Another Politician, Another Scandal

As Details Emerge Of John Edwards' Extramarital Affair, Sunday Morning Looks At The Long Line Of Political Falls From Grace

(CBS)  On a weekend of new details and new disclosures in the John Edwards saga, Tracy Smith offers a look at yet another fall from grace.

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Here we go again.

Another sex scandal, another contrite politician, delivering - on national TV - what sounds like different parts of the same speech.

Politics is a tough business, but being a politician seems to be...well, emboldoning. In a statement Friday, Edwards said that running for office made him feel special. Egocentric.

In effect, that the campaign made him do it. It's a common affliction, says CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield.

"If you're running for president, you get on a pedestal," he said. "Motorcades happen for you. You get the adulation of crowds. And if you get to be president all the planes stop when your plane takes off and when you die you're on a stamp. The one thing you can't do is to cheat."

It wasn't always this way. Grover Cleveland served two terms after a scandal in which he was said to have fathered a child. Much has been made of Franklin Roosevelt's romance with Lucy Mercer and others. And JFK - well, we all know that song.

You've heard it before: reporters knew, but said nothing.

"The reason why the John Edwards thing I think is so striking is the other way the rules have changed," said Greenfield. "The press, which never used to cover private matters, does."

When it came to FDR and JFK, he added, "it was what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."

But somewhere between Kennedy and Bill Clinton, cheating politicians became fair game. And America cares - sometimes.

In a 2007 poll, 56 percent said it wouldn't matter to them if a presidential candidate had an extramarital affair. Of course, it might matter more if the candidate's wife was well liked - and very sick.

"I think that a lot of the focus of the affair actually has been about its impact on Elizabeth Edwards," said Hotline editor Amy Walter. "Obviously Elizabeth Edwards' story, her fight with cancer, the fact that she's well liked and has very high regard I think is what has really made this story stick a little bit more than maybe it would for somebody else."

In a statement, Elizabeth Edwards said that dealing with the affair was "a process oddly made somewhat easier with my diagnosis in March of 2007." And in an interview last summer, she spoke frankly about facing her own death.

"You know that when you die, when anyone dies you're going to leave a bunch of headaches behind for the people behind us in addition to the fact that they'll miss us of course, and so I'm trying to minimize that to the extent that I can," she said. "Gotta do something with your day, and that's what I choose to do."

Now she's chosen to stand by her husband. Whether or not the American public will is still very much an open question.

"There'll be sympathy, certainly sympathy for her, he's got a family, he's got kids of various ages, and you feel for him," said Greenfield. "You do. But the other part of it I think is you feel an enormous sense of, as Jay Leno said to Hugh Grant, 'what the hell were you thinking?' And of course thinking is probably the last element in a story like this."

[mirisho]

I notice the lack of Republican names in the list of politicians who have had affairs. Here I''ll help the well paid "journalists" at "liberal" CBS News
Henry Hyde had a "youthful" indiscretion at the age of 40.
JOHN MCCAIN had an affair on his wife who had been injured in an auto accident.
Newt Gingrich has had several affairs and was involved in an affair with an intern while impeaching Clinton for lying about HIS affair with an intern.
Larry Craig..while he did not have an affair he certainly sought out encounters and in RESTROOMS!
Mark Foley..sought out young men
St Ronald Reagan..Nancy Reagan was his second wife.
I understand that big media does not want to address anything about John McCain''s past or even his many gaffes while giving interviews (CBS conveniently edited a recent interview with Mr McCain to paint him in a more favorable light), including his affair with his current wife Cindy, but it is unfair to label affairs as taking place in only one political party.

[buttonjockey]

" ...and when you die you''re on a stamp. he one thing you can''t do is to cheat."

Still no proof readers employed at CS News.

[mythoughtsr]

buttonjockey I was thinking the same thing. Don''t these people proofread their stuff? How embarrassing! I would be mortified if an article I wrote that was read worldwide was full of grammatical and spelling errors.

[hungry1968]

so, you are ok with what edwards did?

Posted by jamesm12341 at 10:33 AM : Aug 10, 2008





Who cares?

Is this going to affect your taxes, your health care, the war in Iraq, national security........?

[benighse]

IT''S THE LYING....THAT''S WHAT GETS THEM IN TROUBLE....MCCAIN BRAGS ABOUT HIS EXTRA-MARITAL AFFAIRS IN HIS BOOK AS HE DUMPS HIS FIRST WIFE FOR PUTTING ON BABYWEIGHT, SO THAT MEANS HE''S A FAMILY VALUES REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE----RONALD REAGAN SAID MARRIAGE SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM EVERYTHING BUT DIVORCE, SO THAT MADE HIM A FAMILY VALUES REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT---NEWT GRUNTGRINCH SAYS HE WASN''T ASKED UNDER OATH ABOUT HIS AFFAIRS WHILE TRYING TO IMPEACH CLINTON, SO HIS LIES WERE UNDERSTANDABLE AND ACCEPTABLE TO KEEP HIM AS A FAMILY VALUES REPUBLICAN----LARRY CRAIG JUST LIKES OTHER TOILET STALL MEN BUT WAS MISUNDERSTOOD WHEN HE PLEAD GUILTY SO HE SHOULD BE HELD UP AS A FINE EXAMPLE OF A FAMILY VALUES REPUBLICAN....SOOOOOO....CLINTON WAS WRONG WHEN HE LIED ABOUT HIS B.L.O.W.S.E.X.J.O.B. AND EDWARDS WAS WRONG ABOUT HIS LYING AFTER *** TOO....IF THEY HAD STOOD UP AND SAID MY WIFE CHOSE MY GIRLFRIENDS FOR ME, MAYBE THEY COULD BE FAMILY VALUES FRIENDLY AS WELL. LET''S GET ON TO THE REAL CAMPAIGN ISSUES LIKE WILL BRITNEY REALLY HELP MCCAIN WHEN SHE GETS OUT OF REHAB, AND WILL PARIS READ THE REPUBLICAN PLANK AT THEIR CONVENTION ON FAMILY VALUES? THESE ARE THE THINGS WE TRULY NEED TO KNOW.

[joa43210]

Like all of the mainstream media, CBS has been moving to the right. That means ignoring right-wing mistakes and dishonesty (e.g., affairs), then pretending that every negative event began with the Democrats. Anyone doubting this should have listened to Bob Schieffer''s slanted talk with Virginia''s governor this morning about the race for the presidency. The media can no longer be relied on to help safeguard democracy by honestly informing the public. Their main mission appears to be supporting their million and billionaire handlers. Maybe we should take another look at their First Amendment rights.

[ozonmojo]

It looks like the mainstream media is conveniently using Elizabeth Edwards'' distressing position to almost exonerate her husband.

[downtowner97]

This story hits he nail on he haid. Sorry, I''m a typo Nazi.

Actually, when you think about it, cheating on Elizabeth Edwards is quite a bit meaner than cheating on Hillary Clinton.

[renonv5]

Actually, when you think about it, cheating on Elizabeth Edwards is quite a bit meaner than cheating on Hillary Clinton.
Posted by downtowner97

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you just plain stupid, or what??

[nothappyatall]

Mark Foley..sought out young men
Posted by jamesm12341

Correction- sought out *CHILDREN* not young "men"

[blueshadow19]

Fidelity is the only thing that would have mattered to Elizabeth Edwards in the final days of her life. John Edwards blaming it on the campagn and the devil made him do it only shows how lucky the American public ,plus the world is that he did not get the nomination.The man can not be faithful to his dying spouse than ,can you imagine how he could turn his back on his country.

[stn_sage]

Like all of the mainstream media, CBS has been moving to the right. That means ignoring right-wing mistakes and dishonesty (e.g., affairs), then pretending that every negative event began with the Democrats. Anyone doubting this should have listened to Bob Schieffer''''s slanted talk with Virginia''''s governor this morning about the race for the presidency. The media can no longer be relied on to help safeguard democracy by honestly informing the public. Their main mission appears to be supporting their million and billionaire handlers. Maybe we should take another look at their First Amendment rights.

Posted by JoA43210 at 12:31 PM : Aug 10, 2008
--------------------
Outstanding post! You sum of the current situation well!

[omded]

I don''t recall hearing that Elizabeth Edwards is dead. Is she? I thought she just made a statment asking for privacy. Terminal cancers don''t necessarily kill people immediately. They can take several years. I think you''re a little mistaken, Blueshadow19.

[rob416]

Affairs have been going on since the beginning of time and will continue to the end of time, if and when that happens. Politicans are no different than others that have had affairs, they are just people that make a decesion to cheat. The consequences of getting caught is not for public display, instead it is issues the familes need to deal with.

The Edwards affair is hardly newsworthy and the media appears just to be looking for ratings and making money. There certainly is no respect or regard for the person cheated on, in this case Elizabeth Edwards.
If there was helicopters, news trucks and cameras would not be camped out at the Edwards house. Given the dangers in the world and issues in the Nation what a waist of money, time and resources.

If John Edwards is guilty of anything it is lying, which in itself is not surprising, but it shows if he were elected what is in his character. Also, if he did get the democratic nomination and this story broke when it did, 2 weeks before the convention, the democratic party would stand a good chance of not regaining control of The White House.

[omded]

I think the biggest problem is, nobody gets to the White House by being honest. It''s just the cold, hard truth. Republicans and Democrats are a lot more alike than they are different, and, perhaps the biggest way they''re alike is that they''ve all mastered the art of lying and deception. The best lyar usually wins.

[karl2m]

How nice it must be to be a journalist. You can cheat your wife, you can mess around with interns, and do whatever you like, nobody cares except your wife if she finds out. You can also have lots of principles, but they are always valid for someone else, so you can make character assessments of politicians for any reason you like, as long as it''s good for business. Breaking up a family because of an affair? why not, you can always stick it on political habits or the will of the readers. Oh boy i''m gonna be a journalist too.

[blueshadow19]

omded..a little mistaken? I know she has not yet passed on,but she is will die from the illness. I have seen people die within months,but in the last bit of time left,the spouse should at least control himself.Because she will die with the fact that her husband cheated on her on her mind,knowing that she had terminal cancer. He couldnt wait? In the time a partner needs support,someone who loved him helped him in all his political goals..Not presidential..

[pvperson]

The only thing about the COVERAGE of this sordid mess that bothers me, is the fact that Edwards is a FAILED candidate for the white house. You would think he was the president or something. He lost early on in the primary and I don''t believe he was in running for VP. So why the mega coverage?

And don''t drag up Foley or Craig, they''re lewdness went WELL beyond the scope of an affair.

[massey24]

If your wife can''t trust you, then you shouldn''t be trusted.

[platteman]

Just another lying politician. What do you expect. He won millions for himself and just a little for people in medical malpractice. He used every trick possible to do what he did, so what should we expect from a guy who was just to squeeky clean to be another other than a cheat and lier.

I think Obama should pick him for something. VP,since both are cut from the same cloth.

[silitch]

You declare John Edwards'' public life is over, by why not John McCain''s? When is someone going to look into his numerous affairs, the dumping of his first wife, and the alleged "relationship" with a lobbyist?

[jmurrieta1]

But John McCain cheated on the wife who waited for him while he was in the prison camp, dumping her while she was ill to get his banker-in-chief, blondie Cindy, beer heiress.

But the "free press" gives John a pass

Why?

Perhaps "freedom of the press is wonderful if you happen to own one". And we know who owns the presses in America. Some very rich white people. And very rich white people are overwhelmingly Republican. Any why not?--it''s their very own political party!

[silitch]

You declare John Edwards'' public life is over, by why not John McCain''s? When is someone going to look into his numerous affairs, the dumping of his first wife, and the alleged "relationship" with a lobbyist?

[kmccliment]

Posted by jmurrieta1

A free pass was given to Obama about the Larry Sinclair affair also.

[trrrorislamx]

THAT WOMAN,,,

I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms Lewinsky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP5FunbZvJ8

DEMONIC-RAT CORRUPTION

Fascism, corruption and my Democratic Party
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=3012

Ten years ago, Newsweek magazine shocked mainstream America with a cover story headlined "Thought Police," a lengthy report on a new social /political movement developed on college campuses since the 1960s. Ironically, one year after the Berlin wall came down and one year before the fall of the Soviet Empire, Americans were being seriously warned that liberal academia had adopted a hybrid "Marxist" philosophy often called "PC." This new "Politically Correct" creed was being espoused, according to Newsweek, at hundreds of colleges and universities as a result of the growing influence of "a generation of campus radicals."

Democrat corruption over the last three months
http://www.boycottliberalism.com/Commentary/Corruption.htm

[dakotaclark]

Hmmm...

Yes, America, in particular the Republican Party, should get off the moral bandwagon.

Do as I say, not as I do, is the mantra of many preachers who have come to light in the last 20 or so years; as Conservative Christians hijacked the Republican Party.

Rather than form their own political party, which they know would be destined to failure, the conservative Bible thumpers hitched their wagons to the Republican Party. They have tried their best to take complete control. In spite of their efforts, their attempt to take control has been failing; and, will fail should they continue with the effort.

However, guess what is happening in 2008? Average Republicans are becoming very tired of the covert actions of the sanctimonious Bible thumpers.

That is why many politicians are cutting the stings to Conservative Christian preachers.

John Edwards is just another black eye for all politicians.

I guess Senator McCain is adhering to the do not cast the first stone theory, attributed to Jesus...

[cbsblogger]

I don''t care whether it is McCain, Edwards or Clinton, these guys are all corrupt losers.

[Enthusiast]

The American public needs to get out of peoples bedrooms.
An affair between two consenting adults is no one''s business other than the people involved and their spouses if any.
Edwards'' sexual adventures in no way diminishes his political platform which was to stand up for people who had no one advocating for them.
It is part of human nature to have sexual urges. Our politicians are human.

[oneamerican_]

A growing list of scandals:

Grover Cleveland - Democrat

Franklin Roosevelt - Democrat

John F. Kennedy - Democrat

Bill Clinton - Democrat

Eliot Spitzer - Democrat

John Edwards - Democrat


Notice any pattern here?

[lordmi]

Now, please, some details about McBush.

[davenp35]

There are a number of blogs now speculating that the media didn''t go after this story because they wanted Edwards to take votes from Hillary, giving the nomination to Obama. I''m not big on conspiracies, but it sounds pretty plausible to me!

[tibu987]

Will the last honest, honorable, moral, politician please stand.

Hey, no one is standing.

[libra127]

It is part of human nature to have sexual urges. Our politicians are human.

Posted by impeachemall at 08:23 PM : Aug 10, 2008

It is a part of human morality to exercise some control over one''s sexual urges, especially if one is married.

Edwards is not being vilified for having "sexual urges". He has earned our disrespect and distrust for acting on those urges in an inappropriate context - and for repeatedly lying about it.

[dimmu19]

what do these names have in common: Mark Foley, Larry Craig, Bob Allen, Glenn Murphy Jr, David Vitter, Jim West, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronald Reagan, Newt Gingrich, Dan Burton, Bob Dole, Nelson Rockefeller, Rudy Giuliani, Rush Limbaugh, Tom DeLay, George Will, **** Armey etc...? They all either cheated on spouses or were involved in a *** scandal! Oh yeah, they are all REPUBLICANS!

[trrrorislamx]

HUSSEIN AND THE NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY

The racist NBPP is led by notorious extremist, Malik Zulu Shabazz, and is a registered team member and blogger on Obama%u2019s campaign website.

Barack Obama and The New Black Panther Party
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DQAOZlNrO8

Snarling at the White Man
Leaders of the New Black Panther Party, unlike those of its namesake of the 1960s and 1970s, speak of ''white devils'' and ''bloodsucking Jews''

Khalid Muhammad.
Muhammad, who first appeared publicly as the new Panthers'' leader at the Jasper demonstration in 1998, had long been known as the leading spokesman for the black separatist Nation of Islam. He lost that post after Nation leader Louis Farrakhan was widely criticized for Muhammad''s violently hateful speeches.

He has blamed slavery and even the Holocaust on the "hooked-nose, bagel-eating, lox-eating, perpetrating-a-fraud, so-called Jew."

He has launched repeated diatribes against his enemies: "white devil crackers," "bloodsucking Jews" and "*******."

Muhammad had clear ideas for dealing with whites who did not leave immediately: "We kill the women. We kill the babies. We kill the blind. We kill the cripples. We kill them all. We kill the *******. We kill the lesbians. ,,, When you get through killing them all, go to the ******* graveyard and dig up the grave and kill them a-*******-gain, because they didn''t die hard enough" the first time.
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?pid=394

[trrrorislamx]

THE REAL HUSSEIN, HIS REAL HATE OF WHITEY, HIS REAL RACISM

FROM HIS OWN MOUTH

Wright / Obama: "White Folk''s Greed Runs A World In Need"

MALCOLM-O-BAMA LAUDS MALCOLM-X

HUSSEIN THE MARXISTS

HUSSEIN THE RACIST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfC4OOm1aoM
There''s only two kinds of white folks, there''s only two kinds, bad white folks and worse white folks. That''s the only two kinds of white folks there are. Malcolm X, used to say, from the teachings of the nation of terrorislam founder Elijah Muhammad, that all white folks are bad. He said if you find one good, kill him first before he turns bad. Because he''s only faking.
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?sid=169

SHOCKING Obama words: what he really thinks of white folks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI77cU3jsFs&feature=related

The shocking video Barack Obama does not want you to see!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prhnc2fxAzg&feature=related

[dkhorse1]

John Edwards is a hypocritical ***, that being said,
Politicians have exploited their positions throughout history, both the left and the right. So libs, and conservatives, SHUT UP! Politicians tell their constituents what they want to hear (or what they think they want to hear) to win a cushy job. Democracy is designed to elect a better candidate if a bad one is holding office or could hold office, so judge with your BRAIN! It%u2019s about time people vote with logic instead of blind party loyalties.
To take a stead fast position in which you ignore the failings of your party only spot lights your own shortcomings. If a politician is corrupt they should be held accountable, but at the same time the opposition should not have free reign to throw out slanderous accusations without credible evidence.
If you let your hatred trump logic and reason you are no better than the person you rail against.