Whatever fig leaf of credibility John Edwards had left is in tatters. Consider this report from a California blog.

Edwards charges $55,000 to speak to UC Davis students about poverty.

Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards, who recently proposed an educational policy that urged “every financial barrier” be removed for American kids who want to go to college, has been going to college himself – as a high paid speaker – his financial records show. (SF Gate.com.)

The blog also asked University of California at Davis’ press spokesman why Edwards didn’t give his speech – on “Poverty the Great Moral Issue Facing America” – free for a public university. The press man was probably more candid than Edwards liked. He declared:

“As with any other performer, the speaker fee had to be negotiated.”

Think about that for a moment. What would happen if a state university paid a rock band $55,000 with taxpayers’ money?

Edwards has spoken at nine colleges in all.

Stanford University paid him $40,000.

American Hebrew University paid $40,000.

The University of Texas (Pan American Foundation) paid $40,000.

Vanderbilt paid $40,000.

About a week ago, NPR asked John Edwards what his dream job would be. You might think after making $285,000 making nine speeches about poverty he’d have said speechmaker. But you’d be wrong. He answered (with a straight face), ‘I want to be a mill supervisor.’

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