To review the Gingrich marriage-go-round, see (from 2002) http://www.talkleft.com/story/2002/10/29/351/23416

Gingrich DIVORCED two “wives” when they got sick. Comparing Gingrich’s lifelong weirdness about women with a shouldda-been-simple zipper slip is certainly silly, if not insane.

As for Robinson, it’s too bad Pulitzers—Robinson’s seems to have been part of the Obama putsch—can’t be revoked.

@CT

“Are you insane?”  Well, on occasion I believe I am Napoleon, does this answer your question?

My recollections may be off, for I thought we heard from the Horses Head (Coltergeiest) Edwards was gay, or it may just been Republicans were jealous?

Witch hunts and insults do seem most common in honest good mannered politics.

Leefeller writes:
“Newt Gingrich seemingly did the same thing ... “

Are you insane?

By all accounts, Edwards shtupped a groupie. This is not—the unlikely pregnancy apart—a big deal.

The bigger deal might be to wonder how Hunter came to be trolling the Regency, or wherever it was, just as Edwards was having a meeting there—was she sent by the forces of Hillobama, to obtain sperm by any means?

That Obama’s sloppy second has deposited this piece of steaming crap—referring to Elizabeth Edwards in the past tense is a nice touch—is kind of curious: why are the former Democrats STILL trying to annihilate Edwards? Can a zipper scandal featuring Der Won be far in the future?

“Cheating on your spouse, who is not looking that good anymore (physically) because she is DYING is an eye-opener on a person’s character.” 

Newt Gingrich seemingly did the same thing to his wife when she was dieing of cancer, my recall of accounts presented.

I find both peoples accounts most solipsistic, unfeeling un-compassionate and heartless, yes the kind of people we most need to represent us, emulations of a great society.

I don’t know Lee, why?

Edwards is beyond cad (Rhett Butler in GWTW was a roguish cad; Edwards is plain icky-sick). But he got the health program—mandatory, public—and other populist issues right. No woman in her right mind would marry him now that we know what he is, but if we all had voted for him life in the U.S. might be better today. We don’t need nice Presidents, just ones who understand and support the greater good.

Voice of Truth, why from your post, am I reminded of the Newtster?

Tabt, you are an example for the reason I tell my duaghter that women should try to rule the world as soon as possible.

Cad?  Please, it’s 2009, not 1909.  Do you, perchance, have the vapors?

I do not care at all who John Edwards fucks, fathers or marries.  He was my choice for POTUS because he stood up in court and, although vastly out numbered and under funded against th. teams of in-house insurance litigators,  beat the insurance companies and won.  He would have fought them as President, too, That is why the insurance companies, who control many other companies, too, and unbelieveable amounts of money and power in many spheres, made sure that Edwards got minimal air time on the televised debates and couldn’t even buy campaign commeercial time.  Obama OTOH, and his also bought and paid for Democgatic crew in Congress, have done nothing more than make minor concessions and cave in on all the major health care issues to his wealthy, political donor buddies at the insurance companies.  Good job Barry.

All politians lie and involve their camppaign workers and staff members, nowingly or un, in their lies.  It’s in the politician job description. Rmemember Clinton or the Kennedys?. How about McCain?  Bush Sr. had a few mistresses, too, and told simply told his Secret Service guards to shut up and look the other way. What about the hooker sponsoring, diaper loving and pedophile Fundies?  You think Edwards was the worst?  Reality check time for you.

BTW, I an an old, hardcore feminist,  woman.  However on vital issues like heatrh care for the entire nation,  I act pragnatically and do prioritize in different ways.

I love the “it’s only sex” BS apology.  This goes way beyond cheating on a spouse.  For those of us who already knew Edwards to be a huckster and charlatan, this just ties it all in.

Cheating on your spouse is one thing, and none of my business.  Cheating on your spouse, who is not looking that good anymore (physically) because she is DYING is an eye-opener on a person’s character.  And fathering a child?  Has he never heard of protected sex?

His antics as a trial lawyer, channeling the voices of unborn babies who “could” have been saved from cerebral palsey if only the malevolent doctor had performed a caesarian on the mother, not only led to a four-fold increase in caesarians (which lead to increase chances for death, hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism and infection), it is a PERFECT reason why any new health reform needs to have limits on trial lawyers and their ridiculous lawsuits!

This thing has no redeeming qualities whatsoever, and that is the crux of the story.

You see the problem of championing populist views and trying to gain power.  You will not only be attacked by the Cons, but by the Prog leaders and truthers as well. It is not only Robinson that oozes this sleaze, but the Washington Post and Truthdig. 

It is a major reason that Prog reps and truthers don’t deviate from the mainstream consensus. There are always Con and Prog sleazers which the power structure will use to not only smear you, but destroy you.

Inherit the Wind writes:
“Despite all this, wouldn’t you STILL rather have Edwards in power than, say, Michelle Bachmann or James Imhof?”

Many would STILL, in fact, MUCH rather have Edwards in the White House than post-partisan poseur Obama and his uh corporate mobsters.

Robinson writes:
“Former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, I would argue, is one of these “lovable rogue” cads.”

Good Lord—another birthday-suit exemption. The combination of being tapped for The Prize, along with the elevation of Oblabla to the White House, has completely undone (this isn’t the first baaad example) Robinson’s grasp on reality AND his writing.

Under the circumstances, Edwards COULD have simply disposed of Hunter the Chicago Way—this would have left Edwards free NOT to pull his punches in the campaign—especially in Iowa, where Edwards and Kucinich could have finished Obama, for lying about his Exelon machinations—and to have conquered the right-wing Hillobama monster.

There’s much more to be said—Glenn Greenwald said much of it in Salon—about Robinson’s recent attainment of perfect hackdom.

In any case, “unctuousness” is among the adjectives Robinson would do well to avoid applying to others.

It must have been the religious zealots and the despots and dictators they served who decided that they would pass laws telling people that it was bad to follow their natural physical urges.  This is a twisted way to try to tell people to do what is not natural:  never have sex except with pre-approved spousal persons, in pre-approved locations.

When you think about it, sex is free, it feels good, and it only takes a few minutes despite what most men claim, or at least without chemical aides.  It’s surprising we don’t all have sex with strangers every day, in the elevator, in the coffee room, at every opportunity. 

But we don’t.  And the reason we don’t is because the religious despots have determined that sex is a “moral” issue.  Bad people have sex with strangers.  Good people don’t have sex very often, and never outside the bedroom with their spouse.

Imagine the religious fanatics imposing these same laws on bathroom habits:  good people only go once/day and never outside the home.  It’s really absurd.

Having said that, I would also say itis nobody’s business except Elizabeth’s.  I was sorry to see her hurt.  But I don’t condemn John Edwards (who I think was vulnerable and as much prey as predator in this scenario) for having a sex a few times, and whispering sweet nothings. 

The girlfriend, on the other hand, an adult female, appears calculated and manipulative and deceitful.  She’s way adult, but doesn’t use birth control?  The only possible reason for her pursuit of Edwards and failure to use birth control, then failure to get an abortion, is because she wanted to get pregnant by a rich man.  Good move financially.  But she is an adult, and I assume she knew exactly what she was doing.

I also fail to understand the obsession with politician’s sex lives as scandal, while the press fails to report the actual number of people who have been murdered in Iraq and Afghanistan by the politicians in our national government.  I don’t care about people’s sex lives, I’m tired of the whole subject.  People being slaughtered in my name, on the other hand, is a subject of continuing concern. 

Every politician in the government solicits and accepts bribes, then sells their votes.  Our entire government is therefore corrupt, and our country is being destroyed, working people are losing everything.  Our only hope is that our government will step in and help us, protect us against the predators.  But they don’t because they’ve been paid off.

So instead of reporting on the crimes being committed by our politicians, we hear about their sexual indiscretions.  I thought that was the job of the “real” media.

Lets see, where is Edwards from? Oh yes, the Carolina’s. Not the deepest of the deep South, but deep enough to require a politican do two things. Focus on family values and appeal to the masses by relating a painful childhood requiring great personal sacrifice while serving those less fortunate. Edwards was good at both, the focus I mean.

There is no denying the man has had sorrow in his life. Experienced the tragedy of burying a child. And the pain of watching his wife suffer. But folks, millions suffer death and tragedy, but still manage somehow to be honest and loyal. So sorry, no pass.

I’m always suspicious of any candidate who has just one story to tell. His story was heart wrenching but altogether to well rehearsed. I use to watch him and wish he would say something different. In retrospect I think the reason it bothered me was not because it wasn’t sincere, but because it was so typically conservative. The one-line Johnny song. The simplicity of appealing to the simple mind.

If what the former close Edwards aide says turns out to be true, Edwards is not only a cad, he’s a liar and a fool. A liar for pretending to be a liberal and a fool for not being in that other party. Had he been, he might very well be our president by now.

Guess there is something to be said for counting your eggs before they hatch.  This article as most political stuff is part of the political posturing for advantage. It seems one body or another is always trying to discredit any politician at any time, wonder who this one is sponsored by the author or someone else?

What’s interesting to me is that Malcolm X came right out and confronted our
society’s strange standards in regard to the treatment of women, and he was
murdered summarily, for his many radical stands not the least his position on this
very thing - how men use and disregard women.  Then comes Mr. Average -
Martin Luther King - an old time predator and user of women, and he has been
elevated to legendary status in our country - his name on buildings, streets, and
the tongues of all kinds of interest groups.  Watch for more of the same.

A couple of weeks ago everyone was raving about how great a guy Ted Kennedy
was…it’s not like John Edwards killed somebody.

Now here’s ANOTHER thought…
Despite all this, wouldn’t you STILL rather have Edwards in power than, say, Michelle Bachmann or James Imhof?

We have the noncomprehending sitcom from both political parties which in keeping, consitently mooning each other in front of the public. Is it possible this trashing is necessary to keep from doing anything like their jobs?

John Edwards, Mark Sanford, Larry Craig, to mention a few.  I know there is a
reality show there somewhere but I just can’t put my finger on it…

Well he is an attorney/politician, what’s the surprise he’s a bottom feeder.

Political careers should be like toilet paper, flushed on a regular basis. Not an absolutism but an observation.
Now as the Congress recesses allowing for Lobbyists to read the Health Plan we can all take a break.

He should have booked Bachman Turner Overdrive.. “Taking Care Of Business… every way!”

“good cad” vs “bad cad” takes us into satire country.
One can’t dissect the bedgames of pols, unless there’s nothing else to talk/write about, I suppose….
But a cad is a cad is a cad to paraphrase ...

That’s rich - imagine a chronic cad like Robinson getting huffy about other people’s personal affairs. Robinson’s drivel itself would be better relegated to the sleazy pages of the National Enquirer. Robinson claims, “Pretty much by definition, a man who can be described as a cad is not a wholly admirable human being.” But, of course, it all depends on who is doing the defining. Robinson however makes exceptions for a special category of alleged “cad”, what he curiously describes as “cads whose behavior shows a certain panache, an undeniable flair, a sense of humor and a genuine, if deeply flawed, humanity.” And he cites former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry as a shining examnple of a “lovable rogue” cad.
It may be more than just his alleged “panache” and “deeply flawed humanity” that makes Barry so “lovable” and Edwards not, in Robinson’s universe. It may also have something to do with the fact that Barry is black and Edwards is white and that pretty much tips it for Robinson. Certainly, Robinson wasn’t filled with righteous indignation when another former South Carolina presidential candidate, Jesse Jackson was the subject of marital infidelity disclosures in the tabloid press. And Robinson has never had much to say about Martin Luther King’s well known philandering. Maybe that’s why Robinson “can’t have any ‘like’ for John Edwards anymore.” “The forgivable kind of cad could never do such a thing. Only the worst kind would” - a white “cad”.

Yes, the real problem with Mr. Edwards is that he did not invite his wife to the party.  She should have been their egging him on.  And she should have had her lovers, too. And Edwards should have been supportive of that. 

This idea of monogamy for life works for about ten percent of the population.  For the rest of us, it’s an absurd charade.

commune, how do you know that his wife didn’t know about and consent, as a solution to a tragic problem.  What we do know is that a right wing Dem is attatking a left wing Dem over sex, to the benefit of Obama, a right wing Dem.

McKinney was deprived of her congressional seat by trumpeting the absurd charge that she assaulted a cop.  But really because she opposed neozionism and by neozionist money.

americans are so easily manipulated because we don’t understand power relations and the standard dirty tricks that the powerful do to promote their interests.  Not just lying but murder.  Do you have a lot of faith in the integrity of the mass media or of Robinson?

I’m proud to say I never liked this guy.  From his career to his policy positions, he always seemed like he was out for himself.  If he’s willing to throw his family, employees, and lovers under the bus - I’d hate to imagine what he woulda done to the American people given a chance to sell us out. 

Where’s Dean at?  Weeeeeeoooooooo

Thank you Eugene.  In the words of Forrest Gump…... “that’s all I have to say about that”.

I don’t think this is about tabloid reporting or sex etc., I think people vote too much by image, as it happened with Obama and with Edwards as well. Edwards behavior is important because it makes you wonder if this is someone you would want as President. Not because he had a mistress, but because he was cold enough to do this to his sick wife, it just comes across as so cynical and opportunist. People these days just vote based on the pretty speeches and ads, nobody studies people anymore.

Why surprised? How do you think he made his millions? We must realize the nature of the rapacious American multi millionaire. For the most part, throughout our history they have been cads, self obsessed and sociopaths. We as a nation have tolerated them but were good at checking them with political power bosses. Now we are left with the creeps and we give them power.

Peter, you’re a dingbat.  The situation is totally different that Gringich, who is s disgusting piece of shit.  Edwards didn’t desert his wife, who is sick and dying.  But he needs a woman. Maybe it would be better if he didn’t but he does.  So he promises to marry her, an honorable thing more than anything else.  Where and how and with what band is totally none of our business.

Life, Peter,is very complicated, whcih, being a simple person, I never write about it.  People die and the rest of us have to live.  So we do the best we can, and it appears Edwards did.

I feel betrayed by Edwards, as countless others must who placed high hopes in his candidacy.

So what if he strays from the domestic fold every now and then? But pulling a Gingrich is too much—Newt told his hospitalized first wife he’s getting a divorce, which probably did not help her fight her cancer. Never thought John Edwards would sink that low.

Right on, Eugene. I concur. He’s a no-good cad.

Who’s Sarah Palin gonna have sex with, McCain?

Yeah! This sort of article doesnt belong on truthdig… unless its about Sarah Palin… or any other Republican for that matter.

I generally like Mr. Robinson. I don’t particularly care for Mr. Edwards. But this article is garbage. 

The MSM media inflicts 17th century Puritanism on us all and then is appalled when a politician sells his soul to hide what happens?  Nonsense. Utter garbage. 

The fact is America is liberal with its sexuality. From The Bunny Ranch in Vegas, to strip clubs in every major city in America, to escort services listed in every weekly magazine in America, to the utter depravity of adult videos—Americans like their sex, and they like it strange. 

But daily newspapers and television news stations of all stripes like to pretend this is the 17th century and anyone fornicating without consent of king deserves to be humiliated in the public square. 

We lost the one politician who was doing something about the financial crisis BEFORE it happened because of this nonsense. And the majority of MSM commentators, some of whom I usually admire, attacked Elliot Spitzer with the zest of Puritans on a witch hunt. 

And it doesn’t end with sex. The diabolical war on drugs that has done so much to corrupt and overwhelm our judicial system and that is currently destroying Mexico is heartily endorsed my the mainstream media. 

Some local papers goes so far as publish photos of people who are busted for drugs or soliciting prostitution. 

What would be great is, if in the cities where this happens, people would start tailing editors and journalists, filming them frequenting prostitutes and buying drugs and posting the videos on You Tube.  Give the Puritans a taste of their own medicine. They may not like it so much when they’re the ones symbolically burning at the metaphorical stake.

It’s kinda like, “Who cares?” and kinda like, let’s wait for Obama’s sex scandal. Poor Eugene might hang himself…

This piece is complete bullshit.  Dirty bullshit.  Attacking the sexual lives of pols is a standard way of getting rid of them when their policies are inconvenient.  this piece.aapears to be the usual National Inaquirer approach.

Edwards was the the most populist of presidential candidates, which is why he didn’t get enough money to survive.  As Obama is completed punking the progs who voted for him, Edwards is a threat in the primaries of the next presidential election if Obama’s poll numbers sink.  Robinson is serving as a hit man to get rid of the political threat to Obama.

kalbinator
Re: “Not handling the truth”. It’s not a mater of not being able to handle the truth! It is a mater of what naive idiot didn’t know this about John Edwards a year ago?
How is this news worthy? Perhaps if you were more informed and less gullible you too would think this unworthy of ink. But then again, you probably voted for Obama believing the same electioneering crap. And look what that’s got us!

Gene,

Yeah it stinks.  But there’s still Strom Thurmond, the epitome of segregationist anti-misongynist South Carolina redneck, hiding his Black daughter from the world until he was 100 years old.

John Edwards STILL hasn’t caught up to that.

Excellent editorial Mr. Robinson.  Your quest for the truth is appreciated by me.  The comments by some who do not understand how the John Edwards story relates to “truthdig” need to think a little harder about it.  I too was fooled by John Edwards outward appearance of being a man of integrity, and it is unsettling to discover when one has been duped.  Some people can not handle the truth, but real Truthdiggers Dig it!!!

Another much to do about nothing report from Mr Robinson. Truth Dig Please Cut this guy loose! He has over and over posted this type of not insightful trash.

I am reminded of a scene in Rustler’s Rhapsody where two “good guys” try to out good the other. One of them is a gunfighter/lawyer. They agree to only shot the gun out of the other guys hand during their duel. After the gunfighter/lawyer shots the hero in the shoulder he yells, “you lied!” To which the other guy replies, ” for Christ sakes, I’m a lawyer! What did you expect?”

I too thought Edwards might be Presidential material. For me, after Nader and Kucinich came Ewards. But if everything said in the article is true, and at this time I’ve seen little to refute it, then indeed Edwards is washed up politically as he should be. He also proves that what political party you belong to means damn little when it comes to a man and his pecker, or his hypocrisy!

And btw mcthorogood, this has too much substance to appear on Huffpo, which has become more like the Enquirer than the Enquirer!

Why was this posted on TD?  I would expect crap like this on Huffpo, but not TD.