Wow!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26095810/

I would say Edwards is off the short list of VP options at this point.

Off Obie's VP list, for sure (was he ever even on it?) but he's now a perfect option for McSame, another adulterer.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02212008/news/nationalnews/times_hints_of_mccain_00_ affair_98620.htm

Damn.
Very disappointed.

These are human beings we're talking about, and powerful, famous figures are highly attractive to women. The temptation for such men is extreme. Not excusing what men like Rudy Giuliani, John Edwards, Newt Gintrich, Bill Clinton, and John McCain have done, only that it's unfair to single out one individual for scorn.

Andrew

All politicians cheat on their wives. Why is this some big shock? I just feel bad for the stupid women who get married to these men and think they will be loyal.
Once Obama becomes president, he will end up cheating on his wife also.
You know thats going to happen. Every woman in this country would love to Sleep with Obama if given the chance.

I'm sorry but when you get that much Vagina thrown in your face, sooner or later you are going to breakdown and "hit it".

I'm disgusted with Edwards. Mostly for lying in the first place.

Big F'n Jerk. What a disappointment. I expected better from him.

Why do these public-personae narcissist A-holes continue to think no one will ever find out?

I don't think his affair had anything to do with his qualifications to be President, any more than it did John F. Kennedy. I think it's a lot of noise about nothing.

I think his political viewpoint does eliminate him from being someone I would want on the ticket.

However, the more confusion the Democrats have on their team, the better.

What's there to be confused about? He did it.

Ouch.

Edwards is done.

I think anyone that cheats on their spouse will lie about it. Who wouldn't when they are trying to cover something up like an affair? I don't care about the lie, it's the lack of judgment given that you're married and your wife is ill. If you need to get laid, then lay it out on the table and tell the wife you need sex, and if she can't take care of it, she should allow you to seek alternatives TO take care of it. An upfront disclosure of having an affair makes it not an affair!

I guarantee you more than anything that Edwards was tempted to cheat because he has sexual needs and/or is lonely, both of which his wife cannot or will not satisfy for him. I'm not excusing his behavior, just keeping it real.

I'm not necessarily disappointed in Edwards because I never held him up to be some sort of holier-than-thou leader. I mean, it is disgusting when anyone cheats on their spouse, no question, but John Edwards is basically a stranger to me. So why should I be concerned about his personal affairs? Clinton turned out to be a terrific president and he was personally a scumbag.

Perhaps Edwards should become a Republican if he wishes to continue his political career, since adulterers like Giuliani and Gingrich (not to mention McCain) seem to be welcomed and embraced there, not scorned the way Democrats are when they are found to have cheated on their wives. At least the Democrats seem to stay married when they have martial troubles.

Andrew

And they cheat with women, not young boys or old men in a bathroom stall.

Isn't John Edward's wife still batteling cancer?
Not only does she have to worry about her cancer BUT now she has to worry about her cheatin husband. I'm sure the guy is not having sex because his wife is sick. I'm sure the last thing Mrs. Edwards wants to do is "Knock the boots."
Its an unfortunate situation but not really that surprising. At least I don't think so.

Okay, I just found out this affair occured in 2006! The fact that he tried to run for president and not fessing up to the people is ridiculous. Did he really think he could keep it a secret?

Okay, now I'm just pissed. I originally assumed this occured in the last few weeks, not two years ago.

What if he had won the nomination and then this news came out like it did today?

Jesus H. Christ on a popsicle stick!

The arrogance of his decision to run knowing this could come out is beyond belief. He indeed is done for good. Stick a fork in him (although I did back in 2004 when he was on a losing team).

Nine years ago, John Edwards had this to say about Bill Clinton and the Monica Lewinsky affair: "I think this president has shown a remarkable disrespect for his office, for the moral dimensions of leadership, for his friends, for his wife, for his precious daughter."


What an ASS!

I was an Edwards supporter during the primaries, and was a bit disappointed that he didn't do better than he did. Had he become the nominee and this affair become known (as it certainly would have) Edwards would have become instantly unelectable.

I feel like I've just dodged a bullet.

Yeah, I know what you mean about Edwards becoming unelectable. Maybe in 10-20 years he would be able to run again. He's still young. John McCain's infidelities happened decades ago, apparently, so people have forgotten them, the media doesn't care, and Republicans of course are willing to overlook any sort of moral failing in their candidates so long as there's an (R) behind his name.

Andrew

He is a very sad individual and lucky that his wife is still with him. All have (sexually)sinned on both sides of the isle and some get away with it more than others cause their just plain lucky. Keeping your shorts on means less drama in life...or better said just keep your vows.

Yeah, no doubt. She is a good, strong woman. He does not deserve her.

I'm pissed too. He could have trashed the whole thing had he got the nod! What a freaking ass.

As it is, lots of damage will be done.

He could always go Republican! IMHO, that's about his only shot going forward.

Probably would have made an excellent AG.

http://socialitelife.celebuzz.com/archive/2008/08/08/john_edwards_admits_he_effe d_around.php

I love the headline to this article.

"John Edwards admits he effed around".

>>He could always go Republican! IMHO, that's about his only shot going forward.

Ah yes, Republicans/Conservatives...people of redemption although probably would not be recieved well back in public office. I could use him helping under the bridge serving meals to the homeless...hey...needs to focus there...practice what he preached for so long...has the time!

The question now...what does he do now to keep his family intact and restore his live?

Duh, that's a no-brainer!

He'll do what every other schmuck that has gone before him does. Maybe he can phone all the recent R's that have gone before him recently for some pointers.

Here is my say on this issue:

John Edwards and any politician in this post-Clinton world is an idiot to do this.

Why: What happened around the same time that Clinton got caught? The Internet and 24hr news outlets came into being in that time. Matt Drudge's claim to fame is that he along with Micheal Isikoff sp? were the initial journalists to break the Monica Lewensky affair.

In this day and age of a truly 24hour news cycle where all journalists and papparazzi are looking for the next "big" story is a part of our lives now.

So this story has less to do with John Edwards, Rielle Hunter, and the probable illegitimate child produced from this relationship.

Instead its IMHO the bigger story that isn't being touched on at all! That story is that the mainstream media waited and waited and waited and did nothing in their duty to report this news to the public. I think it was the LA Times that a couple of weeks ago when National Enquirer reported the Beverly Hilton incident that they put a gag order on all journalists and even bloggers to not even mention the story at all.

Matt Drudge once again was the maverick in breaking this story about a month ago and National Enquirer has been reporting on this shit for over a year now.

As left leaning as I am I am very sad that there is obviously a double standard in our media when it comes to "Who" has the affair. If it had been a Republican it would have been headlines nationwide almost immeadietely.

What was the mainstream media affraid of? That the story iniatially came from a tabloid or that John Edwards would be "sue" happy?

Needless to say it has already been said by most here already. What John Edwards does was creep material. John Edwards is a very obvious narcasist. That he has a wife in dire need of love and support who is dying is sad. But also it is temptation in general for all men that does not mean however that a man can resist the temptation or at the very least do the right thing first and either man up and not deny the infraction or to go through the painful motions when the tempatations hit him to do the right thing and seek a divorce if he wants to fool around with others.

I am however in the end puzzled not at why John Edward did this shit but instead at why the media ignored this story for so long.

And his wife standing by her man during the campaign last year smiling and hurting both physically and otherwise...God be with her.

Shyguy:
Instead its IMHO the bigger story that isn't being touched on at all! That story is that the mainstream media waited and waited and waited and did nothing in their duty to report this news to the public. I think it was the LA Times that a couple of weeks ago when National Enquirer reported the Beverly Hilton incident that they put a gag order on all journalists and even bloggers to not even mention the story at all.

My take is that, as sleazy and disgusting as Edwards's behavior was, it's still nobody's business, and I don't think the Mainstream Media has any obligation to report it.

It's circular reasoning to suggest that a consensual, private affair by a candidate should be reported by the media because of how the affair might hurt him...if it is reported by the media.

Andrew

>>how the affair might hurt him

marriage infidelity generally hurts all involved with or without the media...more people know when it's publicized.

Broadway: marriage infidelity generally hurts all involved with or without the media...more people know when it's publicized.

Right, Elizabeth Edwards was hurt by it in 2006 when she first learned about it. I don't suppose having everyone in the world know about it, seeing it in the daily headlines everywhere, etc. hurt her anymore, now, do ya?

Andrew

Andrew to a certain degree I agree with your above response. However John Edwards allowed himself ie put himself in the spotlight in the first place. How can one in any sort of position of power not expect for people in general not to make a big deal out of incidents in which you and you alone fuck up?

Yes its nobodies business and no one has any business in someone elses business but don't get yourself in to these types of scadals if you don't at the very least expect to someday get caught.

John Edwards tried unsuccessfully to pull in the dirty laundry that he forgot to wash or didn't wash for this matter before the neighbours and community found out about it. He knew he was on the city council and he knew the town crier walked by his laundry line everyday and he knew as soon as the town crier saw his dirty laundry had been put out that his gig was up.

Just an analogy but you get the gist right?

Of course Edwards should have expected that his affair would become known. It was stupid. But that wasn't my point. I was saying that it should still be private and not anyone's business but the Edwards family's. Because people in our era think a public figure's personal life is fair game for media exposure, though, I'm clearly in the minority on this.

Andrew

Edwards admits affiar. who cares. i dont. he has a sick wife and life is hard on them both. leave them alone.

Affair or not, Edwards would have been a far better president than Bush. Both partipicants were of legal age and as far as I know, Edwards didn't lie under oath. I think the media went off a cliff with this thing while trying to cater to Starr fans.

>>Both partipicants were of legal age

the justification of marriage infidelity...sad.

I don't think you are reading that correctly.

Nobody justified anything. Really, the last few comments are saying it's not a criminal thing, and that it is more the business of the adults involved than it is ours.

well said. missing kskd. with the mess this country is in right now. we have more inportant things to worry about than who did who. IMO.

I don't think anyone is trying to JUSTIFY Edwards' affair, Broadway.

In the grand scheme of things, however, is it REALLY that huge of a deal? He admitted it. He has to deal with it with his wife, his family, his God, and himself.

Infidelity is considered morally reprehensible by many, but who the hell are any of us to judge and criticize on this? It's a LOT more prevalent than you might think, and it would behoove all of us to not throw those stones while living in a glass house.

>>are any of us to judge

we all make judgements everyday about people...I'm hoping/praying for a complete healing for Elizabeth.

So what does that mean exactly?

Does Edwards not deserve the same, or perhaps you think Elizabeth isn't healed, or what?

@Stevethedj -- No kidding!

That's about the last on the list of concerns right now.

Rush Limbaugh:

"We know -- we've been told that Elizabeth Edwards is smarter than John Edwards.
That's part of the puff pieces on them that we've seen.
Ergo, if Elizabeth Edwards is smarter than John Edwards, is it likely that she thinks she knows
better than he does what his speeches ought to contain and what kind of things he ought to
be doing strategy-wise in the campaign?
If she is smarter than he is, could it have been her decision to keep going with the campaign?
In other words, could it be that she doesn't shut up? ....
"It just seems to me that Edwards might be attracted to a woman whose mouth did something other than talk."

latest....not good

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,403447,00.html

I think it's all part of this comic farce we call contemporary culture in America, which is built on a hellishly repeating story arc of high hopes and fallen angels.

Of our politicians, the mass media pretends that we expect chastity or American Gothic, a stereotype that never existed in fact, and yet the press is crouched in position, ready to pounce on every inevitable zipper slip.

I truthfully don't think America cares that much, except for the way Elizabeth was kicked in the teeth by her slick choirboy. In sickness and health, my ass. What a hypocrite.

As if this kind of behavior was new. Our sultans always seem to have their harems. JFK was bouncing Marilyn in the Lincoln bedroom, MLK went to the mountaintop many a time, and in our secret hearts, Americans, once we found out, were at most faintly disgusted or jealous. Or both.

It hits the news a lot faster now. The ratings power of cheap gossip has never been stronger, nor has the pressure on media outlets to turn a mighty profit and earn their keep. Plus, political hitmen of all parties have learned to pee into the ears of willing and gullible reporters. That's what brought Dan Rather down. I think Americans just make a little "tsk" or a snicker and move on when some televangelist, politician, or other game-show type gets caught with his woody out and cries great blubbery tears.

This whole thing is stupid. I don't care where John Edwards stuck his willy! He's not even running for President anymore. It's a non-issue.

I agree with shane, this is stupid. Thats like asking who got more Booty, Bill Clinton or John Edwards?

The main fact is that he WAS running for Prez and he and his wife/others knew all about this and thought it would go away...it's all "good" timing wise it happened this way...although better if he'd kept his nose clean...

Maybe I missed it, but if this is all something that took place 2 years ago, why was Edwards leaving her hotel room at 2 a.m. just a couple weeks ago? Did he suspend the affair while he was running, but now that he's not running any longer, he's picked up where he left off? What was his plan if he won the election? Pick up where he left off again?

And while having an affair MAY not be barometer of how effective of a leader he MAY have been, I can tell you that his effectiveness IS directly proportionate to how much he can be trusted. And it is a step closer to finding out as much as I can about a potential leader. Not just to do the right thing, but to not lie, cover up, think he is above it all ( which he has recently stated he, quite literally, believed he was ) as a sitting President. You guys who think this doesn't or shouldn't mater - at what point DOES a man's personal choices in life begin to translate to how it could have an impact on things outside of his personal life? If this doesn't raise ANY red flags to anyone, then you could apply that logic to anything any leader has ever done before becoming President. NOTHING in their past should count? I think it ALL should count. It should be kept in proportion, but it should be at least KNOWN and let people decide how much weight to give it. Not the candidates.

And while I'll grant anyone that it matters MUCH less NOW that he's not running, it's not wholly unimportant. Having any kind of reaction is not out of proportion. I mean, let's actually look at what the reaction has been; A temporary verbal discussion on message boards and some media coverage. No Congressional hearings. No involuntary or clutzy legal proceedings. Heck, Edwards himself has asked for and been granted interviews to discuss the matter. To tell his side and to explain himself. How could that be a bad thing ( for us - ok, me ) in this case? Sometimes the press and media provides another line of defense for us. Sometimes it provides fecal matter. I think this case is much more the former than the latter. I do not categorize this is some salacious or titillating story just because it involves sex. It's about what judgment was exercised. To me.

Examining what could have been the case had he been elected and how we got there ( re: Media not reporting it, the attempted secrecy, the outright lies told to us about it from Edwards himself ) is a perfectly reasonable thing to look at, discuss and possibly learn from to guard against future situations that may be similar in content with other candidates. Exposing a penchant to deceive, even on this level, speaks to character issues that may not have global effects and I can keep them in perspective - but they do count for SOMEthing, don't they?

It's a perfectly valid discussion, to me.

If he can't honor his word/vows/morals to his own family, then what should we, the voters expect from him? Would he have screwed us so cheaply too?

Especially in this day and age, where media/paparazzi/gossip sleaze is everywhere, You are running for the POTUS and you can't keep it in your pants for even the election? These two issues just slay me. Very poor judgement.

Totally beside the point, but what did he expect? This woman is a first class nut-job from the word "go". How could he be so stupid? Jeez, he could've at least shown a little class. I wouldn't be surprised if she's best friends with Linda Tripp. Plus, she's ugly. If I were Elizabeth, that would piss me off even more.

If he were still running for POTUS, he would not be off the hook with me. Now, he can just sleep in the filthy bed he made and hope to repair the damage to his family.

Thank you, CJ, you just made my points, far more eloquently than I could.

It boils down to judgement and character.

"If he can't honor his word/vows/morals to his own family, then what should we, the voters expect from him?"

Exactly!!
As a former Edwards supporter, I can't express how disappointed I am.
Could you imagine what we would be going through right now if he had won the nomination!?!?

This makes him no better in my view than Newt Gingrich, or John McCain.
Two lowlifes that cheated on their wives during a time of personal crisis.

I'm more disappointed in the fact that he thought he could run for president and the affair issue would remain private, than I am about the fact that he had the affair. Complete arrogance and he could have put the Democrats in one hell of a bind had he won the nomination and then this news came out.

growing up my mom always use to say "your sins will find you out" which does have some biblical foundations but seems to come true for some politicians/well know peoples' with their misdeeds...reap what you sow...

Some people don't reap what they sow, which makes that statement horseshit for the most part. And others reap what they didn't sow, which further supports my opinion.

Please give me the name of the last president since ronald ragen who wasen't a low life.

Ah yes, Republicans/Conservatives...people of redemption.


You must not know very many Republicans.

>>Some people don't reap what they sow

give it time

>>reap what they didn't sow

bad stuff happens to all people and some of them find comfort/redemption in their God.

Wow! How did we survive before Broadway arrived to add his important pithy-ness to all these topics?

Thanks, I feel SO much better informed by you. And your pith.