To Dawn – Wake up and smell the coffee!

Although you don’t care to make a judgment call – that is what you did. You made a judgment call on a remarkable woman. I would like you to count the many ways that you have made a contribution to make this country a better place. Deceitful – is not a word I would use to describe Elizabeth careful of your choice for words especially if you would like to address current problems our nation is experiencing as a result of a DECEITFUL ADMINISTRATION –deceitful. There are many, many Republicans that are sanctimonious, deceitful, and hypocrites like your Senator from Idaho, Larry Craig – what a joke he is, not to mention Tom Delay’s deceitful act of redistricting Texas, I know there are some democrats that cheat however before you choose to be a critic of a remarkable woman I ask you what have you done to contribute to make this country, county, state, your neighborhood to be a better place? Most individuals cannot walk the talk and I suspect that is what you are….a lot of talk.

Would that all parents have the skills
and judgement of the Edwards'.
Who wouldn't look back on their own childhood
and be grateful to have had role models
like Elizabeth and John Edwards?

If you can't see this, then perhaps your own
judgement as a parent is suspect.

What does cancer have to do with your children on the campaign trail? No disrespect but maybe she should be home taking care of herself. If her children can not go to school because of her sickness, why should she be out on the trail? And again no disrespect, I do not have cancer and can not begin to imagine what she is going through, and if she has the strength to be on the trail with her husband I admire her even more, but that has nothing to do with "parenting skills." If she needs to have her children with her to help her through this difficult time, as a mom I completely understand, but then do not judge the decisions of others if you too have made selfish ones.

As a cancer survivor, I think I am qualified to speak to what cancer has to do with her children being on the campaign trail with her (not totally qualified because I was more fortunate than Elizabeth; my cancer was not stage 4). When you receive that diagnosis, your own mortality is staring you in the face like it never has before. There is no more time to waste; you want to take advantage of each moment. I heard her state in an interview that she wanted John to continue his campaign. He would go on only if she were with him. Her treatment plan enabled her to continue on the trail. She decided to take the children with her and home school them. My feelings on that were that she made a good decision. If I were told that there was a good possibility that I might not see my children graduate from high school, I would want to spend as much time with them as possible. And--I would want to spend the remainder of my time doing what I cared about the most. That is what she is doing. I agree with you, tomuchdrama, her decision has nothing to do with parenting skills; however, the blogger who attacked her believed that it did. I disagree, because I believe the children will learn more from this experience than any school can ever teach them (plus they are being home schooled). I will, however, give the blogger the benefit of the doubt by saying that "until you have cancer, you may not understand the decision of this wife and mother." If she ever does get cancer, which I pray she doesn't, I would bet a pretty penny that her judgments will not be near as harsh on Mrs. Edwards.

Sue:
You seem to assume that I'm a Republican. Not so: I'd cut off my working arm before voting Republican. I've actually identified as a Democrat since I turned on the 1979 Democratic National Convention and felt right at home. (I checked to make sure by watching the Republican National Convention a little while later. Yup! I'm a Democrat.) I do find Elizabeth Edwards deceitful. Apparently even Democrats can. Any comments about Hillary Clinton's "choices" comes on the heels of remarks she made about how her own choices made her more "joyful" than Hillary's made her. She got called on them and had to apologize. Now, she's referring to Hillary's "choices" more obliquely, inviting us (I believe) to condemn the woman as a selfish careerist because she chose to keep working. This is deceitful and sly and underhanded. Not to mention backward and Neanderthal. And just a small point: I believe I wrote right in the beginning of my comment that what I wouldn't be judging was Elizabeth Edwards' parenting style.

Sorry but Elizabeth Edwards doesn't get to play victim now that she is coming under withering criticism when she has been attacking both Hillary and Obama. She opened herself up to attack with her own comments. It's one thing to comment on a candidate's wife who is not involved in the campaign but when you launch attacks on others, don't be surprised to get incoming fire. And frankly, I really do wish that she would take her children and go home. I am one of those parents who thinks that young children who's mothers have a terminal illness deserve some time at home alone with them.

BOTH, JOHN AND ELIZABETH are to blame for putting his VANITY-induced ambitions AHEAD of his kids!!! HOW THE HECK WOULD EITHER OF THEM BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM ANY "QUALITY" TIME, BETWEEN CAMPAIGNING AND MEDICAL VISTIS (AND DEALING W/THE PAIN & OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES DUE TO THE TREATMENTS OF THE CANCER, NOT TO MENTION, THE CANCER ITSELF)!!! I MEAN, IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT NEGLECTING THE CHILDREN PHYSICALLY, BUT ALSO, MENTALLY!!!

BTW, WHY DOES Elizabeth go by her MIDDLE name, when she used her FIRST name, MARY, for most of her life...is it because her middle name sounds more REGAL?! [That's TYPICAL of the Edwards, just look into their lifestyle, & the home(s) they live in...making speeches about helping the poor & middle-class...they're SUCH HYPOCRITES!!]

Did you ever stop to think that Elizabeth Edwards wants to spend what time she has left to live with her WHOLE family? Is it better for their kids to be away from their dad all the time and be home with an ailing mom without his support, or to go along with them both on the campaign trail and spend what time is left for their family as a unified force? They will not be harmed by homeschooling. If you have never researched homeschooled kids, you may not know that there are many high-achieving homeschooled kids in this country. Unlike the "old days", homeschooled families have lots more support these days and their kids are given greater opportunities to learn in many cases than kids in traditional schools. Bravo to the Edwards for doing what's best for THEIR family despite what others may say. To me, their decision came from the heart and was not politically motivated.

GO, Elizabeth!! I admire your courage in your battle with cancer and, especially, your choice to be involved in your husband's campaign (I hope he wins the nomination, by the way). Your, and your husband's, choice to include your children is a definite indication that you've thought long and hard about it. You SHOULD all be together every possible moment during your illness and the campaign. How better to teach them how to confront the challenges Life throws our way?! People will always criticize but the Edwards FAMILY has shown great courage in making difficult decisions and we all need to take encouragement from your decisions, follow your lead, and attempt to make a difference, in our own lives and, in the lives of others. YOU ARE ALL TO BE ADMIRED!

REBECCA AND THOSE LIKE HER--
WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO SAY THAT ABOUT ANYONE???? DO YOU LIVE THEIR LIVES??? DO YOU KNOW WHAT GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS?? DO YOU KNOW THE QUALITY OF TIME SHE SPENDS WITH HER KIDS?? THEY ARE HER KIDS!!!! SHE KNOWS BEST!!!! SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU NEED TO FIND SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOUR SPARE TIME--LIKE READ TO YOUR KIDS OR SOMETHING!! UNLESS SHE'S LEAVING HER KIDS IN A SWELTERING CAR OR ABUSING THEM
YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO CRITIZE HER, REGARDLESS OF HER CANCER OR POLITICAL VIEWS!!! IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!!!

Going on the campaign trail with their family is most likely a once in a life time experience for these children. Growth and memories in childhood are not created only from school but also from life experiences. The ability to travel and meet a wide variety of people will only increase the children's empathy for others and ability to adapt to situations that would otherwise be outside their paradigms. Perhaps they will become non-judgemental adults that won't feel compelled to tell others how they should and should not live their lives.

I am a cancer surviver. I know a number of homeschooled kids. There is no question in my mind that the Edward's are doing the right thing for so many reasons.

Sometimes people need to remember the old saying that you shouldn't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes! Elizabeth Edwards faces more uncertainty with regard to her future than those who do not have a terminal disease. The fact that she wants to spend her time with her husband and her children, even if it's on the campaign trail -- how can anyone criticize that? I agree with the previous comments that she is giving her kids other experiences that are different, but no less valuable than those they might learn in school, as well as proving the point of standing up for what you believe in. Does anyone really think that she loves her children any less than the rest of us love our own?

Whether you like a candidate or not is your choice/your opinion. I'd like to know when people will start judging candidates for their records and the issues they support - rather than nitpicking over all of this stupid stuff. Comments just seem to be "canned" according to which political party you are aligned with. Think for yourself and get informed about the candidates. Whomever wins the presidential election has a lot of work to do -- lets make sure they're up for it!

I am a member of the sister site where "Rebecca" blogs and I have to say that I completely DISAGREE with Rebecca. Regardless if Elizabeth Edwards has cancer or not it is John and her decision whether to bring the children on the campaign trail. I don't believe (like other candidates) that they force their children to make statements to the press and as far as education goes, was there any statement made that the children would not be schooled - home schooled?

To pass judgement on someone's decision based solely on your experience is very narrow minded. It is the same type of judgement call made on people who take sides on the "SAHM vs. Working Mother" debate. You absolutely DO NOT KNOW UNTIL YOU'VE WALKED A MILE IN THE OTHER PERSON'S SHOES.

Martha- I have read every one of these comments but as I was reading yours it brought tears to my eyes. I dont think that anyone could have said it better. I think you hit the nail in the head. At what point did we start looking at what we can dig up on a canidate and their famlies rather than the issues that plague our Nation. If our next door neighbor were to pull their child out of school to be home-schooled are they going to be this highly criticised? I think not. Along with the academics that they are learning, the Edwards' are giving their children an experience that the majority of the population could never give their children. They are learning more than any classroom could teach them and on top of it they are learning it from their parents and you dont think that when these children are all grown up they are not going to cherish this time with every fiber of their being.

By the way, Although I agree with Martha I was really talking about the post from cl-new jersey

I sure wish I could take my kids to work with me. I'm a struggling, single-mother that fantasizes about having my children with me more and I can assure you, if I were teetering on the verge of losing that time with them due to a disease that could prematurely take me away from them, then I'd have them at my side as much as possible. If Elizabeth wanted to be a single-mom I'm sure she WOULD take her kids and go home, but clearly that's not her choice...keeping her family in tact while they continue to "work" because what they're doing is their JOB then bravo to Elizabeth and John. I know one thing, home is NOT a physical address...it's being in my mom's space...wherever that may be. Ask any kid.

To all of you "holyer than thou" Elizabeth supporters: What the H##L do you think the reason for THIS "COMMENT" box is for??? It's for people to give a "COMMENT" OR an OPINION on what they've read (in THIS case, her PARENTING SKILLS)!!! SO STOP COMPLAINING about the posters who give their OPINION ABOUT THAT (her parenting skills) whether or not YOU agree with it!!! GOOD GRIEF!!!

For Keith - don't know if you're a parent, but if you are - how would you like to have your parenting skills up for personal comment/bashing by all sorts of people who don't really know you? I don't claim to support Edwards or anyone else at this point, so that is irrelevant. Some stuff just doesn't belong in the political arena. We are all entitled to our opinions -- regardless of what "side" we are on. It seems to me that the COMPLAINING started with a women who had a "holier than thou" attitude about her parenting beliefs vs. those of Elizabeth Edwards! Maybe we need to focus on the greater issues here when deciding who the next leader of our country will be. Good Grief yourself!! (and no expletives necessary!)