Elizabeth Edwards is a better woman than I am

[nittanyalum]

Oh, this is definitely a "both sides of the aisle are guilty" situation. This, to me, is not about politics whatsoever it's about MEN and making the right decisions in your life.

I firmly believe that men CAN keep it in their pants and stay faithful regardless of temptation WHEN THEY WANT TO. I had the impression John Edwards was that kind of guy. The way he always spoke about and doted on Elizabeth and seemed so geared toward his family, he just didn't seem like the type to "stray". And especially with what they've been through in losing their oldest son, her ongoing battles with cancer (oh, and his running for the nation's highest office - duh, idiot!) I just wouldn't have guessed he'd break that trust and commitment.

I guess it just goes to show that you just never know.... (*eyes husband suspiciously over the top of her laptop* )

[SWTXBelle]

Infidelity knows no boundaries - it can be found in every racial, religious, political and every other kind of group you can name.

But cheating on your cancer-stricken wife? I'm doubly glad he didn't become the nominee. And I refuse to give politicans a pass - they are still scum if they do it.

[honeychile]

Cheating on your wife while she's going through cancer treatments is a special kind of horrible. I couldn't even understand why he was in the race with Elizabeth having a relapse.

[Educatingblue]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

"The family of John Edwards’ former mistress, Rielle Hunter, is challenging the former senator to take a DNA paternity test after his claim that he did not father Hunter’s 6-months-old child.
In the first reaction from Hunter’s family, her younger sister Melissa told ABC News that Edwards should immediately follow through on his pledge to take a paternity test.
“I would challenge him to do so,” the sister said.
“Somebody must stand up and defend my sister,” she said. “I wish that those involved would refrain from bad-mouthing my sister.”"

I hate it when the family goes on "hostile" defense of the involved family member. She knew good and well he was married...what positive portrayal could the press give her when she KNEW his wife had cancer!!

On another note, I'm surprised no one has mentioned that Hunter looks a hot mess!!!

[angelove]

Well, this explains why his wife chose to follow him on the campaign trail instead of staying at home for her cancer treatments.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by Educatingblue

I hate it when the family goes on "hostile" defense of the involved family member. She knew good and well he was married...what positive portrayal could the press give her when she KNEW his wife had cancer!!

On another note, I'm surprised no one has mentioned that Hunter looks a hot mess!!!

Her given name at birth was Lisa Druck. Hunter came from a former husband and from what I read, she had a wild side to her

"Author Jay McInerney told the New York Post that Alison Poole, the protagonist of his 1988 novel “Story of My Life,” was based on Hunter, whom he dated for a few months in 1987 for six months back when she was named Lisa Druck"

.................

"I told her. She smiled, and began telling me her life story: how she was working as a documentary-film maker, living with a friend in South Orange, N.J., but how she'd previously had 'many lives.'

She'd worked, she said, as an actress and as a spiritual adviser. She was fiercely devoted to astrology and New Age spirituality. She'd been a New York party girl, she'd been married and divorced, she'd been a seeker and a teacher and was a firm believer in the power of truth.""

I know what book I want to read now.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I know what book I want to read now.

It's actually a pretty good book.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Her given name at birth was Lisa Druck. Hunter came from a former husband and from what I read, she had a wild side to her

"Author Jay McInerney told the New York Post that Alison Poole, the protagonist of his 1988 novel “Story of My Life,” was based on Hunter, whom he dated for a few months in 1987 for six months back when she was named Lisa Druck"

.................

"I told her. She smiled, and began telling me her life story: how she was working as a documentary-film maker, living with a friend in South Orange, N.J., but how she'd previously had 'many lives.'

She'd worked, she said, as an actress and as a spiritual adviser. She was fiercely devoted to astrology and New Age spirituality. She'd been a New York party girl, she'd been married and divorced, she'd been a seeker and a teacher and was a firm believer in the power of truth.""

I know what book I want to read now.

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

It's actually a pretty good book.

But the main character is pretty dysfunctional wouldn't you say?

I think what continues to bug me the most about stories like this is that they and their handlers deny with outrage and hostility first for as long as they can get away with, and then, only after being confronted with some kind of proof, do they then try the truth.

I think adultery is equally as likely to happen in both parties. I think it's just a function of politicians being a narcissistic lot generally.

[pinksirfidel]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

But the main character is pretty dysfunctional wouldn't you say?

I think what continues to bug me the most about stories like this is that they and their handlers deny with outrage and hostility first for as long as they can get away with, and then, only after being confronted with some kind of proof, do they then try the truth.

I think adultery is equally as likely to happen in both parties. I think it's just a function of politicians being a narcissistic lot generally.

Isn't it funny that the politicians that scream the loudest about "life's evils" are the ones guilty of these "evils". Lol

I'd love to say that someone's private life shouldn't effect their professional life, but with public service, the two are so frequently, one in the same.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

But cheating on your cancer-stricken wife? I'm doubly glad he didn't become the nominee. And I refuse to give politicans a pass - they are still scum if they do it.

I assume you're not supporting the guy he would have been running against if he had been the nominee, then?

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I assume you're not supporting the guy he would have been running against if he had been the nominee, then?

Yes, he's gotten shockingly little judgment for that part of his life, he's a dirtbag too.

It seems that McCain, who had once revealed to fellow prisoners of war in Vietnam that he wanted to be president, was restless in 1979. As Navy liaison to the Senate, he didn't have the career momentum he had counted on to propel him into an admiralty and on to the White House. He was 42, mired in stifling ordinariness. (Civilians call it "midlife crisis.")

But McCain was making bold career moves on the home front, hotly pursuing a 25-year-old blond from a wealthy Arizona family -- while married. Carol, his wife at the time, had once been quite a babe herself apparently, until a near-fatal car accident (while her husband was in Vietnam) left her 4 inches shorter, overweight and on crutches. The couple had three children, whom Carol cared for alone while her husband was in Vietnamese prisons.

McCain's strategy worked perfectly: After chasing Cindy Hensley around the country for six months, he closed the deal late in the year, had a divorce by February and was married to Hensley shortly thereafter. Bingo! McCain was a candidate for Congress by early 1982, his coffers full, his home in the proper Arizona district purchased.

The story is compelling -- and repellent -- for a lot of reasons. And it raises some familiar questions. We have to wonder why Americans are able to excoriate a presidential candidate (or president) who cheats on his wife but accept one who did the same thing with the concentration and energy of a military strategist. Is it because McCain didn't get caught? Is it because he married his mistress? At this point, after much navel- and penis-gazing, it seems like a moot question, if only for reasons of sheer exhaustion.

http://archive.salon.com/mwt/feature...rol/index.html

[SWTXBelle]

Democrats? Republicans?
I no longer have a dog in that fight.
I will be voting third party - haven't decided which.

But yes, I did think Edwards was super-sleazy, although I couldn't put my finger on why during the campaign. It might be the Ken-like hairstyle (the Kens with the plastic hair, not the ones with the "real" hair.)

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I hate to say this, but I'm at the point where I think all politicians have extra-marital affairs, lie about it and have their spouse's forgive them. I am so tainted and immune to all of this now (particularly when they are smooth-talking, southern lawyers)

This post FTW.

I saw some tabloid at the grocery store the other day accusing Obama of infidelity and I was like "probably so." I'd believe it of anyone at this point.

Originally Posted by honeychile

Cheating on your wife while she's going through cancer treatments is a special kind of horrible. I couldn't even understand why he was in the race with Elizabeth having a relapse.

AMEN! you know i really liked him/them a lot. NOW i have lost all respect for him doing this while she relapsed......I mean how low can one be to do that to your ailing wife but your wife in general! Creep! good thing he didnt make it to this point in time in the campaign for president,,,proberly couldn't get elected dog catcher now if he even tried.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Oh, this is definitely a "both sides of the aisle are guilty" situation. This, to me, is not about politics whatsoever it's about MEN and making the right decisions in your life.

I firmly believe that men CAN keep it in their pants and stay faithful regardless of temptation WHEN THEY WANT TO. I had the impression John Edwards was that kind of guy. The way he always spoke about and doted on Elizabeth and seemed so geared toward his family, he just didn't seem like the type to "stray". And especially with what they've been through in losing their oldest son, her ongoing battles with cancer (oh, and his running for the nation's highest office - duh, idiot!) I just wouldn't have guessed he'd break that trust and commitment.

I guess it just goes to show that you just never know.... (*eyes husband suspiciously over the top of her laptop* )

I was surprised at Edwards, too. I usually think he's a cutie but he's been looking ROUGH since this story broke.

I agree with everything you said 100%. It bothers me that people pretend that men can't help themselves, regardless of who they are. Men CAN and some DO control themselves. I think that PEOPLE should be able to control themselves.