A Different Side Of Elizabeth Edwards

(CBS)  It is an Elizabeth Edwards we never imagined we would see - speaking bluntly about learning of her husband's infidelity on Thursday's "Oprah." But it's more than that, reports CBS News correspondent Jeff Greenfield.

Through two presidential campaigns, her battle with breast cancer, and the wrenching news that it had returned and spread just as John was beginning his second run for the White House, Elizabeth Edwards was as admired - even loved - as few candidates' spouses have ever been.

"People really responded in Elizabeth to her ability to talk to anybody, people really felt like she reminded them of their mother, their sister, their best friend," said political journalist Melinda Henneberger. "That you would love to sit down and have a heart-to-heart with her."

If anything, the revelation that John Edwards had cheated on her - along with allegations that he had fathered the child of his lover - earned Elizabeth Edwards more sympathy, especially when her husband offered this explanation for his behavior.

"It happened in a period when she was in remission for cancer," Edwards had told Bob Woodruff on Nightline.

But now, as she promotes her new book, "Resilience," Edwards has become the subject of critical comments and columns, by once-admiring women who say that she was part of a presidential campaign that was hostage to a potentially devastating secret. Imagine, they argue, if Edwards had been his party's nominee when the Reille Hunter affair had become public knowledge.

"But that being the case, it's a little bit hard to understand why she, as well as her husband, would really play chicken with the countries future," Henneberger said. "It would risk so much for her, not only his, but what looks more and more like their ambition."

It's not as if we haven't seen this before, where a highly capable, politically engaged spouse subordinates her talents to those of her husband's - even when his private life could prove politically damaging.

"I'm not some Tammy Wynette standing by my man," Hillary Clinton has said.

But John and Elizabeth Edwards offered themselves to the public as a very different kind of political couple, which may be why in her book Elizabeth Edwards concludes that her initial questions about a second campaign were right: that he simply should not have run again.

[fdx22]

If you do not want to publicly humiliate your family with affairs of the heart, do not get involved in politics.

[justme74]

What John Edwards is putting his wife through is beyond belief. Her cancer is terminal, and she's having to waste the time she has left dealing with his disgusting behavior. It is unbelievable that he had the nerve to say that Elizabeth "was in remission during the affair". How does that make it right? I think Elizabeth has shown an incredible amount of strength and class through this. I'm glad she decided to tell her side, instead of being like the other wives of politicians that have cheated (except Hillary). They all just silently stand next to their husbands, looking supportive, as their husbands tell the whole world how they betrayed them. I have the utmost respect for this incredible, brave woman.

[hacbs1]

REALITY: We all have to face reality everyday of our lives.
Its real that Liz has been very sick for last few years, and may lose her life in next few. So, why not step aside, live with honor, rather than interview with Oprah, and let John find a new life....that is if you really love him?

[momnextdoor-2009]

Which Liar is lying this time? John said she knew before he announced his candidacy, now she says she found out after. Either way, she could have stopped him from running in a variety of ways--if she had really wanted to. But she didn't. She didn't subordinate anything. Her ego is as bigger than his and she didn't want to let go of the spotlight--and still doesn't. When is she going to stop making excuses, blaming others and APOLOGIZE for potentially jeopardizing the Democrats and inflicting more mess on the country and then just go back in the 28k cave she and her husband crawled out of.

[mariannpepit]

It is not Clinton Lewinsky over again because Clinton did not father a child and it was only one time. Edwards was having an affair with Hunter whom he fathered a child with. His wife knew about the affair forehand but not about the child until later. He should have stopped after the first affair and Hunter has had affairs with married men prior to Edwards.

[mariannpepit]

The difference between Bill Clinton is that Edwards kept seeing Hunter over and over fathering a child whereas Clinton's was a one time oral sex affair. Plus Edwards paid her $114,000 which means he was supporting her and the child. I cannot understand how Edwards wife can stay with him after fathering a child out of wedlock however Jessie Jackson's wife stayed with him after he did the same. I believe that they cannot break their love for their husbands. If Edwards wife passes away would he marry Hunter? His political career is over and he has lost the respect of the public.

[tgamerts]

I say we are all human and who knows what you would do in her place her children will have enough to deal with when she is gone let them live in peace. A man is a man and that is no excuse but who are we to judge.....that is Gods job!

[formrusmcsgt]

And John isn't any better. He throws away his life-long aspirations for a piece of tang...and not even good looking tang at that.

They are both idiots.

[formrusmcsgt]

If anything, the revelation that John Edwards had cheated on her - along with allegations that he had fathered the child of his lover - earned Elizabeth Edwards more sympathy....
---
Sympathy, maybe. Respect, no.

Anyone who remains with a cheat has no self respect, and thusly, deserves none from others.

[opedanderson]

Bah!

Why are we so uptight about sex? Big deal. He got some on the side. So what......

She didn't like it? Then leave him. And the rest of us can mind out own business.