Edwards Infidelity Elicits Shock, Anger
It's no secret that any news of a politician's infidelity is an instant scandal that almost everyone has an opinion on. We saw a tidal wave of reaction to the Eliot Spitzer prostitution story, and the news that former Senator John Edwards had an affair with a campaign aide has set the iVillage community ablaze with commentary, disgust and some really interesting angles on this story.
On the Betrayed Spouses Support board, member carpenchri shares what many of us are probably thinking:
"Well...front page news again. Another person trying to gain our trust comes out as cheating on his family. Cheating on his wife — while she's busting her butt on the campaign trail for him — while battling cancer ... what could have been SO horrible that he had to do that to her?!?!"
For the most part, we often see some degree of distrust for political figures. But what is interesting about this case is that John Edwards, by most accounts (well, at least until now), was beyond that, with his clean image, his value-based talking points and, perhaps most notable, his wife's struggle with cancer, which has played out often on the campaign trail and in the news. It's exactly this, though, that has created such a stir in a wide variety of communities. While the outrage is predictable, some of the secondary conversations have taken a tone that is more considered and curious. Some are even questioning who knew what and when... and how much a person is responsible for their family when they're living their life so much in the public eye.
From the All Sides of an Affair board fallenstar2005 also wonders:
"I question whether Elizabeth Edwards knew about the affair in 2006. Would you agree to be part of a national presidential campaign knowing that there was someone out there who could publicly, on a whim, destroy you and your children's world? Not to mention the arrogance of John Edwards putting his political party at risk if he had actually won the nomination. Something just doesn't seem right..."
In GardenWeb's Hot Topics forum they're also talking about Elizabeth Edwards' awareness of the affair and how that has played out over the last few years as John Edwards has willingly put himself and his family in the public eye:
"Did Elizabeth Edwards know that her husband had been unfaithful at the time she chastised Hillary Clinton about keeping her house in order?"
Of course this is also playing out in great detail on -- where else? -- Politics Today, but member undefeated adds a uniquely personal reaction to the nation's latest politician under fire:
"You may or may not remember that I worked on Edwards' campaign, and I feel 'personally' hurt and betrayed. How could John and Elizabeth think that this would not get out? What if he had won the party's nomination? What a horror that would have become. It's huge news now and he's not even running for anything. It's very disheartening.
Another thing that I, as a breast cancer survivor, have heard repeatedly from my oncologists is stress and worry are very, very bad and they think a link to recurrences. I find it significant that Elizabeth found out about this in 2006 and had a recurrence in 2007.
Nevertheless, I am also disappointed with her for not demanding that John NOT run as a candidate for his party's nomination with this kind of 'secret' hanging over his head."
What do you think about the latest infidelity scandal? Do we expect too much from our political candidates? Should personal lives be on trial? Or does this say more about us than about the candidates themselves? Sound off here with your thoughts — we know you have an opinion on this one!
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In the end, politicians are your average guy with a more public life. There are a lot of "common" marriages where a wife finds that her husband is having an affair, and decides to go on with the marriage. I don't think their personal life should affect their political agenda, though it does make you wonder about their honesty when they preach about family and values.
I am livid at the thought that he could have possibly been our democratic nominee right now while this is all coming out. There is no doubt that he would have blew it for us democrats. I am more angry that he ran for president at all with this hiding in his closet than I am that he did it. If you are a man going to cheat on your wife, then be a playboy, not a family man. I mean I really don't premote infidelity, but I don't think men like George Cloney and Jack Nickelson settle down for reasons that they are not going to be commited and you have to respect that. The fact he had the nerve to call Bill Clinton "disrepectful" during his scandal just makes me want to throw up considering his situation. This is a man that is married to a women with cancer and they have many children and even have lost a child together. The scariest thing about this I used to look at this couple in awe, because even though they lost so much they stuck together. Obviously this has been a rude awaking for me, I am still shocked. The fact he did this while she was recovering from cancer really turns my stomach. I thought he was a warm caring person before, now I think he is a heartless S.O.B. I know he is human but I think all politicians need to "sacrafice" their slutty ways when they become celebrity like. I mean his children will be scarred from this because this is all on film. This is very tragic for his family, democrats, and any one who believed in him while he was a potentinal candidate.
The wife is usually the last to know...
His poor wife was fighting cancer while he had the affair, this is terrible.
i would respect this politician more if he had chosen to be single and not have a wife and family simply because it's not for him and his lifestyle choices. at least in that situation he is being honest!
The wife is always the last to know, expecially if the cheater is a good actor. You think your life is a happy fairy tale and nothing could go wrong and then BAM it could hit you like a ton of bricks. After you peel the layers of everything he has lied about, then come to find out that all of your friends and family knew about it, but they didn't want to tell you, because they didn't want to hurt you. But what the ended up doing was hurting you the most. That was the hardest for me to get over....I felt so betrayed.
The wife is always the last to know. When I found out my Ex was cheating on me, not only was he cheating on me with friends, but women I knew from other places. And my family members and closest friends knew all along, and that was the worst, so yeah the wife is always the last to know.
To be perfectly honest I felt that there was something off with Edwards from the first time he stepped into the political arena. There was something very dishonest about him. I don’t think we expect too much from our political figures at all. These are appointed men and women who have been chosen to represent the best of our society. While they are imperfect human beings; there are just some mistakes or boundaries that are not to be crossed. Cheating on your Cancer stricken wife is one of them!! There is also a lesson for Elizabeth Edwards as well; I remember when she blasted Hillary Clinton about how she needs to keep her household in order. Well the lesson for her would be not to judge and assume that the woman is at fault rather than the victim in the situation. I am in no way saying that Edwards cheating is acceptable; however I think Elizabeth was aware of the situation because it’s not the first time Edwards has cheated its just the first time his cheating has been brought into the public eye. The dynamics of the situation will never fully be uncovered but the Edwards family decided to run for office despite this secret and now they are feeling the negative effects of their decision. I have a feeling in my gut that this story is a lot sicker than we think it is. A lot of people are going to be surprised at who is at the core of it all. That feeling in my gut has never been wrong so I am anxiously waiting for more to be brought to the forefront.
I think any indiscretions in a marriage are private and should not be made public at all. I am unsure as to WHY this made headlines at all. When I vote for a candiate I am voting based upon his stance on important issues. I'm not voting on his personal life, whether he's been faithful to his wife, likes to dress in drag, likes to eat candy for breakfast. We should have some respect for our public figures and let them have some privacy at home.
I do understand what you are saying that the indiscretions in a marriage should be kept private. 99.9% of the time I would say that should be, but when a public entity, wether it be a politican or religous leader, cheats, then I think the public should know. When we decide to put our trust in someone by voting for them or attending their church, we are saying we trust you, we believe in what your saying. These people pretend to be perfect, talk about living a certain way and having certain morals. Maybe if they didn't create such a fake facade, we would be more willing to accept their mistakes, instead of being shocked and appalled at them being human! I think the real solution to this is for our politicans to learn to be real.
At first I felt very sad when I heard what he had done. All I could think about was Elizabeth with cancer, and he was out running around. I felt really let down myself because I firmly believed him to be "the real deal". He always seemed so genuine and sincere. Then it hit me what he had done not only to his wife, but to all of the democrats out there who want so desperately to win in November. Had he won the nomination, or even been chosen as vice president before this all came out, he could have caused quite an uproar. I cannot believe how selfish his actions were... it's unbelievable. Maybe his next job should be in Hollywood as an actor... he sure had alot of people fooled.
In my opinion, the wife is always the last to know. I wouldn't be surprised that she just found out within the last few weeks. This is tragic and sad for Elizabeth and her children. I hope that Mr. Edwards finally came clean, however, I personally suspect that R.'s child might be his. It's disgusting ~ both Mr. Edwards and Ms. Hunters. I guess she was hunting and got her catch ~ takes a predator. However, it took both of them to TANGO and they are both responsible for the horrific actions.
I hope that Elizabeth can find peace.........