Edwards admits to extramarital affair

Hey Republicans,

"The story is false," he told reporters. "It's completely untrue, ridiculous."

-John Edwards reply to National Enquirer (Associate Press)

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE IT. REJOICE !

Oh PLEASE let's not pretend that this kind of scandal only plagues one particular political party or the other. Skirt-chasing is an equal-opportunity sport among politicians--as is lying.

That doesn't make it okay--but it doesn't make it particularly remarkable or surprising either.

What's newsworthy here is the hypocrisy of someone with ambitions to lead the country, who says, "Judge me on my character," hoping all the time that no one will find out this nasty little secret.

Another newsworthy aspect, I believe, will be the coming revelations that Edwards' "confession" of today is not only incomplete, but probably contians a few more lies as well.

If he didn't come completely clean today, he's sure gonna wish he had.

Why shouldn't Edwards lie like the rest of the politicians.

I doubt if there is a politician anywhere who hasn't lied to their constiguents.

I know for a fact that bush and cheney have done so.

He learned this from Bill Clinton.

next time Edwards just needs to say.... "Eatin ain't cheatin" and he'll get off scott free , just like Bend Over Bill Clinton did.

According to you. And what nonsense you speak.

Wow! Death penalty for infidelity! You may have stumbled upon the answer to our energy problems. Once all the adulters are killed, our population will be cut in half at least!

WOW...Steve. who are you the pope?. And I bet that he is even having some of those Nun punana. Don't you guy remember what Jesus said, Let him who is without sin throw the first rock. Even thought I don't believe in those B.S. but we are all human some stronger than other.......and for all your information i do not care about Democrat or Republican in the White House they all smell the same.

hey! let the guy blow some steam, judge and jury! LOL

"You may have stumbled upon the answer to our energy problems. Once all the adulters are killed, our population will be cut in half at least!"

Sarcasm or not on your part, I wouldn't object. I'm very much not the religious type (atheist), but I do hold infidelity as one of the more major problems. Leads to general mistrust of even those who are innocent, which leads children to be raised in bad environments which lead to everything from theft to violence to more infidelity. I don't consider it a gateway crime, as it doesn't just lead to theft on the part of the individual or any such thing, but it leads to environment which affects future generations that does open a gateway for other problems. If you can't trust your own spouse then who CAN you trust?

I don't know about steam, the death penalty, or creative answers to our energy problems, but I do know that the Democrats were all enthusiastic at Edwards as their Democratic Poster Child for VP. I'm sending roasted CROW express mail to the DNC.

I AGREE!!! We have a SICK society.

Beckwolf, yes obviously sarcasm, just a little humor to break the tension. While I agree that infidelity is NOT a good thing and it is NOT to be excused, I do think it is a very personal issue. I don't think we do the family any favors by crucifying him on a national stage.

Just my opinion as I have no facts to back it up, but I don't think infidelity alone is to blame for the issues you site. I think that dishonest people are generally more likely to cheat, but I don't think that means that people who cheat are necessarily dishonest in other aspects of their lives. Maybe, maybe not. I've simply seen too many instances in which I have jumped to judge others when I had no idea the issues they were facing. Does it make it right? Of course not, but perhaps it makes it a little more understandable.

Now, let's say that this is his 47th affair and he has left a trail of emotional destruction in his wake, then we have a horse of a different color. But, at this point we don't know that, nor again, in my opinion do we need to.

We should cue up that old song "I'm half the man I use to be..." because if that was my husband making whoope with some skank while I was battling cancer he would be speaking in a more squeaky voice when I finished with him.
I must say that the fact that other politicians have done/will commit similar acts of adultery does not make it ok or acceptable. It takes a bigger man to keep his pants on and stay faithful to his woman than to screw around. Our society has succeeded in making the word 'love' a noun rather than what it was meant to be: a verb. Love is a commitment ....yes there are feeling that accompany love but feeling can change based on how you feel when you wake up. Love is a commitment to seek someone else's good and remain faithful to them regardless of times when you don't feel like it or times when they aren't at their best. Secondly, giving in to every desire is hedonistic and deadly (anyone looked at recent U.S. stats for sexually transmitted disease?). What about the ripple effects that indulging in selfish pleasure has on family and society???? It's time for men and women to step up and take commitments seriously and consider the consequences of our actions. Wake up folks!!!

Sooo typical gays are "evil" and it "says so in the bible" yeah in the same sentence with adultry everytime but hey thats happen since noah so its not a big deal um yeah like gay people being on this earth. Seems like everyone is doing something from those snippets in the bible so I guess no housing recession in hell.

C'Mon, STEVE, "any man or woman who would cheat on their spouse doesn't deserve to live?" Well, maybe that explains why Martin Luther King was shot. J. Edgar Hoover had his motel rooms bugged looking for meetings with "communists" but all he came up with was bed springs squeaking, heavy breathing and squeals of pleasure. Which prompted him to comment, "Why, this guy's just a tom cat." Then JFK, the fastest zipper behind the beltway was shot. Then his brother, who bedded Marilyn Monroe after Johnny Fitz was through with her. Maybe you are right. Go figure.

you protest too loudly why?

Steve, If you are not married, don't get married. If you already are, get a divorce. There is more than one way to be unfaithful to a spouse and, with an attitude of "If they cheat, kill 'em" you are living in a danger zone.

I am always amazed at the degree of hatred and ugliness people are capable of when they are hidden behind a screen of anonymity.

You find it so easy to castigate Mr. Edwards and wish to hasten his mortal end and yet nothing is said of the poor, victimized Miss Hunter. She was obviously screwing around with a fair assortment of Edwards campaign workers. Wonder what her motive was? People cheat on their spouses. Infidelity is not the strick domain of one political party or another. John Edwards had an affair. He was a fool. And, as a public figure, we have a right to know about his dalliances. But what happens beyond the voting booth is none of our business. How many other stalwarts of the halls of congress have trouble staying vertical? More than you could begin to imagine, no doubt. Most of them manage to keep their illicit affairs quiet except, perhaps, to a spouse and their staff.

This is a non-story but for people who have a need to try to trash others in order to boost their own sense of self-esteem. Let it go.

What a two-timing, lying sack of @#%&! Any man or woman who would cheat on their spouse under any circumstances doesn't deserve to live.

Spoken like a true Imam. You support Sha'aria law?

I don't agree with infidelity, and then to lie about it, but.... Obama SCARES me too! I'd vote for Edwards over Obama any day!

Jan/Mabel, ok, so it's then alright to cheat with Cindy one week after he got home to his second wife?

C'mon Jan, the guy is a LIAR. And you would like him to be President? Where is this country headed?

Jan/Mabel, ok, so it's then alright to cheat with Cindy one week after he got home to his second wife?

Well, Edwards as the Democratic lead on the ticket would have been better for the Republicans, because Mr. Edwards is a lawyer who hasn't really practiced. Lawyers are generally brilliant at politics because they know how to bulls*** their way through anything. But since Edwards didn't really practice, this bit of talent didn't exactly get polished with Mr. Edwards. And now he's got a baby-mama. Man, this would have been a slam-dunk win for McCain if Edwards had been kept on the ticket. Shame on you, John! Saving this kind of juicy tidbit for "after" you were out of the running.... Now, what are we going to tend to? How many times Barack and wife Michelle bump fists? How boring...

Infidelity? I'd take that over the freaking terrorist loving, racist pile of crap that's currently running under the Democratic ticket!

#7-6 Lkessler

this would have been a slam-dunk win for McCain if Edwards had been kept on the ticket.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The wife U.S. Republican John McCain callously left behind
(McCain's first wife said:) 'My marriage ended because John McCain didn't want to be 40, he wanted to be 25. You know that happens...it just does.'

Some of McCain's acquaintances are less forgiving, however. They portray the politician as a self-centred womaniser who effectively abandoned his crippled wife to 'play the field'. They accuse him of finally settling on Cindy, a former rodeo beauty queen, for financial reasons.

But setting out to have a good time, the young McCain hung out with a group of young officers who called themselves the 'Bad Bunch'.

His primary interest was women and his conquests ranged from a knife-wielding floozy nicknamed 'Marie, the Flame of Florida' to a tobacco heiress.

McCain has acknowledged that he had girlfriends during this time, without going into details. Some friends blame his dissatisfaction with Carol, but others give some credence to her theory of a mid-life crisis.

In 1979 – while still married to Carol – he met Cindy at a cocktail party in Hawaii. Over the next six months he pursued her, flying around the country to see her. Then he began to push to end his marriage.

Ted Sampley, who fought with US Special Forces in Vietnam and is now a leading campaigner for veterans' rights, said: 'I have been following John McCain's career for nearly 20 years. I know him personally. There is something wrong with this guy and let me tell you what it is – deceit.

'When he came home and saw that Carol was not the beauty he left behind, he started running around on her almost right away. Everybody around him knew it.

'Eventually he met Cindy and she was young and beautiful and very wealthy. At that point McCain just dumped Carol for something he thought was better.

'This is a guy who makes such a big deal about his character. He has no character. He is a fake. If there was any character in that first marriage, it all belonged to Carol.'

But Ross Perot, who paid her medical bills all those years ago, now believes that both Carol McCain and the American people have been taken in by a man who is unusually slick and cruel – even by the standards of modern politics.

'McCain is the classic opportunist. He's always reaching for attention and glory,' he said.

'After he came home, Carol walked with a limp. So he threw her over for a poster girl with big money from Arizona. And the rest is history.'

Jan 318400, you should be scared of obama. Read his books. Read books of people who have spent the time and money to investigate him. Very scary, could very well be a home grown terrorist. His frineds and associates are all involved in terrorism, hate for america, bombing and killing americans, This guy could wind up hurting us more than osama bin laden has. One of his comments in his book was that if it gets too tough here ina maerica, he will go running to the muslims for help

I agree and I'm a Republican. As far as the cheating on his wife I think it's wrong but he certainly isn't the only one that has ever done it. If his wife forgives him it's none of our business. It just bothers me how easily politicians (Democrat or Republican) can look into a camera and cry and lie soooooooo easily. That scares me

I would rather have anyone running for President than Obama ( I can not stand his wife ) but I feel bad for Edwards and his wife. This kind of thing hurts so bad and to have to answer to it in the press is hard and they have faced so many other tragic things in their lives ...my heart goes out to Elizabeth. John should be ashamed of himself. I too hope this is the end of it and there are no future DNA surprises.

I am wondering if I missed something here. He has said the affair occurred in 2006 and he told his family about it in 2006. I would think that after being forgiven by my wife, I wouldn't be caught dead with the same woman I had an affair with back in 2006, later in 2008. May be it's just me, but the very least of my conditions for forgiving my cheating spouse would include him avoiding the other woman like the plague. Elizabeth, as I recall, was not aware the cancer had returned back in 2006. She does know now and all of us know it is incurable. If what he euphemistically referred to as a "liaison" proves to be still in progress, that would be beyond repugnant - to Elizabeth, to his children, to the memory of his dead son - and I don't care if he's democrat, republican or martian.

and now a narcissistic adulterer who had his affair WHILE HIS WIFE WAS HOME ALONE BATTLING TERMINAL CANCER! That's the Democrat Party in a nutshell for you.

Actually, his wife was on an extended book tour at the time of the affair. JE is a handsome man, and I'm sure he's had to throw off the advances of many, many women. This young woman got him while he was vulnerable. But as a public man he should have known better. This is an issue between his wife, the woman and himself- not the whole democratic party.

Randy Yeiter....You have that right and everyone I talk to says the same!!

Comment to Randy Yeiter:

You mean the way they are (not) reporting on McCain and all his lies that he is spreading in his newest of attack ads?? Is that what you are talking about. His own party is chastising him on them. His mother even says they are STUPID. The press as usuall nothing. Where is the pouncing!?? He is a Republican isn't he?? He is trying to be a conservative too LOL. And like a good little brainwashed Republican, you believe all of it don't you?? Be careful what you wish for. Still interested??

"I'm more interested in knowing why the press failed to report on this several weeks ago? If this had been a Republican or conservative they would have pounced on the story."

You already know why, you stated the answer yourself just there.

To Randy Yeiter: Actually Republican Congressman Foley's indiscretion with numerous page BOYS wasn't reported for many months or years. (Remember the talk was that everyone in Washington knew about Republican Congressman Foley's homosexual tendencies for YOUNG BOY interns, but no one reported it?)
And also Republican Senator Larry Craig's homosexual foot tapping bathroom stall incident wasn't reported until two months after the fact.
There is no media bias. It's an i-l-l-u-s-i-o-n.

I get so tired of hearing both sides complain about media biases. Maybe if you did your own research, and quit taking what is spoon fed to you by what you consider to be a "right or left winged media," you would be more satisfied with the news you recieve, and maybe, just maybe, come up with an original thought or opinion. The truth is, most people only want to hear what they believe to be true, so they watch the news source that caters to their own biases, and spend the rest of their day complaining that the other media sources are "quacks." There is such a wealth of knowledge available in the world, that if your unsatisfied with the news you recieve, it is attributed soley to your own laziness.

Speaking of media bias I have a great article I seeded that everyone who thinks there is a media bias needs to read.

Desperate, etal.

Name calling is against Newsvine's CoH and User Agreement. Please click on the two links below to review.

I'd like to know why anybody buys these books or the tabloids. I don't. I'm not feeding these creeps any of my hard earned money. Besides, I don't care what their story is or what their hardship was/is or anything else about them.

Boy! You hit the nail on the head here!

It is hard to understand why these well educated, seemingly, "have everything" men cannot use the right head to do their thinking.

The democrats have ammunition Digital. John McCain had an affair with present wife while married to his former wife. Former wife was in an auto accident while he was a POW and when he returned he found her a disabled woman four inches shorter and much heavier. He then entered into an affair with wife #2 Cindy who is extremely wealthy and eventually divorced disabled wife and married the wealthy wife Cindy. Google that!

Jan/Mabel, ok, so it's then alright to cheat with Cindy one week after he got home to his second wife?

"Republicans are setting up the hype wagon as we speak about this one."

Well, hype would be overstating. All they need to do is state the facts and step back, it would work even better for them than trying to throw in emotion. Letting the people react for themselves in these situations keeps others from being able to blame the Republicans for fueling the issue. And of course McCain's actions from years ago will be brought out to detract from actions of the present. On the plus side there for the Republicans with THAT reaction, it's REALLY easy to call the Democrats hypocrites for trying to use McCain's affair as a reason to not vote for him. Now when they try to brush off Edwards and his actions by saying McCain did it too and it's no big deal, we should just focus on more important issues, they can point fingers and cry "hypocrites" since the Democrats have slammed McCain for it left and right. Pretty substantial proof that people base their morals only on actions of politicians and which ones they support, as already people who attacked McCain for an affair are shrugging off Edwards' affair as just "being human, oh well."

If America has any hope of remaining a Christian nation, the dems had better not win the whitehouse.

Infanticide, higher taxes (for what), global taxation (this means every one of us has an increased tax liability of about $2000! Don't we pay enough already for mostly nothing?

Dems support more and more violations of our Constitution! See the FISA bill, read it and understand it.

Our government now has the authority to fly over your home, your business and sneak a peek right inside of the building! This should be interesting if you are involved in making love to your wife or girlfriend, don't you agree....

Agreed, I was an Edwards supporter too. This is disgusting.

Who are you to judge him or anybody else for that matter? I supported him with Kerry as well as this year. I am proud I did. He said what was the truth but the press only could talk about his hair cuts. I guess we can't expect anything else since there really a free press as it once was. Since ALL the press and Media is owned by a small hand full of republicans. How do think the shrub was able to steal it twice. Wake up America before it is too late. I am loyal to Edwards and I wish he had won. My heart goes out to Elizabeth but she is the only person that can have any say, period. Please don't fall for the republicans that are saying they are shocked etc. this has nothing to do with all the major issues in this country, I guess Bush couldn't find a quickie that could put up with Neuman face.
Remember they will do anything to get McBush in the WH. Americans seem to only remember Sex scandles. How pathetic

He judged himself. He made a bunch of noise about how his character was his main qualification for being president. If he hadn't bragged about his wonderfulness as husband and father, this wouldn't be such an issue.

He did it to himself. Not unique, not surprising, nothing new--but that doesn't make it right.

You should feel the same toward our black candidate...he supports infanticide to the ultimate degree....no limits and his wife is even more brash than he.

He who lives in glass houses........ Are you shocked because it hits home. I feel sorry for you and those like you of both parties. I bet they all say they are good chritians to boot. LOL All I feel is extreme pity.

he'll just give her another box of twinkies, and she'll be fine.

There is no true reason why a man whose wife suffers from chronic illness, or remains barren, or has gradually become too old for him, should not take a second.

"There is no true reason why a man whose wife suffers from chronic illness, or remains barren, or has gradually become too old for him, should not take a second."

If that is your belief, is it okay then for wives whose husbands suffer from impotence to be allowed another husband as well? The wedding vows say "for better or for worse, in sickness and in health".

Jan/Mabel, ok, so it's then alright to cheat with Cindy one week after he got home to his second wife?

"Jan/Mabel, ok, so it's then alright to cheat with Cindy one week after he got home to his second wife?"

Nope...but how does that make Edwards' actions even the least bit better? This guy did it too, so it's not a big deal? Using the actions of one to detract from the other is nothing more that manipulation. Separate people, separate issues, and each deserves equal treatment. Both are scum for their actions, or both are just being human. Can't have it both ways.

The vows mean nothing if they are not taken in faith. We cannot expect someone to one day vow something, and then to, a ways along the road and finding himself in a very difficult predicament, still hold the vows that seem so foolish now. The vows are intentionally designed to attempt to circumvent this problem, but indeed, they only offer a shallow barrier against it. Pledging allegiance to a nation means nothing after the nation is no more.

To your question, yes.

DataXanon apparently does not understand the definition of a vow. A pledge is different also.

oh Lighten up everyone it is only sex at least he stayed with her!

I understand very well the difference, child. And what I have said above holds true for all cases where a vow, pledge, or promise is given. The weight given to them is subjective, and totally conditioned by the one swearing to them. Thus, if one day they declare said vow, pledge, etc. not worth upholding, then that is all; it is finished. A promise or any variation of it will only be followed so long as the one swearing it has willful desire to uphold it. And they wield such power strictly because it is they who agreed to it, and contently it is they who can choose whether of not to uphold it. The degradation of their trustworthiness will likely follow, but in many cases, that should be of little concern.

Would the reader kindly substitute "consequently" for "contently" and "or" for "of" in my above post.

Spoken as a very angry woman. Does this hit too close to home? Keep your trap closed unless it is your husband.

Wow, Lana, "keep your trap closed"--you must hear a lot of brutal, sexist language aimed at you all day long to come here and say that to another woman. I don't think the commentor above is the one who's having problems with her husband.

Feel free to defend Edwards (non-existent) honor all you like; but if you can't do so without attacking everyone on the board who disagrees with you, then maybe that's a sign that he has no defense.

Secularism, liberalism - this is what America is becoming more and more each passing day and with that comes all the finite heartaches that we used to take so seroiusly and for granted, "until death do we part," because now it is o.k. to be adulterous, to be a murderer and run for the highest office in the nation, to be a liar, to be anything but moral, ethical, honest, responsible and have values. The nation will suffer horribly if we keep on this track and if we elect the black candidate whom, has many ghosts to hide too.

Jan, you mean like McCain?, finding how second wife was somewhat disabled, going after Cindy, one week after getting home?

"Jan, you mean like McCain?, finding how second wife was somewhat disabled, going after Cindy, one week after getting home?"

Yep...now how does that make Edwards' actions any better, just because McCain did it too? Detracting from the CURRENT problem.

I have a hard time understandng why women, particularly those who know the man is married, would do this to another family? I often wonder what they would feel or if they would feel, if their husband had an affair, I wonder how their children feel knowing their mother is involved with another other than their dad or their dad with another woman?

I guess the adulterer must not feel anything except wanting their own, personal gratification at whatever costs and no matter whom it hurts.

This is really a wonderful lesson to teach our youth isn't it? This is really what we want our nation to become, secular, liberal, non-caring, etc.? I hope not.

McCain already did it

Chuck , I think it was $2500 and his "disney boy" look was cut on an airplane.

Lets look at few quotes:

"I did not inhale" WJ Clinton

"I lusted in my heart" J. Carter

"I did not have (that kind of stuff) relations with Ms. Lewinski" WJ Clinton

NO THIS CUTE GEM FROM A FORMER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE AND NOW VP CANDIDATE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. KEEP IT COMING. MAKES FOR GREAT DISCUSSIONS.

OK boys, so the republican talking heads got to you. You pretend that only Democrats do these things, you of course are wrong. I don't think you are his wife so why not keep you big mouth closed. By the way, you numbers are wrong. Gee I am SHOCKED !! Maybe you are just jealous

See my above comment re: your hostile personal attacks on commentors. Directing rage at other commentors doesn't do anything for Edwards, and just puts you on everyone's ignore list, starting with mine.

Had it been a Republican the indiscretion would have been with a young boy intern or another man in a bathroom stall. It seems that the always morally correct Republicans tend to be pedifiles and homosexuals, ironic isn't it?

No, you just named the opening act for the DNC.

Wateve-just like liberals are for the good of mankind...ironic?

Jan/Mabel, ok, so it's then alright to cheat with Cindy one week after he got home to his second wife?

Hey Wateva,

Don't use words you can't spell!

To Miss bbagwell: My spelling may not be the best, but my facts are spot on. Who are you, the spelling police?

" I began denying my mother's color when I was....Dreams of My Father;
"If politics go badly for me, I shall return to the Muslims, paraphrased; Audacity of Hope
I support FISA because........whoops, more privacy invasion and watching;
I support killing, but I am a Christian..........
Involved with a homo year ago......................
Higher taxes for......................
I support and sponsor the Global Tax Act.......................
I support immigration and give them everything free.....................
I support taking away the rights of the churches........................

Many paraphrased here, but these are just some of the things the DEMS are saying...

I can also list those that the Republicans are saying too, not a whole lot better, but at least, not murder...........let us vote third party and get some relief, well, maybe.

What part of Cheating and having an affair is being honest?

Dirty old rotten men! We can only be thankful that women never cheat on their husbands.

"Why can't men keep it in their pants. I'm a breast cancer survivor myself and my husband cheated on me too"

Hey, don't stereotype the rest of us because some guys are dishonest traitors. Yeesh, people like him aren't the majority.

A good assessment of the situation and accepted behavior for men (and women) in power and sometimes those who are not....but what kind of women would you trust in your arms for a night of passion if you were married.....does anyone think? This man is in this position because he was voted into it by not only back slapping men but women such as his wife.....and that is what makes this mess not ok.......as if having cancer was not bad enough for his wife now she has this to face.....and "I am sorry" just doesn't seem to be an acceptable answer. You evidently have not been on the receiving end of such behavior or else your answer would be a little more intelligent and compassionate. The thinking that such behavior is typical of guys (or typical women, too) sickens me and is wrong to many of us who are bound to marriage vows. Please think of us when you are ready to ruin our lives with such thoughtless behavior. If you can stand before God and say "I do" then you can say "no Thank you", too, when faced with temptation. Don't show such stupidity and pass it off as being "typical".