How would YOU answer the question Edwards paused on?

[Bicoastal]

He was asked for what? The single most important moral guiding force in his life? I doubt I could come up with an answer right away...Parents? Wife? Religion? Constitution? Code of Hammurabi? Cthulhu?

The nomination won't be one by the person who talks the fastest.

[valerief]

1. I knew it was the Jesus question. nt

[MadMaddie]

I think I would have answered like he did...

My parents, my mothers mother (grandmother) and my sister...my partner and the United States for the potential it has to be the moral compass for the world.

I think Edwards answered it correctly, if there is a correct answer.

[ecstatic]

2. all politicians should be prepared for this question nt

[Wetzelbill]

3. Jesus Christ, the one who did the Beatitudes

not the one who loves war and hates gays.

[MedleyMisty]

4. Gandhi

But I've got nothing against him taking a second. I wouldn't have been able to answer until last year when I really started reading Gandhi's writings.

[MannyGoldstein]

15. I Might Well Say That Too

Have you read his autobiography, The Story of My Experiments With Truth? Excellent reading.

[MedleyMisty]

23. Not yet

But I have it and will get to it soon. I started with the "essential writings" collection, and it was all the thoughts and feelings I'd had in my life but written and expressed much better than I could do it. Now all I've got to do is find the courage to live my beliefs the way that he did.

[Telly Savalas]

5. He should have answered "It's you, Brian Williams. You are my guiding force."

[BeyondGeography]

6. If I were Edwards, I would have said, my father

he wasn't a leader, but he taught me everything I needed to know about living a good life. If I'm a moral person, it's because of him and my mother...end of story.

[senseandsensibility]

7. He sounded very much NOT like a politician on that one

I thought.

[MazeRat7]

8. Buddha and/or the Dali Llama - that was easy. -nt

[fooj]

9. I believe Edwards to be a sincere and thoughtful man.

It didn't surprise me in the least that he would pause for a moment to reflect on that question. Honestly, I wouldn't expect ANYONE to answer immediately.

[sandnsea]

10. When he said his wife

and then his dad, I knew he was telling the truth. It was straight from the heart and he needs to do that all the time.

[GalleryGod]

38. I Agree 110%

Thanks for that sentiment.

[Mabus]

11. V

'nuff said.

[Bicoastal]

19. Vanadium? The soft and ductile silver-grey metal? 23 on the Periodic Table?

That's an odd answer, but sure, I guess so...go Vanadium!

[Mabus]

21. No, "V" as in "V for Vendetta"

He was willing to sacrifice himself to set things right.

[Bicoastal]

24. Good answer.

I actually thought you meant "V" for Victory, which made no sense. And I can't resist the smartass retort...

[Mabus]

25. LOL

After Brian Williams gave the "answer" or "pass" option to one of the questions early on, my answer to most of his dumb questions thereafter were "pass" and "can I have the real question now?".

[AlCzervik]

12. My Granpa Irv hands down. A great man and a great liberal.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

13. The Golden Rule works for me.

[Maru Kitteh]

14. Timely. n/t

[karlrschneider]

16. With the luxury of hindsight, I'd like to think I'd have answered "my own conscience"

But then I wasn't in the hot seat there...

[BeatleBoot]

17. My Answer Would Have Been....."ME"

That would be a down-to-Earth response.

I morally guide myself everyday.

When someone cuts me off in traffic, I have a moral debate:
"This jerk" versus "Look, he just made a mistake"

When I get a cup of coffee at work, I have a moral debate:
"There's Stacy from Accounting, she's so smokin'" versus "Look away, dude, it ain't right."

Yep, I morally guide myself everyday pretty much.

[Donnachaidh]

18. what? He loses points because he THOUGHT about a question?

Actually, it speaks VOLUMES about the man -- AND his opponents.

[frogcycle]

42. well, since they didn't ask it of anyone else

it really doesn't speak much about them

[aquart]

20. My mom.

Whenever I did something mean or selfish: "How would you feel if someone did that to you?"

[patrice]

22. I think it was "moral leader" and I would say me. You have to have

your moral peers who you can learn from and seek advice from, but when it comes down to deciding and doing what is right and not doing what is wrong, you have to stand all by yourself and not lean on others. You have to decide and act and throw that act into the void for no reason other than that it is right and without demanding reward.

[Gabi Hayes]

26. John Holmes?

[dflprincess]

27. My 2nd grade Catechism nun who taught me the Works of Mercy

Feed the hungry
House the homeless
Heal the sick
Clothe the naked
Give drink to the thirsty
Visit the imprisoned
Bury the dead
Comfort the bereaved

And, who taught us we will be judged by our acts, not by how often we went to church or who we prayed to.

[Colobo]

28. My mother.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

wow- interesting question.

Wish i could have heard/seen the debates... was prone on back on icepacks- doctor's orders...

[LSK]

29. I was expecting/hoping he said his wife

[ewoden]

30. Easy one . . .

My father, then my son. The first for me to reflect upon the legacy of honesty, integrty, compassion, and respect that I am bound to live up too. The second to establish the legacy he will be bound to surpass.

[Wetzelbill]

31. I take that back: I would have said "Jack Bauer"

That is my standard answer for the night.

[Mabus]

32. The future

The future of our planet's environment in particular. All other issues are moot without a habitable planet. The future of our planet's habitability should be the moral compass for all of us.

[rug]

33. Dorothy Day

[Ghost in the Machine]

34. That's easy! "Staying TRUE to MYSELF".

I don't much care what anyone else thinks about me. I'm not in this life trying to win a popularity contest, nor would I ever be considered Mr. Congeniality, I can't dance, and I'm too fat to fly. When the day comes that I can't look at myself in the mirror, I know it's time to do some serious soul searching and/or changing.

I've been there a couple of times in my life when I was younger. I've done my best to make sure I never go back there again. Ultimately, only YOU can determine what your own morality standards are. In other words.... "the things I wouldn't do for love nor money" ...

[Czolgosz]

35. Edwards did well (best overall) but that was a softball he missed. Correct answer: Elizabeth Edwards

[chimpymustgo]

37. Of course that was the quick, easy answer. But Edwards took a moment to ponder.

I think he hit it out the park. Put us on edge - we're all yelling "Elizabeth, Elizabeth"! But he knew that, took a few moments, and swung for the fences.

[mvd]

36. I think I would have answered it exactly like Edwards

:hi:

[jannyk]

39. I would have said 'my own conscience' - the buck stops here.

[frogcycle]

41. that would have been mine as well

probably not one the general public would admire though

[Synnical]

40. Myself, my parents, my upbringing

My ethical code of conduct, based on life experience.

He answered it exactly correctly.

[frogcycle]

43. an old Indian

[illinoisprogressive]

44. my cats

[hedgehog]

45. Thinking it over, I wonder if he wanted to say "the Lord "right off, but

didn't know how to come out and say it without sounding like he was pandering. He examined himself to be certain he was giving an honest answer. I was impressed.