What if Edwards Had Been the Nominee?

Shudder to think what would have happened if Edwards had come out on top after the primaries. No doubt he would have had to withdraw in disgrace, the way Eagleton withdrew in 1972. Could he have made it all the way to the nomination without it coming out? Hard to imagine, but if it had he might have destroyed the Democratic Party.

Stunningly self-destructive, for a guy who seemed so utterly in control, unshakable, willing to do anything to be president. He had it in for himself. Amazing that his wife knew and supported his run for president.

Did he coordinate the timing of this with Obama or is it a coincidence that he went on vacation the day the story broke, with a request that the press not pay any attention to him in the coming week? Or did Edwards spring this on him as well?

This should put to rest any thought of HRC being the nominee for vice-president. The skeletons in her closet are much worse, and some of them aren't even hidden. The press gave her a pass in the primary. It wouldn't happen in the fall, she'd be held to account for them, there was outright bribery in the last days of the Clinton Administration, and she was part of it. Not a bystander.

BTW, one more little bomb waiting to go off is the verdict in the Hamdan trial which came out yesterday. The question is -- will he be released when his term is up in 4.5 months. Let's see, that's just about the time the Bushes are leaving town and Obama or McCain is taking office. Could the jury possibly have been thinking of this? Is McCain getting an ad ready saying "Hamdan will not get out as long as I'm President" and throw the hot potato over at Obama. This will be a campaign issue, for sure. The Dems better get ready for it.

Comments

[TrooAmerican]

"What if McCain Had Been the Nominee?" ---> after his complete and total abandonment and kicking of his first wife under the bus, as he came back from Vietnam a Hero and dumped her in her time of greatest need after cheating on her and taking a mistress named Cindy who was younger, prettier, and richer and more powerful for his career.

What if that happened??
OMG - it DID happen and we are totally accepting of that, whereas terrible writers like this guy bother to make a rediculous article like this one instead of slammin the public for paying NO attention to Mr. Celebrity McCain.

[thepoliticalcat]

America is a nation of the worst hypocrites. Who the hell cares what people do in the privacy of their bedrooms, as long as it's legal and consensual? David Vitter was paying prostitutes to wipe his diapered rear end and I don't see half the hand-wringing and vapours over that (which, incidentally, was illegal). I don't see half the weeping and fainting over Oldy McMoldy's lobbyist bagmen who give him huge amounts of money in return for access and pork (which he loudly decries while being one of the bigger porkers). I don't see any outrage in Bush's America training and equipping Georgian soldiers who are now killing civilians in South Ossetia.

[Torus34]

Chances are, had Edwards won, he and Senator McCain would have reached a 'gentleman's agreement' to avoid mention of their indescretions.

[ashenthorn]

Yeah. McCain is actually worse because he not only cheated on an ailing wife, he eventually kicked her to the curb to get with a blond beauty queen heiress. The real question we should be asking ourselves is why would Edwards "would have had to withdraw in disgrace", while McCain gets to skate. Just because more time has passed? What kind of answer is that?

[bluestatehog]

I have a feeling that the Obama camp was/is digging up any possible dirt on VP shortlisters, and you can be sure that they either stumbled across this or investigated it. In the post-Clinton era, the last thing the Democrats need as a surface issue is marital infidelity, recent or past, since the the media has been so steadfast in ignoring John McCain's lapses in moral judgement. Gay marriage and civil unions aside, the Republicans have an unexplainable-and for the meantime unbreakable-grasp on the political candidate marriage values debate. Jim McGreevey, Eliot Spitzer, and John Edwards haven't made it any easier for Obama, who has kept plugging away about how he and his wife are best friends and soul mates. It's kind of like the economic arguments made in red states; voters are unhappy with the Republican Party's platform, but they continue to vote with them because of the age-old political stereotypes of liberal vs. conservative, perceived integrity vs. moral ambiguity, and my favorite: patriotism vs. war opposition.

To get back on subject, I was an Edwards supporter from day one because I bought into the image and vision of the man. He (or so we thought) not only talked the political talk, but walked the personal walk. To an extent, he was where Obama is trying to go, the change candidate before the change candidate was popular. However, his fall from grace leaves me saddened.

[ebbtide]

I feel sympathy for the dyed in the wool Edwards supporters. I feel no sympathy for John, or Elizabeth re these revelations. I sympathize with her lost battle against breast cancer.

It seems to me that the three candidates, Obama, Clinton and Edwards, all chose a "theme" to stick to. Obama was change, Clinton's was go back to the nineties and her experience, and Edwards was to alleviate poverty. Clinton had to change her theme in the middle of the campaign, when it did not work. Now Edwards has proven to take the money from those who contributed to his campaign, to pay off his mistress. Strange that is.

[RoloTomassi]

"Now Edwards has proven to take the money from those who contributed to his campaign, to pay off his mistress."

Really? A link to that "proof," please.

[nobillary1]

Granted, he wasn't married to an ailing wife, but Bill Clinton was the Democratic nominee when he was embroiled in an adultery scandal with Paula Jones, wasn't he? He got elected anyway, and everybody loved him. A lot of people still love him, despite the fact that he had another affair IN the White House while serving as President. THAT, to me, is FAR WORSE. He brought utter shame on the White House and therefore, the office itself.

Unless the media wants to discuss John McCain and Newt Gingrich's walks on the Wild Side, I say stop wasting our time and drop the whole subject!

[ebbtide]

I agree, except there are some who think Edwards should have an unelected White House job of some sort because he is so smart. That, I do not think is a good idea, in Obama's administration.

[harriscrl3]

I suspect Obama knew the truth about Edwards I think Obama was vetting VP Edwards was probably honest. Its too much of a coincidence for Obama to be in Hawaii when this story broke and notice its a Friday dump too. This seems to have planned written all over it. Notice also that Hilary was campaigning in Nevada perhaps they thought that would tamper down on this Edwards scandal. No such luck I suspect the only how Hilary would have been the focus is if she said something provactive at the townhall.

As far as Osama Bin Laden driver McCain doesnt even know what he was convicted of so its hard for me to see that this will be a camapign issue although that has never stopped the republicans before they are hypocrisy personified.

Carol

[FearlessFreep]

"No doubt he would have had to withdraw in disgrace."

Just like Bill Clinton in 1992. Oh, wait...

[tbone99]

Did he really think, in light of Clinton's fiasco and damage to the Dem Party that this could be coveredup or swept under the rug.? Serious lack of judgement-

In effect he gambled the Dem presidential win as well as the money and time of donors and supporters-
The worst kind of arrogance.

[notwithit]

if Edwards hadn't entered the race, would Senator Clinton have won Iowa,
and would she now be the nominee? I fear Obama can't beat McCain, and if that's
so, then Edwards' cowardice and duplicity will lead to four more years of
insanity . . .

[ErikW65]

You make some great points, thanks Dave.

There are two John Edwards. Now we see one who was willing to risk the greater good for his own chance at power. It's so shameful. And it's not even over, as these two continue to try and weasel out of it. Calling a six-month relationship that involved paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for services she was unqualified to perform a "LIASON"? Wow.

[skycontrol]

Lost in the mulch pile of dishonesty, infidelity, arrogance, narcissism and hypocrisy is the misuse of $114,000 donated by supporters who believed that John Edwards was fighting for a better America.

John Edward's actions constitute embezzlement - a criminal action.

He must be compelled to offer a full accounting of campaign funds spent to finance his affair. Rielle Hunter's expenses: plane fares to Africa and elsewhere, the hotel and meal charges, cocktails, etc. were, I am sure, picked up by the campaign.

The total amount embezzled might approach a million dollars.

John Edwards spoke of "Two Americas" and now we are learning that there are two John Edwards. The hypocrisy of the real John Edwards is staggering!

[ebbtide]

She was an employee. A member of the staff, no matter how dumb and dumber she was. That seems legal to me. Like Wolfowitz putting his girlfriend in high positions in the World Bank, except that she, forgot her name, was educated and probably had the qualifications for the job.

[wbramh]

Had Edwards been the nominee he would have been pressured to quit.
McCain IS the nominee.
Where's the pressure to get him to quit?
Oh. That's right.
Time heals all heels.

[lexnekst]

Would we have just picked another candidate?

Logically would have been Obama or Clinton whoever had the most votes.

It's not like this happened after the convention.

[rationalthought1]

LISTEN EVERYONE! This IS an important issue. The Edwards (both of them) were out of their minds to allow John to run for president with this hanging over their heads. This would have been a disaster if he had gotten the nomination. As it is, its a terrible distraction from the message of Obama and the democratic party. This was not only an example of terrible judgement (the choice to run for the nomination) but an incredible act of selishness.

[SCG2]

Why not just give democratic primary voters some credit, for discerning character. The what if's should be saved for the idea of a Mc Cain presidency, no?

[LeonBNJ]

I would suggest that if JE continued to be a contender after the early February primaries, this story would have broken. Either the one of the other canidates staffs or as Edwards would be a far more 'liberal' canidate, the media corporate bosses would have given the ok to release the rumors to protect a more moderate and mallable canidate.