Some of my favorite DUers really believed in Edwards.

[jillan]

This must hurt.

To all of you :hug:

That's all I wanted to say.

[gateley]

1. I echo Pirhana's sentiment.

:hug:

[texastoast]

2. Yes, it darned sure did

And back at you.

:grouphug:


Meanwhile, this is for you, Mr. Dip-The-Weeny.

:spank:

[yourout]

3. Just proves one thing.......he is human like millions of other people.

That said we dodged a bullet with him not getting the nomination or the VP slot.

[calimary]

7. True enough. If this were an Obama story, or if Edwards were our standard-bearer,

it might just be all over. And that would tarnish the Dem brand by reminding everybody of the randy boys on our side, when we really should be focusing on GOP scandals of all sorts and further tarnish THEIR brand.

As is, this is a side-swipe, all things considered. Shitty for certain, but it didn't happen to the guy in the center ring. Thank God!

At any rate, my heart does go out to the Edwards supporters here. A shitty thing for you guys to have to go through. Doesn't seem fair, does it? 'Cause you did believe in him with everything you had, and you put your money where your mouth was in many cases. And he was the poverty candidate which sweetened things about his campaign. It's a loss to us all. Even if we supported other candidates in the primaries, we still believed in him, too. He'd be a great Attorney General but that's kinda blown, too.

:hug: :patriot:

My sympathies, guys. Not a fun day. Be glad it's Friday and we're just starting all that Olympics coverage for the next couple of weeks or so. Distractions, and time, can be our friends. Cold comfort, I know.

Dammit.

[MonteLukast]

26. I still love him

Remember, Elizabeth is speaking now. And she confirms, she knew about this back in 2006. She's been through it before.

It's $h!ttY they have to all go through it again.

The media? :nuke:

[DURHAM D]

33. Sorry - but John admitted in the interview that Elizabeth

did not know that he was meeting up with what's her name in L.A. This is at John's feet - not the media. Gary Hart ring a bell?

[SammyWinstonJack]

47. Yes the media!

:grr:

[Crazy Dave]

9. He had me fooled once

But then he voted for the war

Then I saw how he obeyed the Kerry handlers so easy.

Then when he was talking all his environmental and homeless bullshit, people were sucking it up and not paying attention to his $6 million, 29,000-square-foot mansion.

After all that bullshit I never understood why people still thought he was so great :shrug:

[pengillian101]

36. Good Points. n/t

[DeeDeeNY]

37. yes

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/01/feingold_edwards_supporters_ar.php

[MonteLukast]

28. I didn't want him to be VP anyway. (nm)

[PresidentObama]

4. Thanks, Pirhana

*Hugs*

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

5. Gary Hart, Bill Clinton, John Edwards

For the love of your country, will you guys please learn to keep your pants on?

[jillan]

10. Don't forget JFK. But back then, people were able to keep sex and politics separate.

[JeanGrey]

50. No. The media protected Kennedy.

[mother earth]

6. What hurts are the plethora of threads on this subject.

Out of respect to the Edwards family this should stop immediately. What a joke MSM has become! They are nothing more than tabloids, playing the fiddle while Rome burns...there are crimes, real ones, being perpetuated as we speak by TPTB, and they salivate over this story.:banghead:

[musicblind]

8. I still believe in Edwards.

He made a horrible mistake. I've been cheated on, it's an awful feeling and ruins lives... but Edwards also has great ideas, good health plans, and a great passion for those in poverty.

[yourout]

11. Ditto here........I still belive in his message.

[dansolo]

55. But I question whether he really believed his message

I didn't buy his populist transformation, and this revelation makes me wonder if he seriously believed in what he was campaigning on, or if he was trying to pander to the far left.

[Crazy Dave]

12. Well for those in poverty and the homeless...

Do you think he'd share some rooms in his 26,000 sq. ft. mansion? Maybe there'll be some extra room once his wife and kids move out.

[Shakespeare]

15. Oh, for fucks' sake.

:eyes:

[Crazy Dave]

21. Good point

If fucking is still what he has in mind that's enough room to start his own "Bunny Ranch" :rofl:

[deaniac21]

63. looks like it

[Blue_In_AK]

13. Thank you.

I still believe in him, too. He has human frailties like the rest of us, but his message was and is a sound one. I wish our candidate would put as much emphasis on corporate malfeasance and how it hurts the average American as John Edwards did.

[Awsi Dooger]

20. I still believe in him also

But I wasn't sure the rumors weren't true. I avoided those threads and didn't read the articles. But a few people I respect said there seemed to be enough weight, not merely tabloid imagination.

I supported Edwards in 2004. He was our best hope vs. an opponent. This time I preferred Mark Warner and was severely deflated when he pulled out. I defaulted to Edwards but without the same enthusiasm as 2004. The more I watched the debates, Hillary was clearly our best and sharpest candidate.

[MonteLukast]

30. Me too!

And they've been through this LONG before any of us have. Elizabeth is smart; she figured it out right when it happened.

[PresidentObama]

38. I think he can rebound, and still fight for the issues he believes in.

But has to regain our trust and respect again.

I feel as if the year I spent campaigning and advocating for him were all a big embarassment now.

[Whisp]

80. not an embarassment at all. you did the right thing

your heart was in the right place.
Edwards did the wrong thing and he should be embarassed, not you.

[Rowdyboy]

14. Discarded my Edwards avatar today....had it since last November.....

He was willing to risk losing the election, hell losing the ocuntry knowing this shit could come out any time. His egotism and disregard for the future of the country amaze me.

I wish the very best for Elizabeth. John can go to hell.

[Medusa]

39. You said exactly what I feel

thanks for saying it. But God I hate that we have to feel this way.

[Raine]

45. That's EXACTLY how I feel

and I hope I never have to see or hear from him again. When I think about donating to him it makes me :puke:

[TornadoTN]

54. Right there with you - I'm sad and disgusted at the same time

We could have used someone like Edwards somewhere behind the scenes. But this is just too much.

[Guava Jelly]

16. I liked his message

I'm sorry his family has to deal with this.

[shireen]

17. Edwards is fundamentally a good decent person, and i stand by my primary vote for him. nt

[robcon]

25. No he isn't. He's a fundamentally selfish person.

Willing to hurt his very sick wife so he could get laid..

Willing to risk, if he was nominated for president, the presidency to the Repugs.

Willing to risk, if he had been chosen as VP (as he seemed to want), to risk the presidential prospects of Barack Obama.

He's a selfish bastard, IMO.

[MonteLukast]

27. No more selfish than any of us. (nm)

[robcon]

59. Not true.

I'm not selfish enough to risk another 4 years of Repug administration so I could be president. If I knew what John and Elizabeth knew, I would NEVER have run for president.

[CTyankee]

18. I read Elizabeth's book and had to stop reading one chapter on Wade' s death.

I was crying too hard. That's never happened in my reading a book before.

I am so sad for her and the family. It has to be the most difficult humiliation.

It is infuriating to me that he lied all the way AFTER he confessed to Elizabeth, thus making her in some way the accessory to his wrongdoing. Yes, she should have said "No,don't run. It's wrong." But I am sure she felt he had something to say that was important (which he did) and she felt it was necessary. It was a bad choice on her part, but entirely understandable.

Thanks for the hugs. I defended JE here on this board and now I am ashamed of him and I really regret my trust in him. It is so hard to do this, I cannot tell you.

[Shine]

19. It does and it pisses me off, too.

:( :grr:

Thanks for the hug, though. I don't know if I was one of your faves, (probably not) but had to post.

I'm bummed.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

22. I was a fan before I finally came to Obama. His infidelity doesn't detract from his ideals

that poverty is morally reprehensible and that there must be health care access for ALL!!

[jzodda]

23. I believed in him

So totally that when I first started hearing about this stuff I angrilly dismissed it. I guess what I believe in now is his message. I hope in time Edwards can come back and reclaim his leadership position in the party. What I fear most now is who will carry his populist agenda? Who will promote it? The big corporations are all probably very happy today. :(

[PatSeg]

31. It was great message

though I wasn't always sure about the messenger.

I'm so sorry his supporters and family has to go through this.

[vaberella]

24. I was gonna vote for him for President. I didn't believe these stories. ~sigh~ I'm really saddened

[JustAnotherGen]

29. Thanks

I'm not sure if I'm one of your favorites - but it's nice to read that. :hug:

[Catherine Vincent]

32. Yes, I am disappointed.

But I'll get over it. :)

[Danger Mouse]

34. I trusted him.

Now...
:puke:

[jillan]

42. Wall - E!!

That was an excellent movie - was pleasantly surprised when I saw it.

[opihimoimoi]

35. I was supporting him early on.....after her pictures came out....I cannot blame him

clearly an attractive woman....not too many men would turn her down....perhaps a few Larry Craigs but Vitter would be there with diapers a jingling....

[LSK]

40. I was one of them, however its better to believe in ideas instead of people

[Muttocracy]

57. that's a good way to put it. nt

[libnnc]

41. I could slap the hell out of him.

I wash my hands of him.

I heard Cate speak at UNCG during the primaries and she was so proud of her dad. I feel horrible for her and Elizabeth.

I'm sorry but this just sucks. SUCKS. :nuke:

[noamnety]

71. Look at what you said here:

"Beautiful man. Just simply beautiful. Inside and out."

You wrote that after this post, about another guy who left a wife and three kids after he very publicly fell in love with another woman.

[libnnc]

72. Big difference between Paul Newman and JE.

Big, big, big difference.

Mainly, Paul Newman was never in a position to legislate the definition of my long term partnership.

[noamnety]

73. One is recent. That's about it

as far as impact on families and kids.

Mmmm, well, maybe not quite, because JE didn't actually walk away. He opted to stay with his family.

My point is, you can twist things any number of ways, focusing on one thing or ignoring another, to either demonize or canonize a person depending on your politics, your mood. Sometimes the differences between those two extremes are smaller than we realize.

[libnnc]

74. Newman didn't preach about the morality of heterosexual marriage.

Denying the legitimacy of my relationship in the same breath.

I really don't give a shit about any of this anymore, frankly.

I'm about done with it all.

[noamnety]

75. Well, that was a problem before the affair was public.

That's bigotry, and it's a separate problem. This highlights the hypocrisy of that, but as a problem it already existed - he wasn't a saint before this, and people who put him on a pedestal were fooling themselves. The affair isn't what made that position on gay marriage wrong.

Regarding this, which is what I was initially responding to: "I heard Cate speak at UNCG during the primaries and she was so proud of her dad. I feel horrible for her and Elizabeth." <-- not so much difference between the two affairs, except Newman opted to walk away from his family afterwards, Edwards opted to stay. I don't honestly know which is better. If you are at the point where you want to be with another woman, whether you act on it or not, some people think you should stay with the wife anyway, others think it's not fair to her to stay. Some would argue the other partner deserves a chance to find someone who will truly value them, and not just because they made a promise a few decades ago and it's a sign of character to honor that promise - but because they still want to.

I don't have a right answer to that. Not sure if anyone does.

[libnnc]

76. Well, those are my feelings and I stand by them.

Those are my words and I stand by them.

I have personal reasons for being really upset at Edwards. SO's sister died of cancer and her husband dogged around on her while she was sick. I watched it happen and it was sickening. This brings back painful memories.

I don't owe Edwards an apology.

[noamnety]

77. I wouldn't ask you to apologize.

He's been denying you rights, you don't owe him anything.

A breakup from an affair is painful though even if you aren't dealing with cancer. Especially if you have kids, as you noted. If you view it as a huge unforgivable sin, that's fine - but your glowing description of Newman is odd in that context.

[libnnc]

78. it's the cancer thing that breaks it for me.

I don't understand why you're pressing this with me.

Please don't push me right now. You have NO idea what my family has been through.

This is my LAST post on this subject.

[Booster]

43. Yes, this does hurt, and my thoughts are with Elizabeth.

:cry:

[Raine]

44. THANKS, it does hurt

and it disillusions me. I'm going to be more cynical and skeptical after this. I'm done with Edwards, if I never hear his name again I'll be happy. :-(

[SammyWinstonJack]

46. I am an Edwards Democrat! Always will be!

:-)

[asdjrocky]

48. Thanks pirhana.

You're a good Duer and I've always enjoyed arguing with you. (And agreeing with you on many things as well!) I still believe in the issues and the man who brought them to the attention of the electorate.

This is between him and that wonderful woman he is married to. It hurts, just because of the crap people will say, but we'll make it through. Being an Edwards Democrat is more than the man, it's the issues.

Peace.

[earth mom]

49. I feel sorry for John & Elizabeth and the kids.

I would hate it if my private life was up for judgment by the world. :yoiks:

[SunDrop23]

51. I was one of them. It doesn't hurt per se. It's just really disappointing.

Kinda makes you lose hope.

Kinda makes you really believe they all suck. Democrat. Republican. All of them.

[cobalt1999]

52. Believing in a politician is the first mistake

I admit to being a cynic, but putting anyone, especially a politician, on a pedestal is begging to be disappointed.

Politicians are mostly egotistical assholes. The best we can do is vote for the ones that will support our causes while being egotistical assholes.

Never trust them, always watch them, force them to at least work towards their campaign promises.

[Taverner]

56. Exactly n/t

[La Lioness Priyanka]

53. i believe he wanted to end poverty. i didnt believe he was beyond human flaws

[MorningGlow]

58. You know what hurts the most?

It's not what Edwards did--better people than he have made the same mistake. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" and all that. As far as I'm concerned, this was a private matter between him and Elizabeth, not him, Elizabeth, and the whole world. He made a very human mistake. I'm sorry they couldn't deal with it privately.

What hurts the most is the sudden name-calling here on DU. I cannot believe how vicious it's been--as though Edwards were Lucifer incarnate.

The. Man. Made. A. Mistake. A mistake too many people make, unfortunately. To turn on a dime and curse him, as though he flayed a person alive and laughed over the bloodied corpse on camera or something, when only months ago we were cheering him and his message, shows how fickle some Dems can be. And that's the difference between Dems and Repugs. Repugs will stand by even the most vile of human beings--they'll even back up Bushweenie and Darth Cheney no matter what, and they've done FAR worse things in their lifetimes than Edwards' poor choice and lapse of PERSONAL judgment. Where is the Dem loyalty at this moment? Nowhere. That's sad.

Anyway, thanks for the :hug: Pirhana.

[robcon]

62. You seem to think the mistake was his infidelity. It wasn't.

His mistake was running for president, knowing that the "skeleton in the closet" might come out and ruin the chances for the Democratic party to regain the White House. His incredible selfishness marks him as a very evil person in my eyes.

[MorningGlow]

65. Oh. Right.

Because in all the history of this country, not one candidate for president has done absolutely anything immoral, EVER. :eyes: Once we get our focus off these feet-of-clay individuals' bedroom activities, the better off we'll be.

[robcon]

81. Your answer shows the stubbornness of a true believer.

You focus not on the political treachery, incredible selfishness and enormous risks Edwards took when he decided to run for president knowing the skeleton in his closet could lose the presidency to a Republican.

(I'm not shocked that Edwards, like a lot of people, cheated on his wife - although doing so when his wife was very sick is a special brand of marriage betrayal.)

I'm focused on the betrayal of his supporters, donors, volunteers and workers by running for president knowing he could have lost badly as soon as his secret was discovered. The story surfaced last October, and yet he branded those who accused him of infidelity as the liars. He presented himself and Elizabeth as a model couple facing trials together. If he had been nominated for president, or if he had been chosen as running mate for Obama, he could have handed the presidency for another 4 years to a Repug.

THAT'S the problem with Edwards. Political treachery. Incredible selfishness. Taking awful political risks with the future of his country.

[Ilsa]

60. Yes, it frustrates me. I'm just done, though.

I hope for the best for all of them, and especially for EE's health, but I'm done. And I'm not judging either one of them, but I'm ready for them to retire to a position of quiet support for whomever takes up their mantel.

[spooky3]

61. thanks for a very nice post, pirhana.

[charlyvi]

64. Thanks for understanding. n/t

[symbolman]

66. I caught pneumonia trying to chase him down, took months to recover..

Shot off my big mouth, having covered Prez candidates before, following them all around New Hampshire when Kerry and all ran, I posted on the DU that I was going to take a camera, fly to the east coast and get him coverage since the media was virtually ignoring him.. Got about $800 in donations (tho very generous, it was not nearly enough to do it - should have called it off right there) packed, used up all my air miles to get there from Hawaii, once I showed up, I rented a car, and jammed to New Hampshire in Snow, froze to the bone..

Rolled into a big shin dig, got stuck in the back with my camera for not being "real" media, and pounded everyone in his chain of command, trying to video blog his moves, his platforms, etc.. Couldn't get through to Anyone, had people hammering his people from 10 directions, nothing.. Usually I'm a whiz at getting back stage..

After getting some Shitty footage after travelling for 30 hours nonstop, I needed to crash.. No rooms available for 60 miles! My wife got some Edwards staffer to find me a leftover room, as Edwards bus left the state I fell into a $100 bed (I never spend that kind of money!), slept three hours, hit the airport flew to North Carolina, only flight available, all ready to drive 300 miles in a few hours to So Carolina where I was sure I could hook up with Edwards..

The car rental place had locked up my card for $400 bucks on the last rental.. I wasn't going anywhere, sitting in a (literal) "crack house" hotel, as a snowstorm swept in..starting to get very ill..

At this point the donations were dribbling in (tho very appreciated) when I heard that to ride on Edwards Press Bus (no car) it would cost $150 bucks a DAY, not counting hotel/motel stays.. Other than that, it was literally thousands to ride in the plane..

Broke, getting sicker, I was forced to give up the ghost and get back to New York, try to get back home to Hawaii.. With no money for a hotel room in NYC I ended up walking the Airport all night, getting SO Sick, worse I felt in my 55 years..

Finally hopped a plane, flew through storms that nearly brought the plane DOWN.. And I became delirious, I was gone.. Literally Fell off a plane in LA, lay on the floor waving off paramedics as my flight to Hawaii was cancelled three times..

I was on that floor for 24 hours, going from chills to intense fever..finally begged my way onto a flight, wife picked me up, hit the couch, passed out and didn't get OFF that couch except for emergency room visits for two weeks..could barely WALK..

Of course then I was too embarrassed to even post on the DU, and there are still people here who hate me for my massive fuck up on Edwards Trail.. I've offered to return their money when we sell our home, but it's been on the market since October, so it may be awhile..

But THAT is backing someone.. Despite the sickness, and my massive screw up I BELiEVED in that guy..

And I forgive him, after my Hell on the Campaign Trail trip.. I know how easy it is for everything to just Fuck up Royally..

It's what happens to Real Live Human Beings. We can rise above all that with our ability to Forgive..

Tho I'll never forgive myself for blowing that trip..

[Generator]

69. Wow what a story

great notes about forgiveness....I saw the front page of my Oregonian this morning..CHEATER... LIAR..and GODDAMN think about how those words apply to those that have fucked up our country and THOUSANDS of lives...not just his wife's heart and our faith in him...and anyway...my husband is MR. Fidelity-wouldn't you know it? And I am the one that has had thought of cheating..so I tell him to can the comments on Edwards..and the jokes.. yeah I know you never liked him "anyway"-oh the humanity...well FUCK YOU "mainstream" media-you have cheated us all and lied to us and well thank you for nothing.

Liar and cheat welcome to the mirror.

[MrSlayer]

67. Edwards was my first choice this time.

But I'm not hurt or disappointed. I don't really care.

[tilsammans]

68. The affair is one thing . . .

. . . bad enough, when your wife, whom you profess to love so much, is so very ill.

But DON'T FRIGGIN' LIE, and then LIE REPEATEDLY.

:spank:

[Horse with no Name]

70. It didn't hurt me.

We are all flawed.
I'm sorry for his family that his affair is fodder for every channel and every gotcha asshole out there.
I wasn't voting for his dick. I was voting for his policies.

[Raksha]

79. I voted for Edwards in the California primary,

after he'd officially suspended his campaign. Now I wish I'd voted for Kucinich like I did in 2004 if I was going to cast a protest vote.

[Hubert Flottz]

82. I did...