John Edwards: Another Fallen Politician

August 11, 2008 3:30 pm     Posted in Buzz, News  Jordan- University of Miami g+ page

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By Jordan

As the Olympics began this past Friday night and many Americans were joined together in front of TV screens to cheer for Team USA, ABC’s Nightline took some of the spotlight away with a revealing interview with Senator John Edwards to discuss his confession to an extramarital affair that he had previously denied. He admitted that he had outwardly lied about his affair with 44 year-old Rielle Hunter, shaking up his image as a devoted husband and family man. John Edwards claims it was a short liaison with Hunter in 2006, and, though he had told his wife not long after, he has been keeping the story under wraps.

The host of Nightline had no qualms about digging deep into Edwards’ motives:

WOODRUFF: Your wife, Elizabeth, is probably the most admired and beloved person in this country, she’s had enormous sympathy because she’s also gone through cancer, how could you have done this?

Not really an easy question to answer. Edwards didn’t do the greatest job of answering it, either. He starts off informing Woodruff that she was actually in remission during the affair, which he states was obviously no excuse (well, of course not). Edwards did make a good point that he, like many other politicians/CEOs/people of inflated power and stature have, fell prey to egotism, narcissism, and overall self-importance which led him to act like he was beyond the acceptable moral code of society.

The interview continued with his denial of being the father of Hunter’s child and that he was photographed with her baby (though his language presents an “answer” but still seems to kind of get out of it). He also denies that he was paying any hush money to Hunter (even though evidence suggests otherwise).

Seriously though, extramarital affairs in politics are becoming the DUI of Hollywood. It’s not too long ago that news about previous New Jersey governor McGreevey disclosing his gay affair was released, or we were being bombarded by the media about former New York governor Spitzer and his link to a prostitution ring. At least John Edwards didn’t have his wife stand awkwardly beside him as he told all.

As a public figure, there needs to be a little more thought that goes into one’s actions. Politicians and celebrities are considered role models, and though I know “we are all human and make mistakes,” lying about an affair to the American public (who would be voting for you, endorsing you, entrusting you with political affairs) on top of actually having one is pretty skeezy. I’m sure you are recalling Bill Clinton’s “I did not have sexual relations with that woman!” statement, and, interestingly, John Edwards condemned Bill Clinton’s behavior as irresponsible previously. Strange how the world works.

Nightline‘s Woodruff also threw this out on his show:

WOODRUFF: Do you think your political career is completely over?

EDWARDS: I’m not sure I had a political career for the future anyway. I’m not sure that politics was what I wanted to spend my life doing.

Right… but you were running for the Democratic presidential candidacy and were considered for/probably excited about possibly getting a vice-presidential nod or Cabinet position. Good thing this came out before he would have gotten to the White House.

So, what are your thoughts?

[You can read parts of the Nightline transcript here.]

10 Comments on "John Edwards: Another Fallen Politician"

  1. rose says:
    Mon, 11th Aug 200811:49 am 

    I think we all get what we deserve. Elizabeth Edwards knew about her husband's affairs back in 2006. If she'd told John the fact that the affair would come out sometime (as Rielle Hunter had told many people plus she was pregnant later), then the 1/3 of Iowa voters who were duped by John Edwards would have helped put Hillary on top. Elizabeth Edwards drank the koolaid (like Hillary Clinton did when Bill dated Jennifer Flowers as governor for 12 years!) and refused to call her husband on his infidelities. Now, Elizabeth is stuck in the lies of John and all the after-effects. Elizabeth's power-drunk quest for power with John left out the later feelings of three innocent victims who will forever be scarred by this enabled betrayal: the Edwards' young chidren. God help Elizabeth's soul!

  2. Cecca says:
    Mon, 11th Aug 200812:13 pm 

    I'm going to say the same thing about this that I said when Clinton got caught: I could give a damn. As long as your affairs aren't affecting your policies in any way, shape, or form, boff whichever consenting adult you please. His marriage isn't our business; his politics are.

  3. Jo - University of M says:
    Mon, 11th Aug 200812:43 pm 

    I agree that affairs and politics are not related at all (John McCain had an affair in his first marraige, so did Rudy Giuliani, etc.), but when you outwardly LIE about it to the public, there is a certain trust that is broken.

  4. J - NYU says:
    Mon, 11th Aug 200812:49 pm 

    I just can't over the fact that these male politicians can't keep it in their pants.

    HOW HARD IS IT?

  5. J - NYU says:
    Mon, 11th Aug 200812:50 pm 

    …ew, I made a gross double entendre without realizing.

  6. Jo - University of M says:
    Mon, 11th Aug 200812:54 pm 

    LOL I definitely enjoyed the double entendre

  7. snarktastic says:
    Mon, 11th Aug 20081:48 pm 

    edwards is a scumbag, end of story. i don't really know why the world needs to know about politicians' marital affairs, but he's just scummy and this further establishes my point.

    rose, are you ripping on elizabeth edwards for john's infidelity? classy like saturday morning.

    and that double entendre is amazing.

  8. Cecca says:
    Mon, 11th Aug 20083:23 pm 

    @ Jo: The thing is, you *have* to lie because the public won't accept that it's none of our darn business. If he'd been upfront with it, his career would have been ruined ages ago, because people wouldn't be able to believe that he was walking about, talking about his affair, just as brazen as you please. A happy, faithful marriage is the only romantic situation acceptable to most of the American public. There may have been a trust broken, but we didn't need to put *our* trust in his fidelity in the first place. What happens in John and Elizabeth's marriage is between John and Elizabeth.

  9. Jo - University of M says:
    Mon, 11th Aug 20084:19 pm 

    @Cecca: I totally agree that it really is none of our business, but unfortunately it has become such a huge part of determining a candidate. Religion is a factor, sexuality, etc. It's common that not only the issues are important, but the character of the person, as well. It happens a lot in business, too. I agree with you that it shouldn't be a factor, but it is, and politicians know it is and he used his persona as a "family man" and a "devoted husband" and condemned Bill Clinton's behavior publicly to boost his image to the public. I think if image/values/character were not used to sway votes by politicians and it was strictly issues, it wouldn't matter at all, but when politicians put their personal lives out there to promote themselves, if something goes wrong, it can hurt them, too. Unfortunately, it comes with the territory. I wish that it could only be about the issues! But when it's not, people get upset when the person they trust lies :

  10. Kaley says:
    Mon, 11th Aug 20084:33 pm 

    wow, rose, let's blame it on elizabeth. good plan.

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