Edwards promised Hunter a rooftop wedding as soon as wife Elizabeth died

[Unsane]

per nytimes

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/us/politics/20edwards.html?_r=1

"In the proposal, which The New York Times examined, Mr. Young asserts that he assisted the affair by setting up private meetings between Mr. Edwards and Ms. Hunter. He wrote that Mr. Edwards once calmed an anxious Ms. Hunter by promising her that after his wife died, he would marry her in a rooftop ceremony in New York with an appearance by the Dave Matthews Band."

[grantcart]

1. NYT - doubtful now if the National Enquirer says it - probably true

This little snippet means this is just the begining



The situation may become more fraught, as people who know Ms. Hunter said she was planning to move with her daughter, Frances, from New Jersey to North Carolina in coming months.

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. ouch!

[doodadem]

3. I don't think so

I don't see Dave Matthews doing that.

[AzDar]

4. Oh. Dear. God.

Beyond horrible if it's true.

:puke:

[Lord Helmet]

5. that's ghoulishly gross

[Phx_Dem]

6. Wonder what the Edwards children think about their dad?

How sad for them and utterly despicable of Edwards.

[femrap]

27. And please don't forget....

When their oldest child, the son, died, Elizabeth was post-menopause. She belong hormone therapy so to get pregnant. Unfortunately, the first child was a girl. So she had to resume the therapy...thankfully this time, John got his son and a namesake.

Because of these hormonal treatments, she is dying today.

I hope John Edwards rots in hell.

[sabbat hunter]

65. do you have any proof

that it was because of these hormonal treatments she got cancer?

[GCP]

67. There's a very strong link between estrogen and breast cancer

That's why the breast cancer rate has dropped recently, millions of women stopped the HRT because of the link.

http://www.womentowomen.com/breasthealth/estrogenbreastcancer.aspx?id=1&campaignno=breastcancer&adgroup=ag2estrogen&keywords=breast+cancer+estrogen

[sabbat hunter]

85. However

has any direct correlation been made in this case? Unless Elizabeth Edwards came out and said that it was because of the hormone treatment that she got cancer, I find your conclusion dubious.

[avaistheone1]

94. There may be a strong link between HRTand breast cancer, but we do not know if there was any link

whatsoever with the type of estrogen Elizabeth was taking, the dosage she was taking and how long she was taking it with her development of breast cancer. It is likely there is no relationship at all.

[femrap]

70. High estrogen ingestion

causes cancers. And she endured them so long. I'm sure she knew the risk. So sad.

[CTyankee]

81. Yes, she must have known the risk. It was a VERY bad decision on her part.

Her judgment was terrible in this regard. I'm NOT saying that she in ANY way deserved what happened to her. I am just disappointed in her decision making skills. Indeed, her decision to go forward with the campaign after she found out about the affair, showed awful discretion. That she did so in her own life was tragic. That she did so in the political arena, with its potential for devastating the Democratic Party in a general election had her husband beocme the candidate, was staggeringly bad...

[femrap]

83. My Theory....

After his heir, their son, died, John wanted a son to carry on his name. From my experience, I believe he pressured her to have more children. And unfortunately the first was a daughter and then thankfully a son. That's lots of estrogen.

You know how women are socialized to be mothers and care for their husbands. And now she has to pay for it. I feel terribly sorry for her. She seems to be such a kind person with such enthusiasm to help our nation's needy.

John epitomizes the worst of what a man can be. And now he has another daughter....bet he wasn't too happy about that.

He reminds me of Henry VIII in a way.

Elizabeth suffers from what I call 'The Stand By No One Syndrome'....a fear of not having a man at one's side. After all, our culture frowns upon (to say the least) the Lone Woman.

I had a dear friend die from this Syndrome...it's really more of a Disease.

I hope I haven't 'scared' you....my theories make many uncomfortable because there is something in them that is truthful and yet painful.

Ignore if you like.

[CTyankee]

84. No, it makes sense. However, that wasn't really my biggest problem with her.

She should have tried to dissuade him from running for President once she knew of the affair. But she also had little kids and I'm sure she thought they needed their father if she were to leave, plus it was plenty awkward and difficult, sick as she was. There are lots of reasons here...

[femrap]

87. She may well have tried to persuade him....

He just might be the type that listens to no one. He actually appears to be one of those that thinks his shit doesn't smell and he'll do whatever he damn wants.

I have no problem with her....only with john.

[CTyankee]

89. While I agree with much of what you say, I do say that Eliz. has to take responsibility

for her input/decision on John's staying in the pres. race even after her cancer diagnosis and then Rielle and her daughter...

She should have realized that John's candidacy would have suffered a fatal blow from his affair. I do not understand why she didn't...

[femrap]

92. Yeah, I wish I could

control other people too....but it just doesn't work that way. No one can take responsibility for someone else's behavior.

I don't understand why you hold Elizabeth accountable for John's behavior...unless you think John is a widdle baby and can't make decisions. :wtf:

I think we've come to an impasse. I am, however, working on my extra-abilities to control others actions.:evilgrin:

[CTyankee]

97. Of course she couldn't control him. I wonder, though, if she had explored all of her options.

She was perhaps too weakened from her cancer to do much at all. I have no sympathy for him whatsoever. And of course, I am not in her shoes so who knows what any individual would do. Maybe she felt desperately fenced in by circumstances out of her control. John was clearly on an excessive ego binge at her expense. It had to be hurtful and I can't blame her for not wanting the entire world to know about his betrayal of her. Perhaps she really thought they could keep the affair private.

Well, in retrospect I am glad he was shut out of ever becoming president. Nothing good can come with anything that man ever does for the rest of his life, AFAIC.

You are right. One cannot control another's actions. The only actions we have control over is ours. Sometimes this is the hardest lesson to learn. I know it has been for me in my life...

:hi:

[avaistheone1]

95. Shesssh How do you know how long she took them?

Or if she knew the risks or not. The hormones may not have caused her cancer.

[AngryAmish]

80. How old was she when she did this treatment?

[CTyankee]

88. I think she talks about it in one of her books. Maybe late 40s. nt

[JDPriestly]

96. She may have taken hormone treatments, but she probably was not

post-menopausal already in her late 40s. Please get the biology right. She might have been, but most likely was not.

[marshall]

57. Many children see their fathers cheat on their mothers and lie about it

And if they're in the public eye or political circles there is the added humiliation of having the media drag all the dirty laundry out.

[Phx_Dem]

63. Exactly. But usually the kids don't get all the dirty details

like promising your trashy mistress you'll marry her skanky ass in rooftop ceremony with Dave Mathews band playing, as soon as their beloved mother dies.

It's bad enough know a parent is cheating, but much worse to hear the disgusting details particularly when the parent who was cheated on is dying.

There is nothing that John Edwards could EVER do to make me like him or trust him again. No amount charity work will reform his pathetic ass in my mind.

[CTyankee]

79. I despise that man now. I don't know how I ever supported him.

I have never been so wrong about someone, altho I came close with Gary Hart, but even he wasn't THAT bad.

I look at him now and see nothing but ugliness and I used to think he was handsome. Now's he's just revolting...

[Phx_Dem]

82. Ditto.

[Truth2Tell]

7. Proud to unrec. nt

[IndianaGreen]

15. Proud to rec

[Clintonista2]

16. Proud to cancel out your unrec

[IndianaGreen]

23. +1 rec to your unrec

[Clintonista2]

29. I didn't unrec

[Raine]

37. recommend verses your unrec nt

[tammywammy]

8. At he has good enough musical taste

Damn, I want DMB to play at my wedding.

[TwilightGardener]

26. Poor Dave Matthews is probably thinking, "leave me out of this trainwreck".

[tammywammy]

30. Exactly

"Why didn't he offer Hootie, they're not busy???"

[AspenRose]

41. +1

Dave Matthews is a smart and compassionate guy. He wouldn't do such a thing.

[dancingme]

47. Yes, Matthews is a unique individual

who has always been outspoken about race relations in the US. He also has had a lot to deal with in the last years with the death of his friend-bandmate Leroi Moore. He doesn't need to be dragged into the Edwards scandal.

[S_E_Fudd]

9. What a scuzzball!!...nt

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. Yet another reason why the lectures about Obama "taking us for a ride"

by former Edwards' supporters fall flat. Former Edwards supporters should stay out of the following business for awhile:

* Making political predictions
* Making character judgments
* Lecturing anyone about their perceptions.

There are a few more, but those at a minimum.

[Clintonista2]

13. As I recall, they were the ones most vocal about Bill's infidelity as well

[DaLittle Kitty]

20. All The While A We Watch The Image Of "Fantasyland" Take Shape While Obama "Negotiates" W/ BIG...

INSURANCE! What a joke!

[alcibiades_mystery]

21. Are you sure that's what's happening

How do you trust your own judgments after being so thoroughly conned by a con man like Edwards? I certainly don't trust your judgments, after such foolish devotion.

[msallied]

22. And what, if anything, did you EVER see in John Edwards' Senate voting record

that would have suggested he'd have done any different? Edwards was a used car salesman with great hair.

[PurityOfEssence]

51. Here's his Senate record; it's quite honorable

Much has been said about the man, and much speculation about the affair has been taken as gospel by those who loathe him here and elsewhere. I, like many of his supporters, am dismayed by some of his actions, but his record as a Senator is not what the detractors demand to be taken as truth.

The following is a pasting of a long-ago post, but those who rage and fume that he must be forever vilified with no quarter given should read this, and those who've howled accusations of a crappy record owe it to us all to read this, or they have less honor than they accuse him of having. You, in particular, since you offhandedly dismissed his record and invited any idiot to DARE to point out anything decent in his performance, should read this.

For the record, I was also a Gary Hart supporter, and much as these two brought their downfalls upon themselves, it's sad to think what talent and, yes, MORAL DECENCY has been wasted for our country's political life.

Please do read this, folks; he's hardly the villain his opponents love to depict.

From somewhere in '07:

Much has been said about Edwards’ supposedly conservative term in the Senate. Like much “common wisdom”, this is largely unfounded.

When remembering that he came as a neophyte from a rather red state, it’s quite surprising to see just how populist he was on many key social issues. (Well, it’s not surprising to many of us, but to those of you who’ve been poisoned with the endless snideness about the “new” Edwards and the “old” Edwards, it should be an eye-opener.)

He only sponsored two bills, but he co-sponsored a whopping 203 in his six-year term. This is a partial list of them (yes, I omitted the Patriot Act and IWR; much has already been said about them) and bears a quick skimming. They’re in chronological order, so details can be found fairly easily. The two bills he sponsored were for research into the “fragile x” chromosome associated with mental retardation, and the “Spyware Control and Privacy Act”, an important early bulwark against attempts to compromise our computer privacy. This last one is a true civil-rights issue, taking on corporations and attempting to secure the rights of individuals, and it’s visionary stuff.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d106:SN03180:@@@L&summ2=m&

Russ Feingold said he was a “terrific asset” in getting campaign finance reform through. He was the person who deposed Lewinsky and Jordan in the impeachment trial; quite an important task to entrust to a newcomer in literally his first year in office. His opposition to Ashcroft in the confirmation hearings was vigorous and mesmerizing, even if it didn’t work. This is also the guy who tirelessly fought to keep the sunset provisions from being stripped out of the Patriot Act. His votes on labor and trade are solidly leftist, although he did vote for the China Trade Bill. Then again, since this was something Bill Clinton was solidly for, he was voting with his party. (Funny how Hillary supporters take him to task for this vote…) He also (along with Dodd and Biden) voted against the free trade bills with Singapore and Chile, unlike Senator Clinton, who voted for them.

Here’s a guy who constantly brought up the issue of “predatory lending” even though he hailed from a state with a huge banking and financial services industry. If you listen to or read his stump speeches from late ’02 and early ’03, you’ll wonder what the hell his detractors are talking about when they say that his populism is a new tack; his platform was economic and worker-oriented from the beginning, telling of how the Bush Administration was systematically shifting the burden of taxation from wealth to wages.

So here’s that partial list of the bills he co-sponsored. This is not a list of his votes, just those bills he actively got behind and worked to get passed. This is hardly the stuff of a closet conservative or an opportunist, as he’s been tarred, nor is it the record of someone who was just phoning it in. I would request, in interest of fairness, that the deriders among you at least skim through this VERY long list; it’s all pure fact.

When taking all this in context, it’s interesting to reflect on Kerry’s sneering that he probably couldn’t win re-election had he decided to run. Kerry may have been right on this point, but if so, it’s because of Edwards’ populism and social decency.

Each line is a particular bill with liberal intent that he co-sponsored, and in most cases I attempt to use the bill’s title to lessen confusion and give the sense of the legislation.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d107&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Sen+Edwards++John))+01573)):

Sense of the Senate for funding lifestyle research for preventative medicine
Sense of the Senate honoring National Science Foundation
Sense of the Senate to preserve six day mail delivery
designating “biotechnology week”
Children’s Internet Safety Month
Joint Resolution against excessive campaign donations
to protect the civil rights of all Americans
Bi-partisan Campaign Reform
Restrict access to personal health and financial information
Establish a Center for National Social Work Research
Provide more effective remedies for victims of sex discrimination in work
Provide incentive for fair access to the internet for everyone
Require fair availability of birth control
Increase the minimum wage (’01)
Protect consumers in managed care programs
Emergency relief for energy costs to small businesses
Prohibit use of genetic information to discriminate on health coverage and employment
Provide families with disabled children to buy into Medicaid
Eliminate the loophole for interstate transporting of birds for fighting
Provide funding to clean up contaminated land
Informing veterans of available programs
Designating part of ANWR as wilderness
Establish a digital network technology program
Reduce the risk that innocent people be executed
Restore funding for Social Security Block Grants
Provide for equal coverage for mental health in insurance policies
Amend Clean Air Act to reduce emissions from power plants
Establish uniform election technology (sponsored by Dodd)
Extend modifications to funding for Medicare and Medicaid
Federal Funding to local governments to prosecute hate crimes
Reinstate certain Social Security earnings exemptions for the blind
Overhaul RR retirement plan in order to increase benefits
Establish a Nurse recruitment and retention program
Amend FDA to provide greater access to affordable pharmaceuticals
Establish African American Museum within the Smithsonian
Federal funding for research of environmental factors in Breast Cancer
Increase hospital benefits under Medicare
Establish Tariff Quotas on milk protein imports
Federal funding for mental health community education
Protect patients in managed care plans (again)
Establish Office on Women’s Health in HHS
Increase the minimum wage
Allow media coverage of trials
Prohibit racial profiling
Improve health care in rural areas
Protect consumers in managed care plans
Prohibiting trade of bear viscera
Provide greater fairness in arbitration of motor vehicle franchises
Provide adequate insurance coverage for immunosuppressive drugs
Provide financial assistance for trade-affected communities
Acquisition and improvement of child-care facilities
Prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation
Establish programs to deal with nurse shortage
Establish a National Cyber Defense Team to protect the internet’s infrastructure
Provide services to prevent family violence
Require criminal prosecution for securities fraud
Reissuance of a rule on ergonomics
Ensure safe pregnancy for all U.S. women
Improve investigation and prosecution of rape cases with DNA evidence
Improve national drought preparedness, increase the minimum wage (yet again)
Assistance in containing HIV/AIDS in foreign countries
Emergency assistance for small-businesses affected by drought
Child care and developmental block grants
Provide economic security for America’s workers
Enhance security for transporting nuclear waste
FEMA hazard mitigation grants
Increase mental health benefits in health insurance
Criminal prosecution for people who destroy evidence in securities fraud cases.

Is this the record of a corporate appeaser? Is this the record of someone just loafing about and collecting a paycheck?

Funny what you find when you read a little, isn’t it?

[tledford]

91. As of 8:28 pm EDT on Monday, 9/21...

... not one single reply (except this one) to your post.

I wonder if anyone except me even read it?

[PurityOfEssence]

93. Just another chapter in the human race's DEMAND for everything to be simple

The first time I ever heard the term "predatory lending" was from a stump speech of his in '03.

Would health care be such a big issue if he hadn't repeatedly brought it up in the '07 campaigning?

It's a good record.

Those who make sweeping allegations should read and respond when they're met with a specific response to dare, but those who feel beknighted with righteousness apparently needn't be bothered with the constraints of the rest of us peasants.

Thanks for reading it.

[CTLawGuy]

52. he was basically the head cheerleader for the Iraq war

and when he determined he wouldn't be president doing that, he transformed (after leaving office of course) into the happy, inoffensive John Edwards of 04, and then into the far left firebrand John Edwards of 08.

[cali]

32. haha. as if mr. hedgefund was reliable on anything. he's a lying fuck

and not just about his sleazy affair.

[LaydeeBug]

31. oh bullshit.

I disagree with crotch sniffing. But besides that, his affair was NOWHERE to be found whilst the primaries were going on. Trust me. I looked.

I liked his domestic policy better than anyone else's. There ARE two Americas. We lose a little of our soul each and every time we compromise with those bastards.

[NYCGirl]

39. Yes, there ARE two Americas. And John Edwards has families in both of them! NT

[AspenRose]

42. Oh shit, no you didn't!

:spray:

[Nedsdag]

44. KA-CHING!

[lillypaddle]

11. This is just sick

and wrong. On so many levels.

[msallied]

12. What a sick bastard. :(

[KittyWampus]

73. I love the poster in your signature line. It makes reading this dreck (about Edwards) worth it.

[firedupdem]

14. Disgusting. n/t

[Clear Blue Sky]

17. Douche bag...

[Autumn]

18. That is just so wrong

in so many fucking ways.:puke:

[Beacool]

19. I hope that this is just apocryphal.

If not, if John really said that to his lover, then he is beyond low.

x(

[femrap]

24. I'm sending a letter to

his attorney...I want my contribution returned. It makes me sick that I gave this piece of shit money. He sickens me.

[Mrs. Overall]

25. Asshole. I used to like him, dammit.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

28. If I were Elizabeth, I'd divorce his ass and take his money.

Of course I'm not Elizabeth, so that is her choice. If she doesn't, I'm sure she has her reasons.


*Hugs to Elizabeth*

[Uzybone]

33. more evidence that Edwards = fraud

[DCBob]

34. If true that is about as low as it gets..

What happened to John??

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

35. Hey, at least Edwards had the decency to wait for Elizabeth to croak first. What a guy!

[rebel with a cause]

64. Unlike Newt Gingrich?

[Raine]

36. Scum of the Earth

I hope he's so ruined we never have to hear from him again. Young is also so disgusting for helping that I can't even find a word bad enough to describe him. x(

[Arkana]

38. How disgusting.

His narcissism apparently knows no bounds.

[liberalpragmatist]

40. Honestly, I would take this allegation with a grain of salt

I think Edwards' actions were disgusting, but there's no proof of these kinds of lurid allegations. What we have is the testimony from a spurned aide - who was also a fairly untrustworthy character, having been previously accused of shoplifting, and who agreed to this cover-up in the first place. I don't trust Andrew Young, either.

[MissDeeds]

48. +1

Well said.

[msanthrope]

43. Why the frak is this in 'Presidential?' Edwards lost. n/t

[Honeycombe8]

49. I was wondering the same thing. (Plus, why would NYT print that story?)

How hurtful could a story be, even if true? Is that really news?

[WinkyDink]

45. I'm sure Edwards told Rielle all kinds of things, including that he loves anyone besides himself.

[burning rain]

46. Damn, that's Howard Stern minus the joking.

.

[Kaleva]

50. Men will say alot when their dick head is doing the thinking.

[polichick]

53. And Elizabeth stays with this guy? nt

[MBS]

54. in the hard-copy NYT, this is a front-page story, above the fold.

I think the reporter got it pretty much right, alas.
The descriptions of the Edwards' recent appearances at the Kennedy funeral, and a North Carolina restaurant, were especially poignant.

[Dinger]

55. Psssst, john

Elizabeth might, just might, live a long time.

[Hepburn]

56. Why the hell did this have to come out?

Some insider to Edwards making money at the expense of Elizabeth Edward's feelings, family and life.

Fuck that kind of shit. Why emotionally torture a dying woman??? :cry:

[undeterred]

58. Somebody would probably push him off.

[proud2BlibKansan]

59. How can his wife stay with him if this is true?

This story just gets uglier and uglier.

[itsrobert]

60. Please UNREC this filfth

You all should be ashame of yourselves spreading gossip. Plus it takes two to tangle, the bimbo knew Edwards was married, so I don't care what Edwards promised her. Leave Elizabeth alone!

[frogmarch]

61. I'm glad to oblige you with my UNREC. nt

[mainer]

62. Rielle could end up with ALL the bucks. Poor Elizabeth and her kids.

I've known friends in similar situations. Husband and wife produce children. Then wife dies, husband remarries, and the entire estate goes to the SECOND wife's children. The first wife's children are cut out completely -- even though the assets might have been earned entirely by the first wife.

I hope Elizabeth and her kids have a good attorney advising them. If I were her, I'd take measures to ensure that Rielle and her kid don't get everything.

[struggle4progress]

66. Young and Edwards have been changed their stories now, so perhaps

the truth would not be favorable to either of them

[johnfunk]

68. Edwards? Disgraced. Rudy? Newt? Credible statesmen, political pundits, national security authorities

... because it's OK if you're a Republican.

Sure, what Edwards did was caddish and wrong -- but we have a BIGGER problem when the press whitewashes Republican horndogs and maximizes the transgressions of Democrats in the most prurient possible manner.

[NoSheep]

72. Wish I could recommend your reply. It's the only part of this issue that should concern us.

[inna]

69. "Lewis' article is disappointing and reads like something written for a slow news Sunday."

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2009/9/19/22115/6121

[KingFlorez]

71. He's lower than I thought

I'm glad he didn't get anywhere close to winning the nomination, the people were smart enough to vote for him. With that kind of ugly behavior, he sounds like a Republican.

[nolabear]

74. Wonder how Dave Matthews feels about this!

If it was me I'd be all "Say whaaaaaa'?"

[frogmarch]

75. WTF

This thread has enough Recs to put it on the Greatest page. WTF! Why do some DUers consider a thread that bashes a Democrat, regardless of what an asshole he is, notable and worthy of the Greatest page? Rec'ing this thread is not only airing our dirty laundry but bragging about how dirty it is. Jeezus. :eyes:

[shanti]

76. wow, what a jackhole he turned out to be!

:( and to think i supported him in the primaries...

[TheCoxwain]

77. Did he promise her an annual wedding anniversary at WENDY's as well?

[JNelson6563]

78. I am sorry I ever supported this guy.

:-(

[krawhitham]

86. I do not even like DMB but I feel sorry for them

[CreekDog]

90. After reading about the rooftop wedding after Elizabeth dies, I thought "oh, how classy"

then I read the thing about Dave Matthews and holy crap! :wtf:

:eyes: