Edwards accepted cut rate use of a private jet from the former head of the trial lawyers lobbying organization, Fred Baron. Has he reimbursed the cost of that travel at full market rates? Or is he still trying to pretend he's not being "bought" by corrupt influence peddlers?

The biggest expenditure for private jets this year was the more than $430,000 the Edwards campaign paid Mr. Baron, its finance chairman, for the use of his Hawker 800. Mr. Baron, who is known for litigating multimillion dollar asbestos cases, is a past president of the Association of American Trial Lawyers. His political relationship with Mr. Edwards, a fellow trial lawyer, goes back to 2002, when Mr. Baron donated $200,000 to Mr. Edwards's New American Optimist political committee and Mr. Edwards began to fly around in planes provided by Mr. Baron.

Eric Schultz, a spokesman for the Edwards campaign, said Mr. Baron was reimbursed at an amount equivalent to a first-class ticket.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/26/us/pol itics/26jets.html?ei=5070&en=f9e9850 4b2e2e296&ex=1190001600&pagewant ed=print

Please , recommend...TYhis is great diary..Someone need to write a good diary about this on dkos..This is important stuff that needs to be talked about.

Here you have Hillary making lobbyist pay to play..Discusting!.

Gee Matthews was certainly pitching some floaters to Bonior there at first.  That looked pretty bad for Hillary and Congresswoman Lee's absence didn't help.  Hmmm...  Where is the debate on public finance in this election?  Anyone have Hillary's position on that beyond what was in the interview?

It's been almost 2 months. This stupid 'lobbyists' stuff has gained no traction for either Edwards or Obama. They need to change course, there's no return by clinching to this nonsense.

There is a huge difference between the Harkin Steak Fry and Hillary's luncheon. None of the attendees from the Steak Fry will have the chance to sit at the table (physically) and talk about legislatures that will benefit them. The war profiteers at Hillary's luncheon will have the seat at the table. They will have a huge impact on Homeland Security and especially ending the war in Iraq.

There is a huge difference between the Harkin Steak Fry and Hillary's luncheon. None of the attendees from the Steak Fry will have the chance to sit at the table (physically) and talk about legislatures that will benefit them. The war profiteers at Hillary's luncheon will have the seat at the table. They will have a huge impact on Homeland Security and especially ending the war in Iraq.

There is a huge difference between the Harkin Steak Fry and Hillary's luncheon. None of the attendees from the Steak Fry will have the chance to sit at the table (physically) and talk about legislatures that will benefit them. The war profiteers at Hillary's luncheon will have the seat at the table. They will have a huge impact on Homeland Security and especially ending the war in Iraq.

Sorry for the repeats on my post, my mouse is really acting up today.