Friday, August 08, 2008

John Edwards

Despite today's admission, I think John Edwards would have made a fine president -- and that his private sin is the business of no-one outside his family. Greg Sargent (displaying the smarm that has become a TPM hallmark) calls his admission "self-flagellating." Others will no doubt call the same words arrogant. There is no correct way to phrase such a statement.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree 100%, Edwards would have been a fine, even great president. I was, - am, a Hillary supporter, but would have voted for Edwards in a heartbeat in November had he won the primary, with or without this none of my business information.

OTE admin said...

I am not sorry at all for supporting Edwards and would do it again.

He should have come clean about it when he decided to run for president. I will always believe the Obama people forced him out through blackmail.

Anonymous said...

For the official record, I don't give a rat's ass about Edwards' (or any candidates') extra-marital dalliances. I always felt the "rumored" affair had actually taken place and it didn't change my opinion of him one bit. I wish he'd been more discrete, however.

Anonymous said...

True --if he had addressed it when he decided to run, he could have just 'fessed up or said NYOB and left it there.

Notice how the press brings it back to Bill Clinton's behavior and forgets entirely about HW Bush and his long time paramour, Jennifer F. (He even once sent GW out to make his denials.) (Not to mention most Presidents of my lifetime, Jimmy Carter excluded.)

That said, for Sen. Edwards to still be visiting her -- and to allow himself to be caught by the National Enquirer doing so -- shows a serious lack of judgment. Understandable only if the child is his. But if the child is his, he should take responsibility. (Then he could visit them in broad daylight.)

I think he needs to address his situation with his family and maintain his focus on American poverty. He might never become President but he could still actually help this country.
djmm

Anonymous said...

djmm, it's very hard to believe that among John Edwards's flaws is a lack of good judgment. And I hope you didn't mean that he should display a lack of character by turning away from someone he loved and probable loves still. We're on the sidelines, really on the bad side of a teevee screen, and have no way of knowing about (what I believe are) his genuine affections.

Jimmy Carter was no exception by his own admission (in his Playboy Interview before the 1976 election): he said he's guilty of adultery, according to Jesus, for he has had lust in his heart.

Abbey

Anonymous said...

looked like a SET UP SUCKER to me.

OTE admin said...

It is clear Hunter was setting him up at the hotel room, and that she tipped off the Enquirer to extort extra cash.

She was trying to blackmail Edwards, and he refused to pay the money. The real reason why she is not pursuing a paternity test is she knows he's not the father.

She got her money through the National Enquirer. Now the question is who is it who forced Edwards to suddenly withdraw in January?

This has the Obama campaign's fingerprints all over it. Just ask Blair Hull and Jack Ryan about what a great guy Obama is.

Anonymous said...

Edwards needed to win votes in the South Carolina primary - his home state of all places! - but he failed there (and wasn't on the North Carolina ballot in May). He's an Elmer Gantry story now.

Padraig

Kateliz said...

No. No. No. I will not ever vote for someone who WHILE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT cannot keep his pants on. Y'all may not give a rats ass for what a candidate does but can you not spare a thought for his betrayed family. And if he would betray a fine and courageous person like Elizabeth Edwards ...well how then can anyone trust the guy. Nope. He is off my list for good.