I keep thinking about the movie, "The Contender"....A really important film, in my view. The situation is that the nominee for Vice President, a woman, is being discredited for alleged sexual indiscretions as a young college student.....She refuses to discuss any of it saying it is nobodies business. The powers that be urge her to "confess" and say how sorry she is, etc. She refuses. Again , saying..."It is personal", and she will not dignify these accusations with any comments whatsoever.
She was right. It is nobodies business. And her principles would not allow her to defend herself or lie or anything, because she believed that this was no one's business but her own....
As it turned out in her case, the accusations were completely false and everything had been trumped up to discredit her.
I wish that were the case here.
A really bad decision was made here by John Edwards. The decision to lie about the truth. It undermines all of his credibility, I'm afraid, and to me, that is the really really sad part.....
More To Come......
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When I read this in the newspaper, I was appalled. And not because he had the affair but for the same reasons you are mad.
Because He Lied. Makes a nice title for a book.
Now this is baby involved here and yet still he claims it is not his baby because the timeline is wrong. No father's name on birth certificate (I didn't think they could do that anymore!)
But I am sure there is even more to this story than we know. I'm staying tuned for more truthful lies because John Edwards is not done yet.
Just figures that someone who is likeable and possibly could be selected for Vice President (although I think he tanked that now!) would turn out to not be a golden boy - or even a good boy.
And shame on his wife for going along with it. He must have dangled that First Lady apple in front of her for her to go along with it.
Or maybe she figures with a deadly type of cancer, she doesn't care anymore.
I don't know. But I agree with you. I'm mad that THEY lied.
Anne- Saturday, August 9, 2008 at 4:32:00 AM PDT
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I'm pissed off too, Naomi, and I am glad you wrote about this.
I had such high regard for him and Elizabeth, so it feels like I have been personally insulted. And to think I decorated his Christmas tree for 3 years. Pooh.- Saturday, August 9, 2008 at 4:59:00 AM PDT
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I do not understand the Media's focus on peoples private sexlife, except it sells, instead of focus on subjects that really matters for USA and the World.
- Saturday, August 9, 2008 at 6:39:00 AM PDT
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I was never much a fan of Edwards, there was always something about him that nagged at me, although it wasn't thinking he was a cheat and a liar, I just thought he seemed to slick in his genuine act.
I really like Elizabeth! Just saw her on The Daily Show. She looked great and had a lot of good things to talk about.
I wish we didn't care about their personal lives. I wish the media would cover something important.
Thank the heavens he isn't the nominee!! and double thanks that Obama hasn't chosen a VP yet!!!
That's all the self-righteous Republicans need.- Saturday, August 9, 2008 at 10:07:00 AM PDT
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I am totally pissed too! If he would not have lied I would not be pissed off...but, it is the lie that got me. I trusted this man - I thought he was an honorable man - the affair bothers me - cause that's just tacky - but, the fact that he lied is what really threw me over the edge!!!!
- Saturday, August 9, 2008 at 5:10:00 PM PDT
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Hmm, sorry Naomi, but I don't agree with you on this one.
First of all, I've always admired European politics for the way they're able to separate one's political life from their personal life.
Secondly....I don't feel lied to at all. I guess it's because I truly feel NONE of that WAS my business. So when he was approached and asked the question, he answered it in the way it served HIM best.....NOT in the way if would affect ME as a citizen of this country.
As the Bill Clinton episode proved, American's get WAY too involved in things that do not even affect us. I still recall how France laughed at America's reaction to that one, and rightly so.
As far as Eliz....it was up to her to decide how to respond, because what happened was ONLY between her and her husband.
Call me paranoid.......but.....WHERE did all this info come from? It surfaced with the question back when he was maybe running for VP....but gee, the Republicans knew they had it tied up. Didn't need to use that one. Strange how it's REsurfaced now. Anybody know WHO spilled the beans? But more important........WHY?
Terri
http://www.islandwriter.net- Saturday, August 9, 2008 at 5:14:00 PM PDT
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Your last paragraph summed it up nicely. And to think he wanted to be your president. So obviously he would have been walking around with his pants on fire.
One thing I admired about our (newish) Prime Minister was that he came out admitting that a few years back he did go to a New York strip club with a group of (other) politicians who were all pretty full from the drink. At least he admitted it before he was voted in. I think he actually got a lot of respect by admitting this - made him more human than people made him out to be. He never lied about it. That would be worse.- Saturday, August 9, 2008 at 7:27:00 PM PDT
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It's interesting living in Canada and hearing about your political scandals.
- Saturday, August 9, 2008 at 9:46:00 PM PDT
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I will never understand why politicians have affairs. It always comes out. And then their families are doubly betrayed - once by the affair itself and then again when they have to live it over and over again in public. You'd think they'd be smarter than that. But apparently they're not. And if they're not smart enough to realize that it's going to come to light sooner or later, are they smart enough to run our government? I don't think so.
- Saturday, August 9, 2008 at 10:23:00 PM PDT
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Well, I am dissappointed in him too. What else has he lied about. If his affair was over, then why was he at the hotel with her at 2:00am. in the morning? To me this shows a lack of character and that is what is disturbing. Did he even once think of the conquences of his actions?
This reminds me of Roger Clemens. He lied and still won't admit to what he has done. Andy Pettit came clean and I have more respect for him than I do Roger.- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 12:14:00 AM PDT
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Naomi, well done!!! I play golf with a guy who has been involved with NC politics for more than 30 years. He has often told me that he knows of no one who had a kind word for Edwards...in either party.
- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 2:12:00 AM PDT
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People always get caught eventually.
- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 6:28:00 AM PDT
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:) oh, well. The system is screwed up but I don't think that it is the source of your disappointment. There are people who lie and there are those who dare to own up to what they did (chances are they will be less likely to do wrong in the first place knowing there are consequences). It is a big bad world out there and society is losing morals faster than the price of gas going up.
- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 7:26:00 AM PDT
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Terri: Hate to disagree with you, but the character of a public office holder DOES affect all of us and as it was stated it is not the fact that he had the affair, but that he LIED about it. Responsible adults own their mistakes. I would no longer trust anything he says either and therefore he is not electable.
- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 7:28:00 AM PDT
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Alas, Naomi, I ask myself, "What else do you expect from these people who desire to exercise power over others?" It happens without regard to party or ideology -- it is a failure of the human soul.
So now, the rest of wait for the inevitable rehabilitation while the politicians pray that our attention will be diverted soon by something else.
It's all bread and circuses for the masses, isn't it?
Cheers.- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 8:37:00 AM PDT
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I agree. It is an issue of trust.
He Lied----Period.- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 8:38:00 AM PDT
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I was pissed because he was running for President in a time when our country is in serious trouble economically. What if he had gotten the nomination? He knew this would come out and that the Bush-types would have control another 4 years absolutely destroying us...what a selfish stupid thing to do. And it makes me mad that his wife is standing by him. I get so sick of that crap. They are both too power hungry for my taste. I get so sick of politicians. Couldn't we just throw them all out!!!
- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 11:30:00 AM PDT
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i was surprised ... i really was ... and i really dislike the mud the tabloid media always look for ... and everyone out there in the fishbowl knows that their lives will be put under a microscope ... so why was edwards so naive that he thought he would get away with it?? no one ever does ...
- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 1:01:00 PM PDT
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yes, he has joined the ranks of assclowns. A shame, for all the reasons that you mentioned, Naomi. Very disappointing - I'd hoped maybe he was different than the Bill Clinton, etc. even though I always thought his decision to run while his wife was terminally ill was very cold...
- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 2:10:00 PM PDT
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Naomu: I can't comment on this because I don't feel I have the right to comment on US politicians and anyway I'm not familiar with the case. Another reason is that I am divorced and it would be hypocritical of me to cast a stone: as in 'let he who is without sin cast the first stone.'
That doesn't mean I don't agree with you.- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 3:22:00 PM PDT
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I don't think it's okay to have an affair but good grief, if you're in the kind of position that he was/is in, you really need to learn to say no.
- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 5:13:00 PM PDT
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I hurt for Elizabeth Edwards and the children. Including the infant.
I can't hold John's misjudgement against her. Just because someone else has said she knew- doesn't mean she knew. It certainly was not a situation of her own choosing. If she did know- throwing a press conference to out her husband- Would that have really improved things for anyone?
Any misjudgement on her part pales compared to her husband's or his mistress.
I have no opinion on his running during her illness. Just because it is not what I would want my own husband to do if we were in that position- I have known grievously ill women for whom it was very important to see life continuing for their loved ones despite their illness: they did not want their illness to be a burden.
I have known people for whom serving the public was honorable and their calling. One had cancer.
When asked what I thought of his running, I told him that he needed to speak with his wife: I would support his decision either way. He ran. He won. Unfortunately we lost him to the disease way too young- put he served nobly in office until the week he died.
What is most interesting to me in all of the Edwards case- the lesson- is when he explained the craziness of running for office. Of being held up high upon a pedestal- and then believing his own press. That is a cautionary tale to anyone considering public life. Be it in politics, cinema, sports. Uncommon success can all have the same detrimental effect on the personality- most notably when there is either great wealth or great notoriety involved- Edwards had both.- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 6:25:00 PM PDT
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I agree, it is the lies. God may forgive, but I am human and will not forget.
- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 7:06:00 PM PDT
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I once wrote that we are not 'adultery-proof' and the temptation is and will always be there.
Although I am not really into politics the rules are pretty clear for me integrity & trust is the utmost honour one must fulfil at all times.- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 8:46:00 PM PDT
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I agree with you and some of the comments on here. It isn't so much the affair (which is, in and of itself pretty dumb thinking) but the fact that he was seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party at a time when it was either still going on, or had already begun.
What a great way to let down half the country by being nominated and then having the news come out during the last weeks of the election. Heck, Bush could probably have gotten anothe term with that around Edwards' neck...well, maybe not, but still.
I am still pissed at Al Gore for refusing to run on his and Bill Cliinton's record because he was so angry at Clinton lying about the Lewinski debacle. If someone is going to run for office, then they are runing for US. And if Gore had used Clinton and ran on their record, we probably wouldn't be in Iraq, we probably wouldn't have a huge deficit and I would think the economy would be in better shape. And we would be reluctantly saying goodbye to the end of a second Gore term.
It is their responsibility to try and get elected because we're putting our faith and our hopes and our votes in their camp.
If they care more about doing it on their own terms or don't care enough to drop out and let someone else have a go because they think they can win it on their own or no one will discover their "secret" then they don't deserve my vote and I would say they don't deserve the position for which they are running.
I'm just so upset at what could have happened that as much as I liked Edwards, and contributed to his campaign, I will never do so again. And it has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with the affair, and everything to do with lying about it.
Right on Naomi!- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 8:59:00 PM PDT
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How interesting that you posted about this. Just today I told my husband, "Well I'm glad I finally found out some information about this John Edwards thing." See, I thought he had this affair after his wife's cancer treatment. As a woman, there is nothing more despicable to me than a man sleeping around while a woman is pregnant or after she has had a mastectomy. That's just a personal thing to me. Other than that, I think an affair is between the people invloved (all 3 or 4 of them). I had not thought of it on the dishonesty level. You make a great point and I wonder why I had not thought about it from that perspective. I guess, like some other people here, and this is also a big thing with gay people, is that your sex life is no one's business. Why does our society put people on the spot and (dare I say) make them have to lie? Unless someone is having sex with children or something else that is illegal, why do we care and how does it have anything to do with how they carry out their business?
I guess this debate will be carried out until the end of time. There were probably debates like this in ancient Egypt when brother and sister would wed.- Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 11:12:00 PM PDT
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Good Morn, Naomi just had a second to read this post. Have not been following much of the political news since my, choice, is not one of the canadiates any longer. I do agree, the fact is he lied, once he was caught, that is the time, he was caught. Certanly it is not the first nor most likely be the last. If he would lie about something like a child, what else would he lie about.
Just like Spitzer, how dare he. These woman,who love these men, how can they continue to back them up. That is what for me is really hard to understand. But one thing as "Americans" we put mostly men on some elavated platform, and forget get that they are men. Hope this does not sound like man bashing, because there are women who do the same. And do not think any better of them. And do not want to judge others, but the truth for me is expected, good bad or indifferent. A person can forgive, some one for human fralities. But for a person to choose to lie. Buddy your done. Sorry so long winded this morn.
Hope this finds you well. Pat from NY- Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 8:13:00 AM PDT
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I'm glad you wrote this post because I feel the same way. I get it that as humans, we are flawed and we're going to make mistakes, but once you've made a mistake, own up to it and deal with it. Some might argue that to lie is a common human flaw as well, but to me, its akin to the differences between 1st degree murder and manslaughter. In the one, you knowingly and intentionally do something wrong, in the other you do something without really planning the awful end. When he had this affair, I can see getting caught up in the power and the passion, but when he lied about it, he knowingly added another layer of wrong. I've taught my children repeatedly, that when you do something wrong, own up to it, as hard as it might be, because 1. You WILL ALWAYS be caught, found out, etc. in the end and 2. If I catch you lying to me, the punishment will be far worse. So far, my daughter has learned the lessons and followed well. My son lied to me once and all hell broke loose! He lost my trust for quite a long time and it nearly broke my heart standing fast to make him prove and earn my trust all over again. He hasn't lied to me again. Recently, he and a friend got into mischief and got picked up by the police. He never lied, either to the cops or me while his friend lied repeatedly and their true characters showed. You're probably wondering what they did, they poured some homemade "vomit" into the road (ketchup, vinegar, Spaghetti-Os, oatmeal, etc.) and it got on a car and the owner was pissed and thought it would eat through the paint on her car. Mess and car cleaned up, no damage. Boys!
- Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 1:14:00 PM PDT
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The saddest part here is the baby who is an innocent in the whole thing. Will she ever even know who her real father is? Life can be incredibly tough and children are the victims of selfish parents
- Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 1:53:00 PM PDT
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I so agree and was crushed by what happened to Elliot Spitzer because I thought he was a hero. I can't beleive that Edwards and others don't get that they will likely eventually be caught being in the limelight like they are. If you want to cheat don't try to run for president, I say! I was very disappointed because I liked him so much.
- Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 7:59:00 PM PDT
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