He’s the candidate of the common man, you see, heroically crusading against the Man’s abuses of power — “the Man” in this case being a grad student who dared offer a balanced report on why the champion of the poor has his campaign HQ in a relatively well-to-do part of town. They don’t call him Silky Phony for nothing:

A UNC-Chapel Hill journalism professor said John Edwards’ presidential campaign tried to kill a student’s video story about his campaign headquarters.

Associate Professor C.A. Tuggle said two top staffers for the former North Carolina senator demanded that the school drop the segment from the student-run television program “Carolina Week.” They also asked to have the video removed from the YouTube Web site.

Tuggle said they threatened to cut off access to Edwards for UNC student reporters and other student groups if the piece aired…

“This is silly,” campaign spokeswoman Colleen Murray said in a statement. “We love all reporters, the problem is the feeling isn’t always mutual.”

Silky’s definition of a “problem”: When someone offers competing views, one of which doesn’t cut your way. To be fair, we’ve seen this tactic used before by other Democratic candidates. The GOP surely uses it too. But it takes a special kind of jackass to use it on a college kid, especially one who’s trying earnestly to be fair. You are that jackass, Silky. Take a bow.

They haven’t pulled the clip yet so click the image to watch it now while you can. And note the byline at link. Mary Katharine’s fans will want to be extra courteous with their comments; Jon Ham is her pops.