Edwards was my guy. I was going to vote for him until he dropped out.
Edwards talked a lot about integrity and honesty in his campaign. Oh sure, all politicians do, but he made it central to his stump. It does smack of hypocrisy in hindsight. And as it was a theme in his campaign, it is therefore valid news.
Having said all that, I do believe that it is a matter between he and his wife Elizabeth.
Here’s my problem - why didn’t they say that to America?
He told her about the affair in 2006 and she says she forgave him. They announced in March 2007 that her cancer came back but they would continue the campaign. They chose not to say anything about the affair to anyone, even there campaign staff (who were all over the tv in shock last night).
To me that means they both lied by omission.
Had they held a press conference to say “Here’s what happened, here’s how we’re dealing with it as a family and please grant us some privacy on this matter.” then I could be more sympathetic. People are human and Edwards is, as Steve Martin so eloquently put it, a big dumb male. But when they both chose to lie about it is when the real trouble began, for me. Nixon didn’t fall because of the Watergate break-in, he fell because he tried to cover it up. Same thing here. It’s not so much the affair as it is that they covered it up. Both of them. So when I see people already saying “Look what he did to her”, keep in mind Elizabeth knew, forgave and then lied to cover it up. They’re both in this together and while not equal in “sin”, for lack of a better word, they are equally guilty of the lie.
I’m very saddened by this. They’re still trying to cover it up as much as possible, with the Friday night news dump, hoping to soften the blow. Now John Edwards is even angry with ABC News for not sitting on the story until it aired on Nightline at 11:30 - at night- on a Friday- during the opening ceremonies for the Olympics. Guess he thought it would slip past everyone that way.
As I said at the top, he was my guy. Issues important to me were the issues he spoke most about. Now he’s toxic. He won’t be found within two time zones of the Democratic Convention. No VEEP nod (I didn’t think he’d get that anyway), No Attorney General or other Cabinet post (I thought he’d get AG). Now his issues like poverty or college affordability will not be addressed as part of party platform. What now for Elizabeth’s efforts to raise awareness for cancer research and health care reform.? Important issues that should be addressed could now be scoffed at and dismissed as “something trivial the lying Edwards’ talked about”
Imagine no Obama or Clinton in this election. Edwards would be the nominee right now as this scandal is exploding. Because of this, McCain would win the election in such a walk he could appoint the Devil himself as Vice President and nobody would give a rat’s ass.
How did they think they could cover this up in the 24 hour newsworld? To think, with cable, radio, internet & blogs it was the GodDamn National Enquirer’s hounding that forced the story.
It seems that both Americas watch the news, especially the tabloid variety.
Here endeth my bombast.
Just my opinion. Your results may vary.