My reaction as an avid Edwards supporter

[LibraLiz1973]

My first reaction is that I am disillusioned. This is a man that I have looked up to, believed in, argued & campaigned for.
I TRUSTED John Edwards. I believed in his vision for our country. I thought he was honorable.

Yes, this is a marital issue. No, it does not "directly" affect my life. But I have an opinion, as do many others, and I am allowed to voice it.

John has let his supporters down. We believed in him and trusted him. We believed he had values & that he was the man for the job. I sit here before you now glad that he didn't continue on, and that he never became the nominee. Heartbroken as I was the day he pulled out, I see now that everything really DOES happen for a reason.

It makes me DAMN ANGRY. Believing that he was of strong character & that he genuinely was going to change our country. Pssh. He couldn't even keep it in his pants WHEN HE KNEW HE WAS RUNNING FOR THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND. Knowing that millions of people were supporting him & sending him their hard earned money, he chose to carry on an affair that would ruin his chances WHEN it came out. NOT IF- WHEN.

I know some of you think that we shouldn't be talking so much about this. I completely disagree. I'm disappointed, disillusioned and upset. I'm here to talk to you guys because I know many of you will understand. Think for just a moment how you would feel if this were Senator Obama, or any politician that you have taken a genuine liking too.

I am disgusted in John & how he has humiliated his wife, his children, his family, friends & supporters.

I stand behind Elizabeth 100%, no matter her decision. But I will never support John Edwards again.



On Edit: I'd like to also add that I think it is in EXTREMELY poor taste that he is on national television stating that he "doesn't love" the woman he had an affair with & that there is no way the baby is his because the timing is wrong. Both of those things may be true, but there had to be a better way to phrase that so that he wasn't basically calling her a whore on tv. Not that I am defending her. But he needs to man up.

[texastoast]

1. Can we get our money back?

I supported him as much as I could afford before he dropped out. He really let me down.

[femmocrat]

9. I actually did get some of my money back.

When he withdrew, I got some back through Paypal. It's probably too late now, though.

[Whisp]

19. what does/did happen to all that money?

seriously.
this is pretty important - how can he keep the cash when it was taken under false pretenses?
but then again, how do you return it to so many donors?

[texastoast]

27. Election bankruptcy??

Have a conservator/receiver appointed to take over his campaign coffers. Review the accounts. See how much is outstanding for campaign expenses. Review the list of donors and see how much is left after paying the expenses and refund based on the ratio of the donors' amounts. Or alternatively, give it all to food banks or something to help the poverty-stricken.

I'm just making this up, but it seems like it would be fair.

[Whisp]

32. that's a really good making up.

:)
so every donor is listed, even a 5 bucker?
gosh, that's a lot of paper work.
yikes, imagine the amount of stamps they'd need for returns.

[texastoast]

46. Hey

I got back $8 from an insurance premium I paid to a health insurance company three years after they declared bankrupcy. My premium was about $345. I bet that took a lot of paperwork to get my $8 back to me. LOL.

[greguganus]

33. He used it to pay her $100,000 + salary for fucking him without mussing up his hair.n/t

[pengillian101]

44. That is infuriating. n/t

[Whisp]

45. I guess that's true.

holy christ.

what an asshole.
what an asshole.

anyone here defending this turd is screwed up in the head.
People donate their hard earned money and he gives it to someone in return for sex.

How many 20 dollar donations would that salary add up to? How many people have been ripped right off.

what an asshole.

sorry, it's just sinking in what a horrible story all this is.
the affair thing is one thing, but robbery and misuse of funds like this is indefensible!!

[yardwork]

2. Understand and agree.

I'm very disappointed and angry with Edwards. He's permanently lost my support. Running for president while knowing that he had this time bomb ticking was insult added to injury.

[Left Is Write]

15. Same here.

I am profoundly disappointed and angry.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. Believe in ideas, not people

[LibraLiz1973]

6. I hate to agree

but you make a good (and valid) point.

[DJ13]

11. Agreed

If this was a an issue to deny thoughtful people from becoming President we would have never had a JFK, nor an FDR as President.

[redqueen]

12. Wise words... (nt)

[avaistheone1]

14. Remember we were electing him for President, not husband or preacher.

In most of the world affairs are par for the course. I am not saying it is right.

Just don't throw the baby out with the bath water is all.

[Left Is Write]

22. Yes. But I really question the judgement of a presidential candidate

who actively engages in an affair and actively denies it during a presidential campaign. That was unbelievably stupid, and his supporters are right to be angry.

[avaistheone1]

26. The affair happened in 2006 or priot to that..

Why should he address it if Edwards was asked about it in 2007 or 2008.

Does the public really need to know about such private matters when they are in the past?

The Globe had has its cover story last week that Obama has a love child. Shall we demand that Obama immediately return from vacation and take an affidavit regarding any affairs etc he may have conducted in his past?

[Left Is Write]

30. You don't think in 2006 he knew he would run for president in 2008?

You don't think he was actively seeking the support and trust of his followers? As someone said elsewhere in the thread, he was actively engaging in an activity he KNEW would result in a huge scandal while simultaneously planning his campaign and I shouldn't question his judgment?

[greguganus]

35. Maybe because Edwards got caught meeting with her 2 MONTHS ago? n/t

[krabigirl]

36. seriously

[Levgreee]

4. If Obama did this I would lose all respect for him, so in some ways I can understand your view

not a good situation for anyone, except repugs.

[LibraLiz1973]

I would be just as upset if Sen. Obama did this

because I BELIEVE that he and Michelle have a good marriage & that he would not disrespect his wife like that.

I believed the same about john Edwards... More fool me.

[Levgreee]

13. you weren't a fool, it is sometimes impossible to predict which people will betray their character

Elizabeth certainly didn't see this coming. She definitely feels much more the fool than you.

[LibraLiz1973]

21. I completely agree. Of course Elizabeth (and his children) feel worse than I could

or ever would.

[redqueen]

5. Very well said. And I'd like my money back, too. (nt)

[avaistheone1]

7. Hey I'm disappointed too. I still think John would have made a great president.

Let's not forget that FDR and Thomas Jefferson had affairs outside of marriage, and that did not take away from their greatest as presidents.

However, my sympathies and support lie with Elizabeth in all of this.

[polichick]

8. I think it was a stinky thing to do to supporters as well as the party...

(and his family of course) ~ if it's any consolation, supposedly the affair was over BEFORE he announced that he was running.

[billyoc]

10. His anti-corporate rhetoric would have been a refreshing change in the AG's office.

[polichick]

24. Yeah, and his talents as an attorney. Bummer.

[karynnj]

39. There are people who have not just anti-corporruption rhetoric, but actions.

JRE didn't - it was something he never addressed in the Senate. He was not Paul Welstone, John Kerry or John Heinz.

[mnhtnbb]

16. You have expressed my feelings, too. Very disappointing.

After Clinton, you would think any man with an idea of running for President would understand
the need to keep his pants zipped. Very disappointing. And yeah! I want my money back, too!
I gave him money in the morning on the day he dropped out!

[Va Lefty]

17. Edwards was my first choice too

VERY disappointed and angry. Think about his campaign staff, many of them uprooted their families and quit their jobs to go work for him in Iowa and New Hampshire. I gave what money I could afford to his campaign and this is how his staff and supporters are repaid? I never thought I'd say this but thank god he didn't get the nomination!!

[David Zephyr]

18. K&R.

You have to wonder how he can compartmentalize screwing around on your amazing wife who is a treasure and who he was so lucky to have while she has incurable cancer and running to be our party's nominee all at the same time. How depraved is that?

Don't feel bad: I've been taken before by politicians -- too many times to count. But his betrayal here is simply unmeasurable on almost every possible dimension. He is and WAS a jerk all along.

[PurityOfEssence]

42. So, you openly advocated using the stained blue dress against Hillary Clinton,

but now you're a steadfast champion of the "wronged women" in life, right? You literally raged that Bill Clinton's infidelity should be used against Hillary, but now you're the patron saint of the betrayed?

So much for consistency.

Fine. Enjoy the poisonous reveling and shout for all to hear how moral and noble you are, but get the facts straight: he claims that Elizabeth's cancer was in remission at this time, so it's not as heinous as you claim. It's still terrible, and may very well be the callous using of another woman who was in love; this we don't know and may never know, but there are degrees to misbehavior, much as you don't seem to recognize much beyond binary love and hate.

It's depressing and a sad moment for some of us, and he's hurt the party and many individuals with this, but using it for personal aggrandizement and triumphal vindication is ugly. Feel free, but it's no virtue.

Perhaps there's a mail-carrier whose leg looks tasty so you can get it out of your system.

[David Zephyr]

43. I figured you would show up without shame making up false quotes & attributing them to me.

1. ) Please post the link to where I "openly advocated using the stained blue dress against Hillary Clinton" and "literally raged that Bill Clinton's infidelity should be used against Hillary." Not true. Please support your false charge.

2.) Let's get to the real point of your great discomfort today: I had better judgment of John Edwards' character than you did for six long years here at the DU. You were very wrong about this man. And I was right.

3.) You wrote to me: "You never liked John Edwards." Guess what? You were right. I never liked him and said so for six long years. Guess what else: I like him even less.

I will not bundle your posts attacking me for questioning John Edwards all these long years when I supported Howard Dean over your fellow lawyer, Edwards. I will not bundle the posts where you attacked me for "hero worship" of Barack Obama all throughout the primaries while you supported your fellow lawyer, John Edwards. I will let you bundle those up yourself. I'm letting you off of that hook. Why? Because I am a nice guy. Far nicer than you even realize.

Yes, I was right and you were wrong. I had the grace not to post under any of yours today because I was the bigger man, but I knew you just wouldn't be able to resist another chance to use a John Edwards story to bludgeon me.

Your candidate was a jerk. It just happens that in this case, I was right and you were really, really wrong.

Finally, do not attribute your own made-up quotes to me. If you quote me, have the decency to provide a link to the quote. Have I criticized the Clintons, you bet. Did I ever make the statement that you completely made up and falsely attributed to me? No, and you know it.

I wish you peace. This is a lousy day for you. I've been there myself before...too many times. Move on.

[Pastiche423]

52. I figured you'd show up too

and I can't help but smile. It is understandable why you think the knowledge of his cheating is is only fodder for those that would use it against him. It shows your character. The same character you showed anytime anyone pointed out his hypocritical behavior.

It's been eleven years since I heard about johnnyboy again. In 1997, I decided that maybe he had changed his egotistical ways and voted for him for senator in the state I was living. It did not take long before I realized he hadn't changed.

I followed his votes during his short stay in the senate. His ambitions soon revealed him to be the poseur he continues to be today. He never was the man whom many people believed him to be. He tried to re-invent himself as the messiah of poverty. Sadly, it was all a ruse.

I am happy that this finally came out. But not happy for Elizabeth.

[FrenchieCat]

20. I'm sorry this has happened, as it is sad to have Democrats

disallusioned about politics like this.

My heart goes out to Elizabeth, the Edwards children, to Edwards supporters, and yes, to John Edwards as well for his horrible mistake.

I was never one who trusted John Edwards, and I always said so, although I did doubt this particular story. For whatever reason, my BS meter has always been set on HIGH, and I have always had this gnawing feeling based on certain signs that we weren't seeing the real John Edwards. Please know that I don't get the same sense about Barack Obama. I do believe him to be the real thing, and I have never "felt" otherwise in anyway....if that is of any consolation.

Anyways, chin up and know that it is very hard to tell these days, who's who.

But please don't be disgusted with John Edwards. He did have an excellent message regardless of his personal failings. The message has got to be more important than the individual.

So I am sorry that you are disappointed.

[PurityOfEssence]

31. Nicely put

You have been one of the most unremittingly dismissive of Edwards, and tireless in originating posts to wipe him from the ranks of contention, but your response here is rather gentle and human.

We disagree on his character, although this revelation is certainly a real bucket of ice water in the face, and I'll have to hear all the details.

His convictions and adherence to a policy that was generally held as a non-starter (giving a damn about the poor) do come from his heart, and it saddens me to see him potentially go the way of another candidate I had (and still have) great respect for: Gary Hart.

At a moment when it wouldn't be too untoward to dance the dance of schadenfreude, you didn't, while still not feigning any form of sickly sweetness in the process; you admitted your problems with the man while respecting some of the policy.

Truly, it's times like these when character shows through, and I must say that you've walked the fine line well here.

[kristyt]

23. Perfectly stated

Great post.

[zulchzulu]

25. My sympathies...

If Obama had done this, I would be devastated. And like you said, I stand behind Elizabeth on this. I wish all the best for her family during this time.

[uberblonde]

28. It's between him and his wife.

Most of us don't know what it's like living with a spouse with cancer. This is not that uncommon because the sick spouse often loses all interest in sex. Not excusing it, just explaining.

[LibraLiz1973]

29. I am unwilling to accept that as an excuse.

Unless Elizabeth comes out and says she gave the A-OK, I find it SICKENING.

[Midlodemocrat]

34. I'm saddened that he did that.

But it's not unusual for a man living with a terminally ill spouse. It's horrible, but not unusual.

Not that I'm giving him a pass. I despise cheating.

[LibraLiz1973]

37. Go ahead and ask OMC if he considered cheating on his wife when she was diagnosed.

REAL MEN don't do that shit.

Little boys who need constant attention on the other hand.....


I'm sorry, but, if you loved and respected your partner (and the VOWS you took)
you could rub one out once a day for years - instead of cheating.

It is sad that we live in a society where adultery is no longer anything to really be disappointed in.
People accept it and say that it isn't unusual, or that you can't judge.
Marriage vows mean so little these days. It's really sad.

[Midlodemocrat]

38. I would never ask him that.

Firstly because it's none of my business and secondly because Stacey died pretty quickly. There was no long drawn out death.

Believe me, I'm very saddened by this, but he's human and I've seen it before. I despise cheating and will never cheat on my husband, but other people don't feel the same.

My sig is a line from a speech Elizabeth Edwards gave in 2007. I've admired her even before that. I'm very saddened for her. And, for John.

[LibraLiz1973]

40. I didn't mean ask to be nosy.

I was more making the point that there are men (and women) out there who feel such love for their spouse
that it would not occur to them to be so shallow.

I'll get over being upset about this. I wont support John again,but that is another kettle of fish.
I just think that it's a sad commentary on the world we live in that so many people react to cheating
as if it is really no big deal.

What happened to honor? Not just of your partner- of yourself.
People who really meant their vows are a dying breed.
Truth be told, I don't even know why people bother getting married anymore.
So few really MEAN the vows they say. It's just a big party.

[Midlodemocrat]

41. You're right.

I completely agree with your last paragraph. And, I live by those vows every day. So does my husband.

When you hit 40, (having no idea how old you are), my mom used to say that you would see marriage after marriage falling apart while people were looking for 'something better'.

She was right. It's astonishes me when I see families coming apart over an affair because someone didn't honor their vows.

There are countless lounge threads about cheating and let me tell you, your eyes would pop out of your head if you read them. Just sayin'.

Edwards was my second choice. I just hate that this happened.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

47. Yes. LibraLiz

I remember how passionate you were about John Edwards and I shared much of that passion and enthusiasm for his candidacy. As someone who keenly follows US politics from overseas, I saw in John Edwards a genuine visionary who would change America and the world for the better. I used to dream about President Edwards in the White House and what a great leader he would be. One of the things I loved about him was how devoted and committed he was to Elizabeth, whom I equally admired.

I gushed about John Edwards and how wonderful he was to all my friends online and in real life. I don't think I'd ever believed in a US presidential candidate as much as I believed in Senator Edwards

To say I am angry, disgusted and disappointed in him is the biggest understatement of my life. I am close to the point of tears. Yes, the media has no right to snoop in his personal life and the MSM will undoubtedly devote more time than is necessary to this story while all the while ignoring the crap about the * administration and McCain and Republicans. But I really thought that Senator Edwards was different from the rest of them and much better than that

What I am really disgusted about (besides the obvious fact that he cheated on a woman whom is to me the embodiment of beauty, grace, class and integrity) is his arrogance. He was in the Senate during Lewinsky-gate in the 1990s. He surely remembered Gary Hart. Did he honestly think that he would be the exception to the rule? Can you imagine what we'd be going through had he won the nomination and this came out? I'm quite frankly surprised this didn't come out earlier

Much of my idealism died today.

[LibraLiz1973]

50. I feel as you do

And you make a good point- did he really think he would be exception???

[Generator]

48. It's funny because for me

the worst thing-and I was so angry I could spit fire was when he left the election before even having the guts to make it to super Tuesday. I made peace with the fact that people like and trust Obama more. Obama wasn't my guy and will never make me feel that hope that I felt with John-sucker or not, I can't change the way I feel. Edwards was my first choice in 2004-I liked him more than Kerry and I really liked Kerry.

I made peace with the Edwards haters-I actually have a harder time with the Edwards defenders as it seems weird to me-cultish.

What he has done to his wife is hard to fathom. But he did it to all of us by making his chances and what he could have done for all of us-into a mockery of hope. But I feel nothing now. Shock but no more disillusionment-because he quit on us in January.

And what a blessing his quitting on us in January turned out to be. To bad he actually quit on us and fidelity long ago.

[Shine]

49. I'm TOTALLY on the same page with you on everything you wrote.

:thumbsup:

As a woman, I'm incredibly pissed he'd do this to Elizabeth, after all she's been through. What an idiot.

As a Democrat that voted for him in the CA primary, even after he'd dropped out, I'm incredibly disheartened and disappointed in him.

Fucking politicians. Literally. :grr:

Why can't they just keep it in their pants?!

[Booster]

51. I am more than disappointed in John. The DAY before he

dropped out he had an ad on tv for donations and I, stupidly, sent him a donation. He knew that day that he was going to drop out so not only did he lie to Elizabeth, his children, his family and friends, Hell, he lied to me directly. For that one reason I have decided NEVER to send any of these asshole filthy-rich politicians another dime, and that includes Obama. If they can't get elected with their own money then damn all of them. maybe if some of them would consider being honest and upright, it would be different, but they're all alike. I will vote for Obama, but I will not donate.