Since when did DU become the stoning ground for extra-marital affairs?

[debbierlus]

Why the hell is John Edwards affair plastered as the top headline across DU?

Last I knew, he wasn't running for anything. Why the hell is this our business? Do we really want to perpetuate this type
of dialogue as political fair game?

The reality is that people cheat. And, some in public service cheat. Though I am sad for his wife, I am just grateful to Edwards to his incredible work for speaking out for the impoverished people in this nation (a number that is balloning fast). He is a man. And, he has been through a lot of pain and trauma in his life. It isn't for me, you, or any of the political pundits to judge him. We all have fucked up at one time or another. I am really surprised to see my progressive community so quick to throw stones (not all, but way more then I would have thought).

I still love John Edwards for what he has done. And, I am not going to crucify or gossip about him after he has fought for some of the most basic democratic principles, in a time when so many in the democratic community have sold us out.

My positive energy and hope for their family.

[CrazyDude]

1. Since the day DU al of a sudden believed that sex outside of marriage became the worst sin

I can't tell whether this place is Democratic Underground or BibleBeatersRUs.

[Qutzupalotl]

28. You're right, it's not.

I'd say launching an unnecessary war is the worst sin imaginable because of the sheer scale. Then torture, the deliberate infliction of physical distress, which is the very definition of evil. Then murder, because the suffering is less than in torture. Then treason, because one's country is damaged (but can probably recover).

Adultery has to be far down the list...the unintentional (unthinking) infliction of emotional distress. It is forgivable, and I'm not just rationalizing that because I had an affair. :blush: I'm really trying to weigh who gets hurt and to what extent.

That aside, I think some DUers object not on the specific moral grounds but because of the political stakes (moral in the sense of the global issues potentially affected had he been the nominee).

[LittleClarkie]

35. They thought it was pretty horrible when it was John McCain who was unfaithful

but then we've often had two standards here: one for the people we like, and one for the people we don't.

The media can be trusted when the story's about someone we don't like, even a right wing source.

The media can't be trusted when the story's about someone we DO like.

It's quite amazing really.

I'm really just interested in both McCain and Edwards being held up to the SAME standard. If it's none of our business with Edwards, then it should be none of our business with McCain.

Meanwhile, if Edwards paid this woman's wage out of supporter funds, it becomes their business.

[zanne]

2. He was running for president. He could have ruined it for all of us.

It isn't just him and his piggish behavior I care about. What if he had been the nominee? We would have lost the election, all because he couldn't keep it in his pants.

[debbierlus]

4. He isn't our nominee, so the point is moot - & the fact he could have lost

To McCain...

A man who would lead mass murder in Iran - because he screwed some chick is mind boggling. If he lost an election to such a unethical and criminal man as McCain due to a affair - America gets what it deserves.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

3. Every time a Republican having one hits the headlines?

NT

[debbierlus]

32. I have two words: Jeff Gannon

A planted gay male prostitute who went to the White House and vistor logs showed he stayed for hours on many a day there were NO press conferences...

Where was the headlines on that?

Give me a break.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

52. All over DU.

NT

[debbierlus]

60. He was a PLANTED REPORTER - THAT has a political content

[LostinVA]

5. Are you kidding?!

Bill Clinton was eviscerated over this in GDP the last few months. It's also being done to McCain, for that matter.

[timtom]

6. The thing is,

to condemn marital infidelity presupposes a moral absolute. But that cannot be done, in all honesty, because there are too many moral absolutes at DU.

Some are Christian, some are Jewish, some are Baha'i, some are agnostics, some are atheists, some are pagans, etc. It all becomes a matter of diatribe and opinion.

[Flying Dream Blues]

9. But it seems there is a political absolute that is more to the point.

I don't think the majority on DU care so much about what John Edwards did, except for the hurt they feel for Elizabeth. However, to run, as John Edwards did, on the premise that his potential presidency was too important to withdraw in the face of Elizabeth's serious illness, and then turn up a week or so ago with a woman you had a "brief" affair with in 2006 who also oh by the way has a baby, is just begging for it. Had he managed to have the nomination at this point, the Democratic party, the important work he wanted to do, and our country, not to mention the world, would be well and truly screwn. I don't see how you can spin this any other way, and it's not IMHO due to DU becoming "BibleBeatersRUs". My God, this election is just too important and it's hard for me to understand anyone who doesn't feel the same way.


Edit: "an" to "a" typo

[CTyankee]

53. You have expressed my feelings entirely on this subject.

I have defended John Edwards on this board against these charges. So I am probably one of the most aggrieved of all DUers, or at least those who didn't defend him as aggresively as I did. I simply didn't believe they were true, because I thought the MSM would have picked up on it a long time ago.

Well, I was wrong and the people I argued with here were right. I want to say this out loud and plainly. This should be a lesson to all of us. Be skeptical. You never know. Don't jump to conclusions, but don't jump to the defense just because you think "it can't be so" as I did.

I am sorry I believed in him, But that is not the biggest regret I have. With you, I regret the effect it could/would have had on our chances of winning the 08 election. I am glad that he backed out of the primary before I had a chance to vote for him. I would have supported him in our Super Tuesday primary in February. Now I am glad I didn't have the chance to cast that vote, because I would have been sorry.

This is a sad day.

[debbierlus]

62. I understand that - in the current reality affairs take people down - not lying to go to war

I guess I am angry that America is so politically immature and so akin to voting on the least of things & ignoring the worst of them.

[Happyhippychick]

7. It's not just the affair - he took MONEY from some of us because we believed

in him. This shit would have sunk him eventually and he goddamned knew it!

[AllentownJake]

17. Exactly EOM

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Being prudes is now considered to be Politically Correct.

[CTyankee]

59. No, sadly, it is because he lied.

I am no prude, believe me. But he lied pretty agressively about this, long after his campaign was over. I don't like being lied to. Maybe you do, but I don't. Also, don't discount the fact that many of us were huge supporters of Elizabeth Edwards and what she was doing on behalf of universal health care. He has destroyed her chance to continue that. Yes, it is unfair that his infidelity caused this, but it was his infidelity after all, wasn't it? Say what you will about "politically incorrect," it did will have the effect of keeping her voice from being heard, at least for a long time (when she doesn't have time on her side).

So while I don't care and you don't care what goes on in people's private sex lives, the fallout from those lives CAN and DOES have a real effect on people's lives in this country. Try to think beyond your narrow focus here. A great message has been silenced because of John Edwards's own misdeeds.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

66. It is the narrow mindedness of the American people that I object to.

Nor, am I going to give a pass to hypocritical political correctness that demands that politicians do other than what we hire them to do. That is, do their jobs.

I'll leave the sexual purity tests to the preachers and priests, who violate them with all the similar alacrity that politicians and ordinary humans do.

My problem with this episode is that the American people have become all too accustomed into making politicians celebrities rather than public servants and endowed them with superhuman morality and power.

I've never been an Edwards fan but his sex life is his business and those that it touches personally. I loathe sexual "gotchya" politics as much as I loathe the kind that dotes on flag pins, cleavage, the pledge of allegiance, "charisma".

I find it repugnant that Americans are so eager to seize upon trifles to decide who will they hire to do what is supposedly an important job and that will effect millions of lives.

Just because the American public is enamored with celebrity sex, and many will decide how to vote because of it, doesn't mean that I have to participate in the nonsense or go along with it.

[CTyankee]

67. Don't even TRY to hand that "flag pin" and "pledge of allegiance" litmus test on me!

These issues are NOT my reason for opposing your view on this. I do not care what other people do with their sex organs. Period. It is none of my business.

In fact, I am glad that you are vocal about your opposition, WE need more voices to illuminate such hypocrisies in our public lives, not less!

But I am still angry that within our awful milieu of sexual hypocrisy we have yet another stupidity at a time when we are fighting like hell to regain the White House. I'd love to think this was an equal battle: us against the sexual hypocrites. But it isn't equal. At the very least, Edwards should have looked at the situation more coldly and understood that, given the puritanical streak of the American public and the media, perhaps that run for the Presidency was not a great idea. Just sayin'.

You are great to call out hypocrisy. What you are not acknowledging is that hypocrisy can become the stick that beats us Dems out of the White House and out of power in 2008. You are not wrong. You are just politically naive about being wrong.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

68. That is the same kind of thing that says a Black man can't be president.

It's not "smart" politics to nominate a black man or a woman. The hypocritical American public won't have it. We can't nominate someone who's "too liberal" because the electorate won't vote for him. We have to bow to the gun lobby because the public is too easily swayed into believing that rapists and murderers are at their door. We can't elect a peace candidate because Americans love the military.

Etc, etc, etc.

I don't give a rip about what the American public thinks about any number of "issues" when I vote. If the American people are so narrow-minded, easily swayed, and hypocritical to vote for the likes Boobya or McGoofy because of Edward's sex life then they deserve what they get.

I'm not in the least naive about politics or the temper of the American people. I've been around far too long to see the misfits, criminals, charlatans, and con-men that infest Washington be elected and re-elected. And, the very few decent politicians (which is almost an oxymoron) bounced from office for trivial reasons like infidelity or looking silly riding in a a tank.

But, I refuse to give credence to such considerations or abet the hypocrisy of it in the name of the "practical politics" that perpetuate it.

[trayfoot]

10. As a strong supporter of John Edwards,

I was seriously disappointed to hear this news confirmed. Not too long ago, when I first heard of this, I came to DU and asked what anyone knew about the situation. I was skewered for even bringing up the subject, accused of being a troll, etc. Seems to me that DU cannot have it both ways. Before, the topic could not even be broached; NOW, DU seems to want to crucify the man. I truly thought that DU was a site I could believe in.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Elizabeth and the children. As for John, I simply say that you have disappointed me, but you are certainly no different than MANY politicians have been and are being. God knows he was not the first and, sadly, he will not be the last to do this kind of thing - from ALL sides of the political spectrum.

[VOX]

11. You're missing the point. Yes, "people cheat," but with that comes a betrayal of trust...

Of course people cheat on each other all the time. But it's unnecessary, and it's messy.

And every person who cheats while in a marriage/exclusive relationship is causing potential damage. Those who engage in risky behaviors are being deceitful; they could be putting their main relationships in serious jeopardy; and they erode trust -- especially so if they are supposed to be serving the public.

[robinlynne]

12. Agreed! The sad part is that he is not our next President.

[cali]

64. yeah, it's just tragic that someone who was gung ho for war

and was a cheerleader for bush cheney's illegal aggression won't be our next president.

Some of you are insane.

[datasuspect]

13. simple answer: agents provocateur

lots of freepers here. lots of right wingers with high post counts. they are simply being disruptive.

they control DU for the most part.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

49. Maybe the same is true of freeper.com

Lefties going on the site and deliberately posing as obnoxious freepers to make the right wing look bad.

[EFerrari]

14. DU Authoritarians Untie!

These threads could so easily be at those other sites.

Go, progressives! :applause:

[BR_Parkway]

15. We've always called out the hypocrasy when the Repugs have done

it while preaching about their "family values".

I see it as no different once Edwards (while he was having an affair) to come out and say that same sex marriage violated his thoughts on the sanctity of marriage.

Maybe the better question should be - When did some at DU decide that the rules only apply if they are Republicans, but that if they're Democrats doing the same things, they should get a pass and better treatment because of their party affiliation.

[EFerrari]

19. Except John has done no such thing.

When was the last time you heard John Edwards unloading sexual morals to other people?

[Dreamer Tatum]

36. So...the thing that exonerates Edwards is "he never went off about family values?"

I'm sorry, but that is weak. If some reporter on the campaign trail asked JE what he thought about traditional family values, do you
think he would have said, "Hey, if you believe in that sort of thing, more power to you. I don't have a position on that for myself."

Bullshit. He'd have laid on the syrup, just like any sane candidate would.

It is a disgrace to excuse someone's bad and deceitful behavior just because he never came out and said he'd never do that kind of thing.

[EFerrari]

38. You can't tar someone for being a hypocrite if he never prescribed for other people.

Find, buy or steal a clue.

[Dreamer Tatum]

40. I'm not calling him a hypocrite. I'm calling him a liar who betrayed people who support him

And I am not sure I would want as a president someone who does something greasy and, when busted, would say, "Heyyyyy, I never said
there was anything wrong with doin' something greasy!"

Would you accept that as a valid excuse from the other side? Be honest - than answer is no.

[nadinbrzezinski]

42. Hmmm let me see a president lies us to war... neery a peep

but a man has an extramarital affair .. hide the women and children

I really don't get this country... at all

[Dreamer Tatum]

45. OK, I'll play Devil's Advocate here, despite your non sequitur

When did Bush say that it would be wrong to lie to go to war?

If he never said it was wrong, then what's the problem?

[nadinbrzezinski]

47. What part of preemptive expansive war is a war crime are you missing?

It is not about him saying it would be wrong. It is about this being a serious war crime... and one of the four indictments of the Nuremberg case, as well as one of the indictments against Milosowitz.

Small difference I'd think.

Oh and I need to obviously include this :sarcasm:

[Dreamer Tatum]

50. I was responding to the nonsense that Edwards is somehow less culpable

because he didn't blather on about Family Values.

You brought the bush lies into it, which has not squat to do with what I said.

I tried to entertain you, though.

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. I tried to show to you something that truly matters

not the media generated circus that Americans fall into predictably since the American people need to grow the fuck up

A couple other things that truly matter from today's headlines

Russia invades Georgia

Two carrier groups are on their way to the Gulf

We are at war.

The economy sucks

Now that matters

Simple sexual picadillos that have been a constant of US History since oh... Washington... shouldn't

[EFerrari]

44. Are you married to John Edwards?

How exactly did he betray YOU?

And find a thread or post where I've ever commented on the private lives of Repubicans. Go for it.

It's none of my business. My business is their public policy.

Have you so anemic a life that you have to huff and puff about what other people do in privacy? That's disgusting.

[Dreamer Tatum]

46. Want to see the check I wrote to his campaign? Would that help?

Maybe it's not your business. I feel differently.

[EFerrari]

56. I assume the check you wrote was for his campaign

and not for a piece of his personal life.

[Dreamer Tatum]

57. Um, well, what's the difference now? nt

[EFerrari]

58. Exactly. You might want to check out bad boundaries.

[AllentownJake]

16. He could of fucked us over royally so fuck him

If he was still just Senator Edwards, or former VP candidate Edwards fine. He had this affair when he was actively seeking the Presidency.

He ran for President with a secret that could blow up at anytime and if he was the nominee it would have destroyed us in November. He took money from people and asked them to vote for him over other candidates.

This isn't about the affair but the political consequences it could have had.

[EFerrari]

20. Do you want a long list of things that could have happened

to keep you up at night?

You're pissed at Edwards for something that is none of your business AND that didn't happen.

[AllentownJake]

24. One thing that did happen

The New Hampshire Primary. If it was Barack vs. Hillary one on one maybe the results would have knocked her out early instead of the nonsense that followed for 5 months.

[EFerrari]

34. If

:shrug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Keep buying the media story line

it is the media who's chosen to do this since dukakis, or do you want me to mention HOW MANY PRESIDENTS and CANDIDATES have had affairs in US History?

Grow the fuck up!

[AllentownJake]

25. You grow the fuck up

If you think this would not have been a very bad thing. The world isn't the way I'd like it to be its the way it is I'm not burying my head in the sand and pretending its not that way.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. Once again, THANK THE MEDIA for this

by the by... you think they would even have a small whimper if J Edwards was a Republican?

Free clue, they wouldn't

Care to 'splain to the class why not?

Care to connect dots why this matters ONLY when it is a democrat? And the more progressive the democrat the more noise they will make?

Now start connecting them dots. Or quite frankly the Political System will continue to be under the control of a few WHITE men, in the media \ propaganda apparatus

[Dreamer Tatum]

37. Know how the media could have been kept at bay? IF HE NEVER DID IT.

But he did. It is sad/funny/pathetic to see people shooting the messenger here.

The media couldn't give a shit about Edwards as a politician. They care about selling ad space and ad time.
If it's salacious, it gets printed. This is salacious, just like Craig. Just like Foley. Just like Haggard.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. You know how many US Presidents had affairs while in the WH?

Can you say ALL... except Carter?

Care to tell me why the media makes an affair of Dems but not Repubs?

Connect some dots

I will repeat this...

If J Edwards was a republican this would hardly raise to the level of even worthy news

Care to tell me why?

[spanone]

18. i don't give a rats ass who's in bed with who

[bonito]

21. No one is perfect, the difference is

Edwards is for the People, McCain is for the Mob.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. Since people buy the media line... this is bad... horrible... et al

Never mind that we have a president who took the country to war on lies.

[debbierlus]

29. Yeah, Where the Hell is the BREAKING NEWS insert that a memo emerged as PROOF Bush Forged Documents

To go to war....

The media is having a wet dream over this shit - the same week we have PROOF that Bush FORGED documents to make a case for
invading Iraq & now over a MILLION people are dead -

I can't believe the immaturity of this country. People don't seem to get the connection that if we allow these 'scandals' to dictate our politics - we will forever held hostage if a political candidate of good calibur makes a mistake.

I don't care. Dem or Republican.

It is ridiculous.

[nadinbrzezinski]

41. The country needs to grow the fuck up to be quite honest

I agree with you.

What matters nobody pays attention to

But these so called scandals of the sexual nature (quick hide the women and children) grow to immense proportions, ESPECIALLY if these guys are Dems

But people don't get it...

They just don't... I mean sexual picadillos seem of more interest than a million iraqi dead, 4500 American dead and lord knows what else on a preemptive war that is a war crime.

[SalviaBlue]

26. John Edwards is an idiot.

I voted for him in the primary and I am disgusted by this news. I would not give a damn if he were just some guy. But this so irresponsible.

THE REALITY IS: In the year 2008 you cannot run for President of the United States of America and have extra-marital affairs.

He is beyond stupid.

He has let down alot of people.

[Turn CO Blue]

30. DU is a steaming pile of sanctimony with a side of judgment.

My, my, how the twisted Judeo-Christian ethic of the "sanctity of the marriage bed" has managed to show its UGLY head today and how quickly everyone forgets that NO ONE is clean enough to cast the first stone.

I won't be back to DU until this blows over. And - I still love John Edwards. I wish Elizabeth ALL the best.

[LittleClarkie]

31. Yes people cheat. But if he paid this woman out of public funds

it becomes the public's business.

That's one difference between John Edwards and your average Joe. Your average Joe doesn't have his supporters' money to spend.

[shireen]

33. it's a "holier than thou" contest.

contestants: pious judgmental sinless DUers

they're as bad as the MSM, getting all hysterical over this story.

[QC]

43. Since the wingnuts took over. n/t

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

48. Only because he could have been nominated

If here were a sitting member of Congress or an Al Gore style advocate, this wouldn't be a big issue. It's just scary to think that he could have been nominated with this kind of skeleton in the closet.

Maybe with all the stories about marital infidelity in high places, it will lead more people to question the institution of marriage altogether. I, for one, would welcome a new wave of sexual liberalism, not as extreme as the 1960s "free love" but a smaller move back in that direction. One that worships condoms and birth control.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

51. Oh there have always been a bunch of prudes on this site.

I once saw them complain about the skimpy clothes girls were wearing on the Disney channel.

[girl gone mad]

54. This doesn't have anything to do with prudity, and I suspect you know that. n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

61. I'm not throwing stones at him

I think like you. . .

But - what is ticking me off to no end?

You gotta read this: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-divorce11-2008jul11,0,7979459.story

I'm wondering - does Edward's admission mean the door is now open on actual Presidential candidate? Or is it that we ONLY castigate FORMER candidaates? Oh well - poor John Edwards. He was never in a POW camp so he doesn't get the same free pass that McSame and his second wife that he had a marriage license with before his first marriage was over get . . .

[cali]

63. Hey, do you looove JE for his fucking war mongering?

That still pisses me off way more than his cheating. He's nothing but a sleaze and a hypocrite and a centrist asshole who cheerled for the bush cheney war.

[grasswire]

65. it's the risk of blackmail

That's the dangerous aspect of a politician living a lie.

It isn't the sex.

It isn't even the lying about the sex.

It's the risk of blackmail forcing an official to do the bidding of the blackmailer.

Bill Clinton was blackmailable when he lied about Monica. That was a risk to our national security. An outrageous risk.