RSS Feeds
Contact Us |
|
|||||||||||||
Columnists » Eby
Article rated a 0
by 0
users |
~ADVERTISING~
Edwards likely out of politics after scandal
By CHARLOTTE EBY
They seemed like such a picture-perfect American family as they campaigned across Iowa, a presidential candidate and his supportive wife accompanied by their young children.
But John Edwards' admission that he stepped out on his wife, Elizabeth, quickly changed the perceptions of Iowa Democrats who handed him second-place finishes in both the 2004 and 2008 caucuses.
The man who earlier this decade was pegged as a rising star in the Democratic Party is now its latest pariah, the result of a sex scandal.
Although Edwards had long been out of the race, some reports had placed him in contention for a spot on Barack Obama's ticket this year. Edwards appeared to have a bright future ahead.
But the difficulty for Edwards is that he already had a sincerity problem on his hands. The affair solidified those doubts and caused many of his ardent backers to rethink their loyalty.
Critics felt Edwards lived a lifestyle of extravagance in sharp contrast to his public image as a champion for the poor.
The Edwards family owns a house that would be considered a mansion by most middle-class standards. Edwards' $400 haircuts added to the discord.
Defenders argued the son of a mill worker should be able to enjoy the financial success he built as a trial lawyer. Others saw past the regular-guy persona, which Edwards cultivated in his latest campaign by donning blue jeans on the campaign trail in Iowa.
Edwards made lifting Americans out of poverty one the defining issues of his presidential campaigns, a social problem other contenders only touched on. Union members saw a champion for workers' rights in Edwards.
Although John Edwards was the candidate, he and his wife always seemed like a package deal.
Elizabeth was her husband's fiercest defender and one of his campaign's most effective weapons, dishing out criticism of his rivals so he could maintain a more positive tone.
The public's familiarity with Elizabeth and her struggles with incurable cancer made the news of the affair even less forgivable.
After Edwards' star has fallen, it's questionable whether he'll have the same platform to push the issues of poverty and access to health care that he and his wife promoted.
Edwards cancelled an appearance at an Iowa conference on solutions to poverty after going public with the affair, and some of Edwards' biggest Iowa supporters have started to back away.
Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo who endorsed Edwards, wouldn't speculate on what's next for him.
"When you've run for president twice, most people would consider that the pinnacle of their political careers, and I think most people who have done that would be looking to move on and do something else with their lives," Braley said.
Next for Edwards is a period of soul-searching as he cares for an ill wife.
The son of a mill worker has fought his way up the ladder of success against the odds. It's not out of the realm of possibility that he can fight his way back from this scandal, although it likely won't be for another round in politics.
If Edwards can find another channel to fight against poverty in the country and lift up working people, he will likely have found his true calling.
But John Edwards' admission that he stepped out on his wife, Elizabeth, quickly changed the perceptions of Iowa Democrats who handed him second-place finishes in both the 2004 and 2008 caucuses.
The man who earlier this decade was pegged as a rising star in the Democratic Party is now its latest pariah, the result of a sex scandal.
Although Edwards had long been out of the race, some reports had placed him in contention for a spot on Barack Obama's ticket this year. Edwards appeared to have a bright future ahead.
But the difficulty for Edwards is that he already had a sincerity problem on his hands. The affair solidified those doubts and caused many of his ardent backers to rethink their loyalty.
Critics felt Edwards lived a lifestyle of extravagance in sharp contrast to his public image as a champion for the poor.
The Edwards family owns a house that would be considered a mansion by most middle-class standards. Edwards' $400 haircuts added to the discord.
Defenders argued the son of a mill worker should be able to enjoy the financial success he built as a trial lawyer. Others saw past the regular-guy persona, which Edwards cultivated in his latest campaign by donning blue jeans on the campaign trail in Iowa.
Edwards made lifting Americans out of poverty one the defining issues of his presidential campaigns, a social problem other contenders only touched on. Union members saw a champion for workers' rights in Edwards.
Although John Edwards was the candidate, he and his wife always seemed like a package deal.
Elizabeth was her husband's fiercest defender and one of his campaign's most effective weapons, dishing out criticism of his rivals so he could maintain a more positive tone.
The public's familiarity with Elizabeth and her struggles with incurable cancer made the news of the affair even less forgivable.
After Edwards' star has fallen, it's questionable whether he'll have the same platform to push the issues of poverty and access to health care that he and his wife promoted.
Edwards cancelled an appearance at an Iowa conference on solutions to poverty after going public with the affair, and some of Edwards' biggest Iowa supporters have started to back away.
Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo who endorsed Edwards, wouldn't speculate on what's next for him.
"When you've run for president twice, most people would consider that the pinnacle of their political careers, and I think most people who have done that would be looking to move on and do something else with their lives," Braley said.
Next for Edwards is a period of soul-searching as he cares for an ill wife.
The son of a mill worker has fought his way up the ladder of success against the odds. It's not out of the realm of possibility that he can fight his way back from this scandal, although it likely won't be for another round in politics.
If Edwards can find another channel to fight against poverty in the country and lift up working people, he will likely have found his true calling.
More Stories from Columnists » Eby
fatman2 wrote on Aug 17, 2008 12:25 PM:
" Edwards will admit paternity within a month - with another insincere, tearful apology. What a scumbag. Considering he's an attorney who made millions on bogus lawsuits and likes $400 haircuts, I wouldn't expect less. "
unionlabel wrote on Aug 17, 2008 1:38 PM:
" Its a shame that the mainstream media didn't report this story before the Iowa caucus..that way Hillary would have rightfully won the nomination.
Obama-Kilpatrick 2008
The Dream Team "
Obama-Kilpatrick 2008
The Dream Team "
jeroze wrote on Aug 17, 2008 2:11 PM:
" union label: I certainly am not understanding that the information about Edwards would have helped Hillary. I am remembering that some of the Iowa super delegates who were at first pledged to Edwards switched not to Hillary but to Barack? And I am also remembering how many superdelegates switched from Hillary to Obama? In our precinct Hillary came in a distant third with Edwards first and Obama a close second. "
barbie200455 wrote on Aug 18, 2008 2:26 AM:
" If Jesse Jackson can have an affair and illegitimate child, why can't anyone else?? I didn't find Edwards affair surprising at all, and while I don't condone it, it's not all that uncommon these days, sick wife or not. He is human, and he made some mistakes. It's not like he's the only one in the world to do so. If you are looking for a perfect candidate to win the white House, you are fooling yourself-there is none. I do feel for his family-no one needs this sort of public humiliation and he should have known it would come out. There are people out there just dying to get into everyone else's business. I just hope that his wife kneed him in the groin a few times before she got even more ill. Serves him right. He told her over the phone-now how bad is that?? "
xdfred wrote on Aug 18, 2008 8:41 AM:
" Bye. And good riddance to another totally dishonest self serving shyster. "
Reader54 wrote on Aug 18, 2008 9:23 AM:
" It is just another case of a rich/famous person taking advantage of his situation thinking they are able to get away with something!
It is awful that anyone does something like this, let alone someone who is to be setting high standards. "
It is awful that anyone does something like this, let alone someone who is to be setting high standards. "
jb wrote on Aug 18, 2008 3:35 PM:
" It's a shame he had to put his wife and kids through this, but at least this shallow hypocrite is out of politics. Maybe he just needs to go back to chasing ambulances and suing doctors out of business. "
jeroze wrote on Aug 19, 2008 1:40 PM:
" Reader 54 and jb both answer the question asked on the another blog on this website that asked "What difference does it make if McCain had an affair?" Though it was thirty some years ago I expect that his family suffered just as does the Edwards family, as did the Clinton family, as did the Jimmy Bakker family, as did the Jimmy Swaggart family, as did the Martin Luther King family and the Jesse Jackson family. Oh what high a price is paid for the excitement of being unfaithful. And how equally true is that many have experienced this first hand. "
Stana wrote on Aug 20, 2008 12:15 AM:
" I was a Ewards supporter and I am disspointed but not surprised. Ask me why? ( if you don't already have the answer) "
(return of) joe wrote on Aug 20, 2008 12:16 PM:
" Well, I guess that if Jesse Helms, a lifelong racist, can father a love child to a black woman, Newt Gingrich can leave his wife dying at her death bed of cancer for another woman, and John McCain can leave his wife for another, heck, why can't Edwards just join the republican team? "
Stana wrote on Aug 20, 2008 3:47 PM:
" Well Reader54, money and power are intoxicating and leads to some really big egos and woman who chase after "that man" who has it all. They cheat cause they can, they think they are above the fray because of thier money and power.
The arrogance of cheating and running for President. Wow. "
The arrogance of cheating and running for President. Wow. "
Due to the amount of spam and negative comments received, the Courier implement a registered-user system for participation in the comment portion of our site. In doing so, the Courier reserves the right to ban any user(s) at any time without notice if we feel they are not following the terms of agreement.
DISCLAIMER: The Courier provides our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. For a more in-depth explanation of our policy, please see our Rules of the Road. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.
~ADVERTISEMENT~
NEWS |
SPORTS |
COMMUNITY |
BUSINESS |
ENTERTAINMENT |
FEATURES |
OPINIONS |
OBITUARIES |
CLASSIFIEDS |
PRIVACY POLICY |
CONTACT US |
CARRIER PAGES
|
jeroze wrote on Aug 17, 2008 7:53 AM: