Originally Posted By DAR Driving home yesterday I flipping around the stations and I come across Hannity. Usually I don't listen but I figured a minute and then I'll turn him off. Well he was discussing how Elizabeth Edwards cancer had returned. I'm thinking this should be good. People had talked to him and said that Edwards shouldn't run anymore. That he needs to be with his wife during this time. Hannity said that it's not our decision to make, that only Edwards can decide. Much to my surprise I agreed with Hannity(something I haven't done in a long time.) But what you guys think?
Originally Posted By imadisneygal I totally agree. After watching the conference yesterday I got the impression that this decision to continue his campaign was not taken lightly. In fact, Elizabeth noted that given the information they had originally about the state of her cancer they might have been having a different news conference (that he would end his campaign). This tells me that this wasn't a blind decision to keep running no matter what. She seems to be on board with it and supportive. I totally agree that it's their decision to make. I have the feeling that he'd drop out if he really thought he should, or if SHE really thought he should.
Originally Posted By JohnS1 This was a very difficult event to process for me - Edwards making the announcement about his wife and then going on to say he will continue to run for president. I have never liked Edwards and feel he is one of the less than forthcoming candidates who has a lucrative history of swaying people (read: juries) by his emotional appeals to their sense of "fairness" and the unfortunate circumstances of his clients, who were always supposedly the victims of bad doctors and hospitals. Many of the awards his clients have received have been reviewed by legal writers and analysts and found to have very little merit in terms of the actual blame that can be cast on the medical staff and organizations. So - with that background of information in hand, I have generally tended to dismiss most of what Edawards says as hypocritical and emotionally laced drivel intended to sway less than intelligent people. Ergo, it might be easy for someone to say, this is just another Edwards appeal to peoples' emotions, and designed to jump start his flailing campaign. But this is real; his wife's illness is real, so one has to assume it is all on the level this time. So, I take no stand other than to agree that he and his wife need to do what they believe is best for themselves and their children. It doesn't change my views toward him as a candidate, and I hope others - including hiumself - don't try to mix personal challenges with political aspirations. I pray that Mrs. Edwards receives good medical care and is able to successfully manage her cancer and live a good many more years.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA The thing to remember is that John Edwards and his wife are just people. And my sense is that they're both in shock. They received some terrible news yesterday, and then have to hold a press conference to discuss it publicly. Essentially, Mrs. Edwards' breast cancer has spread to her bones, and it's really just a matter of time before it takes her. This same thing happened to my late mother -- she had breast cancer but it spread to her bones. Once in the bones, it's tough to treat. Would I stay in a presidential race? No. But I'm not John Edwards. And if he and his wife, who seem to have a very good relationship, have decided to move forward with this run, that is totally their decision. In many ways, it seems that they'd rather 'stay busy' than just sit around and stare at each other.
Originally Posted By jonvn "This time" could last 20 years for her. People can live a long time with this nowadays. It's their choice, and no one else's.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Yep, it's their choice. I don't know that I'd personally have made that decision, but I'm sure it wasn't made lightly.
Originally Posted By friendofdd I agree it is thier choice. Were it DW and me, I think we might choose differently.
Originally Posted By gadzuux There's two sides to this issue, and I understand their decision. For the moment, she's fine. In a way, this is a valid response to edwards supporting his wife. She doesn't need him and the kids mooning over her with big sad eyes everyday. If things take a sudden turn for the worse in the next two years, he can always end his campaign then, but for now it's business as usual. Some of the coarser people who oppose edwards candidacy have been saying that the press conference was politically motivated, and trading on this tragedy for media attention. I don't get that at all. Edwards is surrounded by campaign advisors and media consultants, and it's likely that they were all advising him to hold the press conference and be forthcoming about her status. Remember at the end of the `04 campaign they announced her breast cancer, and came under some criticism at the time about not revealing the information during the campaign, instead waiting until after election day. My guess is that it was the same people knocking them then for not being more forthcoming as are now being critical for 'grandstanding' by holding the press conference.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka It's their decision to make. I can't imagine why anyone would think it's a ploy to get pity. Who votes for a President based on pity? No one. If anything, it makes a person less likely to vote for him.
Originally Posted By imadisneygal ^^I agree. And no decent person is going to say, "hey, my wife is suffering from an incurable disease. That should get me some votes!!" I think they've put a lot of thought into it and the decision is theirs alone.
Originally Posted By onlyme >>Essentially, Mrs. Edwards' breast cancer has spread to her bones, and it's really just a matter of time before it takes her.<< Exactly the reason why I wouldn't even think twice about bowing out. Of course it's his decision, but this is different then say, me staying on as a teacher as my wife battles this. He'll be so busy and on the road almost every day. The love I have for my wife is so far above EVERYTHING else, it's not even funny!!! Good luck to them both.
Originally Posted By jonvn well, yes it is a matter of time. It is a matter of time for every one of us. But, the thing is, the best thing for her, as I've been reading, is for him to go forward. That would help her the most.
Originally Posted By onlyme No, it's not. I'm immortal. But, anyway, it would be hard for ME to concentrate on something this big(a run for the presidency) if I thought/knew my wife's time was running out. I'd rather go sit on the beach and watch the sunset. But, I'm often guilty of being a sentimental fool.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka I think most people's reaction is to think it's odd that he is continuing to campaign in light of his wife's cancer. Obviously, they think this is the right thing for them to do so that's pretty much the end of it.
Originally Posted By onlyme I'm not, in any way, implying that it's odd, wrong, or whatever, for them to do what they want. I was just saying, for ME, it would be difficult. That's all.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I could never run for office if my wife were facing that. But many presidents have dealt with personal tragedy while in office and still performed at a high level. That is probably why they are presidential candidates and I'm not. It takes a person with an iron will to take on a national campaign these days. It does not surprise that a person with the strength to do that would also find the strength to push on in spite of personal tragedy.
Originally Posted By jonvn Like I said, cancer survivors say he is doing the absolute best thing for her.
Originally Posted By gadzuux onlyme - put yourself in her shoes instead of his. This was likely more her decision than his anyway. If she'd said she wants him to drop out, he probably would have. For the moment anyway, she's fine. If her condition takes a sudden downturn, I would guess he'd give up the campaign to spend his time and energies with her. Between now and that day, if it were me, I certainly wouldn't want my loved ones clinging to me and halting their lives just to "be supportive".
Originally Posted By disneydad109 I think he needs to be a man of his word and drop out . Thats what he told folks he would do and now it's time to for her, not him. Unless he can't be trusted to keep his word. but that couldn't happen with him.
