August 8, 2008
The Sins John Edwards Did Not Commit (Brent Budowsky)
John Edwards did not lie to get America into a war that has cost more than 4,000 American lives.
John Edwards did not commit acts of torture that violate the Geneva Conventions, American laws and commonly accepted standards of decency.
John Edwards did not commit massive acts of violation of the FISA law that involve thousands of counts of spying on Americans in violation of federal law.
John Edwards did not slander war heroes such as John Kerry and Max Cleland in the mindless pursuit of power.
John Edwards did not claim pre-emptive power to initiate wars without authorization, nor did John Edwards claim the power to issue pieces of paper that would negate a thousand American laws that he chose not to faithfully execute.
John Edwards did not claim executive privilege in the most outrageous, extra-legal manner in order to cover up major wrongdoing and probable criminal acts by multiple members of his administration.
John Edwards's sin hurt one very good woman and good kids, which is an unpardonable wrong.
John Edwards will not issue pardons for crimes that did grave damage to the nation.
45 Comments
»
The Hill welcomes comment from anyone and will almost always post it whether it is favorable or critical, as long as it is substantive and advances debate.
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
BDS Alert!! BDS Alert!!
Whenever a Dem is caught lying/cheating/breaking the law/ and more the Dem talking points are always the same "but but Bush did this and Bush did that"
You sound like a child excusing bad behavior. Does not work with my kids so it does not work for you either.
Can you ever discuss a topic without point to Bush? Ever?
Lamest post in awhile Brent.
Comment by Jon Pemberton — August 8, 2008 @ 5:58 pm
With such list of "criminal" acts Edwards didn't commit, it would be foolish for his dear friend Barack Hussein NOT to nominate John Edwards as his Vice President. In fact, it shows careful planning on his part to start a new family as soon as his current one falls apart in a near future. Certainly such skills would come handy for naive and inexperienced President Barack Usama. But of course, the real culprit is Bush and his policies of torture, slander and soon to be pardons to convicted criminals (Brent's got some inside info on that, trust me).
Comment by Misha — August 8, 2008 @ 6:48 pm
Brent writes: "John Edwards's sin hurt one very good woman and good kids, which is an unpardonable wrong". That "very good" woman knowing about this affair back in 2006 presented her darling husband of 30 years as person with a highest integrity Americans could trust all in exchange for a hope to reside in the White House as First Lady for at least a few early months of his administration… Some good woman here, Brent. I know, I know. After learning that Bush slandered Max Cleland, John Edwards just could not keep his pants zipped…
Comment by Misha — August 8, 2008 @ 7:07 pm
John Edwards is NOT in the race because he was NOT a good candidate and is apparently NOT very bright.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — August 8, 2008 @ 7:18 pm
wow, what a pathetic post brent…
Liberals and their moral relativism are ruining the spirit of America!
Comment by realitycheck — August 8, 2008 @ 7:24 pm
How can anyone compete with the self-defeating stupidity as expressed in comment No.s 1 and 2, Pemberton and Misha. I bet these 2 neocons whackos voted for Dumbya twice.
Comment by Connie Crowley — August 8, 2008 @ 7:29 pm
John Edwards also didn't rob any banks or forged any checks. What a guy! What he did do is lied REPEATEDLY on the campaign trail, vociferously denied the truth. He is scum of the highest order to whom lying is as natural as breathing. Yet you feel a need to defend him. Why Brent? Has the Democratic party promised you a gold watch for a lifetime of unquestioning loyalty? You just blew that possibility with your criticism of Al Gore, might as well not defend habitual liars who give all politicians a bad name.
Comment by Igor R. — August 8, 2008 @ 7:45 pm
Brent's loosing it… We might as well make it an honorary member of Politburo.
Comment by Misha — August 8, 2008 @ 8:09 pm
Connie,
Way to stay on topic. I am humbled by your acute reading comprehension skills.
So you agree that the appropriate response to a major political figure whom admits to an affair is to list all the perceived "crimes" of George Bush? Talk about self-defeating stupidity, I bow to your greater skill in stupidity.
Comment by Jon Pemberton — August 8, 2008 @ 8:17 pm
I don't care what John Edwards does in his personal life. Just like I don't care that Bush and Condi had an affair. Or that Bush 41 was getting some on the side.
I care about a President who orders his CIA to forge letters in order to start an illegal war that's killed over a million people, displace 4.5 million more and bankrupted our country.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/35417
Comment by wewillnotbeneoconned — August 8, 2008 @ 8:23 pm
attempted damage control for the DNC, no doubt.
Comment by bulkyboxer — August 8, 2008 @ 8:41 pm
The point is that the real politacal debate should be about pertinent issues, not irrelevant affairs of losing candidates! The only media outlet that should be addressing the issues is gossip based media. Now please pass the National Enquirer.
Comment by Jake — August 8, 2008 @ 8:45 pm
You are indeed correct that John Edwards did not commit the above crimes. Actually, I'm certain there are a number of other crimes he did not commit.
What I find most interesting is that his infidelity is anyone's business other than his, the woman with whom he had the affair and his wife.
Why does it matter to anyone else?
He is no longer running for any office, is a private citizen and is accused of nothing other than being unfaithful to his wife.
So why do his actions make the news?
Because some folks just love to find fault with others so they can feel better about their own faults?
Comment by Phyllis — August 8, 2008 @ 8:58 pm
To #1…lying about war and
getting people killed …lying
torture…and not owning up to
what you did wrong to an entire
nation…is not just 'bad behavior"…it is illegal and
should be punished with time in
prison,
Also…John Edwards is not a
candidate for ANYTHING!!!!
Comment by Shirley Kittrell — August 8, 2008 @ 10:56 pm
Gee - why is it everyone is talking about John Edward's one time affair, when it would be MUCH more interesting to talk about the many affairs of John McCain after he returned to the US in 1973! Now here is a REAL story! McCain's first wife (who was a beauty queen)was in a terrible car accident in '70. It left her crippled and disfigured…not the beauty he had left behind. So he did what any "low-life" would do - he started "shopping around" and low a behold, in '79 he found another beauty…a RICH beauty! That's all it took, and our "hero", John McCain (presumptive repub. presidential candidate) threw his invalid wife over for this young beauty…(oh yeah,…rich, too, very rich)! And they were married in '80 and lived together happily ever after. Isn't McCain a wonderful, honorable man? Just the kind of man we need to run this country! But let's not dwell on his affair….let's talk about John Edwards…let's keep it boring!
Comment by Val — August 8, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
Radish make better arguements and points than the liberal twits on this blog.
Comment by Jon Pemberton — August 9, 2008 @ 12:49 am
SHAME! SHAME!
Let's discuss the topic of John Edwards.
Everytime I see someone talk bad about a Democrat, or discuss why one of their ideas are bad, we hear about the perceived evils of conservatives, President Bush or John McCain.
Why can't they just stay on topic without resorting to "What about ______?" answers?
Comment by djmtott — August 9, 2008 @ 1:23 am
Val… please do not dwell on events that happened 30-35 years ago. McCain was also married while he was stuck in a North Vietnamese rat hole, and I'd understnad if that event would have an effect on his first marriage.
Many politicians have events in their past that are less than becoming of a president.
GWB has a DUI. Obama was smoking rocks. If I looked around I'm sure I could find many more cases of politicians being less than perfect.
Like I said in my previous post, let's keep the discussion on John Edwards, instead of using the behavior of others in an attempt to give the man a pass.
Comment by djmtott — August 9, 2008 @ 1:30 am
Brent,
Are you the "misery loves company" kind of guy?
What a nutty way to look at Edwards admission. I hate to judge people, it is not my game…
…but what John Edwards did cause was a leak in my kitchen, grubs in my garden, and oh heck it's his fault I have to vacuum the house today.
…but who's judging?
Since we are doing free-association today, two things:
1. I think Edwards built that "Mansion on the Mount" because he knew back then this scandal would surface and he had no chance in hell of becoming US Prez.
2. More importantly, since the subject of Edwards own judgement has been risen, let's take a moment to ponder who he endorsed for Prez!
Comment by JFK-HRC — August 9, 2008 @ 9:45 am
The reason that Dems are held to a different standard is simply because much more is expected of us.
The Repubs, once a party of decent, honorable, people, has now been taken over by scum.
An admitted whore-hopper as your presidential choice? What else would you expect from them?
Numerous anti-gay crusaders being gay themselves? Why not, it's the fruitcake right!
A viciously anti-black US Senator from the deep south father a mixed race child? He's a right winger and that explains it.
Promoting a war but refusing to serve? It's the right wing way!
Corruption on a scale unimagined in US history? Understandable because it's our fascists who are doing it.
C'mon, folks, it's the right wing.
What else do you and did you expect?
Comment by rightistrash — August 9, 2008 @ 10:22 am
I'm a Democrat and supported John Edwards. John Edwards allowed many of us to waste hard earned money on his campaign knowing he would never pull off his candidacy with his deceptive behavior hanging in the background. Thanks John Edwards for absolutely nothing.
Comment by Angela — August 9, 2008 @ 11:12 am
The Democratic convention will soon be referred to as the Philander's Convention and Get Together.
Comment by wewillallbeconned — August 9, 2008 @ 11:34 am
All this stuff about edwards reminds of a line from that movie JFK by Oliver Stone. While talking about the credibility of their witnesses testimony, Jim Garrison asks: "I always wondered in court why it is because a woman is a prostitute, she has to have bad eyesight."
I have a similar quandary about politics… because a man has a troubled marriage/sexual history, his political ideas aren't of any value.
They say 50-70% of men cheat on their spouses and we are to exclude them from politics because of this litmus test? Maybe I just don't see what is this test is suppose to reveal about their political values or ability to lead.
Comment by Carolyn — August 9, 2008 @ 11:45 am
The thing that makes John Edwards cheating so disgusting is that it is completely unjustified. Its not as if she had been disfigured in a car accident or something. Whats that? Oh she had cancer? Welcome to the Republican Party, John!
Comment by preston — August 9, 2008 @ 1:17 pm
It was probably a bad idea to associate John Edwards's marital difficulties and attempts to cover them up with cold-blooded capital murder–even if the comparison is by contrast.
Just think about it and next time simply pay no attention to the unimportant story, in this case the marital problems of someone who isn't even a candidate for anything.
Comment by Barry Schwartz — August 9, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
Preston, if all Democrats cheating on their wives switched to Republican party, Republicans would win all elections in a landslide. You'd be left with Barney Frank as your nominee, :).
Comment by Misha — August 9, 2008 @ 6:06 pm
He lied about an affair that is a personal matter with his wife. He is no longer a running candidate so this shouldn't get this much attention that the media is giving it. I mean really, everyone seems to forget what party had the most sexual scandals these last several years. But I suppose trying to get a young boy excited, trying to get some in a bathroom or even just being caught having an affair with a man(or is that not considered an affair since its with a guy?) is so easy for republicans to forget since they are the party of morals and have God on their side. Or it can be that they are just okay with men playing as long as its not cheating on your wife with a woman.
No party is perfect no person is perfect, hell, they are all full of shit as far as im concerned but I don't think a personal matter from a past candidate should really matter.
Comment by Angelica — August 9, 2008 @ 6:12 pm
Thanks for bringing things into perspective. Edwards hasn't held public office since 2004. He's not running for anything. And if Elizabeth can forgive him, then who are we to not?
I get so tired of people passing judgment on people they don't even know.
Thanks Brent.
Comment by ElleninBigD — August 9, 2008 @ 6:28 pm
Bodell is 100% right on. If anything he didn't go far enough.
Edwards screwed up and his political career is over. That's clear.
Edwards did nothing that JOHN MCCAIN himself is not guilty of many times over.
Why is McCain getting a free pass on being an adulterer and a sleazbag who openly and repeatedly cheated on a sick wife.
McCain DUMPED his first wife when she became the victim of a car accident and was no longer the beautiful trophy she one was.
McCain was "with" his current wife at the same time that his first wife was struggling to heal and survive.
It was Ross Perot who had to save the day and pay McCain's first wife's medical bills while McCain was cavorting with a young foxy heiress who's money funded his political career.
So yes, if we Americans insist on the destruction of John Edwards for lying about an affair; then let that same judgment be applied to Senator John McCain!!!
And do we even need to get into how McCain calls his current wife a "trollup" and a c**t in public. Or into how McCain has reversed himself on just about every decent position he's recently taken?
If the massive condemnation of John Edwards for the motes in his eye are deserved then John McCain deserves to be held fully accountable for the multiple BEAMS in his own eyes.
McCain should do the decent thing and drop out of the race. He doesn't have the moral standing to lead this nation.
At the very least he should publicly apologize for the horrible way he has treated each of his two wives, eh?
The Lord works in mysterious ways. Let's pray the recent sin of John Edwards, which he has owned and will pay for with the end of his political career will serve to shed some searing light on the far far far greater sins of John McCain which he denies.
If Edwards' is political "dead meat" then so too should be John McCain, eh?
Comment by Nick Lento — August 9, 2008 @ 7:01 pm
I love it — republicans who still support George W Bush, Dick Cheney, et al claiming that democrats have moral relativism.
I would say this is the pot calling the kettle black, but in this case I think we can have it called "white" since black is not a pejorative.
Reality Check — you have long ago lost sight of reality…
Comment by GR Kent — August 9, 2008 @ 10:35 pm
People are so quick in judging their fellow men.First look at yourself.I think it is pathetic,that everybody has nothing better to do,but rant and rave about a privat persons privat life.A Gangster-Gov. rules our country,where are you ranting and raving about this?You should!Priority!Please!
Comment by newgirl O8 — August 9, 2008 @ 11:32 pm
Brent Budowsky is 100% right on. See above. Apologies for the typo. it's BUDOWSKY!!!
Comment by Nick Lento — August 10, 2008 @ 12:52 am
I'm just relieved he did it with a WOMAN who was OVER 21.
Unlike the GOP's finest hour, tap dancing in bathrooms and text messaging little boys. It's funny how soon they forget.
Comment by Bill — August 10, 2008 @ 8:24 am
Vicki Iseman, paging Vicki Iseman. You have a phone call in the lobby.
Comment by M. Richard — August 10, 2008 @ 9:17 am
I applaud Brent for calling attention to the really atrocious crimes of our current decade. I think it's very important to continue to focus on the importance of dumping the Repulican stewardship for the good of the nation and the world.
No McCain and his running mate, Exxon.
Comment by smilinjack — August 10, 2008 @ 6:36 pm
Excellent point, Jake! Remember how McCain promised he'd stick to the issues? Now look at his ads. Proves he's gonna lie just like the current gang in office. Looks like he'll do anything to win - oh wait… didn't he accuse his opponent of that?
Obama's world tour proves that many Americans can't see the forest for the trees.
We need the change only Obama is ready and able to bring. The world knows it, many of us know it.
Sadly a portion of Americans cling to the current admin and those that would continue their lies and failed policies, just like abused spouses cling to their abusers… out of fear, out of misplaced loyalty. Then they point at the neighbor to get the spotlight off their o0wn situation.
The house we need to clean is the White House. Not the houses of those no where near it. And if affairs bother anyone, look at McCain's life. Not quite a paragon of virtue!
Now some have decided McCain is the Antichrist. http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/08/08/10885/
That cracks me up since McCain tried to paint Obama into that corner!
Obama 08!
Comment by ByTheSeaWA — August 11, 2008 @ 3:21 am
For all of the commenters who join in the
easy denunciation of Edwards, what do you
think of similar stories about McCain?
I never raised the adultery issue about
McCain, but if we are going to have the
holy roller outrage about Edwards, we
should have exactly the same outrage and
the same media obsession about McCain's
problem here. When the NY Times ran the
story about McCain's alleged adultery it
was roundly attacked by the right, and now
the same people are claiming that the Edwards
story was withheld by a supposedly liberal
media. Give me a break. The truth is that
various news organizations had the McCain
story and were withholding both the McCain
and Edwards adultery stories. They should
both be treated exactly the same and right
now the holy rollers of the right and the
major media are scathing Edwards but protecting McCain from exactly the same conduct that
deserves exactly the same reaction.
Comment by Brent — August 11, 2008 @ 9:25 am
#37 Brent
You brought the subject up about John Edwards, in fact you were the first one to raise the topic on The Hill Bolg, if I am not mistaken.
Please don't try to link McCain to Edward, it is weak.
Look, it is too bad John did what he did. It is not for us to judge.
Journalist's like the Enquirer are always working to expose anyone w/ a secret.
John should have just said "None-of-your-business" to the Enquirer. Neither admitting or denying it. By telling a fib, and later admitting to it in shame, he made it a hage story…
You would think a guy w/ all his legal education and success would counsel himself better.
What's the definition of a person who acts as his own lawyer?
Answer: A fool
Comment by JFK-HRC — August 11, 2008 @ 10:37 am
Hey Brent, is it clear that McCain had lied just like Edwards? Until you know for sure, stop your fake moral equivalence indignation.
Comment by Igor R. — August 11, 2008 @ 10:47 am
The only reason Brent published this post is after a few messages change the focus on unsubstantiated rumors of McCain's alleged affair by NYTimes. With Obama on Hawaii, someone needs to stir up the pot back home.
Comment by Misha — August 11, 2008 @ 1:03 pm
Igor, Misha and the rest who are jumping on the bash Edwards bandwagon. Let have a look at past GOP sex scandals, look at what happened in 2008 alone.
http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Republican_Sex_Scandals#2008
So for you all to get hyped about Edwards is a crock. Now lets talk about McCain - Iseman maybe Bush - Rice and we'll see where the ball ends up.
Comment by Mike Coleman — August 11, 2008 @ 1:08 pm
For those of you who think I was defending John Edwards' infidelity,(#15) think again, all I was trying to point out is McCain is NO saint in this area either! If the MSM are going to beat the John Edwards' story to death, then fair is fair….check out the McCain stories on his infidelity and report on them, too. One affair for Edwards….several affairs for McCain……the reporting seems a LOT one sided to me. I agree wholeheartly with Nick #29's statement "If Edwards' is political "dead meat" then so too should be John McCain, eh?"
Comment by Val — August 11, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
#42 To Val
I don't think either's career should end for something like this. But that's just me.
Now if a candidate were an alcoholic, drug user or pusher, involved in gangs, or involved in assaults, robberies, murder, or devient behavior then I would say boot 'm.
Get over it Val.
Comment by JFK-HRC — August 11, 2008 @ 10:58 pm
#30-
moral relativism is superbly illustrated by budowsky defending the actions of a liar(populist loser)politician.
it highlights the liberal lack of integrity by simply trying to change the subject.
i never mentioned anything about the bush administration! is that all you liberals have? bush bashing? for this reason you will have your a$$es handed to you in november.
BTW, who even cares about people's sex lives? if anything, this story was leaked to give people an excuse to talk about McCain's sexual history. edwards' political career was already finished, a loser from the start…
a little too convenient that obama-rama was in hawaii…
Comment by realitycheck — August 13, 2008 @ 6:25 pm
He didn't do what you'd expect just about any OTHER Democrat to do in that situation…..or should I say he could get his adulteress to do….he didn't ABORT his child.
WOW!
No that is surprising!
Comment by Justhefactsmaam — August 13, 2008 @ 7:08 pm