Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards has spent a lot of time talking about being an advocate for the common man. In reality, Edwards is a very, very rich man. He has voted for legislative measures that probably have cost Americans their jobs. His campaign rhetoric doesn’t quite match his background.

Edwards keeps playing up the fact that his father was a textile mill worker. But he hasn’t spent much time mentioning that his personal net worth is estimated at between $20 million to $50 million. He made most of this loot as a lawyer by suing people and companies. In other words, he’s helped to increase insurance and other costs for the common man. In fact, Edwards has opposed legislation that would’ve tried to put limits on the sue-happy trial lawyers.

When companies are sued, how do you think they cover the costs of litigation and settlements? They pass these costs on to the consumer by increasing the prices of their products and services. Litigation is one of the reasons health insurance premiums keep increasing every year. Another issue Edwards keeps harping on is free trade and its effect on American jobs.

Senator Edwards has been attacking rival John Kerry for his support for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Edwards claims that NAFTA has led to the loss of American jobs. But Edwards himself voted in 2000 for a trade agreement that made it easier for the People’s Republic of China to sell low-cost goods to the U.S. According to the Associated Press (AP),

Far more U.S. jobs have been lost to China and other Asian nations than to Mexico or Canada, the countries covered by NAFTA, economists suggest.

Edwards’ voting record in the Senate has not exactly helped the common man. Small businesses run by the “common man” are the life-blood of the American economy. According to the U.S. Department of State,

Fully 99 percent of all independent enterprises in the country employ fewer than 500 people. These small enterprises account for 52 percent of all U.S. workers, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Some 19.6 million Americans work for companies employing fewer than 20 workers, 18.4 million work for firms employing between 20 and 99 workers, and 14.6 million work for firms with 100 to 499 workers. By contrast, 47.7 million Americans work for firms with 500 or more employees.

According to the Mecklenburg Republican Party, Edwards has consistently voted against legislation that would’ve helped small businesses and the “common man”:

* Edwards Received a 0% Rating From The Small Business Survival Committee For His Voting Record In 2001. (Small Business Survival Committee Website, http://www.sbsc.org, accessed December 1, 2002)

* Edwards Received A 17% Rating From The National Federation Of Independent Business For His Voting Record In 2001. (National Federation Of Independent Business, http://www.nfib.com, accessed December 1, 2002) ...

* Edwards Voted Against President Bush's Bipartisan Tax Relief Package. (H.R. 1836, Roll Call #170: Passed 58-33: R 46-2; D 12-31, May 26, 2001)

* Edwards Voted Against Permanent Repeal Of The Estate Tax. (H.R. 8, Roll Call #151: Failed 54-44: R 45-2; D 9-42, June 12, 2002)

* In 2001, Edwards Voted Against A Capital Gains Tax Rate Reduction. (Amendment To H.R. 1836, Roll Call #115: Failed 47-51: R 40-8; D 7-43, May 21, 2001)

* In 2000, Edwards Voted Against A Bill That Would Have Reduced Taxes On Married Couples. (H.R. 4810, Roll Call #215: Adopted 61-38: R 53-1; D 8-37, July 18, 2000)

* In 2000, Edwards Voted Against A Temporary Suspension Of The Gasoline Tax. (S. 2285, Roll Call #80: Failed 43-56: R 43-12; D 0-44, April 11, 2000)

John Edwards certainly doesn’t live like a common man. He owns a $3.8 million, 184-year-old home in Washington, D.C., with 13 rooms. Edwards spent about $8.4 million on his last election campaign, of which $6.2 million came out of his own pocket. So much for being a “common man.”