http://www.bushcountry.org/news/jul_news_pages/g_070904_kincaid_money_power_edwards.htm
The "Money Power" Behind Edwards
Cliff Kincaid

Why would John Kerry pick John Edwards as a running mate when Edwards is not
likely to even bring his state of North Carolina into the Democratic column
this fall? It has nothing to do with him being "commanding, charismatic and
charming," as reporters said the morning of the pick. The same media that
harp on Vice President ***** Cheney's ties to Halliburton and Big Business
suddenly became silent on Senator Edwards' links to the profitable
pro-litigation lobby of rich trial lawyers. The American Tort Reform
Association (ATRA) has called them the "Learjet lawyers" because they have
made hundreds of millions of dollars exploiting the civil justice system.

The "Money Power" Behind Edwards
Cliff Kincaid

Why would John Kerry pick John Edwards as a running mate when Edwards is

likely to even bring his state of North Carolina into the Democratic

this fall? It has nothing to do with him being "commanding, charismatic

charming," as reporters said the morning of the pick. The same media that
harp on Vice President ***** Cheney's ties to Halliburton and Big Business
suddenly became silent on Senator Edwards' links to the profitable
pro-litigation lobby of rich trial lawyers. The American Tort Reform
Association (ATRA) has called them the "Learjet lawyers" because they have
made hundreds of millions of dollars exploiting the civil justice system.

The Edwards pick is an opportunity for the media to demonstrate some
fairness, balance, and solid journalism. It's a certain fact that Kerry

Edwards will campaign on the rising cost of health care, a real problem in
America today. But will the media document how the activities of Edwards

his trial lawyer friends are a key factor behind those rising costs?

It's also true that Kerry and Edwards will campaign on the theme of

manufacturing jobs in America. So will the media explain how litigious

lawyers have bankrupted good companies such as Owens Corning through
litigation, costing jobs and devaluing workers' pensions?
As Edwards talks about "the two Americas," will the media point out that
multimillionaires Edwards and Kerry are far removed from the concerns of
ordinary Americans?

While national reporters acknowledged the elementary fact that Edwards

millions of dollars as a trial attorney, and has a personal fortune
approaching $50 million, they did not explore how the lawyers lobby had

pouring money into the Kerry campaign to buy the vice presidential slot

Edwards. But Rob Christensen of the Raleigh (North Carolina) News &

reported, "Since withdrawing from the presidential race, Edwards has
redirected his financial pipeline-much of it from plaintiffs attorneys-to
Kerry. By some estimates, Edwards' donors have funneled $7 million into
Kerry's coffers. Edwards' chief fund-raiser, Fred Baron, a Dallas trial
lawyer, is working full time to raise money for Kerry."

Groups such as ATRA and websites such as www.overlawyered.com had seen the
Edwards' pick coming, based on how Edwards' backers had switched to Kerry.
Fred Baron had left the Edwards campaign to co-chair the Kerry Victory '04
committee. Specialized publications such as Legal Times had noted the
changeover. Lily Henning of Legal Times reported on June 18, "Shortly

Edwards dropped out of the race in March, his fund-raisers gathered in
Washington and were addressed by both Kerry and Edwards, who encouraged

to give to Kerry's campaign."

Walter Olson of the Manhattan Institute has written extensively on "the
money power" behind Edwards and his questionable fundraising practices. He
cites a story by Sam Dealey of The Hill newspaper in Washington. Dealey
analyzed the contributions and found that money came from low-level law

employees with "limited financial resources and no prior record of

donations," and that the checks arrived at the Edwards campaign on the

day. Clearly, the contributions were coordinated, and employees were asked
or pressured to contribute.

While the lawyers have been making huge amounts of money and spending it

political power, doctors and hospitals have been losing it, forcing a

in the medical profession that threatens access to the health care system

ordinary Americans. Medical liability insurance premiums have reached
$200,000 a year in some specialties because of excessive court judgments
generated by suits filed by Edwards and his trial-lawyer allies.

In Maryland, the state's largest malpractice insurance company announced

intention to raise doctors' premiums by 41 percent, on top of last year's

percent hike. Maryland doctors, especially obstetricians and

are already quitting or leaving the state. Medical liability insurance

are also rising for hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living programs,
adult day-care operators and nurses.

It's one thing to defend somebody against a negligent doctor or hospital.
But Marc Morano of CNS News has reported that Edwards made a lot of money
off cerebral palsy cases using "junk science," when scientific studies

that cerebral palsy isn't caused by botched deliveries. Morano confronted
Edwards about this during the campaign. He reported, "Edwards did not say

word, despite two more attempts to elicit a response. His aides intervened
and moved the senator along."



--
Atheism teaches that there is no God, hence no God-given rights. That
ideology coupled with a system that believed in the superiority of the

at the expense of the individual was murderously synergistic.