rumor that Vanity Fair is going to write an indepth article, suggesting edwards is being blackmailed by hunter who apparently took less than tasteful videos of their private lives?
She’s already borne his child. What the hell could be worse?
Likely Obama VP Candidate Chet Edwards believes the John Edwards scandal cost him the VP slot:
“That never occurred. The party’s 2004 vice presidential nominee, John Edwards, went on national TV and confessed an affair, tarnishing the sound of an Obama-Edwards ticket.
“John Edwards disgraced himself and his family and put the Edwards name on the front pages. I knew when that happened, I knew the Obama campaign had little choice but to not release my name,” the Texas Edwards said. “I still might not have been the final choice. But I think we would have had the opportunity to present our case to the country.”
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/082408dnpolchethonored.75c9142.html
A very curious public plea to Fred Baron. I am unfamiliar with this particular blogger Loren Feldman, but he reminds me of that big guy from Everybody Loves Raymond.
Anyway, Feldman’s plea is to silence Andrew Baron of Rocketboom before his statements put Fred Baron in prison.
Loren Feldman may be a raving lunatic, I don’t endorse him and I don’t know anything about him, other than this video, but it certainly is bizarre if nothing else.
“Loren Feldman, 1938 Media
Loose lips sink ships. They also put Jewish lawyers in jail.
Fred Baron, I have to give you some advice, you seem like a nice Jewish guy. I don’t want to see you end up in the joint.
Here’s the first thing, Bro. You’ve got to stop talking to your kid.
He’s got a big mouth, and he’s an imbecile
You already know this. You know this.
Ok, I know its a tough time for you, and you’re trying to circle the troops and get the family back together, but he’s the weak link. The weak link. Know what I’m saying?
He’s got a big mouth, and he’s an imbecile involved in this blogging community.
He’s already friend feeding and twittering dates when you knew stuff and didn’t know stuff.
He’s going to get you into a lot of trouble, Fred, you know what I’m saying? His political savvy is probably as good as his business savvy, and well, we know how that’s gone.
I don’t want you talking to Andrew anymore, Fred. This is serious business, he’s going to open his mouth and show everyone his little dinosaur teeth, and then something stupid’s going to come out of it, and next thing you know, you’re going to be bent over.
I don’t want to see this happen to you, I really don’t.
You know what? I should’ve been your son, Fred.
I’m Jewish, I’m tall, I’m smart.
Me and you could’ve done some damage. I’m sorry that you ended up with that Andrew.
All right, what are you going to do, I’m sure his mother loves him.
But anyway, keep your mouth shut, and leave Andy out of it.
I’m telling you Fred, please, we’ll get through this together, if you just listen to me.
Loren Feldman, 1938 media”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCh-U_wyL4o
How can anyone tell anymore when lawyers involved with the John Edwards scandal are telling the truth?!?
Notice how Fred Baron says “there is no record” of him hosting a fund-raiser below?
That’s a strange statement. Reporters need to start asking real questions.
How about?:
(1) Was there a record of you or your wife hosting a fund-raiser last month?
(2) Was there a website detailing a fund-raiser you or your wife hosted last month?
(3) Have you or your wife ever asked anyone to direct anything of any value to Barack Obama or his campaign?
(4) What fund-raisers are there pictures of you and your wife attending in the last year?
(5) Have you or your wife ever sent out an voicemail or email about hosting a fund-raiser?
(6) Have you or your wife ever destroyed any records of having hosted a fund-raiser?
(7) Have you or your wife ever co-hosted a fund-raiser?
(8) Have you or your wife ever sponsored a fund-raiser
and most importantly..
(9) Have you ever hosted a fund-raiser, regardless of whether there’s a record of it or not?
Finally one bonus question:
(10) Is your memory about this is spotty as whether or not you paid off Rielle Hunter and Edward Young and whether or not you introduced them to their lawyers?
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/08/fred-baron-and-barack-obama.html
**** AND MOST CHILLING OF ALL ***
Why would anyone think Fred Baron had an offical role in the Barack Obama campaign?
Could it be because Fred Baron personally picked John Edwards to be John Kerry’s running mate?
From Walter Shapiro’s book One Car Caravan
http://books.google.com/books?id=KFgCx_40DIUC&pg=PR8&lpg=PR8&dq=”
Screenshot of quote:
http://i36.tinypic.com/iqbz7p.jpg
James Boyce of the Huffington Post confirms the relationship between John Kerry’s brother Cam Kerry and Fred Baron tells a different story, saying they knew Edwards was on the nominee on the plane:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-boyce/why-the-evan-bayh-vp-reve_b_119234.html
James A. Johnson was the head of John Kerry’s vice presidential search for Kerry’s campaign:
“Consumate Washington Insider” Bob Shrum in his book says:
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1626498-1,00.html
The same Jim Johnson was also the head of Barack Obama’s presidential search, now disgraced, and is represented by his lawyer Brian Brooks :
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB121321030258665089.html?mod=blog
Is James A Johnson’s lawyer the same Brian G. Brooks from the “Center for a Just Society” from the following Fred Baron link?
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/counsellists/cl549-2a.html
According to Overlawyered, Brian Brooks’ “Center for the Just Society” is an:
http://overlawyered.com/2005/08/center-for-a-just-society/
After seeing that you-tube video and reading some of their feeds from Rocketboom I have to say I find Edwards whole circle of co-conspirators as delusional and arrogant as the man himself, if they thought that by involving so many people they were going to successfully cover up the affair, the baby and the rest of the unseemly and possibly illegal activities surrounding his campaign for the presidency.
Fred Baron’s own SON is saying he is angry at JE for his recklessness and while that video may be over the top, I get the sense that Andrew Baron does not have a clue as to how deep the mess runs and the extent of his Dad’s involvement. Maybe the story will die down but it looks like there are still too many loose ends that haven’t finished unraveling. Every few days there is another inadvertent revelation of tangential weirdness. And amazingly, there are a still a few diehards on that site saying he just made a mistake and he has all kinds of integrity because he came clean.
I looked at his “confession” again and the more I watched and listened what came through was not an apology but a fairly transparent attempt to conceal specific information. It was as if the points were bulleted on a cheat sheet he had memorized. He takes such care to note that the affair started AFTER she was hired and of course Pigeon and others have disputed that. How did he think America was going to believe he entrusted a stranger with zero political experience to do videos after one fateful meeting in a bar? That interview was the WORST idea for him besides having the affair in the first place. Or maybe running for any office higher than dog catcher.
Great article up at DBKP by blogger LBG1 entitled “Edwards’ Campaign Quietly Refunds Contributions to Bundlers, Big Backers”:
http://deathby1000papercuts.com/2008/08/edwards-campaign-quietly-refunds-contributions-to-bundlers-big-backers/
The best part is that LBG1 notices blatant lies to the press by the Edwards’ campaign:
“William Lerach was one of Edwards’ top bundlers. Lerach, plus members of his family and his law firm, Lerach Coughlin, raised almost $76,000 in the first half of 2007, got his money back on March 24, even though he was sentenced to serve two years in prison on February 11, 2008. Lerach entered a plea deal after being charged with a kickback scheme that purportedly netted his old firm, Milberg Weiss, $200 million.
According to the Washington Post, in an article dated 9/19/2007, the Edwards’ campaign “donated” Lerach’s personal donation to charity.
“Edwards campaign said it donated Lerach’s personal donations to charity yesterday after his guilty plea, but isn’t returning the money he raised from others.”
–Washington Post
Where can I find the stuff from Andrew Baron and Rocketboom you guys are talking about?
http://friendfeed.com/e/64440d61-049d-4223-bbd6-69495fd3d4b1/So-Scoble-is-famous-cause-he-took-a-picture-of/
Whoda, I am very new to blogs, comments, feeds and such so forgive me if what I cut and pasted above does not work! I just clicked on Andrew Baron and then he had a link to Winer’s “Friend Feed.”
Heh, looks like I stumbled across that at the same time you did. Yeah, I think maybe that’s what Feldman was talking about.
@impatient…
all that “rumors about Rielle blackmailing!” stuff is a whisper campaign designed to smear the mother of the child John Edwards fathered out of wedlock while he was running for public office and whom he has continued to secretly meet at hotels.
I think we all see it as the “nuts and sluts” strategy that Edwards’s camp has been trying to get people to buy ever since he got caught red-handed lying and covering up his long-term extramarital affair. And we laugh at it. Blaming his lover just isn’t working. Throwing his lover under the bus to save his public image isn’t working. Pretending he visits her in hotel rooms repeatedly — on her birthday! — because she’s a vicious blackmailer isn’t working. Nice try, though!!!
My advice to anyone dealing with a crazed stalker? Try to not stick your dick in her repeatedly for two years. It really sends the wrong message.
I don’t disagree that may well be a tactic but Lisa Druck discredited herself long before she was ever involved with JE. All of these people coming out of the woodwork who have had contact with her are not on the payroll. JE’s camp did not concoct her nutty “Being is Free” website.
It appears she has consistently sought fame and fortune throughout her adult life and manipulated men to pay for substance abuse and the rest of her lifestyle. She did not appear earn a living as a movie extra or a “writer” or any other business. She herself makes reference to her cocaine abuse and spending thousands on loopy “retreats.”
I seriouly doubt she is overtly extorting anyone. No need to. Once she got pregnant she`was set for life. Her friends/family say she wants and expects to be with JE and I believe that is true. He may “love” her as well insofar as a raving narcissist loves the woman who tells him he is the next Ghandi!
As for throwing her under the bus, if anyone wants to fly me and my kid out to St.Croix and send me 15k a month I will CRAWL under the bus tires myself.