Silky Phony caught lying – again
First, the initial assertion, back on August 3 (emphasis added)
August 3, 2007 — WASHINGTON – John Edwards, who yesterday demanded Democratic candidates return any campaign donations from Rupert Murdoch and News Corp., himself earned at least $800,000 for a book published by one of the media mogul’s companies.
The Edwards campaign said the multimillionaire trial lawyer would not return the hefty payout from Murdoch for the book titled “Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives.”
The campaign didn’t respond to a question from The Post about whether it was hypocritical for Edwards to take money from News Corp. while calling for other candidates not to.
In addition to a $500,000 advance from HarperCollins, which is owned by News Corp., Edwards also was cut a check for $300,000 for expenses.
Edwards claimed $333,334 in royalties from last year’s release of the book, according to media accounts. The campaign said last night that those funds were part of the advance.
He says he gave that amount to charity, which would also provide tax benefits for Edwards. “We’re more than happy to give even more of Murdoch’s money to Habitat for Humanity and other good causes” spokesman Eric Schultz told The Post yesterday.
He declined to show proof, however, that Edwards had donated the $500,000 advance or $300,000 expense checks to charity.
It’s no wonder the campaign declined to show proof. Via The Politico:
Left unmentioned by Edwards, however, was that Murdoch’s HarperCollins paid portions of a $300,000 expense budget for the book to Edwards’s daughter and to a senior political aide, Jonathan Prince.
The sums paid to Cate Edwards and Prince, who are listed as co-authors on the little-noticed 2006 coffee table book, “Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives,” have not been made public, but were confirmed by two sources with first-hand knowledge of the book deal.
[…]
A News Corp. executive would not speak on the record, but said the arrangement demonstrates that Edwards’ opposition to media consolidation, and to the conservative Fox News Channel, is a newfound political stance.
“My guess is he had no reservations about doing business with us, just as he had no reservations about appearing dozens of times on Fox News or putting his website up on MySpace,” said the executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
News Corp. is holding back an additional card to play against Edwards: It hasn’t released the details of the book’s expenses, but presumably could.
Oh I sure hope they do.
Edwards has recently asserted that “they” (presumably “they” means conservatives and the media) will “never shut me up.” Newsflash, Senator: Conservatives don’t want you to shut up. We like it when you dig deeper holes every time you open your mouth. Keep it up!
I hereby dedicate this song to YOU, Senator:
Lies lies lies – yeah! They’re gonna get you!
Prior: