The not-so-pretty boy

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/08/11/EDED128UQQ.DTL

The not-so-pretty boy
Debra J. Saunders

Monday, August 11, 2008

Debra J Saunders

John Edwards is done.

The pretty-boy candidate always was the biggest phony at any Democratic debate. He was the $400-haircut poster boy for poverty. The 28,000-square-foot mansion owner, who preached about global warming. The candidate who demanded that other Democrats swear off accepting contributions from Fox News baron Rupert Murdoch, after he pocketed a $500,000 advance - with an extra $300,000 for expenses - from Murdoch's Harper Collins. The man who ran as the doting husband of the cancer-battling Elizabeth Edwards while he was boffing an overpaid campaign aide.

If I were a Democrat, I would be spittin' mad. If Edwards had won his party's nomination for president, news of the affair most surely would have gotten out and the Democratic Party's chances of winning the White House would have evaporated instantly, as would-be supporters would have realized they can't believe a word the man says.

***************
By announcing that he told Elizabeth about the affair in 2006, Edwards has allowed his better half to share in his big lie.

Now neither Edwards is credible.

*******************************************

[Occam Bandage]

1. Pretty much. The dude is a fraud,

pure and simple. He started his center for poverty at Chapel Hill and then never showed up once he started campaigning. He had that great scholarship program, which he shut down after losing in '08. And then there's this:

Kerry talked with several potential picks, including Gephardt and Edwards. He was comfortable after his conversations with Gephardt, but even queasier about Edwards after they met. Edwards had told Kerry he was going to share a story with him that he'd never told anyone else—that after his son Wade had been killed, he climbed onto the slab at the funeral home, laid there and hugged his body, and promised that he'd do all he could to make life better for people, to live up to Wade's ideals of service. Kerry was stunned, not moved, because, as he told me later, Edwards had recounted the same exact story to him, almost in the exact same words, a year or two before—and with the same preface, that he'd never shared the memory with anyone else. Kerry said he found it chilling, and he decided he couldn't pick Edwards unless he met with him again.

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/the-lies-of-joh.html

[eshfemme]

53. This is probably one of the flaws of the Kerry campaign.

Although Kerry set an example with the fledgling use of the Web (he informed his mailing list first of his VP pick via email), he probably listened too much to the people urging him to pick Edwards, who was #2 at the time, as VP for a "Dream Ticket" when he really should have listened to himself. So I really hope Obama takes a lesson from this and listen to his own instincts and not some of his well-intentioned fans/advisers who are urging people on him for crappy reasons like polls or party unity.

In the end, the VP is the President's #2, his partner so Obama needs to be the one who's comfortable with him/her.

[MelissaB]

57. I had not heard that story.

Thanks! :hi:

[eridani]

61. Gephardt would have been a huge fecking bore

90% absenteeism from Congress even before he started campaigning.

[Dorian Gray]

74. I remember reading that years ago

and it's stuck with me ever since. It's really slimy, but I never had a link for it so didn't want to share it before. Thanks for sharing Occam. It's truly reprehensible if he was using his son's death in such a way.

[TheWraith]

2. Funny, I think, how all of the smears that the Republicans used to use are now coming from Dems.

Not saying Edwards isn't a tremendous idiot, because he is. But I find it disingenuous when people are defending against an attack one minute and parroting it the next.

[Demeter]

5. Debra Saunders is No Democrat

She is a bitch of the first water.

[TheWraith]

14. Maybe not, but a lot of people here are parroting the same thing.

Somebody saw fit to post this crap, and others agree with it.

[DangerDave921]

34. What???

So a woman you disagree with politically is a bitch??? That is really a degrading comment.

I don't know the woman, but I did read the link above. Pretty solid commentary on Edwards. You are free to disagree with her, even vehemently disagree, but I think calling her a bitch is uncalled for. How about you discuss her points, rather than belittle her and demean her.

[Demeter]

42. I Disagree With Her Writing, After Many Years of Observation

She's a leaner, meaner Maureen Dowd, without the occasional redemption of a pithy observation or charming turn of phrase.

[EFerrari]

46. Debara Saunders is a notorious wingnut. Google her.

If you find yourself agreeing with the rabid right, it may be time for a reality check.

Oh, and did I mention she's a bitch of the first water? :evilgrin:

[whathehell]

58. I believe it is "first order"

:evilgrin:

I just checked out the profile of the poster who found it demeaning to call this Saunders character a "bitch" because of her political leanings and found he was male.
It's discouraging to find male du'ers more gender-aware than the females...Are women their own worst enemies?....just wonderin'

[EFerrari]

67. Now, there's a leap. Maybe just more comfortable issuing orders.

:)

[whathehell]

72. What "orders"?...He was simply pointing out the obvious.

If you disagreed with an African-American who happened to be a Republican, I don't believe you would call him the "n-word".
..Get my drift?

[EFerrari]

73. No, the speech act was not "pointing out". lol

"How about you discuss her points, rather than belittle her and demean her."

And no, I wouldn't catch your drift with a mitt. :)

[whathehell]

75. I don't know what "speech act" you're talking about and I'm not sure

anyone else here does either...It seems you're "mitt" catches little:)

[EFerrari]

68. "Of the first water" -- from the gem trade

Meaning

Of the highest quality.

Origin

From the gem trade. The clarity of diamonds is assessed by their translucence; the more like water, the higher the quality. This comparison of diamonds with water dates back to at least the early 17th century, and Shakespeare alludes to it in Tymon of Athens, 1607. The 1753 edition of Chambers' Encyclopedia has this under an entry for 'Diamond':

"The first water in Diamonds means the greatest purity and perfection of their complexion, which ought to be that of the clearest drop of water. When Diamonds fall short of this perfection, they are said to be of the second or third water, &c. till the stone may be properly called a coloured one."


http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/137550.html

[leftynyc]

24. I watched the same thing happen

to Hillary Clinton during the primaries. I had to remind myself this was a left wing board at times. The language here and from freepers was remarkably similar.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

3. Ooh... is that an Hermes tie? Niiice. (n/t)

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. It's a really nice tie.

[aikoaiko]

11. It looks like it has little Goatses on it.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

13. Whatever turns you on.

( )O( )

[DS1]

15. little Goatses!

I love this place some times :rofl:

[EFerrari]

6. Why is this right wing garbage being posted here?

Debra Saunders is our local low rent Coulter. :shrug:

[saltpoint]

7. Agree. Seconded.

[Liberal_in_LA]

23. ooops. sorry.

[EFerrari]

40. Oh -- it's okay. Just heads up on this person.

:hi:

[PurityOfEssence]

43. Well, there goes the neighborhood...

This little episode certainly IS rather revealing about people's character, isn't it?

Thanks for pointing out that she's a bit of a trog; those who've never lived in the Bay Area presume the whole place is uniformly liberal, when it's really not so far from Kontra Kosta Kounty...

A sad incident all around, and one that will unfold and elaborate itself considerably over time.

Sigh.

[QC]

52. Because this is now a right wing site?

Sure sounds like one this past year or so.

[Egalitariat]

71. Because the new Fairness Doctrine rules require it?

nm

[Inspired]

8. "If I was a Democrat....." WTF?

[angstlessk]

18. "IF I were a Democrat.." and "IF he had won the nomination.."

well "IF I were a giant misquito" you, miss would be bloodless right about now!! what a dork!!

[AlCzervik]

25. Saunders is one of the conservative nut jobs at that paper.

[BulletproofLandshark]

9. Why post that RW trash here?

What's your motive?

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. Attention?

:shrug:

[TexasObserver]

10. he proved his critics right

[cali]

12. that doesn't excuse using the revolting wingnut Saunders

to make a case against him.

[Carolina]

20. exactly! Debra might be a right wing hack but

she summed things up perfectly in just a few lines.

Let's not forget his piss poor voting record for the 6 years he was in the Senate:

IWR - aye
Patriot Act - aye
Bankruptcy Bill - aye

:puke:

[TexasObserver]

37. As George Burns said - "Sincerity - when you can fake that, you've got it made."

Hell, I can't even kiss up to people I like.

This whole thing, coupled with him cratering on the Poverty Center, says he is phony to the core.

And for him to get on TV and say his wife and God have forgiven him, so he's good to go is just obnoxious to the max.

[Clark2008]

33. Hey! We agree for once!

I was one of his critics and he's proven me correct.

:hi:

[TexasObserver]

36. it's a sign of the Apocalypse

I thought that was supposed to happen in 2012.

I can't believe I backed the SOB until he got out.

Fifty years ago, Elizabeth's brothers would have whipped his ass for this, and I would be OK with that.

[Marr]

17. Somebody tell me again, please- why is this a story?

I'd understand if Edwards was a presidential candidate. I'd understand if the act he was caught in was something particularly weird, like Vitter and his diapers.

This just isn't news. This is a senator who had an extra-marital affair. Are we going to be seeing huge exposes on every senator who has (or had) a mistress? I was an Edwards supporter during the primaries and I have to say that I'm glad he didn't get the nomination now. But this isn't news.

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. Some here are just can't help themselves.

[cwydro]

63. It is a story

because he held himself up as a moral example.

He was against gay marriage because he saw that as morally wrong. Guess having a mistress is OK in his moral universe.

It is a story, because HE chose to go on national TV with a "confession", which was full of lies and omissions.

It is a story becuase it appears campaign money may have been used to pay off this woman.

I was an Edwards supporter for a long time. I believed the man was honest. I was duped and I am angry.

He is a liar. Period.

[Sugar Smack]

21. That's a mediocre take on last week's story.

Saunders is late to the party.

[puerco-bellies]

22. Post your Freeper shit on another site.

Perhaps you logged on to the wrong account.

[Midlodemocrat]

26. .

:applause:

This shit has no place here.

[Pastiche423]

27. What part of the article

do you find untrue?

[Liberal_in_LA]

29. amen!

[EFerrari]

48. For me, it's not the facts but the framing.

I tend to look to facts but for most people, the frame is the thing.

Look at how she so enjoys trampling on Elizabeth, for example. That's just disgusting.

[Pastiche423]

49. I'll go w/the truth

And the truth is factual. Elizabeth's name is mentioned twice in the entire piece. How is that trampling Elizabeth?

It was Elizabeth that made the decision to Stand By Her Man. W/decisions come consequences.

Beth, I realize that you supported him during the primaries and I don't mean to hurt your feelings. But, I've known about this preening poseur for a long time and it's impossible for me to not be happy that his true colors are finally shining through for everyone to see.

When I heard that his '08 presidential issue was Poverty, I about fell out of my w/c. WTF? This rich poseur that had cut down acres of trees during Climate Change and had gone to work for a hedge fund to learn about poverty was simply not to be believed.

And I was right. As soon as he realized he wasn't going to even be asked to be the VP, he closed the Poverty Center, as well as his Scholarship Fund. Why keep them going? They were only props.

A lot of people were tricked by him and I feel for them. Yet, I am damn glad that he will not be our president or VP.

[Liberal_in_LA]

28. Take your senstive ass to a website that coddles the delusional

I logged in correctly

[DangerDave921]

31. ROFL

There are some on DU who want an educated discussion of issues. And there are some who want 24/7 rah-rah cheerleading. To the latter, the discussion of negatives -- even if 100% true -- is somehow unseemly and should be forbidden.

Warts and all, I say.

[cwydro]

64. Thank you.

Agreed.

[Stuckinthebush]

45. Good one

I'm amazed at some DUers defending of Edwards. I was one of his strongest supporters in my area. Upon hearing about his duplicity I have made a correction to my attitude about him. I think he is a low life.

That being said, I'm moving on. He'll never have a future in politics. I hope Elizabeth is well and moves on too.

[Kahuna]

62. He is a low life phony. I don't get why anybody would defend or excuse

his actions. I always suspected he was a phony and he has proven me right. I'm not happy about that. I was hoping he would someday prove me wrong. He hasn't. But for all those who believed in the Edwards, I hope he receives swift retribution for his actions. He needs to be scorned not pitied. And certainly not defended.

[Liberal_in_LA]

30. Thank gawd the rest of us didn't listen to the Edwards-fans

We put up with so called liberals insinuating that Obama was a poor choice cuz he's black. BECAUSE HE"S BLACK. Now that Edwards imploded we can't discuss it?

[kestrel91316]

32. Edwards, like other men who cheat, is a FOOL. He is not evil.

He tried, as they do, to conceal his philandering.

He is also a private citizen at this point, and while this episode serves as a lesson in why we should always keep an eye out for dishonesty in our politicians, what went on or might still be going on in his personal life is now none of my goddamned business.

[DangerDave921]

35. Except

that he was being considered for a slot in the Obama presidency -- VP, AG, or SCOTUS.

[kestrel91316]

38. "was being considered" is not a public office.

His situation was legitimately a concern of Obama's at this point. Not mine.

[October]

55. He hurt the party

He should've known better than to run for office while carrying on an affair. WTF? I never thought he'd be so stupid. I am deeply disappointed.

[FloridaJudy]

39. Umm...so he's rich...and he had an affair...

It makes me think less of him that he cheated on Elizabeth, but doesn't make him any less qualified to run for office.

The same could be said of FDR and JFK, for crying out loud. Edwards is no FDR, and I think his stance on GBLT issues stinks - particularly in light of his own "family values" - but I'm more concerned about his positions on Iraq, civil liberties and the economy than any he takes in the bedroom. And I care a lot more that he paid his mistress out of campaign funds than that he had one in the first place.

His family's had enough grief. His career is over. Leave them in peace.

[Dogtown]

41. Moving on...

:eyes:

[Stuckinthebush]

44. Amen

He's scum.

Moving on.

[lumberjack_jeff]

47. What moralistic crap.

Edwards told his wife what he had done in 2006, and neither had the common decency to tell you? This makes it worse? This makes Elizabeth culpable?

It was none of your fucking business. I wouldn't tell you either.

[Carolina]

59. Au contraire, THEY made it our business

when THEY CHOSE to launch a campaign for POTUS. Any Dem in the post Clinton era, any fool in the internet, camera phone age... should know you can't keep this kind of shit under wraps.

I would never have expected Edwards to tell us of his affair, BUT he should have stayed away from national politics. And now he should slink away into obscurity!

[Marrah_G]

50. RW anti-Dem Bullshit- Go post it on FR

[Liberal In Texas]

51. "If I were a Democrat..." Consider the source. What's next, some posted quotes from Limpballs?

Aargh.

[bluesmail]

54. Just get over it.

[dysfunctional press]

56. he's now our very own version of newt gingrich...maybe he can re-tool himself in a couple decades...

but not too many one-term senators make it to the rank of "elder statesman".
rather he was a flash in the pan that's lost it's sizzle.

back to chasing ambulances...unless of course he becomes a big-money lobbyist for the insurance industry.

what a fuckin' schmuck he turned out to be.

[Two Americas]

60. "if I were a Democrat..." n/t

...

[cwydro]

65. Excerpt from a letter to the Charlotte Observer

"Tirelessly reminding us he is the “son of a mill worker,” he recently discontinued a thin reed of hope, his short-lived College for Everyone program, offered for “any student wishing to work hard” and serving as a “model for the nation under an Edwards presidency.”

Role model, faithful husband, trusted public servant? You decide."

Interesting.

[bdamomma]

66. he is not a murderer like the one who is sitting in the WH.

[Lance_Boyle]

69. he co-sponsored the Enabling Act

enthusiastically.

John Edwards is no innocent in the Iraq mess.

[undeterred]

70. He turns my stomach.

Especially remembering the people here who said that he would win the nomination because he was good looking. Dennis Kucinich didn't have the good looks, but he was the real deal. He really cares about the poor and the uninsured, and he isn't always posturing. I just wish more people could have seen that John Edwards is a fraud on every level.

[opihimoimoi]

76. THE POOR DUDE GOT SET UP...they sent this groupie to him knowing he was in a weakened frame of mind

He was set up by them Pubs...influenced by Satan....

These guys are all about destroying other peoples lives....her baby is prolly not his....only way to find out is blocked...???

[cwydro]

79. Um,

what?

[question everything]

77. "Now neither Edwards is credible."

Sadly, but true.

[GreenPartyVoter]

78. "Edwards has allowed his better half to share in his big lie."??!! Who is she

to smear Elizabeth like that?!

[LisaL]

80. I always believed the guy was phony.

But I still didn't expect him doing what he did, getting a mistress, paying her to make a movie about him.