John Edwards admits he lied

[JaneEyre]

This is another sad story.

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

[DividedThigh]

well he needs to come out with it, he has been lying and hiding this for years, maybe his wife will get up the nerve to dump him and take that multi million dollar home away from pretty boy, lol, dt

[TRFrance]

Maybe he should clearly deny that he was the one holding the picture of that baby... that is, if it really wasnt him in the picture. Otherwise, he still looks guilty.

This just has a bad smell to it. I think there's still a lot we're not beign told.
I feel so bad for his poor wife.

[TRFrance]

When the National Enquirer first reported the alleged Edwards-Hunter affair last October 11, Edwards, his campaign staff and Hunter vociferously denounced the report.
"The story is false, it's completely untrue, it's ridiculous," Edwards told reporters then.

He repeated his denials just two weeks ago.

----------------

Politically, this man is toast.

[JaneEyre]

When the National Enquirer first reported the alleged Edwards-Hunter affair last October 11, Edwards, his campaign staff and Hunter vociferously denounced the report.
"The story is false, it's completely untrue, it's ridiculous," Edwards told reporters then.

He repeated his denials just two weeks ago.

----------------

Politically, this man is toast.

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/john_edwards_love_child/celebrity/64426

He said there were two Americas....Looks like there were two John Edwards.
We need to pray for his wife Elizabeth and his children. This is so sad.

Edwards says he did not love this other woman and his wife's cancer was in remission at the time.

What does that have to do with what he did??

[Blubayou]

I think the timing of this news release is significant. Busy news day - the day the Olympics open in China.

[JaneEyre]

I think the timing of this news release is significant. Busy news day - the day the Olympics open in China.

Yes, the Olympics will take some of the attention away from this story.

[Esther]

Yes, the Olympics will take some of the attention away from this story.

Bingo!

[Carpenter]

I was watching this...and his mouth was moving so I just assumed...


:D

[TRFrance]

And him announcing that regarding the baby's mother, he "doesnt love her"... is that supposed to make him look better, or to supposed to make anyone feel better about this mess?

That just struck me as an odd thing to say.

[CC1]

I was astonished when I read that in his Bob Woodruff interview that will air on Nightline tonight where he admits the infidelity he makes it a point to note that his affair was while his wifes cancer was in remission. As if that makes it better.

[TRFrance]

Can you imagine if he'd been on the ticket as the VP/running-mate when this story broke?

[Aquila]

well he needs to come out with it, he has been lying and hiding this for years, maybe his wife will get up the nerve to dump him and take that multi million dollar home away from pretty boy, lol, dt

God hates divorce. Hopefully they will weather this.

Remember...infedelity only allows for divorce....it doesn't demand it.

Besides...McCain did the same thing to his wife of 14 years. She was faithful to him the entire time he served in Vietnam. He comes home and womanizes, abandons his family, shacks up with "the other woman", and made her his new wife.

Funny thing I've noticed about affairs in politics...the Democrats have a better track record and mending afterwards.

[Dora]

He never struck me as "true blue." He's too cocky and arrogant. What jerk!

[Aquila]

Can you imagine if he'd been on the ticket as the VP/running-mate when this story broke?

He didn't make it that far. The Obama campaign decided to keep shopping after "disclosure". If approached, the Presidential candidate's campaign will ask the prospective VP if there's anything undisclosed that might hinder winning the race. Odds are Edwards disclosed this to Obama when they talked near the end of the Democratic Primary.

[TRFrance]

God hates divorce. Hopefully they will weather this.

Remember...infedelity only allows for divorce....it doesn't demand it.

Besides...McCain did the same thing to his wife of 14 years. She was faithful to him the entire time he served in Vietnam. He comes home and womanizes, abandons his family, shacks up with "the other woman", and made her his new wife.

Funny thing I've noticed about affairs in politics...the Democrats have a better track record and mending afterwards.
Oh brother.
I knew it was only a matter of time before someone would look to drag McCain into it.

This is not about John McCain, nor about Democrats/Republicans. This is about John Edwards.

[Aquila]

While I think his lies about this disqualifies Edwards from public office due to betrayal of the public trust; I think we should remember that he who is without sin should cast the first stone. After all....McCain's first wife of 14 years was faithful to him while he was away in Vietnam. When he came home he had multiple affairs and finally abandoned his family to marry the last floosey he was seeing. That's who he's married to right now.

[Aquila]

Oh brother.
I knew it was only a matter of time before someone would look to drag McCain into it.

This is not about John McCain, nor about Democrats/Republicans. This is about John Edwards.

It's about politicians and adultery. What makes me laugh...is that there are people here who swoo and nearly act faint at Edwards doing this, personally attack him, and even indicate that they hope his wife leaves him....yet they will defend and advocate voting for another adulterer. LOL

[rgcraig]

Can you imagine if he'd been on the ticket as the VP/running-mate when this story broke?

Didn't hurt Clinton when his story broke - :ursofunny

[Aquila]

Oh brother.
I knew it was only a matter of time before someone would look to drag McCain into it.

This is not about John McCain, nor about Democrats/Republicans. This is about John Edwards.

Oh...and you conveniently dodged the point I made. ;)

[CC1]

While I think his lies about this disqualifies Edwards from public office due to betrayal of the public trust; I think we should remember that he who is without sin should cast the first stone. After all....McCain's first wife of 14 years was faithful to him while he was away in Vietnam. When he came home he had multiple affairs and finally abandoned his family to marry the last floosey he was seeing. That's who he's married to right now.

McCain had a good reason though. That last "floosey" he was seeing that he married is worth somewhere around $100 million dollars!!!!!!!!:tease

[TRFrance]

Oh...and you conveniently dodged the point I made. ;)
I "conveniently dodged" nothing.

But yes, I ignored the point you made, because it is irrelevant to the topic at hand.

Somebody else might wish to argue with you about this, but I don't.

[Aquila]

I think I heard it once said that infedelity is the most unoriginal of sins. The American people seem to see men who struggle in this area as being human. It's no surprise to most when a man is revealed as having a weakness in this area. What I think will hurt him politically will be that he lied so vehemently about it while it was going on. Had he come out about it after having never denied it...well...people are forigiving. Lying about it makes it far worse. Also...he's wife has a terminal illness. I think most will see him as being absolutely HEARTLESS for doing this while his wife is dying (that might be why he included that she was in remission like it was somehow better). Those two things combined could destroy his career.

But here's something else that's bothering me about this....Russia is invading another country with bombers and tanks as we speak....bodies lay lifeless in the streets....and we're fixiated on Edwards and his zipper.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/08/georgia.ossetia/index.html

[Aquila]

McCain had a good reason though. That last "floosey" he was seeing that he married is worth somewhere around $100 million dollars!!!!!!!!:tease

DING DING DING

Show him what he won Bob!!!!!

[Aquila]

I "conveniently dodged" nothing.

But yes, I ignored the point you made, because it is irrelevant to the topic at hand.

Somebody else might wish to argue with you about this, but I don't.

Doged, ignored, "fled from"....those are all sematics.

Point is...you wouldn't dare not face the point I made. ;)

[CC1]

DING DING DING

Show him what he won Bob!!!!!

You also have ignored that McCain did all of that as a relatively young man who had just undegone over 5 years of torture in a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp.

No excuse but there were circumstances and he was psychologically changed from that experience. It took him some time to get his footing when he got back home.

Despite McCains behaviour those many years ago under those circumstances and despite the fact I have always not liked him he is still 100 times better than Barak Obama as a President.

[Tina]

Doged, ignored, "fled from"....those are all sematics.

Point is...you wouldn't dare not face the point I made. ;)

Take a hint, he's trying in a nice way to tell you to not take this thread off track like you have so many others. Just drop it or take it back to the election section and start another thread.

[Aquila]

Take a hint, he's trying in a nice way to tell you to not take this thread off track like you have so many others. Just drop it or take it back to the election section and start another thread.

We're talking about politicians and adultery right? Edwards is still the focus. But point is .... Edwards is no worse than the others...namely the Republian nominee.

[Aquila]

You also have ignored that McCain did all of that as a relatively young man who had just undegone over 5 years of torture in a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp.

I know POWs who were faithful to their wives. Some realize that they wouldn't have made it without their wife's faithful prayers.

No excuse but there were circumstances and he was psychologically changed from that experience. It took him some time to get his footing when he got back home.

Yes...I agree...McCain may very well have pyschological issues. I'm not convinced he ever really got "his footing".

Despite McCains behaviour those many years ago under those circumstances and despite the fact I have always not liked him he is still 100 times better than Barak Obama as a President.

One could argue that the stress of Edward's wife's condition and perhaps her inability to meet his needs were circumstances to consider in his case. I don't buy it though. I know men who's wives are sick and they're still faithful.

I disagree. I think McCain's policies will cause significant damage to this country. But hey...opinions are just opinions.

[HappyTown]

John Edwards admits he lied

Don't they all????:roseglasses

[JaneEyre]

Don't they all????:roseglasses

No, they don't all ADMIT it!

[TRFrance]

Take a hint, he's trying in a nice way to tell you to not take this thread off track like you have so many others. Just drop it or take it back to the election section and start another thread.
Thank you Tina.
Unfortunately, some folks are not good at taking hints.
:coffee2

[Praxeas]

While I think his lies about this disqualifies Edwards from public office due to betrayal of the public trust; I think we should remember that he who is without sin should cast the first stone. After all....McCain's first wife of 14 years was faithful to him while he was away in Vietnam. When he came home he had multiple affairs and finally abandoned his family to marry the last floosey he was seeing. That's who he's married to right now.
After all blah blah blah blah...you sound like a broken record. What does what McCain did or his wife being faithful have to do with "he that without sin cast the first stone"? Was McCain saying something about Edwards and his infidelity?

[Praxeas]

It's about politicians and adultery. What makes me laugh...is that there are people here who swoo and nearly act faint at Edwards doing this, personally attack him, and even indicate that they hope his wife leaves him....yet they will defend and advocate voting for another adulterer. LOL
Talk about theatrics. Who here was swoo (whatever that means) or nearly act faint? This thread has barely started good grief. there is no connection between McCain or Edwards in your posts. In fact isn't it funny that YOU brought up McCain months ago and his adultery and now someone brings up a Democrat with the same failure you are all of a sudden "Oh , let's not cast the first stone"

[Praxeas]

Oh...and you conveniently dodged the point I made. ;)
You didn't make a point. You posted two unconnected facts

[Praxeas]

McCain had a good reason though. That last "floosey" he was seeing that he married is worth somewhere around $100 million dollars!!!!!!!!:tease
Wait....are we talking about McCain or Kerry? ;)

[Praxeas]

I think I heard it once said that infedelity is the most unoriginal of sins. The American people seem to see men who struggle in this area as being human. It's no surprise to most when a man is revealed as having a weakness in this area. What I think will hurt him politically will be that he lied so vehemently about it while it was going on. Had he come out about it after having never denied it...well...people are forigiving. Lying about it makes it far worse. Also...he's wife has a terminal illness. I think most will see him as being absolutely HEARTLESS for doing this while his wife is dying (that might be why he included that she was in remission like it was somehow better). Those two things combined could destroy his career.

But here's something else that's bothering me about this....Russia is invading another country with bombers and tanks as we speak....bodies lay lifeless in the streets....and we're fixiated on Edwards and his zipper.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/08/georgia.ossetia/index.html
No, YOU are fixated on Edwards and his zipper....weird.

[Praxeas]

Doged, ignored, "fled from"....those are all sematics.

Point is...you wouldn't dare not face the point I made. ;)
WE faced it months ago the last time you mentioned it. Someone go to search and find how many times Mr Forgive and Forget has brought up McCain's adultery.:snapout

[Praxeas]

We're talking about politicians and adultery right? Edwards is still the focus. But point is .... Edwards is no worse than the others...namely the Republian nominee.
Who said he WAS worse? How come you don't keep saying McCain is no worse each and every time you repost again ad nauseum that he committed adultery? Seems like a double standard at work

[Praxeas]

Don't they all????:roseglasses
once they get caught yes, then they admit how profoundly sorry they are

[TRFrance]

...And last fall, in an interview with CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, Edwards himself cited infidelity as a character flaw voters might well count as disabling in a potential President:

"Of course. I mean, for a lot of Americans, including the family that I grew up with, I mean, it's, it's fundamental to how you judge people and human character - whether you keep your word, whether you keep what is your ultimate word, which is that you love your spouse, and you'll stay with them."
---------------------
...In 1999, when Edwards was a senator, he said of President Bill Clinton and his affair with Monica Lewinsky:

"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."
-----------
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/08/politics/main4333667.shtml

Funny how comments like these can come back and blow up in your face later.

[HappyTown]

No, they don't all ADMIT it!

He didn't really have a choice, he was caught! Big difference then admitting .

[HappyTown]

once they get caught yes, then they admit how profoundly sorry they are

Yep, I take no pleasure in this, I feel for the family, wife and kids, just once it be nice if these guys would really think about their family's in the heat of the moment instead of after the fact.

[Cindy]

Now he is saying the baby is not his. Hmmmmmmmm, the plot thickens. He is a liar and a cheater, but he is not da baby's daddy.:whistle

[Sam]

So, a politician and a presidential candidate was unfaithful to his wife. What's new? It happens all the time. Is it right? No, but it happens. Two recent presidents, John Kennedy and Bill Clinton, were notorious for being womanizers. No wonder the Hollywood crowd and the media loved them. They lived the life the Hollywood and media crowd is trying to promote.

[TRFrance]

Now he is saying the baby is not his. Hmmmmmmmm, the plot thickens. He is a liar and a cheater, but he is not da baby's daddy.:whistle
I think he is the baby's daddy. Even if the DNA test turns out that he's not the father, it seems obvious that he thought he was the father.

I mean, think about it: the Breck Boy wants us to believe he visited his ex-amour and her "love child" at 2 am despite the already-existing rumors, and the danger of public exposure... all this for a child he "knew" was not his!!?

As my grand-daddy used to say: Sorry; I was born at night... But not last night!

[Cindy]

I think he is the baby's daddy. Even if the DNA test turns out that he's not the father, it seems obvious that he thought he was the father.

I mean, think about it: the Breck Boy wants us to believe he visited his ex-amour and her "love child" at 2 am despite the already-existing rumors, and the danger of public exposure... all this for a child he "knew" was not his!!?

As my grand-daddy used to say: Sorry; I was born at night... But not last night!

That's what I was thinking about. He should have just stepped up and been a man about it.

[Sam]

I think he is the baby's daddy. Even if the DNA test turns out that he's not the father, it seems obvious that he thought he was the father.
...


He could do what the Clinton character did in that one movie (can't remember the name of it right now), and provide a DNA sample from somebody else and that would "prove" that he (the Breck boy) is not the father.

[Aquila]

He didn't really have a choice, he was caught! Big difference then admitting .

Very true.

What do you feel we should do with a high ranking official who has an affair, lies about it, and only admits to it after being caught?

[Aquila]

After all blah blah blah blah...you sound like a broken record. What does what McCain did or his wife being faithful have to do with "he that without sin cast the first stone"? Was McCain saying something about Edwards and his infidelity?

I'm just saying if you'll gladly vote for McAdultery, it's hypocritical to condemn or slander Edwayward.

[Dora]

Sort of disgusting that this other woman is waiting in the wings for Elizabeth Edwards to succomb to cancer, then step in and marry John the grieving widower. She has been paid off for work she was unqualified to do and set up in a million dollar home.

[aegsm76]

So, if the affair happened two years ago and the child is not his, why was he visiting them in a hotel room, NOW?
Do you think his wife would have let him visit this woman, if he had admitted to her about the affair?
I think there are still more facts to be disclosed.

[TRFrance]

His political career is over .

He's probably going to be still involved in various social causes, etc, but no one will ever elect him to any office after this, and I doubt he'd be given a position in an Obama administration.

[TRFrance]

Sort of disgusting that this other woman is waiting in the wings for Elizabeth Edwards to succomb to cancer, then step in and marry John the grieving widower. She has been paid off for work she was unqualified to do and set up in a million dollar home.

His wife has untreatable cancer, so it seems like its only a matter of time before she passes on. It would be interesting to see what he does then regarding this woman, if he is indeed the father. You could make the case that marrying her might be the responsible thing to do... but it would also have an unseemly look to it. Either way, the guy is in an extremely tough spot... and to think, it was all so avoidable.

But I found this NYPost story to be interesting, to say the least:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08092008/gossip/pagesix/edwards_blind_no_more_123646.htm

August 9, 2008 --
WE hate to say we told you so, and we normally never reveal the identities in our blind items, but in light of John Edwards' finally admitting he had an extramarital affair, we bring your attention to our "Just asking" item of Aug. 27, 2007: "WHICH political candidate enjoys visiting New York because he has a girlfriend who lives downtown? The pol tells her he'll marry her when his current wife is out of the picture." Top Democrats have been assiduously following the Edwards scandal and don't believe his denial, which was issued last year, before he was caught visiting Rielle Hunter in a Beverly Hills hotel. "Even his friends believe the Enquirer stories," said one source. But Edwards is said to be blind to the damage his reputation has suffered and to still be angling for a big White House job if Barack Obama is elected. "He is such an egomaniac, he thinks he can be attorney general," scoffed one source.

[Praxeas]

So, a politician and a presidential candidate was unfaithful to his wife. What's new? It happens all the time. Is it right? No, but it happens. Two recent presidents, John Kennedy and Bill Clinton, were notorious for being womanizers. No wonder the Hollywood crowd and the media loved them. They lived the life the Hollywood and media crowd is trying to promote.
The fact that "it happens all the time" should concern us. Rome followed the same pattern before it fell

[Praxeas]

I'm just saying if you'll gladly vote for McAdultery, it's hypocritical to condemn or slander Edwayward.
Wow...Mr Forgiveness is downright nasty.

BTW you can't see the difference?. McAdultery hasn't been hiding an affair and lying about it. Edwayward has

[RevDWW]

You do know how to tell when politicians are lying don't you?????




























There lips are moving!!!!! :ursofunny :ursofunny :ursofunny :ursofunny

[tstew]

Wow...Mr Forgiveness is downright nasty.

BTW you can't see the difference?. McAdultery hasn't been hiding an affair and lying about it. Edwayward has

Prax, the similarities are definitely there. Edwards cheating on his wife when she was terminally ill. McCain cheating on his wife and leaving her after she had a major car accident that affected her tremendously. I have read that he mentioned seeing more than one woman while he was married. Also the amount of time since could have a lot to do with McCain's age at this point. At the time in his life when he was doing these things he was much closer to Edward's age now. When guys get to yours and McCain's age, they tend to not be so prone :tease

[HappyTown]

Very true.

What do you feel we should do with a high ranking official who has an affair, lies about it, and only admits to it after being caught?

Not real sure, the fact is what John Edwards has done will not effect me personally, I'm not married to the man, nor am I one of his kids, close family member or a friend, he a stranger to me. So in that regards I will not partake in their embarrassment and shame that he brought upon the blameless victims.

Due to the fact he a public figure this would be made know, sadly the family not only must deal with what happen the public at large as well and the crucifixion beings then the questing, did his wife know, on and on, imaging trying to keep ones cool and making nice to the outward world. All the while your being tore apart inside your world your life has come to a halt, not enough you must deal with an unfaithful spouse, but the public as well????

I always cringe when I see these men come forward to make a public apologizes to the American people with the wife standing next to them as a show of support, looking like a deer caught in the headlights or kicked in the stomach, shock, hurt, disgrace... They go on about how much they love their wife, she my best friend, how sorry they are for the pain and hurt they've caused and brought about, and to us, we the people, you can see she thinking why then???

As I said John Edwards has not hurt me or brought shame into our home or my life for that matter, he should be making right with the ones he has rip the heat out of, his family, most of all his wife! This should be in private, not made a public affair for all to view, he needs to prove himself to her not I.

You think by now these men would realize this type of sin will be made know, found out, unfortunately this type of sin is nothing new under the sun, same ole, same ole no it wont end here with JW, history tends to repeats itself once more. They'll be another and another with their sorry speech to we the people and the wife!

As we the people wait for our next fix! Of damage goods!:coffee2

[Praxeas]

Prax, the similarities are definitely there. Edwards cheating on his wife when she was terminally ill. McCain cheating on his wife and leaving her after she had a major car accident that affected her tremendously. I have read that he mentioned seeing more than one woman while he was married. Also the amount of time since could have a lot to do with McCain's age at this point. At the time in his life when he was doing these things he was much closer to Edward's age now. When guys get to yours and McCain's age, they tend to not be so prone :tease
Nobody said there were no similarities. The problem is some can't discern the differences either. McCain got his already in this forum by Aquila...yet for some odd reason you bring up Edward's recent failings and Aquila is Mr Forgiveness and "let he that is without sin cast the first stone"...

[tstew]

Nobody said there were no similarities. The problem is some can't discern the differences either. McCain got his already in this forum by Aquila...yet for some odd reason you bring up Edward's recent failings and Aquila is Mr Forgiveness and "let he that is without sin cast the first stone"...

No, I understand what you are saying. I'm not sure that I personally have ever really discussed McCain's affair in any of our conversations about him. But just in my observations, people do tend to be so party or viewpoint oriented that they cannot compare apples to apples when the same thing is done by two people. If anyone was killing McCain for the nature of his affair, they should also be killing Edwards...but if anyone was very willing to overlook or accept McCain inspite of the nature of his affair, I don't think they should be killing Edwards. If we are willing to give McCain his political career in spite of, then perhaps the same should be extended to Edwards (and the million other politicians who have affairs. JMHO

[Praxeas]

No, I understand what you are saying. I'm not sure that I personally have ever really discussed McCain's affair in any of our conversations about him. But just in my observations, people do tend to be so party or viewpoint oriented that they cannot compare apples to apples when the same thing is done by two people. If anyone was killing McCain for the nature of his affair, they should also be killing Edwards...but if anyone was very willing to overlook or accept McCain inspite of the nature of his affair, I don't think they should be killing Edwards. If we are willing to give McCain his political career in spite of, then perhaps the same should be extended to Edwards (and the million other politicians who have affairs. JMHO
Im addressing Aquila here. He brought up McCain many times in the past and now that someone brings up Edwards he wants to talk about casting the first stone.

BTW I have no party affiliation and if I vote for McCain it will only be because the other choice was worse.

However there IS yet still a difference here in the two gentlemen. Edwards lied when confronted with it for a while now and is only admitting the fault because he was caught

[TRFrance]

No, I understand what you are saying. I'm not sure that I personally have ever really discussed McCain's affair in any of our conversations about him. But just in my observations, people do tend to be so party or viewpoint oriented that they cannot compare apples to apples when the same thing is done by two people. If anyone was killing McCain for the nature of his affair, they should also be killing Edwards...but if anyone was very willing to overlook or accept McCain inspite of the nature of his affair, I don't think they should be killing Edwards. If we are willing to give McCain his political career in spite of, then perhaps the same should be extended to Edwards (and the million other politicians who have affairs. JMHO
I hear u TStew, but there are 2 important distinctions to keep in mind.

1... McCain did what he did when he was still a relative unknown, before he ran for public office.

Edwards did this while a public figure, after having already served public office, having been a top contender for his party's presidential nomination, while still being a possible vp running mate for Obama or a leading candidate for a cabinet position in an Obama administration. Thus, he was already on the national stage, and had to have known the risks an extramarital affair would have on himself, his family, and the potential damage to his party. Taking this into consideration, this makes his sense of judgment even more questionable.

2... McCain did not lie about his past moral failings involving his first wife. He has been very forthright about it. (Interestingly, his 1st wife drives around with a McCain for President bumper sticker on the back of her SUV.)

However, John Edwards lied repeatedly about this when asked about his affair. He was given ample opportunity to clear the air and come clean on this, but he continued to deceive and obfuscate, since this scandal first started leaking in 2007. This seriously calls his character into question.

To me, only the most blatant of partisans would say Edwards' actions should not be a consideration when considering his fitness for public office.

[tstew]

I hear u TStew, but there are 2 important distinctions to keep in mind.

1... McCain did what he did when he was still a relative unknown, before he ran for public office.

Edwards did this while a public figure, after having already served public office, having been a top contender for his party's presidential nomination, while still being a possible vp running mate for Obama or a leading candidate for a cabinet position in an Obama administration. Thus, he was already on the national stage, and had to have known the risks an extramarital affair would have on himself, his family, and the potential damage to his party. Taking this into consideration, this makes his sense of judgment even more questionable.

2... McCain did not lie about his past moral failings involving his first wife. He has been very forthright about it. (Interestingly, his 1st wife drives around with a McCain for President bumper sticker on the back of her SUV.)

However, John Edwards lied repeatedly about this when asked about his affair. He was given ample opportunity to clear the air and come clean on this, but he continued to deceive and obfuscate, since this scandal first started leaking in 2007. This seriously calls his character into question.

To me, only the most blatant of partisans would say Edwards' actions should not be a consideration when considering his fitness for public office.

I certainly agree that Edward's actions should be a consideration when considering his fitness for public office. I just feel that it should be considered equally for everybody. You almost can't turn on the news these days without hearing about a politician in this situation. I'm pretty much equally as fed up with the whole lot of them.
Personally I don't know enough about McCain's story to know exactly when he became forthright about his affair (was it before or after he had moved on with the other lady anyway). I do know that for many years people thought that he and his first wife were still together when in fact they were not and that his handling of the situation put him on the outs with the Reagans and many other people in the party. I have also read of there being some impropriety in his documentation of the actual dates of his divorce and his timetable of events. Either way I'm just talking about balance.

[TRFrance]

Well, this story continues to take interesting twists and turns.
Now , the mother said she will not get a paternity test done-not now, not ever... even though Edwards said Friday he was going to get one done .

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/08/09/2008-08-09_john_edwards_exmistress_wont_get_a_pater.html

Why would she refuse to take a paternity test if he wants one?

[Old Paths]

Well, this story continues to take interesting twists and turns.
Now , the mother said she will not get a paternity test done-not now, not ever... even though Edwards said Friday he was going to get one done .

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/08/09/2008-08-09_john_edwards_exmistress_wont_get_a_pater.html

Why would she refuse to take a paternity test if he wants one?



EXTRA martial affairs?


:oops

[Sam]

...
Why would she refuse to take a paternity test if he wants one?

Could be a couple of reasons:

1) Maybe John Edwards is not the father but if she can get him to think he is, he could be a good source of revenue. He is wealthy and has access to taxpayers' dollars to keep funding her.

2) She might also be able to get a couple of other guys to think that they might be the father and she could shake them down also.

[TRFrance]

Could be a couple of reasons:

1) Maybe John Edwards is not the father but if she can get him to think he is, he could be a good source of revenue. He is wealthy and has access to taxpayers' dollars to keep funding her.

2) She might also be able to get a couple of other guys to think that they might be the father and she could shake them down also.

From what I've been seeing, I think right now the conventional wisdom is leaning toward choice 3:

3) He is the father, and they both know it, but by her refusing to do a DNA test, Edwards will have some plausible deniability. He can say "I wanted to do it, but she refused". His supporters can then say "Yes he cheated, but you cant prove he fathered a child out of wedlock".

But at this point, it doesn't matter. Politically, the man is toast. Actually, what's the level below toast?

[Sam]

John Edwards probably will not be Obama's VP in this election.
He may have to wait until 2012 to run again for president.

[TRFrance]

John Edwards probably will not be Obama's VP in this election.
He may have to wait until 2012 to run again for president.
I don't think he could even get elected president of the local PTA, much less President of the USA.

I have no animosity toward the man on a personal level. I think this is all kinda sad.
But poliitcally, stick a fork in him...He's quite done.

[Sam]

If this woman was paid from campaign funds, and received financial benefits from campaign funds:
Is there any requirement for her to forfeit or pay back anything she got from those funds?
Does John Edwards have to pay back anything he spent on her from those funds?
Are people who donated (or were forced to donate through union dues, etc) going to be reimbursed for funds that were misspent?
Will John Edwards and those on his staff face any formal charges of fraud or something like that for spending funds on personal use or for how these expenses were covered up?
Or is that just considered politics as usual?

[Praxeas]

If this woman was paid from campaign funds, and received financial benefits from campaign funds:
Is there any requirement for her to forfeit or pay back anything she got from those funds?
Does John Edwards have to pay back anything he spent on her from those funds?
Are people who donated (or were forced to donate through union dues, etc) going to be reimbursed for funds that were misspent?
Will John Edwards and those on his staff face any formal charges of fraud or something like that for spending funds on personal use or for how these expenses were covered up?
Or is that just considered politics as usual?
Only if they had a legal contract, even then Im not sure how that would fly in court.

[TRFrance]

At this point, we don't even need a DNA test.

All we have to do is sit back and see who's making payments for the next 18 years.

Like they say: "just follow the money".