John Edwards once got a debate question about how he could consistently rail against corporate lobbyists while accepting lots of donations from trial lawyers. Aren't they just as bad? And how about the other group that likes Edwards so much -- organized labor?
The answer is simple. If you think that consumers have been robbing corporations blind, or that the balance of power between workers and executives is unfairly tilted against executives, then these donors should make you look darkly at John Edwards. But if you think consumers need better protection against corporations whose products disembowel little girls, or if you think that the next president needs to fight tooth and nail for working people's interests, you should be happy that trial lawyers and unions support him. If you like the status quo, or if you want a candidate who can be an impartial referee between the interests of corporations and consumers, or between business and labor, you might want a candidate who has no strong ties to either side. But the teams aren't equal in this country. America needs a president who's wearing the progressive movement's jersey, not a referee's stripes.
