Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards says he wants people to give up their sport utility vehicles. Edwards told a labor group Tuesday that Americans should drive more fuel-efficient vehicles and called the U.S. "the worst polluter on the planet."

Edwards' campaign concedes he does own a hybrid Ford Escape SUV, along with a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica midsize SUV, but says he uses that less often now.

Edwards was also asked about the apparent contradiction of asking Americans to sacrifice while he lives in a 28,000 square foot mansion in North Carolina. He replied that he came from nothing and worked hard all his life — saying, "I have no apologies whatsoever for what I've done with my life."

On one point I agree with Edwards: He's worked hard to become a success at a relatively young age and deserves every penny he earned and if he wants a 28,000-square-foot house, more power to him. However, I'm not the one running around imploring everyone to do the exact opposite of what he has done with his prosperity, however much prosperity they happen to have.

This is liberal elitism at its finest: Edwards apparently is saying that if you have attained the lofty level of prosperity HE has, you are entitled to do what he would consider to be squandering resources if we peasants were doing it. I presume he has no problem with the Gores, the Clintons, the Kerrys, the Kennedys et. al. doing the exact same thing. These people are the liberal elite. They don't have to live by the same rules the rest of us do because they are so much better than we are for one reason or another.

As far as fuel efficiency goes, I can understand why Edwards needs a larger vehicle -- for the exact same reason many of us with large broods need larger vehicles.

I submit to you that a minivan for a family of six or more -- or even a relatively fuel-efficient mid-size SUV -- is a hell of a lot more economical than hitting the road with two or three Toyota Prius' or Honda Insights. I can throw six people in my 2004 minivan and load it down with a carrier on the top -- people and luggage equal to what would take four of the Toyotas to hold -- and get 24-25 mpg cruising across country on the interstate. That's pretty damn efficient.

I don't begrudge Edwards any of his wealth, his house, or whatever car he chooses to drive -- it's the blatant, in-your-face hypocrisy I can't stand.