Elizabeth Edwards: Trust Is Biggest Hurdle

Wife of Ex-Candidate Says She Is Focused On Children, Health Reform Since News Of Husband's Affair Became Public

(CBS/AP)  The wife of former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards says her husband's extramarital affair has allowed her to focus on the importance of her children and health reform as she goes through "an ongoing process of finding your feet again."

"There's a lot of adjustment to make," Elizabeth Edwards told the Detroit Free Press. "When you mention trust, that's probably the most difficult hurdle."

The interview came she returned to the public stage this week to speak about health care, more than a month after her husband acknowledged that he repeatedly lied about being unfaithful in 2006.

Elizabeth Edwards, 59, had been quiet about the affair, only discussing it in a brief statement last month in which she pleaded for privacy and said her husband confessed the affair to her in 2006.

The two-time Democratic presidential candidate and former North Carolina Senator publicly admitted last month to an extramarital affair with campaign videographer Rielle Hunter.

"I made a very serious mistake. A mistake that I am responsible for and no one else," John Edwards said when news of his affair became public. "In 2006, I told Elizabeth about the mistake, asked for her forgiveness, asked God for His forgiveness."

Elizabeth Edwards has remained quiet about her husband's infidelity - issuing only a brief statement last month saying "I am proud of the courage John showed by his honesty in the face of shame."

She spoke with the paper ahead of a visit to Detroit next month to talk about coping with life's setbacks, including the loss of her teenage son in an auto accident and her 2004 cancer diagnosis.

She said she wants her children - Cate, 26, Emma Claire, 10, and Jack, 8 - to have an image of their father as "an advocate for poverty, not for this current picture of him to be the only one they carry with them, as young people and as adults."

"I have to prepare for the possibility if I die before they are grown," she said, of helping them "function without an involved, engaged and admiring parent. So I need to create the picture for them that I want them to have."

On Tuesday - her first public appearance since word of the affair became public - Edwards spoke to a Philadelphia audience, keeping her remarks limited to health care policy.

After being diagnosed with cancer herself, she has become a respected speaker on the subject.

As CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano reported, Edwards said she was "more discouraged than I was before" that the nation's economic problems might draw attention and money that might have been spent on fixing the health care system.

Audience members asked no questions about her private life, and Edwards did not mention the affair.

Meanwhile, John Edwards has canceled all of his public events until after the election, saying in a statement through his publicist he doesn't want to be a distraction to his party's ticket.

[mandalay-bay]

who cares about these people''s personal lives? Edwards isn''t even a candidate.

[brobberson]

Sorry for what''s she''s going through and hope she can survive. However, I''m disgusted by the fact that she knew he wasn''t who she said he was and yet she "kept quiet", allowing thousands of good folks to have faith in her husband. This was deceitful and a very dishonorable thing to do. I therefor I have a real hard time believing anything she says or supporting anything she does. Whether it''s the economy or family or friends-confidence is everything and I have no confidence in her.

[brobberson]

Sorry for what''s she''s going through and hope she can survive. However, I''m disgusted by the fact that she knew he wasn''t who she said he was and yet she "kept quiet", allowing thousands of good folks to have faith in her husband. This was deceitful and a very dishonorable thing to do. I therefor I have a real hard time believing anything she says or supporting anything she does. Whether it''s the economy or family or friends-confidence is everything and I have no confidence in her.

[jetlizhan]

when you lose trust in someone, there''s really nothing left. God bless her.

[pmsnbc1]

Where''s the LIB media story about that tax cheating Charlie Rangel (LIB-NY). The guy in charge of writing tax laws cheated on his taxes, but the MSM doesn''t wnat to report the HYPOCRISY of another LIB.

[perceptions5]

Just another typical Democrat.

Of course the most corrupt institution in America today, our mostly liberal MSM wolfpack press didn''t have time to investigate the claims by the National Enquirer concerning John$400. Yeah they didn''t want to spread any rumors about John$400

.........But the same group of corrupt liberals have plenty of time to write "rumors" "lies" "smears" and "distortions" with Sarah Palin.........don''t they?

Of course the contaminated liberals in our country simply just don''t see that "corrupt bias"........sad.

[owlwomanxxxx]

A private matter......I think she should of left him...but then again....marriage is much more than he bed.......a freindship loud and clear....

[jolsonbear]

Trust is a big hurdle.

I can''t feel sorry for her even considering her medical condition. She knew for two years that her husband''s infidelity would destroy his chances of becoming president and her chances of becoming first lady. She and her husband both made a conscious effort to perpetuate this coverup.

[jumkey]

Virtually every statement Palin has made has been a lie.

Her acceptance speech has been debunked and discredited from liberal and conservatives source alike.

She is a hypocritical religious bigot who has conducted an amoral, unethical life and raised amoral, unethical children. She has relentlessly used public money and trust for personal gain. Her family life and marriage is a mess. Her only "skill" is self-aggrandizement and political hackery.

No of this is even remotely and "opinion" - it''s all a matter of public record.

She is the perfect example of what it wrong with the Republican Party, and

[tmn]

She is a strong woman, one to be admired. She is holding things together in spite of all her challenges...

[gop_will_win]

Thats what she gets for marrying a liberal man. They stray like a dog not like a republican man who takes his wedding vows seriously and doesnt part until death.

[minnick8-2009]

She (Palin) is the perfect example of what it wrong with the Republican Party . . .

Posted by jumkey

What does your diatribe about Palin have to do with Elizabeth Edwards and her difficulties regarding health and her marriage?

[minnick8-2009]

At least the democrats seem to like the opposite ***. The republicans seem to like boys.

Posted by Iagtot

Really? Then why are the Democrats in favor of same gender marriage while Republicans are against it?

[misssuzq]

I have to admit that she is an amazing woman.

He knew that, too, but still cheated on her and when she dies, he has his back-up family waiting for him.

Sadly, try as she might, this is what the children will remember, and hopefully they will never let him forget that he cheated on them, as well as their mother.

I am sorry that this going to be on her mind when the cancer does take her.

He is a pig, and I hope that someday he gets payback in spades.

[rplat]

She should have focused on removing his private parts. The man is slime.

[misssuzq]

OK, folks...this is not at all about Republican or Demorcrat and you fools know this!

This is about morals and that he has none.

[jumkey]

Posted by minnick8

Gee, I don''t know. Perhaps you should read the prior comments about Palin in this thread.

But please, don''t offer a defense of Palin. Just attack the messenger. The only thing you Republicans have left is your dishonesty so I guess I can''t fault you for using your last card. Me, I have self-respect, but I''m a liberal.

Funny that CBS News devotes such space to the martial problems of a prominent Democrat who is NOT RUNNING FOR ANY OFFICE but ignores the serial adultery and immoral behavior of the Republican Presidental team.

[misssuzq]

AND....this has nothing to do with Palin, either!

Why can''t you stick to the subject at hand?

Oh, maybe because you have nothing constructive to say about Mrs. Edwards?

[ketemkin]

Here is a shallow thought...
This man made a mistake. Lets get down to reality here. This man was doomed to make this kind of error when his popularity shot through the roof back in 04 and with that snazzy hair cut, must have attracted all the woman he could ever dream about. These kinds of temptations are put in front of men of his power daily and by the truck loads. This is a recipe for disaster, but realistically, what man can resist this kind of temptation on a daily basis? I would say his marriage was missing something that he wasn%u2019t getting, *** excluded. He is a human man who made a human man mistake and allowed himself to be swepped off his feet by someone who captured his attention, not just once but probably for a long period of time. How many of you would like to be swepped off your feet or have someone take notice of you more often? If your not getting something you need form your spouse after man years, wouldn%u2019t you be more susceptible to this kind of relationship killer? I''ve not cheated but I can understand why it happens sometimes. Stop attacking the poor pig and understand the nature (cause and effect) of people.

[clovisbuford]

Edwards Cheats on his wife and its all Republicans Fault. Its no wonder that McCain is ahead in every national poll. The Voters are tired of the Blame on Bush or Republicans or Americans or White People.

Posted by demslie2u at 02:54 PM : Sep 18, 2008
errr I don''t see anything in that article where Elizabeth says its republicans fault or white people,though Mr.Edwards is white in case that little factoid evaded you. You must be reading a different article than this one .

[jumkey]

OK, folks...this is not at all about Republican or Demorcrat and you fools know this!

This is about morals and that he has none.

Posted by MissSuZQ

Shorter MissSuZQ and every other Republican:

"If a Democrat does a bad thing it''s because Democrats are bad. If a Republican does a bad thing it''s because all politicians are bad"

I await your stinging rebuke of McCain''s adultery or Palin''s endless serial lying.

Well?

[jumkey]

AND....this has nothing to do with Palin, either!

Posted by MissSuZQ


BINGO!!!

Thanks for playing the partisan non-blame game!

Wow.

[antoniof123]

BUSH SHOULD BE PRESIDENT ANOTHER 8 YEARS !!!!!!!

Posted by twalk1122 at 03:13 PM : Sep 18, 2008

Go take you medicine I know you are on it.

He would lose to an goat this time around you moron.

[shaihalud-2009]

Presidential Candidate John McCain--also an adulterer.

[scra452]

J. Edwards cheated on his wife, John McCain left his invalid wife and married a younger women a month after his divorce, Palin alledgedly had an affair, her daughter is pregnant. Frankly I don''t care who has an affair with whom, as long as it''s not my husband. It should be between the parties involved not the general public. Democrats are the scum of the
earth if they cheat, but it''s okay for the republicans.
I can''t believe that adults can be so narrow minded.

No wonder our young people have no morals, look at the
examples they hae.
t

[notfooled]

Funny that CBS News devotes such space to the martial problems of a prominent Democrat who is NOT RUNNING FOR ANY OFFICE but ignores the serial adultery and immoral behavior of the Republican Presidental team.

Posted by jumkey at 03:04 PM : Sep 18, 2008

Kinda invalidates the Rep''s theory that all the major news media are liberal Dem''s, don''t it?

Another Rethuglican propaganda message shredded for the lies they are.

[pmsnbc1]

Where''''s the LIB media story about that tax cheating Charlie Rangel (LIB-NY). The guy in charge of writing tax laws cheated on his taxes, but the MSM doesn''''t wnat to report the HYPOCRISY of another LIB.

[clovisbuford]

Really? Then why are the Democrats in favor of same gender marriage while Republicans are against it?
Posted by minnick8 at 02:51 PM : Sep 18, 2008
Lets see while some democrats are gay, we prefer to let them live their lives out of the closet. Just because most democrats are straight it doesn''t mean we are narrow. There are also a lot of pro life democrats , I am not one of them but they are entitled to their opinion . Republicans have eaten their own moderates till there is Susan Collins and Christopher Shays left amongst moderates, and that''s it .Then wonder why they lost control of the congress ,sides doubling the deficit , the Iraq war, Katrina, torture as an American value , the deregulation of our financial markets with the ensuing crash,government corruption, Even knowing all that , gay marriage , abortion and Mr. Edwards infidelity are our most important issues?

[notfooled]

Ill DEBATE ANYBODY ON WHY GEORGE W. BUSH SHOULD BE PRESIDENT ANOTHER 8 YEARS !!!!!!!

Posted by twalk1122 at 03:13 PM : Sep 18, 2008

This poster is obviously paid to spew this junk as I see it over and over on lots of unrelated stories.

There is no debate - Bush is the worst and most corrupt president in history.

[suedehead91]

This woman is irrelevant, just like her ambulance chasing, *** banging charlatan of a husband. Do you get it Mr. & Mrs. Edwards, we don%u2019t care. Elizabeth, you are nothing but a weak little pawn. You lost every iota of sympathy when you lied to the American people. You hijack the Poor, the Un-insured, while you live in your palatial estate in NC (10,000+ sq. ft) counting the money your hustler husband made from suing hospitals. Don%u2019t you get it idiot, the reason health care is so expensive is because of jerks like John suing hospitals so that he can have yet another yacht, or mansion, or big black Mercedes sedan. Hey, at least Cindy McCain gave us beer, and Teresa Kerry gave us Ketchup. What the devil have you contributed to? Higher Premiums? Wake up people, John and Elizabeth Edwards are an example of everything that is wrong with America. They need to be shunned at every turn. Go back and climb under the rock from where you came from.

[midvale3]

Some of the folks commenting on here need to have the same type of personal issues happen to them, then maybe a spark of humanity will emerge. Most are spouting off but some truely believe what they say, and aren''t much of a person. What this family has went thru is their burden to bear, but the things they fight for are worthy issues. They are human, like McCain divorcing and marrying a 20 year younger wife, Palin''s daughter getting pregnant, Obama being raised by a single mother. Your lack of compassion is sickening, but I firmly believe your petty little lives are in the minority. You have my sympathy.

[msdru-2009]

Are you people crazy!! Who give a *** about Edwards and his sleeping around?? There are bigger issues that deserve the focus of the American people.

[redbds]

Presidential Candidate John McCain--also an adulterer.

Posted by shaihalud at 03:15 PM : Sep 18, 2008

Yes and Obamahood was a cocaine addict. But, I guess that isn''t relevant is it?

[baby54boomer]

Sadly, this women is trying to face a terminal illness with as much grace as she can and you want to ridicule her unfortunate situation for your own politican ends. God must certainly be totally revolted by you.

[panhandlpete]

If Elizabeth Edwards was informed by John Edwards in 2006 about his affair, why did HE continue as a DEM challenger to represent his party? Did he sleep through the Clinton years? (The Repubs find ways to explain their role models misbehavior, but use a different test for Democrats misbehavior.) The way the story broke, the timing, and their following reactions just make me wonder which other candidate benefited most. I was surprised at Edwards'' early dropping out of the race, but once the story broke, the puzzle came together.

She should be given her privacy to live her life to the fullest doing whatever she finds rewarding. His role will never be easy for he represents a diacotomy......rich person working for poor people''s benefit.....difficult to comprehend.

[midvale3]

Sadly, this women is trying to face a terminal illness with as much grace as she can and you want to ridicule her unfortunate situation for your own politican ends. God must certainly be totally revolted by you.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by baby54boomer at 04:03 PM : Sep 18, 2008


I don''t know about God but I sure as he11 am.

[amnstymccain]

How can Elizabeth trust a guy who pays 400 bucks a haircut and endorses BARRACK HUSSEIN OSAMA?
Posted by BagdadsHere4 at 03:48 PM : Sep 18, 2008
*** I''d rather Edwards pay 400 bucks to a hairstylist for a haircut, rather than Amnesty MCcain wanting to give billions of our tax dollars to Oil Company Execs, and millions to help give amnesty to illegal latinos!

[amnstymccain]

John and Elizabeth Edwards are an example of everything that is wrong with America. Posted by suedehead91 at 03:28 PM : Sep 18, 2008
*** You are soo wrong! John and Elizabeth Edwards are eventhing that is RIGHT with America! They are a family coping with real problems that most americans face. Amnesty Mccain and Cindy Mcamnesty are the real problem of what is WRONG with America. Amnesty Mccain likes to take away our rights with the patriot act, but he WANTS TO GIVE AMNESTY to over 20 million latino law breakers. You tell me what is better for america. A rich guy that advocates helping the poor(just like the kennedys'') that just happened to make a few mistakes... or amnesty mccain that wants to give amnesty to over 20 million latino lawbreakers? I''ll take John Edwards over Amnesty Mccain every day of the week!

[amnstymccain]

Presidential Candidate John McCain--also an adulterer.
Posted by shaihalud at 03:15 PM : Sep 18, 2008
Yes and Obamahood was a cocaine addict. But, I guess that isn''''t relevant is it?
Posted by redbds at 03:38 PM : Sep 18, 2008
*** I don''t care about Obama being a crack addict, atleast he didn''t co-sponsor an amnesty bill to let over 20 million latino lawbreakers get amnesty!

[dogsoul]

"They are human, like McCain divorcing and marrying a 20 year younger wife, Palin''''s daughter getting pregnant, Obama being raised by a single mother."

I don''t define being human by the evil I do - that takes away from my humanity - in fact, it''s considered inhumane. There''s nothing wrong with marrying a person 20 years younger, especially later in life. And Palin''s daughter getting pregnant early by someone she loves isn''t good timing, it''s not responsible - but it''s not evil. Obama''s father DID abandon his son, but that''s not Obama''s fault. So if you want to compare wrongs here - I think your only legitimate comparison is Obama''s father & this charlatan known as Edwards. They abandoned & betrayed those they were supposed to love in their greatest time of need. That is not being ''human'' lady, that''s being an animal. Get it straight.


Your lack of compassion is sickening, but I firmly believe your petty little lives are in the minority. You have my sympathy.

[hypnotoad72]

%u201CI think this President has shown a remarkable disrespect for his office, for the moral dimensions of leadership, for his friends, for his wife, for his precious daughter. It is breathtaking to me the level to which that disrespect has risen.%u201D %u2014 John Edwards, Feb. 12, 1999

Now while it''s true people can change their mindset over time, I have to wonder how John went from bashing Clinton''s cheating to wanting tolerance for his own. Where''s the impetus or catalyst to justify his own "Forgive me, waaaaaaaaah!" song and dance? Perhaps there is a slight reprieve in John''s favor, as he didn''t do anything in the Oval Office... he did it somewhere else like how all philandering jerks tend to do it.

I genuinely feel sorry for Ms Edwards. What her husband did behind her back was sick; while there are problems in life, infidelity of this sort just can''t ever be justified. Never mind a terminal illness (thankfully not a STD)... she is very brave indeed for talking.

[tx2democrats]

I feel bad for what Elizabeth is going through, bless your soul.

BUT...

she lied to the American people by not saying
something when the news broke about the affair
last Oct. She will always be remembered
for not speaking up and forcing her husband
to speak the truth. This is not a quality of an honest woman. She was self-serving and power-hungry. She needs to apologize to all Democrats for the mess they created during the primaries.

We have no respect for liers like Elizabeth Edwards.
We don''t even think of John Edwards as still in politics, he needs to go away. This is what happens when you judge Bill Clinton for being a man, yes, thats right, men are dogs and any woman who believes that her man is the most faithful, dream on sweeties.

[tx2democrats]

Elizabeth and John brought the Dem''s down to the level of Republicans, no morals, no respect for the American public. Thanks alot you dumb-A$$es, what the f''ing were you thinking, that this would not be found out, you live for the media, we all know everything about you and thanks to your lies and deceit, we are looking no better than Two-Timing McGoo.

[tx2democrats]

what an embarrassment John and Liz are to the Dems, go away please....stay out of the public, hang out with Vider and his leopard wearing wife, y''all are just disgusting to the American public, no one admirers you two any longer....go away....just go away.

[credibility2]

Although I''m sorry for Elizabeth''s terminal cancer, I''m still furious over her having known about this prior to her husband declaring his candidacy for president. Had either revealed this sleazy affair right after his candidacy, there would''ve been plenty of pressure for him to step down. His remaining in the race possibly impacted votes for Hillary Clinton, and I wouldn''t be a bit surprised to learn that both of the Obama''s also knew of this "indiscretion". Elizabeth should be ashamed of herself for the cover-up and not revealing it. She cared more about what others would''ve thought, instead of caring about how the cover-up potentially altered the campaign outcome. The Edwards'' did to Hillary what John did to his adultress.

[republic1776]

This is the cost of being to a Democrat.
Life means NOTHING to the Democrat.
Too bad your mother did not abort you.
We could have saved you all of the pain.

[brundage3]

Immorality sucks.

It sucks to be immoral.

What IS "Immoral?" Ah... Well,,, it is when a Presidential candidate makes a huge sexual mistake, confesses to his wife, but then neither he OR his wife mention it to the general public while he is running and it becomes public through the media.

But it is NOT immoral when a candidate knows their own child has made a huge sexual mistake and the candidate does not tell anyone even when they are to be nominated for Vice President and it becomes public only through the media.

Of course the latter is not immoral. iT SHOULD not BE CONSIDERED IMMORAL AND NEITHER SHOULD THE FORMER.

Palin''s qualification for Vice President has nother to tdo with the private lives of her or her family. And Edwards value as a political leader has nothing to do with a mistake in private life either.

What is immoral about all this? It is OUR being so piously judgmental about either. Shame on We the people.

[citizenusa-2009]

Look folks, we (the American people) did not embrace John Edwards...at least we have THAT going for us. Perhaps we''ve learned to spot a phony (after electing the corrupt and incompetent George Bush). There IS hope for our country. If common sense continues to rule the day, McCain (McBush) won''t have a chance in h.e.l.l. of winning in November. Thank God for that.

[truewords-2009]

Isn''t it interesting that Elizabeth is "proud of john for being honest in the face of shame". He repeatedly lied to us for two years. What part of honest is she talking about. I''m glad he asked God''s forgiveness and Elizabeth''s forgiveness, but I guess it''s perfectly alright to lie to the rest of us...how about asking our forgiveness? Lying is a sin too.
I can understand wanting your children to have a good memory of their dad, but guilting the media into not pushing the story because she has cancer and may not live is just manipulation. He made the choice, as a public figure, to commit adultery-he should have considered his family before the fact, not after. I feel very sorry his family is being drug through his dirt. They should him accountable.

[citizenusa-2009]

truewords: The person(s) that SHOULD be held accountable are the architects of this ILLEGAL AND BLOODY WAR. Our men and women have died and been maimed by the THOUSANDS. Now THAT''S CRIMINAL.