vc318

Edwards calls separation ‘extraordinarily sad’ - TODAY People

Edwards says separation ‘extraordinarily sad’

Former presidential candidate John Edwards said Wednesday he still cares deeply about his wife despite the couple's separation.

"It is an extraordinarily sad moment, but I love my children more than anything and still care deeply about Elizabeth," Edwards said in a statement to The Associated Press.

A friend of Elizabeth Edwards confirmed Wednesday that the couple is separated. Elizabeth's sister, Nancy Anania, told the AP that she remains strong.

I feel so sorry for the wife. With everything that she's going through now she has to add "divorce" to the list.

TheAngel

Yeah, I agree for you. I really feel sorry for Elizabeth Edwards. I think her husband is total scum and I'm glad his career is over. I know having a wife with cancer isn't easy, but it's never OK to cheat on your spouse and much less to have a child with that woman. Now Elizabeth has been subjected to ridicule as well because of the dissolution of the relationship even though she's the victim in this case.

sunnykerr

Is it "Game Change"? Anyway, there's a book out there that talks about the behind-the-scenes of the political arena in the U.S. and it's not so kind to Elizabeth Edwards, claims that she was cold and abusive (physically and psychologically) to her husband and their staff.

Not that any of it excuses his actions. Adultery is still adultery.

But, since I don't know either one of them, I would rather not rush to conclusions. Real life is often more complicated than any headline can make it appear.

Either way, this is not very surprising.

TheAngel

Well, apparently her children have come out and said the book isn't true at all. That she was kind and compassionate and besides, if he was so unhappy, he could have gotten a divorce years ago before his political campaign really launched and a divorce would look a lot better than adultery in the long scheme of things.

wanderer78

"Game Change" really seems like a gossip rag in book form. I doubt EE is a saint, like she's been portrayed by the media. But at the same time, I doubt I could handle having terminal cancer and a cheating husband at the same time either.

I used to respect John Edwards, but now I'm so glad he got knocked out of the Presidential race early. It would have been a disaster if he had been elected. Or even in the cabinet.

vc318

I can't imagine Elizabeth being a cold person. She just seems so nice. Whether she was sick or not, John is a jerk for cheating on her.

sunnykerr

First of all and most importantly, nothing the woman could have done or could have been would EVER excuse cheating. If she had been the worst monster in the world, he should have gotten a divorce long ago plain and simple.

And the woman has always come off like a dignified woman of strong moral character, not to mention that anyone who goes through cancer and comes through the other side has earned a lifetime's worth of respect.

All I am saying is that, indeed, no one is perfect, no marriage is perfect and appearances can be deceiving, especially when power and politics are involved. That is all I am saying.

I don't condone his cheating and I don't think anything she could have done would have "justified it."

I'm just saying I don't know these people.

And I'm also saying that I will never understand why the private lives of politicians matter when it comes to their public functions. Unless it's a crime (like, say, soliciting underage pages for sexual favours), I don't care what politicians do behind closed doors so long as they can do their job.

vc318

If John Edwards thinks he can get his wife back, I think he's pretty much lost all hope. Not only did he cheat on her with someone else but obviously wasn't careful enough to make sure to avoid knocking up the mistress too. Sheesh.

TheAngel

I don't think he believes he can get her back at this point. Now there's talk of a sex tape and all kinds of other things he's done. I'm pretty sure he knows it's totally over at this point.

sunnykerr

Has he said something about this? That's just SO weird!!!

Musicchild

Why do people get so suprised when stuff like this happens? It's not a surprise. No telling how many politicians or celebrities do things like this. Human nature and all

TheAngel

No way. Human nature's a cop out. You could argue that violence and war are human nature, but we still don't make excuses for murder. This isn't human nature, this is narcissism. These people believe moral values don't have to apply to them. It's certainly not human nature, though. I think less people cheat than we're led to believe do, but we just always see it when celebrities do stupid stuff. And I think their narcissism is part of the reason why they are celebrities. They like being in the public eye, they like the attention, and they don't see any reason to say no because they're above the law. it's just like celebrity drug use or criminal behavior. There is no excuse for it, but there are reasons for it.

sunnykerr

I don't think human nature is the excuse or being presented as an excuse here.

I think what's being said is that it happens all the time. To the point where the only shocking thing left is that we're shocked it happens. Which doesn't make it okay. Just, you know, not terribly out of the norm.

TheAngel

But I don't agree that it happens all the time. I think the only thing that happens is that the media reports on it over and over and over so that we feel it happens all the time. John Edwards only had one affair with one woman, but we've been hearing about it for a year or so now. So it seems like a lot more .

sunnykerr

Well, obviously the media (and, I'm sorry, but this seems particularly the case in the United States and maybe the UK, but I'm less familiar there) has some sort of unhealthy fascination with the sexual misconduct of famous people. I'm sure that doesn't help.

But I do think infidelity happens all the freaking time. Judging from my life, from the people I know and the stories that go around... it happens a lot.

And I do think that people in positions of power, such as celebrities and politicians, are perhaps more likely to be unfaithful, for a plethora of reasons. Because it attracts narcissistic personality types, because there are more opportunities given to them, because the nature of their work takes them away from their loved ones creating a distance of sorts, because it's lazy and easy and seductive. But that's just a theory of mine.