
Dec. 19, 2007
Candidates Offer Views On Infidelity
Katie Couric Asks Whether They Can Understand Voters Who Don't Feel Comfortable Supporting A Candidate Who Cheated
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JOHN EDWARDS
Couric: Harry Truman said, "A man not honorable in his marital relations is not usually honorable in any other." Some people don't feel comfortable supporting a candidate who has not remained faithful to his or her spouse. Can you understand their position?
Edwards: Of course. I mean, for a lot of Americans, including the family that I grew up with ... it's fundamental to how you judge people and human character: Whether you keep your word, whether you keep what is your ultimate word, which is that you love your spouse, and you'll stay with them.
Couric: Do you think ... what about people who use that as a way to evaluate a candidate? In other words, there have been a number of fine presidents according to some analysts ...
Edwards: Right.
Couric: ... who have certainly not been sort of exhibited the greatest moral character ...
Edwards: Right.
Couric: ... when it comes to infidelity ...
Edwards: Right.
Couric: I guess is what I'm getting at.
Edwards: Yes.
Couric: So how important do you think it is in the grand scheme of things?
Edwards: I think the most important qualities in a president in today's world are trustworthiness, sincerity, honesty, strength of leadership. And certainly that goes to a part of that. It's not the whole thing. But it goes to a part of it.
Couric: So you think it's an appropriate way to judge a candidate?
Edwards: Yeah. But I don't think it's controlling. I mean, I think that, as you point out, there have been American presidents that at least according to the ... stories we've all heard, that were not faithful, that were in fact good presidents. So I don't think it controls the issue. But I think it's certain ... something reasonable for people to consider.
MITT ROMNEY
Couric: Harry Truman said, quote, "A man not honorable in his marital relations is not usually honorable in any other." Many people say they don't feel comfortable supporting someone who's not remained faithful to their spouse. Why should they?
Romney: Well, I'm certainly faithful to my spouse, my spouse. Ann and I fell in love in high school. We really our lives revolve around each other. I'd rather be with Ann than any other person in the world. And if I have any extra time, I wanna share it with Ann. That's just the nature of ... our relationship.
I know other people who've had other circumstances. If a marriage doesn't work, if people really can't get along, if they end up really disliking each other, then I guess it's appropriate to go find a new relationship or move away from marriage. But I'd do that. I would recommend people doing that in an honorable way. And there are ways of doing that that are appropriate and ways that are not.
Couric: Well, what do you think of people who base their judgment at least partially on a candidate's ability to remain faithful to his or her spouse?
Romney: You know, I let people look at me any way they want to. I'm not gonna give advice to the American people in which aspects of a person's life they look at. After all, the president of the United States is gonna be under a microscope. He will be. The first lady will be. The whole family will be. Every mistake will be open to the world. In some respects, you respect the nation.
In some respects you represent an example to the children of America. So we're gonna get looked at in all sorts of ways. And I'm not gonna try and counsel the American people as to what to look at. I know they look at my faith, for instance. And I'm happy to have them do so. Some are critical. Some are positive. It's just part of the package. And take me as ... the whole character that I am.
Couric: Do you think that people shouldn't vote for candidates if they are -- commit adultery, for example?
Romney: I think people should be able to do what they want to do. And express their own views when they get into the ... voting booth. I'm not gonna tell them how to ... do that. And I know that people will, again, take their own counsel.
FRED THOMPSON
Couric: Harry Truman said, "A man not honorable in his marital relations is not usually honorable in any other." Some people don't feel comfortable supporting a candidate who hasn't been faithful to his or her spouse. Can you understand their reservations?
Thompson: Yes. I can understand where that's coming from.
Couric: Do you think it's an appropriate way to evaluate a candidate?
Thompson: Everybody's gotta make up their own mind about that. I think that you can evaluate a candidate any way you want to. It's a free country. There are a lot of things that go into it. When we elect a president, we're electing the leader of the free world. We're facing tremendous challenges ahead. I don't think we've come to terms with the nature of the threats against us, really in terms ... of radical Islam and the things we've got to do and the threats to the economy with the growing retirement population, things that, of that nature.
So, nobody's perfect. Everybody has weaknesses and has made mistakes one time or another in life. But everybody's gotta decide for themselves what they want to consider that go into making up. The leader is going to have to deal with these problems of the country.
MIKE HUCKABEE
Couric: Harry Truman said, quote, "A man not honorable in his marital relations is not usually honorable in any other." Many people don't feel comfortable supporting someone who has not remained faithful to his or her spouse.
Huckabee: Uh-huh (AFFIRM).
Couric: Can you understand their position?
Huckabee: I can. If you violate the promise that you made to the one person on earth to whom you're supposed to be closest to, and this vow was made in front of your families, your closest friends, and God, and you don't keep that, then can we trust you to keep a promise that you made to people you don't even know?
And I think that's the parallel. And that's ... the concern. Is, that a promise you make to a spouse is the most sacred one you ever make to anyone on this earth. And if ... you don't keep that, and you break that, then I think there's a good reason to be afraid that you might break other promises, because your credibility ... has really been damaged at that point.
Couric: Having said that, many people might argue, there have been a number of really fine presidents ...
Huckabee: Yeah.
Couric: F.D.R....
Huckabee: Yeah.
Couric: ... even Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy ...
Huckabee: Right. (LAUGHS)
Couric: ... just to name a few.
Huckabee: Uh-huh (AFFIRM).
Couric: And who knows about some of the others ...
Huckabee: Yeah.
Couric: ... who were not faithful to their wives.
Huckabee: I don't think it means that a person can't be a good president. Obviously, there have been some great presidents who had personal issues. I think that's going to be true of all leaders. Nobody's perfect. Nobody. Me, anybody else. We all have flaws.
One of the things that I think I've learned most about life, particularly from my experience of having been a pastor, is that the people that you think are the best people on earth? Well, they've got some secrets sitting in there, about some pretty dark spots.
And the people you think are the dregs of the earth, there's some qualities there. May not be on the surface, but they're there. The capacity to make great decisions is not always the same as the capacity to make really good personal decisions.
But it does come to the matter of, I think, whether the general population will trust you, and that if what you're saying is really true. They may believe that what you do is a good thing. It's just they don't, they may not believe that what you say is necessarily the truth.
RUDY GIULIANI
Couric: Harry Truman once said, "A man not honorable in his marital relations is not usually honorable in any other." Some people say they don't feel comfortable supporting someone who has not remained faithful to his or her spouse. Can you understand their reservations?
Giuliani: Sure, I can. Absolutely. You know, they look the every single part of us. And the ... only thing I can say to people is I'm not perfect, you know? And I've made mistakes in my life. And that ... not just in that area. In other areas and I try to learn from it. I try to -- I feel sorry about them. I try to learn from them so I don't repeat them.
Sometimes I even repeat them and ... you try again. I mean, you ... so -- I have a, maybe a more generous view of human beings and a more generous view of life. I mean, it comes from growing up as a Catholic. I mean, we're all sinners. We're all struggling. We're all trying hard. We ask for forgiveness, and then we try to improve ourselves again. And I've -- relate to other people that way. Relate to the world that way.
Couric: How important is the politician's relationship with his or her children?
Giuliani: I think it's important. And it -- but, no more important than anybody's relationship with their children. There's nothing special about politicians' relationship or a lawyer's relationship or a ... news anchors relationship with their children. Or a baseball player's relationship with their children.
It's all ... the same as far as the relationship between a ... parent and a child. Often, they're real complicated. Often, they're least understood from the outside. They're best understood from the inside. But, I don't think there's anything special about politicians' relationship with their children. Except maybe for a high profile person, and sometimes the problems that that creates.
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See all 103 CommentsIt does make me respect Richardson and Edwards more, but not sure it''s going to sway my vote - just part of the mix to consider I guess . . .
But yes, faithfulness in one area does carry over to the others.
I dont want to know of their sins that are not crimes under the criminal code, Candidates keep that to your selves please. And if unfortunately based on a tabloid punditry class that cant discuss issues facing our country walling in this stuff and I hear it, its just one more fact about the person that I will consider.
The distinction would be things like Pols that solicit *** from under age Congressional Pages, frequenting Prostitutes where prostitution is illegal, soliciting *** in airport bathrooms, making a false claim of theft against a prostitute who you don%u2019t want to pay, engaging the public courts to restrain the Girlfriend you moved into the family home with the wife, the fraud of using City resources on the tax payers dime to walk the dog or drive the other women, and my personal favorite offering an undercover cop 20 bucks for a blower in a little leagued park these things I want to know and would absolutely effect my vote.
Far better would be to ask about their environmental policies. That has NOT YET been covered by anyone.
If her evidential standard on this matter also permeated the rest of CBS News, the broadcast would be considerably more juicy, albeit less tethered to fact. Candidate Edwards would not be pleased.
Ms. Couric is luckey that Romney, Ghouliani, and most other Republicans are deeply repressed homosexuals, or she might have been bent over on the spot.
Never, ever, turn your back on a neo-fascist.
73% OF ALL AMERICAN POPULATION IS G A Y?
83% OF ALL AMERICAN POPULATION IS L S B I A N
87% AMERICANS FINGER AND SMELL THEIR BEHIND HOLE AT LEAST TWICE A DAY
READ MORE ON THIS LINK ......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYjQpFAGUrQ
I guess that''s about 50% of the candidates . . . sounds about normal. I do admire that in people, but yeah I totally don''t hold it against anybody for having had marital difficulties or family troubles for that matter.
It''s interesting to read about their lives - like everybody''s had their share of setbacks. Biden, Edwards, Thompson have all lost children to car crashes. Edwards, Obama, Giuliani, Thompson, McCain have all been touched by cancer. Huckabee, Richardson and Billary have Obesity issues. Dodd, Romney, Clinton have legacy issues. Obama, Richardson have biracial identities . . . all part of the picture I guess . . .
Is Republican sponsored pedophillia part of Chevron''s "Human Energy" campaign?
And you know it''s hard to determine if a candidate is telling the truth about their honesty and integrity. I''ve heard this before and I''ll say it here: rely on the candidates'' actions (records), not whether they make you feel good from an interview or commercial.
I suspect all those high powered politicians, CEOs and CFOs are not faithful to their wives or significant others. It is simply part of the entitlement of the good old boys club. I would rather have an adulterer tell me truth (that he is an adulterer) than to tell me he didn''t inhale.
Secondly, most of the founding fathers were philanderers, and several had impregnated their slaves who forced to have sexual relations with them.
Third, how did Harry Truman become the barometer of morality in this country?
Fourth, if someone is going to cast a vote based on whether or not somebody strayed at one time in their life, they''re probably going to narrow the field down to about 3 candidates, none of which will make a good president.
They will do and/or say anything they think will garner them votes.
Truth and trustworthiness have absolutely nothing to do with campaigns.
You know who''s the big winner with respect to fidelity and voters is Hillary because she''s a ''cheatee'' (person who''s been cheated on). She seems to draw a tremendous amount of support from other women scorned who relate to the humiliation and disappointment of experiencing such a betrayal of trust. For her to win is like the ultimate vengeance and redemption - a phoenix rising from the ashes of shame to ultimate power!
A second substantial portion of Hillary''s base seem to be wives who see themselves as the power behind their man thus equate being a first wife to being President. Hence they understand or stay with a husband who''s cheated.
The third part of Hillary''s base seem to be women don''t feel like they''ve been taken seriously by men, and thus aren''t surprised she got cheated on or that she is so disliked because it''s not about Hillary it says more about everybody else. There is some truth to this though . . .
In sum, maybe whether a candidate has been loyal to their spouse may not be very relevant, but whether a candidate is a woman that''s been cheated on I think is VERY much so!
It is important to me whether candidates want to see America as the head of an empire.
It is important to me whether candidates favor corporate financial aid/incentives and worker competition or worker financial aid/incentives and corporate competition or whatever.
Are they social darwinists?
Who are they winking at?
When I first saw this - I came here with intrepidation. At first I thought, "OH NO! PLEASE DON''T TELL ME BILL HAS PUT MONICA ON U-TUBE!!!"
But, then I relized it wasn''t him running, but his (wife?). Kinda seems like the same thing don''t it.
If a candidate says "I have been faithful to my spouse for my entire marriage, you can trust me," I would put some stock in that.
If a candidate says "I have cheated on my spouse, but you can trust me," I cannot understand the idiot that would believe that.
No, wait, actually I do get it--they are telling me that they are unfaithful to their spouses too!
I''m not sure if there''d be drawbacks to taking this different route, but maybe there''s room for candidates to chip into Hillary''s votes by talking more about the women in their lives. Like by talking about how much of a support system Elizabeth and Michelle are to them and how they have made them into the men they are today, maybe that would make women feel like they''re being recognized for their contributions in a way questioning Hillary''s ''experience'' or likeability would not.
The drawback might be with guys who think this is too ''soft'' or ''wimpy'' (?)
Bryna and Joe Weiss
Posted by rmed2 at 07:05 PM : Dec 19, 2007
Bravo! Well said!
The polls are nothing short of meaningless because they are MADE UP by the controlled news media.
How about asking Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich the 10 "Tough Questions" and see how much more honest their answers are.
Seems to me that CBS are on a mission to HIDE these two candidates completely. Wonder why?
Subset of Hillary''s base are the Bubba fans. Indicators include rushing to his defense when people bring up his infidelities. Must identify whether the Bubba subset belongs to group 1,2,or 3 as listed below - 2 and 3 may be open to other candidates so long as the message is positive and makes women feel recognized; pure 1''s can be confused with the 2/3 Bubba off-shoot because of the rage - must identify whether ppl think you''re demeaning Hillary or Bill . . . category 1''s who think Hillary is being demeaned are write offs.
But not much to offer there in real information. The answers were pretty expected...people get married and divorced for all kinds of reasons. And mostly, people cheat on their marriage because they want to, and then try to put the other spouse down to justify why they do.
The ones that I have no sympathy for are those that don''t honor someone elses marriage, and pursue the spouse anyway. It''s the highest level of selfishness.
I just love the way the left always leaps to bubba''s defense. Love it.
As for poltical views, med2, don''t like his. How''s that?
Posted by Xlib at 07:57 PM : Dec 19, 2007
So your main objection to Clinton is that he wasn''t as good at covering up his affairs as say Bush or FDR or JFK were at covering up theirs? Wow, talk about flexible morality!
I won''t defend Clinton''s infidelity but I will respond to your holier-than-thou pile of ***.
Clinton was a creep who preyed on women but he didn''t rape anyone. What he did do was a carbon copy of the obnoxious behavior of Clarence Thomas.
Before Republicans ever became outraged by the behavior of Clinton they were defending the same behavior from Thomas. Clinton was out of office in 8 years;we''re stuck with Thomas until he dies.
If there''s any honor to your outrage you''ll apply it equally.
There''s another distinction you''re missing-Clinton bopped an unpaid intern while Bush,Sr. put his hoochie in a no-show job at the State Department for
4 years.
We taxpayers got to pay the hooker for Daddy Bush.
Giuliani response: "Yes, Please!"
Oh get off it! All those women that had affairs with Bill knew he was married, knew what they were doing, consented to what they were doing, and if they had no intention of doing it, then why were they there!!!
It takes two to make an affair! And these women were scumbags! If you''re going to wave your **** around, and go to some man''s hotel room or office after it...don''t cry foul when the deal is done. These were consenting adults.
Monica knew what she was doing and didn''t have the sense God gave a birdbrain than to go yack about it to some other woman scumbag that most likely got paid very well to rat them out.
I''m sick of hearing you people being so pious about Bill lying about it, like he''s the ONLY male that ever did.
You know how it is...boys will be boys...wink wink smirk!
Get a life!
The former president you are obviously talking about was anything but discreet.
I just love the way the left always leaps to bubba''''s defense. Love it.
I have to say I am impressed. From the few sentences I wrote you were able to tell me more about myself than even I knew. I did not realize I was talking about anyone in particular, or rushing to defend someone. Nor, did I realize that I was on the left at all. Where I thought I was just making an observation that the president, from whichever party, should be someone who can admit that the reality is people who make mistakes in their personal lives can still be strong leaders politically, I apparently meant that I condone affairs and support those who have them. Who knew! Thank you for helping me to clarify.
Rowdy Texan...I don''t think I have read one of your posts yet that I don''t agree with. You and I think so much alike that it''s almost scary. You seem to be the kind of person that I would like to sit down and have a beer with. Keep it up!
^5, Shiner Bock, best brew in Texas!
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