A November 16 Associated Press article by business writer Marcus Kabel reported that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had released a statement criticizing former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) after a volunteer member of Edwards' staff contacted a Wal-Mart store in an attempt to acquire a highly sought-after and hard-to-find Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) video game system for Edwards' family. The AP article noted that Edwards said in a statement that "[w]e instructed no one to contact Wal-Mart on our behalf," but it also relayed Wal-Mart's accusation of hypocrisy against Edwards, writing: “Wal-Mart had noted in a news release Thursday that on the same day Edwards was criticizing the company in a conference call with union-backed activists, the volunteer staff member had asked a Raleigh, N.C., electronics department manager to obtain a PS3 for the ex-senator's family.” The AP relayed Wal-Mart's attack on Edwards despite providing no evidence or accusations contradicting Edwards' claim that he was unaware the volunteer contacted Wal-Mart.

Moreover, while the article portrayed the incident as a dispute between Wal-Mart and a strong critic of the company, it did not address substantively any of the criticisms Edwards has leveled against Wal-Mart, instead noting only that Edwards “claims the retailer doesn't treat its employees fairly,” and that Edwards had spoken to supporters of the “union-backed WakeUpWalMart.com on a conference call launching the group's holiday season campaign to pressure Wal-Mart for better labor standards." Edwards, who appeared in Pittsburgh in August at a stop on the “Wake Up Wal-Mart” bus tour, has called for the retailer to offer its employees, which number well over 1 million worldwide, higher wages, and has criticized the company for not providing health care coverage to a large percentage of them; as of January, the company provided healthcare coverage to 43 percent of its employees, many of whom draw paychecks from Wal-Mart that leave them below the poverty line.

Media Matters for America has previously noted the media glossing over Wal-Mart's alleged child labor violations and illegal anti-union tactics, and its alleged practices of forcing employees to work without pay and locking overnight employees in its stores.

From Kabel's November 16 Associated Press report:

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards acknowledged Thursday that amid his criticism of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., a volunteer member of his staff asked the world's largest retailer for help obtaining a hot new Sony Playstation 3 for Edwards' family.

Edwards, a potential 2008 presidential candidate, told The Associated Press that the volunteer “feels terrible” about seeking the game unit at Wal-Mart while his boss claims the retailer doesn't treat its employees fairly.

“My wife, Elizabeth, wanted to get a Playstation3 for my young children. She mentioned it in front of one of my staff people. That staff person mentioned it in front of a volunteer who said he would make an effort to get one. He was making an effort to go get one for himself,” Edwards said.

“Elizabeth and I knew nothing about this. He feels terrible about this. He made a mistake and he knows he should not have used my name,” Edwards said.

Wal-Mart had noted in a news release Thursday that on the same day Edwards was criticizing the company in a conference call with union-backed activists, the volunteer staff member had asked a Raleigh, N.C., electronics department manager to obtain a PS3 for the ex-senator's family.

Earlier Thursday, Edwards had said in a statement e-mailed by spokeswoman Kim Rubey: “We instructed no one to contact Wal-Mart on our behalf.”

From Wal-Mart headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., company spokesman David Tovar said the Edwards staff member left a voicemail at the Raleigh store and identified himself as an Edwards staff member.

When the manager returned the call, the staff member again identified himself as working for Edwards, and Wal-Mart said it confirmed it with Edwards' office. The retailer issued a written statement Thursday accusing Edwards of not wanting to wait his turn.

“While the rest of America's working families are waiting patiently in line, Sen. Edwards wants to cut to the front,” the Wal-Mart statement said.

This summer, Wal-Mart hired Edelman executive Leslie Dach as its public relations director and put him on the company's executive team. Analysts predicted the retailer would likely become more aggressive toward its critics.

Edwards, the Democrats' vice-presidential candidate in 2004, spoke Wednesday to supporters of union-backed WakeUpWalMart.com on a conference call launching the group's holiday season campaign to pressure Wal-Mart for better labor standards.

In the call, he repeated a story about his son Jack disapproving of a classmate buying sneakers at Wal-Mart.

“If a 6-year-old can figure it out, America can definitely figure this out,” Edwards said.

Previously, Edwards has appeared at WakeUpWalMart rallies.

Edwards said the volunteer was “a young kid” unaware of what he called flawed Wal-Mart policies. He called the Wal-Mart statement an effort to divert attention from its own problems.