I think the hypocrisy argument has gotten muddled by some who try to make it seem as those of us who criticize Edwards are attacking his right to use his money as he sees fit. That couldn't be farther from the truth. Jonathan Darman, of Newsweek, says it best:

"But fundamentally, the problem caused by the house and haircut is not the appearance of hypocrisy. Rather, it is the perception that Edwards will pay any price to maintain his flawless veneer.

For RFK, authenticity also meant impulsiveness. Touring poor areas of the South, Kennedy would sometimes order his caravan to halt so he could chat with poor children he passed on the roadside. Edwards seems uncomfortable deviating from an established script. Touring a struggling Cleveland neighborhood last week, he walked slowly, letting the TV cameramen set the pace."

It's not that John Edwards has money, it's that he comes across as less than genuine when he says, "I care about poor people."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19886671/site/newsweek/