When Wal-Mart first put out their news release of Edwards’ staffer trying to jump the PS3 line, the Edwards folks responded with a statement claiming that Wal-Mart was making it all up. The initial story, in which Edwards denied it, contained a spokesman’s comments to the effect that Wal-Mart was stooping low and lying about this. That story was on Drudge late yesterday and on lucianne.com. However, I notice today that both of those links contain the latest AP write-through, which (surprise, surprise) does not contain the accusation that Wal-Mart lied. In fact, the story, from 11:23 last night, does not say that Edwards initially denied that it happened. Neither does this one from 11:36 last night. This version, which is dated but not time-stamped, contains a brief and buried mention of Edwards’ initial denial. It’s impossible to say whether the admission was in and later taken out, or out and later put in. But if this had happened to a Republican, you can bet all the stories today would have begun: “After initially denying….”
UPDATE: Jeff Taylor, JLF-Charlotte’s Meck Deck blogger, writes about “The Two John Edwards” at ReasonOnline today:
Contrary to the Edwards’ pitch that labor-hostile companies are leaving American workers destitute, somebody is making some money out there in America. More importantly, they are making it in many, many cases without a union card. This reality will very hard for union-funded Democrats like Edwards to ignore as the 2008 presidential campaign unfolds. Hewing to the union rules, clear evidence of prosperity, like perhaps a shortage of $600 game machines, will have to be swept out of the campaign.
