Elizabeth Edwards Asks For Privacy
Elizabeth Edwards posted this statement tonight at Daily Kos:
Our family has been through a lot. Some caused by nature, some caused by human weakness, and some - most recently - caused by the desire for sensationalism and profit without any regard for the human consequences. None of these has been easy. But we have stood with one another through them all. Although John believes he should stand alone and take the consequences of his action now, when the door closes behind him, he has his family waiting for him.
John made a terrible mistake in 2006. The fact that it is a mistake that many others have made before him did not make it any easier for me to hear when he told me what he had done. But he did tell me. And we began a long and painful process in 2006, a process oddly made somewhat easier with my diagnosis in March of 2007. This was our private matter, and I frankly wanted it to be private because as painful as it was I did not want to have to play it out on a public stage as well. Because of a recent string of hurtful and absurd lies in a tabloid publication, because of a picture falsely suggesting that John was spending time with a child it wrongly alleged he had fathered outside our marriage, our private matter could no longer be wholly private.
The pain of the long journey since 2006 was about to be renewed.
John has spoken in a long on-camera interview I hope you watch. Admitting one's mistakes is a hard thing for anyone to do, and I am proud of the courage John showed by his honesty in the face of shame. The toll on our family of news helicopters over our house and reporters in our driveway is yet unknown. But now the truth is out, and the repair work that began in 2006 will continue. I ask that the public, who expressed concern about the harm John's conduct has done to us, think also about the real harm that the present voyeurism does and give me and my family the privacy we need at this time.
That's one classy lady.
August 8, 2008 11:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like Elizabeth--much more than John but this bothers me:
(a) if she knew he'd had an affair, she helped him perpetrate this lie knowing it could blow up in the democrats face. She pushed aides out to lie to the media. This takes her down a few pegs IMO.
(b) I don't believe she knew about the affair in 2006 because Hunter continued to work for Edwards until 2007. There's no way you let the woman who screwed your husband continue to be by his side day in, day out if you're trying to get beyond the affair. I think she's helping him cover up now.
August 8, 2008 11:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely, she is helping him save face. Can't say I blame her, she has her kids to think about. The only way that she secures the reputation and future for herself and her children is to try to help save John's career.
Now I admire Elizabeth, don't get me wrong. I know of what I speak. My husband was having an affair when I was diagnosed with 4th stage Hodgkins Lymphoma...I know what I am talking about.
She did not know this in 2006, there is absolutely no way. You can tell she absolutely adored him. You can also tell that this must be a recent blow. Had she known, all of the media circus would have been expected and planned for.
I personally think she should dump his ass, and it may come to that. That is another reason I think this is a recent revelation to her...she's in denail now...ooooh just wait until the rage sets in.
August 9, 2008 1:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
You know. When the Spitzer hooker affair came out, it became known that his wife was actually encouraging him to NOT resign. He should see it through and not let the media or other interested parties bring him down. Of course, Spitzer knew he was finished based on what his image was, so he did the right thing.
But it is interesting to note, that Spitzer's wife, just like Hillary, just like Elizabeth Edwards see OTHERS as the real culprits for exposing such affairs. It tells you a lot about what is truly important for many a politician's wife.
August 9, 2008 3:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
BTW, Elizabeth is not in denial. She has stated that she KNEW about this affair for a long time and that they both had agreed to keep it secret during his presidential primary run. Like Hillary or Spitzer's wife, she won't leave him. I believe they see they got a good life going on with their top politician husbands, cash is coming in, why ruin a good thing for them for something as silly as wedding vows?
August 9, 2008 3:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Believe what you want, but the truth is you have no idea.
August 9, 2008 9:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ditto on that one. She helped him cover it up and defraud dems. That's not right.
August 9, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
absolutely. I'm gonna try to respect their request and not spend any time on this (also, who cares - not my business) but fuck him for knowing this and running. What if he'd won the nomination? Asshole. Go get lost in your 29,000 sq ft house.
August 9, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good point about the timing. It's unthinkable that Hunter would still have worked for the campaign after Elizabeth found out.
August 9, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, Evie. That's my point. People here are so into defense mode simply because Edwards is a democrat that they're closing their eyes to the obvious.
(a) Hunter was giving interviews to Newsweek on Edwards' behalf in late Demember, 2006; She was interview by Extra in February, 2007. She was still being paid by his PAC is March, 2007. That wouldn't have happened if the affair was over and Elizabeth knew about it.
(b) This morning, Hunter's sister told ABC that she wants Edwards to take a paternity test because she's tried of her sister being trashed! You can bet she'd doing this with Hunter's blessing because they all know that Edwards is the father of that baby.
August 9, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have enormous respect for Ms.Edwards. I hope this episode doesn't deter her from taking stage on the public domain.
Sen.Edwards on the other hand should stay away from the public eye atleast until the first tuesday of November this year.
August 8, 2008 11:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Then she shouldn't have put her hat into the presidential election ring after learning about the affair. At least, not without John Edwards coming clean before running. They brought this on themselves.
August 8, 2008 11:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
you have a point.
I respect the Edwards family but at the same time I am still a bit shocked and appalled. It's like out of all the candidates you would have never expected him. You see how wrong Rush Limbaugh was in trying to paint him as the Breck girl, the guy had a completely different persona.
I watched Fox News' Hannity & Colmes rip completely into this story with plans to fully expose it.
At the same time this scandals creates a relief from the media over obsession in the Presidential race. Barack Obama looks like he'll be able to enjoy his vacation, and I won't have to hear the news whining to want to know everything he is doing in Hawaii.
August 9, 2008 5:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
What a sweet understanding person you are!
I feel glad that your personal life contains no flaw!
But you are correct that in our faux puritanical society that adultery is unforgivable (unless you can murder or blackmail your way out of it!)
August 9, 2008 11:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Easy to say, "he should've" and "she should've" been forewarned before grabbing the so-called spotlight.
They are still humans, Elizabeth and John. And their children are still children.
Give them their space.
My opinion, anyway.
August 8, 2008 11:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did they think this would stay buried? Have they not heard of the internet? The hubris of John in this is simply staggering. If he had become the nominee then we would be in a world of trouble as Democrats. The election would be over. That he had this affair and still chose to run and possibly subject his family to this is something I am having trouble getting my head around.
As for Elizabeth, I do feel sorry for her and the kids. The fact that she knew about this and gave her blessing on him running does, however, boggle the mind. To run for President and think this would stay buried is foolish and shows remarkably poor judgement.
Watching those lame web videos Hunter made, it's no clue they disappeared. Not only were they shallow, there was a weird flirty element in a few moments.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/08/rielle-hunters-webisodes_n_117871.html
August 8, 2008 11:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
America's quest for the candidate who is perfect in every way will never be fulfilled - and that's a good thing.
Be wary of the hypo-critics!
August 9, 2008 12:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Peace, Elizabeth Edwards.
August 9, 2008 12:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
So she knew about the affair before he announced his run? These two buffoons didn't think this would come out? Ummmm, hello?
I hate to say 'I told you so' about John and Liz but ITOLDYOUSO!
August 9, 2008 12:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's just an affair. He was horny or wanted some kind of affection he wasn't getting at home. Women sometimes do that too. That he has to comment about this at all is disappointing - it's the lie that comes from our public unacceptance of None of Your Damn Business. Of course pray to whoever that Elizabeth doesn't get smeared with sticking with the man who betrayed her in a craven political gesture posing with a loveless marriage. Probaably cancer gets her out on the sympathy card, but I imagine Hillary would get cancer and many would just be saying she deserved it.
If the public doesn't want to be lied to about stupid private things, it should tell the press to stop asking about stupid private things.
August 9, 2008 3:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
"None of Your Damn Business."
If it is going to be none of our damn business then they should not be soliciting money and time from others in what was ultimately a doomed presidential primary campaign. They even put the party in jeopardy had his bid in the primaries been successful. I don't care if my neighbor is having an affair, it is his damn business, but Edwards was soliciting public money and time while at the same time deceiving his supporters by assuring them these rumors were all a lie.
If you think they are somehow the victims here, you are plain wrong.
August 9, 2008 3:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're missing the point. If Americans did not put so much misplaced emphasis on the personal and private habits of its candidates and public officials an affair of the heart wouldn't and shouldn't ever become a reason to not be considered a viable candidate. People, no matter who, will try to hide, or if you will "lie" about their personal lives out of embarrasment or simply because, it's none of our damned business. This type of situation should never be an issue to begin with. Our immature national obsession to find the "perfect" candidate, particularly by the MSM, needs to stop. They are distractions from the important core issues confronting the country today.
August 9, 2008 7:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
If he hadn't run, what would the outcome of the Iowa primary looked like?
August 9, 2008 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
You are so correct! ( I consider it a slur to say someone is "right")
And I love you for saying it!
August 10, 2008 12:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
hey, i want my $50 campaign contribution back!!
as i said on my blog, this effectively destroys the left's best talking point about newt gingrich.
August 9, 2008 3:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
as i said on my blog, this effectively destroys the left's best talking point about newt gingrich.
NO, IT DOESN'T.
1) The left doesn't campaign on afaux-family-"Moral"-Values platform. The right does. You think there's no difference between Larry Craig and Barney Frank?
2) No matter what you think of what Edwards did, he didn't refuse to pay alimony and child support to his first wife, forcing her church to take up a collection for their support.
Try again.
August 11, 2008 2:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I so don't care about this. Edwards, you are human. So what? This is a non-issue. Humans have sex stuff. So?
August 9, 2008 4:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Liz,
Dump the bum. If after all the facial work (upper eyelid lift, neck lift and perma-tan and all John girly boy Edwards could get is a woman who looks like an ugly British Royal (Camilla), dump him and take him for every penny. He's trailer trash and I knew it all along. Now I await Barry's "love child." Only a matter of time, it's the DEMs turn at being cheating pigs ... Elliot, John.
August 9, 2008 6:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Now I await Barry's "love child.""
You should be hoping for a brain, or a respectable argument first.
August 9, 2008 9:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is that you Jesus? Save the world, Jesus.
August 9, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Is that you Jesus? Save the world, Jesus."
More cowardice babble and deflection, par for the course.
August 9, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're so strange. I'm always mystified by this argument that Obama has no brain or is an "empty suit" that's a charge that can't stick because it's so obviously untrue. He came from nothing and went to Harvard, ending up a Professor at the University of Chicago Law school a perennial member of the top five in the country. It's fine not to like Obama -- different strokes and all that -- but saying he's stupid just makes you look downright retarded.
August 9, 2008 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Americans did not put so much misplaced emphasis on the personal and private habits of its candidates and public officials an affair of the heart wouldn't and shouldn't ever become a reason to not be considered a viable candidate. People, no matter who, will try to hide, or if you will "lie" about their personal lives out of embarrasment or simply because, it's none of our damned business. This type of situation should never be an issue to begin with. Our immature national obsession to find the "perfect" candidate, particularly by the MSM, needs to stop. They are distractions from the important core issues confronting the country today.
August 9, 2008 7:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't see that happening anytime soon.
August 9, 2008 8:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Americans are a forgiving sort--except when it comes to lying repeatedly. Perhaps after DECADES pass, John Edwards will be able to hold a high political office. Right now, it isn't going to happen.
Consequences are known to liars or they wouldn't be lying. John and Elizabeth both knew that their changes for the Presidency relied on keeping this hidden--and lying about it repeatedly. Based on the timing of this affair, it certainly would have been John out of the running immediately.
We can moralize all we want about how Americans "shouldn't" care. The bottom line is that Americans do care--particularly when the politician and those close to him/her are lying and covering up and paying money out. Then, it matters.
I am sure that John and Elizabeth would have liked to have kept this completely private and have been successful apparently since 2006. How sincere they both sound--John sounded perfectly sincere in his denials. And it brings into question John's honesty. His political career is over.
August 9, 2008 8:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Marginal Player is a weather vane for what is going outside the maelstrom. His/her/its ramblings and ravings are todays talking points.
We must stop wallowing. We need to respect the Edwards' wishes and get on with life and address that which is important.
To paraphrase E. Roosevelt:
I would rather light a candle than curse the dark.
If we don't, we look like those farging fools railing in the dark at Pelosi . . . Demanding that the lights get turned back on so they can drag their feet on doing anything about energy.
August 9, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, John "sounded" perfectly sincere in his denials. Just like he "sounded" perfectly sincere in his war on poverty talk...even though he'd never mentioned it before running for office this time around. Just like he "sounded" perfectly sincere about his opposition to the war he voted in favor of during his one and only Senate term.
I'll say again something that, up until Edwards dropped out of the race early in the year, used to provoke a lot of anger when I said it on various liberal blogs: Edwards never seemed real to me, he always came off as too slick by half and always reminded me of a soap actor who had overly practiced his lines and delivery. I felt the same way about him when he was Kerry's running mate. I'll also say again that I never considered this to be something that necessarily made him unsuitable for office or a bad guy, just that I always found the progressives' love for him somewhat inexplicable.
All that having been said, I couldn't care less about his private sexual habits. I understand people being upset about this coming out after they supported his candidacy and gave him money but...the people who gave him money are the ones who somehow failed to note that his principled stands couldn't be backed up by any concrete actions on his part. If you don't recognize people who are too slick by half when you see them, you're going to be surprised by this kind of thing on a fairly regular basis.
I always thought Elizabeth was the better half of the Edwardses. I'm very sorry for her that she's having to go through this because of this country's juvenile fixation with what famous people do with their naughty bits. It will be a good day for us as a country when famous people start answering these kinds of questions and speculations with "that's none of your goddamned business." This notion that somehow a person's gentials become public domain just because we all know who they are - it's nuts. We aren't owed any apologies for sexual misconduct unless we are one of the parties involved. Just knowing who the parties involved are doesn't give any of us the right to demand a public appeal for forgiveness.
August 9, 2008 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
"doesn't give any of us the right to demand a public appeal for forgiveness."
You are absolutely right. But Edwards went on MSM and offered his explanation. He also lied through his teeth..to us...yet again.
Think about it. This story would have died on the vine. No question. It was the National Enquirer for godsake! Nobody believes that crap....
But John just had to go to that hotel room, in the middle of the night, to see a woman he had an ended affair with in 2006?
While I do believe that the affair ended, I don't believe it was way back 2006. And the woman brought her newborn baby with her to this recent meeting with him to the Bev Hotel?
Another married campaign staffer claimed to be the daddy. This person is funneling money to her and she has actually been over to this staffer's house for dinner with his current wife?. Oh yeah, I know a lot of wives who have their husbands pregnant mistresses over for dinner.
Even now John Edwards is narcissistic and thinks we are all stupid. He should have just STFU and let the chips fall where they may...but no... he just had to go on MSM and play his supporters for fools.
I truly couldn't care less about where he sticks his...um...ethics. And I would feel sorry for Elizabeth if it weren't for the the fact the JE is such a fking used car salesman and she knew what kind of person he was (even if she didn't know about this incident). If you get screwed at the car lot...it's your own damn fault.
Running for office and celebrities...they are in a fishbowl of their own making. You want to be a star or politician? You better expect to have everything about you scrutinized. Deal with it or find another line of work.
August 9, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
judgment is easy
compassion is the diamond
always keep a diamond in your mind
August 9, 2008 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
What a beautiful comment. It makes me think of Bush and his compassionate conservatism. Why oh why, can't we give poor Mr. Bush a break since he was lied to and had no other option than to start this nasty war with Iraq.
Sorry! But those cookie cutter, calendar page kind of comments like:
"judgment is easy
compassion is the diamond
always keep a diamond in your mind"
are tough to swallow when someone looks at you straight in the face and tells you they are telling the truth and it turns out they are not.
August 9, 2008 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep.
And instead, what he could have said:
OK, maybe he could lose the "none of your damn business" part.
But just think what a different country this might be today, had he spoken the second set of words, and not backed down.
August 11, 2008 3:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
The National Enquirer was the only responsible press in this situation. Given that the Great American Public is so immature that they ignore the historical fact that great public leaders have often had poorly run private lives, John Edward's affair was a electoral time bomb. He should not have run. The MSM should have investigated and let us know.
August 9, 2008 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, kind of sad when you think about it.
August 9, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
According to Andrea MItchell, they all DID know.
August 9, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
If there hadn't been a chance that Edwards would be the Dem presidential candidate, I wouldn't give a rat's about this story, other than feeling terrible for his family.
But he was running for president. What the hell could have been going through his head? What kind of arrogant, self-absorbed, hubris-laden schmuck, with so much riding on this election, would pull this kind of stunt?
August 9, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
A theory has emerged that there is a possible criminal element to the story: extortion attempts from that videographer, that are on top of the 114K that his PAC already paid her to keep quiet. That would mean that he did the right thing but going public, but he's also doing a bad thing by not going public about the blackmail.
August 9, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
If one is going to spout family values and then end up in a sordid affair that one lies about, all while heading up a campaign for a high political office and denying the affair because of lawyerly bits that weren't quite right in the original piece....then expect to get smacked and smacked hard.
It's always the lying and the hypocrisy and not the "keep it private". John has forfeited any visible political office; Elizabeth will get more sympathy but her voice as an advocate for healthcare will also be a bit muted as a result.
Shrug. This has certainly driven McCain to the sidelines this week.
August 9, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
You know what this reminds me of - let me tell you - reminds of movie stars who whine when they get bad publicity.
The Edwards are not private people - they are public personages and as such John knew that if he got caught this would be a public issue.
He knew and did it anyway.
I'm sorry for her - but - they both knew this was out there and he ran for president anyway. After the last 8 years and all the shit we've been through - I cannot forgive him for this. It would have come out and we would have been fucked if he was the nominee right now.
It's not just about John and Elizabeth. Dammit - it's about the country.
August 9, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. They should return all the campaign donations that they defrauded dems out of. He has the cash, return the coin. It really is beyond the pale that they did this. I never liked the guy, but this really is outrageous.
August 9, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Says a lot about the country when some dick gets into the wrong vagina and this fact alone has more influence on our future than what "we've been through for the last 8 years".
August 9, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, yes and no. I agree that Edwards was irresponsible by continuing his run for office knowing this was out there. But that's not because what he did - with either the affair or the lying about it - was so inherently unforgivable, but rather because of our fucked up political climate. Which isn't going to change if we continue to bow to its insane conventions. As long as we continue to recognize the convention that this type of thing should take a person out of consideration for public service - for whatever reason, whether it be "could have/did hurt us a party/country" or whatever, it will continue to guarantee that 1)people who get involved in these sticky situations will lie about it because 2) it automatically takes them out of consideration for public office. Politicians, like a good number of everybody else, are going to have affairs. It's a choice to treat them as public scandals, as we've seen from other countries, where they're yawned at. There's no way we'll ever reach that point if even those of us who recognize it as a ridiculous litmus test continue to pile on every time it happens.
Bottom line: in our politics (unfortunately), we are consumers and as in all else, it's up to us to choose wisely, rather than expect any candidate or company to point out to us the shortcomings and negatives of the product they're selling us. It's also up to us to determine how critical those negatives are in terms of product/candidate performance and delivering the result we were looking for.
August 9, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, I think you're missing the point. Fessing up to past misdeeds never hurts a politician as much as lying about those misdeeds. Never.
The mistake that John and Elizabeth made was continuing to run for the nomination after knowing this great unconfessed mess was out there. Bill and Hillary had an interview of "past transgressions" and "our marriage had rough patches but we've worked past them" which worked until Bill had another sexual mess-up that he lied about.
Look, it's pretty simple to please the American public and the American voter. Don't lie. If you say you're faithful to your wife and think your family is the most important thing you have in your life, then act as if those are true.
If nothing else, John needs to be spanked for lacking the judgment of knowing the American public and the American voter. Just that is enough to end any future political carrer, as far as I'm concerned.
August 9, 2008 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been away for months and you still make me ill.
Nice to know you and your life are so perfect!
August 9, 2008 11:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Edwards are not private people - they are public personages and as such John knew that if he got caught this would be a public issue.
He knew and did it anyway.
I'm sorry for her - but - they both knew this was out there and he ran for president anyway. After the last 8 years and all the shit we've been through - I cannot forgive him for this. It would have come out and we would have been fucked if he was the nominee right now.
Funny how it doesn't work that way for the other candidate.
And it's the Republican Party that runs on the "Family Values" platform. Good Lord.
Truly a through-the-looking-glass world.
August 11, 2008 3:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
off topic, but, why arent more people outraged with mccain's decision on airing an attack ad during the opening ceremonies?!
August 9, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, what do you expect. I would have like to see an obama ad "defining" mcbush during the opening ceremony as well. Politics isn't bean bag.
August 9, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the coverage this is getting is ridiculous and am annoyed that it's so prominently on TPM's home page. It's hard to understand why people do what they do, but there's enough evidence that this stuff happens, to good people, bad people, Democrats, Republicans, men, women, gays, straights. It's bound to be news because of the society we live in, but ridiculous for people who are interested in real issues to dwell on it.
August 9, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, then I suppose you will understand when I categorically say that I will oppose Edwards as VP candidate or in any Cabinet position. Those things have been floated in the very recent past and now I oppose John being considered. And, yes, it's because he can lie so well to all of us.
August 9, 2008 2:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
In the Nightline interview last night, a whole lot of other unsavory stuff was talked about--the $50,000 per month paid to that creepy woman, and the $3million house she was put up in--supposedly paid for by some staffer. Looks like blackmail to me. Never expected this kind of action from John Edwards, but he's human. He was seduced and he fell for it. Rest in Peace. He's done.
August 9, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why are the women always creepy or less than attractive? I really don't get it. You would think that they would be hot, hot, hot and they never are. Very strange.
August 9, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is the Camilla Parker Bowes syndrome :)
August 9, 2008 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who the hell cares?
August 9, 2008 8:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rock stars do it.
Politicians do it.
Power is an aphrodisiac.
They do it for the chicks as much as the power.
Bill Clinton
John Edwards
Who will be the first reporter bold enough to ask Obama if he has ever had an affair as a married man?
It will happen and soon. He will have to respond. People generally do not believe denials by men of affairs.
Transference.
August 9, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
asshole
August 9, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
i guess now that our nominee is accurately tying your nominee to massive job losses in a swing state, your hopes are tied to a non-issue about a non-candidate doing what members of your party do all the time (reagan/giuliani/mcCain/newt) so yeah, let's not talk about the mccain campaign's work on behalf of foreign corporations in destroying american jobs. keep trying, something's bound to stick.
did i mention the mccain campaigns work on behalf of foreign corporations in destroying american jobs?
August 9, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Clinton is responsible for job losses?
Odds are increasing for Obama's implosion by Denver. The question will be asked and will work against him regardless of how he handles it. It will be asked.
Clinton remains the best candidate for president.
August 9, 2008 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
clinton is not a candidate for president.
August 9, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bwahahahaha!
August 9, 2008 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
most coherent comment you've ever made
August 9, 2008 7:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is there any reason why you are not asking for the same level of transparency from McCain? It is my understanding that he has not exactly been forthcoming about the details of his "courtship" of Cindy (among others) while still married to his previous wife.
August 9, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Irrelevant. This is about Democrats now. This is about a top contender who made a very public endorsement of Obama.
Did Obama have an affair as a married man?
That is the question that will be asked of the messiah.
August 9, 2008 2:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just because YOU'VE stated that it's about Democrats and that's irrelevant doesn't mean that it is.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/trailhead/
And unless you have a link to a credible source that Obama has been unfaithful in his marriage, you should really STFU about it. You coming in here and dropping your shit bomb is no different than asking someone when they stopped beating their wife.
August 9, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Didn't say he has. I said he would be asked. It's a "when did you stop beating your wife" question. The is no way way to answer or avoid it.
He will be asked.
August 9, 2008 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
So? You seem to keep implying that he would have trouble answering the question. Either come out and accuse him or STFU.
August 9, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Accusations are unnecessary.
Forcing him to respond is all that matters.
August 9, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're full of shit (I know that goes without saying, but it's just a figure of speech) if you think any member of the MSM is going to ask such an out of bounds question...and particularly if they don't ask it of John "I traded my old jalopy in for a newer model" McCain, also.
August 9, 2008 8:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is about a top contender who made a very public endorsement of Obama.
sort of like rudy and mcCain. i guess mcCain married his cousin 2 marriages ago and proposed bernie kerik to head DHS. my friends, that's not change we can believe in.
rudy. guy who ran for president once. liked to get married a lot. no?
August 9, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
transference, huh? does that mean that mcCain married his cousin too?
August 9, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transference
Edwards to Obama.
Democrat male presidential candidate to Democrat male presidential candidate.
Transference is inevitable.
August 9, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
right like GOP operatives Ted Bundy and you.
August 9, 2008 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
People need to stop conflating a person's illness or disease with their character. Elizabeth Edwards' illness should not be conflated or used to excuse her behavior. She covered up for John, and while knowing full well that his affair was a ticking time bomb, she pushed even harder than John for to try and win the nomination for President.
Recall when she called out Michelle Obama, and said that she was very disappointed in her?
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/01/elizabeth-edwards-disappointed-with-michelle-obama/
At the time that she was being so condescending toward Michelle Obama, she was all the time trying her utmost to push her cheating husband into the White House, and had she succeeded, look at what a mess our party would be in now.
I hope that Mrs. Edwards makes a full recovery and lives a long healthy life, but I find her willingness to participate in a reckless campaign, that had it succeeded, would have ruined our chances to take back the White House, to be also very shameful and utterly self serving.
August 9, 2008 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is exactly why I think she rezlly did not know. I think she just found out recently and lied saying that she knew way back in 2006 to try and save John's bacon. "He made a mistake back in 2006 and we worked things out." Typical politician wife response to cheating husband.
I really believe she did not know. If you saw them both on the trail, you could tell just how much she adored him. That is some really great acting if she knew. I just don't buy it. Especially because she did not know about the recent hotel rendezvous. I think she was in the dark and is just recently trying to pick up the pieces.
August 9, 2008 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
also, let's not forget the mccain campaigns work on behalf of foreign corporations in destroying american jobs.
August 9, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Edwards - affair
Obama - ?
August 9, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, goody. I want to play.
Bush - clusterfuck, war crimes, incompetence
McCain - ?
August 9, 2008 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. Democrats are trying to make that transference. Not succeeding for the most part, but trying for sure.
Glad you agree, there is inevitable transference....Edwards to Obama.
August 9, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't be so obtuse. The comparison between Bush and McCain is because of McCain's 180 changes of positions on everything from taxes to engergy to torture.
McCain would have an affair with Dubya (in fact, in a way he already is) if he thought it would get him into the White House. That is not transference. That is being an aper of a dim-witted monkey; it is simply not having any standards or beliefs at all.
August 9, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
how do you feel about your candidate's campaign being behind a foreign country destroying american jobs in a swing state.
August 9, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
sorry, it's a foreign corporation not a country that the mcCain campaign shills for at the expense of american jobs. although the lobbyists who run the mcCain campaign probably don't know the difference.
August 9, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please explain Clinton's involvement?
August 9, 2008 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
who is clinton?
August 9, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
The eventual Democratic nominee.
August 9, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
wait, now i remember. clinton is the democrat you wish your candidate were running against. sorry that didn't work out for you (and by "sorry" i mean "ecstatic").
August 9, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dubai port deal?
http://movingoutmovingon.bloghi.com/2006/03/03/former-president-bill-clinton-is-behind-dubai-ports-deal.htmlAugust 9, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
If the public didn't hold the words of Obama's 20 year pastor against Obama, they certainly won't blame him for another politician's affair just because they're both Democrats.
As bad as the Wright thing was, it proved that, in general, people don't blame people for words and/or deeds of another.
The only people who will hold this mess against Obama are people who were never going to vote for him in the first place. Sorry Fogu2. :-(
August 9, 2008 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
What makes you think all important independent and swing voters are not holding Wright against Obama? The critical mass of them likely didn't or couldn't vote in the primaries. That subject will certainly be revisited before the election as part of the equation that they will use in the privacy of the voting booth.
August 9, 2008 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, it won't be revisited. It's done. People have moved on. They're done and those who care about Wright have already decided they won't vote for Obama, including Indies.
The Wright issue is finished. The Rezko (non)issue is finished. The Ayers (non)issue is finished.
Sorry, Fogu2. Really, really sorry. You lose. So sorry.
August 9, 2008 6:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Solomn Burke?
August 9, 2008 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
To the DumbFucks who bought the Liz and John show, really, you simply are getting what you deserve.
Any rational human being could look at Liz's insufferable stiff-upper-lip oh-aren't-I-brave routine and KNOW that the b was lying through her arse.
And now, NOW!, she asks for privacy?!
Who the fuck do those trailer trash hillbillies think they are?
They scammed their supporters the same way they scammed the trial system.
Congratulations Josh!
The only remaining questions concern Edwards involvement with his campaign manager and just how wide their menage was.
Think Breck Boy bottoms? After all, the guy is also receiving hush money.
Now the inevitable questions about Crack Head Hussein's baby mommas.
And now we know why the timing of the vacation.
It's gonna be a bumpy ride!
August 9, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess it takes a DumbFuck to know one.
Please tell us all the other things that you want us to know. No, on second thought...don't.
August 9, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Funny..I didn't think that Jerry Springer guests knew how to use a computer. But after reading your comment I guess I was mistaken.
August 9, 2008 8:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Give Mrs. Edwards Privacy.
Give Mr. Edwards hell. His endorsement of Oilbama is very telling of the scumbags that Oilbama surrounds himself with.
August 9, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, in your theory of things, what does this say about Hillary - being married to such a "scumbag" and all?
August 9, 2008 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, your definition of "surrounding yourself" is being amidst people who are running against you for a particular office? And Edwards' endorsement after he lost the nomination is tainted because of this affair?
Hey, have you heard about why we really went to war with Iraq, and the fake papers they put together to justify it after the fact? Have you heard about all the dead and wounded that these lies have caused? Probably not, because of this breaking news that is the equivalent of "dog bites mailman."
I'll bet Ron Suskind is sorry he brought his book out this week. To think that we might want to know what really brought us to this point when we can talk about an affair--well, not much of a choice, is it?
August 9, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maw Maw! Where's my Paw?
August 9, 2008 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was an Edwards believer and this has broken my spirit. Of course, being a realist I know that most men seek power so they can have lots of sex. C'mon we all know it! First comes the power , then come the women, right?
FDR had a mistress for decades and it does not take away from the fact that he is the best President we have ever had.
But it is a small and nasty person who revels in such a disclosure!
And it really has nothing to do with their ability to lead...still..
And why, oh why are the women always so HOMELY?
August 9, 2008 11:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Really? You "know" this? Would you like to share how you came to this conclusion?
August 10, 2008 8:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
men are pigs when it comes to sex. need I say more?science will bear me out.
August 23, 2008 3:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
I can't believe that Amy Silverman's major profile of McMajorShit published in the Phoenix New Times News on August 7th has sunk beneath the waves so quickly. It reads as being balanced and presents him in a DEVASTATING light. She has a longtime perspective on his career centering in Arizona and has covered his activities for nearly three decades from Phoenix. After reading it, one understands why the Nancy Reagan endorsement last month was such an ICY affair. Apparently, the lady in red loathes him. It was all political expediency.
Here's the link for anyone interested:
http://phoenixnewtimes.com/content/printVersion/848709
Please distribute widely!
August 9, 2008 11:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who would have thought that John Edwards and his wife would be so arrogant and so disconnected with reality that they would embark on a presidential campaign even though they knew about his affair and the crazy nature of his paramour. Well, that kind of audacity and bamboozlement is not limited to the Edwards family. Meet the Obamas. You don’t know them? Don’t worry, Republican operatives are loaded for bear and you are going to meet a Barack Obama that was hidden and disguised during the Democratic primary. And when the introduction is over the Obama supporters will wish the only thing they had to worry about was a video with Michelle saying disparaging things about caucasians.
August 10, 2008 12:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Replace "John Edwards" with Bill Clinton and it sounds all too familiar, doesn't it? Tell me, did you feel this way about Bill and Hillary in 1992?
August 10, 2008 8:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Putting the prospect of the party's interests in jeopardy by rolling the dice is the most offensive aspect of this...followed by (to me) his contemptible audacity in feeling that he had standing to pronounce upon gay marriage as something he couldn't support...and cynically pretending he had no idea what his wife's position on this was (like there's any way in hell he wouldn't have known).
Fucking moralizing, self-important hypocrite. It's not the idea of "between a man and a woman" that's sacred here; it's "between two people who are honest about commitment to each other."
Fuck this guy. He deserves everything he gets.
Ditto for the Clintons and all other straight politicians who think their heterosexuality gives them some kind of eminent domain to trash their own marital commitments but still comment upon gay people's lives as if they were intrinsically immoral or somehow objectionable to some bullshit-sacrosanct standard that never existed, in their fucking Bible or anywhere else. I'm sick of politicians who sell gays down the river on the marriage issue and still think they should obtain a pass against accusations of homophobia. They need to read the fucking Massachusetts Supreme Court decision and then tell me that opposition to gay marriage isn't bigotry.
Or be opposed to it, but then shut the fuck up about it inside your glass house, while you disrespect anything sacred about marriage through your own behavior.
August 10, 2008 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink