Edwards should not have run for President - or at the very least should have dropped out sooner

[Debi]

What if he would have won the nomination? Where would our party be?

Who would have performed better in the early states if Edwards wasn't there?

This isn't just about his marriage and his family (and that of his mistress) - when he cheats on his wife while running for President it's also about all of the people who gave him money and voted for him.

[Happyhippychick]

1. You were right the first time - he had no business running.

[truebrit71]

3. Exactly...was he stupid enough to think that he could keep this buried forever?

What a fool....

[bunkerbuster1]

2. Well, he dropped out soon enough.

I was wondering if something fishy was going on when he dropped out just before Super Tuesday, which made no sense at the time.

I suspect something came to light around that time.

[Generator]

4. Yeah finally we have an explanation

Oh happy day! Maybe he could have survived an affair in the public's eyes-but not with a sick wife. He should have never run.

[Eric J in MN]

8. At the time, I thought that John Edwards had decided to help Obama...

...by dropping out.

[Debi]

10. Not really

What would have happened in Iowa/New Hampshire/Nevada/South Carolina? Who would his donors given $$ to? Who would his staff worked for? Nobody knows what the 2008 primary would have looked like w/out John Edwards in it.

[question everything]

66. And a day after traveling to several places to meet with supporters

to have a fresh crew of volunteers..

[sniffa]

122. No, the DNC and the media forced him out

Or so the story went.

[Stuart G]

5. Double standard..........

Obama is being compared to John F.Kennedy. Should we say that to Caroline? That her father was terrible for screwing around..sick eh?

.. They say Kennedy was quite the womanizer. A rumor that he was taken care of before the Great Debates in l960. Who knows? ..What if his crap would have come out? Standards and the media has changed. Edwards was stupid for getting caught. He should have known he couldn't get away with it.

..And guess what..he isn't the only one.. is he?

[Debi]

12. Obama shouldn't be held to the standard of JFK or Edwards

unless Obama gets caught cheating on his wife.

I don't think Edwards being a POS impacts Obama in any way.

[saracat]

16. Well, guess they will be digging around now, won't they?And if Edwards is a

POS, what does that make all the other candidates and their galplas? Sheesh. Must be nice to be so "perfect".

[ecstatic]

19. Wow! Are you the lone DUer defending this?! nt

[saracat]

22. "Could be" So what? Just as with Clinton, sex is sex, and

this is between John and Elizabeth. Elizabeth knew and still supported him. And this is someone elses business how? And I supported Edwards and was a surrogate.It is still NOT my business.

[AllentownJake]

25. That is all well and good believing that

but politically during a Presidential Election we all know that isn't true.

[cottonseed]

28. It's everyone's business when Edwards goes on Nightline

and decides to run for president thinking that he'd hide this? or no one would care? Whoever supported this guy should be pissed and feel cheated, even embarrased. I think after crying when Edwards endorsed Obama, you should have stuck with your gut and not trusted him any longer. I wouldn't be defending him now on this. Just makes a person look dumb.

[saracat]

43. Hey, as if I care? I was more upset when he endorsed Obama bu tI got "over it".

It isn't as if he "cheated on me". This is hard for his family I am sure but my guess is they have "dealt with this " and moved on long ago.

[cottonseed]

48. I'm glad for him and his family.

Too bad he had to lay this crap a few weeks before the convention. I get that you believe a personal life is a person's personal life, Edwards can smoke crack every night as far as I'm concerned, but the minute you find yourself on Nightline trying to explain it away, then you've just entered the group called "jackass".

[saracat]

52. Yep and that is why it is the symbol of the Democratic Party who are no doubt "requiring" this.

I do not see the necessity for Edwards to explain this to anyone. And it is interesting that he chose (If he did) Nightline on a Friday news dump day and this isn't "primetime".

[alteredstate]

111. Bullshit

You don't "get over" anything.

And I can't believe that, on another board, you accused Obama of leaking the story.

[cali]

70. interesting take. You completely trashed JE for endorsing Obama in

the most disgusting way, but JE trashes his wife and his supporters and that's fine and dandy.

How not surprising.

[saracat]

71. Because that was a "public" issue.And during a primary. Grow up

[cali]

72. your ability to justify anything, your ability to deceive yourself

are fascinating.

[saracat]

73. Grow up.Please.Put me on ignore.

[Drunken Irishman]

103. But it isn't just between John and Elizabeth.

And I'm tired of hearing this.

Just as Clinton not keeping his dick in his pants wasn't between him and Hillary. How many times do we have to realize these people aren't just average folks? They aren't you and me and when you enter public office, you better damn well expect to not be treated as such. Just as there are perks with being a very well known person, there are draw backs, as well.

Yes, Clinton should not have been impeached, but his sexual escapades hurt this country. It damaged the White House and was a big reason why we lost in 2000. You might not think it's our business, but these politicians represent US, the voters. And when it comes down to it, they should have the character to lead, something sorely lacking in so many ways. No, I do not think Clinton should have been impeached, and no I don't think Edwards should be ruined for this. However, to say it's just a personal matter flies in the face of everything political. What if John Edwards had called Barack Obama a racist name? Would that have been OK because it was in the confines of privacy and all within his rights as a citizen? No.

The unfortunate aspect of politics is that Edwards gave up a lot of privacy to run for office and he knew this could damage his cause. He put his party, his family and most importantly, his country, at risk for hire aspirations and that is not cool. He knew this could come out and he knew there was a chance he could be the Democratic nominee. Whether you feel it's a private matter or not doesn't change the fact this would've been leaked at one point or another. And while Bill Clinton managed to talk himself out of it, this could have sunk the party and given us four more years of Republican control.

Hell, saracat, let's say Obama asked Edwards in June to be his running mate and Edwards told him this story WAS NOT TRUE. Then, a week before the Democratic convention, Edwards decides to come clean and admits he had an affair, where would that have put us as a party and what would that have done for Obama? It would have killed his chances at the White House and you know it.

[AllentownJake]

24. They always are digging around

Edwards knew that. Shame on him for running.

[Debi]

33. As if being faithful to one's significant other is a character flaw

[saracat]

39. It isn't a character flaw but neither is it a crime to be unfaithful. It concerns only those

immefiately involved and that would not be us. This should NOT be a news story!

[Debi]

41. Then John Edwards should not have made it one

Nightline isn't some indy or small town public television station.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[qwlauren35]

98. I think you're missing the problem.

It's the DENIAL.

I think there should be a manual for how men in politics can admit to affairs so that they can diffuse the media mayhem.

"Yes, I had a brief affair. It's over. Let's move on to something relevant."

"Yes, I had an affair. My wife and I are working through this, and I do not wish to discuss it further. Let's move on to something relevant."

"Yes, there have been other women in my life besides my wife. However, how my wife and I deal with this is not a matter for public record. Let's move on to something relevant."

I'm not denying it, but it's certainly none of your business. And I'll thank you not to splash it all over the front page as if it's as important as the economy or the War in Iraq."

I'm surprised that there's not already a playbook for this. But maybe some people just aren't following the script.

[Clark2008]

116. It is a character flaw.

It means you think your pleasure is more important than your family's security, safety and well-being.

Sick.

[DevonRex]

55. If JFK were president now, or were running for president, he would

be just as stupid for having affairs as Edwards. Not being faithful to their wives is a bad thing, of course. And that issue is between them.

But in this day and age, asking people to support you and donate money to your campaign, all the while knowing there is a huge scandal that someone WILL discover and publicize, is a violation of public trust in my opinion. And that is when it becomes our business.

Now, I don't believe that infidelity alone puts their sincerity about policy matters into doubt. I think John Edwards may very well be genuine and honest about the things he would like to do for the people of this nation. But that is, unfortunately, a moot point when a scandal like this erupts and makes it so that he couldn't even get elected in the first place.

[Left Is Write]

56. Well said.

[Raine]

74. TOTALLY agree

people keep comparing FDR & JFK to this but times are different now. In those days these kind of things were private but they are NOT private now and everyone who runs for office KNOWS it!

[Common Sense Party]

99. Character matters.

I know many here don't think that it should, or don't think that infidelity to a sick spouse and not being an honorable father to small children is a demonstration of poor character.

But they're wrong.

He showed poor judgment and poor character.

Character matters. Even when you have the right policies. Perhaps especially so.

[DevonRex]

113. I have to agree with you. This whole thing is just sad. I wish them

both well. I simply don't understand how they thought a run for president was a good thing to do when there was a story like this just waiting to break.

[Joe Chi Minh]

131. Well, we still have our old-age pensions, and Lloyd George was an old goat,

who played a great role in ensuring adequate ondinance for the troops in WWI. So, how does that suggest to you that character is important in a politician even when he has the right policies?

And one of the reasons John Kennedy was assassinated was because he wanted to pull your troops out of Vietnam. In what way do you consider his sexual promiscuity weighs heavily in the balance with the good that an earlier withdrawal from Vietnam would have occasioned?

[Zuiderelle]

79. Big difference between JFK's time and now. Edwards KNEW from Clinton's example that it was STUPID

to think that he couldn't get caught. JFK .... different time. No comparison at all.

[KatieW]

6. That's something I don't understand at all. He said he had the affair in 2006. Why run in 2008?

Was he THAT STUPID that he thought it wouldn't come out!!!!!!! How can anyone in this day and age (after Clinton) believe that!!
I feel so bad for Elizabeth. My sister is going through the same thing she is, her breast cancer has spread. I can't believe a husband could do that to a wife with cancer! I just don't understand.

[mvd]

27. It just hurts Elizabeth more..

by bringing more publicity. I just don't understand it, and I respected John until this. I'll leave my talk there and go focus on the campaign again.

[WinkyDink]

112. I think the point is: Why visit the woman in 2008?

[Barack_America]

7. If he had been the nominee, what would McCain say? He did the same thing...

With his current wife (ditched his invalid wife for her).

I'm glad that Edwards isn't our nominee, but I do think it would've been hard for McCain to run too hard with this.

[Debi]

9. McCain wouldn't have

but many many many of his supporters would have - and 2006 is 26 years later than 1980 - McCain's supporters have had time to forgive and forget.

[karynnj]

17. People would say that what McCain did he did DECADES ago

besides, he's a Republican.

[Debi]

35. Yep

It's
Okay
If
You're
A
Republican

[AllentownJake]

29. McCain wouldn't say anything

He wouldn't have had to. It would have been a disaster. He would have beat Hillary Clinton and than been to be revealed to be a cheater on a sick wife. You think we have PUMA problems now?

[ellisonz]

110. McCain would use Vietnam as an excuse.

[saracat]

11. So JFK should have run? Or Clinton or FDR . or Eisenhower? Or LBJ?

or Jefferson, or Jackson ? How stupid. Really.

[Debi]

18. Are you saying that the same standards that we hold our presidential nominees to now

were in place 200 years ago? 100 years ago? 50 years ago?

I think that a person who knows what a mess an extramarital affair by a sitting president revelation did to the entire party in recent years past - should think about the party and either NOT have an affair or NOT run for president.

How selfish of HIM, really.

[saracat]

20. I am saying it is doubtful you will find anyone running that can live up to these phony

"standards". This is about "power" and power is an aphrodisiac. Put power and stress and emotion together and men and women both "cheat". It is only sex.So what and I fail to see why it is our business.
Frankly, I don't want a 'saint' for president or someone who is asexual". That bottled up emotion would have to go somewhere and I would rather not have such a person with his finger on the button.

[Mojorabbit]

21. In this case

it shows poor judgement.

[saracat]

23. But not in the other cases? We would be very lucky to have any one of those examples of"poor

judgement" as president today. But we will probablly never get anyone as talented again because we are as hung up as "fundies" on phony moral standards and judgements that are made without any knowledge whatsoever. That is what is very sad.

[Mojorabbit]

26. Yes

cheating on your wife when she has cancer while running for president= bad judgement.
Paying your mistress from campaign funds=bad judgement.

[saracat]

37. He has not been "paying for his mistress from campaign funds" . Prove that.

But JFK's blow job before the Debates was great judgement? And FDR had his mistriss on the WH payroll. We "paid" for her! LOL! BTW, Jack also gave Jackie an STD that caused a lot of the miscarriages but that is "great judgement" too? None of our beeswax. Sorry. They were all still great presidents Teddy cheating on Joan causing her to have a miscarriage was great judgement, yet he is "forgiven"?

Sorry but as far as i am concerned people can take this phony balony morality crap and stick it where the sun don't shinne and I will say the same when they start with Obama. And they already have. It is NONE of our business.

[Mojorabbit]

42. It was in the article

He gave her a six figure job she had little experience in.
As a woman who has been cheated on in a marriage, I could give him a pass when he admitted it to her and she forgave him.. but when he went behind her back a second time, no way.
He could have cost us the election if he had been nominated which makes it a relevant topic on this board thing and not just a private thing.

[saracat]

45. As a film producer myself, she charged very little for the production .And her ifilms were

actually very good. That was no quid pro quo.

[Mojorabbit]

50. I have yet to see an article

that said she was least bit qualified for the job and that goes back from the beginning of these rumors.
If you come upon different info, I'd love to see it.

[saracat]

51. She had a production company with a friend. As for what makes her qualified?I saw her work.

It was good. If she hadn't produced anything, you might have a point, but she did. And BTW, it isn't just pointing a camera and shooting. She apparently knew something.

[Mojorabbit]

53. Every article I have read says she was not qualified

for the position. I will have to take your word for it that she may have been as I don't know the first thing about the job.

[saracat]

64. "every article you have read". have you seen her resume? Sheesh.

And exactly how does one judge a videotographers qualifications? Do the authors of those articles tell you how they arrived at the conclusion that she was "not qualified"?

[Mojorabbit]

86. Do you have some emotional involvement

with this? I am just saying what I have read. I could care less one way or another.

[LiveLiberally]

47. I actually agree with you on this

sex is just sex, but lying is lying -- and that is directly relevant to credibility, character and leadership.

The difference between Edwards and JFK etc... is that the media then didn't expose indiscretions publicly, thereby forcing a politician to lie about them.

This is a shame, but it doesn't excuse the cover-up and lying. And you're right -- a lot of talent is going to waste.

[Madam Mossfern]

59. Sorry, but no pass

I'm certainly not a fundie, but there is no valid "excuse" for cheating on your spouse. Just because someone may be in a position of power or stressed does NOT give them permission to betray their partner. An no....sex is not just sex. She was not a paid professional-it was an affair and affairs are not just physical.

It goes to strength of character; and just because people in the past have behaved like that, it doesn't set the standard. Do you mean to imply that anyone running for public office has a free pass to commit adultery?

Edwards showed poor self control and poor judgment and I am very sorry that I gave so much money to that philandering rascal.

[Blondiegrrl]

84. I agree with everything you've said.

If Edwards had become the nominee and then this affair had come to light, I think it very likely would have doomed the Democrats' chances this year. A lot of people are still ticked off about the Bill Clinton mess; they don't want to go through it again.

[beachmom]

57. In this media climate with YouTube, Fox News, the internet? Um, nope.

They never would have survived. We live in a different world now, Saracat, where every utterance & action by a candidate is put under a microscope.

Seriously, every time one of the candidates made a gaffe and was lampooned for days on end, I wondered to myself if Lincoln would have won in 2008.

John Edwards screwed up big time, and then went and ran for president anyway, with this scandal that could explode at any time. And Elizabeth KNEW about it, and joined in with the deceit. That is the reality that you must face.

[Drunken Irishman]

106. And many of them were racists, too, does that mean it's ok to have a racist candidate?

You sound like the kid who's always crying about the others being allowed to do things. "Well FDR had an affair, why can't Edwards?".

It didn't make it right. FDR also set up camps for Japanese Americans, does that mean we should accept that type of paranoia today? Just because FDR or Kennedy cheated on their wives does not mean other people should get away with it. It was despicable then and it's despicable now.

[karynnj]

13. Exactly, especially in mid 2007 when he knew she was pregnant

I disliked Edwards for his comments on 2004 - that I knew were untrue. But, I had credited him with being a great family men. The disgusting thing is the baby was conceived a few months after they knew the sad news about Elizabeth. That she was willing to spend what could be the last months of her life campaigning for him makes me sick that he would do this.

In 2004, people said he was Bill Clinton without the bimbo problems, this palces him as far worse than Clinton - almost approaching Newt Gingrich - and that is low.

[Major Hogwash]

82. It's sad.

It's so sad because Edwards was warned what the pitfalls were going into the 2004 race, yet he couldn't resist.

If this story would have broke after Edwards was our nominee, we would be dead right now.
We would have President McCain next year.
It would be assured.

Yet, all of those stupid comments that Edwards made about Kerry after the 2004 election pale in comparison to the stupidity of this affair.

It looks like I wasted my time trying to get unity here at DU from some of the Edwards supporters for Obama this spring.
I really thought Edwards would endorse Obama earlier.

[karynnj]

129. I don't think you wasted your time on that - you were a strong voice

when it was needed. I agree with you that this affair when he was running as the perfect husband was beyond stupid and if he were the candidate - narrowly beating HRC - we would be thanking God that we have super delegates.

As one who did not want HRC and who hated the idea of superdelegates with the power to change their minds, this is something I never thought I would say.

[me b zola]

14. The media is counting on us focusing on this

Please don't buy into it, please don't do the media's/rw's dirty work for them.

It doesn't help Elizabeth, it doesn't help our chances in Nov, and it is a farce to talk about this while we know that McCain ran around on his disabled wife with a barbie-doll heiress--and left his wife for her!

[otohara]

15. It Was A Matter of Time - Before The Truth

came out. He looked guilty as hell a couple weeks ago when he was asked on camera about it. Tabloid trash is what happens when your famous and actually do cheat on the wife. Going to The Hilton was super stupid.

[Chloroplast]

30. Why all the self-righteousness?

Edwards is not the first Democratic Presidential nominee to have cheated before he decided to run and he will not be the last. It's not our business and I am disgusted that this is even being discussed as Election News. Talk about focusing on the issues.

[cottonseed]

32. Doesn't Edwards make it an issue when appearing on Nightline?

Just sayin'

[Debi]

38. Like having a President that is honest with the American people?

Okay, I will....

[knixphan]

76. Right on, Chloroplast

Upholding the constitution is the job we elect these guys and gals to do. Not monogamy.

Just sayin.

[delete_bush]

91. I see no one being self righteous

This is NOT FDR in the 30's, nor JFK in the 60's. The reality of WINNING in our two-party system in the early goings of the 21st century is such that one cannot expect to have a fling and have it remain a secret. Paparazzi are paid in the millions for just a picture of some celebs kids, for Christ's sake.

If he wants to screw around on his wife, while I don't respect him for his decision, by all means have at it. When he does so KNOWING FULL WELL that the odds of being caught are substantial AND will most probably result in the defeat of the party and those who believed in him then at this point he has screwed not only the little tart but with us all.

[Common Sense Party]

100. Character matters. Judgment matters.

Sorry you disagree, but to most Americans, these things matter.

You're right; we should focus on the issues. But you still have to elect someone to champion and effect the issues.

And that person you choose should be one of good character and good judgment.

Unfortunately, that seems in short supply in Washington these days.

[TheDonkey]

31. I knew I never trusted Edwards. How dissapointing. I feel sorry for his family and supporters

this is very sad.

[Peregrine Took]

34. Me, too. I wanted to believe in him and did try it out for while but it just

wouldn't work. I never trusted him.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

36. Party like its 1998.

Seriously, that's how I feel right now. Except I'm not 10 years younger and living it up in college. And the rock music scene hasn't totally gone downhill yet.

[Debi]

40. At least this shitstorm will be short-lived

Edwards is not our nominee.

[TexasObserver]

46. If you can't keep it in your pants, you shouldn't ask people to support you for president

I'm not talking about ancient history. I'm talking about during a campaign.

[TeamJordan23]

49. Sadly, he was more selfish than Hillary. nm

[LiveLiberally]

54. I don't know if he should have dropped out sooner....

I guess it depends upon how one feels about the primary candidates (excepting Edwards). Edwards' progressive and detailed policy statements forced both Clinton and Obama to match them -- moving both candidates to the left. Edwards gave Obama "cover" at a critical time last fall when Clinton could probably have successfully branded him as inexperienced etc... before he had a chance to make his case for change (and establish his credentials) to the American public.

In short, had Edwards not run or had he dropped out, say, when Elizabeth's cancer returned in the Spring of '07, the democratic primary would likely have unfolded very differently.

[Debi]

58. What about Biden or Dodd or Richardson?

What would have happend with their campaigns with Edwards not in the race?

[LiveLiberally]

60. Good question...

Off-hand, I wouldn't think they would have gained any more media attention or public traction (not saying this is a good thing....). The fact is that Edwards' was virtually ignored by the media. But among the players, he was considered the second most viable candidate to Clinton until at least mid-November 07. Which meant than when she perhaps (in hindsight) should have been focusing on Obama, her attention was elsewhere (actually more on the general election than Edwards). And it is clear that she thought until quite late in the game that her only viable opposition in Iowa was Edwards.

But had Edwards not run, and had Clinton successfully cast into doubt Obama's viability before Iowa, it is possible one of the other candidates could have used Iowa to launch a more competitive campaign.

[saracat]

68. Don't know much about Richardson do ya?

[bklyncowgirl]

61. I just don't understand how these guys thing they're going to keep it a secret

You'd think the lessons of Gary Hart and Bill Clinton would serve as an object warning to male politician with presidential ambitions that keeping it in their pants on is a really, really good idea.

Especially a guy with the most sympathetic and arguably beloved wife in American politics.

Dumb, just dumb.

[inthebrain]

62. I think you need to worry about your self a little more

and stop sowing sour grapes because Biden didn't win. The people that voted for Edwards would not have significantly gone over to Biden.

[Az_lefty]

63. Completely agree, it was a dumb choice. Now I'm glad he lost.

[question everything]

65. Agree. It is not just a private matter between he and Elizabeth

He cheated on many of us, his supporters, who sent him money, who voted for him - the ones that did before he dropped out. Who made extra effort to travel to listen to him and to meet with him (at -60 wind chill, in my case).

Had he been our nominee, we could by now have resigned to the McCain Presidency. And, no McCain did not admit for any infidelity, and McCain did not parade his close knit family on the campaign trail. Most of us did not know that McCain had a son in Iraq until he was back home.

[LibDemAlways]

67. If Elizabeth knew about this two years ago and still

encouraged him to run, that calls into question her judgment as well. I am disappointed that they weren't smart enough to realize that the corporate whores would find out and there would be political hell to pay. Can you imagine if he had won the nomination and this came out now? WTF were they thinking?

[polichick]

69. True - as much as everyone loves Elizabeth, she wasn't thinking of the supporters or party either.

[Raine]

75. Agree

and this is the height of selfishness and huge egos.

[democrat2thecore]

88. Agree again - and one other thing

Doesn't it call into question everything he's ever said? Remember how many positions he took that were the opposite of his record in the senate? I always wondered if all those votes he "regretted" were votes he actually regretted - or found a niche (the populist candidate) and took it to the campaign trail. As a trial lawyer, Edwards could argue either side of any issue with equal passion and eloquence. Thinking about that makes me wonder - who's the real John Edwards. His incredible lack of judgment in running for the nomination, accepting millions in donations, allowing campaign workers to work their hearts out. Knowing he was one piece of info away from being exposed as a liar and cheater to his wife, while asking trust from the nation is just so incredibly selfish.

One other thing, I don't believe him for a MINUTE that it ended in 2006. The Enquirer is standing by its report of his late night booty call in LA and, for once, I actually believe the tabloid.

This is all so sad.

[LibDemAlways]

117. The Enquirer guy was on CNN yesterday explaining

how they confronted Edwards just three weeks ago at the Beverly Hilton as he was leaving her room in the middle of the night. He apparently panicked and headed for a men's room, where he held the door shut.

In the Nightline interview he admits he was there, but that it was simply to make sure the affair never saw the light of day. What he meant by that went unasked and unanswered. The tabloid also claims he met her there in June. It all sounds pretty suspect.

This is definitely not the John Edwards I supported. I shudder to think what would have happened if he had won the nomination.

[Apollo11]

104. It does make you wonder ...

We now know that Elizabeth knew about this in 2006, and still told John that she would support him making another run to be the Democratic nominee for President.

Of course John is primarily responsible for his own actions, but they both knew that if he succeeded in winning the nomination, and if the facts if his affair ever came out, it would seriously damage the Democratic Party's chances in November 2008.

Despite her serious health issues, Elizabeth worked hard on John's behalf, even to the extent of publicly criticizing other candidates - notably Hillary Clinton.

"In my opinion, the candidate who's best for women in this race is my husband."
Elizabeth Edwards speaking to The Progressive - August 2008
http://www.progressive.org/mag_intv0807
http://www.alternet.org/story/57463 /

"I think one of the things that make me so completely comfortable with this is that keeping that door open to women is actually more a policy of John's than Hillary's."
Elizabeth Edwards speaking to Salon.com - July 2007
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/07/17/elizabeth_...

I cannot think of anyone other that Elizabeth Edwards who seriously questioned the idea that Hillary's candidacy - and her bid to win the nomination - represented a major step forward for women in America.

... and all the while she was covering up for her sleazebag husband ...

[Major Hogwash]

127. In 1992, Hillary went on 60 Minutes with Bubba and lied about Gennifer Flowers.

So, Hillary was defending her sleazebag husband, to use your own words, long before Elizabeth defended her husband.

So Elizabeth isn't doing anything that Hillary didn't do.

[Raine]

77. Thank goodness the media ignored

his campaign pretty much while he was running (as an Edwards supporter it enraged me at the time that he didn't get coverage )they sure did us a favor. I shudder to think if he was the nominee.

Edit: left out word

[Zuiderelle]

78. I agree. He risked a LOT by running.

He risked more than just himself and those who love him. He risked all of us.

[jillan]

80. Or, as Chuck Todd said -

He should have been upfront about it from the beginning.

He should have told the truth and then said but his fight for poverty, healthcare and the working class was too important to him and he was going to fight for what he believed in inspite of the mistake he made in his past.

[indie_voter]

85. Exactly. Full disclosure so if he won the nomination there would be no ammo. n/t

[Butch350]

81. Talk about casting the first stone - I am in the presence of...

SINless people????

[democrat2thecore]

89. Are we accepting millions to run for the White House - with a secret knowing would doom a campaign?

[TexasObserver]

109. 1. you are misreading and misapplying the words of Jesus, 2. this ain't Sunday school

Jesus stopped AN EXECUTION. He didn't stop a verbal excoriating.

Jesus frequently condemned leaders who were hypocrites.

Your handle on Biblical history is weak, so don't try to use it.

WE did not run for office. WE did not LIE to supporters and contributors. JOHN did.

[DutchLiberal]

83. America has to learn to seperate a politician's political ideas from his personal life.

That's why your claim is nonsense.

If the French thought the same way, Nicholas Sarkozy wouldn't have been president of France today. You know why he IS? Because the French thought his political ideas were more important than his personal life-- and they are right!

[Colobo]

87. Would you say the same thing about a Republican?

[musicblind]

96. Actually

I defended the crap out of Larry Craig and his bathroom scandal because, as a gay male, I felt the whole thing came off as homophobic and gay bashing by public policy.

[DutchLiberal]

101. Sure, as long as they're not the 'sanctity of marriage' type.

What goes on in the bedroom, is between a man and his wife. The only exception I make, is when the politician in case has built his agenda around 'family values' or more of that crap.

That's also the reason I have trouble with Edwards: he was opposed to gay marriage because he thought marriage was a bout a 'special bond between a man and a woman'. He's a hypocrite over that, and that's where my troubles lie; not with his personal affairs.

[Crunchy Frog]

93. You run in the political climate you have,

not in the political climate you might like to have, to paraphrase someone else.

In a perfect world, it wouldn't make any difference, but we are not in a perfect world. In the United States, in the early part of the 21st century, it does make a difference. Any politician who doesn't know that and take it into account while running for office, is just too stupid or blind to be acceptable for higher office.

[Muttocracy]

95. exactly.

[DutchLiberal]

102. As a politician, you have to challenge the climate in which you run.

If you don't, you are a lousy politician.

[Major Hogwash]

107. We did that, we lost.

They even challenged the authenticity of the medals awarded to Kerry by the United States Navy.

Didn't have anything to do with him being a lousy politician - the constant drumbeat of the MSM caused a lot of people to doubt that Kerry was the man he said he was.

Goebbels would be in awe of how the MSM here has acted with one voice, to support the worst president in the history of the United States.

Bush is not just another president, DutchLiberal, he is the first dictator of the United States!

And we're going to make sure he is the last!!!!

NO MAN IS ABOVE THE LAW!!!!

[DutchLiberal]

123. The problem is Kerry didn't fought back.

And Bush IS above the law, because he will not be impeached and he will not be trialed and convicted.

[Major Hogwash]

126. Yes he did.

You must not have been paying attention.

[DutchLiberal]

136. Don't do the personal attacks -just stick with the facts.

Kerry waited far too long before he started to rebut the swift-boaters and even then, he was far too mild toward them.

[karynnj]

139. The media had more proof from Kerry BEFORE the August tapes

that showed they were false than any other politician EVER produced on anything. THe official NAVY record backed Kerry, as did the Nixon tapes and every man on the boats when he got the medals.

Even with all this - Kerry's team gave the media a 36 page list of discrepancies and lies - with documentation within one day. Within a week they showed the links between the funders of this and Bush.

Not to mention, his VP, the person who usually has the President's back narsissistically thought he was too good to use the info they had to defend him.

[Crunchy Frog]

118. In that case he should have run as an open and proud adulterer.

Not having done that, I suppose he is a lousy politician.

[DutchLiberal]

124. You're caricaturing my point.

[Crunchy Frog]

125. What exactly is your point?

[Joe Chi Minh]

132. Silence came the stern reply.

[DutchLiberal]

138. I'm sorry I'm not here 24 hours a day to serve you...

Some of us have a life outside DU, you know...

[DutchLiberal]

137. That it's about time American politicians learned they have to tell the media...

...to stay out of their private affairs. If Clinton had just said it was none of their/our business whether or not he had an affair with his intern, no impeachment would have ever happened.

[Colobo]

90. John made a very stupid, selfish mistake.

-Politicians are not private people. They are public officials that keep the system we live in alive and well. We put our trust, our taxpayer money and our problems as a society ON THEIR HANDS.

-Someone that has questionable judgement or has shown to be dishonest in his or her private life should not pretend that we, the voters, are going to deposit our money and trust on him or her. Politicians are reflections of what we want for a society- they represent the ideals we believe in, and they, as our representatives, need to remember that whatever they do wrong affects and is projected on us, the people that supported them. A disgraced mayor puts his or her city on the spot, in a bad light. Ask Mayor Kilpatrick, for example.

-John Edwards wanted to be our candidate for president knowing that if that info came out during the campaign season, our party would've been done. I'm sorry, but most people wouldn't trust the destiny of their nation to a man that is willing to cheat on his terminally ill wife and use campaign money to finance his affair (he hired this lady to perform a job she hardly could perform, according to the news). Not only that, John seems to be denying the lady's son is his, but he has not got a DNA test done? C'mon- get that stuff done before you deny or affirm anything. It's the correct thing to do.

I mean, I gave money to John in November and December and had mad respect for him. I wanted him to be the VP candidate. But can you imagine what would have happened if Obama had chosen Edwards in, let's say, July?

I'm sorry, but John screwed it up. If you don't want your private life to be used against you, don't become a PUBLIC FIGURE OR SERVANT.

[realFedUp]

92. More questions about John and Elizabeth

If John told Elizabeth about his affair before he announced
his candidacy, why would E be ok with the mistress traveling
for 6 months with him having her expenses paid by his campaign?

And if she knew before he announced, why would she be
ok with him running, knowing that this would come out
eventually?

When did he really tell her?

If they met before he announced his campaign, did they
concoct a job for her so she could be close and personal?

What effect did Edward's endorsement have on this race,
in Obama's favor? If the truth had come out sooner (and
it did) why didn't the media pursue it harder or at
least the DNC?

Truth does matter when you are running for president and
that is the issue. It's not just a personal matter, as
Elizabeth would hope to have us believe.

I'm sorry for her but I'll bet she doesn't get half the
shit thrown at her that Hillary received because of Bill's
affairs.

And of course it leads lots of people to wonder what other
skeletons will come out, not just about Edwards, but Obama.

[Colobo]

94. Very fair questions.

[musicblind]

97. I hope and pray that nothing like this will come out about Obama

I doubt anything will, and I personally think this is their personal life and I still support Edwards... however if it did then we'd be screwed for good

[Drunken Irishman]

108. If it did, I'd say the same thing I've said about Edwards.

I would be crushed and extremely disappointed.

Then I'd say hello to President McCain.

Thankfully, Obama seems to have a good head on his shoulders and I highly doubt he would cheat on Michelle.

[Apollo11]

105. It does make you wonder ...

Despite her serious health issues, Elizabeth worked hard on John's behalf, even to the extent of publicly criticizing other candidates - notably Hillary Clinton.

"In my opinion, the candidate who's best for women in this race is my husband."
Elizabeth Edwards speaking to The Progressive - August 2008
http://www.progressive.org/mag_intv0807
http://www.alternet.org/story/57463 /

"I think one of the things that make me so completely comfortable with this is that keeping that door open to women is actually more a policy of John's than Hillary's."
Elizabeth Edwards speaking to Salon.com - July 2007
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/07/17/elizabeth_...

I cannot think of anyone other that Elizabeth Edwards who seriously questioned the idea that Hillary's candidacy - and her bid to win the nomination - could be anything other than a major step forward for women in America.

... and all the while she was covering up for her sleazebag husband ...

[Genevieve]

119. "If John told Elizabeth about his affair before he announced

his candidacy, why would E be ok with the mistress traveling
for 6 months with him having her expenses paid by his campaign?"

Yes, why?

[LibDemAlways]

120. Excellent question, isn't it?

It sounds to me like the timeline Edwards is putting forth is being fudged. I suspect the affair lasted a lot longer than he's admitting to and that Elizabeth didn't find out until the campaign was well under way. That just makes more sense. I can see him rationalizing to himself that no one would ever find out, but I can't see her encouraging him to run knowing they were both hiding such potentially damaging information.

The whole question of the other woman working for the Edwards campaign after he told Elizabeth raises a huge red flag. What wife would put up with her husband's mistress working in such close proximity? She is either the world's most understanding wife - or she didn't know. I choose option #2.

I also question when it finally ended in that he admitted in the Nightline interview seeing her at the Beverly Hilton three weeks ago. He explained he was there to make sure the affair would be kept under wraps. Where was the follow up question, "What do you mean by that?" A bunch of stuff doesn't pass the smell test here.

[Genevieve]

128. "I choose option #2."

Ditto!

[saltpoint]

114. I strongly feel that Alexander should not have been hegemon of Greece.

I didn't like the 2 wives thing he had going, plus the gay fling with what's-his-name, and don't get me started on the Persian eunuch.

You just can't be a political or mlitary success if you are so morally flawed as to be sexually promiscuous and to exhibit sexual preference across the gender spectrum.

Also I object to Jesus being the Son of God. No way people will listen to a guy who travels around as a churchless itinerant with 12 guys and a prostitute.

[Debi]

130. She wasn't a prostitute...didn't you read the DaVinci Code

[saltpoint]

134. Ha! We don't know that she was but we don't know that she wasn't,

either.

Technically speaking, we don't even know if she existed.

Quite a gal, though.

[GeorgeGist]

115. Elizabeth should have told him that ...

but she didn't.

[Medusa]

121. I absofuckinglutely agree

what kind of arrogance or ego makes someone think that no one will find out about something like this? He wasn't thinking about his family, his wife, his supporters, or our party when he chose to run again. I can never forgive him for that not that he needs my forgiveness but still. Think of the consequences if he had been our nominee.

[bluecrush]

133. As a past JRE supporter and contributor

I thought I would actually feel better about this the day after. I don't. I feel worse. I don't feel better knowing John McCain's personal failures or the laundry list of dirty GOP figures. I will get over it but something in my political being is going to change.

[kristyt]

135. Why Not Just Disclose It Upfront

No one really cares. It's the mystery that generally counts.

It shows he has poor judgment on two different ends of the equation, sex and how to handle sex as a campaigning pol.

[Top Cat]

140. McSame did not drop out so why shoud the Repub's have a free ride