Email from a Neighbor of Edwards

Didn't someone post the referenced email lately? Furthemore, didn't the person who posted it claim to know or at least have some relation to the author who, it was claimed, had recently lived near Edwards but had since moved? Seems the author still lives near Edwards but claims the email was doctored up before it was posted on the Freep website. Hmmmm.

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E-mail about Edwards disputed
Neighbors say an online posting skewering the candidate is just plain wrong


By LYNN BONNER, Staff Writer


RALEIGH -- An online essay describing vice presidential candidate John Edwards as a rude and selfish neighbor is stirring up placid Country Club Hills.
For the most part, Democrats and Republicans on Edwards' street, Alleghany Drive, say the man described in the composition doesn't resemble the guy they know, and they say one claim in the essay is demonstrably false.

The essay, "Meet my neighbor," says Edwards sometimes extended his middle finger to drivers while jogging, skipped neighborhood gatherings and never apologized for the disruption his candidacy caused for his neighbors.

Attributed to B.T. Nicholson, the essay was posted Aug. 3 on a Web site called Free Republic, and it has received more than 100 positive online responses there. The post was no longer availabe on Friday afternoon; a note on the site said it was removed at the poster's request. It also is posted on at least eight other sites.

Alleghany Drive homeowners began finding the essay in their e-mail last week. One of Edwards' next-door neighbors heard about it at her exercise class Thursday.

"John's not a rude person," said Martha Crampton, who has lived next door to Edwards for years. "I just think it's mean-spirited."

Brian T. Nicholson, a registered Republican who lives on Yadkin Drive, which intersects Alleghany, said he wrote an e-mail message to family and friends that was then doctored and posted on the Web as the essay. He would not say which portions of the essay he wrote and which were changed.

"I just don't want to talk about this anymore," he said. "You can't attribute it to me."

Neighbors said they are accustomed to seeing Edwards jog down their street, to and from a nearby greenway. Country Club Hills is a pricey neighborhood off Glenwood Avenue, where homes had an average value of about $509,500 at the 2000 census.

The essay says, "If you drove past him as he was jogging on the road and didn't slow down enough for his taste he'd flip you the bird. He last showed me his middle finger about four years ago."

But neighbors this week said they saw Edwards wave while jogging, sometimes giving a thumbs up or stopping briefly to chat. No one said they saw any rude gesture.

"I've never seen him be rude or ugly," said Tootie Flythe, who was so upset by the essay that she wrote a multipage response in longhand, which she is keeping to herself.

Flythe lives across the street from the Edwardses, and she said John Edwards sometimes cuts through her yard to get to a greenway. He always stops to ask about her family, said Flythe, a 54-year-old registered Democrat.

The essay says Edwards didn't hang out with neighbors on the Fourth of July or go out to sledding hills to watch kids play in the snow.

But Edwards' neighbors said they don't do that, either.

Ray Mays lived across the street from Edwards for 10 years, until he sold his house this summer. Mays, a 61-year-old who said he will vote for President Bush this fall, said he and Edwards were "passing acquaintances," though he knew Elizabeth Edwards better.

Mays attended one or two Christmas parties at the Edwards home and remembers Elizabeth spending most of her time in the kitchen, cooking.

"They were always friendly," he said. "They never gave the appearance that they were stuck up in any way."

Neighbors say the letter is flat wrong when it says Edwards never apologized for disrupting the neighborhood and never offered to compensate neighbors for lawns damaged by media vans parked outside their homes.

In a note to neighbors dated Jan. 2, 2003, the day he announced his presidential bid, the Edwardses wrote, "We apologize for any inconvenience you and your family may have experienced." They offered to pay to repair lawns damaged by media vehicles.

Ron Eckstein, a spokesman for the John Kerry/John Edwards campaign, said the letter is "completely baseless."

When Edwards is at home, which isn't often these days, police block his section of Alleghany Drive but let residents, guests and home repair services through.

The essay complained about that inconvenience, but Alleghany residents said they manage easily.

"We have a lot of contractors coming and going," said Brenda Gibson, 47, a registered Republican. "I have nothing negative to say."

Some of the neighbors said they liked having traffic access limited because it stops cars from speeding down the narrow street.

"Alleghany was just a thoroughfare," said Clotilde Collins, 74. "You take your life in your hands trying to get out of your driveway."

Some said they are excited to have Edwards as a neighbor. And they like looking out their windows to see Secret Service agents.

"I love the security," Gibson said.

Jim Anthony, who has lived on Alleghany Drive for 10 years, did say that Edwards was a "very disengaged neighbor" who is also out of step with the neighborhood recycling ethos.

"He has never put the green container in front of his house," said Anthony, 50, a Bush supporter.

http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1524289p-7697188c.html
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From the Web essay "Meet my neighbor":

My neighbor John invited reporters from TV, radio, and print news organizations to come to his house in January 2003 for the announcement of his Presidential bid. He didn't want any news vans parked on his property -- in fact, he made sure all the cameras and reporters waited in the street at the bottom of his driveway. That way everyone could get good footage of him strolling down the driveway to make his announcement, young children in tow. The news vans drove into the yards of John's neighbors and parked there. I heard two families ended up re-sodding their damaged yards, and John never apologized to anyone, much less offered any compensation.

and from the letter sent to neighbors by John and Elizabeth Edwards...

Dear Friends & Neighbors:

As you know, 2003 has gotten off to an exciting start for our family. In light of our recent decision, we know that many of you may also be feeling the effects. We want to apologize for any inconvenience you and your family may have experienced.

Please call our assistant, Andrew Young, ... if you have any lawn damage from the media traffic. Our personal lawn maintenance company will make any necessary repairs. Thank you for your patience.