Friday, September 19, 2008
Elizabeth Edwards broke her silence and spoke to the Detroit Free Press this week about her husband's affair, her ongoing battle with cancer, and the legacy she wants to leave her children. Her courage never ceases to impress me.
At the end of the piece, reporter Patricia Anstett writes,
Her setbacks give her insight that lets her focus on "issues that still matter to me, and on the children who are the center of my life." She said she finds comfort in "Anthem," a Leonard Cohen song whose lyrics she has posted in her kitchen and home office in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Reciting the words, Edwards said: "Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Comments
rockandrollgrandma (rockandrollgrandma) says...
I must say this woman is incredible. And I understand her position, she's trying to protect her children. But I still wish she hadn't let him off the hook. Hopefully behind closed doors it's not so comfy for him. There's much more to this story than meets the eye.
September 19, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GranitaToGo (anonymous) says...
I don't feel like his affair is any of my business, I don't like private family business being discussed around the globe. This couple has been through very bad times together; that they still can communicate is really a hopeful sign for the rest of us. I wonder if Mr. Edwards wasn't going through a vulnerable time. Such a shame to lose a great presidential candidate over something that is personal.
September 20, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
golfergirl (anonymous) says...
When you are in the public eye and, my gosh, especially running for president - nothing is private. It should be, yes, but it isn't. John Edwards knows that and yet he risked everything. Who could have been more vulnerable than his wife, at the time? I was a fan of his. No more. The damage is done and it is irreparable. Everyone is contrite when they get caught. I'm getting tired of the whole predictable cycle.
September 20, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GranitaToGo (anonymous) says...
I don't agree that we have to buy into the whole your famous, shame on you cycle. being in the public eye does not mean you, your family and relationships can be scrutinized. An affair is something to be worked out by the couple and their pastor or counselor. John Edwards told his wife, she knew and they worked on the problem in their marriage in their own way. Elizabeth Edwards was vulnerable and so was John Edwards. No one has a right to judge, for a stranger to judge or blame is just mean.
NOW EDwards is out, a prez candidate with plans to lift people out of poverty and stand up for people that are going to work everyday not knowing when they'll get that pink slip or even if they will have their pension that they've paid into all their lives.
McCain is running as a Maverick yet he was involved in the Silverado/Savings &Loan debacle. Even though that situation has characteristics of today's financial chicanery no one cares.
It's good for the Repb. the other woman didn't care or respect the Edwards' enough to keep a private issue private. I wonder how many people are REALLY going to vote for a person with dark skin.
September 20, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Suzy (anonymous) says...
The problem I have with John Edwards is he knew that secret was out there, with its tremendous potential to blow apart the Democratic Party in a year when the Dems otherwise had many advantages, and he didn't bow out. Edwards might have become the nominee, the VP candidate, an important campaigner with a tacit promise of a cabinet seat, and a revelation of adultery at that point would have been disastrous to his ticket and to all the rest of us who have suffered under the current GOP regime. What hubris. That's personal ambition at the expense of one's country.
The smaller problem I have with Elizabeth Edwards is that she knew too, and yet she encouraged him forward. I agree that she's a courageous person in a tough situation, and I do admire the way she's handling it, save that one detail.
I wouldn't say no one cares about the S&L scandal, or about any of the other problems associated with McCain and Palin. A great many of us — a majority, I hope — care and are planning not to vote Republican. That doesn't mean that we must convince ourselves that because the Republican candidate is immoral, it's acceptable that a Democrat also can be.
September 20, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GranitaToGo (anonymous) says...
Hi ladies! I don't know if both of the candidates are immoral or not. I'm not perfect so I don't judge people on personal matters. I will never know the truth about someone's adultery,only how other people judge it; even though they don't know the intimate truth of the matter.
I know one candidate had marital problems.
I know the other candidate was involved in criminal activities that others were punished for during the S&L scandal. The worse thing from the S&L bailout was the hurt it did to many, many regular people and their families. That's the type of issue that I look at to chose a person for government office.
I understand that McCain was in extramarital relationships including with his present wife while still married. Maybe since that was centuries ago we don't see that up on the scorecard!!!
It seems that adultery goes with powerful people, something about the psychology of power and people wanting to be close to power.
I don't know if it's hubris from John Edwards looking at his life's work, he doesn't seem like that kind of person. Maybe he was so worried about Elizabeth he was focused on her and not about the emotions of the rest of the world concerning what happened.
What it comes down to is:
I'm not understanding why adultery is an issue having to do with elections. It doesn't seem reasonable to me.
It's not something I even want to know about anyone let alone my leaders!!! I guess I'm out of the mainstream on this one.
September 20, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lostinthe70s (anonymous) says...
I agree with you in theory, Granita, but golfergirl is right -- to take any risk during a campaign is just arrogant and/or weak and/or stupid. And I don't want someone like that running the country. I have seen the tapes of John Edwards' lover interviewing him for the documentary she was making while they were on the road on the campaign, and it made me sick.
September 21, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GranitaToGo (anonymous) says...
Oh dear, I hope i NEVER see that. that's the kind of thing i don't want to know about. i listen to podcasts of news over the internet, that's how i learned of McCain's past meanness to his first wife. I wonder if they will show pics of that. . . hope not!! I'm sticking to listening not watching. (Still I don't think I can pass judgement, I hope Edwards' will have a stronger marriage, I can't help it my heart goes out to them after losing their son and all.)Anyway, I wanted Bill Richardson in the primaries . . . people should ask me NOT to support them, I think, the person I support never even gets very far!
September 23, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Margo (anonymous) says...
I think we'd all be wise to consider her quote:
"Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Nobody's perfect.
September 24, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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