Celebs Compete For Haitian PR, Edwards In Forefront
On the same day that John Edwards was in the papers admitting what he had lied about for two years, (that he'd fathered a child with mistress Rielle Hunter) the disgraced former presidential candidate also turned up to take bows for helping in Haiti.
"We're going to do a variety of things, we're gonna get our intelligence, make sure we know where the medicine needs to go, which facilities can do the most good, where are other supplies -- generators, food, water, water purifiers -- where they can go and be distributed in the best way," Edwards told CBS News shortly after landing.
A former Edwards aide, Andrew Young, dismissed Edwards' admission of paternity as "empty words" and "just a PR campaign" to preempt Young's tell-all book, "The Politician," which hits stores on Feb. 2. (Young is the campaign aid that Edwards paid off to claim that Young was the father instead of Edwards.) Of course, there's more than one way to do damage control. Like a fortuitously timed humanitarian effort, for instance.
And Edwards is only the latest celebrity to add a tabloidesque twist to Haitian aid efforts. These public figures have opted for other ways to pitch in. Some -- like the "We Are the World" remake organized by Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones -- hardly raise an eyebrow. Others, well, do:
George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio both pledged to donate $1 million of their movie made mega-millions to Haitian relief.
"Wild Hogs" star John Travolta has apparently funded a Scientology-chartered airplane that's en route to Haiti. Its 168 passengers include several doctors and about 80 volunteer ministers who can offer "spiritual first aid." (Voodoo beliefs are very common in Haiti, so Scientology might fit right in.)
Amy Fisher, best known as the Long Island Lolita, will spend the weekend stripping at Scene Restaurant & Lounge in Commack on New York's Long Island. Proceeds from her performance will go to Haiti relief efforts.
Tila Tequila, meanwhile, seem to be limiting herself to Tweeting well-wishes. "I am only ONE person who has ALWAYS tried her best to make the world a better place. To stand up for ppl. I am God's Angel sent down 2 watch." (She apparently believes God wants Lesbians to be his angels on Earth.)
If nothing else, such efforts succeed at doing what Edwards' trip alone could not: They make him seem less creepy, at least by comparison. Edwards has a long tradition of exploiting poverty and disasters for political gain. He ran for VP in 2004 with the slogan "Help is on the way", promising to help the poor and downtrodden with government aid, and in December, he spent three days building houses in El Salvador. Then again, during the El Salvador trip, he refused to acknowledge media requests for comment, a step he notably did not take in Haiti. See Chick's THE STAR.
"We're going to do a variety of things, we're gonna get our intelligence, make sure we know where the medicine needs to go, which facilities can do the most good, where are other supplies -- generators, food, water, water purifiers -- where they can go and be distributed in the best way," Edwards told CBS News shortly after landing.
A former Edwards aide, Andrew Young, dismissed Edwards' admission of paternity as "empty words" and "just a PR campaign" to preempt Young's tell-all book, "The Politician," which hits stores on Feb. 2. (Young is the campaign aid that Edwards paid off to claim that Young was the father instead of Edwards.) Of course, there's more than one way to do damage control. Like a fortuitously timed humanitarian effort, for instance.
And Edwards is only the latest celebrity to add a tabloidesque twist to Haitian aid efforts. These public figures have opted for other ways to pitch in. Some -- like the "We Are the World" remake organized by Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones -- hardly raise an eyebrow. Others, well, do:
George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio both pledged to donate $1 million of their movie made mega-millions to Haitian relief.
"Wild Hogs" star John Travolta has apparently funded a Scientology-chartered airplane that's en route to Haiti. Its 168 passengers include several doctors and about 80 volunteer ministers who can offer "spiritual first aid." (Voodoo beliefs are very common in Haiti, so Scientology might fit right in.)
Amy Fisher, best known as the Long Island Lolita, will spend the weekend stripping at Scene Restaurant & Lounge in Commack on New York's Long Island. Proceeds from her performance will go to Haiti relief efforts.
Tila Tequila, meanwhile, seem to be limiting herself to Tweeting well-wishes. "I am only ONE person who has ALWAYS tried her best to make the world a better place. To stand up for ppl. I am God's Angel sent down 2 watch." (She apparently believes God wants Lesbians to be his angels on Earth.)
If nothing else, such efforts succeed at doing what Edwards' trip alone could not: They make him seem less creepy, at least by comparison. Edwards has a long tradition of exploiting poverty and disasters for political gain. He ran for VP in 2004 with the slogan "Help is on the way", promising to help the poor and downtrodden with government aid, and in December, he spent three days building houses in El Salvador. Then again, during the El Salvador trip, he refused to acknowledge media requests for comment, a step he notably did not take in Haiti. See Chick's THE STAR.
posted by chickcomics | 8:55 AM
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