Elizabeth Edwards Statement On Affair

Text of Elizabeth Edwards' statement about husband's admission of affair:

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Our family has been through a lot. Some caused by nature, some caused by human weakness, and some most recently caused by the desire for sensationalism and profit without any regard for the human consequences. None of these has been easy. But we have stood with one another through them all. Although John believes he should stand alone and take the consequences of his action now, when the door closes behind him, he has his family waiting for him.

John made a terrible mistake in 2006. The fact that it is a mistake that many others have made before him did not make it any easier for me to hear when he told me what he had done. But he did tell me. And we began a long and painful process in 2006, a process oddly made somewhat easier with my diagnosis in March of 2007. This was our private matter, and I frankly wanted it to be private because as painful as it was I did not want to have to play it out on a public stage as well. Because of a recent string of hurtful and absurd lies in a tabloid publication, because of a picture falsely suggesting that John was spending time with a child it wrongly alleged he had fathered outside our marriage, our private matter could no longer be wholly private. The pain of the long journey since 2006 was about to be renewed.

John has spoken in a long on-camera interview. Admitting one's mistakes is a hard thing for anyone to do. I am proud of the courage John showed by his honesty in the face of shame. The toll on our family of news helicopters over our house and reporters in our driveway is yet unknown. But now the truth is out, and the repair work that began in 2006 will continue. I ask that the public, who expressed concern about the harm John's conduct has done to us, think also about the real harm that the present voyeurism does and give me and my family the privacy we need at this time.

Comments

[BeachVoterSC]

Part 3 of 3
POLITICAL FUTURE & VP?
If Edwards had received the Presidential nominee- He still would have steam rolled McCain, After all McCain did the same thing- except worse. Edwards would have come out on top, just as Clinton did. Voters would have quickly realized that the opportunity to have Edwards as president over McCain, much outweighs a personal mistake. The US always gives 2nd Chances.

For over a year I have thought that Sibelius (or Blanche Lincoln) will be the first female President…so I think Obama will now choose Sebelius. However…….
I fully think that John Edwards was going to be the VP as late as 1 month ago, until the 06 affair started coming closer to the surface. He perfectly fills in the missing appeal (to Ohio/ Penn/ etc) that Obama Lacks. And he is a Southerner (So long as the top of the ticket is not a “NE liberal”, a southerner does make a difference on the ticket).

I think Edwards is still the best choice…..Kennedy (and Clinton) had good judgment in their public (policy) life despite personal short comings….examples could go on and on. Many may not agree, but I think it does say something that Unlike others,..on some level, 1 affair (although not good) is different than a history of repeated cheating- which shows no remorse or self correction.

Now that Edwards will not get the VP tap. Hopefully Obama will appoint him to be Poverty Czar or Secr of Labor.

[BeachVoterSC]

Part 2 of 3
THE NO WIN SITUATION. If someone meddels by asking a personal questio…They leave no option to keep private life, Private. By saying: “No Comment” or “It is true,” then you release your private life by not denying. Or the other hand, by saying “not true” (the only option to keep private things private), people accuse of lying. No win situation. Do we really want to disqualify potential great leaders because they are not perfect- how many people will never run because of this no win situation of keep family life private.

If this happened to my parents, who are also in their mid 50’s, I would hope they could resolve the problem privately. I would also not discount everything my father had ever said or done, based on his one mistake (regardless of how large the mistake was). And I would not want anyone to find out about the situation for the sake of my mother. There are many things that married couples have to deal with throughout their lives, but it is up to them alone to make the decision of how to proceed.

[BeachVoterSC]

Part 1 of 3
PUT THING IN PERSPECTIVE,
and imagine this was your family. No one likes to see slips in personal judgment by politicians (or anyone) However, it is just that- a personal mistake. The knowledge, talent, and potential John (and Elizabeth) have to make a positive impact on our country and the issues facing our country have not changed. Everyone slips...the important and telling action is he told Elizabeth (the only person he is responsible to regarding his marriage) .

This private matter is no business of the public (even if in the public light or running for President) nor does this change his public policy views (Or the state of or strength of the Edwards family, after they began to rebuild their marriage and family in 2006). And Maybe they decided it was better to let Elizabeth deal with this on her terms with her family and John, Rather than have her humiliated or pitied in the Public Eye.

Although, as a 29 year old who is still idealistic, I remind everyone, that Edwards is the same person we saw throughout the '04 and '08 elections. (This happened when he was not running for office). If you liked his policies before, hopefully you will still be in the corner of the Edwards family. He is the same person and believes the same things. And their family strength is the same we all saw during the ‘08 election, post 2006.

[allaboutthetruth]

OK so he meets his supposed x-mistress in a hotel room for 5 hours trying to convince her
not to say anything. WOW---what part of that am I confused about? Why not a room without
a bed in it? :)

[RealityBaseCamp]

When I said we need some proof to back up what the Edwardses are saying now, and that we only have his word and hers to go on, somebody asked me if I was calling Elizabeth Edwards a liar. I asked him whether somebody who loves her husband and family, who is suffering from cancer, and who agrees with me politically, automatically can't possibly be lying. I don't want to call her a liar. Unfortunately, evidence exists (and witnesses, too many to just dismiss) that already contradict what John said about when the affair began and ended. The big thing to me is that if they had gone into the race saying they had had marital problems and overcome them recently (And if that had been true!) they would have gotten more sympathy than distrust. Now we know for a FACT that John was silent about an affair while featuring his marriage in the campaign, but also I have to admit to myself that I have no way to tell if (a) she knew in 2006 and also played happy marriage, or (b) just found out recently and went along with the story. Either she misled us, or she outright lied. I'm not a bitter Hillary supporter, I was behind Edwards as long as he still had a chance. (continued. . . )

[RealityBaseCamp]

( . . . Continued:) And I do agree that their personal lives are their own. But our would-be leaders can't get us out of a cycle of lies and deceit while they're covering up and dodging questions about their judgment. And they just handed the rightwing smear machine another load of ammunition. I can forgive them for a lot of what happened, and I'd still vote for Edwards over any of the republican candidates, but they have to actually stand up and come clean here. And the Enquirer had better find McC's disappearing cute lobbyist friend before the election.

[Housewife]

They both chose to lie about it. Plain and simple. That was the wrong decision. That's what they should own up to. What happened between John and his wife is private. That is an acceptable answer. What isn't is the lie that it never happened.

[ErikW65]

Thanks for getting at the nuance correctly. To simply brush this off as a private matter is also to fail to learn any lesson from this. What is it that made John and Elizabeth Edwards think they could get away with this coverup? They were clearly deluded by their own lust for power. They are intelligent people who should have known that there was no way those missing videos would remain under wraps, or the scrubbing of the website, or the six month "liason" with a videographer with exactly no experience.

I think it it goes back to how he was forgiven for voting for the '02 AUMF. He got a free pass from many on the left, for giving the neocons the keys to start their corporate world-domination agenda.

If those who we trust to be a bulwark against evil fail to do so, and go unpunished, and are trusted again to be public servants, how can we be surprised if they betray us again?

Blind allegiance to leaders is not healthy, and failing to hold people accountable for what they do wrong leads to more problems later. This sad tale proves it.

[proudliberal4truth]

BTW...those of you who are saying this scandal would have cost the dems the WH (and I agree it could have), don' t forget that Mcbush had an affair with Cindy while Carol was recovering from a terrible accident and that Mcbush LEFT his wife and family for a younger (not to mention RICHER) woman. If this is really a character trait we feel strongly about, lets as Mcbush to set the record straight on his infidelity.

[Ergon]

Could it have cost the Dems the White House? Not by a loong shot.
But what was JE thinking when he ran for the nomination? Did he think ithe truth wouldn't come out.? A serious lack of judgement.

[eden4barack08]

Besides, these same people should be worried that even the best candidate we have could "cost Dems the WH", thanks to the widespread bigotry and ignorance of 50% of the population, instead of worrying about something that didn't happen. Just thank God JE did not get the nomination, Amen, but to sit here and crucify him for what COULD'VE happened but DIDN'T is a waste of energy which could be better used in a myriad of more urgent issues.

[proudliberal4truth]

This whole situation is tragic on SO many levels and there is plenty of blame to be shared all around. In the final analysis however, this is a family matter and not a public one. Leave the Edwardses alone for now and allow this family to heal. Judgement is such an easy thing to pass on someone else, but having been through something like this on a personal level, I can tell you it is horriffic for the family and children. I wish the Edwards family all the best.

[ErikW65]

They made a decision that coud have given the next election away, but you're going to remain unconcerned about that, because it's easier to hide to hide from it by filing it under "privacy"?? Talk about being willfully ignorant. You're apologetic to the point of being spineless.

[proudliberal4truth]

I'll admit I was going to react by calling you names also, but I went back a read some of your previous comments and you seem to be a thinking person who does his homework. On this issue however, you seem to have some anti-Edwards baggage that's overwhelming your view. There are things that supercede politics and I think this is one of those situation. That makes me neither "willfully ignorant" nor "spineless". Sometimes a differing point of view is a good thing.

[ErikW65]

The fact remains that if JE had won the nomination, and then this story had broken, then that probably would have taken away the WH from the Dems, and given us another Repub presidency. THAT'S WHY this is relevant, Mrs. Edwards!

Your decision to go along with the coverup makes you complicit in this selfish, careless, hubristic strategy.

And now she's getting sanctimonious by claiming any attention to this is "voyeuristic"??

The Edwards' are now using calls for respecting their privacy like they scrubbed Hunter's website and hid her unprofessional and condemning videos; as a cover for their sins.

[Meninha]

I feel badly that Elizabeth Edwards is ill with cancer, but let us face facts honestly. She also lied when she allowed John to re-enter the political scene while knowing about this affair, and holding out that they were such a solid, loving family. I cannot feel sorry for her for her in reference to her husband's extra-curricular activities. In her silence she joined him in his deceit . Neither one of the Edwards has been honest, and we do not need more dishonesty in our White House.

[MissingAmerica]

HE made a mistake which so many make. SHE forgave him. Forgiveness is something which should be practiced by all, not just a few. THEY worked through it, which is what you do when you love each other. I imagine this scandal is the last thing a recovering Cancer patient needs. I admire the way it's being handled and think she's right in calling it voyeurism. If the press can't drop it because of him, perhaps they should drop it because of her.

[ErikW65]

You're falling right into their strategy; using the cancer-stricken wife as a sympathetic cover, a reason to look the other way.

The ability of Edwards supporters to blind themselves to this cognitively dissonant reality is amazing!

[Bubba Gump]

Erik, I agree with most of what you say. But MissingAmerica is right about forgiveness. More importantly, focusing on John Edward's affair and venting on him (the man who is NOT a Presidential candidate) gives John McCain a pass. I was part of the Edward's donors. And I feel betrayed. But giving a pass to McCain is far worse.

[atomicrob]

Frankly, this doesn't surprise me. Together and quite purposefully, the Edwards made a cottage industry of branding and marketing themselves as some wonderful couple who could overcome tragic adversity through their unending support of one another.

The issue isn't the affair. The issue is he's a liar. Elizabeth also lied to the public about her husband's character when she was on The View or interviewed for the 6pm news, knowing full well of his indiscretions. Now, the dynamic duo now asks for "privacy" when they once clamored for attention. Unfortunately, they are simply ingenuous narcissistic celebrities who want it both ways, and in America, it doesn't work that way. So much for the great moral issues facing our country and his stand against marriage equality. What a phony!

[DevilAdvocate]

now the Enquirer, has street creed! now our whole media structure has fallen

[GunneraGirl]

You know what? None of this is any of my business.

[DevilAdvocate]

yep, it was 2006, his wife knew, let it be!

[ErikW65]

Perfect name!

[eXcommunicate]

Men and women cheat. When they come clean to their spouses it is up to the spouse to choose to stick with it or end the marriage. I respect those people that choose to stick with the marriage and work through the problems that caused the infidelity. Rest assured, infidelity is never the CAUSE, it is a SYMPTOM. Apparently the Edwards' had come to grips with the problems in their marriage and have worked through them. Shame on the media and HUFFINGTON POST and especially all those self-righteous people on the internet that continuously judge others and judge others' relationships. This kind of sensational story has proven one thing: most people never emotionally mature enough to understand not everyone's relationships should conform to your ideals.

I commend both JOHN and ELIZABETH for the strength they have shown by sticking together. Shame on all of us for making a spectacle of something we have no business sticking our nose into. Neither John nor Elizabeth broke any laws. Leave those people alone. They clearly love each other and they don't have long left to live their lives together.

[proudliberal4truth]

Very well put...thank you

[ErikW65]

They stuck together alright; in a plot to lie to their supporters and risk giving the WH to the Repugs!