Edwards proudly uses the L-word (that's "lawyer")

Most politicians began as lawyers (or, at the least, obtain a law degree before trolling for votes). Few politicians, however, spotlight their legal background (well aware that lawyer jokes don't exist in a vacuum). John Edwards is an exception.

Speaking today at a town hall meeting in Bow, N.H., the Democratic presidential contender called attention to the many years he spent as a trial lawyer, often representing plaintiffs suing manufacturers or other corporate interests.

"What I did was, I gave them hope," he told his listeners. "And then I walked into that courtroom and I gave the company hell because they deserved it. That's the kind of fight we need."

As the Associated Press reported, he continued: "We need a president of the United States who will give you hope, who will stand up and fight for you to reclaim democracy. ... But we also need somebody who is ready for that fight, somebody who has been engaged in that fight. I've been in this fight my entire life. It didn't start last year. It didn't start in 2004."

Some Democrats, recalling his performance as John Kerry's running mate, might dispute that last sentence. As noted in this USA Today story late in the '04 campaign, "For months, Democrats worried that Edwards had all but disappeared, taken too low a profile and maintained the nice-guy image that had made him the last man standing other than Kerry in the primaries."

-- Don Frederick   

Comments

[pmorlan]

I'd love to be a fly on the wall in every corporation in America when Edwards gets this nomination. I can just see the blood draining from all of their faces knowing that a "trial lawyer" might soon be in the White House. And not just any "trial lawyer" but a darn good one.

Edwards should be proud of his work. The lawyers that shouldn't be proud are all those corporate hacks that defend the indefensible.

[Patty Morlan]

By the way the AP article is much better than this blog piece. Less snark and more info.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g4bIKk95dHQjQqRPd1fkJej-EtRQD8T5LO881

[rob]

Viva Snark! If I wanted to read AP, I'd go there.

Far-right people in America love to pick on lawyers, but the trial bar in the US is the best example in the world of private enterprise working to supplement and improve our government's justice system. Trial lawyers' hard work assures that companies are always extra-vigilant about pollution, workplace and product safety, and general bad behavior.

If government took over more of that responsiblity, it would be much harder to make victims whole. Increased public anger would compel the government to just throw bad actors in jail, and would also put the government in the business of setting compensation.

The long and deliberate attempt by far-right elements to demonize trial lawyers hasn't really fazed them one bit. In fact, it has made them heroes among the downtrodden and abused.