It appears the media is actually giving Edwards trip to highlight poverty some air time. Check out this story:

http://www.comcast.net/news/politics/ind ex.jsp?cat=POLITICS&fn=/2007/07/12/7 13086.html

Of course they couldn't resist the temptation to try and paint him as a hypocrite, which he is not:

The eight-state tour shifts the spotlight to an issue that has been the focus of Edwards' campaign since his first run for the White House four years ago. In recent weeks, publicity about his personal wealth _ $400 haircuts, construction of a 28,000-square-foot house, hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary to speak about poverty and advise a hedge fund for the superrich _ has opened him to charges of hypocrisy and threatened to undermine his message.

Haircuts, houses, and hedgefunds. (sighs) I don't see any mentions in Hillary or Romney's articles about their lavish personal hygeine fees, now do I? This article has also failed to mention that Edwards has come out talking about how these hedge funds should be taxed.

However, the Edwards campaign is not just sitting idly by while he is unfairly smeared by journalists who worry more about sensationalism than real news, like informing voters of the policies proposed by Edwards:

Edwards' advisers argue that hair cuts and square footage shouldn't undermine his candidacy when the nation has far greater concerns such as the Iraq war, nearly 44 million uninsured and 37 million living in poverty. They note that nearly all the leading candidates running for president in 2008 are wealthy, as well as those in the past who have championed poverty.

"I think voters understand that whether it was Franklin Roosevelt or Lyndon Johnson or Bobby Kennedy, there's been a lot of people interested in issues that don't fit their own financial situation," said Edwards pollster Harrison Hickman.

Just because someone is wealthy doesn't mean they cannot champion the poor. Why don't we hear about the poor from these other wealthy candidates? Because they don't care!! Most of them were born rich and didn't have to work and make their own money like Edwards did. At least he remembers the people still stuck where he used to be.

It goes on to tell how instead of ingnoring or changing the subject he tackles it head on:

Edwards isn't changing the subject as much as he is taking it head on. When the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing Wednesday to discuss how hedge fund managers avoid paying taxes on much of their compensation, Edwards embraced it as a chance to decry the abuse of the tax code even though he has, in the past, provided consulting services for some of those managers.

At least they don't fail to mention that Edwards is discussing how the hedge gund managers should pay taxes, but they fail to mention that he worked for these hedge funds to find their usefullness in fighting poverty.

Of course the campaign realizes they will be smeared yet again by the media for this trip:

Edwards advisers say they fully expect the poverty tour will revive more questions about his finances verses his message and he is prepared to answer them.

This doesn't bother Edwards though, I love his response:

He frequently talks about how he was born into a working-class family and has been able to live the American dream. But the tour is an attempt to show that the debate shouldn't be about him but about one in eight Americans living in poverty.

"Let them attack," Edwards said in a letter to supporters, asking for symbolic $8 campaign donations to support his effort. "We know what's right. And we will keep fighting to end the national disgrace of 37 million Americans living in poverty."

Edwards cares little about the unprofessional talking heads in the Media who fear an Edwards Presidency and wants to draw the attention to the millions who live in poverty. Notice how unlike other candidates who are begging for and recieving big money contributions, Edwards just asks for $8. Is this the mark of a opportunist? I think not.

At least this story does point out the risk Edwards is taking in calling attention to poverty:

Taking the trip also is a risk since it is a significant detour from campaigning in early states and raising money. But his campaign hopes the tour will provide visuals of the candidate addressing concerns of the poor that will stick throughout the campaign.

Edwards has decided to buck traditional wisdom in order to fight for what he believes in. If onlyl ewe had more politicians who were equally as dedicated.

Like RFK before him, Edwards deeply cares about the Americans that are not as fortunate as him. Like RFK he has the moral compass to go and visit these people that noone else seems to care about. He is not doing this for personal gain, but because it is the right thing to do. No matter what you think of Edwards the man is no hypocrite and is willing to risk his campaign to fight for the poor in this country who have been ignored every since that tragic night when RFK died for what he believed in.

Thank you so much Sen. Edwards, for keeping the spirit and what RFK fought for alive. You have my undying support, and my undying admiration, the same as RFK.