Just being a politician instantly qualifies you as a fraud, but every now and then, a politician comes along and raises the bar for his fellow solons. This year that man is John Edwards. His vote buying schemes are so outlandish now that nobody could mistake him for a serious candidate. At least Hillary and Obama have to couch their plans while Edwards, who has nothing to lose, is way beyond the concealment phase. He’s throwing everything against the wall desperately hoping something will stick.

And of course, John isn’t shy about telling you who will pay for it:

“I think if we want to fund the things that I think are important to share in prosperity, then people who have done well in this country, including me, have more of a responsibility to give back,” he said. Later, he added: “There are no free meals.”

It’s nice to see that Edwards includes himself amongst those he wants to soak. However, according to his 2003 tax returns, he talks a better game than he plays. He paid $64,179 on $305,836 in adjusted gross income.  So, Edwards’ share of our “responsibility” comes to about 21%. That’s hardly an ennobling sum from a guy who’s supposedly dedicated to eradicating poverty and closing the gap in income inequality.

Just once it’d be refreshing to see a big government lefty writing a bigger check to the Treasury than they had to before they started soaking us. That’d be real leadership. So, hands off my paycheck, Johnny, until you start voluntarily donating more of yours.