He comes across as well spoken and for the little guy, but people I know in the legal world (and in DC) think he's REEEEEEEAAALY sleazy. Never mind the cheating.. Also, most southern politicos are full of it...so this one is no different.

Welcome to his America. He's a dirtbag politician for sure, most of you already know that. He cheated on his wife...thats their problem, and political implications prevent either of them from telling the other to take a hike.

A politically lighteweight prettyboy Presidential wannabe who couldn't keep his pants zippered.  I do declare, these whoremasters in government are getting to be a tad annoying at this point, don't you think?

Original 2-15-05: I want to like John Edwards, I really do. He's just too phony. I get sick of hearing how he stands up for the little guy. Well, Edwards became very wealthy standing up for the little guy, and he didn't always do it honestly.

Update: And he has only lessened my opinion of him over the last year. 

Wasn't that great of a Senator, did a bad job in 2004, banged someone outside of wedlock. Also spends too much on haircuts. Why can't he style his hair like Obama does?

Previously my choice for the Dem. presidential nominee, he subsequently blew it, proving he's just another pol who, like Clinton, not only couldn't keep it in his pants, he lied about it. It's the dishonesty (including infidelity) that pisses me off. Confronted early on about the rumors of an affair, he denied it.

Dammit! Aren't we entitled to expect honesty from our leaders? If you're caught in an indiscretion, or whatever, have the balls to own up.

This is not a partisan issue; it's politics as usual in Washington. See Scott McClellan's [Bush's former press secretary] book, What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception. As he says, the "permanent campaign" mentality has led both parties to ongoing dishonesty as a way of life in politics.

It evokes the famous line from the movie Network (1976), uttered by the character Howard Beale, a TV newscaster going off the deep end, played by Peter Finch) [btw, highly recommended if you haven't seen it]. We should send that message to Washington and all our candidates: I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!

* (Here's the famous speech):
"I don't have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It's a depression. Everybody's out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel's work, banks are going bust, shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter. Punks are running wild in the street and there's nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there's no end to it. We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat, and we sit watching our TV's while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that's the way it's supposed to be. We know things are bad - worse than bad. They're crazy. It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, 'Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and my steel-belted radials and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone.' Well, I'm not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad! I don't want you to protest. I don't want you to riot - I don't want you to write to your congressman because I wouldn't know what to tell you to write. I don't know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Russians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first you've got to get mad.

[Shouting] You've got to say, 'I'm a HUMAN BEING, Goddamnit! My life has VALUE!' So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell,

[Shouting]: 'I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!' I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell - 'I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Things have got to change. But first, you've gotta get mad!... You've got to say, 'I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Then we'll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it:

[Screaming at the top of his lungs] "I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

Note: this was a 1976 movie! Some things never change, do they? Well, when are we finally going to stand up and yell?

Ambulance chaser

He was MY candidate for president!

UPDATE: Didn't they take his talking to the dead show off the air? Is that why he is running for chief magistrate?

PREVIOUS COMMENT: As Woody Guthrie would sing, Some will rob you with a six gun, and some with a fountain pen.

This is that guy that helps you talk to dead people, right?

Pearls before swine. The far-right loves to demonize "trial lawyers" (until they NEED ONE!) but John Edwards is a real do-gooder type, he's less politically motivated than he is driven by his own sense of what's ethical, and that's considered to be a major stumbling block in the mass media game of DUHmerikkkan politics.Edwards doesn't fit onto a bumper sticker so he's unlikely to catch fire with the illiterate American public - most of whom think that "The Grapes of Wrath" is a Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream flavor and that John Stienbeck invented the player piano. Most "adult" Americans never read a book from cover-to-cover. If you read, chances are you're not a conservative. John Edwards should probably do like Al Gore has done, seek his place among non-governmental endeavors where he can acftually make a diference, America will probably never again vote for ANYONE who is capable of pronouncing the word "nuclear" much less anyone with an accurate view of the real fundamental and structural problems inherent in our 100% corporate-owned and CEO-ruled kakistocracy. (look it up here)

Probably the best Democratic presidential candidate when compared to Obama and Clinton.

Go away John.

If John Edwards had a more lengthy and successful career in politics, I might have upped his rating somewhat; however, as it stands now, there just isn't enough to go on. For starters, a one-term senator and a failed vice presidential run doesn't really make for much of a political resume. He defeated another one-timer for North Carolina's rather turbulent 2nd senate seat, and he obviously jumped the gun for the White House prior to getting much of a voting record in Congress. Neither adds much for an accurate analysis. In the big picture, it's not much of a stretch to say that Edwards is a bit too liberal for the South where Democrats must be on the moderate side to survive statewide. Notwithstanding his taking advantage of opportunity, I personally believe that Edwards does actually act mostly in good faith, as evidenced by his work at the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina. John Reid Edwards was born June 10, 1953 in Seneca, South Carolina.

John Edwards is way to out there on left field. He wrecked 2004, let's hope he doesn't run in 2008.

I like the guy, but I hope he doesn't run for Prez this next time, as he could not even carry his own state in this last election, John, get a REAL following before you try again, OK????

Ran for president because his own internal polls showed he would not be re-elected in NC. Too ambitious, too soon. Get some more experience, John. Still, a nice guy.

We need more then a pretty smile in the White House. An old-timer once told me, watch out for the person that smiles too much and looking back now he was right on the button. Voting Record? What record? - He's never there to vote, along with Mr. Flip-Flop!

Edwards was the only candidate talking about exactly what's going wrong with the US: the disappearance of the middle class and the polarization of wealth so that people who work for a living are seeing their futures disappear, while people who make money off of existing huge amounts of wealth are getting a free, risk-free ride straight to the top.

This man is a disgrace. He bred those youngest two kids to serve as political props. Then, as his wife was getting cancer treatment, he put more importance on his good-bye tour throughout North Carolina than being with his family during the trauma of his wife getting chemo. I hope DCFS is involved with this family.

What?! This guy is a happy go person al the time. If he was vice prez, he would get killed by the press. Get a little more strict Edwards.

Needs a bit more experience to become a real player on the national scene.

Allright, I must agree with scarletfeather, gmanod, and Jeff Britain here. I worked the campaign and devoted countless hours of time, and I mean countless here in my home state, but I want to bring a perspective here that no one has. I got the honoe of not only MEETING the good Senator twicce, but I got to SPEAK to him as well, I actually got to take up a good chunk of time with him twice. He is one of the most sincere, caring and forthright individuals I have ever met. Sure, he was a trial lawyer, SO WHAT? What abotu the 23 million dollars he has won for peopel whose children were injured due to medical malpractice? Few politicians will actually take time during a busy campaign to talk to their constituents but he did. Sure, he has charm and charisma but it doesn't make him a slimeball, it simply makes him the total package, quick wit, integrity, intelligence, hope and passion. This man would have my vote any day of the week...PERIOD...and that's coming from someone who knows him a bit more than the average person.

John Gomer Pyle Edwards was so weak in his debate performance that it was laughable. He doesn't seem to have any unique ideas or insights of his own, and simply parrots democratic talking points.

Edwards does have good looks and charm, but I find him very cunning and sly. Sounds like I'm describing a lawyer, oh wait a sec, he is a lawyer so it fits perfect. Edwards in my opinion is in no shape to help lead this nation. He is just like Kerry, is swayed by popular opinion so he will conform to whatever is popular, not what is right.

Edwards seems more sincere than either Bush or Kerry.Although he does not have much charisma,he is articulate and honest-and has truly worked his way up from humble beginnings.He'd make a wonderful Vice President!

i really think he should've been the democratic nominee.....he's a fresh face and seems to genuinely care about the middle class and is a great family man........i honestly don't care for john kerry because i think he just as out of touch w/real ordinary americans as bush is.

I've never really been all too impressed by John Edwards. A lot of insiders have put him forward as the future of the Democratic Party, but I don't see him as harboring any unique ideas or even bringing much to the table. He's an ambitious guy with a nice personal story and a nice family, but there's more to it besides the little hallmark moments. He doesn't really have much of a record to speak of; in the Senate he was more known as a show horse rather than a work horse, unlike Mr. Kerry. Certainly he's not dumb--Edwards is a very talented person who'd probably serve as well as the next person, but as the old burger joint ad went...were's the beef? Kerry should have picked a runningmate with a little more substance.

The only reason the Kerry camp chose Edwards as the VP nominee is because Edwards off sets Kerry's disgusting personality. Edwards is an unexperinced pretty boy who cares more about his political career (which is almost non exsistent) than helping America. UPDATE: scarletfeather, I know John Edwards only wants to further his career because no responsible VP candidate (republicans included) would accept a nomination for such a high level position with so little knowledge of goverment, because they could hurt America with their inexperince. But Edwards couldn't care less, he just wants to become well-known. 2ND UPDATE: gmanod, you claim that Bush (who was a governor) was inexperinced and therefore had a awful adminstration. So your answer to solving this alleged awful adminstration is by bringing in ANOTHER inexperinced person to replace it? Gee, it looks like your the ignorant one around here.

Gmanod said Edwards has a superb record in the Senate?Do what?When does he show up to vote?This man would not even be re-elected in his home state for another Senate term.He is GONE!Update:How many times are you going to write the same thing Britain?

I have to vote for Edwards now. Here is Dick Cheney's true voting record: He opposed federal funding for abortions -- with no exceptions in the case of rape or incest. He voted against the Equal Rights Amendment for women, along with 146 other members of Congress in 1983. On Education, he consistently opposed funding of Head Start and voted against creating the Department of Education. Raised in Wyoming and opposes, as many Westerners do, gun control limits. He was one of just 21 members of Congress, in December of 1985, to vote against a ban on armor piercing bullets -- called cop killer bullets. Three years later he was one of only four members of the House voting against a ban on plastic guns that could slip through airport security machines undetected. The National Rifle Association did not oppose this ban. Also in 1988, he voted to scrap a proposed national seven-day waiting period on handgun purchases. In 1986, on the environment, he opposed refunding the Clean Water Act. He voted to postpone sanctions slapped on air polluters that failed to meet pollution standards. And he voted against legislation to require oil, chemical and other industries from making public records of emissions known to cause cancer, birth defects and other chronic diseases. He consistently voted to raise military spending. He also supported aid to the Nicaraguan rebels, even after a moratorium on funding was passed. During his 11 years in Congress,he was moderate only in his personal style, getting along with Democrats and Republicans. As for his votes, he consistently received very high marks from conservative groups ranking his record. He fought efforts to clean up hazardous waste and backed tax breaks for energy corporations. He repeatedly voted against funding for the Veterans Administration. He opposed extending the Civil Rights Act. He opposed the release of Nelson Mandela from jail in South Africa. He opposed Martin Luther King, Jr. as a holiday. Of course, not to mention Cheney tried to say that Edwards did something wrong and wasn't paying enough taxes by being an S-Corporation. This is preferred legal entity of most small businesses in America. Therefore, Cheney is basically saying all small businesses are not paying enough taxes. I'm changing my vote to Kerty/Edwards. Hard to do as a Republican, but I am!

Edawards is a great choice for vice-president; he brings to the table charisma and support for sound policies. He has a superb record in the Senate and has shown a great proficiency for public policy. ---------Mr. Political: You question Edwards' motives for accepting the high level position of vice president (for all who don't know the VP's only job is to cast the tie breaking vote in the Senate) with absolutely unfounded, silly reasoning. After-all your poster boy for intolerance and ignorance in public office, George W. Bush, entered with neither experience in foreign affairs or domestic policy. Which explains fairly well why his record on both for the last four years has been absolutely awful. Even in the four years that he has had as president, the man hasn't shown any greater understanding of how the world works.--------------------------------------DOUBLE UPDATE: John Edwards hasn't been showing up to vote because he's been on the campaign trail, most politicians lack the capability of beig two places at once....I think it might even be some sort of universal law, so to all those who point this out- kudos! All congressman who run for the pesidency have this conflict that cannot be resolved, so pointing it out as a specific critique of John Edwards makes no sense, to point it out as a deficiency of the sytem would be reasonable, but to look to it as a deficiency in Edwards is inane. Furthermore, Mr. Political, I appreciate your insinuation that I'm a hypocrite for criticizing Bush's inexperience, while at the same time saying that Edwards' doesn't matter, but you are mistaken. George Bush was immensly less experienced then Edwards when he became President, so all ready they are not on par, but Edwards is not running for President, John Kerry is, Edwards is running for Vice President with more experience then Bush had when he became President. That's not hypocrisy, but I do believe the reverse is hypocrisy; crticizing John Edwards for inexperience if you supported Bush is hypocritical for obvious reasons.

I'm a Democrat...I'm a North Carolina native...I can't stand John Edwards! Too many reasons too even list...

I agree with swanoak in all his wisdom. Smilers are too be distrusted. Besides, how could John Edwards compare to Dick Cheney, in all his Dr. Strangelove charm? UPDATE: Another blanket statement from Mr. Political. How do you know that John Edwards cares more about his career than helping America? Are you his shrink or his best buddy? I would say he cares more about America than Bush and Cheney, who only seem interested in helping their fatcat friends. ANOTHER UPDATE: Mr. Political, who seem determined that Edwards is out to further his career, not that that's the cardinal sin. Honestly, who isn't? But I would take his brand of inexperience over Cheney's experience any day. At least Edwards is positive and has not hurt people;on the contrary, he seems to want to help people, and is interested in folks who make less than six figures. Imagine that! Cheney is an overwhelming negative force who only wants to fill his own pockets and those of his wealthy friends. And because of his overwhelming greed, we are in a pointless war with Iraq. So you bet, I would rather start with a clean slate than slog on with the dismal and dangerous Cheney.

This guy is nothing but a Pretty Boy who smiles with his ultr-brite teeth and pretends to know what the heck he is talking about....What an idiot!

An inexperienced pretty boy who did a bad job as senator from NC and has no business on a national ticket. He has one speech that he gives, over and over again. Hopefully his political career is close to over.

I think that he is ok, but he is in the wrong party. Maybe he will wise up and see that the Democratic Party is full people like Clinton.

First, he's a lawyer. How many lawyers do have over for dinner? Or play pool with? Second, he's a demuhcrat, so you know he's lying whenever he moves his lips. Ask yourself Is this guy a regular guy? Someone you could hang out with?.

i believe he does care

This man is a disgrace to North Carolina, and I'm ashamed that he's from here. No Senator in state history has missed more votes than he has. His money comes from medical malpractice lawsuits which caused our health insurance to go through the roof.

This pretty boy is a dangerous man. He claims to be a sort of Robin Hood who steals from the rich to pay the poor. Yet, in fact, he steals from the rich (tax-paying EMPLOYERS) to give to himself.

By this time both my friends and detractors know that I reference the Congressional Quarterly when citing bill and vote numbers. I will omit them from this review but if anyone wishes to have the CQ specifics I will be glad to supply them. This post is in regards to a portion of John Edwards voting record. Mr Edwards twice voted against President Bush's Jobs and Growth Reconciliation Tax Act of 2003 and twice against 2001 Bush Tax cut. He also voted twice against implementing a $792 Billion tax cut. He voted 12 times against the Full Marriage Penalty Relief, 8 times against repealing the death tax and twice against making the Estate Tax Repeal permanent. He voted against the Child Tax Credit and in 2000 voted against the temporary suspension of gasoline tax. Sen Edwards opposed and blocked the Bipartisan Energy Bill. He voted twice against the 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Package and sponsored a motion to kill a liability exemption for doctors providing pro bono services. In 2002 and 2003 he voted to kill medical malpractice reform. In 2000 he voted against the creation of Tax Free Education Savings Accounts for Children, to be used in payment of public or private school tuition. He has voted against banning partial birth abortions and also voted against the final passage of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. He voted against voluntary background checks for gun purchases and voted to reduce defense spending by $3.1 billion. (He was one of only 16 senators to do so) He voted to strike $110 million in spending for the UH-1H Huey II Helicopters and voted against the $87 Billion Supplemental for postwar Iraq. From 1999-2003 he voted with Senator Kennedy 90% of the time and from 2001-2003 he voted 90% of the time with Senator Clinton. The vice president is always just a heartbeat away from the presidency and serious consideration needs to be given to the person who, in the event of a tragedy, could suddenly become the leader of the United States.

He's my state senator. He has been practically a no-show since he was elected, and now he's running for the White House. Get a clue, nation! North Carolina knows.