Is John Edwards a "scumbag?"

[Renew Deal]

Poll question: Is John Edwards a "scumbag?"

Story about him denying paternity because "the timing wasn't right."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoEV-0VXQ5c&feature=related

Edwards list of lies documented
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCc7x4z52o0

Of course, Edwards "scumbaggery" is a matter of perspective. Some will believe that the infidelity is enough. Some will feel fooled. Some will feel that lying about the paternity of the child is wrong. Whatever your reason is... Is Edwards a "scumbag?"

[Adelante]

1. Certainly he is

But he always has been, in my opinion.

[timeforpeace]

36. Yes. At least he isn't President of the United States though.

[butterfly77]

104. My sentiments exactly...

I could never see why people couldn't see how phony he is. I was angry when Kerry chose him as vp and then I was angry when he decided to run again I just couldn't understand what some were seeing..

[loosey goosey]

2. People are complex creatures. One the one hand, I think it's obvious that he acted in scumbaggedly

ways, but there are two sides to the story. Lying is never okay in my book, but I also acknowledge that men cheating is not solely about the men but their wives as well. Men (save for Alan Alda) are often not in touch with their feelings and perhaps sexual energy becomes the substitute for grief/sadness. You know, like how chocolate is to women?:rofl:

[redqueen]

7. "men cheating is not solely about the men but their wives as well"

How so?

[loosey goosey]

10. Well, look at Christy Brinkley's situation. I couldn't stand to look at that putz

thinking about him having an affair with a young girl. And then he was on "Oprah" or something and he seemed genuine and sensitive and perhaps slightly confused (as middle-age can do to a person). He said that it was all about Christy all the time and I guess he felt unheard and unappreciated. And I am certainly against lying and cheating and all that, but it's not always so black and white when it comes to the root cause. Even when it looks bad. And I do believe (as a woman) that we all have to own our part in any situation. Even if it's a clearcut case of abuse, a woman has to look at why she tolerated it. Otherwise, it isn't unheard of for her to find herself with another abusive person.

[tabatha]

25. Actually, Edwards cheated on the whole nation.

And the nation had nothing to do with it.

[loosey goosey]

29. First of all, if you are suggesting that his denial of the affair indicates general

dishonesty, then I suppose you may have a point there. I felt let down by Bill C. when he looked straight into the camera and lied to our faces. And so many people felt it was no big deal because it was "just" about sex. Having lived thru 8 years of hell, I am a little more tolerant of alley cats.:rofl:

[qazplm]

14. replace the genders with spouse

because women cheat at a not insignificant rate as well.

At the end of the day, cheating happens for a complex number of reasons more times than folks would like to admit.

Sure, some people are just selfish jerks, male and female. Others are immature. But for the wife who's husband ignores her or treats her coldly, or the husband who's wife makes no effort to engage him physically, those folks are bouncing fidelity up against the basic human need for intimate contact with someone.

Now in this case, I'm willing to admit that having a spouse that is clearly going to die sooner than you are is something that has to be tough to deal with, and could even be a factor in Edwards acting a little crazy.

But he went WAY beyond the paradigm for that excuse. You can't wrap it up even? You can't keep it in your pants when your wife is fighting for her life? So in Edwards case, I lean heavily towards jerk and it is all on him, but in general, there is some truth to the idea that both parties in a relationship often bear some responsibility for one party cheating.

[Kalyke]

38. Wow... those are some nice stereotypes, there.

Women love chocolate and men cheat because their wives got (fill in the blank... fat? older? gray? )

:eyes:

FWIW, I don't love chocolate and I'm female and still of child-bearing years.

Throws that claptrap right out of the water, eh?

[dana_b]

39. it's always a two way street

- always. I'm not making excuses for cheating however cheating is some people's way of dealing with the bigger issue - getting attention, love, acceptance, etc. It may be the wrong way to go about it, but it does go to the underlying issue that something is very wrong with the relationship.

[redqueen]

41. "It may be the wrong way to go about it" ... May?

FFS...

[dana_b]

50. oh please...

quibbling over one word. It's the wrong way to go about it - there- is that better?? The point being that it's not an all or nothing deal. One person is not the totally guilty party and the other the innocent victim.

[redqueen]

51. Words have meaning, and meaning is important.

That one little word changed the meaning of your statement significantly. I'm sure you realize that, despite your demonstration of being upset.

The point is only one person goes out and screws around. I disagree with all this excuse making.

Too many people feel entitled to act selfishly and then to make excuses so they can escape or deflect criticism. I think it's very sad.

[Buzz Clik]

3. Considering Elizabeth's situation at the time of his "sparking", yes -- 100% scumbag.

We cut Gingrich no slack for similar behavior. I give Edwards the same.

[nc4bo]

12. Yes, Elizabeth was the clincher for me too. Edwards behaved like a total scumbag.

My heart aches for her and all she had to put up on top of the cancer ravaging her body.

[Ilsa]

58. Her condition when he cheated on her affects my feelings about him

as well. I don't trust him in any manner whatsoever because of the way he treated his family. He's as bad as Gingrich.

[ControlledDemolition]

88. I tend to agree. It reminds me of Newt Gingrich and how he treated his 1st wife whilst in the...

... middle of a cancer battle.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. He's a lawyer, so yeah, probably a scumbag

but, he could have been OUR scumbag.

Would he be a scumbag in favor of single-payer health care?

Would he be a scumbag who would actually get us out of the middle east?

If he'd do those things, I'd vote for him, and gladly call him MY scumbag!

Regardless of a few personal failings.

:hi:

[patricia92243]

9. Or most likely he could have lost us the election when it was found out. Then, instead of Obama,

we would have McCain and his insane running mate.

[Berry Cool]

42. EXACTLY.

That's why this isn't just a personal thing between him and Elizabeth. We ALL could've gotten stuck with The Geezer and Winky, at a critical time in the nation's history, simply because of the American voters' distaste for the utter sleaziness of a married man cheating on his very ill wife--no matter what ways his policies might have been good for the country.

And yeah, timing IS everything--I mean, McCain cheated on and divorced HIS ill wife to get Cindy--but that was many, many years ago, and time, sadly, tends to mend the image of heels rather than wounding them all. Especially when they end up marrying the chick in the end.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

56. Or it would have been just a pair of pecadillos

which cancel each other out.

I don't think my vote would have swung Republican. But I guess we'll never know.
:hi:

[Heidi]

94. Why the broadbrush smear of lawyers? (nt)

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

98. Bad humor

No offense intended. Lawyers seem to be the butt of many jokes. And lawyers seem to enjoy telling "lawyer jokes". I think the job requires thick skin. I should have used some kind of smiley.

Anyway, my real point was that I don't care if someone has a few personal failings. If the person can end a couple of wars and get real health care reform, then he has my vote.

But, so far, nobody has proved himself capable of getting those goals accomplished.

:hi:

[Mz Pip]

5. What I feel is

a strong sense of disappointment. He betrayed his family and those who supported him. A lot of people had such hopes for him and he let us all down. I guess I expected more of him but in the end he turned out to be just another narcissistic politician.

[SoCalDem]

6. John Edwards is a vain man

He thought he deserved to be president, but could not live up to his own professed ideals.

He probably needed to leave his wife, but he wanted to be president, so he "stayed too long at the party".

When he lost with Kerry, he had the perfect opportunity to withdraw from politics, and to stay close to his family and support his ill wife. He owed her that.

Instead , he camped out in Iowa for years, built her a big-ole house in the woods, and concentrated on '08, even though he was not successful in any of this other solo-efforts.

Once she was sick, there was no way he "could" leave her, so he did the next "best" thing.. he had a not-so-secret affair with a campaign groupie and impregnated her..then lied about it. Even though many insiders "knew" he was still willing to continue to run until it was finally impossible to do so. Even then he continued to lie.

He's a cheater and a liar. He may be "cute",but that's not enough.

[LeftinOH]

8. He could have been VP -the scandal wouldn't have helped us *at all*.

[tularetom]

11. He oozes scumbaggage from every pore

That doesn't mean he wouldn't have been a successful VP.

[rucky]

13. More of a sleazebag than a scumbag.

[GreenArrow]

44. Ha! You beat me to it.

That's my opinion as well.

[charlie]

15. John Edwards Vows to Spend More Time With His Families

Former presidential candidate John Edwards said today that he would withdraw from public life, promising "to spend more time with my families."

But even as he made this vow, Mr. Edwards said he would continue to sound the themes of his presidential campaigns: "There are two Americas, and I have children in each of them."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-borowitz/john-edwards-vows-to-spen_b_259455.html

[invictus]

49. LOL!

[ThomWV]

16. John Edwards was the only champion of the little guy we had - and now we call him a scumbag.

[Renew Deal]

17. He was bullshitting you

He wasn't a "champion of the little guy." He was a champion of himself and he was willing to say whatever it took to win.

[reflection]

22. Well to be honest,

he was a champion of *his* little guy.

:hide:

[Renew Deal]

26. lol

:rofl:

[closeupready]

54. Yes, it's a fine distinction one must make.

:rofl:

[charlie]

18. Kooch n/t

[redqueen]

20. Thank you!

Fucking hell...

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. Thank you!

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[hfojvt]

32. not the only one, but the only visible one

but the media set up the Edwards = hypocrite meme from the start.

Edwards made it easy though. His house is not really defensible. Who knows though, maybe that was Elizabeth's idea.

FDR had an affair too, and he didn't exactly announce that from the rooftops. That and his polio were hidden from the public, so he's a liar too.

But it's not like DU is all that fond of the little guy either. Except for January being poverty awareness month this year, we do not hear about or think about the poor all that much. edit - in fact, we probably bash many of the poor for being stupid and/or racist.

Don't worry though, the benefits from cash for clunkers is bound to tricklet down to them somehow.

[GreenArrow]

47. The media may have run with it

but Edwards' hypocrisy problems stem from his own behaviour and choices. If one wishes to come off as a white knight, one damn well better be a white knight. His smug pretense was his own undoing.

[Kalyke]

40. I guess a liar is better than, say, Kucinich?

:eyes:

[grantcart]

45. that is the 'scummiest' part of it

if he was really committed to the cause he wouldn't have jepordized it with his actions.


He didn't really care he was exploiting it for his own personal ambition.


Some people saw through him from the begining, I didn't but I am so glad that we didn't jump on that train.

[GreenArrow]

46. Nah, he was a champion of John Edwards,

only that and nothing more. The "little guy" was only a tool to be used in furthering his own ambition.

[mnhtnbb]

60. The problem for me, now, is whether you can trust him as champion

of the little guy, or whether all that is an act in an effort to draw attention to himself.

[On the Road]

21. If a Having an Extramarital Affair

qualifies a public figure as being a scumbag, then our leaders have been scumbags for a very long time. Edwards was nothing compared to Kennedy, Clinton, King, and countless others.

[SammyWinstonJack]

23. +1 nt

[Renew Deal]

28. What about having an extramarital affair while his wife had a terminal illness

with a woman he put on staff so he can fuck her on the road, then lying about it, and lying about the paternity of his child until he got caught?

[SammyWinstonJack]

30. You think he's a scumbag, we get that. Why start a poll on it?

:shrug:

[Renew Deal]

31. I wanted to find out where DU stood on the issue.

And I was one of the people that defended Edwards when this story first came out. I like others have changed my view.

[On the Road]

34. Lying Pretty Much Comes with the Territory

and affairs almost always require dishonesty. That is not to excuse it, but in my mind it doesn't make it worse than Clinton's, Sanford's, or anyone else's other affair.

[Renew Deal]

37. I wonder if one is worse or better

but fathering a child out of it is not good.

[XemaSab]

62. Edwards was nothing compared to Clinton?

Clinton got his dick sucked by an intern; Edwards fucked a staffer, diverted piles of campaign money towards her, and fathered her child.

Who is the bigger dog here?

[On the Road]

84. Clinton Had Multiple "Bimbo Eruptions"

that threatened to derail his political influence dating from early in the primary campaigns. That's what I was referring to.

[maxsolomon]

24. there's worse

he's not GOP.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

27. No, just departmentally stupid and/or tragic in the classical Greek sense.

I'll say departmentally stupid because in terms of book smarts and tackling issues of poverty, the man was spot on. I don't regret the fact I voted for him in the primaries, and had he lived scandal free, he would have been a great President, Vice President or Attorney General.

But, as is the case with many a politician, the organ will often cloud the brain's judgment, and foolish behavior ensues.

[hamsterjill]

33. Scumbag!

It's one thing to do it (i.e., cheat on your spouse).

It's another thing to lie about it;

It's another thing entirely to lie about it when there is evidence that will eventually convict that a lie is being told.

And lying about being the father when DNA can prove otherwise, is/was just plain stupid. I think we're lucky that someone with that level of stupidity DIDN'T make it to the white house! And I was an early supporter of Edwards. But not any more.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

35. Yes, he acted like a scumbag-jerk to Elizabeth, and the child if all this is true

If he's a total scumbag or not I don't know. I don't believe I know enough about the man say for sure one way or the other. However, those two incidents of scumbaggery will be enough evidence of his scumbag tendencies for many people. I have to admit they were two pretty scumbaggish things to have done.

[GreenArrow]

43. Darn tootin!

Personally, I prefer to think of him as a sleazebag, but scumbag is close enough. And for what it's worth, his affair and the fallout from it is the least of it. He was a scumbag long before Rielle Hunter came along.

[dembotoz]

48. I have been there--watching someone you love slowly die-helpless as can be....

The temptation to make the pain go away for just a while
for just a little while

is very great
and very real.

When i was going thru it- i was amazed early- about how many relationships had
died before the cancer won.

And then over time i began to understand.

Your minister will tell you about how the fire of cancer will purify your
relationship and make it stronger--Clueless bastards......

We all have the hollywood --Love Story idea about how these things work out.
Sometimes that just does not happen that way.
Was what john edwards do wrong????
Yes obviously
But i understand how it happens
and i think i understand why it happens.

It is all just very sad.

[redqueen]

68. deleted

[cynatnite]

52. As long as he's taking responsibility for his kid...no, he's not n/t

[closeupready]

53. Yep. A total used condom, for sure. And I used to support him, way back.

Not after this shit.

[Orsino]

55. Both a scumbag and not a scumbag...

...depending on what one thinks is important.

[SidneyCarton]

57. The man has destroyed himself, and caused much pain to his family.

Do we really need to jump in with more. The show's over, go home.

[mnhtnbb]

59. One notch above Newt--at least he didn't ask Elizabeth for a divorce

while she was being treated for cancer. So, yes, he qualifies as a scumbag.

[BirminghamExaminer]

61. No, he's a typical human male

It's the evolutionary incentive to spread your DNA around. Seriously folks. What he did was wrong by today's moral standards and I hate that he hurt his wife in this way. But she forgave him, why can't you.

I don't think he has a political career now but I certainly don't think he's a scumbag.

[redqueen]

63. lol. If I were a guy I'd be insulted by that. (nt)

[Renew Deal]

70. Did she know he fathered a child when she "forgave him?"

I know it's gossip, but I'd love to know that answer.

[proteus_lives]

86. Typical human male?

What a fucking cop-out.

:thumbsdown:

Some of us "human males" are capable of controlling ourselves.

[Forkboy]

101. Typical female answer.

[LostInAnomie]

64. He's a human being that did a bad thing during a difficult time.

Not a scumbag

[redqueen]

66. Which bad thing are you referring to?

Fucking around behind his wife's back?

Lying about it to his wife, when he 'came clean' and asked for forgiveness... but was still fucking around?

Risking getting the nomination and losing due to this dumbass scandal?

Lying about the kid?

:shrug:

[LostInAnomie]

69. All of the above.

They all stem from the same bad/stupid action though.

We can't put ourselves into his head, so it's hard to really know how he justified it to himself. But, it's not uncommon for men who have cheated to try to hide the facts.

[dhpgetsit]

65. No, he's a human being who made a human mistake.

Thank God he didn't win the nomination for POTUS, though.
I would have voted for him if he were still a contender when the primaries came to OR.

I think it's really quite tragic.

[WinkyDink]

74. How many "mistakes" are you granting? The affair? The baby? The lying about both, in succession?

The inveigling of his MARRIED friend to lie for him?
They weren't "mistakes"; they were boldly deliberate and calculated personal and political moves.

Edwards hoped both for his election and his not-so-distant union with the girlfriend (at which time he'd "adopt" the boy).
Pardon me if that conclusion seems harsh, but I think what's-her-name has proven her credibility, and this is what she has implied.

[dhpgetsit]

87. I'm not saying what he did was OK.

Or even forgivable.
But I'm not going to judge his entire life based on his failure as a husband.

[JerseygirlCT]

67. I don't know if I'd say "scumbag", but he's certainly shown himself

to be a man bereft of integrity.

[Doctor_J]

71. I think "dog" is much more precise

He had a pretty good life except for this. If you call Edwards a scumbag, what does that make Gingrinch?

[Swamp Rat]

76. a domestic terrorist

[earth mom]

72. At this point, I think Elizabeth should leave him.

I don't think Edwards is a scumbag, but I do think that Elizabeth deserves better and she should not have to deal with having the other womans child in her life.

[WinkyDink]

73. If he isn't, who is?

[WinkyDink]

75. To the NOOB posters: Have you noticed the GD threads on M. Vick? Jon & Kate? THAT'S "our business"?

[KT2000]

77. If he had not run for president

it would be none of my concern. When he did run, he knew this was in his past and would likely come out at some point. If he had won the nomination he would have been destroyed and lost the election because of this.
He disrespected the people who were willing to place their trust in his presidency.

[redqueen]

78. That brings up the other can'o'worms... did he spend campaign money on his mistress?

I wonder if those saying he just made a mistake and he's just a typical guy think that's also not a scumbag move (if it's true).

[BlooInBloo]

79. (shrug) Yes. No. Whatever. In retrospect, I am glad he lost the primary...

And he was my horse.

[TexasObserver]

80. Yes. Screwed around on his sick wife. Lied once caught. Covered it up.

Paid off his paramour. Had one of his staffers jump on that "grenade." Had a backer funnel money to her.

Oh, yeah, he's a scumbag.

[WillowTree]

81. Scumbag of the first order. No heart. No soul. Just a nasty little dick,

[crazy_vanilla]

82. i would give him

the benefit of the doubt if his wife was not struggling (and arguably terminal) with cancer at the time

He is a scumbag of the worst kind if you ask me.

[ConnorMarc]

83. I Hope The Right-Wingers Are Paying Attention

To how Left-Wingers treat people, even those "on their own team," who do unacceptable and dispicable things.

The Self-Proclaimed Party of "Family Values" has yet to sternly and solidly denounce the likes of Ensign, Sanford and Mr. "Wide Stance."

Yet, the so-called party of "No Values" threw such scum under the bus...regardless of who he is or whatever his stature may have been.

[proteus_lives]

85. He cheated on wife and had a kid with his mistress whom he then throw under a bus.

So yeah, total scumbag.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

89. I wouldn't call him a scumbag

A cad, a boor, a scoundrel, a lout, a worm or a heel are ones I would prefer. I don't care whether you're a public or private person, how pretty the girl is, how much you need sex, and how you're currently getting along with your spouse. You just don't step out on the wife who's selflessly been at your side when she's suddenly fighting cancer. That's not the mark of a gentleman or a man.

[ivanincali]

90. John Edwards is a fake.

I'm so glad he never got the Democratic nomination! Never liked him from the beginning, I always thought he came across as just another two-faced smooth talking politician. Plus he voted for the Iraq war which is unforgivable!!

[devilgrrl]

91. Yes but not to the level of Newt Gingrich or a host of other GOP scumbags.

He's gone - just like Gary Hart.

[Iggo]

92. He ain't my husband.

[David Zephyr]

93. Yes. And he always been one.

I took a lot of shit here for never buying into that phony, gee-whiz smile of his. The combing narcissistic jerk was cheating on his wife while she had cancer while running for president which would have been the ruin of our party had he gotten the nomination. I had no idea he was that big of an asshole, but I never liked him.

Yes, he's a scumbag and I wish he would just go the fuck away because every time his name is mentioned, it's another "revelation" of what a lying piece of shit he is.

He fuckin' denied his own child's existence. What more does one need to know?

[Vidar]

95. Unfortunately, yes.

[Lorien]

96. So why are you still kicking this dead horse around?

Old news. Now back to the real problems at hand...

[omega minimo]

97. This is the kind of crude, pointless, stupefying OP that gets UnRecked by those who quit playing the

Un/Rec game because it is arbitary, random and pointless, now.

Several threads today wanted to know when we use UnRec. Here's an example, fortunately rare.

IMHO. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[DemocratSinceBirth]

99. Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged

~

[Liberal_in_LA]

100. This poll question is very direct and to the point. lol

[leftofthedial]

102. no. if he'd used one, he wouldn't be in this mess

gotta manage your fluids carefully

[Octafish]

103. You mean like Bill Clinton?

No one is perfect.

Like BC, JE hurt his family and marriage.
The real issue is Bush. He screwed America.

[smalll]

105. DU has spoken! "Scumbag" by a two-thirds majority!

How far the might sleazy have fallen!

[Recursion]

106. The scumbagitude is because he was willing to risk the progressive agenda over this.

It kills me that he did that.

[Crabby Appleton]

107. Here's a good article that is ostensibly about a biography

of Helen Gurley Brown but eventually gets to the Edwards

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/print/200909/sex-married-man