John Edwards Admits to Sexual Affair

[eMart]

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5441195&page=1

Good thing he didn't win the nomination because this would almost guarantee a loss for Democrats.

[Steve Henderson]

Was just going to post this. I am guessing this came around if he was being vetted for VP.

[eMart]

Was just going to post this. I am guessing this came around if he was being vetted for VP.
I believe so, they're airing the whole interview tonight on Nightline. Imagine if he would've taken the VP position, this would've fucked over Obama so bad.

[Mitch]

*Waits for McCain to request Obama denounce him*

[cheezwhiz]

Disappointing. "but said he did not love her"- oh well that makes everything better.

[Steve Henderson]

I believe so, they're airing the whole interview tonight on Nightline. Imagine if he would've taken the VP position, this would've fucked over Obama so bad.
That would have been complete disaster. Something must have come about that made him finally admit to this. I thought the pundits were joking around last night about Bill Clinton speaking at the convention "since Edwards' spot just opened up" ha.

[wesgemm08]

Whatever happened to that news about the "relationship" between Mccain and the lobbyist from earlier in the year

[Steve Henderson]

Disappointing. "but said he did not love her"- oh well that makes everything better.
Haha, that made me chuckle a bit as well.

[thespearkid]

No! Ha, when I first heard about this, I didn't believe. John Edwards just doesn't seem like the type.

[cheezwhiz]

He always seemed like someone out of a movie to me, a little too perfect. And I always thought he was chosen as Kerry's vp because he had "sex appeal," at least for the middle-aged housewives.

[Steve Henderson]

He always seemed like someone out of a movie to me, a little too perfect. And I always thought he was chosen as Kerry's vp because he had "sex appeal," at least for the middle-aged housewives.
I agree. That is the age we live in.

[apoemtothedead]

I'm waiting for pictures before I form my opinion.

[lightcollapse]

What a fucking epic douchebag. This is worse than Bill Clinton, Elliott Spitzer - everything. His wife - who he raised and lost a child with is DYING OF CANCER, still for some reason willing to support his presidential bid and political campaign, and he's going around fucking some ugly bitch who made shitty videos for him.

[apoemtothedead]

Alright, she's fugly. Shame on him.

[eMart]

I'm waiting for pictures before I form my opinion.
http://nymag.com/images/2/daily/intel/07/10/10_hunter_lgl.jpg

[redalibi]

I thought his speeches were great and agreed with most of his points. But what a shady bastard.

[*crying stars*]

So disappointing.

[anamericangod]

He wasn't going to be VP, but he sure didn't help his chances of getting another position. Good job Edwards.

[hero_dujour]

Ha, I just heard about this too. NPR said that he was gonna say "But I wasn't in love with her" like it really makes a difference.

[thespearkid]

This really disappoints me for some reason. Aside from Obama, Edwards was my favorite Democrat running. He just really doesn't strike me as the type of person who'd have an affair. Guess it just shows we're all humans. I won't judge the guy though.

[wesgemm08]

I've been saying Edwards was a douche since 2004.. It's a shame it took others 4 more years to realize this.

[mattybobviously]

Ahaha, good 'ol John, always knew he had it in him. That AG slot will not be his anymore.

Seriously though, McCain can't mention a word of this, let's not forget his great career of adultry.

[RedWineSheets]

Here is his statement on the matter:

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 percent 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


Pretty good response under the circumstances. Took complete responsibility for his actions.
Having been a Edwards supporter I am very sad for his wife and children. I hope they can make it through this. People have affairs everyday, people do make mistakes, I am not condoning his behavior but I am not going to judge him. One of the many politicians to have affairs.

On a side note this will not impact the Obama campaign, McCain had an extramartial affair on his first wife who was physically disable after an accident.

[.invisible ink.]

It's super shitty on a personal level to have done this to his wife/family but seriously, who cares, it's not any of our business how he wants to live his life. This doesn't affect his ability to be an effective politician and policymaker. All politicians are scumbags for the most part so I'm not surprised but unfortunately everyone lives for this sort of drama.

[Cheesus]

It's super shitty on a personal level to have done this to his wife/family but seriously, who cares, it's not any of our business how he wants to live his life. This doesn't affect his ability to be an effective politician and policymaker. All politicians are scumbags for the most part so I'm not surprised but unfortunately everyone lives for this sort of drama.


Cool statement. Where do I even start?

[AnarchyintheUS]

Haha, and the slime denied it just a few weeks ago.

[AnarchyintheUS]

Here is his statement on the matter:

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 percent 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


Pretty good response under the circumstances. Took complete responsibility for his actions.
Having been a Edwards supporter I am very sad for his wife and children. I hope they can make it through this. People have affairs everyday, people do make mistakes, I am not condoning his behavior but I am not going to judge him. One of the many politicians to have affairs.

On a side note this will not impact the Obama campaign, McCain had an extramartial affair on his first wife who was physically disable after an accident.

Edwards statement = Load of donkey's cum.

Your side note = callous and vile.

[chaosB4storm]

It's super shitty on a personal level to have done this to his wife/family but seriously, who cares, it's not any of our business how he wants to live his life. This doesn't affect his ability to be an effective politician and policymaker. All politicians are scumbags for the most part so I'm not surprised but unfortunately everyone lives for this sort of drama.

You have no interest in knowing how your leader chooses to live his life? It doesn't matter to you what kind of person they are? Honesty isn't something you look for in leaders? You are willing to overlook his lies and tell everyone his policies are still great? How do you know what a liar's true policies are?

"All politicians are (insert insult)" is a very weak way to defend your side. If all politicians are scumbags, I would prefer that you do not have a poitical stance. You should quit defending scumbags and liars, and instead, choose not to participate.

[Bob Payne]

can't blame him for wanting to fuck a girl with TWO tits.

[WarpSpeedChewy]

It's very dissappointing and very wrong what he did. But I can understand why he would want to keep something that happend two years ago secret. I think he is ultimately a good person who just did something very wrong. It should be between him, his wife and his family.

can't blame him for wanting to fuck a girl with TWO tits.
Real Classy. :puke:

[saysmydoctor]

He always was a fucking idiot.

[mattybobviously]

He risked the Democratic party's chance at the presidency with this campaign, it's ridiculous and selfish.

[LastPlaceRocks]

He risked the Democratic party's chance at the presidency with this campaign, it's ridiculous and selfish.
It won't make a difference to the Presidential campaign. This will run the news cycle, but other than that it will eventually go away. Now if Edwards was the nominee or VP, then we'd be talking a different story. Since he's not I don't see how this will hurt Obama or how McCain (given past experiences) can politically attack this without receiving retribution.

[se1046]

It won't make a difference to the Presidential campaign. This will run the news cycle, but other than that it will eventually go away. Now if Edwards was the nominee or VP, then we'd be talking a different story. Since he's not I don't see how this will hurt Obama or how McCain (given past experiences) can politically attack this without receiving retribution.

I don't see how attacking Edwards would help McCain anyway.

Still a pretty crappy thing to do, especially when you've paraded your wife around and she's dying from cancer.

[HelpMeSleep]

Wow. Wasn't expecting that.

I believe so, they're airing the whole interview tonight on Nightline. Imagine if he would've taken the VP position, this would've fucked over Obama so bad.
I was just thinking that. Thank God he didn't.

[fightoffyrdmns]

Just a note for everybody who thinks this is awful, it would be extremely hypocritical to vote for McCain.

I liked Edward as a politician, and this didn't totally taint my opinion of him. If he did actually tell his wife and family, and they were able to move on from it, I'm sure this will die down in the press shortly.

[mattybobviously]

It won't make a difference to the Presidential campaign. This will run the news cycle, but other than that it will eventually go away. Now if Edwards was the nominee or VP, then we'd be talking a different story. Since he's not I don't see how this will hurt Obama or how McCain (given past experiences) can politically attack this without receiving retribution.
I only meant that by running a campaign for president, had he won he would've been risking the party's chance, not that it has wound up mattering.

[GiggsOho]

It's super shitty on a personal level to have done this to his wife/family but seriously, who cares, it's not any of our business how he wants to live his life. This doesn't affect his ability to be an effective politician and policymaker. All politicians are scumbags for the most part so I'm not surprised but unfortunately everyone lives for this sort of drama.

It most certainly does affect his ability to be an effective politician, because now NO ONE will vote for him, and with good reason. The gus is a sack of shit who the democratic party should ostracize for acting like a complete asshat.

On a different note, I gave money to the guys campaign last year. Hope your kid has a nice fucking crib, John! FUCK YOU.

can't blame him for wanting to fuck a girl with TWO tits.

Seriously, kill yourself.

[loveisdead]

Really disappointed to hear about this. I liked Edwards a lot, and now my he's just another piece of shit politician in my book.

[Rock]

he's just another piece of shit politician in my book.
My thoughts exactly. Fuck you, John Edwards.

[.invisible ink.]

You have no interest in knowing how your leader chooses to live his life? It doesn't matter to you what kind of person they are? Honesty isn't something you look for in leaders? You are willing to overlook his lies and tell everyone his policies are still great? How do you know what a liar's true policies are?

"All politicians are (insert insult)" is a very weak way to defend your side. If all politicians are scumbags, I would prefer that you do not have a poitical stance. You should quit defending scumbags and liars, and instead, choose not to participate.

I don't even know where to start with your post because you completely missed the point. I have enough intelligence to see that people choose to live their lives how they deem fit, and whether I agree morally with a politician on his sexual escapades is beside the point of seeing eye to eye with him on other issues that affect me and the world more than who he's screwing.

Honesty is a very weighted word to use - yes, of course, I would love for the people who run this country to be honest, but I am far more interested in WHAT they are being honest about. It's not our business who people are screwing, that's my point. I want to know that they're doing their job well and righteously. I give people enough credit to realize that personal lives do not always reflect how well they do their jobs.

If all politicians are scumbags, I would prefer that you do not have a poitical stance. You should quit defending scumbags and liars, and instead, choose not to participate.

Thanks for your advice. I will take it like I take most advice given out on message boards from 18 year olds with very little life experience or the ability to have voted in any elections.

[chaosB4storm]

I will take it like I take most advice given out on message boards from 18 year olds with very little life experience or the ability to have voted in any elections.

Your opinion was actually decent until you said this and completely made yourself look like a fool. You may realise one day that this is the thought process of a person that does not have enough logic for a clear view of what's right. Since you are incapable of judging the value of a person's idealogy, you decide on the value of an opinion through age discrimination/life experience. My person does not change the correctness of my argument.

This politician was not only cheating on his wife, he lied to you and your country; this is evidence that he is dishonest. We can never know for sure if a politician is an honest person, but when one can find PROOF of dishonesty, it shouldn't be ignored.

[.invisible ink.]

Your opinion was actually decent until you said this and completely made yourself look like a fool. You may realise one day that this is the thought process of a person that does not have enough logic for a clear view of what's right. Since you are incapable of judging the value of a person's idealogy, you decide on the value of an opinion through age discrimination/life experience. My person does not change the correctness of my argument.

This politician was not only cheating on his wife, he lied to you and your country; this is evidence that he is dishonest. We can never know for sure if a politician is an honest person, but when one can find PROOF of dishonesty, it shouldn't be ignored.

You're right about my picking on your age it was totally unnecessary and juvenile, but your post to me looked like you wanted to pick a fight, and hey, what's a message board conversation without some good bitchiness thrown in? :)

[chaosB4storm]

You're right about my picking on your age it was totally unnecessary and juvenile, but your post to me looked like you wanted to pick a fight, and hey, what's a message board conversation without some good bitchiness thrown in? :)

haha fair enough.

[bung]

Really disappointed to hear about this. I liked Edwards a lot, and now my he's just another piece of shit human being in my book.

I took the liberty of correcting your statement for you.

[Love As Arson]

Martin Luther King committed adultery. I suppose this "failing", if you'd like to call it that, trumps everything he helped to accomplish and places him firmly in the category of scumbag.

[loveisdead]

Martin Luther King committed adultery. I suppose this "failing", if you'd like to call it that, trumps everything he helped to accomplish and places him firmly in the category of scumbag.
He cheated on his wife who is dying of cancer. I don't care what he's accomplished, he is a scumbag.

[.invisible ink.]

Martin Luther King committed adultery. I suppose this "failing", if you'd like to call it that, trumps everything he helped to accomplish and places him firmly in the category of scumbag.

...and that's why you're one of my favorite ap.net posters. You obviously get it.

[x togepi x]

Martin Luther King committed adultery. I suppose this "failing", if you'd like to call it that, trumps everything he helped to accomplish and places him firmly in the category of scumbag.

didn't ghandi do the same thing? or was he just a jerk to his wife?

[capnshindig]

This is such bull. Who cares if he cheated?

[BlinkinDuke]

Apparently a lot of people. Also apparently being a shitty politician is okay, but the moment you schtup someone you aren't married to, you're a fucking scumbag

[loveisdead]

This is such bull. Who cares if he cheated?
It's a terrible thing for a leader of our country, or anyone to do. It matters because he is someone many people looked to as a leader for democrats, and who they put their trust into to try and act in their best interests. If he doesn't care enough about his wife to stay loyal to her, then he obviously can give a shit less about doing good for the people. It's terribly selfish of him to do.

Apparently a lot of people. Also apparently being a shitty politician is okay, but the moment you schtup someone you aren't married to, you're a fucking scumbag

You can be a good politician and be a scumbag. See: Bill Clinton

[Justin_stacy]

This is just priceless, Edwards on Clinton's affair[s].

I think this President has shown a remarkable disrespect for his office, for the moral dimensions of leadership, for his friends, for his wife, for his precious daughter. It is breathtaking to me the level to which that disrespect has risen

[sayyes]

Hypocrisy at its finest.

[Love As Arson]

He cheated on his wife who is dying of cancer. I don't care what he's accomplished, he is a scumbag.
Personal failings are exactly that, personal. They speak little to what they have and can politically accomplish. I, for one, couldn't care less if an individual frequently committed adultery, so long as they have a political program I believe in. If they failed to live up to their own political ideals, then I would see the point in the attention. As it is, we should not pay attention to it, as it has little to do with how well our country is doing.

he doesn't care enough about his wife to stay loyal to her, then he obviously can give a shit less about doing good for the people. It's terribly selfish of him to do.
That's a non sequitur. There have been countless individuals that have had personal problems, yet have managed to demonstrate that they care about achieving positive goals.

didn't ghandi do the same thing? or was he just a jerk to his wife?
I know he committed adultery, but am not well-versed in other things he may have done.

[Justin_stacy]

Hypocrisy at it's finest.

kindof a signature of politicians.

[chaosB4storm]

Martin Luther King committed adultery. I suppose this "failing", if you'd like to call it that, trumps everything he helped to accomplish and places him firmly in the category of scumbag.

Did he lie to the world in telling everyone that he didn't commit adultery? If not, it is much different. Cheating is one thing, but lying to all of the citizens of the country you are serving is definitely another.

[chaosB4storm]

Personal failings are exactly that, personal. They speak little to what they have and can politically accomplish. I, for one, couldn't care less if an individual frequently committed adultery, so long as they have a political program I believe in. If they failed to live up to their own political ideals, then I would see the point in the attention. As it is, we should not pay attention to it, as it has little to do with how well our country is doing.


That's a non sequitur. There have been countless individuals that have had personal problems, yet have managed to demonstrate that they care about achieving positive goals.


I know he committed adultery, but am not well-versed in other things he may have done.

Is lying to your country a personal failing?

[Steve Henderson]

Martin Luther King committed adultery. I suppose this "failing", if you'd like to call it that, trumps everything he helped to accomplish and places him firmly in the category of scumbag.
If Edwards had accomplished a fraction of what King had, this would be an entirely different conversation - you know that. Makes your comparison a little strained...

[saysmydoctor]

Martin Luther King committed adultery. I suppose this "failing", if you'd like to call it that, trumps everything he helped to accomplish and places him firmly in the category of scumbag.
MLK helped break a racial divide. Edwards got his haircut for $400.

[Love As Arson]

Did he lie to the world in telling everyone that he didn't commit adultery? If not, it is much different. Cheating is one thing, but lying to all of the citizens of the country you are serving is definitely another.
It depends on what they're lying about. Lying about their personal life is of little consequence to me, as I've no interest in that. If, however, he lied about his financial dealings or something like that, I'd think it is relevant.

Is lying to your country a personal failing?
I don't think the country has a right to know anything about his personal life. As I said, this is a personal issue, not one we should be interested in. It only furthers the tabloid nature of politics, in which gossip and the superficial take primacy.

If Edwards had accomplished a fraction of what King had, this would be an entirely different conversation - you know that. Makes your comparison a little strained...
It isn't a direct comparison, but one to prove a point, namely that we should distinguish the personal from the political and,moreover, that flawed characteristics do not necessarily disqualify one from being a good leader/doing good things.

MLK helped break a racial divide. Edwards got his haircut for $400.
And? The point isn't to compare their accomplishments, but that much is made of affairs, yet it actually has very little to do with politics and policy.

[allthruwinter]

I don't see why he felt obligated to out that to the public in the first place. Seriously? Unless it was a bunch of dirty hookers like Spitzer, keep it between you and your fam.

[Mercy Medical]

I really don't see why this is such a big deal. Yea, he had an affair. It fucking happens. Does that make it right or moral, no, but it's not like this doesn't happen with politicians.

I personally feel that his personal life should have absolutely nothing to do with his political life. So what if he lied to the public about it, they really don't have a right to know about his personal life even if he is in the spotlight.

[saysmydoctor]

And? The point isn't to compare their accomplishments, but that much is made of affairs, yet it actually has very little to do with politics and policy.
Yes it does especially when these people tend to preach about family values with their politics.

[MusicBox24]

What a fucking epic douchebag. This is worse than Bill Clinton, Elliott Spitzer - everything. His wife - who he raised and lost a child with is DYING OF CANCER, still for some reason willing to support his presidential bid and political campaign, and he's going around fucking some ugly bitch who made shitty videos for him.

This.

[CrenshawPunch]

I really don't see why this is such a big deal. Yea, he had an affair. It fucking happens. Does that make it right or moral, no, but it's not like this doesn't happen with politicians.

I personally feel that his personal life should have absolutely nothing to do with his political life. So what if he lied to the public about it, they really don't have a right to know about his personal life even if he is in the spotlight.

Moral relativism ftw?

[Mercy Medical]

Moral relativism ftw?
People make mistakes. If you expect everyone to live up to their morals 100%, you're out of your mind.

[CrenshawPunch]

People make mistakes. If you expect everyone to live up to their morals 100%, you're out of your mind.


I don't, but I don't think people should have free passes. That's the whole point. He's an elected American Official, he shouldn't be doing this shit. Especially not under his circumstances.

[Mercy Medical]

I don't, but I don't think people should have free passes. That's the whole point. He's an elected American Official, he shouldn't be doing this shit. Especially not under his circumstances.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson were also doing this shit. A lot of elected officials have done this and still do it. Does that make any of it right? No. Does that have absolutely anything to do with their stance as a politician? IMO, no.

The fact of the matter is the media today makes this a much bigger deal then it should ever be.

[Love As Arson]

Yes it does especially when these people tend to preach about family values with their politics.
John Edwards' platform largely rested on the problems with class and income inequality. I might be able to see your point if their personal lives were not consistent with the legislation they enacted, however, as this is not the case, I see no reason to be concerned with it. Most of the individual's reactions are emotional, not rational.

[ghostyouare]

He was tapping this girl because his wife was in cancer remission right?

[open mind]

the french have a much better attitude about this sort of thing.

[open mind]

If all politicians are scumbags, I would prefer that you do not have a poitical stance. You should quit defending scumbags and liars, and instead, choose not to participate.

this is an incredibly stupid thing to say.

[mattybobviously]

If people wanted to hate John Edwards morally, you should've just gone to see him speak on this past campaign. The guy opens up about how tough it is for his wife to go through cancer... and then talk about how he's been touring the country the whole time talking to voters instead of being by her side. His affair doesn't really do anything for me, just I guess is a continuation of how I already felt about the persona he tried to portray. Policy-wise, he had a lot of things right.

[x togepi x]

why are all these people who supposedly care about his wife going against her wishes and continuing to talk about what she wants to be a private matter?

[saysmydoctor]

I want to congratulate the National Enquirer for finally breaking a story. You throw darts, eventually you'll hit something. The way they got this story is priceless.

Apparently, he tried to hide in a hotel bathroom, as the Enquirer tried to get in, he held the door shut. Finally the guy said "I'm a hotel guest, Senator, and you aren't." And basically, got him out of the fucking way.

[Mercy Medical]

If Edwards had accomplished a fraction of what King had, this would be an entirely different conversation - you know that. Makes your comparison a little strained...
So it makes it more excusable depending on what they have/haven't done for this country? :-|

On a moral basis, cheating is cheating...I don't care what you've accomplished in your life. That doesn't make it worse or better. On a political basis, this should have absolutely no standing on who he is as a politician. Does it make him a shitty husband? Yea, probably. Does it make him a shitty politician? No because it has zero to do with his job.

[Mercy Medical]

Did he lie to the world in telling everyone that he didn't commit adultery? If not, it is much different. Cheating is one thing, but lying to all of the citizens of the country you are serving is definitely another.

Is lying to your country a personal failing?The citizens of this country really have no right to know the inner-details of his personal life. I feel like the media has made people feel obligated to know these details. Everyone wants to know about the personal lives of individuals in the spotlight, but we really don't have a right to. It's none of our business.

Him lying to the country about a matter of his personal life is not equivalent to him lying to the country about something that has to do with his position as a politician.

[chaosB4storm]

The citizens of this country really have no right to know the inner-details of his personal life. I feel like the media has made people feel obligated to know these details. Everyone wants to know about the personal lives of individuals in the spotlight, but we really don't have a right to. It's none of our business.

Him lying to the country about a matter of his personal life is not equivalent to him lying to the country about something that has to do with his position as a politician.

Who are you to tell people what reasoning they should have to vote for someone? If someone has a fucked up personal life, how can you say that it has no connection with how he will run the country? Leaders have to make decisions about their citizen's personal lives, and having an abnormal one may have a causal connection with making abnormal national choices.

Say for instance, a politician had an abortion and you are pro-life. This is her personal decision, so it shouldn't affect your thoughts on him? I disagree.

[Mercy Medical]

Who are you to tell people what reasoning they should have to vote for someone? If someone has a fucked up personal life, how can you say that it has no connection with how he will run the country? Leaders have to make decisions about their citizen's personal lives, and having an abnormal one may have a causal connection with making abnormal national choices.

Say for instance, a politician had an abortion and you are pro-life. This is her personal decision, so it shouldn't affect your thoughts on him? I disagree.
Yea, but cheating on his wife has no connection to any of his stances on politics.

I will agree with the abortion aspect, but that that is a personal situation that deals with political issues and obviously if I were pro-life, I wouldn't be voting for someone who is pro-choice anyway, so that example doesn't even pertain to the issue at hand. I will agree that there are points in time where the personal life crosses over into the political realm, but in this case it does not.

He cheated on his wife, 2 years ago at that. What political statement is he making with that? Absolutely zero.

If someone was pro-choice anyway and had an abortion, that wouldn't be some big surprise or something the media would delve into that much anyway because it would make sense. The fact of the matter is we as a country are so fucked in the head that we feel we deserve to know about the personal lives of people in the spotlight. We really have no right, at all.

[chaosB4storm]

Yea, but cheating on his wife has no connection to any of his stances on politics.

I will agree with the abortion aspect, but that that is a personal situation that deals with political issues and obviously if I were pro-life, I wouldn't be voting for someone who is pro-choice anyway, so that example doesn't even pertain to the issue at hand. I will agree that there are points in time where the personal life crosses over into the political realm, but in this case it does not.

He cheated on his wife, 2 years ago at that. What political statement is he making with that? Absolutely zero.

If someone was pro-choice anyway and had an abortion, that wouldn't be some big surprise or something the media would delve into that much anyway because it would make sense. The fact of the matter is we as a country are so fucked in the head that we feel we deserve to know about the personal lives of people in the spotlight. We really have no right, at all.

Some parties do not have a concrete stance on abortion, but I see your point.

However, I do not appreciate a cheaters family values and I maintain that making bad familial choices may lead to making bad choices in power. Also, hs dishonesty to the country may lead to more dishonesty to the country.

But I do see your point.

[NANA The Band]

Haha, he's still a badass. George Bush Senior, Kennedy, and Clinton all also cheated on their wives
But he's cooler then at least two of them.

I really hope he ends up running for office again soon.

[KrebstarKansas]

I believe the main reason that so many other Democrats and I are upset at Edwards isn't really about the affair itself. People fuck up and screw around. It happens and doesn't make them any better or worse of a politician, as many of you have already pointed out. Still, he fought hard to win the party's nomination and eventually the VP position as well. If he had succeeded and then this had come up, which it eventually would have, he would basically be handing the presidency to McCain. Whether it's right or wrong, a huge part of the country would never vote for him because of the affair. If he had just come clean two years ago, or when speculation first emerged, then yea, it probably would have blown over by now, but he didn't. By getting as far into campaigning as he did, he selfishly and arrogantly put the entire Democratic party's chances of winning on the line.

I usually get annoyed when politics and personal lives get mixed up and in an ideal world they wouldn't, but it's America and it's going to happen whether we like it or not. Most of the time when shit like this comes up I ignore it, but just imagining for a second what the future of our country probably would have been like if Edwards was where Obama is now when this info leaked is way too fucked up and drastic to let go.

Fuck Edwards for caring more about his image than the Democratic Party.

[shit stroll]

get over it.

[saysmydoctor]

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[theguy77]

man i still dont fucking get why affairs and other personal life issues have ANYTHINGGG to do with a fucking election. so he cheated on his wife. being a womanizer is not the same kind of morality issue that coincides with corruption in our government. get the fuck over it and out of people's business. christ i hate politics.