Did you vote for John Edwards?
Did you vote for John Edwards?
I understand, it's a pretty direct question to ask 15 months after the 2008 Presidential election, and nearly two years after Edwards dropped out of the race for the White House.
But in light of the events of the past week... I can't hold my tongue any longer.
Let's start by setting a few things straight...
#1) I am a registered Democrat, although in the three Presidential elections during which I was old enough to vote, I have never voted for the same political party two elections in a row.
#2) I did NOT vote for Edwards in either his 2004 or 2008 run for the White House.
#3) It has nothing to do with the fact that he earned his undergrad at North Carolina State, nor with the
Moving on...
In the past, I've refrained from discussing my specific personal political views-- or politics in general-- because I tend to believe the saying that, "You can't win talking politics" (or religion, for that matter). But maybe it's the wine leftover in my system as I write this... maybe it's the words I just heard on a Friday night "20/20" special on ABC (yes, that is what my Friday nights have become; network TV news magazines with a bottle of cheap white wine while DH snores beside me... Geez, I'm not even cool enough for cable); I just can't keep silent.
Now that my little prelude to a post is over, I'll get on to the meat.
When I sat down to write this entry, I came across this rather interesting bit of information from Wikipedia (we've been over this before folks... I do not consider Wikipedia a reliable journalistic source, but for my blogging purposes right now, it will have to suffice). If you don't want to take the time to read it, I'll give you the Cliff Notes version:
OK Minnesota, which one of you was it?
I guess this is a case of hindsight being 20/20... if only we had known then (or at least in 2008, when more than 900,000 Americans voted for him in the Democratic primaries) what we know now.
Known that during his 2008 Presidential run, he was having an affair with a political staffer/freelancer.
Known that he was being unfaithful to his wife of 30 years, who was dying of cancer.
Known that he was paying tens of thousands-- maybe even hundreds of thousands-- of dollars to keep his mistress and her caretakers silent about his philandering.
Known that as he was accepting a national award for "Father of the Year" that he had just gotten his mistress pregnant... a child he would deny was his until just a few days ago.
It's no question that now-- in light of Edwards' long-overdue admission regarding the paternity of his daughter; in light of that ABC News interview with his former staffer (the one whom Edwards bribed to claim he-- not Edwards-- was the father of that girl); in light of a bombshell new book that hit stores over the weekend-- John Edwards' political career is, without a doubt, O-V-E-R.
It seems to me-- as Democrats and Republicans argue on Capitol Hill over everything from health care to job creation, as a new NBC News poll finds 70% of Americans thinks our bi-partisan government is failing-- that John Edwards exemplifies all that is wrong with our country's political system.... to a man.
I'm interested to hear your thoughts on this; I'm not looking for a political debate here. I think politics really has very little to do with this issue. I think we're talking about a man who made so many people believe in his message, who all the while was living a secret, scandalous life; a man who was willing to take that secret all the way with him to the White House.
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Yeah, I think coming clean and not bribing would have gone a looooong way.
The old adage holds true, what comes around goes around.
I didn't vote for him, but I do believe there is more secrets and bribes in politics than we will ever know. From ALL different candidates, they just didn't get caught.
I just can't believe he thought he could get away it during a national presidential campaign. I mean with that much spotlight do you think you get to have ANY secrets?
Just proves how arrogant politicians are.
I read an interesting editorial; I wish I could remember where...perhaps the Washington Post?
Obviously I can't give credit where it's due, so pardon me as I paraphrase what I remember. The writer claimed that John Edwards is not a scandal but a lesson...we are taken in by charm, charisma, and a fantastic smile. Sad commentary on the state of our political system.
I don't think this really has anything at all to do with politics; this stuff happens all the time, to all sorts of normal everyday people. Since we as a nation don't hold THOSE men accountable, why should he expect to have been held accountable? And BTW, no, I absolutely did not vote for him.
I think about him about what I think about my own father who did the same thing to my mother...but went further and left our family for his new girlfriend...bitter, yes I still am. John Edwards will suffer the consequences, especially from his own children for a long time to come I am sure. I just don't get it...
No man is above sin. But, we find that our politicians, ministers, teachers, and law enforcement should be held to higher standards than others. There's no gray area when it comes to right vs. wrong. We simply need to remind ourselves that no matter the man, he will make mistakes. It determines a man's character as to what he chooses to do with himself after those mistakes.
I feel so bad for the poor little kid involved and for his wife because she is fighting as hard as she can to stay alive for THEIR children. He's an embarrasment in my opinion.
Thanks for stopping by from Friday Follow! We're following you now. Also, thank you for the tips with my button and header. I've made a new header (thanks to the tip about powerpoint-I work on computers allllll day long fixing them and never even THOUGHT to put the stupid header in ppt!) and I'm working on the button. Stop by and let me know what you think!
Yuck. He really makes me want to puke.
Is it bad karma to hope that a ton of bad things happen to him? I know that what happens in a marriage is between the man and woman only, but didn't he realize that cheating would just make everything worse for his family? Apparently not. And apparently he let his dick do the thinking. Men like this deserve to go limp forever.
He must have to take a ton of sleeping pills in order to get any sleep at night.
No, he never got my vote, but I did like him back in the day when we didn't know he was such a d-bag. Now? I would love to see that one of the members of his family has thrown him out of a moving car.
I think he's a huge jerk. I think accepting the Father of the Year award, which I didn't know about until now, is ludicrous. I didn't vote for him. That being said, if I agreed with his politics and ideology wholeheartedly, there's a possibility that I might have. I won't get into specifics, but I think some men who made poor personal choices have made decent Presidents. Don't hate me!!!
I don't think politics plays a big role here either, other than to say that when the big wigs of either party eff up royally like this then the far side of the opposition points to that and paints the whole party with that brush. I think that's a shame. (This coming from a republican who wouldn't have voted for this guy in a hundred years) But now the extreme of the Right party will say, "Mmmhm. Told you! Those liberals have NO MORALS." Which is total crap, because there's some pretty big tools on both sides.
It's the same with the NARAL and NAF people pointing to that vile man who murdered the partial birth abortion doctor and saying, "See! Those pro life people are a bunch of murderous crazy whackos!" It's ridiculous. The actions of one man do not speak for the whole; I wish people would realize that.
I also wish people like Edwards would realize the impact he has on the the issues he supposedly stands for. Even though he's a democrat. ;)
I really don't know much about him. I am however hugely disguised that he would say he is a family man when truly he is not.
I hate that everything he publicly stood for, he was basically doing the opposite in his private life. It disgusts me.
P.S. My boys have all been wearing Tarheel blue since birth and each had a baby blanket that said "Baby steps to Chapel Hill." Can we still be friends? It's Hubs' thing, not mine.
Politicians have some how disconnected themselves as real people...I believe it has to do with their ability to give themselves raises, great bennefits and work when they want to...John Edwards is not the first cheater and he certainly won't be the last...I believe in my grandma's saying if you mess up say you messed up don't attemp and ill fated clean up when you can just appolagise.
Scandalous... he is so trashy and I am glad Elizabeth is kickin' his butt to the curb. Accepting "Father of the Year" is nauseating.I know the majority of Washington is f'ed up, I am not naive. You would think these fools would at least make a pretense of being sneaky!
I can't reply to your comments you leave on my post. You're blocking, still. *growl* :)
Scum.
Can't stand the man! What a lie a cheat and a horrible excuse for a father!
Okay enough about that.... Thanks so much for dropping by my blog today. Glad to here that your little girl enjoyed her cupcakes :O)
I also read that your DH is a SD...mine is in Law enforcement too with the Highway Patrol here in NC.
As a minnesotan, I reserve the right to not comment.!!!!
I don't think politics play apart here either, character does though. And that's something that I think we are finding out that most people in the spot light don't have. Which is sad, these are our leaders and role models, and they believe they have the power and funds to get away with almost everything.
I'm still amazed that we are still shocked from it...I know I am, and am not sure why. You know it says something about us when a leading show on a leading network is the Good Wife...I'm not knocking the show, just saying. Are we so obsessed with the scandals or do we need to see that you can make it and life goes on after them?
My heart goes out to the families, not just his, but all that have been in the lime light this year, it's so public and in my book is a tragedy. Sorry didn't mean to write a novel, but I love your blog and will be following now :)
It is pretty obvious that we live in a world where monogamy isn't always everyone's policy...and since politicians and celebrities lead public lives their dirty laundry gets aired for all of us to ponder.
Disregarding the fact that Mr. Edwards is a politician and a big-fat-dummy for being arrogant enough to think he could cheat on his wife and not get caught, he is still a dirty liar. (consequently, sometimes I wonder if "dirty liar" is not synonymous with "politician")
Characterless, and cowardly! Stepping outside his home for a piece of...cake, instead of tending to the needs of his sick wife and political career puts him right up there with Tiger "its an ADDICTION I cannot control myself" Woods.
Edwards had an affair, and wasn't even smart enough to make sure he didn't knock her up in the process!
Then he paid off someone to jeopardize his own marriage by claiming the baby was his!
Sounds like a whole gaggle of arrogant & asinine folks to me!
I think adultery is always unfortunate. On the other hand, I don't feel like I have any ownership over the private lives of others.
Much like Tiger, I imagine his public image will suffer appropriately. And women around the country will scorn him. Brutally. You know what they say about a woman scorned.
I used to think Johnny Boy was a cutie, but now I just think he's a slime ball. Big-time!
He is disgusting. I didn't vote for him but I would have if it came down to him or Bush. Or McCain for that matter.
Just because I'm an English teacher doesn't mean you have to come back and correct your spelling on my blog ;-). Just kidding...I know that's a type A personality thing.
I never thought about Cindy Brady, but now that you mention it, the short dresses are so totally her.
We had a day of no time-outs today. So we'll see if keeps going the rest of the week. I guess the good thing is that she asks to read those books now and wants to "talk" about them afterwards.
At the end of the day though, I just remind myself that this too shall pass.
~Melody
You said it best- is has nothing really to do with politics and everything to do with being a man! I am pretty disgusted by his behavior and feel that he should have stepped up long before. whether man nor woman, it just seems wrong to go about doing what he did and act as though nothing was wrong until caught.
Hindsight is 20/20- but I read kind of a cool theory once. Politicians are chosen because they're aggressive, likeable, and often have an "alpha" type personality. Then it shocks us when the alphas spread their seed in the pack. It would be nice if our system rewarded different attributes.
Elizabeth- I enjoy your blog so much that I would like to give you an award:)
http://thedomesticationofapartygirl.blogspot.com/2010/02/for-once-my-mouth-didnt-get-me-in.html
I think just about all of them (politicians) are crooked. That's the trouble with Washington. They're so busy fighting with each other and trying to get US to disagree that they're able to do all kinds of stuff behind closed doors.
I always thought he was too slick.
Thanks for the visit today. :) I rarely "shop my house," but it was out of necessity and it took me a couple of tries to figure out what I wanted to do. :)
Once a cheater, always a cheater. I think he deserves his wife walking out on him...Finally!
Politician or not, spewing your ideals to the public or not...cheating is wrong. Doesn't matter if you are a tomato picker or the president. You make a vow, keep it. Period.
A) Elizabeth should have left him waaaaay before this.
B) Personal behavior may not be connected to political abilities and effectiveness, but CHARACTER IS. He's a crappy character.
C) John and the robot doll guy should be put on an island with all the robot dolls. Eeeeew!!!
No I did not vote for him. He smelled rotten the whole time he was running for office. He deserves everthing that is coming to him and more. He can't suffer enough! I feel really bad for his wife and children. They don't deserve this.
who?
I am a tride and true democrat to the core, but things like this upset me greatly. My husband and I are teachers and we both feel that certain professions lend themselves to higher moral standards. If you are a teacher, doctor, police officer, politician then at some level you are a role model to someone, because of this you need to conduct yourself in a manner befitting a rolemodel.
This does not include cheating on your wife of 30 years while she has terminal cancer. My personal feeling is that people fall out of love etc, if you don't love your spouse anymore and want to move on with your life, then fine do so. Do not cheat end of story. How sad that once "model" politician has again disgraced the term role model
Back in '08 when he was on TV all the time I told my husband, "you know there is just something about him that screams sleaze. Maybe it is that overpolished look or something, but I bet he is a devil in a good man's clothing." Looks like I was right.
Stopping by from SITS. Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest.
Happy SITS Saturday! I enjoyed reading this post, and I agree with you. It is not about politics. It's about a person's character and morals. I do not condone his actions in the least . . . but i offer this up for thought. It seems that we have had many leaders that have some questionable character traits. From Bill Clinton to JFK, political leaders have engaged in a little something something on the side. Do you think this is just a character flaw of those that are drawn to power?? Just a thought.
:)
Unfortunately you can't buy class. Remember the guy who said with a completely straight face looking right into the camera, "I never had sex with that woman." I guess JE is made of the same stuff. Scum. And now that's off my chest, happy Sits Sharefest. I enjoyed your blog. Intelligently written with a sense of humor. Both qualities I know I'll enjoy when I return.