The Washington Note published several pieces about the details and significance of a potential sexual affair in the middle of the John Edwards presidential primary campaign three times -- twice on October 11, 2007 (here and here) and once on October 12, 2007.
I wrote about this after reading Sam Stein's work at Huffington Post. He broke this story -- and the National Enquirer built on the 'revelations'.
There are few times when I have received more hate mail and was the target of really awful, excoriating attacks than at that time -- and now Edwards admits to the affair he had been denying. The same may be true for Sam Stein.
I frankly don't care about affairs in general -- but I do care about the presumption that the American public can be counted on to be part of the outrage machine when a politician lies about something like this -- particularly given the circumstances of Elizabeth Edwards' health.
My hat is tipped to Sam Stein who was the first blogger to really work this story. He told me then that his sources were solid, and I believed him. He deserves a salute today -- even though the story itself is gross and hardly worth the attention we are compelled to give it.
There will be ramifications of this incident on the blogging community and also on mainstream media. Some blogs frequently see themselves as willing vehicles of politicians, unwilling to focus a critical eye on the pol or party they are supporting. Others see themselves as a hybrid of advocacy and analysis. Others see themselves as competitors with mainstream media -- covering political news with greater objectivity and creativity than the largely homogenized, too controlled big time media players offer.
Blogging is a real mix of types -- but there are many great bloggers out there who were convinced until the last moment that Edwards was truthful and that this was a conspiracy hatched by Clinton or Obama to undo him as a presidential candidate -- and then as a vice-presidential choice. Edwards owes these folks an apology for misleading them and the nation -- many who were his strongest defenders. And then everyone in this game needs to thank the Sam Steins of the world who are willing to report what they learn and work a story as it should be worked.
I applauded previously Sam Stein's thoughtful journalism and behind the scenes investigative work then -- and given what we now know today -- I applaud him again.
I wish John Edwards had done what Alexander Hamilton had done in a similar situation -- as I wrote last October -- but not to be. Sad.
-- Steve Clemons
I have family members and good friends who unfortunat
To me, they also have other redeeming qualities where I know they would do anything for their families, immediate and extended.
I do not judge these people as to why they made these errors in judgment. Oftentimes
Unfortunat
Let them be. Its their personal issue.
Sex with "that woman" doesn't have to mean they love their wife or family any less.
More often than not, Its just sex.
Hey... didn't this all start back with Adam?
If a person has low moral standards, and you
question their integrity in personal issues, how can you
trust that person to have sound judgement in other
areas?
we can go on to the real problems that are far greater than
infidelity
Everyone's morale is impacted by "affairs". A boss, a manager, a corporate head and a politician who engage in infidelity at a work place can plummet morale. And to have this $400/hairc
Does it not grab this writer, that rule #1 of crime elements and espionage spy operations is to position women next to male persons of authority! And this writer does not care!
Maybe this brilliant writer should craft a bullet proof psychologi
Obama knew about this. Edwards put this out on a Friday and Obama is on holidays, what a perfectly coordinate
It's another great day for American politics!
Can we now quit acting holier than thou and
focus on things that actually matter?
It's not the affair, stupids, it's the Public Campaignin
THAT's what people are upset about, not where he parked his winky.
And, remember, Edwards did not just lie to his family, he lied to the public just like Bubba, so his political future looks bleak too.
You say...
"We may not like what he did, or the lies, but this is between him, his wife, his children and his maker. "
....unless
Mccain gave favors to the companies Viki Iseman worked for ,like At&t. No Wonder FISA passed.
Ask yourself..
lasts a shorter time than Democratic ones.
Nah. Sex sells, whether it's TV or magazines or any
other venue. Sad.
And this whole public lying thing... we have to stop accepting it as normal or appropriat
It is a big deal, although not much of a victory for either side, IMO. The system's credibilit
You rightly point out Elizabeth didn't stand beside John Edwards as a further validation of him/his conduct aka Mrs. Spitzer and Mrs. Clinton -- ostensibly "for the sake of the kids." It isn't. The kids would be better off with strong women who move on and remake their lives -- instead of being props for narcissist
not only in our elected officials, but in the general populace.
Sam Stein should be highly commended for the reporting he has done. Would you rather be getting this stuff from Drudge than HuffPost?
Instead, Edwards pushed the envelope even further by meeting Hunter in such a high-profi
It really looks like the Enquirer was right about the baby, too, as (1) why else would she bring it, and (2) that might have seemed worth the risk to visit.
Edwards is apparently as arrogant as many thought, and as fake as Feingold said he was. Disappoint
Look for them at the Democratic Convention
What has occurred on the watch of the entire Constituti
I think it's shameful he ran for the presidency
And the media trying to cover it up?
They look complicit now. Good for those who did not buy into that nonsense.
You're getting desperate.
Are you as critical of Bill Clinton (another adulterer who repeatedly lied to his supporters
My conclusion
Yay for Obama and -real- family values!!!
2. Denial
3. Trust
Edwards and his wife stood in front of us while presenting themselves as something they aren't..no
They both wanted to win the Presidency
Conservati
A glaring difference in John Edwards' infidelity and, say, Congressma
I realize that hypocrisy and double standards are rather complex concepts, but my hope is that eventually