John Edwards Cashes In On Controversy

While the rest of the media were treating the story of John Edwards affair like a postmortem on his career, at least one of us foresaw Edwards’ rising stock. Namely, me.

Don’t believe it? Not even a month after his political burial, Edwards has raised his speaking fee almost 20 percent.

Edwards is slated to speak at the University of Illinois in October. The topic? Aptly titled “The American Dream,” Edwards is charging the public institution $65,000 for the appearance.

The American Dream, indeed.

Because only in American can a guy plagued by perpetual political disappointment, personal scandal, and a total lack of gravitas make that much cash for an hour of hackneyed diatribe. And it’s sure as hell only in America that such can happen – plus a fee increase – amidst his personal scandal and against the backdrop of an atrophied economy. Further, only in America can a guy screech about socioeconomic disparity – Edwards’ “two America’s” – while charging a public university thousands of dollars to speak about poverty.

Good for him! Respect, seriously. There’s nobody better suited to address the idea of the American Dream than Edwards. He’s so perfect for that particular topic that he might even be worth $65,000 – and even if he’s not, we’re nothing but happy for him. We don’t begrudge anybody the riches they earn, whether or not we happen to think they deserve it.

So why does Edwards, the poster child for the American Dream, have such a Robin Hood complex? And why does that complex seem to apply to everyone but him? Edwards clearly embraces the American Dream – except when he doesn’t.

To Edwards, the American Dream is at its best as a concept. When it becomes more than a political punchline – that is, when Americans actually dare to dream – the American Dream is stomped on by Edwards, criticized as the means of oppression, repression, and suppression.

If there’s one thing that Edwards is sure to address in October, it’s the importance of equality of opportunity. So why is he so proprietary about access to the American Dream? Since we don’t have $65,000 laying around, we’ll have to leave that unanswered.

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