Why no talk about John Edwards?

Strangest Tribe wrote:

Hey... breaking news... people like to fuck...

and what's love got to do with it anyway?

it's always the hypocracy surrounding the affairs that makes for ironic hearty laughter

I know. It's so stupid and hypocritical.

Let he who has never poked one just for the thrill, cast the first stone.

cincybearcat wrote:

I've never cheated on my wife. Where's my stone to throw?

I'm sure he would have said the same thing 10 years ago.

I think it's pretty low what he did, and his career is going to ruined because of it. There are other politicians out there who have done much worse and are still in office.

Hey, one wife for each America!

unsung wrote:

Why no talk about Edwards cheating on his cancer-stricken wife?

What's there to say about it? It wasn't a good thing to do, but there are more important things to think about at this point. People cheat on spouses all the time - this just happens to be a famous guy.

acutejam wrote:

Keep dreaming, it's the liberal press protecting one of their own, powerful liberals circling the wagons ... he's gonna be a no show at convention, no cabinet or VP nod for him. He's done.

SHAZAM! He's scrambling to preserve any ounce of respect now! (And so will big media, "uh, we where just about to break it when he short-circuited our story by admitting it....")

Another thing to take away from this -- the EASE of the LIE -- just like Clinton, just like many politicians and big powerful folks everywhere, deny, lie, evade, lash out. Then plead for understanding.

Not his kid, yeaaaaah, riiiiiiight.

We will not even hear coverage or discussion of the lying, bank it.

Edward's statement:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12405.html

STATEMENT OF SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS

August 8, 2008

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs. I recognized my mistake and I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness. Although I was honest in every painful detail with my family, I did not tell the public. When a supermarket tabloid told a version of the story, I used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it. But being 99% honest is no longer enough.

I was and am ashamed of my conduct and choices, and I had hoped that it would never become public. With my family, I took responsibility for my actions in 2006 and today I take full responsibility publicly. But that misconduct took place for a short period in 2006. It ended then. I am and have been willing to take any test necessary to establish the fact that I am not the father of any baby, and I am truly hopeful that a test will be done so this fact can be definitively established. I only know that the apparent father has said publicly that he is the father of the baby. I also have not been engaged in any activity of any description that requested, agreed to or supported payments of any kind to the woman or to the apparent father of the baby.

It is inadequate to say to the people who believed in me that I am sorry, as it is inadequate to say to the people who love me that I am sorry. In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic. If you want to beat me up – feel free. You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself. I have been stripped bare and will now work with everything I have to help my family and others who need my help.

I have given a complete interview on this matter and having done so, will have nothing more to say.

cincybearcat wrote:

I've never cheated on my wife. Where's my stone to throw?

Well goody fuckin' gumdrops for you. You want a fuckin' medal or a trophy?

I've never cheated, either. Big fuckin' whoopy-do.

But that doesn't mean someone who does "cheat" or has extra-marital affairs is a piece of shit or lesser a person than you, me or anyone else.

People have needs......sexual, affectionate and intimacy needs. It's human nature. It's a huge part of us. Sometimes, they can't or don't get what they need, where they presently are. So they seek it else where.

I'm not saying what he did was right.

But it's a distinct possibility the guy was emotionally fucked up, from seeing his wife going through this. Maybe he just needed someone or something his wife was in no condition to give. So he made a bad choice. Probably a choice out of emotional distress and desperation.

NMyTree wrote:

But that doesn't mean someone who does "cheat" or has extra-marital affairs is a piece of shit or lesser a person than you, me or anyone else.

I understand what you're driving at. I just think people who are leaders ... or who want to be leaders ... are held to a higher standard, and should be. Cheating on your wife speaks to your character. And character is important in our leaders. Is it the ONLY thing that's important? Of course not. But when you're contemplating who you want in a leader, that person's character is one thing you should consider. If a man's own wife can't trust him to do the right thing, how can a bunch of strangers trust him to do the right thing?

Character does matter.

People have needs......sexual, affectionate and intimacy needs. It's human nature. It's a huge part of us. Sometimes, they can't or don't get what they need, where they presently are. So they seek it else where.

You're right. Edwards probably heard, "Not tonight, honey, I'm still weak from the chemo" one too many times.

Cheating on your loyal & good spouse (there's no indication otherwise for Mrs. Elizabeth) is very low. Cheating on her while she is battling cancer is even worse. Think if your mother was battling cancer and your father cheats on her meanwhile.

He hooked up with a younger, attractive woman while his wife was battling cancer. It's bad. We all agree.

However, it appears that Elizabeth has forgiven him, or is in the process of. So if she is able to deal, then we can to. And I'm politically conservative, so I'm no Edwards apologist.

Again this in no way takes away from the wrongness of his acts.