John Edwards wakes up to Wal-Mart nightmare

As I blogged here a couple of days ago, likely 2008 Democratic presidential candidates John Edwards and Barack Obama (I think he's running) participated in a Wake Up Wal-Mart teleconference.

Wake Up Wal-Mart is United Food & Commercial Workers funded activist group, it's an effort lead by former top Howard Dean campaign staffer Paul Blank.

I only became aware of this phenomenon a few days ago, but Sony's new Playstation3 was released this morning--many stores had hundreds of Playstation devotees lined up for blocks to get their hands on one.

Elizabeth Edwards, the former senator's wife, according to AP mentioned to an Edwards staffer that her younger children would want one. That staffer, according to John Edwards called his local Wal-Mart to see if he could get one--presumably by not waiting in line with "ordinary people."

From AP:

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Thursday that a staff member for former Sen. John Edwards -- a vocal critic of the retailer -- asked his local Wal-Mart store for help in getting the potential 2008 presidential candidate a Sony PlayStation3. Edwards said a volunteer did so by mistake.

Edwards told The Associated Press that the volunteer "feels terrible" about seeking the game unit at Wal-Mart a day after his boss criticized the company, saying it doesn't treat its employees fairly.

"My wife, Elizabeth, wanted to get a Playstation3 for my young children. She mentioned it in front of one of my staff people," Edwards said. "That staff person mentioned it in front of a volunteer who said he would make an effort to get one. He was making an effort to go get one for himself.

"Elizabeth and I knew nothing about this. He feels terrible about this. He made a mistake, and he knows he should not have used my name," Edwards said.

At midnight, the Playstation3 devices went on sale.

Last night in Connecticut, two assailants shot a man during a mass robbery of Playstation3 enthusiasts. The victim, I just heard on a Fox News Channel report, is in stable condition.

But it sounds like a good personal injury lawsuit possibility for former Senator Edwards.

Technorati tags: Wal-Mart Retail Target business John Edwards Politics 2008 Obama Barack Obama unions UFCW Playstation 3 Connecticut