Sad, how terribly sad, for Elizabeth especially.

Sigh...

Exactly.  That's savage behavior to do that while she was going through a fight for her life.

but since the atmosphere here today is questionable i have to ask, are you celebrating this?

At the most, unless Obama is courageous and forgiving, Edwards is likely nixed for a cabinet position.

The Kennedys were notorious for their inability to keep their instincts in check, but Edwards is no Kennedy in that forgiving sense. But he is a social democrat and one of the ilk. Hope that he is still considered.

wow, this is just wow, and had Edwards won the primaries or if he had been named the VP

wow. I am shocked Edwards would do this, and as one said on MSNBC, to do this in 2006 and THEN run for president and hold yourself out as VP?

I don't know, Vitter still holds his seat, and Larry is still utilizing his wide stance in congressional John's, so what makes this any different? I feel for the kids, but I'll say it again, what goes on in other people's marraiges should be no ones business but there own!!!!!

Goddammit John Edwards. He should have owned up to this months ago. Now stupid Mickey Kaus is happy and the stupid National Enquirer is right. I HATE THAT.

is more trustworthy than the MSM

Kinda stunned right now....but rapidly moving towards massively pissed-off at Edwards.

I am NO FAN OF EDWARDS.

That said, this is nobody's business.  

you imagine if this douche won the nomination instead of Obama?

What if Kerry-Edwards had won?  What if Edwards had been nominated as VP this year?

This isn't anyone's business...but personally, with Elizabeth's condition, the pain she had to go through...it makes it real hard for me to say I can respect this man again.

because while he is not a good Presidential candidate, his message still does well to an audience when talking about poverty and two Americas. He woulda been great at the convention, and I still think he should be there, but thats not likely. Its sad that adultery always grabs headlines in the US, it is family business.

I long ago gave up any fantasy that politicians were saints. I hope John Edwards can work things out with Elizabeth.

Well, there goes any hope of him speaking at the convention. What a shame.

Shame on him.  By the way, I don't know why a guy who's admitting to lying is credible when he says the baby isn't his.  Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.  If it isn't, and the affair is long over, why the heck would he be having surreptitious meetings with her at some hotel?

I am as disappointed with one of my political heroes, John Edwards, having  sex  and lying about it, outside his marriage (to a wonderful wife) as I was when it happened to another of my heroes Bill Clinton.

I would only hope that anyone taking glee in this..
also condemns Bill Clinton...

I took and do not take glee in either.
John Edwards will not be VP or AG...
..but I hope he will have a voice with the issue of Poverty.

....jeez

Plenty of politicians had affairs, including Bill Clinton and John McCain.

I think it's all completely besides the point that they did - and has NOTHING to do with what they would or did do in office policy-wise.

No one every thought Dick Nixon strayed from his marriage. That didn't make him a good president.

And FDR did do so and I think he was the best president we've ever had.

That's quite a leap, richmond.  But then again I wouldn't expect anything less.

How can this be bad for Obama? If anything, it's bad for Hillary since it reminds them of Bill. Or it's bad for McCain since he had affairs.

Holy god, what if he had won the nomination? How could he possibly have thought that this wouldn't come out had he won the nomination? I mean, this is political malpractice of the first order.

Poor Elizabeth.

And what does it say about the state of American journalism that the freakin' National Enquirer scooped everyone.

But it will be hard. My gut sympathies go to the lady back in NC who was fighting cancer. The one who agreed to move forward with Edwards' presidential campaign, even after she received the diagnosis that her cancer had recurred.

In trying to "understand", I remember that the Edwards' buried a teenage son years back, and the devastating impact that it must have had on their relationship, and family. No, it doesn't justify his creepy and amoral behavior. Years ago, I lost my older brother, who died in his early 20's...my parents, and our family for that matter was never the same again. Many studies have showed that well over 60% of marriages fail to survive the loss of a child.

In that context, I hope Edwards tries to heal his family at this point; perhaps he should take a breather from public life.

I don't know what to say.

I really wish this wasn't a big deal, but it is already.

Fuck.

who is 'risky' and who is 'electable.'

I'm less stunned at the moral stuff than at the incredible lack of judgment.

It's not as if McCain isn't above or immune to the 'Celebrity' talking points.

and I can tell you this is a terrible, terrible betrayal.  

I suppose it's not surprising, given the massive egotism necessary to run for President, and given the massive temptations, but it's still excusable only by Elizabeth and the kids.  

We don't know what the Edwards were going through for the last five years or so.  But we do have standards that should be universal, whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, Newt Gingrich or John McCain or John Edwards.

You don't ever look elsewhere when your spouse is battling illness.  Illness should act as a perpetual renewal of vows.

But it wasn't only his marriage that Edwards compromised.  Millions of impoverished Americans and others throughout the world have lost a strong voice in Edwards.

So sad.

Yes this is SO BAD for Obama.  It will remind voters that Obama had an affair with a multimillionaire heiress after his wife became crippled and gained weight.

Bad for Obama?

It was John McCain who "cheated" on his first wife with Cindy, then dumped her for the beer heiress with political connections...

Bad for Obama?

It was John McCain who "cheated" on his first wife with Cindy, then dumped her for the beer heiress with political connections...

ANOTHER SIDE NOTE:

What if the Republicans ran someone, like John McCain, who cheated on his sick wife with a young beer heiress???

Shouldn't the debates ask Obama and McCain whether or not they would ever consider cheating on a sick spouse, like John Edwards?  Ha!

Sorry bout the double post, but Richmond, if you want the correct analogy, try Newt Ginrich?

He served his wife the divorce papers while she was in the hospital so he could move on to the younger hot babe....

I wonder who will be the sacrificial Democrat to say, "Look, people have their right to privacy, and it shouldn't be anyone's business whether John Edwards or John McCain or anyone else had an affair..."  Nudge nudge.

So, this is the self-proclaimed "grown-up wing of the Democratic party"?  Just very glad he didn't win  the nomination or come in second...

The media loves this shit...
You know they will play it up...

So.....
Remember this...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/pol itics/21mccain.html?_r=2&oref=slogin &oref=slogin

It is not just Clinton or Edwards....

and they are men. A majority of married men admit to having an affair in their lives while married. politicians are by their nature disingenuous, at best. We should seriously just expect that they cheat on their wives. They all do all around the world anyway. This puritan shit in America has to end. Having an affair is not all THAT indicative of character, just will power as they are usually out of lust. I don't care if the person is Republican or Democratic. It is family business, not our business.

This goes for more than John Edwards. Aside from this, I did always think he's a political lightweight and an empty suit. Voters never really bought it anyway. Hence how he barely won 1 election, got destroyed in 2 nominating contests, and didn't help Kerry as the VP nominee.

On one hand, I think this is really pretty irrelevant.  Edwards is a lot bigger deal in the blogosphere than he really is anywhere else in the party.  He doesn't really have a big clique/machine in the party.  He's not a regular surrogate.  

On the other hand, I think there were roles in an Obama administration he could have been very successful with -- Sec of Labor, etc.

On still another hand, I'm loathe to turn politics over to the paparazzi culture.

On yet another hand, I DO think infidelity speaks to one's character.  I had an awful time defending Bill in the 90s because, dammit, a 50 year-old married man should NOT be fooling around with a woman young enough to being his daughter, to say nothing of one working for him as an intern.

On the final hand, I suppose this ought to occupy the freepers, Fox, and the rest of the flesh wastes for a week or so.

I france, affairs are mentionned after politicians die. More importantly, voters don't care.

On a side note: It's when you wife is sick and you are not getting any... (She is in pain, you don't want to push her) that affairs happen.

People that think it's the other way around probably have no clue.

from an Obama administration. By then, it will be so passé that people either will have forgotten or ceased to give a shit. I still think Edwards would make a supreme Solicitor General: he can argue a case to the tune of 40 million dollars and up, and the White House will need a lawyer that good to fight Bush justices and judges who will still be on the judiciary for years to come.

I am so saddened and disappointed by this news. Just a sad day for all of us.

Michelle would eat Obama alive if this was Obama who done this!!

We don't know anything about John and Elizabeth Edwards' private life.  For all we know, Elizabeth might have lost interest in having relations due to her treatment.  She might have encouraged him to get his needs met somehow.  She might not.  I don't know.  I also don't care.

I was never interested in an Edwards candidacy, but I could not care less about this "revelation."  Number one, what a politician does in his or her bedroom or hotel room is none of my goddamn business as long as nobody's being physically injured beyond what they're okay with.  Number two, a politician's love life has no bearing on his or her ability to govern.

Wasn't a certain liberal organization formed to help us move on from this sort of ridiculous non-issue back in the '90s?  This is between John, Elizabeth, and whomever got romantically involved with one or the other of them.  If Elizabeth knew about this previously and is still with him; obviously the sins weren't that egregious.

And that's all I'm going to say about this.

Oh yeah...

"Bumped, so, the initial denial by Rielle Hunter and John Edwards that he was the father was correct, but then the affair turned out to be true afterall. A tangled web of lies... jerome"

This was Bumped by Jerome...
This was Bumped by Jerome...

Why the fuck would something like this be "bumped"

jerome...
Do you really want to go into tangled webs and Bill Clinton?

MyDD..
You want to pimp this?
Jerome?
If I await your post on how Edwards is not a candidate for President that cheated on his wife like McCain did.

I await your post saying what Edwards did was no worse than Bill?

Oh yeah...

While I am still pissed off..
Why is a diary
by someone new ...without established credibility..
get bumped?

Who the fuck is
American1989?

A couple points of clarification here...

The affair supposedly only started in 2006 (which makes sense, as it was after she was hired by the campaign), so the "Side Note" asking the "what if" for the Kerry-Edwards ticket is silly... This wouldn't have happened if he hadn't run.

Secondly, he's denying that it was going on after his wife's cancer had returned.  He says that it was in remission when it happened.  I know this is a bad excuse, but people seem to be amplifying this as even worse because his wife was battling cancer.

Overall, though... very sad, and very stupid... Whenever this happens there just doesn't seem to be any good explanation... going for the most public and scrutinized position in the world, or heck, any very public position, you would think would be enough to discourage this behavior.  I can only come back to Bill Maher's explanation: they just want sex... And when it presents itself, I guess they just take the opportunity...

So very sad...

In retrospect, it gives new meaning to Elizabeth's obvious annoyance with John's fawning over Obama when Elizabeth wanted Hillary.  I recall an interview where she rolled her eyes when he talked about how great Obama was.  Anyone know what I am talking about?

From the world of weirdness:

Something ELSE, theres a rumor that BO blackmailed him  (0.00 / 0)
I was just on the Clintondems.com and a comment was about BO campaign black mailing him about knowing about the affair, and that's why Edwards endorsed him and not HILLARY,

I almost can't wait till this is over.  They really make me DIZZY!!!!!!
by: sammorg @ Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 14:51:05 PM CDT
http://alegrescorner.soapblox.net/viewRa ting.do?rateCommentId=8289

Why was this bumped?

There have been some amazing Diaries written on candidates other than President.

There have been amazing Diaries written with important information on realities hat effect us that have not been bumped...

There are..and have been individuals writing here for awhile that have not been bumped..

It is not as if there are not and will not be diaries on this subject...

Why bump this?
Why add your comment Jerome?
I am asking YOU to respond.

Jerome...What are your personal standards for bumping to the front page?
You are a moderator..
Can you share your template?

Edwards' behavior is beneath contempt. It shows outrageously poor judgement. If he began this sordid mess in 2006 with rumors surfacing last year he put the entire Democratic party at risk should he have gotten the nomination or the VP spot. Did he think it wouldn't come out or was he so egotistical it didn't matter to him? Yet on he went, lying and preening. Anyone who thunders about poverty from a 28,000 sq. foot house is suspect. A medical malpractice lawyer makes him even more suspect. He oozes sleaze. Lastly, if his wife knew in 2006, she is also complicit in this cover-up.

Oh yeah w126...

I don't believe you are even a PUMA..
your history here kinda shows you as a Mctroll with a PUMA skin...

When I told my conservative Christian father (who supported Hillary) about this, he had an interesting response.

Of course, he got caught.  He was close to getting a powerful position in the Obama administration and that scared someone.

He only admitted it, b/c as usual they always manage to get caught.  I'm assuming the affair was ongoing, b/c he was caught with her last month at The Beverly Hills Hotel?  What's that about?  

He's still lying.  All this BS about maybe his people were giving her money, but he didn't know about it, the kid is not his and he doesn't need the paternity test b/c the time isn't right, and hiring her for web ads when she's an amateur at best is just further proof.

And through it all Elizabeth has stood by him.(WTF is wrong with these women?)

Yes...
I will mention this again
We are commenting on this because Jerome bumped a diary (that of course we knew would appear multiple times) by someone new...

That in and of itself is no big deal...

But then he added his personal editorial

"Bumped, so, the initial denial by Rielle Hunter and John Edwards that he was the father was correct, but then the affair turned out to be true afterall. A tangled web of lies... jerome "

Jerome..tell me I am out of line.
Jerome..tell us that this is only about Obama/McCain...(and not Edwards)and how there is that NYT McCain Lobbyist thing and of course his current wife...

Jerome..tell us that Bill Clinton's infidelity did not diminish his leadership as our President...and how it will not diminish his speech at our Convention.

But to leave it with the "web" bullshit?
How are you different from folks who post here...and then disappear?

I am calling you out to defend your bump and editorial...

Use your intellect and moxie to put me in my place.

THIS IS NOT SNARK!

I gotta go...
Last post tonight..

Who the Fuck is
American1989?

Why the fuck is Jerome pushing her/him?

Someone may have brought this up, but Let's play Devil's Advocate for a minute.  Who among us thought that today's big story would be about the Edwards affair.  No one I'd bet.  It started out with McCain releasing another "Celeb" ad, Hillary Clinton & Clinton drama, and the Obama "on vacation" meme.  I know Edward supporters and former staff are pissed, but man this may have been perfect timing for Obama to go on vacation.  With the Olympics going on, this Edwards business, and McCain not wanting to touch the "infidelity" card with a ten foot pole,  no one, and I mean no one will be discussing McCain's presidential campaign.  Sadly for some, but gleefully for this Obama supporter, McCain just can't catch a break.

Maybe God really does hate John McCain.