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Elizabeth Edwards Speaks Out on Husband's Affair
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ShareAugust 08, 2008 8:34 PM
ABC News' Jennifer Parker reports: Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former Sen. John Edwards has reacted to the news of her husband's affair, posting a blog titled "Today" on the liberal Daily Kos Web site, asking for privacy for her family.
In her statement, Elizabeth Edwards says her husband told her about the affair in 2006 and they worked through it. "This was our private matter," she writes.
She heaps blame on the news media for prying into her family's life, writing, "the toll on our family of news helicopters over our house and reporters in our driveway is yet unknown."
She disputes the National Enquirer allegations that her husband fathered a child outside of their marriage.
The Elizabeth Edwards statement on Daily Kos reads: "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 I hope you watch. Admitting one’s mistakes is a hard thing for anyone to do, and 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."
Elizabeth Edwards ended her statement with an appeal for privacy for her family: "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."
August 8, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary | Permalink | User Comments (135)
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My thoughts and prays go out to the Edward's family..I hope my fellow Republicans will show professionalism in Not taking advantage of this tragic event...this is not the time to play politics Let's show others how we can play grown-up...signed a devoted Republican
Posted by: REPUB | Aug 8, 2008 8:47:42 PM
Jon in Orlando - You make some good points. McCain would be wise to say "no comment".
Posted by: Ben Straub | Aug 8, 2008 9:03:53 PM
maybe now elizabeth edwards will take a real hard look at her negative comments of hillary. elizabeth, please don't be another woman that stands at the podium gazing into her adulterous husband's eyes.
Posted by: no stand by your man woman | Aug 8, 2008 9:09:11 PM
Jon in Orlanda, see above, I believe It should also apply to Dems..This should not be about politics..this family is hurting. Send well wishes..Because I can guarantee my fellow repubs can be just as cunning with their messages.........
Posted by: REPUB | Aug 8, 2008 9:11:11 PM
My heart felt sympathy for Elizabeth Edwards. She didn't deserve such a horrible disregard for the vows this man made to her. I hold him in contempt and feel he is as low as McCain who married his mistress and shamlessly acts like its nothing. Why don't our politicians have any honor or is this the type of men who run for office? I hope Obama is a better man and nothing comes out. He is our last hope.
Posted by: Brenda | Aug 8, 2008 9:18:16 PM
I have even more respect for Edwards knowing that he told his wife and family about this at the time it happened. It takes a strong person to do that, work through it and admit your wrong doings. He could have swept it under the rug. I think it is a shame for all he is dropping out because of this. These matters are nobody's business but those involved.
Posted by: ck | Aug 8, 2008 9:19:18 PM
Brenda - Actually I thought Ron Paul was our only hope! So far Obama seems to have a good solid family to which he is committed. I have great hope for him in the oval office.
Posted by: Ben Straub | Aug 8, 2008 9:20:42 PM
Ben..I could NEVER defend a statement such as that..I agree it was way over the top..most repubs I know would shake their head in amazement...we should not take advantage of a situation at the expense of someone mis-fortunes especially when kids are involved....devoted repub...
Posted by: REPUB | Aug 8, 2008 9:24:53 PM
Re-Nancy Nancy, it's that thought pattern that has led America into a winless war and 1 trillion in debt.
Posted by: Nancy Pastor | Aug 8, 2008 9:26:09 PM
REPUB - Agreed. By the way I also lean republican, but I don't pick based on brand but rather substance. Probably why I liked Dr. Paul. I respect John for coming clean to his wife when this happened. Given what she was and has been going through, I imagine it was eating him up inside.
Posted by: Ben Straub | Aug 8, 2008 9:27:41 PM
man is weak. lets look at our own faults and spend a lifetime trying to conquer them before we look at others' faults and failings.
Posted by: ron | Aug 8, 2008 9:27:58 PM
Pluuueeezzz - You can not beg for privacy if you knowingly run for office of President of the United States especially with this in your closet. He lied and he lied well. He's most likely still lying. Interesting bunch these politicians
Posted by: Independent | Aug 8, 2008 9:28:51 PM
This is perfectly timed to try to keep the spotlight off McCain while Obama is on vacation. It's obvious.
Posted by: Pete | Aug 8, 2008 9:29:08 PM
Edwards totally admits that he is an ego-centric (as if that is news). It makes perfect sense that he endorsed Obama, Obama is equally arrogant. It's high time that we elect a woman to the top office to get on with the problems in the country. Bring Hillary back!!
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Aug 8, 2008 9:32:12 PM
Ben and ron agree 100%....
Posted by: REPUB | Aug 8, 2008 9:41:33 PM
However "personal" you feel this is, he ran for President and is arguably angling for other positions (e.g., Attorney General, Supreme Court Justice) all the while knowing this was in the background, had a chance to come out and hurt his party. God forbid he actually got the nomination and this came out now. Better we know now how bad his judgment (not just the affair, the assumption it would remain 'private') before there is a chance for more damage.
Posted by: mp | Aug 8, 2008 9:50:22 PM
Get real. Edwards is a jerk. He came first before his family.Just thinks about himself. No other name for for someone like him. No sympathy for losers!!!
Posted by: rp | Aug 8, 2008 10:04:21 PM
In the blog, Elizabeth Edwards says her husband told her about the affair in 2006 and they worked through it. "This was our private matter," she writes.
#############
If the affair is over, what was he doing in Rielle Hunter's hotel room recently in the wee hours of the morning?
Edwards said, "In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic."
There you have it. And this is not a Republican or a Democrat problem. It's an "American" problem. I suspect that this kind of narcissistic behavior amongst our "glorious leaders" is rather common. Bad news for ALL Americans.
Posted by: Vituperator | Aug 8, 2008 10:10:51 PM
Dear Elizabeth I wish you all the best but i feel that you are so smart and such a kind person that your judgement will be absolutely right for you and your children and that is all that counts.good luck to you
Posted by: laura | Aug 8, 2008 10:16:36 PM
Another fine example of Democratic Family Values.
Posted by: Kelly | Aug 8, 2008 10:30:59 PM
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