CNN

To "RR" and "Perry", while you can have your own opinion, you're judging John Edwards as a radical personal injury lawyer. My cousin worked in the same hospital he sued those doctors in.... They deserved it for their traditional practices based on religion and beliefs.

Y'all are comparing apples to oranges. Someone physically harming someone as a doctor because they don't follow proper guidelines is totally different than a person driving a Ford and killing someone and holding Ford responsible. I think we all know that your uneducated comment holds no clout... you're just reaching to paint Edwards in a negative light.

I like how all of y'all are painting him as this radical injury lawyer without even researching the cases he's tried.

Once again, don't comment unless you are educated enough to make relevant comparisons and know the person you are commenting on. Keep in mind he currently leads Clinton and Obama in the latest news poll of NC Dems for the nomination.

A hedge fund investing ambulance chaser is talking about clean money?

John Edwards would sue Ford because a drunk driver killed a man. That's the mentality of the personal injury lawyer.

You wonder why doctors and hosp. cost so much? Malpractice is completetly out of control. Maybe tort reform will help lower health care costs.

OK. I would like one person on here to answer me a question. What "slip-n-fall" or frivilous lawsuits would you be referring to in Edwards' case. I've been a Carolinian all my live, living in Greenville and Wilmington, NC.

Edwards went after companies who made faulty products that killed or disfigured people for life. He also tried doctors at my local hospital, Pitt County Memorial for using traditional practices of child birth when updated methods should have been used. I still remember my cousin, and nurse, saying how those doctors needed to use modern methods of child birth, but didn't, because of their religions and other beliefs.

Y'all aren't even from NC or any part of the south and you talk crap and accuse our former Senator of things without even researching what you're talking about or knowing first hand who Edwards' is.

In addition, you obviously haven't looked at the polls, because the latest WRAL.COM raleigh news poll has Edwards leading in NC's primary over Clinton and Obama.

We're not going to win if we put a Dem nominee out there who is already going to win their state regardless. We need a southern representative to have the chance to pull a southern state. Could y'all imagine what would happen if a Democrat actually pulled one state south of the mason/dixon line?

If y'all look at national polls, Edwards actually also leads the republican candidates in Ohio/PA, and Georgia. pollster.com has those numbers....Clinton and Obama pair worse than Edwards.

I can't believe y'all want to throw this election away and give it to the Republicans once again...seriously, someone tell me how Edwards is so crooked. What ever happened to all of us wanting a politician who will actually stand up for big businesses and HMO's.

Get to learn the candidates before y'all judge them, and realize if you aren't from here, you don't know truly what you're talkin' about. You don't see me trying to tell y'all what Clinton and Obama are all about, do you? NO, because I'm not from Illinois or NY.

This entire election is being run by the biased media who want to see Clinton get it. The south is always ignored, and this time, it is going to hurt our chances.

So I guess that means only those who have friends or family or non corporate supporters can raise money for their campaigns.

SO much for Liberty and Equality for All!

I think Edwards needs to concentrate on his Campaign Strategy an shine a light on his failing credability.

Why is there disdain for the financial success that Mitt Romney has achieved? Unlike John Kerry who married into his billions, and John Edw. who took on slip-and-fall lawsuits, Mitt Romney got his the old-fashioned way ; he used his brain and built his own wealth. I would think if you want to accumulate your own wealth, you'd take Gov. Romney's route and not the other two. At least admire his hard work as being more honorable that the other examples.

Why would anyone begrudge someone their financial success? Don't we want the person in charge of our country to be a financial whiz? Isn't keeping the economy growing a top priority?

What Gov. Romney did with the financials of the SLC Olympics was amazing and almost unbelievable. If he could do that on a grander scale, I'd say we'd be in good shape.

Its hard telling how 'clean' the money is, when Edwards is only fully disclosing less than 87% of his donations. These records can be seen at http://www.opensecrets.org for those of you who would like to view this.

JOHN EDWARDS (D)
Top Industries

1

Lawyers/Law Firms

$6,545,542

2

Democratic/Liberal

$1,682,677

3

Retired

$846,281

4

Securities & Investment

$660,450

5

Real Estate

$503,950

6

TV/Movies/Music

$358,300

7

Business Services

$336,700

8

Misc Business

$275,825

9

Education

$247,411

10

Health Professionals

$246,926

11

Misc Finance

$245,450

12

Hedge Funds

$223,300

13

Printing & Publishing

$145,266

14

Computers/Internet

$131,660

15

Commercial Banks

$127,200

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/indus.asp?id=N00002283&cycle=2008

Van

How about the millions he took in by targeting healthcare providers in his home state? Patients and their families should be fairly compensated for improper care. But profiting from patient tragedies by manipulating juries with junk science is inexcusable. I'm not sure how that ties into his stated goal of expanding health coverage for all, as everyone shares the cost of exorbitant medical malpractice premiums. Especially when it convinces Obstetricians/Gynecologists to stop providing obstetric care altogether, as it has in many regions. This overly litigious climate also fosters the practice of defensive medicine, which is ever more expensive.

Lobbyists = NRA, HMO's, actual groups who donate money to influence politicians.

Individuals = people who donate to those like them.

Y'all don't get it. Edwards is our man to take back the WH from the Republicans. He takes money from lawyers because he was one, individual money. I think any of us would take money from friends, but it takes a real man to stand up and say he won't take it from groups to influence his ideas. The only reason he didn't get elected last time was because of Kerry being #1 on the ticket.

Go ahead DEMS and hand it back to the republicans in '08. If you elect clinton or obama from heavily blue states, you'll be sorry again.

Instead of writing poems to cut down candidates (Nancy), why don't y'all get it and work for a cause to benefit our nation. Kiss the election good bye if ya nominate Clinton or Obama. Edwards has had many articles written on how is is most nationally electable, but the our big money wants Clinton. The south will be more likely to vote for Edwards...

You people obviously want the republicans back in office if you vote otherwise. Don't ignore the south.

Why was my post pulled? Because I suggested that mocking John Edwards' by typing the words to "I Feel Pretty" is unintelligent?

I stand by my post. Whatever happened to intelligent discourse? Why is it okay to have posts on here calling JRE a hypocrite (or "hippo crite" as one post does), and to suggest that his supporters need to have their heads examined, but it's not okay to question the use of childish insults? To suggest that a person needs psychotherapy is okay, but to suggest that comments are unintelligent is not?

Shame on you, CNN, and your double standards.

And for the record, Nancy, NH: No, it is not enough said. It is nothing said.

Evertbody is trying to jump on Ron Pauls issue wagon, they can't figure out... it's the integrity that makes Ron Paul believable. We have heard it all before and it's so easy to spot the liars.

Kudos to John Edwards. He went on the attack by himself, without his wife doing it for him.

Baby steps, perhaps next he can find a better way to explain his acceptance of book money from News Corp.

Then again, Edwards doesn't need dirty money because he has stopped getting $400 haircuts!

An article of interest to this subject is in Friday's Wall Street Journal.

It has just been made public that John Edwards has stock in Fortress Investments, a company foreclosing on 34 Katrina vicitms' homes. How much stock does Mr Edw. have in this mortgage firm? $16 million worth.

John talks about the "evil doers", but I guess it's OK to be "evil" if your making $16 million off the deal. Two Americas indeed, John.

The Edwards and Clinton exchange at the debate sums it up. He asked how many of us have our own reps on K Street (I didn't see any hands), and she said lobbyists front for real people (I heard incredible guffaws from the audience).

Lobbyists are high-rent hookers who write laws for Congress, not for real people. I support Edwards as an _electable_ champion of the people who, unlike the "frontlosers", rejects lobbyists and fought for those injured by the negligence of others.

Yeah, end these dirty campaign contributions. Everyone knows the best way to raise money is through frivolous lawsuits!

Why do you anti-Edwards people pick out something to make personal attacks about? We should be concerned with issues and solutions to problems caused by Bush and his cronies. Since early times, we've always had rich presidents – which one did you respect? They're always rich. Most have also been lawyers before getting into politics. You say "trial lawyers" like it's something criminal. Does that mean you only like the millonaire corporate lawyers who sell their souls for companies?

OK, now I am starting to get what John Edwards is talking about...

Campaign Contributions from Fedearl lobbyists=Bad

Campaign contributions from State lobbyists=OK

Soft money=OK

Finally a man who really stands for something.

"I feel pretty,
Oh, so pretty,
I feel pretty and witty and bright!
And I pity
Any girl who isn't me tonight.

I feel charming,
Oh, so charming
It's alarming how charming I feel!
And so pretty
That I hardly can believe I'm real."

From West Side Story
Music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

Nuff said, no?

Trial lawyer represent average mainstream Americans. I don't see any conflict of interests.

Again as Jason put it...respect the man for what he said and what he vows to accomplish.

I really would like to see Obama and Edwards run and align Clinton with one of her big money lobby advocates.

One of Edwards' biggest contributors is the trial lawyers lobby. Pretending that they are not special interest a joke. If he ever becomes relevant as a possible dem nominee, the Hilary and Obama will take him to task on that. Right now he is a non-factor.

Obviously none of you get the point here. Its not about how much money one personally has, but rather who a candidate becomes beholden to once they take office. Banning lobbyist and special interest money so that the needs of us may actually be taken into account is the only decent idea I've heard in any of the campaigns so far.

Oh really?

Could have fooled me, Mitt Romney has a net worth of $250 million and is the wealthiest of all candidates.

Edwards net worth is chump change in comparison.

If anybody is a hyprocrite it would be Ari and Jorge because the Republican front-runner has over 10 times as much money.

If everybody claims to be sick of the source and direction of the money flow in politics and the influence that special interests and lobbyists wield with their checkbooks, then how come every effort to reform the campaign finance system, including public financing for campaigns, never seems to go anywhere?

Nice of Edwards and his "Two Americas" rap to take a $450,000+ salary from Fortress Investments while they own two subprime lenders currently focused on foreclosing homes of Katrina victims. he also owns $17 million worth of Fortress shares.

Oh yeah, Edwards was just in New Orleans lambasting lenders who foreclosed on the houses there. Oops..should have checked my own paystubs and stock holdings first.

This guy never quits does he? Anyone who seriosuly considers supporting this clown needs to have their heads examined.

Yeah! Who needs lobbyist money when you're richer than Steven Speilberg??? You can just do the lobbyists' bidding for free!

Edwards is a hypocrite.

how about some clean money in your own bank account?

Making money off katrina foreclosures then calling himself saviour of the poor.

"hippo" crite