What if Elizabeth Edwards were invited to speak at the convention?

I know that sounds counterintuitive -- normally you want to whitewash an incident like this.

But Elizabeth has done nothing wrong and has been very wronged herself. She's been a strong supporter of healthcare.

Wouldn't it be a strong statement to have her stand up and tell people that the important thing is to support the issues that affect every American, rather than to focus on the tawdry goings-on of the political elite?

"Recent events in my life pale in comparison to the tragedy experienced by families devastated by an ailing loved one, the catastrophic debt of trying to pay medical bills, and the inability to get that person the care that is needed."

If she's up to it, it would certainly get major media attention and focus on a very key issue.

I'm not saying she *should* do it, nor that she should be coerced into doing it. I think that if she were to do it, she would show a strength that could only be universally respected. I also think that it would turn a minus into a very big plus.

And Elizabeth is entitled to her privacy and dignity.

they should just go ahead and ban any attendies who have the names John or Edwards.... that's how dangerous this thing is. lol

Already people are going to look back and wonder why this is happening to the first black nominee.

It wouldn't have happened if Hillary had won by the same margin...Obama and Michelle wouldn't be taking up two nights.

And now you want to draw attention to some guy we almost made the mistake of nominating???

...and at the same time demonstrate through strength of character how important that issue is to her.

Many of the sensationalist stories would be replaced by sound bytes of her words on national healthcare and its importance. Her example would be a source of pride rather than shame.

is so terrible, and she may still be in shock and figuring out how to deal with the media frenzy.

This is not wanted.

There is nothing she has to be ashamed of, nor should she be punished for it.

Further, the fact that she would be showing how important the issues are to her, and the fact that no amount of salacious crap is going to stop her from supporting those issues would speak volumes about her character, and would get at least some of the focus back where it belongs.

Everyone would be listening.

I'm all for cancer awareness but this is Obama's nominating convention. I'd have no problem if it were just about cancer. But this would no longer be about cancer it would be look at the poor woman the heartless Democrat cheated on.

HELL NO. Are you insane or is this some Hillary 2012 prank?

*That's* what is important to Elizabeth. That's what people would be hearing when she spoke. That's what the media cycles would be covering. It's an important difference between Obama and McCain that would be highlighted.

With no appearance by her, they'll all be talking about "The Two People Who Aren't Here" and the dumbass story behind it.

The coverage I mean. She's the victim here, but Obama shouldn't pay the price for Edwards infidelity.

The Edwards story will be there no matter what. But to focus the media on her issues rather than the sleaze would be to turn a minus into a plus.

Yes, there will still be a lot of sleaze talk. But they could not avoid discussing what she said. If she said it well, it would be the medicine of the healthcare issue helped down Americas throat with the sugar of a salacious story it can't resist.

I think it would be brilliant to have Elizabeth address health care issues.

She won't be stealing anyone's thunder. The Democratic Party's thunder should be about our issues and our ideals. I strongly support Elizabeth speaking at the convention.

It seems to me that it *might* be a good idea, but I'm pretty far from being a political or public relations expert.

I just submitted it as a thought for consideration. It doesn't seem to be a popular idea, but I also don't see a lot of people truly considering it. The seem to be giving it the dog poop treatment. ("If it smells bad, just get as far away from it as possible.")

I still tend to think her speaking might be a pretty powerful moment that could help Obama, help her cause in healthcare, and help her win the admiration of many people -- whether or not she cares about that last item.

I appreciate the support for the idea, but thanks especially for the consideration you gave it.

I'm blown away by some of the posts I've been reading today.

No.

The adultry thing is already out there. It will be discussed ad nauseum.

This is about force-feeding the media a real issue: national healthcare.

She would be a distraction from it.

It would *not* be ignored. There would be talk about her personal life, of course, but her words would be heard by more people than ever before.

she prefers working behind the scenes.

So now you want to bring her out on the national stage at the convention for a standing ovation of PITY APPLAUSE.

SHE'D HATE IT.

Any other distracting message we can think up?

...but who also has a very important message.

If they were to have her speak, everyone would watch, she would become a symbol of the strength and determination of women, and what she said about national healthcare would probably be the most watched and discussed speech of the convention.

She'd be a monster distraction. Not fair. Which is yet another reason I don't understand people defending Edwards.

I think Elizabeth deserves to be left alone - she probably wants to shut the door on the world outside right now.

If I was her I would toss the TV out the window, lock the door and start reading "War & Peace" as I had always planned to do sometime.

Just to make the sensational story.

...to turn the media's love of a sensational story into coverage of her cause?

It would be about Bill Clinton's problem...and now John Edwards'.

As they say in the biz, sex sells. Speeches about healthcare reform... not so much...

Of course they talked about her being a dingbat celebrity, etc.

But they listened, and commented on the plan.

Whether or not she speaks, there will be stories about the sleaze.

If she does speak, those stories will also be forced to acknowledge her issue and her strength of character in her support of it.

People are braindead. Yes, they'll tune in and listen, but it won't be to hear about health care. Yes, they'll pity her, and it would ONLY focus on the affair and distract from her message, and Obama.


Total media ignorance being shown in this thread.

I think it is more limited to thoughtlessly run for cover without considering how to turn a bad situation to your advantage.

I'm no media expert, so I'm not claiming that Elizabeth speaking at the convention is the right thing to do. But it seems like an intriguing and, as I said, counterintuitive thing to do. I understand that the natural reaction is to hide from this sort of thing. But there's no hiding from it. The story will be out there no matter what.

The suggestion was to try to make at least part of that story about healthcare, and the character of Elizabeth Edwards (rather than that of her husband).

I don't know that this is the right thing to do, so I guess it is a sort of self-confessed ignorance that raised the question. On the other hand, many of the reactions I've seen are instinctive reactions, rather than thinking reactions.

I don't see a lot of people supporting this suggestion, so maybe it's a bad idea. But I also haven't seen any convincing arguments against it -- just a lot of "Holy crap! We've got to hide in fear of this!" stuff.

It's not very persuasive.

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/08/more_on_edwardss_admission.php


More On Edwards's Admission

08 Aug 2008 02:55 pm

** The interview airs tonight on ABC.

** According to people close to the Edwardses, Elizabeth Edwards has secured a primetime speaking role at the Democratic National Convention; John Edwards, as of this point, does not, and people close to him think he will beg off and not attend the convention so as not to distract Obama. Obama aides would not say whether either Edwards is on the schedule.

unless she'd want to but I don't think she'd want to be romping around the media during this personal mess.

...and again, it's only something she should do if she wants to. She has every right to focus on her own issues for a while.

she is probably going through a lot of pain right now and has to be there for her kids.

I feel bad that she has had to go through this but she is not entirely innocent here either.

I don't know whether she was complicit in the scandal. If she was, obviously she should just stay quiet now.

In any case, congratulations... You've provided a response to the original suggestion that makes sense and does not sound like a reaction from an autonomic nervous system.

That knowledge makes her complicitous in presenting her husband as a family man, with family values, and taking their kids on the road to do it.

I hadn't seen the full Edwards press release when I made this post. Given that she was a participant in the deception, I think it's not a great idea to have her speak at the convention.