During his run for the 2008 Democratic nomination, John Edwards' wife, Elizabeth, figured prominently in his campaign, in ads and in interviews. When the couple got the news that her cancer was back and likely to kill her, they sat for an interview with "60 Minutes." Mr. Edwards talked about the day they got the news.
"[T]he doctor came in, and I said, I need to know," Mr. Edwards recalled. "We have a tough decision to make. We know what we want to do. But I need to know whether Elizabeth can physically do this. And I don't mean physically stay at home and watch me do it. I mean, can she phsyically do it, go out on the campaign trail, do all the work that needs to be done.' Because the country's gonna want to hear from her, and I knew that. And the doctor said said, yes, she can physically do it."
We now know, of course, that Mr. Edwards spent that campaign hiding a mistress and the child he fathered with her. Today, a federal grand jury indicted Mr. Edwards on charges that he spent $950,000 in campaign funds to do it. "A centerpiece of Edwards' candidacy was his public image as a devoted family man," the indictment notes. You can read it here (pdf).
We've been talking in the office this week about what turns a politician's personal life into public news. Certainly this kind of hypocrisy and alleged illegal behavior would count.
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Eerie how this parallels some of Gingrich's past?
To me, this demonstrates that scandals, hypocrisy, and "shortcomings" (to put it mildly) are nonpartisan. Everyone suffers from their own demons, some people over come them, other succumb to them.
This does NOT be mean they are blameless, quit the opposite. Once we reach adulthood, despite our past or the hand we've been dealt, we are responsible for our own choices.
In some way, there is an element of "there but for the grace of God go I." (That's not meant to be solely a religious statement but an observation that at times we all find ourselves a few steps away from a disaster of our own making.)
Consequences should follow, but so should some elements of mercy and grace.
So sad for his children. When will people ever learn that some mistakes you think are personal hurt everyone. Hope they throw the book at him..then go after Ensign, Demint, and that weasel from Oklahoma Colburn.
I think the Democratic Party (you know, that formal party deal) should oust in Democrats who pull the shenanigans that the Republicans do and get protected and patted on the back for doing.
Tell them to tear up their voter registration card and get the hell out of Dodge. Why should Democrats put up with it?
At minimum, if the Dem is still in office, they should be stripped of all committee leadership or even membership.
Then, when the Republicans KEEP their mis-doers, the'll be shown up for the hypocrites they are.
Wishful thinking on my part, eh?
you make no sense. what are you trying to say. I see JE as the mis-doer that has no moral compass.
I think if someone enters the political arena, their private life does become an issue. I don't separate the behavior into compartments. If someone is a cheater and doesn't respect the institution of marriage, which they claim is the foundation of society, they aren't going to respect the institution of government. Same with how they handle finances. Plus, a lot of these guys, and some women too, to be fair, are on power trips and think they are above the rules. Behavior is behavior whether in personal life or public life.
But what is the payoff. What is the motivation to 'serve'? There are two kinds of "public servants". #1. We like the high school quarterbacks, did well in college and came home to work in the family business. married his high school sweetheart in the church, ran for mayor and won. 4kids later runs for Governor wins. (this guy wants what is best for his people) does well as Governor and commits to serving on the state level. (plans to do one more term and them get back to life with raising his kids) Comes home and find a spot on City Counsil and serves his community and family. #2. The same guy (except). Someone gives him the "Speach". "Your Country needs you. Your party needs you. You stick with us and You are set for life. Act in the interest of the Party and the Party will take care of you. Here is your list of lobbyist friends that we support. "our friends". Play your cards right and make a list of favors you need. (for after or during your service). paid guest speaker at private functions. book deal. lobbyist job. Reality T.V. Star. Future Fake Presidential Campaign Donations. more books deals. Do the math and it comes down to Greed. When i was growing up, I had faith and hope that my Rep. was gonna do his job, go home and raise his kids. Today, career politicans are making more money than anyone will ever know about. Favors that list into the hundreds. Which of these guys is serving YOU? #1. or #2
because of incidences like these, anytime anyone runs on "family values", the media and the people will most likely think there's a huge secret - and that the family unit of those campaigning on it, is not as strong as it is
perceivedclaimed.in my experience, strong families don't boost and inject a 'pulpit style' value of family - strong families just is. no matter how much talk, it's all about action and forgiveness.
when people inject that 'pulpit style', it's like their trying to convince their self that what their doing isn't happening, or to make up for what they do, or to project that value, so they can some how throw their conscious onto it.
I used to really like this guy.
Back in 2007/early 2008, I supported Edwards ahead of Obama and Clinton because I thought he might bring a prosecutorial spirit to dealing with Wall Street.
I still think that spirit's needed, but Edwards obviously isn't the guy to do it, the slick bastard.
I too used to like Edwards. Now all I see is a hypocrite and a D-bag. Elizabeth was the better person.
Pandering is taking all the air and time out of the workday for these guys. Nothing is getting done. The schedule must look like: 10 am lie to my Christian Base. 11 am pretend I'm pro-life. 12 noon go to the 'Hood' and pretend I eat Soul food all the time. 1 pm to 3 pm Kiss babies and hug seniors. 4 pm vote YES to end funding for pre school and NO to lower prescrip drugs prices for elderly. Wheeeeew, what a day serving the people.
im ok w jack kennedy banging marilyn on the side. hell i woulda banged her on the side, top, & upside-down. and any straight guy who sez diff is lying.
I say diffierent, the are real men everywhere that don't need to be validated by sleeping with some young stupid slut, I real man can control himself and doesn't run his life with his pecker. For me I say get rid of any politition that can't take care of his own resposability and control his apitites. because if he can't control his own afairs, he won't even care when it is somebody elses money and time. we need to get rid of all of them, The govenator, edwards, weiner, Newt they are all week, At least Obama hasn't had a scandle like them.
so u wouldnt have banged monroe? ahh huh...
Considering I was only 5 years old when JFK was banging her, I don't think it would even have entered my mind at the time. But I do know I would have taken a pass on Lewinsky. C'mon Bubba, you gotta have standards!
agreed on monica altho remember wild bill said he didnt bang her (sexual relations).
I hear Edwards and Gingrich are starting a "I Cheated on My Wife While She Had Cancer" club.
doesn't McCain qualify for that club as well...?
Does he? I hadn't heard that, but it wouldn't surprise me.
I guess it wasn't cancer, at least not then -- but the story is still pretty sorry:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/09/john-mccains-first-wife-s_n_106021.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html
I think leaving your disfigured loyal wife for a much younger woman because of a mid-life crisis gives McCain entry to the club. Don't you think so? Instead of I Cheated on My Wife While She Had Cancer Club how about The Callous Jerk EX-Husbands Club? Think that covers all of them.
What a weenie! I'm so disgusted with politicians who think they are above the law. What is it with some men? It's like they get a little power and suddenly they think they're invincible and that every woman (or senate page) wants to sleep with them. Geesh!
Elizabeth, I think these guys were like that before they got into office. You have to have a real ego to even think you could be a congressman or senator, or even president. What the office does is give them more access to more opportunities to act like jackasses. If they hadn't been elected to office, they most likely would have done the same things, but no one would have seen it on the national news.
Uffdaguy: So true!
And it will continue to happen as long as voters don't demand more of their candidates in the first place. Instead, potential candidates see that you can lie, steal and cheat, and still get elected. We'll never get better politicians until we get better candidates, and we won't get better candidates until we make it clear that they need to be quality people to begin with. If you show that you'll accept garbage representing you, then garbage is what you will get.
he's human.
the point that makes this situation is his hypocrisy campaign "family value" vs. "cheating and hiding from his wife".
before a person point fingers - before a person decides to be the 'perfect role model' - think and reflect on their own life.
it's one thing if people look upon you and truly see you, then decide to prop up you up as a role model.
there are some relationships that are more forgiving upon the urges of the flesh, and survive it all - some say even better through it.
it's about calling out the hypocrisy.
eaglelady11, I so agree. If you have no plans to get into public life, then your personal life is your own. Run for office and your life becomes an open book, like it or not. We voters reserve the right to decide whether or not you are fit to run for office. How you handle your personal life and finances gives us a pretty clear picture of how you run our government, and you had better measure up.
i think this is exactly the reason why people who run do their best to hide and lie their private deeds.
This shows the drive for reproduction. He tore down his chance at super power to reproduce.