Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, has not let her tragic news get in the way of a little partisan fearmongering and classist snobbery. In a USA Today article, the AP reports that, even though she’s never met him, John Edwards’ wife said she is scared of the gun-carrying “rabid, rabid Republican” who lives on what Elizabeth Edwards called a “slummy” property, which is across the street from candidate’s luxury compound in a woodsy part of Orange County, NC (video here):
Elizabeth Edwards says she is scared of the "rabid, rabid Republican" who owns property across the street from her Orange County home — and she doesn't want her kids going near the gun-toting neighbor.
Edwards, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, particularly recalls the time neighbor Monty Johnson brought out a gun while chasing workers investigating a right of way off his property. The Edwards family has yet to meet Johnson in person.
"I wouldn't be nice to him anyway," Edwards said in an interview. "I don't want my kids anywhere near some guy who when he doesn't like somebody, the first thing he does is pull a gun out. It scares the business out of me."
Johnson had a very different view of what happened that day:
“I use the gun for protection, and I considered that an appropriate time," Johnson said. "Sometimes you have to take drastic measures."
The USA Today caption for the AP article hyped that Edwards is “afraid of her neighbor who brandishes a gun.” Not “owns” or “displays,” but the pejorative “brandishes.” The media know the difference.
The media are not asking the obvious 2nd Amendment questions and whether the Edwardses employ any type of private security along with the important follow up question. If they employ men who have guns, why is Elizabeth Edwards hostile toward a man who seeks the same protection?
Johnson made the news when he posted a “Go Rudy Giuliani 2008” sign by the Edwards’ long driveway and criticized the “monster” of a house. A quick look at that video clearly shows the class differences that the media ignore. Johnson notes the class component to this incident:
Johnson, 55, acknowledges his Republican roots. But he takes offense to the suggestion he has purposefully left his property, including an old garage that he leases for use as a car shop, in dilapidated condition. (…)
"I have to budget. I have to leave within my means," Johnson said. "I don't have millions of dollars to fix the place."
I thought he was supposed to be for the poor people," Johnson said. "But does he ever socialize with any poor people? He doesn't speak to me."
In an interview on Tuesday’s “The Big Story with John Gibson” on Fox News, Johnson refuted Edwards’ claims that his property is a mess, and said the sign that “started the whole ball rolling,” brought some good news. Johnson is going to talk to his 2008 fav, Rudy Giuliani, on the phone. Johnson says it will be the “highlight” of his life.
The media ignored the greater stories here about a candidate who runs on his supposed working class, blue collar roots yet has a wife who publically ridicules their working class neighbor? They do when Republicans contradict their views, such as with Mitt Romney’s apparent gun-related gaffes or appear hypocritical, as we saw with Rush Limbaugh, Mark Foley and Ted Haggard .
