My Take On The John Edwards Scandal

[romantico]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 12:21pm

OK, after having a day to think about the Edwards Scandal I need to vent. I supported John Edwards in 2004.I also supported him and Hillary and Obama in 2008. Hillary was my first choice and Obama and Edwards sort of being a tie. I was sad to hear him drop out yet again but felt he would serve well in Obama's administration.

I am very disappointed in him and it will take lots of time to forgive him(if I even can). What would have happened if John became the nominee and this came out? What was he thinking? Why would he run for President with this in his closet? Why would his wife who knew about this affair allow him to run? I do hold some blame on Elizabeth as well as John. She was the one who said in 2004 that she was going to keep her eye on him and keep him honest. So, for her to know about this and allow him to run and risk this puts her in a bad light to in my opinion.

So, on top of all that for Edwards to offer to step up and support Obama for President is also unforgivable. He knew about this and dragged Obama down by supporting the man and Elizabeth allowed him to do this as well.I also believe Edwards has hurt the Democrats in a very bad way this election year.

If he is allowed to speak or even show up at the Convention that will be it for me. My anger towards Howard Dean and the mishandling of this primary season and then allowing Edwards to attend and speak will do it for me.

I think everyone should be disgusted at this man for and his wife for what he did. To cheat on your terminally ill wife, lie about it, run for office, then support a party and candidate and then get caught is unforgivable.

Papa, you were right.

[grnsmwhr]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 12:40pm

I hear you.

I thought when he threw his support to Obama, he might be vying for the Vice Presidential spot. That would have been a total disaster.

I never thought about this now affecting Obama's campaign but you're right the media will spin this anyway they choose. I hope Obama doesn't have any skeletons in his closet.

Updated On: 8/9/08 at 12:40 PM

[romantico]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 12:59pm

I am sure there are already a few campaign smear videos using Edwards endorsement in the can ready to air. McCain will use this against Obama and we will have John Edwards to thank for it.

As of now, Edwards I hear is still scheduled to speak at the convention. Lets hope Howard Dean comes to his senses. Does Edwards think he is going to get support and cheers? Seriously, I am so pissed at the Democrats lately. They refuse to impeach Bush, their mishandling of the primaries, a few dozen other things really has me on edge. They need to cut Edwards loose now. If they do not I am done with this party. I have given a lot to the DNC over the years and this past May gave more than I ever have. I don't care at this point who he picks, Obama just needs to pick a VP NOW so this Edwards scandal will go away!

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 1:09pm

thanks, rom.

mccain won't use it because it hits a little too close to home. the problem for edwards is all those journalists he and his people lied to and belittled and cursed throughout this whole thing. all of those people who gently hinted at it and were sneered at, "you're reading the enquirer now?" and it was plenty. they are the ones who will carry this scandal now, not the gop.

hell hath no fury like a journalist blatantly lied to. especially when it's by someone they respected and defended. because now they look like assholes too.

i was partial to the headline at kaus:
i lied. it's friday. can i go to denver now?

[supportivemom]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 1:11pm

Thanks romantico- couldn't have said it better myself!

[grnsmwhr]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 1:12pm

I think it would backlash on McCain to bring up infidelities or another candidate. His past would be dredged up of his cheating on his last wife and would make him look like a hypocrite.

I'm also very disappointed with the Democratic party and the way they keep shooting themselves in the foot, but the alternative is something I don't want to live with again for the next 8 years.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 1:18pm

McCain should just be quiet and let it play out how it will. He opens his mouth, and his own marriage problems will come up again,

[romantico]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 1:40pm

Well, with Elliot Spitzer and now Edwards this is not looking good for the Democrats. What we don't need now is, say Bill Clinton speaking out against the Edwards scandal. I will say it again, the timing could not be better for Obama to announce his running mate NOW! Even if he is on vacation in Hawaai, do it now! This needs to hurry up and run its course so it is out of the way. I suggest John Edwards and his family take a long vacation til Mid November. Still do not know if this will hurt Obama yet. To early to tell.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 1:49pm

don't forget mark dann, the democratic ohio attorney general who had to resign because he was cheating on his with a girl who worked in his office. before resigning over his own sex scandal, he had to fire two aides who were under investigation for drugging and sexually assaulting another co-worker at an apartment they shared with the ag.

[romantico]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 2:15pm

I know Papa. I will never get angry when I hear anyone refer to him as the Breck Girl again. I really hope the Democrats get their $hit together fast. They need to distance themselves from the Edwards fast!

BTW, this is not going to die down. According to accounts, $100,000 from his PAC went to his paramour and this no doubt is going to be investigated.

Updated On: 8/9/08 at 02:15 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 5:03pm

As of now, Edwards I hear is still scheduled to speak at the convention.

Obama announced today that NEITHER of the Edwardses will be speaking at the Convention.

===

“If I’m not mistaken I think that … the Edwards family indicated that they probably wouldn’t be attending the convention,” Obama told reporters.
Obama says John Edwards won’t be at Democratic convention

Updated On: 8/9/08 at 05:03 PM

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 5:14pm

Obviously, he'll never be AG in an Obama administration now. I guess Janet Napolitano moves up to the top of the list for that job? I think she'd be a better AG anyway.

[Namaste]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 5:30pm

I think Janet will be better too, but I do not judge John Edwards for his mistakes. He obviously made some errors of judgement (by running for President), but I still can't pass intense judgement or dislike him for what he did. I have no right.

The only difference I see between him and some recent Republican scandals is the hypocrisy of Republican leaders to preach until their face is blue about one thing and then turn around and do it in a bathroom stall. I could be very wrong, but I don't believe Edwards was standing on his soap box (or in the Senate during his term) preaching about the sanctity of marriage and how adulterers should have their hands cut off.
Updated On: 8/9/08 at 05:30 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 5:34pm

I have a good friend in politics and has met Edwards on a number of occasions. He said that Edwards is one of the most arrogant and condescending people he has ever met and even before Edwards ran, my friend said he didn't feel he would make a good president. So based on what I have heard about Edwards, I am not really surprised by this. I am amazed he wife stayed with him. Just my thoughts.

[romantico]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 6:10pm

If Edwards was smart, he would have retired after 2006 when the affair occurred. Keep a low profile. He could easily retire. TO stay in the public eye is bad enough but to run for President is political suicide considering what he did. I am surprised this story did not break while he was running. Would have been a much bigger story. I thought the campaign mangers investigate you to see if there is any dirt. Its a precaution they do in a attempt to find something before the press does. Maybe John Edwards felt this was done in 2004 so there was no reason to do it again in 2008.

For him to think this would never surface is beyond asinine.Still, you know there are a handful or so of politicians who have done the exact same thing Edwards and Spitzer have done who have never been caught.

If Edwards just lived a quiet private life and stayed out of politics and not endorsed anyone this story would have probably never surfaced.I wonder if the girl leaked it. Can't imagine why. She will forever be labeled a home wrecker. A woman who came between a man and his terminally ill wife.Still, on top of the money you know Edwards MUST be paying her, the press will pay her top dollar for an interview and a tell all book.

Posted: 8/9/08 at 7:59pm

So did you all think Bill Clinton should have resigned when his affair came out? Just wondering- could someone tell me which politicians we are supposed to condemn and which ones we're supposed to turn a blind eye to?

[nealb1]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 8:25pm

The bottom line on this situation is, it's not of our business...period...end of discussion. It's a private matter between him and his wife and his family. It's very easy to cast stones and say......well, my friend, who has a friend, who's knows the dry cleaner of the sister who knows him........etc.... Hear say means nothing. He confessed to his family 2 years ago.

We don't know what has happened or what will happen. It's a private matter. He's entitled to a private life, just like I have and you have.

No, Clinton should not have resigned. Again, it's none of our business. Who cares what he does in private? The entire world was laughing at us during MONICA GATE. It was so stupid. But, the best was when Larry Flynt offered $1 million, I think it was, to find out if the men who were going after Clinton, had an affair/mistress. And, 2 men did - Newt G and another guy...don't remember. Total hypocrites.

These men are human beings. They are allowed to make mistakes and have flaws/faults - just like the rest of us.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 8:35pm

These men are human beings. They are allowed to make mistakes and have flaws/faults - just like the rest of us.

All due respect, but our elected officials ought to be held to a bit of a higher standard, don't you think?

[nealb1]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 8:37pm

If people were perfect......sure. Absolutely. But, that's not the case. They are human beings, just like the rest of us.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 8:44pm

A large percentage of married men cheat-it might even be the majority. I guess politicians are just as fallible as anyone else.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 9:01pm

I agree with your post, romantico, especially this part:

What would have happened if John became the nominee and this came out? What was he thinking? Why would he run for President with this in his closet?

As distasteful as I find the infidelity itself, this is the most reprehensible part of his actions. It's incredibly irresponsible and detrimental to the party (and the country as a whole, really) for him to run for president with this in his closet, especially having publicly denied it all. It's beyond selfish and not at all in the best interests of the country.

Maybe it's not our business on principle, but it becomes our business when they lie to the American public about it -- and that goes for any political scandal. It might be a societal issue that we care about things like infidelity, but that's just the political climate right now. I can't believe Edwards would risk running in such a critical election year with so much baggage, and, yes, that fact makes me angry.
Updated On: 8/9/08 at 09:01 PM

[romantico]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 9:19pm

If Edwards decided not to run this year I am willing to wager it would have remained a secret. Not only did he run but he drew attention to himself with Obama's endorsement. Another aspect that anger me with this is he has now given the National Enquirer a little credibility. He can deny the charges about the baby not being his and the paying off the mother all he wants. He has a lot of nerve if he expects us to NOW take him on his word.

I'll say it again. How did this story NOT come out during his run for President. Where were these reporters back in February and March? Who in DC has known about this? What sickens me is this story is far from over. I have a bad feeling that the worst is yet to come.

[jasonf]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 9:27pm

Granted this is a bit of schilling, but a friend of mine from college just wrote a book called "The Scandal Plan" (his name is Bill Folman). The book is about a candidate for the presidency whose campaign invents an affair in his past in order to make him more human. It's a pretty good read, humorous and entertaining, though given the current events, a bit eerily prescient.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 11:17pm

"I'll say it again. How did this story NOT come out during his run for President. Where were these reporters back in February and March?"

That's the bigger question here. The media wouldn't report this story for a long time. For awhile, Drudge was the only one covering it. I think the media wanted to protect Edwards and if he had been the nominee they would have tried even harder. I think it's safe to say that the MSM can no longer be relied on to properly report the news.

[romantico]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 11:25pm

Oh Puh-Lease! Not buying it! The media lives for stories like this. Oh and Drudge? The same Matt Drudge who said Al Gore was buying and operating a Mom and Pop Diner in Tennessee shortly after the 2000 selection? I can give you a list of stories Matty Boy has been wrong about. He's been wrong more times than the Enquirer has.

The National Enquirer FINALLY got a story right.So that cover story a few weeks ago with Bush back to drinking or how Laura is divorcing George should be looked at again. I am disgusted with Edwards but if you critics of his are going to believe the negative stories about Democrats and overlook the negative stories on Republicans, your not going to be taken seriously here or anywhere. The real hypocrisy will come Monday when Rush Limbaugh will talk about the National Enquirer as the Gospel and how it is SO reliable yet trashed it when the same paper got Rush's Drug bust right.You idiots who will trash a publication when a story is reported that you don't like but when the same publication reports a story that you do agree with its a different story.

Typical double standards. Spare us the liberal/mainstream media myth. Every politician is fair game. Only news I don't rely on is Fox, because its not a news network its an entertainment channel like E or VH-1

Updated On: 8/9/08 at 11:25 PM