Elizabeth Edwards In Anguish After Affair

Friend, Brother Say Her Cancer Diagnosis Forced Her To Decide Whether To Leave Husband

(CBS/AP)  Elizabeth Edwards' cancer diagnosis forced her to decide quickly whether she would leave her husband after he confessed to having an affair, her brother and a friend told People magazine.

"She couldn't say, 'Well, maybe we'll work through this for years, or maybe we should separate for two years,"' said Hargrave McElroy, a friend, told the magazine for its Aug. 25 issue. "(The cancer) forced her to choose whether to move forward."

Edwards, a two-time Democratic presidential candidate, admitted last week to having a short affair in 2006 with a filmmaker named Rielle Hunter, who was hired that year to produce short videos for his political action committee. The former North Carolina senator denied he was the father of Hunter's five-month old daughter, and offered to take a paternity test to prove it.

Through her attorney, Hunter rejected the idea of such a test and said she has no intention to speak publicly about the affair. Through a spokeswoman, both John and Elizabeth Edwards declined a request for an interview Wednesday.

On The Early Show Thursday, the reporter who wrote the article in People, its Washington correspondent, Sandra Sobieraj Westfall, said to co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez, "He told her it's not his (baby) and she believes him. As her best friend said, she wants to believe him. She does believe him, and that that was really what she wanted most out of him going public -- to knock down those reports, so they could get the truth out, and get on with her life."

"You say she believes him about the child?" Rodriguez asked again.

"That's what I'm told," replied Westfall.

She added that Elizabeth has been taken aback by the public reaction to John's announcement.

Said Westfall, "(Elizabeth's) friend told me (Elizabeth) thought her forgiving him should be enough for everybody else and (Elizabeth) was unprepared for the amount of disgust and how swiftly everything else he had done in his career would be wiped away, and that (Elizabeth is) really reeling from that and afraid what it will do to their legacy as a couple and what their children will inherit."

Edwards has said he both ended the affair and told Elizabeth about his infidelity in 2006. He kicked off his second bid for the White House in New Orleans a few days after Christmas, at an event that Hunter attended and Elizabeth did not.

"The campaign had already gone through its official launch," when John told Elizabeth, Westfall said, " ... and she felt sort of trapped. It was the end of the year 2006, between Christmas and New Year's. They had already done the announcement tour. He was a candidate. And then he drops this bombshell on her. And only in pieces. He told the truth slowly."

But Elizabeth was out campaigning soon thereafter, and continued to do so after the couple disclosed in March that her breast cancer has spread to her bone and could not be cured. In July of that year, the Edwards renewed their vows to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in the presence of a small group of friends and family, including their three children.

"There was anguish - excruciating anguish - for her in dealing with this," McElroy said. "She was angry and furious and everything, but at one point she had to make a choice: Do I kick him out, or do we have a 30-year marriage that can be rebuilt."

Edwards brother, Jay Anania, told People that his sister was focused on her children - 8-year-old Jack, 10-year-old Emma Claire and eldest daughter Cate, 26. When he reached her the day after Edwards admitted publicly to the affair, he said Elizabeth asked him to call later because she was reading with Jack.

"Jack reads to her an hour a day as part of his home-schooling," Anania told People. "The world is whizzing around her and she's cool as a cucumber, saying, 'Jack just started, can I call you back?' "

Why did McElroy and Anania go public?

"They wanted to put out there (Elizabeth) wasn't this wind-up doll that went on stage and let the campaign continue out of some sort of craven ambition, but that she really was going through a lot of anguish," Westfall replied.

[tothestars2]

Love 1 Satan 0

[paganmama]

What is this obsession people seem to have with the private lives of politician. This is a issue that the Edwards family has already dealt with and all the media has done is re-open the wound.

[sistatee-2009]

What a total glob of slime John Edwards is. May a diseased camel take a dump in his $400 haircut.

[citizenusa-2009]

Am I wrong or does the hospital that delivered the new "little bundle of joy" have it''s DNA. Edwards volunteered HIS DNA, so why not just do it that way? Need mommy''s permission? She didn''t get permission to sleep with a married man and chose to get knocked up to "seal the deal".

[barbaraf4]

My heart goes out to Elizabeth Edwards. When you are battling cancer, you do not need this negativity or stress in your life.

[nothappyatall]

Yawn, what a BORING "news" story...

[joan1v]

There is a time and a place for everything. I think this is not the time to keep this barrage up, because of Mrs. Edwards and the children. There will be plenty of time in the future to go into all of the sorted details. I have no respect for Edwards, but I have empathy for his family.

[lizardbate]

Welcome to the dirty little world of politics. The republicans have to do anything they can to save the next election!!!!!!

[allurfears]

Rush Limbaugh said the affair was Elizabeth''s fault because she talked too much and did not "use her mouth" enough in "the right way" to keep John from cheating.

Who listens to these far right whack jobs? McCain supporters.

[lovesamerica]

Add her to the list of victims by cheating men that destroy trust,families and love, just for a piece of tail...I add that women too do this, but men seem to be much quicker to throw it all away. good luck mam, it may take months or years to overcome his betrayal,but he is the loser,remember that. My heart goes out to you.

[liberty_1776]

Not only did John Edwards cheat on his cancer-stricken wife, but he did it bare back (without a condom) and got the woman pregnant. Now he''s denying the baby is his! What a skunk! My 9 year old told me last night, "Daddy, I don''t like John Edwards because he cheated on his wife and he''s STILL LYING about it."

[dmhphils]

Edwards, a two-time Democratic presidential candidate, admitted last week to having a short affair in 2006 with a filmmaker named Rielle Hunter, who was hired that year to produce short videos for his political action committee.

Is that "two time" or "two-timing" ?

[kansas1946]

Rush Limbaugh said the affair was Elizabeth''''s fault because she talked too much and did not "use her mouth" enough in "the right way" to keep John from cheating.

Who listens to these far right whack jobs? McCain supporters.


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Posted by allurfears at 09:45 PM : Aug 13, 2008
+ report abuse
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Yes, that is exactly who listens to these radio scum-talkers. The right-wingers can''t make a decision until the dope-head Rush tells them what to think.

[emelder]

My 9 year old told me last night, "Daddy, I don''''t like John Edwards because he cheated on his wife and he''''s STILL LYING about it."

Posted by liberty_1776 at 10:09 PM

If the press digs a bit, they''ll begin reporting how John McCain cheated on his first wife ... coincidentally, after she was involved in a terrible car accident. Now he''s got the perfect trophy wife!

[emelder]

My heart goes out to Elizabeth Edwards. When you are battling cancer, you do not need this negativity or stress in your life.

Posted by barbaraf4 at 09:21 PM

Elizabeth is a good, classy person ... she certainly did not deserve an unfaithful husband. Edwards has lost all credibility with me.

[petesis]

I don''t see this as a big problem for Edwards because of the infidelity itself. These guys have been doing this for years. But the extraordinarily poor judgement that he showed in thinking he could get away with it. He is probably done for that.

[liberty_1776]

John Edwards is supremely sure that his wife Elizabeth will never leave him in anger over this humiliatingly public affair and the pernicious lies he continues to tell her to this day. But how can he be so sure?

I guess Edwards figures, ''Hey, she''s dying! Where''s she gonna go, Detroit?''

WHEN the affair occurred is critical. Edwards is STILL LYING TO HIS OWN WIFE - and to the rest of America. He wants us (and his wife) to believe the affair started and ended in 2006. That is obviously a lie - the affair has continued for 2 years. He also wants us to believe he TOLD HIS WIFE about it in 2006 - that is also a lie. Remember all the public photos of them out on the campaign trail? Can you imagine, in your wildest dreams, a cancer-stricken wife who would travel around smiling and campaigning for her husband while knowing that he cheated on her?!!!! NO. He is LYING!

Remember when John Edwards lied and claimed his 9 year old son said, "Daddy, I don''t want to buy those shoes at Wal-Mart, because Wal-Mart doesn''t offer their employees free health care."?

Ahhhh. Those were the good old days......

[jimbo554]

ugggh gag puke

Sick of this prying meddlesome story.

[davide73-2009]

What will John Edwards do after Elizabeth is gone? Will he stay with his kids and avoid his girlfriend, or will he try to work her back into his life? I wouldn''t want to be in his shoes, but I do feel some compassion for the impossible situation he has created for himself.

[sepa2]

Marriage is a contract. You only get real love from parents and siblings.

[nirak2-2009]

haoli25
Do you have any feelings at all?
My god I hope you are not married

[nirak2-2009]

You and me both, emelder

[dmhphils]

haoli25
Do you have any feelings at all?
My god I hope you are not married


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Posted by nirak2 at 11:01 PM : Aug 13, 2008

She is one of those fat women

[lovesamerica]

comments like that will come back to haunt you someday. We cannot all be as wonderful as you and remember the vows....sickness,health,good and bad. John Edwards is a slimeball. once a cheat always a cheat..ps, Christy brinkley''s husband cheated and shes sure not fat....

[dmhphils]

How far we have fallen and yet still acting like we are king on the mountain.

[haoli25]

Do you have any feelings at all?
My god I hope you are not married Posted by nirak2


YES and YES. She feels the same way, we both agree that fat people do not deserve pity. Their wounds are self inflicted. Get over it, fatties!

[patriot12436]

alurefears
Rush Limbaugh has always been a jerk and i can''t imagine anyone putting any stock in anything he has to say. I agree Elizabeth is a classy lady and didn''t deserve this. What she and John decide is between them. John has to live with the fact that it probably ended his political career.

[lovesamerica]

Not all fat is created by eating. If mrs. Edwards is undergoing chemo she may be bloated. different drugs also will cause weight gain as well as genetics. I do not think anyone said we should pity overweight people,just treat them like people. It takes all types to make the world go around and evil judgemental people should hope off.... Hope your wife doesn''t get heavy,but I am sure it would be ok for you to

[kirstinharr]

The real shame is that the media asks such personal questions of candidates. The ONLY person who needed to forgive John Edwards was Elizabeth Edwards. The ONLY person who needed to know if John Edwards had an affair was Elizabeth Edwards. When will we learn that we elect Presidents to run the country. Their personal lives are just that, personal...

[lovesamerica]

Oh, and I doubt very much she is lying about the cancer being nontreatable...amother wouldn''t do that to her children

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by WellHell3 at 11:13 PM

Aye, aye, Rowdy always saying something positive about a democrat. Since you are talking about truth, why don''t you finally admit that you were never much a Hillary supporter?

[randynason]

John is a slimeball and if Elizabeth had any self respect she''d make him move out and file for divorce; cancer, or no.

[haoli25]

Not all fat is created by eating. If mrs. Edwards is undergoing chemo she may be bloated. different drugs also will cause weight gain as well as genetics. I do not think anyone said we should pity overweight people,just treat them like people. It takes all types to make the world go around and evil judgemental people should hope off.... Hope your wife doesn''''t get heavy,but I am sure it would be ok for you to Posted by lovesamerica


Piggy ''Lizzie'' was fat four years ago! I am sure that it is not her fault...a group of terrorists grabbed her, held her down, and forced cupcakes down her throat.

[wellhell3]

Posted by WellHell3 at 11:13 PM

Aye, aye, Rowdy always saying something positive about a democrat. Since you are talking about truth, why don''''t you finally admit that you were never much a Hillary supporter?


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Posted by rudy654 at 11:22 PM : Aug 13, 2008

I''m still a Hillary supporter! Put her up there and I''ll not only vote for her, I''ll round up the whole neighborhood to go vote for her!

Obscamma, I wouldn''t vote for him for snake catcher.

[tackiton]

Don''t people find it odd that the mistress wants her privacy now that he''s agreed to a paternity test, but wasn''t private enough to shut up about having the affair and saying he was the father of her child? I haven''t seen one comment about that hypocracy!!! I would think that''s like shutting the gate after the horses were out of the barn. It''s a little to late for getting all private now!

[formrusmcsgt]

You have to feel for the woman.

On top of facing a fatal condition, she has the public humiliation of her husband being found out for who he is (was?), a liar, a cheat, and a scoundrel not to mention a horrible embarrassment to both their families and their network of friends as well.

John was no only very selfish, but very stupid as well.

[lovesamerica]

haoli25, you have a fat brain, and an ignorant personality. Maybe someday it will be an overweight person who saves your life,or cares for you on your deathbed. get over your own perfect self.knowing how long mrs. Edwards has been overweight makes me believe you have a phobia...

[emelder]

I''''m still a Hillary supporter! Put her up there and I''''ll not only vote for her, I''''ll round up the whole neighborhood to go vote for her! Obscamma, I wouldn''''t vote for him for snake catcher.

Posted by WellHell3 at 11:32 PM

And if Barack picks her as his VP? I think he will.

[wellhell3]

I''ve had four family members die from breast and bone cancer and watched them go thru radical chemo and radiation! And when they passed on they weighed about 80 lbs! NO, you don''t carry pudge and go through the disease!

If she''d lie while standing by her lying cheating husband promoting them as the real deal moral majority, I suspect she''d lie and use her disease for the sympathy vote!

[formrusmcsgt]

I''''m still a Hillary supporter! Put her up there and I''''ll not only vote for her, I''''ll round up the whole neighborhood to go vote for her!

Posted by WellHell3 at 11:32 PM : Aug 13, 2008

Considering how she ran her campaign, what there shows you that she is savvy or any kind of administrator?

She was the front-runner from day one.

More money than anyone.

More endorsements than anyone.

More name recognition than anyone.

And what did she do?

She got outsmarted by a junior senator from Illinois, took the front-runner label and made it into an "also-ran" and ended up $30 million in the red in the process.

If someone snatches defeat from the jaws of victory, and is out-smarted so easily, why in the world would we want her in the big chair?

Sheesh.

[lovesamerica]

I vol. at a hospice and I have seen people at different stages have different body types. My mom lost weight during part of her cancer and gained weight at other times. She ended up the ultimate skinny.

[wellhell3]

I''''''''m still a Hillary supporter! Put her up there and I''''''''ll not only vote for her, I''''''''ll round up the whole neighborhood to go vote for her! Obscamma, I wouldn''''''''t vote for him for snake catcher.

Posted by WellHell3 at 11:32 PM

And if Barack picks her as his VP? I think he will.


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Posted by emelder at 11:34 PM : Aug 13, 2008

Nope! No deal! And personally I don''t think she''ll accept it! I like to think she knows better than to attach herself to Obscamma''s idiot scams!

If she does, she will lose a lot of esteem in my estimation.

Also how can Obscamma possibly ask such a racist person as Hillary Clinton to be his vice president! lol I guess you don''t see the absurd hypocrisy in such a move!

[tackiton]

Why does everyone think that being fat is only caused by overeating. Try being in two car wrecks, then having 6 surgeries withing a few years and see how many calories you can burn off. Back damage, leg swelling, medications, all can keep you from burning off calories even when you don''t eat much. Also Elizabeth having cancer....most cancer patients, if they have to take steroids or having chemo ballon up and down out of control. When I''ve been given cortizone shots for my back, I gained over 25 pounds withing two weeks and you don''t do that over eating. It also takes up to a year to lose it back down unless they give you more cortizone before then. It also affects your blood sugar if you''re diabetic.

You people making those hateful comments don''t know anything about life or medical conditions or anything else. You''re just being hateful and love making antagonizing statements. You''re immature and lack any compassion at all. I feel sorry for you and pity you...not the "fat" people.

[formrusmcsgt]

If she does, she will lose a lot of esteem in my estimation.

Posted by WellHell3 at 11:40 PM : Aug 13, 2008

What malarkey.

What other position could Hillary hope to obtain (other than the presidency itself) that would give her as much clout and prestige as VP?

None, that''s how many.

You''re lost.

[wellhell3]

She got outsmarted by a junior senator from Illinois, took the front-runner label and made it into an "also-ran" and ended up $30 million in the red in the process.

If someone snatches defeat from the jaws of victory, and is out-smarted so easily, why in the world would we want her in the big chair?

Sheesh.



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Posted by formrusmcsgt at 11:38 PM : Aug 13, 2008

OUTSMARTED???? ROFL! You surely mean out scammed by Obscamma and the DNC and their mafia gang bang primary!

I can''t believe after all the ***** Obscamma has thrown at you people in idiot give away programs, and you have the AUDACITY to promote this idiot as SMART! I guess you could if you can believe a SCAM ARTIST is smart!

[erichsh]

If someone snatches defeat from the jaws of victory, and is out-smarted so easily, why in the world would we want her in the big chair?

Sheesh.

Posted by formrusmcsgt

Trust me, I''m no Hillary supporter, but it seems clear to me she would have won had Edwards been forced to bow out when the Enquirer first published news of his affair. Most Edwards supporters would have voted for Hillary over Obama.

[formrusmcsgt]

Someday you''''ll die of a heart attack and some normal sized people will have to haul your fat a$$ off to the morgue.

Posted by haoli25 at 11:42 PM : Aug 13, 2008

I don''t know...considering that 2/3 of the adult population is overwight, the chances of "normal sized" people showing up is less qnd less.

More than likely it would be two wide-bodies....

[lovesamerica]

you have no idea why I am alone sweety. cause I had a lying cheating husband that left me when I wasn''t fat for an old bag with money. so my trust level is real low and the more I see morons like you the better off I know I am.Mrs. Edwards deserves kindness and understanding and she has mine. My health is optimum and I will probably be carrying some hateful meanspirited jerk like yourself to the ambulance. enough from you idiot

[formrusmcsgt]

OUTSMARTED???? ROFL! You surely mean out scammed by Obscamma and the DNC and their mafia gang bang primary!

Posted by WellHell3 at 11:44 PM : Aug 13, 2008

You simply can''t admit that she was outsmarted.

Your adimitting it or not has no impact on that being a reality.

[wellhell3]

Trust me, I''''m no Hillary supporter, but it seems clear to me she would have won had Edwards been forced to bow out when the Enquirer first published news of his affair. Most Edwards supporters would have voted for Hillary over Obama.


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Posted by erichsh at 11:44 PM : Aug 13, 2008

She already got the votes! And she had the support!

And the really sad thing is the democrats pulled out Lying John Edwards'' face in an endorsement scam to give the people a warm fuzzie while they Nazi''d the superdelegates to migrate to Obscamma! And they ALL knew he was SCUM!

Now their scampering around to do damage control for their own endorsement scam...and dumping Edwards like a hot potato!