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st. john fisher college

politics

John Edwards: Back At It

Megan Baker

Posted: Mar 12th 2009 11:17AM

Filed under: Politics, Featured Stories, St. John Fisher College

After sitting back and letting his affair and possible love child blow over the public for seven months, John Edwards has stepped back into the limelight; only this time as a passionate advocate for those suffering from poverty.

In his second public appearance since September, Edwards spoke at Brown University where he discussed what he has been doing since the election and what his new aspirations are. Obviously the topic of his affair was on a lot of the audiences' minds, and he did address it...sort of.

In response to a question raised by a student who claimed to be a campus organizer for his campaign about whether or not it was "just or fair" for politicians to be held to a "higher moral standard," Edwards responded:

"It is not for a candidate to decide what is appropriate and what's not appropriate. That's something every single American has a right to decide for themselves. We live in a free country where people have a right to voice their views and have a right to form their views without limitation...

"It is not for me to impose on anybody what they can observe and can't observe. I have my own view, which I will keep to myself. But I believe it is enormously important to have the best thinkers and the best visionary people to lead our country where it needs to go."

Spoken like a true politician...er, advocate.

So now that we all know that Edwards plans to step away from politics and dedicate his life to a cause close to his heart (Al Gore anyone?), it's fair to ask: Is it too soon? In my opinion, its not.

Do Americans really expect John Edwards to sit in the shadows for the rest of his life because he cheated on his wife? If you haven't noticed, infidelity in Washington happens quite often.

According to Gary Pearce, a Democratic political consultant who ran Edwards' 1998 Senate campaign, Edwards has two choices; wait for the scandal to blow over or "subject himself to a public cross-examination." Pearce's recommendation? Speak up.

"Long-term, that's what he has to do. He has to tell the truth and hope that time heals all wounds if he wants to return to the public stage."

Brown University political scientist Wendy Schiller also feels that now is the time for Edwards to regain some credibility.

"When you can voice a message the way John Edwards can, I think you can still remain relevant," Schiller said. "He should get on the trail, give speeches on populism, and make the case that even though he's got personal problems, he's still willing to advocate on behalf of those who can't help themselves."

So America, Edwards made his choice, now we have to make ours. Do we scrutinize him for the rest of his life for making a mistake or do we allow him to try to help the poor both here and around the world?

Your call.

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anniemott

12:06PM 12:06PM Mar 12th 2009

After how he judged Clinton at the time?.....
Edwards should crawl back under his rock. We don't
need another PREACHER. We have Obama.

Rating : 3 stars Reply to this commentReport!

Ethel L. Munson

12:20PM 12:20PM Mar 12th 2009

Who cares? Are these people still newsworthy?

Rating : 3 stars Reply to this commentReport!

Lawrence

12:34PM 12:34PM Mar 12th 2009

John Edwards pseudo-populism and heavily promoted concern for the poor is about as sincere as his concern for his clients in his ambulance-chasing days. He has merely chosen this convenient vehicle to promote the only thing he cares about,namely himself. How naieve to think that this duplicitous liar will actually help the poor through more shameless self-promotion. Time for him to get an honest job...oh, that's right, he doesn't really need the money.

Rating : 3 stars Reply to this commentReport!

chuck

1:55PM 1:55PM Mar 12th 2009

Please keep Edwards out of the news, if we ignore him we can hope he does the same for us.

Rating : 3 stars Reply to this commentReport!

Matt

2:14PM 2:14PM Mar 12th 2009

IF YOU'VE NEVER MADE A MISTAKE THEN JUDGE THE MAN....

Rating : Half a star Reply to this commentReport!

Margaret

4:15PM 4:15PM Mar 12th 2009

Infidelity goes with the turf. Politicians love power and adulation. He is really irrelevant now. Help the poor? Have you seen where he lives. They certainly don't keep a low-profile life style and I think they can spend the way they want. However, he took it off the backs of poor people who were suing large coporations. Did he ever forego his fees?

Rating : 3 stars Reply to this commentReport!

Jack Kirkpatrick

12:45AM 12:45AM May 19th 2009

It is John Edwards and Bill Clinton's uppiness alone with their wives that we question the families integrity.

Rating : 2 stars Reply to this commentReport!

linda

6:45PM 6:45PM Mar 12th 2009

I would a helluva lot rather have Edwards in the white house than that f****** tax and spend IDIOT we have now. Better be stocking up on bottled water and Ramen Noodles, cause all those criminals he is turning loose will be here to get us sooner rather than later. Obama will be the ruination of America. Shame on those of you who allowed it to happen. RIP.

Rating : 2 stars Reply to this commentReport!

sandy

12:58PM 12:58PM Mar 14th 2009

Those who allowed "it" to happen" which is the election of Barak Obama, are those who put George W. Bush in the white house, not once, but twice. This was the time for Democrats to seize the opportunity to regain the white house. And, when McCain picked Sarah Palin to be his running mate, the door to the oval office slammed in his face.

Rating : 2 stars Report!

linda

6:50PM 6:50PM Mar 12th 2009

I would a helluva lot rather have Edwards in the white house than
that f****** tax and spend IDIOT we have now. Better be stocking up
on bottled water and Ramen Noodles, cause all those criminals/ENEMIES he is
turning loose will be here to get us sooner rather than later. Just imagine how our troops who risked and lost their lives must feel about having the enemy they tracked down released back into our society....as they, no doubt, will be.
Obama will be the ruination of America. Shame on those of you who allowed it to happen. Let your children rise up and call you fools...for you have certainly taken the joy from their adult lives.
RIP

Rating : 1 star Reply to this commentReport!

linda

6:58PM 6:58PM Mar 12th 2009

I would a helluva lot rather have Edwards in the white house than
that f****** tax and spend IDIOT we have now. Better be stocking up
on bottled water and Ramen Noodles, cause all those criminals/enemies he is
turning loose will be here to get us sooner rather than later. How sad our troops must be...those who fought and died to remove them from society. In no time, they will be enjoying freedom in our soldiers' homeland, whilst the solder is still fighting the war.Obama
will be the ruination of America. Shame on those of you who allowed
it to happen. May your children rise up and call you fools...for you have taken the joy from their lives....RIP.

Rating : Half a star Reply to this commentReport!

linda

7:04PM 7:04PM Mar 12th 2009

I would a helluva lot rather have Edwards in the white house than
that f****** tax and spend IDIOT we have now. Better be stocking up
on bottled water and Ramen Noodles, cause all those criminals/enemies he is
turning loose will be here to get us sooner rather than later. How sad our troops must be...those who fought and died to remove them from society. In no time, they will be enjoying freedom in our soldiers' homeland, whilst the solder is still fighting the war.Obama
will be the ruination of America. Shame on those of you who allowed
it to happen. May your children rise up and call you fools...for you have taken the joy from their lives....RIP.

Rating : 2 stars Reply to this commentReport!

Just wondering

11:13PM 11:13PM Mar 12th 2009

I am so over John Edwards.

I was a huge supporter - however he can try to comeback and try to talk about a huge and growing problem in this country but I won't watch him.

He presented himself as one way and he is in fact a very unprincipled fella. I don't care how many of them cheat - I don't have to like it nor to forgive them. Maybe he can't find a reason to stay at home and is restless.

I'm so over John Edwards and his miserable failings. Many of us have decided that he is likely a serial adulterer and I have enough drama in my life to care about him or his likely future escapades.

He's obvious not a good husband but he also isn't a good father to his children.

Rating : 3 stars Reply to this commentReport!

Bill Register

12:43AM 12:43AM Mar 13th 2009

He will always be known as a hypocrite. Ask Gary Hart.

Rating : 3 stars Reply to this commentReport!

GenericAmerican

7:21AM 7:21AM Mar 13th 2009

Is there one Democrat out rhere anywhere with any self respect at all. Mr Edwards, have you no shame! No standards, no shame, no blame,

Rating : 3 stars Reply to this commentReport!

Ted

9:09AM 9:09AM Mar 13th 2009

Give up all your money to charity, join a Franciscan monastery and take a vow of poverty and we will listen, if not, go crawl under a rock and die, you lying immoral piece of crap.

Rating : 2.5 stars Reply to this commentReport!

Sharon

1:42PM 1:42PM Mar 13th 2009

Question for the men. Are men able to be faithful to their wives and families? Just curious. At one time, I was told that all men cheat. It goes with the territory.

Rating : 3 stars Reply to this commentReport!

1:51PM 1:51PM Mar 13th 2009

Edwards is right,let the people decide. The people have decided that he is a scumbag. BTW is his wife still alive? He hasn't been pimping her lately.

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donna

2:03PM 2:03PM Mar 13th 2009

hey linda-crawl under a rock and eat your ramen noodles if you cant stand it anymore. shame on you for not supporting the president-your the fool!

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Sandy

1:31PM 1:31PM Mar 14th 2009

Sharon, I agree. If I'm not mistaken, didn't Sen.John McCain admit to cheating on his first wife??? I also recall him mentioning this as one of his regrets.
I wanted to smack the crap out of him when I found out he had screwed around on his wife, Elizabeth. I also feel that he let his supporters down by throwing away a brilliant political career that I believe would have led to the oval office. He was the first to voice a message of hope and I think he could have successfully taken on the insurance and pharmaceutical industry to reform health care.
I apologize for rambling and bring it back to the point that he is not the first to cheat, nor will he be the last. And, given his condemnation of Bill Clinton, I guess the phrases "what goes around comes around" and "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" are quite applicable.
Thank you.

Rating : 2 stars Reply to this commentReport!

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