Edwards Consultant Tied to Anti-Union Ads

By Politics
Friday, July 20, 2007

While on a tour highlighting poverty this week, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards faced more questions about whether his focus on the issue was undermined by, among other things, his work at a hedge fund and his $6 million house. A closer look at his campaign finance reports reveals another potential contradiction: His campaign paid more than $200,000 in May and June to a Georgia-based media consultant that was working at the same time with an antilabor group dedicated to exposing the way unions have plowed "mandatory union dues" into their "radical political agendas."

While Edwards was launching his first campaign ads, the group Center for Union Facts launched its own advertising aimed at stopping unions from using membership dues for political contributions. (The ads can be viewed at http://www.unionfacts.com/ads.cfm.) Edwards's consultant, LUC Media, operates from the same suite, at the same address, with the same chief executive as the agency that purchased advertising time for the Center for Union Facts, a company called 1-2-1 Interactive Media.

Christopher M. Werner, who is listed on Georgia incorporation papers as the CEO of both firms, said the two companies are "totally separate entities, with separate staff." Werner said, "I have an interest from way back, but I don't do any work for [1-2-1 Interactive]." He added, "We're thrilled to be working for Senator Edwards."

Edwards aides said they are looking into the matter.

-- Matthew Mosk

Obama: The Old Kid on the Block?

Is Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) trying to battle the perception that he does not have the right experience for the White House? His campaign launched an "Obama for commander in chief" -- rather than the less awkward "Obama for president" -- tour in Iowa this week, featuring a two-star general speaking on his behalf to help burnish Obama's credentials.

And in a speech in Washington on Wednesday, Obama made a point of mentioning a career that began "more than 25 years ago," underscoring his time on the job. In many surveys, it is Obama's perceived lack of experience that seems to hurt him most against front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), -- a lifelong political insider who is running on her time in Washington.

-- Anne E. Kornblut

Clinton Disputes Critique of Wife

Former president Bill Clinton spoke out yesterday on behalf of his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), after Elizabeth Edwards criticized the Democratic front-runner for not being a strong advocate for women.

"I defy you to find anybody who has run for office in recent history whose got a longer history of working for women, for families and children than Hillary does," Bill Clinton said on ABC's "Good Morning America." On Tuesday, in an interview in the online magazine Salon, Edwards said her husband, former senator John Edwards (D-N.C.), would be a more consistent champion for women if elected president, suggesting the New York senator may be avoiding women's issues to "behave as a man."

The former president disputed that.

"I don't think she's trying to be a man. I don't think it's inconsistent with being a woman that you can also be knowledgeable on military and security affairs and be strong when the occasion demands it.

"I don't consider that being manly. I consider that being a leader," said Clinton, who was traveling in South Africa for his foundation.

-- Associated Press

Romney Hits Obama on Sex Ed

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is slamming Sen. Barack Obama for endorsing age-appropriate sex education for kindergartners.

"How much sex education is age appropriate for a 5-year-old? In my mind, zero is the right number," Romney said Wednesday night at a fundraising dinner for the El Paso County Republican Party in Colorado.

Romney's campaign later released a statement touting the former Massachusetts governor and criticizing Obama. The headline on the statement: "A record of promoting abstinence, not sex education for kindergartners."

Romney was referring to remarks Obama made earlier this week at a Planned Parenthood forum in Washington. The Illinois senator told the abortion rights advocates that he considers sex education for kindergartners appropriate if it is geared to their age level.

Obama also recalled being lambasted for his position during his 2004 Senate race against GOP opponent Alan Keyes. Obama said then -- and repeated to the Planned Parenthood supporters -- that the type of health education he supports is, for example, warning young children about inappropriate touching. He has also said that if kindergartners ask teachers questions about where babies come from, they should be given accurate information, not told a story about storks.

-- Associated Press