Dear John,
I feel compelled to write you again. You still owe me that $258.
I admit, the letter I sent to your home address in 2008 was a bit testy. I was one of your loyal contributors. Whenever your campaign e-mailed and asked for a few more dollars, I tried to help you. I believed in you. I trusted you. You lied.
For the last two years, you kept the lies alive. Today, because your chosen false baby daddy will out you next week on 20/20, you copped to Quinn's paternity and then fled to Haiti.
I'm not angry anymore, just disgusted. And I still want my money back.
In case you've forgotten, I've posted my previous letter below.
Sincerely,
Lesleyann
August 30, 2008
Mr. John Edwards
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516Dear Mr. Edwards,
I'm writing to respectfully request that you refund my contributions to your campaign.
I'm 33 years old and have been an avid admirer and supporter of yours since 2000 when I first heard your name mentioned for Al Gore's "short list." I voted for you in the California primary in 2004 and though I was disappointed John Kerry won the nomination, I was thrilled when he chose you as his running mate.
I was ecstatic when you entered the 2008 race. I wanted you to win Iowa with all of my heart. I called and e-mailed friends and family all across the country and begged them to donate to your campaign.
I'm a freelance writer, so I don't make much money, yet I believed in you and your cause so much that I personally donated $258 in increments of $25 and $50 nearly every time your campaign e-mailed and asked for help. I even donated money a couple of days before you dropped out as I believed you would fight "all the way to the convention" as you promised, or at the very least, through Super Tuesday. I know $258 doesn't sound like much, but for those of us in the middle and lower classes you claim you want to help, it's a lot.
I'm writing this letter to express my dismay at your current self-inflicted predicament and to ask for my money back. I feel ripped off by you. I invested in someone who wasn't who they claimed to be. You said you'd bring truth and honesty to Washington, yet you were lying to the American public the whole time. If you had won the nomination, your arrogance, lies and deceit could have put the entire election in peril for the Democrats. You misrepresented yourself on multiple occasions and I shouldn't have to pay to finance your lies.
This was the first time I felt inspired enough to donate to a political campaign. I believed you were overlooked by the media and that they treated you unfairly while waxing poetic about the first woman and first African-American candidates. Yet looking back, I wonder if they sensed a truth I couldn't see - you're no different than every other narcissistic rich white male politician who has come before you and will come after you.
After feeling so betrayed by you, I'm unsure if I'll ever donate to another candidate again. My faith in politicians (never high to begin with until you) has now reached an all time low.
You've said no one can punish you as much as you've punished yourself, but I believe you have also punished all of your supporters and donors, by making us out to be fools. I'm glad Mrs. Edwards is trying to forgive you for the sake of your family, but I think it's going to take the rest of us a lot longer.
Sincerely,
Lesleyann Coker