Reply #40: Well, someone who acts in the way you describe would definitely be a hypocrite.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

And I think that does fit him as well. See NAFTA, his investment in hedge funds--in particular investing in a hedge fund that foreclosed on the homes of victims of Katrina. He did nothing for the poor in the Senate. He's only changed his rhetoric now because he knows that there is a large group of Democratic primary voters who like to pretend they care about the poor. They don't care if someone actually does anything to help the poor. They just want to feel good about themselves. "Golly, we've done a lot to help the poor! We voted for Edwards!"

But ignoring that--and much more--at the very least Edwards is a hypocrite when he tells Americans to give up their SUVs, while he himself owns one. And at the very least, it's extremely stupid politically. He should've been foresighted enough to at least sell his SUVs before making the comment, or, of course, being so concerned about helping others, he could've donated them to someone who didn't have even one vehicle, let alone the fleet the Edwards's own.

And it shouldn't even need to be said that living in a 28,000 sq. ft. mansion (or whatever it is) while pretending to care so much about poverty is hypocritical. He could save thousands of lives if didn't live so extravagantly.

And I could go on and on. But again and again these stories come up, and his supporters don't care at all. And the reason they don't care is because John Edwards really is the candidate that best represents them. He pretends to care about poverty, but actually does not. They also pretend to care about poverty, but really do not. It's quite the match.