Edwards to editor on Hunter story last year: Did I mention my wife has cancer?
posted at 12:59 pm on August 18, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Via Byron York, who calls it “breathtaking” when it’s really just par for the course. In case you were wondering whether Edwards himself was stoking the “protect Elizabeth” meme to get big media to suppress the story, consider your suspicions confirmed. Flashback to October 11, 2007, shortly after the Enquirer’s story first broke and Edwards had finally been asked about it on the trail. The editor of his hometown paper, the News & Observer, was weighing whether to report the denial — they didn’t, of course — when the phone rang.
By the time Edwards called, we had decided not to publish the story in the Friday paper. But Edwards didn’t know that. I wanted to hear what he had to say. We still could have reversed our decision.
Edwards told me that the allegations were not true.
He said The N&O was the paper that arrived on his doorstep every day, the one read by friends of him and his wife, Elizabeth.
He said he’d never called before to complain or state his case. Given Elizabeth’s health — she has cancer — he said it was especially important to him that the story not run in The N&O.
He was calling from an airport, and we spoke only a few minutes.
I made no promises.
Edwards’ comments were off the record. Because he has acknowledged he lied, I feel free to report them.
Anything wrong with a guilty husband doing what little he can to protect his sick wife after the fact? Nope — except that, as we now know by Edwards’s own admission, Elizabeth Edwards had already learned about the affair by that point. He claims he told her in 2006; HuffPo’s timeline says it was April 2007 at the latest, fully six months before the Enquirer story broke. Which makes what he told the N&O a lie, and a bad lie at that. Was he seriously suggesting that she wouldn’t have found out about the story if their hometown paper hadn’t mentioned it when it was already screaming from every checkout counter in America?
The real intrigue about this N&O vignette isn’t that Edwards would stoop to it but that it leaves you wondering how often he and his staffers stooped to it to bat away inquiries from major papers during the past year. Sad to say, this isn’t the first time he’s been accused of bringing up family tragedy to ingratiate himself with an audience. The most notorious example is Bob Shrum’s report last year of the “chilling” story Edwards twice told John Kerry, each time with the caveat that it was the first time he’d ever told it, but he resorted to it in his campaign ads too. Remember this spot from last November? “As subtle as a Mack truck,” Slate called it. Semi-related exit quotation: “I’m not supposed to talk.”
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Edwards is an attorney.
Attorneys learn in law school that right and wrong are relative.
What’s important, is winning the argument.
That’s why attorneys should not be politicians. It’s an inherently unethical profession.
NoDonkey on August 18, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Elizabeth doesn’t need to keep up the pretense of a marriage ‘for the children’ - I’m sure they’re smart enough to understand the grotesque violation of trust their father is guilty of.
She needs to dump his ass, pick up 50% of everything, and get as far away from that toxic individual as she can.
LimeyGeek on August 18, 2008 at 1:07 PM
!!!!!
INC on August 18, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Bleck. No wonder Silky gave/gives me the creeps.
Christine on August 18, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Iha jus like tha way he says Guantanamooo
Kini on August 18, 2008 at 1:11 PM
I wonder which DFL convention speaking slot will be awarded to John Edwards, the 2004 democratic vice presidential candidate?
Bishop on August 18, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Fixed it for you.
DethMetalCookieMonst on August 18, 2008 at 1:17 PM
Doh! Should be “Born after 1900″.
DethMetalCookieMonst on August 18, 2008 at 1:18 PM
The reason attorneys should not be legislators or executives (without resigning from the bar) is because they are officers in the judiciary branch. To say that being an attorney is inherently unethical is stupid.
Akzed on August 18, 2008 at 1:18 PM
It isn’t all that far from LA. He could run over for an overnight discussion on politics and money with Hunter.
a capella on August 18, 2008 at 1:18 PM
LimeyGeek: Like many (political) wives, she stands by her man. That picture of Elizabeth on People (?) and her determination to ‘keep the family together’ just reinforces my disgust. If I was dying of cancer i wouldn’t want that schmuck any where near me…especially when i know that he’s been with with ‘the other woman’ recently.
They all deserve their lot.
Christine on August 18, 2008 at 1:19 PM
“Don’t publish that story about me cheating on my cancer-ridden wife.”
“Why not?”
“Because she has cancer.”
Akzed on August 18, 2008 at 1:21 PM
I KNEW IT. I KNEW IT!
When this story finally broke nationally, I knew that SOB would take this road, and he did. EVERY news outlet kept making comments to the effect “poor Elizabeth”, but this story was never about her. And for Silky Pony to pull that ploy… disgusting.
This story is about John Edwards, no one else. But quite frankly, he’s doing what all news outlet did collectively… making this story about his wife.
madmonkphotog on August 18, 2008 at 1:23 PM
And then later on, when he was interviewed that he had indeed cheated on his wife, he said that while he did:
“Her cancer was in remission.”
He’s got an answer for everything.
wise_man on August 18, 2008 at 1:23 PM
Wee.
Sill.
tree hugging sister on August 18, 2008 at 1:27 PM
the News and Observer is also a very liberal newspaper. They and the Observer have since 1998 been pushing Edwards career and making him out to be a serious Pres. candidate.
jp on August 18, 2008 at 1:27 PM
It isn’t all that far from LA. He could run over for an overnight discussion on politics and money with Hunter.
a capella on August 18, 2008 at 1:18 PM
I just figured Eddy and Billy Clinton could wow the crowd with bedroom tales about their mistresses.
Bishop on August 18, 2008 at 1:28 PM
I understand attorneys have a bad rap but this commentary is unmitigated BS. I spend much of my time considering the ethical position to take in a case (i.e. not making frivolous arguments) and keeping in mind the Code of Professional Ethics we are expected to abide by. We do not learn moral relativity in law school. In fact we are required to take an ethics course in school and there is a separate ethics section on the bar exam. In Hawaii, two of them as a matter of fact (one on the actual exam and a separate test that must be taken in order to get licensed). We are also required to do pro bono work every year. Yes there are bad people in every profession, but we do not cast aspersions on the entire medical profession because some doctors are clearly incompetent (and then change medical records to hide their mistakes). There are rouge cops, thieving stockbrokers and so on.
It is obvious that I am offended and I apologize for going off, but I have put up with enough unethical trial lawyer nonsense to let it go this time.
HawaiiLwyr on August 18, 2008 at 1:30 PM
rogue cops (not rouge).
HawaiiLwyr on August 18, 2008 at 1:31 PM
I can understand Elizabeth not wanting to divorce him now. She (and her kids) have enough stress in their lives; they probably don’t want to sign up for more. But I hope that Elizabeth is taking (or has taken) steps to protect her kids financially. There’s no telling how many more kids Edwards will have once she’s gone (or for that matter, how many others may already be out there). She needs to make sure there are irrevocable trusts set up (and funded) for her kids so that they don’t end up getting short-changed when Edwards’ illegitimate kids start showing up to claim their share of the Edwardses’ fortune.
AZCoyote on August 18, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Only in San Francisco
LimeyGeek on August 18, 2008 at 1:38 PM
Don’t you think that Edwards has some financial responsibility for any illegitimate kids he might have sired? I’d have problems with a mistress of Edwards from benefiting financially but the Edwards does have to do right by all his kids, not just the ones from his marriage.
highhopes on August 18, 2008 at 1:39 PM
Yes. It’s out of pure self interest, whether the spouse is sick or not. Really, that excuse is as old as they come.
Blake on August 18, 2008 at 1:47 PM
Back. Front. Whatever.
fogw on August 18, 2008 at 1:47 PM
Before there is an unethical attorney, first there has to be an unethical client.
Blake on August 18, 2008 at 1:50 PM
The National Enquirer is hinting at another bombshell this Wednesday.
Does anyone know if Edwards is planning on attending the DNC? I heard his wife is scheduled to speak. I would be surprised if that was televised.
Blake on August 18, 2008 at 1:53 PM
It’s really a shame that there are enough dishonest and unethical lawyers who have brought shame to the profession. So much so, that there is no sunlight between them and car salesmen. The fact exists that there are ethical lawyers, and ethical car salesmen out there. If I was in either profession, I would probably spend more time working within the system to disbar or kick out or identify and publicly humiliate those in the profession who are doing their best to tarnish the organization.
wise_man on August 18, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Elizabeth’s no angel in this deal. Edwards says he told her in 2006 and then announced for president in Jan. 2007. She campaigned with him all through last year and essentially lied to all of us, telling everybody what a great husband and father he was and how he’d make a great president. I think she’s as devious as Hillary Clinton in promoting her husband for president, knowing all along he was a snake. I wouldn’t put it past either of them to have concocted this cancer excuse together to help minimize the disastrous effects it has had on his reputation.
PatMac on August 18, 2008 at 2:04 PM
Not only is John Edwards lying, but so is Elizabeth Edwards.
EJDolbow on August 18, 2008 at 2:04 PM
So true. Thank you. I have tossed more than one person out of my office who thinks that hurt feelings or a slight problem is a one-way ticket to financial freedom. Contrary to popular belief, we don’t always just “sue the bastards.” Nor, do I argue anything I don’t believe in.
HawaiiLwyr on August 18, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Are you shittin me? We get charged a lot of bar dues to prosecute people and to compensate victims.
Blake on August 18, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Why so shocked? From someone who would stoop to this to get campaign donations - nothing is a surprise.
KrisinNE on August 18, 2008 at 2:36 PM
I don’t know what all the fuss is about. After all, what somebody does in his private life is nobody else’s business. Right? Right, James Carville?
fossten on August 18, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Of course Edwards has financial responsibility for any child he fathers — that was the point. He legally has to provide for the (minor) children he has now, as well as any and all children he may father in the future. But Edwards’ current fortune doesn’t belong only to John Edwards — half of it belongs to Elizabeth. And if Elizabeth wants to be sure that her children get their fair share of it after she’s gone, she needs to take steps now to make sure that happens.
Also, judging from the amounts Edwards has been spending on paying off Andrew Young and Rielle Hunter (or does anybody believe that Fred Baron has been paying them both tens of thousands of dollars each month and buying them multi-million dollar houses with his own money?), there soon may not be much money left for any of John Edwards’ kids unless some of the money is put into trusts.
AZCoyote on August 18, 2008 at 2:58 PM
I’m sure the financial burden is simply horrendous.
wise_man on August 18, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Yes, please go away quietly. But, please go away.
Mallard T. Drake on August 18, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Attorneys learn in law school that right and wrong are relative.
No. Well, maybe they learn that, too. One of the first truths of law school they learn is:
When the law is against you, argue the facts. When the facts are against you, argue the law. When the law and the facts are against you, pound on the table.
This is Edwards pounding on the table.
I R A Darth Aggie on August 18, 2008 at 3:25 PM
It’s “pound on the facts… pound on the law… pound on the table.” Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to make like a tree and get outta here.
Jim Treacher on August 18, 2008 at 3:59 PM
Yes, it is.
Blake on August 18, 2008 at 8:46 PM