THE EDWARDS FAMILY

What kind of a family man is John Edwards? Are he and his wife Elizabeth believers in strong family values? Maybe a little glimpse into that can be gained by piecing together a few stories I found today.

The New York Times posted a puff piece on Elizabeth Edwards just this after noon. In it they describe her as:

“People who know Mrs. Edwards say she is as she appears - a woman who volunteered in the Parent-Teacher Association when Wade and Cate were young, who kept up friendships through a monthly "lunch bunch" in North Carolina. Last week, to celebrate her 55th birthday, she went out to dinner with friends and discussed what clothes she might wear if her husband was picked to run for vice president. Like women across America, she is trying out the South Beach diet.

"Elizabeth is very self-effacing," said Steve Jarding, a former adviser to Mr. Edwards. "I don't think John has the massive ego that a lot of politicians have. But if he did, Elizabeth would absolutely slice it up. It's not her personality to allow it."

Ah, a regular June Cleaver, albeit a rich, lawyer-type one. By now, we all know how the Edwards’ son Wade was killed in a car accident when he was sixteen. After that tragedy, she quit her job as a trial lawyer and stayed home full time. The Edwards’ then decided to have more kids, a tough decision I’m sure, but one I can appreciate. Hey, by that point, the Edwards’ were very wealthy and she would be able to spend some quality time her young children.

Slam the brakes.

According to a transcript from the Charlie Rose Show just after 9/11, Senator Edwards said this:

“I just dropped my three-year-old off at day care and was on my way to the office this morning when the first airplane hit the first tower of the World Trade Center. I got a phone call in my car. “

Day care? I don’t think it’s very “family-valuish” to send your kids to day care when you have more money than Alabama and the wife is staying at home. Sounds to me like they couldn’t be bothered to raise their own kids.

Look, some of us scrape and scrimp so we can get to the point where the mother can stay home with the kids. Some of us would love to have the money these trial lawyers have milked from their clients to be able to stay home and yet, these two couldn’t be bothered.

Family values – Edwards Style.