John Edwards... the REST of the story

[unionworks]

"Tue Apr 24, 2012 at 01:01 AM PDT.

Why I still support John Edwardsby mandyinseattleFollow .
Share29 permalink 655 Comments

Fifty-six prosecutors investigated this case against Edwards and this is the best they’ve got; Andrew Young as their star witness? What a waste of time and money, and hasn’t he been punished enough? Political enemies never forget, and Edwards’s biggest political problem was that he wasn’t accepted by the Democratic establishment, because he wasn’t going to toe that line. He was going to take the fight directly to drug and insurance companies, and he wasn’t going to compromise time and again like Obama has."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/24/1085925/-Why-I-still-support-John-Edwards


To tell the truth,

I barely remembered John Edwards, except it occurred to me he was one in a long string of targets of the right wing hate machine.
I posted a thread making this observation, and it forced me to learn more about the Edwards campaign when I got the responses.
Turns out Edwards message of two Americas was the same as the 99% and the 1%, just worded differently. Edwards was the only canidate making economic disparity the main message of his campaign. He forced the Obama and Hillary campaign to the left.
Regardless of whether we can say how real his committment was, he was the only one pointing out the elephant in the room of economic inequality.

They came down on him so hard I found it difficult to find info on Edwards campaign message at all, only endless hit pieces even before the affair was revealed. On top of that piles of tabloid trash about the affair from "respectable" media outlets.

Even on here many had a hard time remembering what Edwards campaign stood for, that's how effective the destruction was. Myself included.

So out of three canidates, the canidate who gave even lip service to the 99% was utterly and completely destroyed. That's how terrified the 1% is of the Occupy message.

And I and others fell for it. Money, not integrity controls the M$M. If they keep beating their subliminal hypnotic drum long enough to the tune the masters call, even we start believing it.

And betray ourselves.

[leftynyc]

1. I'll never forgive the adulterous liar

He could have brought down the entire party if this had come out later than it did. Fuck him.

[Raine]

10. Yup, I shudder to think what would've happened if he had

gotten the nomination.

[liberalhistorian]

14. I so agree. I found him slick

and phoney and shallow long before any of this came out. And it's not necessarily the adultery, although screwing around on a sick wife is pretty sickening no matter which member of the party does it (we castigate Newt for doing it twice, so we need to do the same thing with Edwards) it's the way he handled the whole thing and the way he also handled it when he discovered Rielle was pregnant. And anyone who would be attracted to a selfish cruel bitch like Rielle is not the kind of man I want to support.

[roguevalley]

57. my beef was abusing Bunny Mellon. What a douche he is.

he did wrong. he will be tried and if found innocent let free. if not, he goes to jail along with anyone else. Sad that some still consider him a man who is worthy when he's worked so hard to disprove that.

[gateley]

2. He was the only one with this message and yes, he forced the other candidates to include it in

their platforms to varying extents. He deserves credit for that.

But I didn't believe or trust him in 2004, and I didn't believe or trust him in 2008, so it's not only money and the MSM that did him in -- he didn't attract the numbers of supporters he needed for one reason or another. And the scandal didn't erupt until he was already lagging far behind in the polls. :

Many of your criticisms of the media and big money are certainly valid, but IMO, neither are to blame for his demise as a viable Presidential candidate.

[progressoid]

6. His "two Americas" did influence the other candidates campaign.

Particularly Senator Obama. Unfortunately it only went as far as the campaign.

We still have two Americas and a government that supports it.

[cstanleytech]

51. As long as the republicans continue to stonewall it there will be little to no real

change in that regard.

[SammyWinstonJack]

67. And some call Edwards a phony.

His two Americas did influence the other candidates as far as the campaign.


Particularly Senator Obama. Unfortunately it only went as far as the campaign.

[Whisp]

85. I think Obama had a good sense of the 2 americas as well. he was a lot closer to the poorer part

than Edwards has been in a long while.

I don't accept that Edwards forced Hillary or Obama to do squat. He was not in the position to do that.

[HiPointDem]

192. Obama was never poor. Neither was Edwards. But Edwards grew up in a working class family.

Obama, for all the myth-making, did not.

[onenote]

3. Am I the only one that found the reference to "integrity" in the OP somewhat ironic?

Even if money, not integrity, controls the mainstream media, integrity also has squat to do with John Edwards character (or, rather, his lack thereof).

[Honeycombe8]

55. Ditto. nt

[karynnj]

4. Edwards is not on trial because he was not accepted by the establishment

or because he was unfaithful. He is on trial because Hunter was being hidden in grand style paid for by two supporters of Edwards.

The trial hinges on whether it is acceptable for wealthy people to give large sums of money as gifts to a candidate (or to help him) At the time there was a limit on what you could contribute to a campaign. That Edwards knew this could be seen in the fact that his campaign was among those and the media that loudly argued that even Teresa Heinz Kerry could not give more than the maximum amount to her husband's campaign - and it was pretty clear that that included not giving John several million as a personal gift. Now, that was an extreme - the McCains and Clintons were not treated that way, but it does make clear that the media's and the campaigns' interpretation was that no large gifts were allowed no matter how close the relationship. There was also an issue in NY that Spritzer's father likely gave him much of the money that he used in an early campaign. Bunny was not really a friend of Edwards - just a supporter (or patron) - and she presumably did not even know Hunter and was not a friend of Young.

Allowing unlimited gifts from new BFFs of candidates would completely gut McCain/Feingold, which in 2008 did have real limits. (One odd thing in having the trial now is that Citizens United changed a lot of that.) You might notice that some voices saying that there was no crime are from the right - National Review had an opinion piece. Their motivation is that they have been against limits on financing campaigns from the beginning. But the fact remains that there were campaign finance laws on the books in 2008.

Now, as to John Edwards not being accepted by the party. In 2004, Edwards was a party and media favorite. There was intense pressure on Kerry to pick him for VP - both Kennedy and Clinton were supposed to have weighted in. The media was printing stories essentially say that if Kerry did not pick him, it would show that Kerry was afraid Edwards would out shine him - in spite of Kerry killing Edwards in nearly every primary state. He was a golden haired boy - referred to as "Clinton without the bimbo eruptions." In fact, even covering this trial, The WP's The Fix's Chris Cinzilla STILL said he was the "buzz" candidate in 2004 and that he was the most naturally talented politician since Clinton!

Not to mention, Edwards had a Senate record that looked like Even Bayh's. So, only if you want to tell me that Evan Bayh was a progressive hero do I want to hear that Edwards was.

So, stop with the everybody picked on Edwards because he was some progressive hero.

[karynnj]

5. Anyone can put up a diary on Daily Kos - it's easy

I have a few - though they are not controversial.

You might note that on the right, people can recommend a diary. Though this has hundreds of responses, there are only three people recommending. That ratio shows that very few people think there is any merit to her rant.

Not to mention, most of the diary is an attack on Elizabeth - for forcing JRE to run for the Senate and President, "letting herself go", "gaining 75 pounds", being abusive to poor little Johnny etc.

I took you post yesterday to be that of someone who was genuinely fooled by Edwards, who didn't follow much closely. Today's looks like you were so desperate to find someone to agree with you, that you took a despicable diary, that most on DK bashed. I suggest you might want to self delete this thread - so no one else follow the link and reads that vile piece.

[ProSense]

9. It was troll rated. n/t

[karynnj]

26. It had more "hide" counts than I ever saw

[ProSense]

7. Holy shit!

I’m tired of people pretending that being diagnosed with cancer trumps treating your husband badly for years, and gaining 75 pounds.

Utterly disgusting!


You know it's one thing to want to empathize with Edwards, but stop pretending he's anything but a dishonest jerk.

You want to claim his message was good (and it was completely opportunistic, believe that), but you are making it about him while claiming that it's not.

[redqueen]

12. Wow, yeah, thats sickening stuff. nt

[Fawke Em]

98. So the fuck what?

He's supposed to not love the mother of his four children (yes, one died, but she bore four) because she gained weight - probably as a result of BEARING FOUR CHILDREN - two late in life when it's harder to get back into shape?

[Ruby the Liberal]

8. "hasn’t he been punished enough?"

No.

Claw back the money that was misappropriated from campaign funds, fine him and let him cool his heels in a jail cell for fraud and then we can have the "has he been punished enough" conversation.

[quinnox]

11. John Edwards did have a great message, but he caused his own downfall

Lets not sugar coat anything, he played around on his wife who was struggling with cancer at the time. At the same time, he pretended he was standing by his wife and was basically living as a total fraud with his act of being a devoted husband to his sick wife.

I suspect that the government came down hard on him and is prosecuting him partly because of how this whole situation played out, and I can agree with that result.

[rox63]

13. His campaign message was great

But underneath the message, he was personally a liar and a cad. I wish he had been as good as his message.

[sagesnow]

48. I agree. I really liked his message and

He looked good on the surface, but seems like a slick hustler to me now. In retrospect, it's good the scandal came out when it did. If he had won the Presidency, Dems would have had a worse scandal than the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. I don't think Edwards would have survived impeachment hearings.

[DevonRex]

15. It says the affair was okay since Elizabeth gained 75 pounds

and treated smoove Johnny badly. You really agree with this shit? This is disgusting filth you brought to DU. Do you understand that?

Fuck whoever that is that wrote that on KOS. Just fuck 'em.

[unionworks]

17. I guess

I've just been feeling a little "LEFT" out lately

The fear of the 1% is a REFLECTION OF YOUR POWER

OCCUPY YESTERDAY

OCCUPY NOW

OCCUPY FOREVER

[DevonRex]

33. And Occupy is doing just fine without scum like Edwards.

Matter of fact, if Edwards had come anywhere near it, they'd have told him to get lost. Real movements don't want his kind around.

[unionworks]

70. Occupy was BORN

Because of the Democratic establishments rejection of EDWARDS MESSAGE - TWO AMERICAS - THE 1% AND THE 99%.

[ProSense]

91. It's appears

"Because of the Democratic establishments rejection of EDWARDS MESSAGE - TWO AMERICAS - THE 1% AND THE 99%. "

...you have no clue about Occupy. It has nothing to do with Edwards. I mean, I could attribute it to Carville, "It's the economy, stupid."

OccupyWallSt.org is the unofficial de facto online resource for the growing occupation movement happening on Wall Street and around the world. We're an affinity group committed to doing technical support work for resistance movements. We're not a subcommittee of the NYCGA nor affiliated with Adbusters, anonymous or any other organization.

Occupy Wall Street is a people-powered movement that began on September 17, 2011 in Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial District, and has spread to over 100 cities in the United States and actions in over 1,500 cities globally. #ows is fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations. The movement is inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, and aims to fight back against the richest 1% of people that are writing the rules of an unfair global economy that is foreclosing on our future.

The occupations around the world are being organized using a non-binding consensus based collective decision making tool known as a "people's assembly". To learn more about how to use this process to organize your local community to fight back against social injustice, please read this quick guide on group dynamics in people's assemblies.

http://occupywallst.org/about/

[DevonRex]

99. I seriously LOLed at his/her attributing Occupy to Edwards.

I mean

[karynnj]

171. Not true - Occupy was born because the economic disaster increased the

divide and - unlike in the past, many people, who spent their lives comfortably in the middle class, saw that they could not sustain that and new college graduates saw that they, or many of their friends, were unemployed or underemployed. This was enough to spark action - just as the draft in the 1960s led to more action against the war than there would have been otherwise. The issue was personal.

Edwards was not the first to speak of "two Americas" - if you want I could amuse you with a list of Democrats who spoke of just that. The fact is that two of the three top tier candidates in 2008 had spent time working for the bottom America when they graduated from Yale and Harvard - instead of getting a corporate law degree - Edwards was the one who went to a corporate firm. (It was NOT that Clinton and Obama were wealthier - they weren't.) Similarly in 2004, Edwards' strongest opponents had far deeper roots in helping the bottom - Dean, by extending health care in VT, Kerry by sponsoring, Youthbuild, which helped at risk for dropping out underpriviledged kids get hs degrees while also learning a trade. He also was a sponsor with Kennedy of the precrsor bill to SCHIP, which gave health insurance to poor kids. (Not to mention - in the Senate record, Kerry spoke of the two Americas so long ago that he referred to them as the America of the Yuppies on LA Law and the America of Rosanne Barr. (1993) He spoke then of how the latter was in a threadmill world where they were working harder and longer to just stay where they were. He had the statistics of how the top gained, while the bottom lost - and he was speaking of the 1980s.) Not to mention, in 2004, Edwards attacked both Dean and Kerry as wanting to spend too much on healthcare.

I am personally sick of hearing that only Edwards spoke of this - google Mario Cuomo or even the 1968 Kerner report.

If you want someone current, check out Bernie Sanders, Sherrod Brown or look at Elizabeth Warren, running in Massachusetts - all better than Edwards in what they are asking for - and their record matches their rhetoric.

[calimary]

52. IIRC, newt gingrich threw his first two wives over because of their physical imperfections.

Including that one who was struggling with cancer - wife #2 I think?

And let's not forget john mccain did the same thing after his long-legged former-model wife was in a car wreck back home while he was in Vietnam (I think while he was a hostage), and was physically hobbled by it. He returned home, finally, only to discover she wasn't near the looker she'd been before he left. I remember reading about her long gorgeous legs, and how the accident impaired her height as well as those legs. He threw her over for Cindy Goldilocks.

In this regard, John Edwards is as much of a scum-bucket as they are. We didn't like it when gingrich and mccain did it, and we said so. And we were justified. And it's equally inexcusable when one of ours pulls this kind of shit, as well.

[unionworks]

59. Coonsider it a small DIVIDEND

For the mountain of FILTH that was piled on a FORMER DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANIDATE.

[dionysus]

178. that madame, was a cruise missle...

[DevonRex]

187. He keeps dogding and ducking.

Don't know how he does it.

[dionysus]

196. imagine the vapors if smoove johnny actually winds up in the joint...

[frazzled]

16. Just like Lt. Hiroo Onada, who continued to fight World War II for 29 years after it ended

The war is over ... please come out.

John Edwards was never for anyone but himself. See all the recent articles about Bo Xilai, the Chongqinq official who was famous for preaching about the gap between the grotesquely rich and abjectly poor while accumulating untold millions for his family, sending his son off to Harrow, Oxford, and Harvard to party and drive sports cars, and whose wife had a British business consultant murdered. Here, in case you haven't been following (it's the biggest story in the world right now, but I'm hard pressed to find threads about it here). Happens all the time:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/world/asia/bo-xilai-said-to-have-spied-on-top-china-officials.html?ref=world

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/world/asia/bo-guagua-tries-to-defuse-sports-car-scandal.html?ref=world

and for a good recap, here:

The gap between rich and poor has become so inflammatory and unsustainable that the Chinese government has simply stopped releasing an official measure of the distribution of wealth. (Unofficial studies now put China’s inequality beyond the point that a former Prime Minister once estimated would trigger social unrest.) Bo Xilai made his name channelling Mao’s call for social equity, but Bloomberg has discovered that Gu Kailai’s siblings control businesses worth at least a hundred and twenty-six million dollars. The Chinese journalist Jiang Weiping, who spent five years in prison for reporting on Bo family corruption, told NPR last week, “I think it’s an extremely conservative guess to say he had one hundred mistresses.”

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2012/04/30/120430taco_talk_osnos#ixzz1tBbnCqeT

[unionworks]

18. Yay M$M! I must OBEY....OBEY...

[frazzled]

20. I'm not impressed

I'd say this Daily Kos entry is the one who "must OBEY ... OBEY ..."
Or are you questioning these stories about Bo Xilai and his millions?
Or are you calling me slime?

It's always hard to tell when inane, cheerleading responses accompanied by Frank Zappa tunes are posted.

My interepretation is that my post hit a very sore spot, whence the mudslinging that must inevitably occur. I wear the mud as a badge of honor. This old time liberal/progressive (who yes, was there when Frank Zappa was at his height) laughs at these babyish accusations.

[unionworks]

21. The dream is OVER

"The speechThe following are excerpts from a speech given by Senator John Edwards as Democratic vice presidential nominee to the 2004 Democratic National Convention on 28 July 2004, based on the idea of Two Americas. For the complete transcript, see External links.

“I have spent my life fighting for the kind of people I grew up with. For two decades, I stood with kids and families against big HMOs and big insurance companies. When I got to the Senate, I fought those same fights against the Washington lobbyists and for causes like the Patients' Bill of Rights. I stand here tonight ready to work with you and John [Kerry] to make America stronger. And we have much work to do, because the truth is, we still live in a country where there are two different Americas... [applause] one, for all of those people who have lived the American dream and don't have to worry, and another for most Americans, everybody else who struggle to make ends meet every single day. It doesn't have to be that way...
“We can build one America where we no longer have two health care systems: one for families who get the best health care money can buy, and then one for everybody else rationed out by insurance companies, drug companies, HMOs. Millions of Americans have no health coverage at all. It doesn't have to be that way. We have a plan...
“We shouldn't have two public school systems in this country: one for the most affluent communities, and one for everybody else. None of us believe that the quality of a child's education should be controlled by where they live or the affluence of the community they live in. It doesn't have to be that way. We can build one school system that works for all our kids, gives them a chance to do what they're capable of doing...
“John Kerry and I believe that we shouldn't have two different economies in America: one for people who are set for life, they know their kids and their grand-kids are going to be just fine; and then one for most Americans, people who live paycheck to paycheck...
“So let me give you some specifics. First, we can create good-paying jobs in this country again. We're going to get rid of tax cuts for companies who are outsourcing your jobs... [applause] and, instead, we're going to give tax breaks to American companies that are keeping jobs right here in America...
“Well, let me tell you how we're going to pay for it. And I want to be very clear about this. We are going to keep and protect the tax cuts for 98 percent of Americans -- 98 percent. We're going to roll back -- we're going to roll back the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. And we're going to close corporate loopholes...
"

"And so, dear friends, we'll just have to...carry on"

[unionworks]

19. How easy to forget

When the pretty lady is selling us something



Saturday, June 23, 2007
About that NY Times Hit Piece on John Edwards



About that front-page New York Times hit piece on John Edwards, which alleges that Edwards might have, could have done something wrong -- like talking about poverty while running for president, Greg Palast over at TPM Cafe reports that the Times refused to talk to any of the folks who have actually benefited from Edwards' antipoverty programs:


The Edwards campaign is pushing back hard against today's today's enormous front-page New York Times piece alleging that there was something untoward about the fact that the antipoverty programs set up by John Edwards provided a "bridge" to his Presidential campaign. The story has already come under fire here, here, and here.

But we've just learned something new and surprising about the story. The Edwards campaign has just told us on the record that The Times refused the chance to talk to any real, live beneficiaries of Edwards' programs.

We've asked the reporter and a Times spokesperson for comment. If we hear back, we'll let you know.

http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2007/06/about-that-ny-times-hit-piece-on-john.html

[karynnj]

27. Go a step forward and read anything written about the foundation in late 2008

It ended with his Presidential campaign - and even the UNC people concede they were tricked and it was - as the NYT said - a bridge to keep the people he wanted for his campaign.

[unc70]

68. What UNC people have said that? UNC Poverty center still there.

The poverty center is headed last I checked by the former president of William & Mary.

There were several different foundations, etc. involving Edwards involving poverty, education, and other policy issues. For example, the high school to college incentives foundation was always a pilot program. It was quite successful, elements of it were folded into State of NC education programs, some can be seen in the Carolina Covenant at UNC.

By the way, you probably should read the story on LBN about the trial. Young has now admitted that the Bunny money was used to build YOUNG's house, not to benefit Edwards or Hunter. His prior testimony regarding conversations alleging crucial involvement by Edwards and the related timelines was completely shredded in every way.

[cali]

22. forget all the skeezy sex shit. It's his record in the Senate and

in business after his Senate career that make my stomach turn.

Not to mention his using his Poverty Center at UNC to raise money for his run and his shuttering it within weeks of his crash and burn

He never gave a shit about poverty except in the most cynical of ways- as a method of getting the dem base vote.

Sickening piece of crap.

[unc70]

80. You are wrong about UNC Center on Poverty, Work & Opportunity, and more

Here is the web site for the UNC center in the Law School. Still active, doing good work. Maybe you should look before you leap:

http://www.law.unc.edu/centers/poverty/


And you should look at todays trial testimony (LBN). Andrew Young was using the Bunny money for his own new house, not to benefit Edwards or Hunter. His timeline and description of his conversations with Edwards about the money, it is piece by piece being shown to have been impossible.

Yes, Edwards is the father of Hunter's child. Not excusing his behavior. But several bombshells seem on the way about it too, based on a couple of things I noticed in a couple of "background" articles today.

[cali]

175. Nope, sorry. YOU are wrong. We're talking about two different things

the UNC center, btw, was not created by Edwards though he was recruited by it to lead it.

John Edwards Ends Fling With Anti-Poverty Center

By Ken Silverstein

Once upon a time John Edwards wanted to be president. “Poverty,” he said back then, “is the great moral issue of our century,” he told a group of students at Berkeley in 2005. “People living in poverty need you. And another thing: America needs you.”

To show his own dedication, Edwards “created a tax-exempt nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty”, reported the New York Times. Except:

The organization, the Center for Promise and Opportunity, raised $1.3 million in 2005, and—unlike a sister charity he created to raise scholarship money for poor students—the main beneficiary of the center’s fund-raising was Mr. Edwards himself, tax filings show…

<snip>
http://harpers.org/archive/2008/08/hbc-90003382

[cr8tvlde]

23. I believe it was Herman Cain who said ...

something to the effect that Politics is a brothel where "the people" have the need to enlist/send virgins. So, since there are no political virgins, we try to put Lipstick on the Pig and hope it doesn't get washed off too soon.

The rest of the world laughs at the Americans and their "Christian" need for political purity. Now with hacking, the internet, Twitter and all the other social media, what man/woman would want to expose themselves, or more importantly, their family to the Victorian Values magnifying glass.

My personal opinion is that No One gets far into politics anymore unless there IS a dossier...real or fictional...with which to control or leak to the MSM, if or when necessary.

[unionworks]

25. Don't Touch That Dial, D.U.ers!

"The Slime"

I am gross and perverted
I'm obsessed 'n deranged
I have existed for years
But very little has changed
I'm the tool of the Government
And industry too
For I am destined to rule
And regulate you

I may be vile and pernicious
But you can't look away
I make you think I'm delicious
With the stuff that I say
I'm the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I'm the slime oozin' out
From your TV set

You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don't need you
Don't go for help . . . no one will heed you
Your mind is totally controlled
It has been stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold

That's right, folks . . .
Don't touch that dial

Well, I am the slime from your video
Oozin' along on your livin' room floor

I am the slime from your video
Can't stop the slime, people, lookit me go

I am the slime from your video
Oozin' along on your livin' room floor

I am the slime from your video
Can't stop the slime, people, lookit me go
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Frank Zappa - from "Overnite Sensation", ca 1974

[unionworks]

58. the sad, sad truth...

.... the dirty low down.

[cali]

24. OMFG. Just read the whole sickening piece. The diarist is a sick piece of crap. Shame for posting

from the diary.

In my mind, Edward’s biggest crime was not divorcing his wife when he realized they weren’t happy, but it was SHE who insisted he run for senate, and then she insisted he run for president and later VP with John Kerry, and she again insisted he run for president, so HER political ambitions won out. When she first became ill, he wanted to drop out and she wouldn't let him, and she wore the pants in that family. As far as I know, she hadn’t had the relapse when he later fell in love with Rielle, if he did fall in love, and why wouldn’t he have? His wife was unkind to him, dismissive and humiliating in front of others, so how long is a guy supposed to take that, not to mention she let herself go? I’m tired of people pretending that being diagnosed with cancer trumps treating your husband badly for years, and gaining 75 pounds. If you treat someone like crap but you’ve tied your ambition to theirs, and you call the shots because you’re a ball buster, don’t be surprised if your husband go off the rails and falls in love with someone who is pretty and tells him how smart and wonderful and sexy he is. How you treat someone matters, and we’re all human, even politicians running for office. If being a decent and loving person and treating your spouse well isn’t enough in itself, consider that someday you may become ill and might need that person in a way you hadn’t planned.

I’m sorry Edwards isn’t bringing cases of the type he used to, that resulted in faulty products taken off the market and harmful business practices amended or eliminaed. I feel like the only person (and Edwards’s supporter and contributor last election) in America who doesn’t see what he did as that big a deal; falling in love and having a baby out of wedlock.

[DevonRex]

29. Don't bother. I just ranted about that part of the diary above.

And he posted some BS about Occupy, as if that has any fucking bearing on anything.

[karynnj]

30. Amazingly sleazy - and she repeats these positions throughout the comments

- going even further.

[ProSense]

34. Evidently,

when one is caught up in the "dream" of a candidate, nothing is too vile.

[WeekendWarrior]

28. Hahahahahahahahahahahah

"He was going to take the fight directly to drug and insurance companies, and he wasn’t going to compromise time and again like Obama has."

If anyone thinks Edwards wouldn't have compromised, they're crazy. They all compromise. They compromise their beliefs, their values, their morality. All of them. Every single one.

[unionworks]

72. Bro Your Honesty

Is a shining beacon on this thread.

And I sense in your heart you wish as much as I do that it wasn't so.

WPOD

THIS KICK ASS BREW IS FOR YOU

[WeekendWarrior]

190. Thanks, and

yes, I do wish it wasn't so.

[ProSense]

31. Edwards Statement On Health Care Mandate

Edwards Statement On Health Care Mandate
November 28, 2007

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Senator John Edwards released the following statement today on the need for clear, direct answers on how we will reach universal health care:
"We need true universal health care reform that covers every single man, woman, and child in America. It is wrong to leave anyone without the care they need. A universal system will work better for all of us – delivering better care at lower cost.

"Barack Obama's plan leaves out 15 million people. The truth is that some people will choose not to buy insurance even though it's affordable, knowing that the rest of us will pay for their emergency room visits.

"But it is just as bad to say that everyone will have insurance without a plan to get there. Hillary Clinton says her plan will cover everyone through a 'mandate' but does not provide even the most rudimentary idea much less a detailed plan of how this 'mandate' would work. To get fundamental change in our health care system, we need a fundamental change in our politics. That starts with being clear and direct about what we are going to do and how we are going to do it."

Edwards' truly universal health care plan will ensure that every American has health insurance. He will require proof of insurance when income taxes are paid and when health care is provided. Families without insurance will be enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP or another targeted plan or be assigned a plan within new Health Care Markets.

Families who lose coverage will be expected to enroll in another plan or be assigned one. For the few people who refuse to pay, the government will help collect back premiums with interest and collection costs by using tools like the ones it uses for student loans and taxes, including collection agencies and wage garnishment.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=91170#axzz1qqZ9tZYk

[unionworks]

37. Proverbial post!

[ProSense]

45. Rich

You post vile crap, pining over a fraud and you thing I'm "beating a dead horse"?

[unionworks]

46. I guess you just don't get me...

[unionworks]

56. Do you support Occupy?

Or do you feel both parties should be tools of the masters? I'm trying to remember reading your posts on Occupy, but can't quite recall... please refresh my memory.

[unionworks]

32. What Have We Learned?

"Joe Trippi, the lead strategist for Edwards’ 2008 campaign, said that as that campaign wore on the other candidates in the field did everything they could to embrace the rhetorical power of “Two Americas”.

“Coming down the stretch in Iowa in 2008 many of us in the Edwards campaign became worried because Obama was moving closer and closer to the ‘Two Americas’ message,” said Trippi. “Americans responded to that message in 2004. And they responded to that message in 2008. It’s even more relevant in 2012.”

At its heart, “Two Americas” was an economic populist paean — driving home the sense that the distance between the haves and the have-nots was not only widening, but also that the system was somehow rigged to favor those with money and power."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/what-john-edwards-can-teach-barack-obama/2011/10/17/gIQA85p8rL_blog.html

"Look at all my friends who did, and got what they deserved"

[ProSense]

35. That you're

infatuated with a person who was a fraud!

[unionworks]

36. Who am I

...to tell you what to think, or tell you who to be?

[Hawkowl]

38. Fraud?

He really didn't sound infatuated with Obama?

He just finally seemed to remember the campaign issue of John Edwards.

[ProSense]

43. It's a good thing

"He just finally seemed to remember the campaign issue of John Edwards. "

...that not everyone fell for the fraud. I remember that Obama was the best choice then...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4697164

...and now.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/100249786

Obama Can Revolutionize Rural America with Broadband, FDR-style
http://www.newdeal20.org/2011/02/18/obama-can-revolutionize-rural-america-with-broadband-fdr-style-36284/

Building Neighborhoods of Opportunity
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/01/10/building-neighborhoods-opportunity

Working with Oxfam to Fight Hunger Around the World
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/03/08/working-oxfam-fight-hunger-around-world

http://www.feedthefuture.gov/

[unionworks]

53. Just answer one question for me

And I won't ask you another.


Do you support the Occupy movement?

[Codeine]

39. Holy fucking shit; you should be monumentally ashamed for posting that. nt

[karynnj]

44. And 17 people recommended

I just hope that they did not go to the link - and still think the rec was a good idea.

[unionworks]

75. uh, 25 as of this post!

"I'm MELLLTING"!!!

[ProSense]

84. It's hilarious

that you're laughing at those who rec'd this sad thread.

It reminds me of your idol: the con artist.

[unionworks]

88. Not laughing at them at all

Do you support the Occupy movement, Prosense?

[ProSense]

94. Let me guess:

"Do you support the Occupy movement, Prosense?"

...you're conflating support for Occupy with support for "Edwards message"?

Next, it's Edwards love and happiness, which he deserved despite the "ball buster" (from the OP link) Elizabeth.

[unionworks]

95. Yes or No do you support your brothers and sisters

As they cry out for justice? It's a simple question....

[unionworks]

97. Edwards out of the equation

To be fair. Eddwards completely aside.

Do you support the Occupy movement?

[unionworks]

54. I don't remember telling you

That you had to agree with anything in the op, or telling you how you should feel after reading it.

[TNLib]

40. Edwards was my first choice in the primary.

He was the populous candidate. Unfortunately many of my political heroes are severally flawed when it comes to their personal life. and in the this day and age politicians have to walk the line when it comes to their personal lives.

[cali]

50. His personal life sucked but it way his cynical ploy using poverty

that made me sick.

JE was as cynical as Mittens. In fact, I see them as very much alike, believing in nothing so much as their own destinies as "Great Men".

Fuck all "Great Men". They are as bad as it gets.

[tritsofme]

41. lol, There is always a market for snake oil!

And you have your salesman!

More sad than funny, really.

[MrSlayer]

42. I don't care about the sex stuff at all.

Edwards took some very troublesome positions and votes that belied his message. Loved the message but wasn't quite sure he was sincere about it.

[unionworks]

47. The M$M Went into overkill mode

on Edwards....

and it wasn't his affair they gave a fook about. It was the message they wanted dead dead dead

[karynnj]

60. Then why is there absolutely no scandal around many REAL Progressives?

Believe me there are plenty of people who had both a real progressive message and the track record behind it. People like Bernie Sanders and Sherrod Brown are real - not phonies like Edwards.

[unionworks]

61. May I respectfully inquire

How many of them were vice presidential canidates, and were on the very brink of capturing the party nomination for president? May I also point out that one of the right wing 1% ruling class,. Richard Mellon Schaiffe, spent millions trying to destroy Bill Clinton? You have to seriously threaten the status quo to be worth the money to destroy you.

[grasswire]

191. ..and if you are genuine enough, they will Wellstone you

....and mock your funeral.

[unionworks]

199. And if you are Gingrich enough

...they will give you a standing ovation when you tell a debate moderator to fuck off on national t.v. for asking about your adultery. If you are John Edwards, they will put you on trial.

[karynnj]

194. Ok - one person far more progressive than Edwards, who actually DID stand

up to the right major cases. John Kerry, the Presidential nominee who was a far better man than Edwards could ever have been. (I didn't list Kerry before because I think he fits better as a liberal than a progressive, though there is a big overlap. )

To educate you - Kerry stood up to the paranoid Nixon and told the truth before the SFRC that he now chairs. Then as Senator, he was the ONLY Senator who investigated rumors that the CIA was allowing people to run guns to arm the RW Contras, who were terrorizing Central America. Without Kerry, Iran/Contra would likely have just been Iran. Then he spent 5 years investigating BCCI which was used to launder international drug running money - and to allow OBL to move money where needed. His investigation was used to NYC DA Morgenthau to close BCCI.

Edwards was NEVER on the brink of capturing the party nomination. In 2004, Kerry won all but 4 states - most of them far ahead of Edwards, how did not win any state that did not have Carolina in its name. As to 2008, Edwards rarely polled above 10% - he was always way behind - first way behind Clinton, then way behind both Clinton and Edwards.

I'm fully aware that the right smeared Clinton, Obama and Kerry. They did not have to destroy Edwards. He was not useful in 2004 and in 2008, he had created many problems all by himself - doing things like working for a hedge fund to "learn about poverty."

[Nye Bevan]

69. A politician having an affair is one thing.

But a politician cheating on his cancer-stricken wife, fathering a child with her and lying about it, persuading his political aide to lie too and pretend to be the father, and cheating an old lady out of millions of dollars to try to cover up the whole sordid mess, raises some troubling questions about the candidate's character, to say the least. This went a lot further than "sex stuff".

[unc70]

172. Much of that narrative was proven false yesterday in court, a lot more today.

Young has admitted that all of Mellon's money and most of Baron's went into Young's personal accounts and benefit, mostly to build the Young's new home. None of these funds were ever used directly or indirectly to benefit Hunter or Edwards.

All those conversations with Edwards that Young has described in such detail are being refuted one after the other. They could not have happened when or as Young writes in his book or as he testified under oath. Young claimed to have discussed the pregnancy before he or anyone could have possibly known -- that date was before the child was even conceived!

Yes this is a mess. And it raises troubling questions far beyond the "sex stuff", and not just about Edwards.

Since the federal prosecutors certainly had the bank and phone records of Young, et al at least two years, why did Holding indict Edwards anyway?

Why did Holder and DOJ bring this case to trial?

Who is financing Young's movie deal with Rahm's brother?

[fascisthunter]

206. That's how I feel Too

[SoCalDem]

49. People are complex creatures

He was just another cheating husband, who happened to be a good-looking/smooth-talker. We have ALL known these men.

If we work with them we can ignore their advances and feel sorry for their families.
If they run for office and are clever enough we never know about their secret lives.
If they are in our family/friend circle, we can try to "counsel" them and failing that, we can commiserate with their wives
If we are married to one, we can be the ever-suffering wife who looks the other way to maintain the family lifestyle, or we can divorce them and start over.

He was nothing special. He conned a lot of people, and even though he may have had a message that many liked, could we believe that he would be any truer to it or us, than he was in his private life (now morbidly public)

I so wish that people who "go public" would first take a skeleton-inventory , and perhaps spare us (and them) a lot of unnecessary drama

[unionworks]

62. It seems to me

The more I look at it... the ruling elite saw John Edwards coming way back in the Kerry campaign. All of the pieces were put in place... he. Meets a beautiful filmmaker to fall for...He was carefully watched and as he came to the brink of securing the presidential nomination, they pulled the magic golden cord and brought him down. Not too complicated, actually.

[ProSense]

66. Wrong

"The more I look at it... the ruling elite saw John Edwards coming way back in the Kerry campaign. He was carefully watched and as he came to the brink of securing the presidential nomination, they pulled the magic golden cord and brought him down. Not too complicated, actually."

According to the link you posted, it was Elizabeth who "brought him down."

In my mind, Edward’s biggest crime was not divorcing his wife when he realized they weren’t happy, but it was SHE who insisted he run for senate, and then she insisted he run for president and later VP with John Kerry, and she again insisted he run for president, so HER political ambitions won out. When she first became ill, he wanted to drop out and she wouldn't let him, and she wore the pants in that family. As far as I know, she hadn’t had the relapse when he later fell in love with Rielle, if he did fall in love, and why wouldn’t he have? His wife was unkind to him, dismissive and humiliating in front of others, so how long is a guy supposed to take that, not to mention she let herself go? I’m tired of people pretending that being diagnosed with cancer trumps treating your husband badly for years, and gaining 75 pounds. If you treat someone like crap but you’ve tied your ambition to theirs, and you call the shots because you’re a ball buster, don’t be surprised if your husband go off the rails and falls in love with someone who is pretty and tells him how smart and wonderful and sexy he is. How you treat someone matters, and we’re all human, even politicians running for office. If being a decent and loving person and treating your spouse well isn’t enough in itself, consider that someday you may become ill and might need that person in a way you hadn’t planned.

Maybe those who support this garbage could also rec this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002615416

[Nye Bevan]

71. So they hypnotized him to cheat on Elizabeth? And to not use birth control with his mistress?

I guess this is the same elite that hypnotized Anthony Weiner into tweeting his erect cock to a college student.

[unionworks]

74. So who in the DNC

Authorized judging all democrats under this Victorian magnifying glass? Rick Santorum is what we're fighting AGAINST fer Petes sake

[Nye Bevan]

82. I guess you're right. It's 2012.

This whole Victorian concept of not cheating on your cancer-stricken wife, fathering a child with her, lying about it, persuading some other guy to pretend to be the father, cheating an old lady out of millions of dollars to cover it up, and risking throwing the election to the Republicans if the story comes out after you have been nominated, is SO archaic.

Sorry for being such a puritanical moralizer. I need to get with the times.

[unionworks]

92. Nye, you must be thinking

...or. you wouldn't be posting.

We have done each other a service.

And I deeply respect your posts.

[HangOnKids]

111. The Only Cord That Brought John Down Was The Zipper On His Pants

Sorry I was married to a guy like John, as So Cal said good lookin', smooth, charming, and immediately in your pants. I called my guy (after I dumped him of course) swamp dick. He would fuck it even if it didn't have a pulse. Edwards brought himself down. Not too complicated, actually.

[karynnj]

195. In 2004, they would have seen an Evan Bayh like Democrat

who had a very nice focused group speech. If he were so spectacular, why did he seem so mediocre on the Kerry campaign.

[SammyWinstonJack]

63. rec.

[unionworks]

64. thanks

It helps make it hurt a little less!

[Nye Bevan]

65. He never truly cared about the poor. He was cynically staking out the campaign position

that he thought would bring him the biggest advantage in the election.

He lied about that, like he lied about so many other things.

[unionworks]

73. I did not know the man.

Never saw him, never met him. Did he really care about the poor? I can't answer. Maybe someone who knew him will come on here and give their opinion.

Did his actions help the poor? Ask the poor kids who got to go to college on the scholorship money. Occupy was born because the democratic establishment rejected Edwards message.

[Pisces]

76. Fuck this narcissistic man with a God complex. I don't care that he was a weak man who cheated, but

he almost cost us the Presidency. He can rot in the purgatory he created. He used donor money not his own precious millions to take care of his mistress so that his dying wife would not find out.

I remind everyone that he did this while running for office, not before DURING THE CAMPAIGN!!!

Live with yourself John, must be a sad and lonely existence.

[unionworks]

77. The Stone the Builders Rejected

...shal become the cornerstone. Occupy was born out of the democratic establishments rejection of Edwards message.

[ProSense]

81. Maybe

"Occupy was born out of the democratic establishments rejection of Edwards message."

...he could get Occupy to protest on his behalf.

Absurd!

[unionworks]

90. Do you support the Occupy Movement?

Waiting for an answer.

[ProSense]

100. OK

"Do you support the Occupy Movement?"

I have always supported Occupy, which has nothing to do with Edwards.

Your attempt to conflate a fraud with the movement is absurd.

OccupyWallSt.org is the unofficial de facto online resource for the growing occupation movement happening on Wall Street and around the world. We're an affinity group committed to doing technical support work for resistance movements. We're not a subcommittee of the NYCGA nor affiliated with Adbusters, anonymous or any other organization.

Occupy Wall Street is a people-powered movement that began on September 17, 2011 in Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial District, and has spread to over 100 cities in the United States and actions in over 1,500 cities globally. #ows is fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations. The movement is inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, and aims to fight back against the richest 1% of people that are writing the rules of an unfair global economy that is foreclosing on our future.

The occupations around the world are being organized using a non-binding consensus based collective decision making tool known as a "people's assembly". To learn more about how to use this process to organize your local community to fight back against social injustice, please read this quick guide on group dynamics in people's assemblies.

http://occupywallst.org/about/

Now, please answer my question. Why are you supporting this vile content by linking to it?

In my mind, Edward’s biggest crime was not divorcing his wife when he realized they weren’t happy, but it was SHE who insisted he run for senate, and then she insisted he run for president and later VP with John Kerry, and she again insisted he run for president, so HER political ambitions won out. When she first became ill, he wanted to drop out and she wouldn't let him, and she wore the pants in that family. As far as I know, she hadn’t had the relapse when he later fell in love with Rielle, if he did fall in love, and why wouldn’t he have? His wife was unkind to him, dismissive and humiliating in front of others, so how long is a guy supposed to take that, not to mention she let herself go? I’m tired of people pretending that being diagnosed with cancer trumps treating your husband badly for years, and gaining 75 pounds. If you treat someone like crap but you’ve tied your ambition to theirs, and you call the shots because you’re a ball buster, don’t be surprised if your husband go off the rails and falls in love with someone who is pretty and tells him how smart and wonderful and sexy he is. How you treat someone matters, and we’re all human, even politicians running for office. If being a decent and loving person and treating your spouse well isn’t enough in itself, consider that someday you may become ill and might need that person in a way you hadn’t planned.

[unionworks]

103. You support Occupy?

I believe you, but other posters might not... could you please post some of your previous posts supporting Occupy? I know, I'm a pain in the wazoo, but it would really help winhearts and minds...

[ProSense]

104. No

"I believe you, butother posters might not... could you please post some of your previous posts supporting Occupy? I know, I'm a pain in the wazoo, but it would really help winhearts and minds..."

...feel free to use search. The Nazi routine isn't attractive, but then again, neither is this thread.

It's rather disgusting and pathetic.

[unionworks]

105. Oh but I had such high hopes

You just MUST post one of your previous pro Occupy posts! What an unparrelled chance to show me up for the filthy LIAR THAT I AM!

[ProSense]

106. Could it be

Oh but I had such high hopes

You just MUST post one of your previous pro Occupy posts! What an unparrelled chance to show me up for the filthy LIAR THAT I AM!

...delusion and not "high hopes"?

As for the rest, this thread already defines you.

[unionworks]

107. Show me the posts Prosense!

I can't bear to live a lie any longer!

[ProSense]

108. Oh

"I can't bear to live a lie any longer! "

...you'll live. Think about Edwards! He appears to be all you have. Sad!

[dkf]

78. He may be a dog, but this is bs.

[unionworks]

79. He wasn't paranoid enough

To avoid the honeytrap. Poor dumb bstard thought he deserved to be happy and in love. WRONG

If he had stayed true to his real Mistress - the message he dared to speak - we might all be a lot better off right now. He tried and failed at a terrible cost to the American people.

[Nye Bevan]

83. Would you have used a condom, if you were him? (nt)

[unionworks]

86. If you don't want to prodduce a child

Or contract a disease, condoms are a wise choice. In his case I would have used two in case the first one broke. (Don't forget to use the contraceptive foam along with the Trojan, kids! Extra protection from both unwanted pregnancy, STD'S and feels great too!)

[unionworks]

87. I get this weird feeling

That you and I mightbe on thesame side without knowing it, and...

If Edwards child grows up to be President someday, I will deservedly feel like a complete ass.

[unionworks]

89. It's hard to put into words

...but I support planned parenthood, and at the same time welcome John Edwards and everyone elses beautiful child into this world!

[unionworks]

93. The 3 Pillars of the '08 Democratic Campaign

Obama, Hillary and Edwards.

Edwards was the stone the builders rejected.

It sends chills up my spine, D.U.ers.

Truly it does.

[HangOnKids]

113. Are you having fun? Yuck Yuck!

Pillars? Chills up your spine? Ridiculous. Keep it up though I am amused and anticipating the outcome.

[unionworks]

120. n/t

[HangOnKids]

121. Must be having fun

Sleeping, drinking, and rolling on the floor. Good times.

[unionworks]

155. for real

I used to have an important job that made me feel good about my work. Thanks to Bush and his pig sponsors that is all in the past.

But I have found a purpose in my life.

OCCUPY

OCCUPY

OCCUPY

[Ruby the Liberal]

130. Yeah, comparing John Edwards to Jesus Christ has that

spine chilling effect to me as well.

[unionworks]

133. the stone the builders rejected

Last edited Fri Apr 27, 2012, 02:07 AM - Edit history (1)

Is an ancient allegory. I will hold my tounge beyond that.

Actually the allegory precedes Christ by about 1000 years.

[dionysus]

179. pure comedy gold...

[unionworks]

214. people might not be laughing so hard

If Edwards survives and runs as an independent in 2016.

[quinnox]

96. I can't believe all the recs

this has got. I have to think people haven't gone to read the whole piece, otherwise I would love to hear how Elizabeth having cancer and gaining weight made it perfectly understandable for Edwards to start sleeping with another woman in secret.



Talk about a scummy and low life excuse/defense! If anyone who recs this does feel this way, please explain it to me, I would love to hear the explanation.

[unionworks]

101. As I SAID BEFORE

Rick Santorum is what we are fighting against! The GOP can shove their Victorian magnifying glass WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE - SIDEWAYS!!!

[ProSense]

102. Yeah,

"Rick Santorum is what we are fighting against! The GOP can shove their Victorian magnifying glass WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE - SIDEWAYS!!!"

...vile is so in: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002615416

If people don't like it, they "can shove their Victorian magnifying glass WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE - SIDEWAYS!!!"

From your response, it's clear that you approve of the diary's vile content.

[unionworks]

109. Show me your pro-Occupy posts Prosense

I can't live a lie anymore!

[unionworks]

110. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PROSENSE!

Put me out of my misery! Just show us your posts proving your long unflinching support of the poor and downtrodden! You could crush all of the recs for this op and my unrelenting blathering by striking a blow for TRUTH JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY by proving once and for all the fjutility of my position, and your UNWAVERING SUPPORTFOR YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN OCCUPY WHO WILL NOT REST UNTIL JUSTICE IS SERVED! Come on, make it quick! I don't want to SUFFER!

[ProSense]

112. Is this

a cry for help?

Here, this should help:

In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs. I recognized my mistake and I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness. Although I was honest in every painful detail with my family, I did not tell the public. When a supermarket tabloid told a version of the story, I used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it. But being 99% honest is no longer enough.

I was and am ashamed of my conduct and choices, and I had hoped that it would never become public. With my family, I took responsibility for my actions in 2006 and today I take full responsibility publicly. But that misconduct took place for a short period in 2006. It ended then. I am and have been willing to take any test necessary to establish the fact that I am not the father of any baby, and I am truly hopeful that a test will be done so this fact can be definitively established. I only know that the apparent father has said publicly that he is the father of the baby. I also have not been engaged in any activity of any description that requested, agreed to or supported payments of any kind to the woman or to the apparent father of the baby.

It is inadequate to say to the people who believed in me that I am sorry, as it is inadequate to say to the people who love me that I am sorry. In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic. If you want to beat me up - feel free. You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself. I have been stripped bare and will now work with everything I have to help my family and others who need my help.

I have given a complete interview on this matter and having done so, will have nothing more to say.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/us/politics/08text-edwards.html

[unionworks]

114. n/t

[ProSense]

115. More help

Enjoy!

[unionworks]

117. n/t

[sabrina 1]

122. Unionworks, I never supported Edwards, he voted for the War in Iraq, as did Hillary, so they were

never a choice for me. I supported Obama who was not in the Senate at the time of the vote and because he had spoken out against the decision to go to war in Iraq.

However, I am totally opposed to this prosecution mainly because I believe it is purely political. While I abhor what Edwards did to his wife, it is not my business and she forgave him.

But, you chose a very bad diary to try to get sympathy for him. The author of the diary sounds like his mistress, trashing Elizabeth Edwards, now even after her death. We all loved Elizabeth, who was once a DUer. The author of that diary lost his/her case as soon as she blamed Elizabeth for what her husband chose to do.

Find a different way to defend him against these selective prosecutions. But the reason you are getting so much pushback is because the diary is so nasty to Elizabeth who is not here to defend herself.

[Ruby the Liberal]

132. He isn't being prosecuted for adultery

he is being prosecuted for misuse of campaign funds. Graft.

[quinnox]

135. don't botherr sabrina, this guy seems to be having too much fun

laughing off anyone who disagrees with him as some sort of conservative prudes.

The fact that Elizabeth did post at DU as you noted and was a loved figure here evidently is meaningless to him.

[unionworks]

165. Guess that explains

Why we never heard Johns side of the story before.

Well. You sure are hearing it now.

[unionworks]

138. there are two sides

To every story of marital infidelity, not one, Sabrina.
And this is the only other side of the story I have seen anywhere.
I'll take the flack for posting it.
I'm a lot stronger than I once was
For similar reasons.

[sabrina 1]

153. Elizabeth told her side of the story. She was married for 30 years. The side you are now taking as

fact, came from the mistress and a couple of political hacks who knew nothing of their 30 year marriage and had an ax to grind.

The majority of people who knew both of them throughout that long marriage, including their children, don't seem to agree with the diarist, nor has Edwards himself. Only a few not too credible or trustworthy individuals have ever said those things about Elizabeth.

The prosecution is a different matter, and should have been kept separate from Elizabeth's role as his wife. She did not cheat on her marriage. He did, but that is not a crime and should not even enter into any discussion about the trial.

The claim is that he used campaign funds to try to hide his mistress and the child. Personally. I want to see as much of the effort that has gone into this trial, go into prosecuting Wall Street Criminals. I hope he wins. For his children's sake especially, this needs to end. That is what his wife wanted also.

But no one is going to get sympathy for him by trashing his wife who is no longer able to defend herself. And the woman he chose to leave her for, is not a nice person. All married couples have problems. If they were that bad, Edwards should have filed for a divorce, but he did not. He wanted it all and he has paid a very heavy price for that already, and imo, that is more than enough. And the prosecution was initiated by a Republican. If Edwards was a Republican this would not be happening as we all know.

[unionworks]

157. You would take Moms side.

That's o.k.. A loving Dad would understand and suck up the pain.

[quinnox]

116. nice deflection but I'm still awaiting

someone who recs this post that agrees with the sentiment from the link that John Edwards was justified in sleeping with other women because his wife Elizabeth came down with cancer and started gaining weight.

I have a feeling it will be *crickets* in response for some reason but I'm willing to listen to anyones explanation if they wish to provide one.

[unionworks]

118. n/t

[HangOnKids]

119. Santorum has what to do with this discussion? n/t

[unionworks]

123. the Victorian magnifying glass

That we allow Santorum and his ilk to demand we hold democratic canidates under.

[HangOnKids]

125. Of Course

It all makes sense now.

[unionworks]

127. tee hee!

That icon is funny!

[unionworks]

124. translation

...if Edwards represents my best interests and has proven it, I don't care who he is banging or not banging if the parties concerned are consenting adults. And it's none of your business either.

[Drunken Irishman]

129. Translation: If only his wife hadn't gotten fat, maybe he wouldn't have cheated...

And he'd be president by now.

[unionworks]

131. trnslation

...if he put his ideals before his physical/emotional needs he might be president and we might all be the better for it. He wasn't up to it, so now we all suffer. Do you feel morally vindicated now? If so, you need to do some soul searching.

[DevonRex]

137. HE doesn't need to do any soul searching. YOU do. You're the one who brought that filth here.

The filth that says that Elizabeth didn't treat John well and gained 75 pounds and what was poor old Johnny to do but go get some staffer pregnant and lie about it and then steal money from campaign funds and lie about that too. Poor baby.

So go search your own soul. And Mandy from Seattle should, too. Shame on a woman thinking like that.

[unionworks]

156. you and Rick Santorum

Sound too much alike for my taste.

Welcome to ignore.

[Drunken Irishman]

126. So, it's all Elizabeth's fault?

Amazing. Remarkable. Awful. Seriously sickening.

[unionworks]

128. Not at all

There are two sides to every story.

Being Irish, I thought you might already have that insight....

Proud member of Erie Pa. A.O.H.

[DevonRex]

139. There is NO side that EVER says that it's okay to cheat on your wife because she has cancer

and gained 75 pounds. EVER. There IS a side that says if you aren't in love be a man and get a divorce and THEN start another relationship. OR he could have just honored his vows. He made the wrong choice, like only a weasel would. Because he's a weasel. That's what weasels DO.

[unionworks]

140. glad

You are the pinnacle of perfection and get to set the rules and punishments for the rest of us unworthy sinners

[DevonRex]

142. Pinnacle of perfection? That's just common decency, man,

when you have a wife with fucking cancer. You treat her with respect at the VERY least. Common decency says you get a divorce FIRST or you keep your vows. Period. And if you're not man enough (or woman enough in the case of a husband with cancer) you damned well better use some sort of protection when you screw around.

And THEN you come back to square one and do the right thing. Get a divorce or honor your vows. Period.

[alittlelark]

134. Your post is rather disturbing.

Maybe I understand what you are trying to play at - perhaps that's the disturbing aspect.

[HangOnKids]

136. Others Get It Too Lark

I say let him go on with his bad self.

[unionworks]

143. wonder what % of married voters

Have had a fling

And I wonder

If they would be so quick to judge

As the self appointed moral majority

On this thread

[HangOnKids]

145. I've Been Married Once And Never Cheated

What exactly is your convoluted point?

[unionworks]

147. God bless you and yours

And I hope your marriage lasts for a lifetime. I love love stories!

[HangOnKids]

152. Sorry you can't make it work

Must be the water or something. Or maybe nobody wants what you have to offer. That is really sad.

[unionworks]

163. perhaps you will enjoy your self more

...with the rest of your friends on my ignore list!

[unionworks]

141. sorry to see

You were not disturbed by it in a way that made you think

[HangOnKids]

144. More Condescension From You

You really are pushing this aren't you? Keep going.

[unionworks]

148. n/t

[alittlelark]

146. I've THOUGHT ABOUT IT for years... I donated $$$

To Kerry/ Edwards, then big money for a 2008 Edwards primary. I supported him to the max allowable.

I Have thought about it. I have threads here about him from 2007-2008.
I really believed.
I felt Slapped in the face when his affair came out.


The affair was a disgusting, embarrassing disaster.
I did a 180 on him in 1-2 weeks.
No amt of 'But He Was Targeted' shit will work on me.

Have YOU 'thought about it' ... i that why you posted this tripe?

What reaction were you hoping for?

[unionworks]

149. I was hoping

...for a truthful reaction.

Such as yours.

Which is appreciated and duly noted.

[ProSense]

150. Well,

"What reaction were you hoping for?"

...I suspect it's the one he got.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=thread&address=1002614586&info=1#recs

Because there are two sides to every story: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002614586#post138

In my mind, Edward’s biggest crime was not divorcing his wife when he realized they weren’t happy, but it was SHE who insisted he run for senate, and then she insisted he run for president and later VP with John Kerry, and she again insisted he run for president, so HER political ambitions won out. When she first became ill, he wanted to drop out and she wouldn't let him, and she wore the pants in that family. As far as I know, she hadn’t had the relapse when he later fell in love with Rielle, if he did fall in love, and why wouldn’t he have? His wife was unkind to him, dismissive and humiliating in front of others, so how long is a guy supposed to take that, not to mention she let herself go? I’m tired of people pretending that being diagnosed with cancer trumps treating your husband badly for years, and gaining 75 pounds. If you treat someone like crap but you’ve tied your ambition to theirs, and you call the shots because you’re a ball buster, don’t be surprised if your husband go off the rails and falls in love with someone who is pretty and tells him how smart and wonderful and sexy he is. How you treat someone matters, and we’re all human, even politicians running for office. If being a decent and loving person and treating your spouse well isn’t enough in itself, consider that someday you may become ill and might need that person in a way you hadn’t planned.

Heartwarming, isn't it?

[alittlelark]

151. Uugh.. yup

Bye bye thread, bye bye poster.

[unionworks]

161. n/t

[unionworks]

166. Just as heartwarming

...as the tons of vitriolic tabloid trash piled upon A FORMER DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANIDATE. Consider it a small DIVIDEND. You DO know all about DIVIDENDS, don't you? Why, it almost sounds as if you have a lot INVESTED in demonizing Edwards!

[B Calm]

158. He was a right wing target from day 1.

Granted he didn't help by having an affair, but when compaired to the crimes done by the right wingers, he's an angel!

[unionworks]

160. they didn't come down on Kennedy or Clinton

Anywhere near as hard. The more I read about it the more amazing it gets. And you have to search hard to even read about it.

[B Calm]

162. Right wing finger pointing hypocrites

are always guilty of the same crime or worse.

[unionworks]

164. I am holding my breath

...to see if Edwards survives or not.

Bet the entire democratic establishment is too.

[karynnj]

170. It is hard to find what you are looking for - and the DK article was desperation

The reason "it gets more amazing" is that you are ignoring everything that does not fit your thesis - including the actual history - such as his Senate record. This is cherry picking the accounts out there. There is plenty to find about Edwards from 1998 to 2012 - so, if you are finding it hard to find things, the reason might be that you are looking for fiction.

Did you read the comments on the DK article? In 2007, JRE was the favorite of posters there. You can see the residual love and respect for Elizabeth. But, it was not necessary to even like Elizabeth, to find that post absolutely despicable. Not to mention, even if you accepted all her points, it still does not mean that Edwards did not do all the things he is alleged to have done.

What is mystifying is that you sound like you were not involved in 2004 or 2008 - and getting interested in more recent years - after the scandal broke - become fascinated by Edwards.

[unionworks]

200. I wa sgoing to vote for Edwards in the primary

Had he survived. This was because I liked what he was saying. I am not politically astute as I am sure you are. So you can take my op and most else I say with a grain of alt. The highest level of politics I've ever been part of was manning the phones for the Obama campaign. And I will again. Really, you are obviously very educated and seriously active in politics. I am no threat to you.

"I'm just a cook. A lowly, lowly cook."

[B Calm]

205. I liked his message too. He was

my first choice.

[unionworks]

209. I don't get

What made his affair any worse than anyone elses. Ddying wife? Newt. Newt survived to run again. It seems the invisible hand behind the M$M wants to make sure Edwards is toast.

[karynnj]

169. When exactly was Day 1?

When he won a Senate seat running as the bluest blue dog there is? No, they wanted to defeat him - as with any Democrat, but certainly not a target.

When he started his 2004 run in 2002, after co-sponsoring the IWR and defending the war itself into late 2003 - when he saw that it was bad for winning the primary in Iowa. I don't think so - in early 2003, the Democrats mentioned negatively by the Republicans were Dean and Kerry.

When he was the uncooperative VP in 2004? They basically ignored him and lied about Kerry's war record and trashed Teresa Heinz Kerry's reputation.

Was it in 2005, when he immediately started his 2008 campaign - in spite of his wife's cancer? - No the right was still trashing Kerry and shifting their efforts to demonizing Hillary.

Was it in 2007, no - the right was out in force against Hillary. They didn't really see either Edwards or Obama as their future opponent.

Was it 2008, no It was clear after Iowa, that Edwards had no of getting the nomination. That is also why the media covered him less.

On no level was John Edwards ever near "angel" status - even compared to right wingers.

[REP]

167. Meth is a hell of a drug.

[B Calm]

168. You need to get off of it. I hear

it really fucks up your body. . .

[unionworks]

173. Newt tells debate moderator to fuck off

...when asked about his adultery and gets a standing ovation.

John Edwards gets put on trial.

"''I AM APPALLED"!


What a strange world we live in....

[REP]

197. I take it you that know from experience. I was quoting Lois Griffin.

"Experience keeps a dear school but there are some who will learn nowhere else."

[B Calm]

204. No I have never taken it. You brought

it up in a discussion that has nothing to do with meth. So naturally I thought you must be on it.

[REP]

208. Wow, you can't stop talking about meth. Interesting. Very interesting.

And you seem to know so much about it, while I just quoted a popular TV show. Wow.

[unionworks]

174. television is a hell of a drug

That is why people don't question bullshit.

[loyalsister]

176. We dodged a bullet

He is not a person who we would want to carry the OWS message.
What offends me most about him is that he knew better and didn't restrain himself. We had been through it 10 years before. The Lewinski scandal did damage when Clinton became a punchline and the Democratic message was overwhelmed by the curiosity of a soap opera loving voyeuristic society and an impeachment trial. Following two successful Democratic terms there should have been no question of whether Clinton would be a good surrogate. He left us with a weakness. Edwards knew it would be damaging to the party and our goals if he got caught either during a campaign or a presidency. We would be in the midst of another impeachment trial bound to be successful had he gotten elected.
I care less about the morality of his cheating behavior than about the fact that he knew what was at risk. His message takes on a whole new light when you consider that he was willing to risk his ability to carry it further and the possibility of having it eclipsed by his bad behavior. I most definitely question whether his commitment to us as a constituency was authentic.

[unionworks]

201. But Newt Gingrich

Can tell a debate moderator to fuck off on national t.v. when asked about his infidelity, and gets a standing ovation from the pig people. Bill Clinton gets impeached and a special prosecutor. John Edwards gets a kangaroo court.

Funny double standard in this country, isn't it?

[loyalsister]

202. seriously?

It was a current situation with Clinton and Edwards rather than what can be construed as ancient history. Long ago "prayed away and forgiven." Gingrich manage to turn his slimey actions around so that he was perceived as the poor widower. His supporters apparently have lower standards than those of us who will call out our own when they get caught.

The Democrats did go after Newt on what held up and he had to leave in disgrace- not that he had the humility to even know it. Would anyone even have been able to concoct a prosecutable sex scandal the way they did with Clinton?

They both dropped something juicy into the hands of anyone who wanted to go after them. In this case republicans and a news outlet always looking for something controversial.

Of course Gingrich's minions applauded. That's why he had them there. I am grateful that clearly does not have enough to become the candidate.

Clinton and Edwards got caught and their behaviors left a prosecutable trail. Whether a similar trail was left by Gingrich- I don't know. But he was investigated and shamed out of office based on ethics violations. Again their low standard are what got him as far as he was able to go in the primaries.

[unionworks]

207. So do you agree then

That we should hold the lives of our party under the same Victorian magnifying glass that Rick Santorum wants to hold us all under? Pretty unusual position for a progressive/occupier. Nothing personal, I just don't get it.

[loyalsister]

210. I think

The standing social rules suck- but the people who respond to that kind of controversy with outrage outnumber people who don't. Politicians know that and if they have a brain they know what happens if they get caught. If they fall so do their goals, and the people who counted on them get screwed.

Disregarding that fact is irresponsible. It pisses me off that Edwards disrespected everyone who supported him by being irresponsible.

[unionworks]

211. I respect that

And appreciate your sharing.

[dionysus]

177. .

[unionworks]

181. "i am APPALLED"!

I'm series! Appalled, I tell ya!

[dionysus]

182. there are hugh laughs in this thread, i'm series about that!

[unionworks]

185. Glad you're having fun!

The Moore the merrier!

[HangOnKids]

220. How Sweet It Is

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

[DevonRex]

186. I've been waiting for you!

Apparently I'm JUST LIKE Rick Santorum for saying Edwards is a huge sleeze. And then UW ignored me. lalalala he can't hear me!

[Freddie Stubbs]

180. Wasn’t accepted by the Democratic establishment?

Who the heck was the Democratic VP nominee in 2004?

[unionworks]

183. to be 100% honest

Freddie, I don't know that much about democrat insider politics. My guess is that his populism and his success with it made some people nervous...

[Freddie Stubbs]

189. Then why did they nominate his as VP?

If he made people so nervous, why wasn't someone like Dick Gephardt or Tom Vilsack nominated?

[unionworks]

198. that's an excellent question

That I don't have an answer for.I based that claim on what the writer in the kos piece in the op said, and my general impression from reading what little I could find on google. When I get a good answer, I will post it - I won't have real computer access till tomorrow. But your question is going to make me go further down this rabbit hole.

[karynnj]

193. All easily dismissed as unlikely

1) They were never "nervous" about him - they pushed Kerry, who did not particularly have a good opinion of him, to pick him because they saw him as a future superstar.

2) He was not a populist in 1998 when he ran, in the Senate where he voted for a bankruptcy bill and was a cosponsor of the IWR, and in 2004 when he ran to the right of Kerry, Dean, Clark and even Gephardt.

3) Success??? You do know that in 2 general elections he won only two states - and one was his state voting for him in a caucus when Kerry already had the delegates needed - it was designed to help him get the VP nod. Gingrich won 2 states this year - should the GOP be really scared of him.

Edwards was a media darling from 1998 - some time in 2006. That changed because he changed. He decided to run to the left. His 2008 platform was closer to Kerry's 2004 platform than his own - and the left media followed - and some STILL argue in terms of his 2008 message.

His 2008 message was developed to give him the best chance of winning. Hillary had the centrist position and there was no way to win there. So, he figured he could reinvent himself as the true progressive - and he eventually had Trippi running his campaign. I have NO IDEA who Edwards really is - because he was what he thought would win in each of the 3 time periods - and they are as different as Bernie Sanders is to Joe Lieberman. (Think of it, like them or not - you can define Kerry, Dean, Obama and Hillary Clinton by stands they have taken - they are all complex people, who won't fit any generic label, but you know who they are enough that you generally know what position they will take.)

[Ruby the Liberal]

203. You hold some rather unwavering opinions for someone who doesn't

"know that much about democrat insider politics"

[unionworks]

212. Rudy, I didn't get

...a college education. I read a lot. I know very well there are many on. D.U. vastly more educated and intelligent than myself. This op and most other things I say should be taken with a grain of salt, and I'm the first to admit that. What amazes me is how many of these very smart people go immediately into attack mode rather than trying to discuss/educate in a sane, civil manner.

[Ruby the Liberal]

213. Baiting tends to draw that kind of reaction.

[unionworks]

215. More accusations, after extending an olive branch.

Keep going. I'm no longer listening.

[unionworks]

216. Oh, and Rudy?

43 reccs disagree with your assesment of the op. Enjoy your sour grapes!

[Ruby the Liberal]

217. I wasn't assessing the opening post.

[Drunken Irishman]

219. I guarantee you that every candidate to ever run made some insiders nervous....

That's the nature of the game. Hell, in 2008, the party insiders were essentially split between the established Clinton Wing (they supported Hillary) and the others (who either supported Obama & Edwards). Those Clinton supporters, the Clinton party insiders, were probably a minority back in 1992 when many insiders didn't like Clinton's positions on a whole host of issues, namely because they were far more centrist than the party was used to from its candidates. Carter made party insiders nervous. So did Dean. So did Brown. So did McGovern. Frankly, there probably has never been a candidate universally accepted by the insiders.

[cali]

184. Don't bother. This op is so beyond sick, disgusting and wrong

pointing out the flaws in this sick shit doesn't seem to make any difference to the person who posted it.

[DevonRex]

188. And if you do he calls you Rick Santorum

and puts you on ignore.

[ProSense]

218. IBTT

Oops!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=268393

You disrupted vilely.