My reality check came today.

I just got home from work so I'm only now able to absorb all of this incredibly sad news.

You know, when I first started supporting Edwards in December 2003, one of the reasons why was because of the love he showed to Elizabeth. He seemed so perfect to me. He said all the things I wanted to hear from a politician and he loved his wife. They had gone through so much together and seemed so happy.

I put the man on a pedestal. I admit it. I even held my own husband to a higher standard as a result. I am ashamed to admit this but it is true. Whenever my husband acted like a jerk, secretly I would say to myself that John Edwards wouldn't do this, John Edwards wouldn't treat Elizabeth this way.

I have just been handed a huge reality check. I have learned a very important lesson.

The man is not perfect! In fact, he is very ordinary. There is nothing so special there.

I owe my husband a big apology.

This is a very sad day.

Please, no, "I told you so's." I already know.

It's a sad, sad day.

It's tough. We have to learn the politicians we support are not perfect. I still admire him for his constant support of the issues that are important to me, and to the nation.

Hang in there friend.

She's the one I really care about today.

I think it says a lot about him, and where his head was at. All I know is I've never run for President, but I can see how this could mess with your head.

"In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic. If you want to beat me up feel free. You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself. I have been stripped bare and will now work with everything I have to help my family and others who need my help."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/8/193337/7354/473/...

Our family has been through a lot. Some caused by nature, some caused by human weakness, and some – most recently – caused by the desire for sensationalism and profit without any regard for the human consequences. None of these has been easy. But we have stood with one another through them all. Although John believes he should stand alone and take the consequences of his action now, when the door closes behind him, he has his family waiting for him.

* elizabethedwards's diary :: ::
*

John made a terrible mistake in 2006. The fact that it is a mistake that many others have made before him did not make it any easier for me to hear when he told me what he had done. But he did tell me. And we began a long and painful process in 2006, a process oddly made somewhat easier with my diagnosis in March of 2007. This was our private matter, and I frankly wanted it to be private because as painful as it was I did not want to have to play it out on a public stage as well. Because of a recent string of hurtful and absurd lies in a tabloid publication, because of a picture falsely suggesting that John was spending time with a child it wrongly alleged he had fathered outside our marriage, our private matter could no longer be wholly private.

The pain of the long journey since 2006 was about to be renewed.

John has spoken in a long on-camera interview I hope you watch

more at link

fall so hard.. Obama's on the highest pedastal I've seen yet, and it does seem like it may be a long fall if he even glances the wrong way or anything.. This may be a better message for everyone, don't put them on pedastals.. they are to represent us, THE PEOPLE. They aren't something more special, just someone asking for a job. We celebritize way to many people. I'm upset, because I liked his message.. It this is the reason they got out, then it sucks.. The populous message was good, and that's what hurts.

Life happens.

Give your Hubby a big " no explaination" hug and move on. :thumbsup:

Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing what has gone on personally between John and Elizabeth Edwards or anyone else in the public eye. We only know what they choose to present to us. This is important to keep in mind even people you are friends with who 'appear' to be perfectly happy. I learned that lesson years ago.

:hug:

My fantasy career is not to become the best president the USA has ever had, but to become the great hero economist of the 21st century - one whose ideas "save humanity" in the same way that Keynes is credited for doing in the 20th century.

Edwards is very ordinary (as in human). Yet there *is* something special there, as in ideas, energy, and good policies.

Both things can be true at the same time. In fact, both things are *always* true of exceptional people, because they are people first.

That said, Edwards admission that he had an affair doesn't diminish his populist stance in my eyes. FDR, Kennedy, Eisenhower and how many others have had affairs? Oh what the hell, we are all human, after all, are we not?

...the politics of personal destruction and stolen elections. Also, the stakes are higher than ever before, on a global level.

They are human; just like you and me. I am not the least bit surprised. I guess I just don't hold politicians in the same regard as others here do. People have been doing the same as John Edwards for years, and it'll continue in the future. Not a shock.

It's sad for his wife and family. Those are the only people John Edwards owes an apology to.

This news came as a shock, especially because he could have gotten nominated and handed the election to the GOP on a silver platter if this story came out.

But I think it's a reminder that the most caring and humane people can make big mistakes in their personal lives. WE ARE NOT SAINTS. I, for one, am a recovering alcoholic. Thanks to this I constantly lied to my family, was afraid to write them e-mails for weeks even months at a time, and spent much of my time living in denial. Even today the problems associated with my affliction are far from over. But at least my life is becoming slightly more manageable.

Actually almost fifteen since I started, but there was one momentary slip at the two month mark.

I am happy something positive came from all of this.

Good luck to you and Mr., too!

And stop comparing him to some ideal that doesn't really exist.

and I was so glad to be by a radio. I was thrilled. We had a real people's politician who was smart, fearless, took on corporations, was going to break through the Albany gridlock and get stuff done, was supportive of other Democratic politicians so more could get done...

I didn't campaign for Spitzer or give money to him, just voted for him with enthusiasm. I imagine this is very hard on Edwards supporters who gave time, money, votes, and enthusiasm to him.

I still can't believe that one.

she still encouraged him to run, then I have to ask where her good sense went as well. Knowing what they must know about the double standard under which the corporate media operates re. the private lives of Dem politicians, wtf were they thinking?

I am incredibly disappointed in him. They went through hell together with the death of their son and her cancer diagnosis. She gave birth to two children at an age when most women are enjoying the peace and quiet of an empty nest. For him to have betrayed her is totally unconscienable. I know men - and women - do it all the time, but this circumstance is just beyond the pale and, regretably, total fodder for the corporate media whores who will feed on it like vultures at a particularly juicy road kill.