jack edwards 7 has ipod

Jack Edwards, 7, has an iPod

The Times has a decent piece on how the 2008 race is affecting the

candidates' children and how the candidates' children are affecting

the 2008 race. The story is strewn with anecdotes, but one caught my

eye.

Here's the author speaking of the Edwards children, Emma Claire and

Jack, 9 and 7 years old, respectively:

And they treated an interviewer the way politicians surely wish

they could at times, refusing at first to remove their iPod

earphones for a discussion of life on the trail. (emphasis added)

"I don't want to do this," Jack protested to his father, John

Edwards, the Democratic presidential candidate and former North

Carolina senator.

"I don't care whether you want to do this," Mr. Edwards replied.

A moment later, Jack hid his face in his hands.

"Mr. Jack, do we need to go in the back and have a conversation?"

asked Mr. Edwards, lifting his son's head.

The boy sat for a few more minutes, fidgety but obedient, before

being freed and happily bounding with his sister to the fort they

were building in the back of the bus.

John Edwards has gotten more than his fair share of unfair coverage in

the press, but really, he gave his kids iPods? How many seven year old

Iowans have an iPod? How many seven year olds, period, have one? This

sort of thing just does not reflect well on his candidacy. ... When

iPod-gate breaks, remember, you heard it here first.