Edwards & “higher moral ground”

On Feb. 6 of this year USA Today reported :

Democrat John Edwards on Monday joined New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in saying he will not use public money for the presidential primary campaign or, if he wins his party's nomination, for the general election. […]

Edwards said in an interview that he expects major candidates in both parties to raise unlimited private dollars rather than participate in the public system. He said he needs to do the same "to have the funds to be competitive."[…]

But today the AP reports:

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards reversed course Thursday by signing onto the public financing system he once rejected with the belief he could raise more money on his own.

The 2004 vice presidential nominee claimed higher moral ground in the debate over money in politics while announcing the change. But it comes after he brought in far fewer dollars than rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"It is worrisome seeing the amount of money that is being raised in this campaign," Edwards said on CNN. "This is about taking a stand, a principled stand, and I believe in public financing."[…]

John Edwards claims the “higher moral ground” as he flip-flops on public campaign financing.

Who’s surprised?

Edwards regularly flip-flops. And he claims the “higher moral ground” about as often and with as much sincerity as Jesse Jackson.

Did the well-intended people who helped put public campaign financing in place ever realize our money would be used to help keep afloat the imploding campaign of a wealthy trial lawyer with a $400.00 haircut who’d just built himself a 28,000 sq. ft. house?

The full USA Today story is here; the full AP story here.