Former Democratic Sen. John Edwards is still running for president, even though his wife’s cancer has returned, he announced today. But he’ll still have to overcome that deadly YouTube video of him primping and brushing his hair to the tune of "I Feel Pretty." Meanwhile, the creator of the Orwellian, anti-Hillary Clinton video was outed today. Philip de Vellis was a strategist with Blue State Digital, which has ties to Sen. Barack Obama. He said he did the video on his own time and without any knowledge of the Obama campaign or his employer (which says it fired him).
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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47 Comments
Mrs. Edward’s disease is heartbreaking. I predict Edwards will pull out of the race before long.
I can’t imagine tending to a terminal loved one – and having any time to run an excruciatingly-demanding campaign. And I can’t imagine anyone chosing a campaign over a dying spouse.
I give him a few more weeks at the outset. Then we’ll see him throw in the towel.
…Obama dances in the shadows….
GS… I know who you are !!!!! :->
Yeah, there is that right to work law doing its thing.The guy (Phillip De Vellis) does some freedom of expression on his own time and not even affiliated to the campaign, just some association to the firm as an employee and he is fired.We have a new 21st century biblical law – “Freedom works in mysterious ways.”
LOL 0h no….whatever shall I do?
I’m still waiting for the biplane to show back up.
…fingers tapping…..
OK here goes. GS is a rampant poster on WE BLOG. She just types and types away.
Here’s the juicy bit— when she writes on paper….. she uses a CHARCOAL PENCIL.
Now go hide your head in shame !!!!!
GS – Is this situation different from the situation where Tiarht’s son committed suicide? I thought he would quit and attend to his family, but he didn’t. Politicians are a different breed.
Sol – I’m hiding – I’m hiding.
TDT – I think this situation is TOTALLY different. Tiahrt stayed in the position AFTER the fact. There was nothing he could do at that point to support or help his son.
Edwards has a LIVING wife, one who is now dying.
I can’t imagine a loving spouse not wanting to be by their partner’s dying side in their last days, weeks…months.
Once, when I volunteered on the ambulance we picked up a girl with Pulmonary Edema…her lungs were full of fluid – she was drowning. But upon inspection we found her chest to bear the scars of MANY surgeries. After getting a phone patch to her doc – we were informed NOT to rescuitate or try any lifesaving procedures. She was terminal and did not want to be rescuitated.
It was sad – but what was sadder was that in the months that led up to her death, her husband of 10 years had abandoned her, not being able to deal with the problem, and after that – she had given away her three little children – all to separate homes.
Marriage is a commitment. At least it should be.
If Edwards continues on the campaign trail – he will lose immeasurable respect and support.
Whereas if he drops out now – he may be welcomed back a ‘hero’ in a future campaign.
It’s his choice, but being a Democrat – there is a good chance he will make the wrong one.
lol
The best thing Edwards can do is quit the race and tend to his wife in her last days. And don’t be kidded- she is on borrowed time. My mother died from the same thing. Once it gets into the bones it is just a matter of time. But at least I know Edwards won’t dessert his wife and seek a divorce while she is dying like Newt Gingrich did (you know- the “family values” party).
I can see it from Mrs. Edwards viewpoint. She wants to share the dream of being on a Presidential Campaign tour, meeting people and generally getting an experience one normally wouldn’t get.
As opposed to staying home, waiting daily on death (whenever that may be) and being stagnant; if it were me, yeah…I’d want to be out there doing all I could.
Coulter is green with envy!
Tough. And I wish Edwards and his family the best.
As to what is the right thing to do; I don’t know that there is a single “right” thing to do. It seems to me that whatever Edwards and his wife decide together is the right thing, for them. And how he and his wife deal with this enourmous burden is not, or should not be, campaign fodder. They are entitled to make this decision without second-guessing from the peanut gallery.
I find this thread in very poor taste. Some of the post lack taste or tact as well.
The header segues from Mrs. Edwards cancer to a you tube video bashing Edwards and then into something about Obama?Pick a topic Phil?
And some of YOU have the woman practically dead! Oh now I know her situation is not good, it’s dire really but I don’t see her quitting! A little respect and sensitivity anyone?
And I am sure Mrs. Edwards will be an equal part in any decision her husband makes as to his campaign.
I had the same thought JR. The cancer recurrence doesn’t fit in the same thread as the frivolous hair brushing video, that I had first seen in 2004.
Listening to their news conference today, the Edwards said it’s full speed ahead on the campaign. That would seem to be very difficult.
“As to what is the right thing to do; I don’t know that there is a single ‘right’ thing to do. It seems to me that whatever Edwards and his wife decide together is the right thing, for them. And how he and his wife deal with this enourmous burden is not, or should not be, campaign fodder. They are entitled to make this decision without second-guessing from the peanut gallery.”
Some Republicans deserve respect. GMC does, even though he doesn’t seem to want it…
JR – Phillip, who started this topic did so only because it’s newsworthy.
After all, when Edwards discovered his wife was terminal with cancer – HE CALLED A PRESS CONFERENCE.
I find that highly questionable.
Is this about a sympathy vote?
He certainly has enough money that he can go home and care for his wife in her last time on this earth. He WANTS this Presidency – and (in my opinion) his values are skewed.
I am sorry for his wife, but it is hard for me to stomach comments like this one that seem to be using her illness for his own gain:
[Edwards quote]“He also said that the difficult decisions and tense times that he and his wife will face during the cancer are the same that a president would face in office.”[end Edwards quote]
http://charlotte.com/109/story/59605.html
At the very least, Dems need to be aware that if his wife survives into the White House (on the less-than-slim chance he could win,) Edwards will at least have to pretend to be somewhat distracted by her condition – and that’s the LAST thing we need in the Oval Office.
Mrs. Edward’s illness, tragic as it is, does not preclude the fact that her husband is a bottom-feeder that made scads of money over other folks’ grief.
Do you really think their kids are going to sit down with their children a decade from now and tell them how very fun it was in the last months of their mother’s life – to campaign 18 hours a day – every day of the week?
Edwards is toast.
I wonder if Edwards has any plans on sueing the medical professionals and drug companies that are helping his wife through her cancer bout.
I always thought the Dems got it backward in 2004. It should have been Edwards/Kerry. Better yet, Edwards/anybody but Kerry (Kerry is ok guy, lousy campaigner).Seriously, I don’t think we can fault Edwards for continuing his campaign. We don’t know how the Edwards’ arrived at their decision and it’s none of our business. But I know if my dying wife looked me in the eye and told me to continue the campaign, There’d be no question.My sympathies to the Edwards for having to make such a decision.
Would these be civil comments from the right about Edwards and his family? I see fleettwood is being his usual charming and civil self.
And Joe Williams loses points in the respectablility column.
GSheridan’s are just about all gone.
“Do you really think their kids are going to sit down with their children a decade from now and tell them how very fun it was in the last months of their mother’s life – to campaign 18 hours a day – every day of the week?Edwards is toast.
The “toast” bit is the giveaway. Nice veiled attempt at no more than a hate post GSheridan.
“…last months of their Mothers life…’
Is this WISHFUL on your part? Do you have some insight into the future which makes you so sure?
Despicable.
Elizabet Edwards’ comments:
“Is this a hardship for us? Yes, it’s yet another hurdle,” she said. “But I’ve seen people who are in real desperate shape who don’t, first of all, have the wonderful support that I have and have no place to turn.”
That last aprt – about people who no place to turn – shows her compassion for others. Perhaps she believes that she and her husband have a message to get out – about helping others and their vision of the government’s role in that. My heart goes out to her and her family – and my respect for her desire to keep up the fight.
As for the cold and cynical comments from GS, Joe Williams, etc – the hell with you.
GMC – you put it well.
JR – you’re starting to sound shrill again. My post was not a hate post at all. You ask if I have some insight into the future of Mrs. Edwards.
WE ALL do – her husband ANNOUNCED there was NO CURE. There is an 18% chance (with her diagnosis) that she will live an additional 5 years. You can look that up if you like.
Yes, I said Edwards is toast. I mean that. That’s not a hate comment – just one I feel is an accurate representation of his chances now if he continues.
I can ONLY judge by what I FEEL is the correct thing to do – and political aspirations PALE in the light of a terminal loved one.
At least they do to me.
Apparently, they do NOT to Edwards.
Let’s have at honesty shall we GSheridan?
GSheridanI am never shrill.
This is not about compassion. Edwards is your political enemy. You PRETEND at compassion because honesty is ugly.
You either feel nothing at all for Mrs. Edwards OR you are actually glad this has happened. It aint pretty. But there it is.
It’s her life (though you seem to have her already dead) You are invited OUT of judging how she and her husband live that life. You were informed because as fugures in the public light they had an obligation to inform you. They did NOT ask for your faux compassion or your cruel judgement.
Shall we discuss how Newt Gingrich dealt with his wifes illness? No, I don’t think you want to go there.
I wish I could ask Elizabeth Edwards personally what she wants him to do. Then I would want him to follow those wishes. If it is to quit the race then he should. If it is to keep up the fight, then that should be his decision. And we do not know the answer; only they do. However, her comments suggest to me that she wants to keep up the fight.
JR – you haven’t heard me defend Newt -not ever.
I do feel compassion – for MRS Edwards – none for her bottom-feeding husband, however.
Surely, the poor woman is still supporting him, as she has done their entire marriage, but it is HER turn to be supported.
If you can’t see that – I have to wonder if you arent’ a little bit chauvinistic at heart.
Have you SEEN the video of him primping and brushing his hair?
I rest my case.
It’s her life GSHeridan.
She didn’t look resigned to the fate you have sealed for her. She did not look coerced or bullied into standing with her husband. Your continuing assault on her in “support” of her is really quite ugly and may be telling of your character. That is why you are now getting defensive and attacking me with unfair assumptions. I rest MY case. I’ll not further exploit this womans pain to help you assuage your guilt.
GSheridan isn’t assaulting anyone J R. It’s your narrow view of people having their own opinion not the same as your opinion.
“I should start using the phrase. “It’s a Blog stupid!”
In an attempt to be fair to GSHeridan.
NOT due by the way to any opinion of the kook RepublicanKhanJM.
I SUPPOSE you could be intimating that Edwards should have INSISTED that his wifes illness become the primary focus of both of their lives.That’s not an unreasonable expectation.
Maybe he did? Maybe she had other ideas? We can’t know that. Speculating about it isn’t really productive.
People react to stress in different ways.
If Edwards really intends to stay in the race, I think he should have his wife hold a press conference and convince us that she wants to go on with the campaign. It will be easy to convince us if she is sincere.
GS – I understand that you believe marriage is a commitment, and when I brought up Tiahrt, I was thinking of the rest of his family, not the son who committed suicide. They had to be devastated, and I would think they would need their father/husband’s support through such a difficult time!!
Actually, JR, you are often quite shrill, but you’re not alone.
But that’s not the point of this post.
More important:
I give up. Many of you, on both sides, continue to act like spoiled, petty, bickering children. I’ll have no part of it.
A pox on both your houses. You (and you know who you are) are little better than the self-rightous nanny’s who left here, insisting that only those they “approve” of may dare to speak to them (spit).
I’m done calling out anyone. Wallow to your heart’s desire. But it’s hard to demand respect when you’re covered in mud.
TBT
Edwards wife already spoke at a Press conference with her husband. Why should she hold a separate news conference? Part of being married is doing things together to include sharing a news conference.
Well don’t get haughty with me GMC.
I tried to call a halt on this one with my very first post. And regardless what anyone else posts this will be my last to this poorly concieved thread.
We cannot know the private conversation between this husband and wife in this very intimate matter. Remember too that this couple LOST A CHILD. That makes them more experienced in dealing with grief than most of us will ever be. The kind thing to do is to not make assumptions and let them find their own way.
It’s not with you, JR. As I’ve said several times, though you can get rather shrill, you are generally not the problem.
Let’s start with a simple thing. I call myself GMC70. I do so for reasons I know that I need not go into here here, but it’s probably obvious. I’m entitled to be addressed that way, or perhaps a shorter version of it. No matter what you think of my opinions, NOTHING justifies turning a nic into an insult. Mine or anyone elses.
You don’t like my opinion, fine. Challenge it on the merits. Does petty name calling, or name ‘twisting,’ further debate? No. We should have got past that in kindergarten. But often we have not.
We’ve been through this, and after the self-rightous left left, I had hoped that we would not go so easily back down that path. And yes, the “other” blog is doing the same thing; it’s just not so apparant, because they don’t allow anyone they diagree with to play in their little (and I do mean little) sandbox.
Last shot- how about this standard of basic behavior:
DON’T WRITE ANYTHING HERE YOU WOULD NOT SAY FACE TO FACE IN A PUBLIC FORUM.
And if some of you would say the things you write here in such a forum, well, I frankly don’t want to know you.
JRyou are PROJECTING
Just because you are not capable of compassion towards your political foes, it does not mean that the rest of us have that particular short comming!
MY words
“I tried to call a halt on this one with my very first post. And regardless what anyone else posts this will be my last to this poorly concieved thread.”
Now comes Paul and reads that and decides to take a shot when he thinks I won’t hit back. Predictable. Slink off cowardly Paul. I’m not debating this one further.
JRI have many faults but I am no coward.You are taking childish shots at lots of folks.You are not immune to observation.
My observation:You cant stand to see your worst faults in other people.You also assume others have your faults.PROJECTION!
GSheriden was NOT being cruel.
However, Sheriden, I do like the song:Live like you were dying!
I must admit I cant understand all the words — “skydiving, rockymountain climbing —-”
Anyway, getting ready for death usually brings about — death!
I can see this one both ways, but If I was a friend or family member, I would counsel withdrawal from the race.
This is baggage no matter what he does.
By the way,
If Edwards is a true narcisist, (that trait runs high in politicians and in trial attorneys), well the U-tube primping joke and the wife with cancer do belong together, in same thread!
Its all about HIM isnt it?
Many First Ladies have their own interests; for example Laura Bush has a strong interest in literacy. I would think that they have these interests from before they are in the White House. I wonder what Elizabeth Edwards’ interests are? Might SHE see her husband’s campaign as a way to further those interests?
I don’t know; I cannot pretend to speak for her. It’s just that I think we are wrong to assume that it is only about HIM and has nothing to do with HER.
I promised not to debate this callously written thread.
I’ll hold to that.
I will NOT suffer the coward Paul taking shots at me.
Paul? Ya know I’m looking around. Know what I see? YOU were not a part of this thread til you came to shoot at me.
After I said I would not be back!
In fact, I don’t see you anywhere else either. Now while I call that a good thing, it denotes that in addition to being a liar and a coward, you are also a stalker. You are only on this thread because I am. Or rather you are on it because I said I wasn’t.
Oh and LOOK. Paul is riding to the rescue of GSheridan. Hey, I afforded that her sentiment may have been honest before you ever got here Paul. Don’t make attempts at nobility. That’s like a pig trying to fly.
Ok I’m done. You can crawl away now Paul.
JrYou are a joke.Dont take yourself so seriously.I assure you, no one else does.
Again, you are projecting. This is a hobby for me, not my life. I come and go as a see fit.
There is a reason why PARANOID means “delusions of grandeur” and “delusions of persecution” for most people, most of the time, you have to be paranoid to think you are important enough to be persecuted!
You are like a video game, pal, I can leave you alone for days, or weeks, come back and still PLAY you!
BenI feel badly for Mrs. Edwards.
I dont know Mr. Edwards well enough to judge him, personally.
Of course, I try not to judge anyone, but we all must choose who to do business with, who to make friends with, who to vote for, right?
In running for office, he asks to be judged. The evidence is mounting against him, even if this is actually the best thing to do for his wife.
Again, I can see this both ways.
However, the country needs a full time President. Even if this is the best thing for his family, is it the best thing to do?
If he won, and became a good President, he would have to be the coldest bastard on Earth, to his family — since his wife will probably make it 2 years but not make it for 5.
The comments of another cancer patient, Tony Snow:
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8O20M1O0&show_article=1
Are you a doctor Paul?Are you an oracle?
How is it you know that Mrs. Edwards has only 2 to 5 years to live?
No that’s right, you are a failed journalism student and union sell out currently selling variable anuities.
If I’m a joke Paul what are you?
Your only reason for posting here is me.
Oh and cries of persecution? Would you like me to go do a bonedig to show how often you whine about how I treat you? What other threads are you on recently where you don’t whine about me?
Again, crawl off Paul. Quit while you are behind.
JRTry to learn something every once it awhile, would you?
Most of the people posting here have had some pain in their lives. This is a painful event for many of us, since it reminds us of other events in our own, personal lives.The Edwards are individuals and yes, they have a right to make their own decisions here.
If staying in the race is done with the intent of advancing the cause of living wills, cancer research, etc., FINE!
If that is the intent, then I propose to you that Mr. Edwards does not intend to win. In that case, his race seems more noble to me. He does not want to burden his wife with the thought that she killed HIS dream.
Some of us have been through more than our fair share of death and illness, however, and we realize the ramifications.
As far as knowledge on the subject, why don’t you do a little reading?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_staging
http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2007/03/edwards_still_r.html#comments
On the 2 to 5 year projection I made, isn’t it logical to assume, if Edwards became President, that his wife did NOT die in the next 2 years???I pretty much guarantee that if she dies in the middle of the campaign, the campaign will be over. Sympathy aside, the country is at war, and even Democrat primary voters want the full attention of their “Commander in Cheif.”
And JR
In direct answer, to your question above, I notice that you havent posted a thing on the drug and alcohol thread.
I am guessing that one strikes too close to home for you?
I have compassion, even for you JR.
I know you have a serious problem and I hope you get help, whatever it is.
Ewww nice attempt at a nasty baseless shot Paul F Rosell. What a craven little shot in the dark artist you are.
I’ll not further dignify this thread. If you want a piece of me you find a more noble field. I’ll leave you here in your own slime til then.
Hey Paulie…….. You posted above that “the country is at war”
When was the last time Congress (as a power granted in our Constitution) actually declared war?
AdolfCongress gave Bush the authority to wage war in Iraq and in Afganistan.Nobody in Congress says the war is illegal.The courts have little say in the matter, but no judge has found the war illegal either.Nancy P’s Congress just gave Bush more war funding right?