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'''John Edwards''' is a prominent [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] candidate for Vice President and running mate of [[John Kerry]] for the 2004 presidential elections. He is known for his advocacy of [[Populism|populist]] policies.

'''John Edwards''' is a prominent [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] politician and was [[John Kerry]]'s Vice Presidential running mate for the 2004 presidential elections. He is known for his advocacy of [[Populism|populist]] policies.

===Early Life and Education===

===Early Life and Education===

John Edwards was born in Seneca, [[South Carolina]] on June 10, 1953. He grew up in Robbins, [[North Carolina]], and graduated from North Carolina State University in 1974, and received a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1977.

John Edwards was born in Seneca, [[South Carolina]] on June 10, 1953. He grew up in Robbins, [[North Carolina]], and graduated from North Carolina State University in 1974. He received a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1977.

In 1977, he married Elizabeth Anania. Their son Wade was born in 1979 and daughter Cate in 1982. Following Wade's death in a car accident in 1996, the couple chose to have more children. Emma Claire was born 1998, and Jack was born in 2000

In 1977, he married Elizabeth Anania. Their son, Wade, was born in 1979 and daughter, Cate, in 1982. Following Wade's death in a car accident in 1996, the couple chose to have more children. Emma Claire was born 1998, and Jack was born in 2000

In November, 2004, Elizabeth Edwards was diagnosed with breast cancer.  After undergoing treatment, the cancer seemed to have been eradicated.  At a March 22, 2007 press conference, Elizabeth announced that doctors had found her cancer had returned, not curable but treatable and may have spread to one of her ribs and lungs.

In November of 2004, Elizabeth Edwards was diagnosed with breast cancer.  After undergoing treatment, the cancer seemed to have been eradicated.  At a March 22, 2007 press conference, Elizabeth announced that doctors had found her cancer had returned. The cancer was not curable but treatable and may have spread to one of her ribs and lungs.

===Private Sector===

===Private Sector===

Edwards served as a personal injury [[trial lawyer]] in [[Tennessee]] and in North Carolina for 20 years, specializing in negligence and medical malpractice suits. Critics ascribe Edwards personal fortune as having been amasssed preying on malpractice victims and using [[junk science]] to win large settlements. <ref>Peter W. Huber, ''Galileo's Revenge: Junk Science in the Courtroom'', 1993. ISBN 0-465-02624-9. </ref>  [[Michael Medved]] said "Ambulance chasers like Edwards don’t create wealth; they seize wealth from its creators...There are also serious questions about his misuse of his own S-type corporation to dodge taxes, and the shady sale of his previous mansion in Georgetown in a sweetheart deal with a supporter who’s currently under government investigation....lawsuits on which Edwards built his career damaged the economy ...building nothing at all and benefiting only the lawyer and his clients. On what basis can Democrats argue that government should cap or actively discourage big salaries for successful corporate heads, but never consider such a limitation for a court-room conniver like Edwards?" <ref>[http://michaelmedved.townhall.com/Blog/issue9 For Presidents Day: Our Most Under-rated Chief Executive], Michael Medved, February 20, 2007.</ref> The deal Edwards pocketed the most from was a $25 million suit for a girl who was disemboweled by a swimming pool drain.

Edwards served as a personal injury [[trial lawyer]] in [[Tennessee]] and in North Carolina for 20 years, specializing in negligence and medical malpractice suits. Critics describe Edwards' personal fortune as having been amasssed by preying on malpractice victims and using [[junk science]] to win large settlements. <ref>Peter W. Huber, ''Galileo's Revenge: Junk Science in the Courtroom'', 1993. ISBN 0-465-02624-9. </ref>  [[Michael Medved]] said, "Ambulance chasers like Edwards don’t create wealth; they seize wealth from its creators...There are also serious questions about his misuse of his own S-type corporation to dodge taxes, and the shady sale of his previous mansion in Georgetown in a sweetheart deal with a supporter who’s currently under government investigation....lawsuits on which Edwards built his career damaged the economy ...building nothing at all and benefiting only the lawyer and his clients. On what basis can Democrats argue that government should cap or actively discourage big salaries for successful corporate heads, but never consider such a limitation for a court-room conniver like Edwards?" <ref>[http://michaelmedved.townhall.com/Blog/issue9 For Presidents Day: Our Most Under-rated Chief Executive], Michael Medved, February 20, 2007.</ref> The most lucrative deal for Edwards was a $25 million suit for a girl who was disemboweled by a swimming pool drain.

Social commentator [[Ann Coulter]] quoted an article from the ''[[New York Times]]'' about Edwards behavior in the courtroom with this description, "He's the trial lawyer who pretended in court to channel the spirit of a handicapped [[fetus]] in front of illiterate jurors to scam tens of millions of dollars off of innocent doctors. According to ''The New York Times'', Edwards told one jury: "

Social commentator [[Ann Coulter]] quoted an article from the ''[[New York Times]]'' about Edwards' behavior in the courtroom with this description, "He's the trial lawyer who pretended in court to channel the spirit of a handicapped [[fetus]] in front of illiterate jurors to scam tens of millions of dollars off of innocent doctors. According to ''The New York Times'', Edwards told one jury:  

{{Cquote|She speaks to you through me ... And I have to tell you right now -- I didn't plan to talk about this -- right now I feel her. I feel her presence. She's inside me, and she's talking to you. <ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=21345 That Was No Lady -- That Was My Husband], by Ann Coulter, ''Human Events'',  06/28/2007.</ref>}}

{{Cquote|She speaks to you through me ... And I have to tell you right now -- I didn't plan to talk about this -- right now I feel her. I feel her presence. She's inside me, and she's talking to you. <ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=21345 That Was No Lady -- That Was My Husband], by Ann Coulter, ''Human Events'',  06/28/2007.</ref>}}