Elizabeth Edwards interview in Newsweek--this is one grounded woman!

[mnhtnbb]

'I'm Not Praying for God to Save Me'
Elizabeth Edwards talks about cancer and how the death of a son gives her the perspective she needs to cope.



Newsweek

April 9, 2007 issue - After disclosing that her breast cancer, first diagnosed before the 2004 election, had spread to her bones, Elizabeth Edwards became a symbol of how to cope with recurrence. The wife of Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards, Elizabeth sat down with NEWSWEEK's Jonathan Alter at the Edwardses' new house in Chapel Hill, N.C.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17889146/site/newsweek/

[mnhtnbb]

1. Planning to take Jack and Emma Claire on campaign trail. Home school with a tutor.

An absolutely unbelievable experience for these kids. They'll be old enough to remember it this time.

[mnhtnbb]

2. Elizabeth has lost a lot of weight and looks terrific in the photos

accompanying this story.

[mnhtnbb]

3. When was the last time we had an empathic First Lady in the White House?

Tell me, who has been as loved as Elizabeth? Jackie? She was admired
and respected, but I don't think loved.

I think people are right when they say Elizabeth is John's best asset.

[Doctor_J]

7. The GOP Hate Machine will have her as loathed as Hillary in 6 months

For now there's a honeymoon, but esp if JRE gets the nom, they will bash her mercilessly.

[mnhtnbb]

8. I don't think so. Everywhere you look, she's getting positive press from columnists

The GOP hate machine wouldn't dare touch her--I think it would cause
a positive reaction to up John's numbers.

And if they're smart, they won't nominate Giuliani. I mean, 3 marriages
against John and Elizabeth? And Newt--well, he might as well forget it
given his history of serving his wife with divorce papers while she's being treated for cancer.

[CBHagman]

11. It doesn't stop the scary posters on message boards, though.

I was reading through the Newsweek articles, including the Edwards interview and Eleanor Clift's comments about how her late husband, Tom Brazaitis, chose normalcy during his final years with metastatic cancer, and I was dumbfounded that a poster in the comments section opted to write some extremely hateful things about the Edwardses (to be fair, this same poster apparently writes nothing but stupid, hateful things).

Also, when Elizabeth Edwards first reported her diagnosis back in 2004, some of the Freepers were spectacularly mean-spirited.

I never fail to be amazed at the fact that what brings out the best in some people also brings out the rock-bottom worst in others. Elizabeth Edwards has nothing but admiration from me.

[saltpoint]

14. Good point. I think Jackie was respected for her European ways,

but regarded as something like a rare vase.

I can more easily picture Elizabeth Edwards fingerpainting with those younguns or even out in the back yard making mud-pies.

Kudos to Jackie Kennedy for her amazing intelligence but I just don't get a strong mud-pie vibe from her at all.

John and Elizabeth Edwards strike me more as partners than any other public couple I've seen in a hell of a long time.

[karynnj]

18. I agree - I would have picked the Carters

Roslyn was intelligent, beautiful and caring. (I think if JFK had run in 2004 or 2008, Jackie oddly enough would have been criticized as elitist and too European - her genuine shyness would have been misinterpreted as aloofness.)

[Frustratedlady]

4. John and the children are fortunate.

It is hard enough to lose someone you love, but it helps so much when that person takes the attitude that Elizabeth has taken and not only communicates her wishes and plans, but has an "up" attitude about the whole journey.

Sure, it's tough for her to go through, but it appears she has the determination to leave a lovely legacy for her family and those of us who feel like her family. I have so much admiration for Elizabeth.

[JNelson6563]

5. K&R

Elizabeth Edwards is a shining example to me. :toast:

[Czolgosz]

6. K & R

[alphafemale]

9. She's Remarkable. She radiates both kindness and strength. nt

[Cha]

10. Couldn't read that without

getting all emotional!

What a wonderful interview, Jonathan Alter gives. :)

limpballs isn't content with giving Missouri to Senator McCaskill..he wants to give America The Edwards!

[Gloria]

15. Alter has written a story about his own cancer...I read it yesterday

online. Sorry, I don't have the URL...

It's listed to the right of the interview ... "Don't Judge the Edwardses" is the title of it...something like that

[Cha]

17. I read it , thanks..

on Alter's site. It seems most people have a cancer story to relate to somewhat what the Edwards are going through.

[mnhtnbb]

12. Thanks for the 5th rec. I think this is an interview worth reading

[Jacklyn75]

13. This article is wonderful! I just love this woman, she has so much

grace and courage. What an inspiration she is to all of us!

[blue neen]

16. I just love her.

She speaks the truth in such eloquent ways.

[NastyRiffraff]

19. Its true. Elizabeth is John's best asset

And it's good he knows it. What a beautiful woman...and unlike Bar, she really does have a "beautiful mind."

Can you even picture her saying what Bar said about the people who fled to Houston after Katrina? That they were poor anyway, so "this is working out for them"?

[renate]

20. that article is worth reading no matter who she is politically

It's lucky for our country that somebody like this is involved in politics, but that's not why it's an incredible article. It's just amazing. She has been robbed of so much and she's honest about how it's affecting her--no sugarcoating the pain, but a determination to feel it and to feel the joys of life too. What a truly lovely person, inside and out.