Edwards On Obama, Breaks Three Month Silence

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — John Edwards didn't have to dodge tough questions from an Indiana University audience Tuesday, when the former presidential candidate returned to the stage three months after admitting to an extramarital affair.

The Democrat's 30-minute speech covered politics, poverty and his hopes for America and the world and he later discussed President-elect Obama and other topics from the audience.

But the half-hour question-and-answer period featured only written queries that had been submitted before his speech _ and the affair he has acknowledged with filmmaker Rielle Hunter didn't surface.

After his public statements in August, Edwards said he did not plan to speak about the affair again.

Sophomore Mariela Colindres told the Indiana Daily Student she thought Edwards was right not to address the affair during the speech.

"Nothing he could have said to make it better, plus it's a personal issue," she said.

Graduate student Kortnee Warner agreed.

"I heard about some of those issues," Warner told the student newspaper. "It happens more than you realize it. I didn't make any character judgments."

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In response to questions from the audience, Edwards praised Hillary Rodham Clinton's leadership and said his favorite superhero is Superman.

He said Obama's victory showed what was right with America.

Edwards said he wants to live in a country where everyone has a real opportunity regardless of their background. "In many ways, Barack Obama symbolizes what's possible in America," he said.

Edwards also said election results in North Carolina and Indiana showed that the country was ready for change. Obama won both states that President Bush won in 2004.

He also said Obama's campaign did well by discussing the war, the economy, health care and energy _ things the electorate cared about.

"He focused on the things that really mattered," Edwards said.

He also said the intense and exhausting primary season helped Obama.

"That long, drawn-out, tough process played a role in making him a better candidate," Edwards said. "He was well-prepared for this general election campaign."

Edwards said Obama's most important job would be outlining his long-term vision, then getting global cooperation to help solve problems such as climate change, the economy and poverty.

"America cannot solve these problems alone," Edwards said.

Edwards spoke to a friendly crowd in the heavily Democratic college town. The audience applauded throughout the speech.

Edwards said young voters can make an enormous difference on the political stage and also bring fresh enthusiasm to the process.

"Your voice needs to be heard," he said.

Edwards said he wants to continue working for poor people struggling to survive in America and abroad, whether he remains in politics or not.

"That's what I want to spend my life doing," he said.

Comments

[Pulemerci]

I see through the Breck Girl like a used neutragena bar. If I were Hillary, I'd be livid at this adulterer. I know she's used to the adultery part, I mean the fact that the primary may have turned out differently had Edwards story benn covered by the MSM instead of trying to ignore it.

[Cherubim]

Anybody who wanted to vote for Hillary Clinton in the Iowa Primary or any other Primary did so,
because her name was always on the ballot.

[Cherubim]

Well, John Edwards has gone down to New Orleans, already, several times and rolled up his sleeves and helped out. I believe, now, it is time for others like Paulson, and his friends on Wall Street, to whom he is giving billions of U.S. taxpayers' money, to go down and help out.
They can all fly over and float down using their "golden parachutes". Also the AIG Insurance company,
the US Auto Executives, and all of the other "secret people" getting the US government bailout should join John Edwards in New Orleans. Go to this url address and see John Edwards helping out in New Orleans:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DaofQCkbA8

[spaghettidinner]

Edwards is faaakkkee. Go crawl into a hole and don't come out John. I remember watching the 2004 DNC convention where he whacked his kids for goofing around and then realized he was on camera immediately turning into fake smiles. We need genuine people in government who aren't trying so hard to keep up a public persona. Don't smile all the time its not natural.

[Cherubim]

Almost all politicians small a lot.

[Cherubim]

Oops... I meant to say almost all politicians smile a lot.

[Cherubim]

Thomas Jefferson, the author of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, committed adultery and fathered children with his slave Sally Hemmings. John F. Kennedy committed adultery and he inspired this country to greatest. Franklin Delano Roosevelt committed adultery against the much beloved Eleanor Roosevelt, but he lead this country through the Great Depression and World War II. Lyndon B. Johnson committed adultery, but he got passed most of the U.S. Civil Rights Legislation. And we know more about President Bill Clinton's love life than we want to. I value John Edwards’ political expertise, especially concerning the economy. Now that the U.S. has had a total collapse of its financial system I know John Edwards can be helpful in the Obama Presidential administration.

[Stokes]

It's our country's loss if we don't allow John Edwards to apply his wisdom during these difficult times.

[IsisCat]

"Edwards said Obama's most important job would be outlining his long-term vision, then getting global cooperation to help solve problems such as climate change, the economy and poverty."

With all due respect. Most of the world (I'm not naive enough to believe all) has been waiting for the USA to show leadership on these issue for the past 8 years.

It's not the US that has to get global cooperation but the rest of the world that has to be convinced that the US means business when it talks about addressing these issues.

[Conejo]

My medical school professor always said that these things heal with "tincture of time." Doctors and pharmacists will know what a tincture is--it's a solution made with alcohol. The adage implies "just wait, have a few drinks along the way, and things will eventually get better." Edwards is basically a good man and like many (including Bill Clinton and John Kennedy) just can't control his tally-whacker (my father's colloquial term). He should eventually be forgiven (if his wife forgives him) and allowed to return to politics because he has a lot to offer.

[Wiserone]

And, he shall. Americans are a forgiving lot as well as Edwards is a political animal by nature. And, it's not so surprising that he is surfacing again, but what is surprising is that he isn't letting any grass grow under his feet either. 2012. He has to get a feel of the land and might as do it sooner rather than later. The real test will come from the Democrat national party if they are so easy to forgive and forget. Edwards really didn't comport himself that well when the story broke. He should have given more mea culpa's.

[mabell75]

Whether you think John Edwards should be disgraced forever or not, Ii believe he resurfaced to speak for the impoverished in this country. He has been the only voice to speak of this national disgrace since LBJ. It is not an issue that appeals to the masses, maybe he wants to remind President Elect Obama and the American public of the needs of those with the weakest voices. In these difficult economic times, more Americans slip into poverty every day and rarely do they send out announcements, but rather they suffer in silence.

[jsarets]

Edwards is still an irresponsible idiot for deciding to run for president with a juicy affair hanging over his head. It may have been audacious for Obama to believe that America was ready to elect a black man president, but it's a stunning lack of judgment on Edwards' part to believe either that America was ready to elect an "adulterer" or that he could keep it a secret throughout a grueling national campaign process. I'm not calling his character into question, only his judgment.

[mabell75]

America did elect an admitted adulter, his name was Bill Clinton and he publically admitted it on 60 minutes with the phrase that he caused pain n his marriage with Hillary sitting right next to him.

[TeresaInPa]

Is John Edwards the last person to figure out that he is done in politics? I really can not tolerate these men who think just getting elected to the senate makes them prepared to run for the presidency. Go away John the party has one egomaniac about to be sworn in and we are one unprepared egotist over the line.
You should have stayed in the senate and actually done something other than run for the next office.

[plwood01]

If you are not part of the solution you become part of the problem! What have you done for your country lately? Like you could do better with the situation we are in due to the candidate of your choice, please get real! Be honest with yourself, you have been part of the problem dragging our country toward collapse.

[opie]

I have to agree with those who miss Edwards and want him back in the public sphere. Obama was not my first choice and he already shows signs of being a Reagan Democrat when all is said and done. Let's all just get along as we ride the ugly downward spiral, shall we?

[rdiaz921]

Can we let the dust settle before we condemn the guy? Or are we all too jaded to give something a chance.

[Emlyn]

Obama is not even President yet. Give him a chance.

[plwood01]

If you are a psychic, I could see your point. Since you aren't, you are just one of the people who are helping to push us toward an ugly downward spiral that you hope, by your self-fulfilling prophecy happens, so that you feel "smart" for a day or so! What have you done for your country lately? Either you are supporting America or you aren't, if you aren't, you have no one to blame for the outcome but yourself.

[Wiserone]

Yes, we can! Yes, we did! Yes, we will!!

[susanra]

I would like to see John Edwards receive an appointment in the Obama administration.

It does not need to be a cabinet-level appointment which is probably out of the question; but a new president makes 100's of new appointments and I think we could use the progressive policies and stances which John Edwards advocates.

Certainly there is a place for John Edwards in the Obama administration, if John chooses to accept. (no need for a cabinet appointment; a sub-cabinet appointment would be fine) (I'm putting aside my desire to see Edwards as Attorney General)

Edwards' sex life should haves no bearing on his proficiency in his work life.

I say give Edwards an opportunity to return to advocating progressive policies with solutions which this country desperately needs.

[plwood01]

Edward's wife has been dealing with cancer for years. He is well and has needs like anyone and a wife should be able to deal with an indiscretion in this situation. I think it is kind of cruel to expect someone to act as though they are dying because their loved one may be. It is kind of selfish for him to put life on hold, and he probably needed to feel alive anyway since he was well and feeling depressed probably about his wife being ill. I say if you haven't walked in their shoes, or his for that matter, you do not have a say because you have no idea what you would do in his place.

[lbrillante]

I am sick of america's general immature fixation on sexual behavior. Seriously, every person who has not had an affair or been divorced should shut their mouths about the whole thing. The rest of the world sees us as incredibly immature sexually and this fixation is the primary reason. It's like we're a bunch of teenagers. Please let people move on as you would want others to allow you to move on. I am speaking as a person who has never had an affair or a divorce but one who would rather treat others as I would wish to be treated.
Media needs to stop perpetuating the worst of america...

[Lesjoan]

Glad to see that Edwards is still around and speaking about important issues.

[kottison]

Who is anyone to judge anybody? What is it that Jesus said? Oh now I remember he who is without sin cast the first stone. Instead of focusing on one woman he messed around with we should remember some of issues he confronted like poverty that no one was talking about on the campaign trail and personally I think that's more important.