Republican gubernatorial challenger Eddie Rispone ignites controversy by telling an Alexandria radio station that Governor Edwards’ career as a lawyer has hurt the reputation of West Point.
When asked about Edwards’ West Point and Army experience, Rispone told KSYL, “Yea, you know I’m disappointed in that if I have to be candid. I think he has hurt the reputation of West Point. I don’t think West Point wants to turn out a bunch of trial lawyers who will say or do anything to stay in power.”
Governor Edwards says the comments were offensive to him and other veterans of the Academy. Eddie Rispone doubled down and called Edwards’ response “fake liberal outrage” by a career trial lawyer.
“One guy is a professional trial lawyer and negotiator, I mean debater, and the other is a businessperson who wants to move the state forward, and that is what we are trying to do,” says Rispone, who adds that he loves veterans, their service at West Point, and says we can not thank them enough.
Rispone made the comments to KSYL when asked about his debate performance. He was in the midst of attacking the Governor’s performance when he made the comments.
“A businessperson is calm and stays on point, doesn’t get flustered, and then we have a career tax and spend trial lawyer who tries to bully, exaggerate, and lie and deny,” says Rispone.
Edwards shot back, saying Rispone has no standing to attack his military career. He quipped that Rispone went to college to stay out of the Army, and he joined the Army to go to college.
“I literally made my living jumping out of airplanes at 2 o’clock in the morning, and I trained in ways and with weapons that Eddie Rispone cannot even begin to understand,” says Edwards.
Edwards defended his work as a lawyer, emphasizing his roots in the small town of Amite in Tangipahoa Parish.
“I could have gone to many many places in order to make a lot of money as a lawyer, but I chose to go home to my hometown of Amite to open a small, country practice,” says Edwards.
