We’re shocked, SHOCKED — Susan Kaiser Greenland & Seth Greenland
3:20pmSusan
Edwards came clean.
3:23pmSeth
In the words of Captain Reynaud in Casablanca, “I’m shocked, SHOCKED.”
3:24pmSusan
Guess there’s not much to say.
3:26pmSeth
I hear Mitt Romney was caught with a cheerleader. Kidding! But, frankly, nothing would surprise me.
3:28pmSusan
Family issues aside, I don’t know which is worse - that Edwards carried on the charade while so many people were working on and donating to his campaign oblivious to the fact that at some point he’d get caught - or that it’s the end of a promising political career. He is someone who could have done a lot of good for a country that needs a lot of help.
3:29pmSeth
I think the real problem is we as Americans have conflated someone’s ability to solve policy problems with their ability to remain monogamous. The two things are not related. Edwards was trying to be the President, not the Leader of the Scout Troop.
3:31pmSusan
Monogamous is one thing, stupid is another. How could he possibly have campaigned for President as if this wouldn’t come to light?
3:32pmSeth
I feel badly for his wife on a human level - she’s certainly getting the short end of a lot of sticks - but the fact that he was messing around with a videographer means that he is no longer allowed to take part in the debate about how to solve America’s intractable problems? The connection is a little tenuous.
3:35pmSusan
He was in a woman’s hotel room last week at 2am, yet says now that the affair was over 2006. He thinks he can sneak out of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in the middle of the night knowing that the Nat’l Enquirer is on to the story. Is this a guy whose judgment you would trust overseeing the clandestine services?
3:38pm Seth
I would trust him to plan the espionage, but maybe not to carry it out. Obviously, he is lacking in judgment. What amazes me is that, given the level of scrutiny these people face – and this is someone who has already been through a national campaign – Edwards would think he could somehow get away with it.
Never mind that he’s run as a guy whose family biography defines him, that he’s used the tragedy of his son’s death and his wife’s cancer to give him everyman bona fides: here’s a guy who knows the rules of the game and yet made the completely idiotic choice.
3:39pmSusan
Edwards knew what the stakes were and yet he took an incredible risk. It’s as if he has become Evel Knievel and had to jump over the 100 monster trucks just for the thrill of it.
3:43pmSeth
I saw her picture, I’d rather jump over 100 monster trucks.
3:47pmSusan
Hey let’s not pile on Rielle. Her boyfriend just stepped up on the international stage to tell the world he doesn’t love her.
3:51pmSeth
You’re right, my swipe was gratuitous. It was just meant as a joke, kinda like Edwards’ image.
Read more on this story in the posts John Edwards, Father of the Year? and Dog bites man again.
About the Author: Check out Susan Kaiser Greenland's post about why she started blogging again 
amy | Aug 10, 2008 | Reply
I am unsettled by the whole edwards thing and am trying to figure out why it feels different than clinton. Obviously, his wife/mother of his kids had/has terminal cancer. Also, he scolded Clinton, i think, for his immoral meanderings. Edwards also presented himself as a moral leader (always a red flag for a hypocrite in my opinion).
And the ‘other woman’–hard to know–I do wonder about someone who gets involved with a man knowing his wife is battling terminal cancer but who knows what she knew. This is a woman who, according to Newsweek, wanted to pitch a story to Darren Star (of ’sex and city’ and ‘bh90210′ fame) about women who have affairs with married men to get them out of dysfunctional marriages.
This is a woman who now, has a daughter, and maybe at some point in the future, might think about what her actions did to Elizabeth Edwards and also to the Edwards’ children (other than maybe hers). Of course, only part of the story has been revealed but it is interesting because it pushes all kinds of buttons in me, and in my girlfriends/fellow moms.
i do wonder if all the other political figures (and candidates?) who have buried extramarital affairs are sleeping less well these days. I personally believe that it is none of my beeswax what political candidates do in their personal lives but when they are hypocritical or cross some line of sleazoidosity in my value judgement, I do take note.