John and Elizabeth Edwards and the etiquette of empathy

Amen.

This has been a sad day. Not only for the Edwards, but for the realization that we are no longer the caring country we once were. We will go half way around the world in a quest to instill our beliefs and morals to the world, when by reading the vitriolic comments of the pundits, we obviously no longer possess.

I'm with you, Mark, and I wished the Edwards' all the best when I heard this news, but don't you, as a moderator, have a responsibility to allow all viewpoints into this forum and not elevate some and ridicule others?

If you dislike Paulo and his posts so much, why not just come out and ban him instead of haughtily referring to him as "one poster wrote" and then dismissing his post?

While I believe that the press conference was truly to quell rumors and let supporters know that the campaign will go on, don't you at the very least concede that several posters had a point in that Elizabeth Edwards' remarks said she got strength from the campaign?

Why is their opinion somehow less valuable than yours? I'm no expert, but it certainly sounds like you're saying that from the tone of your intro to this posting.

No one's view is less valuable than mine.

I have the privilege of posting here, and so does everyone else who contributes. They express their views. I sometimes express mine. We get a conversation going. That's what it's all about.

I'd also suggest that courtesy for the suffering of others is a valuable viewpoint.

It is, that's why I offered it, but I also realize that manipulation of that courtesy is nothing new in politics.

Jeff....and I guess we are no different in that manipulation. Sad!

Thanks Mark, for trying to put some perspective on this.

If Karmic justice prevails, several who posted so cynically about Edwards' announcement had better book medical check-ups. My recommendation is to start with a full and prolonged examination of the prostate....

This story saddens me. I hadn't heard about any charges of manipulation, that really surprises me. I know some of these pundits and their flock are insensitive, and downright nasty, but how could they stoop this low?

A year or so ago, when coach Jerry Sloan of the Utah Jazz faced a similar situation, I remember opposing coaches, players, fans, writers, t.v. analyst, all rallying around the grief-stricken coach and his embattled wife.

If politics is so far in the gutter that it lends itself to the kind of behavior described above, I don't know if I want to participate in these discussions anymore.

I see Jeff Y.only believes in free speach when he's not offended,he commented,"Mark,why don't you just "ban Paulo" from the Swamp" but it's okay for the rest of the liberal loons to call for just about everyhing short of murder when it comes to the Bush administration or Republicans running for President of The U.S.
In past posts liberals complain about the high costs of healthcare and insurance coverage,but it's your party and the John Edwards band of lawyers that are to blame....The Republican party pushes for tort reform.
I just hope the doctors that are treating Mrs.Edwards have Alot of mal-practice insurance...and I'm sure John Edwards does too.
Paulo
P.S. Jeff Y. Grow a hair.

If a person is facing a life threatening illness, shouldn't they decide how they want to spend their time? If the Edwards want to continue with the campaign, it's their decision. Life is for the living, after all.
I hesitate to criticize someone for his or her reaction to a serious illness because I don't know what I would do if it were me. Perhaps some of the meaner-spirited posters here might face such bad news by retreating into a fetal position while sucking their thumbs.

Some of you may know of what I speak when I say I am in the middle of treatment for breast cancer. No one is prepared for such a diagnosis. For Elizabeth to be cancer free these past years and then to find out it has passed into another part of her body is terrifying at the least. I hope that no one will ever have to hear this diagnosis...this news has me very afraid for my future. Shame on those of you who are vitriolic with your political rhetoric!

Jeff,

You just don't know when to leave "well enough" alone do you?

Go back to your Young Republican kegger party and take your buddy Paolo with you.

Goodluck to Mr. & Mrs. Edwards!

Mark,

Looks like you went home early, can't blame you. Some of the comments posted on Edwards, Campaigning With Cancer, are the most hateful, insensitive, cynical and disturbing that I've ever read on The Swamp.

I would expect to see that type of commentary in a Nazi, skin-head, hate mag. Not here. To you sub-human, miscreants that contributed to that sorrowful exhibition, may you choke on your own vitriolic vomit, and never post here again.

Robert Louis Stevenson:
There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it behooves all of us not to talk about the rest of us.

Artist: The Youngbloods Lyrics
Song: Get Together Lyrics

Love is but the song we sing,
And fear's the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Know the dove is on the wing
And you need not know why
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
Some will come and some will go
We shall surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moments sunlight
Fading in the grass
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
If you hear the song I sing,
You must understand
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at your command
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
Right now
Right now!

Paulo,

You're misreading. Jeff Y was defending you in his subtle, artful way.

Wingnut John E,

You have no right whatsoever to be sanctimonious (you can check the dictionary or ask your mommy what that big word means.)

YOU were the first one to drag the previous Edwards thread down into a witless partisan brawl. Furthermore you tried to do the same thing with the Frank James return post, you slug.

...which leads me to -- I noticed that Frank hasn't been around. Did he decide to take some time off after all?

If politics is so far in the gutter that it lends itself to the kind of behavior described above, I don't know if I want to participate in these discussions anymore.

Posted by: dt | Mar 22, 2007 7:35:57 PM

dt....I can't tell you how much those nasty posts affected me. To listen to some of the hate...it was just unbelievable. I used to enjoy the debate on the swamp even with the hard edge it would have at times. I thought it was just strong belief in ones positions but I don't believe so anymore. It is hate, intollerance, and the very thing we say about the terrorists.
People that have no regard for life or suffering.

I may take a little break for a while....it has left a bad taste in my mouth and can not forget the abhorrent posts I read. Today I have no hope for us at all.

ps..Paulo...grow a soul

'metastasic' is not a word.

I really feel for the Edwards, this is devastating news that they are going to have to deal with in public. If they had not openly addressed the issue then other stories would have surfaced and they would be fighting speculation. As a Republican I am disappointed by those that are saying that the Edwards are using this for political gain, to me it seems they are just trying to avoid the rumor mill.

I am also deeply saddened by the recurrence of Mrs Edwards' breast cancer. I read the news only a few minutes after learning that my sister-in-law was just diagnosed with the same disease. They are both in my prayers.

I'm writing also to take issue with the implication I see here and also on some left-wing blogs that those of us on the right are insensitive to Mrs. Edwards' suffering, or even worse, are cynical about the timing of the announcement.

As I read my usual group of right-of-center blogs yesterday and this morning, I saw nothing but sympathy and good wishes for Mrs. Edwards and her family. Many commentators added words to the effect that though they dislike Mr. Edwards politically, that doesn't reduce the empathy they feel toward him and his wife for having to cope with this illness.

Now to be clear, I don't read Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh. Perhaps the sentiments expressed there are not so civil. But I do read the most respected right-of-center blogs--Instapundit, Captain's Quarters, Ace of Spades, Power Line--and there are only expressions of sadness and wishes for a successful course of treatment among bloggers and commentators.

Paulo, you really are clueless.

Blame attorneys for health care costs?

My CFD neighbor had his heart ripped apart by some knucklehead Dr. doing a routine stint. Now, with a wife, children, & mortgage, he can't be a fireman & can't work. Now, his insurance doesn't want to cover anything. A man tries to proactively take care of his health & this is what happens to him. You want to talk about the cost of a heart transplant? Loss of income? Loosing his ability to live? You think he's not going to sue?

The real problem in this country is health care has been reduced to corporations out trying to maximize their profits at the expense of one's health. Rush Bimbo has said if you want health care, pay for it. Easy for him to say when he can afford the best drug addiction clinic money can buy.

In all other industrialized countries that have nationalized healthcare, it's viewed as a basic human right that should be available to everyone. The well being of its citizens is more important then the profits a company can make off caring for them. One of the reasons why I still have dual citizenship. I don't have to worry about going bankrupt or lose my home if a medical disaster hits me or my family. I don't have to worry about some pencil neck at my PPO denying coverage because his advice overrides my doctors advice.

Tort reform wouldn't change a thing. Healthcare & insurance companies would still be just as greedy. Only the very rich are able to afford the healcare in this country that is claimed to be the best in the world.

Anybody who slanders the Edwards now has no empathy. How can anybody insinuate that a deadly disease is exploited for political reasons!
John Edwards is exactly the type of person who will prevent many people from dying needlessly, by providing healthcare to everyone.
I am a breast cancer survivor, I am struggling with the fear of getting it again and presently problems with adequate healthcare and insurance.

I agree 100% with RomanB.

I have a British mother, but was born in the United States and don't have dual citizenship.
But, I remember visiting my Grandparents in England and at 11:00 at night, a doctor came to my mother's bed to treat her. That would never happen in this country except for the very, very, very rich.

It's time we treated health care as a right and not a privilege to be paid for. The wealthy 1% and health insurance companies have been making out like bandits recently.

I sympathize tremendoulsy with Elizabeth Edwards.
This January, I had a kidney stone in my left kidney and cancer was accidentily found in my right kidney. Mine was fully removed and there was no sign on metastisizing. I was so lucky it was caught. I'm so glad I have health insurance, but I know others don't and will die. Their deaths are on all who want to maintain our ridiculous healthcare system.

For the record, as a lifelong Democrat I have eagerly encouraged and supported the idea of a minority President, not simply for the liberal novelty of having a woman or ethnic person in the Oval Office but as a sign that America is maturing as a society. Right now, we're little more than a 5-year old boy that doesn't like girls. I was hoping that, at some point in my lifetime, we, as a nation, might at least make it into our teens.

That said, of all the years for the democrats to put forth candidates America will not vote for, this is the worst. Whatever you initially believed about the war in Iraq and whether we should have ever been there or not is irrelevant: you cannot believe it is going well now, that it has ever been run professionally or that risking 20,000 more troops is the solution. A change is mandatory. The Democrats NEED to take back the White House, but the only thing we have to offer is a ball-fumbling 3-ring circus. If the Republicans were handing us the White House on a silver platter, we're giving it back in a paper bag.

You're welcome, President McCain.

The perfect democratic ticket in 2008 would have been Al Gore / John Kerry. Remember that Gore won the popular vote in 2000, and it took the Supreme Court to steal the election away from Kerry in '04. Whatever their shortcomings were, under these circumstances a Gore/Kerry ticket would have been a cakewalk. But Al couldn't stay out of left field and John couldn't keep his foot out of his mouth. Typical.

At this point I don't know what to do: cast a vote that will not matter or abstain for the first time in over 25 years... hardly an optimal choice. The Republicans have clearly demonstrated that they are either unwilling or unable to produce a successful conclusion to this war, and they're so consumed by failure in the Middle East that they’re incapable of succeeding at anything else. Their ineptitude has been a staggering embarrassment to this country and a change is mandatory. But a change to what... a Democratic ticket with three left feet?

My sincerest and most heart-felt wishes go out to the Edwards' and their family, but honestly... who do you think you are? Doesn't America deserve better than a distracted President? Don't we NEED more, especially now? Doesn’t Mrs. Edwards need and deserve more than a husband whose work comes first? Is your quest for the White House so overwhelming that you're willing to cash in on America's bleeding heart? Why clutter up the Democratic field with ammunition for the Republicans to use against us? We don't need another front-runner, we need an ACTUAL front-runner. We need a push forward, not another anchor dragging us back. Get out of the way and let us concentrate on hurdling the obstacles we've already placed in front of us... don't build another wall for us to climb.

Whatever the outcome, 2009 will be an interesting year.

Edwards used his wife's cancer to promote his campaign? Why not.

Her condition appears serious; serious enough that it wouldn't be supressed for long since Edwards is campaigning for president. What that means is, sooner or later, information on her condition would come out. Edwards did what was smart. He made the announcement himself without some snoop prying out the info 1st.

This is the cost of being a politician nowadays. Information comes out you'd rather not talk about so it's best to be proactive. Gone are the days when a president can have major surgery & the public not know about until years later.

Betty Ford was vilified by many for what she openly discussed, but ultimately, it opened-up dialouge. It was recently reported that women are not getting exams as often as they should for breast cancer. If Edward's press conference spurred ONE mother to get an exam that saves her life, then it was worth it.

So, to all those who made your narrow-minded comments earlier; what do you have to say now?

Have we really come to the point where it's no longer sufficient to simply disagree with our opponents? Must we HATE them? Actively attempt to destroy them?

God, you guys, tone it down.

Best wishes to the Edwardses. I don't share their political viewpoints, but my heart certainly goes out to them in this tough time, and I hope Mrs. Edwards' treatments are helpful and not too hard on her.

PS: 'metastatic' IS a word. You used an ordinary dictionary when you needed to consult a medical dictionary:

Main Entry: met·a·sta·tic
Pronunciation: met--stat-ik
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, or caused by metastasis
2 : tending to metastasize
- met·a·stat·i·cal·ly /-i-k(-)l/ adverb

Jeff,

You just don't know when to leave "well enough" alone do you?

Go back to your Young Republican kegger party and take your buddy Paolo with you.

Posted by: John E. | Mar 22, 2007 9:41:06 PM

----

Don't laugh. Having kegger parties is how young Republicans support the troops.

It's much easier than enlisting and they're sure the troops appreciate it just as much.

As most of the civilized people on this blog agree, that when tragic news strikes either side of the isle, partisan politics, HAS NO PLACE. My heart goes out to the Edwards family, I know what their going through as I lost my brother to cancer found in a bone just a couple of years ago. It is not an easy thing to go through for the victims or their families. I despise the people that try to inject any political partisan rant into this extremely brave and committed decision to continue in public life. My sincerest best wishes to Mrs. Edwards and the Edwards family during a very difficult time.

As most of the civilized people on this blog agree, that when tragic news strikes either side of the isle, partisan politics, HAS NO PLACE. My heart goes out to the Edwards family, I know what their going through as I lost my brother to cancer found in a bone just a couple of years ago. It is not an easy thing to go through for the victims or their families. I despise the people that try to inject any political partisan rant into this extremely brave and committed decision to continue in public life. My sincerest best wishes to Mrs. Edwards and the Edwards family during a very difficult time.

John Edwards, like most politicians, is a lawyer. Let's remember what Shakespeare said: "First, kill all of the lawyers. . ." Our problems in this country, all of them, most certainly IS the lawyers!

How rare and powerful to watch. A couple who loves each other and is supportive of each other.

My father was diagnosed with lung cancer twenty years ago and lasted 18 months. He was a typical cancer patient; a 55 year old, white make who worked in the construction trades his whole life. He was a painter exposed to not only lead based paint but asbestos. He was also in the Korean War and my mom said when he came home from Korea he weighed 118 lbs, was bright orange and covered in warts.My first thought to this was the governement got him with dioxin also. Just like the Vietnam vets.

Now I am facing my daughter going to Iraq in September. What will she come home with--other than emotional and spiritual trauma.

The Edwards family deserves our prayers & best wishes, period. Tony Snow deserves our prayers & best wishes, period, for his continued recovery. What's the matter with some of you?! This is about survival for these people. Politics has no place here at the moment!!! I'm a Dem, but I do not see a need for vitriol & cynicysm when discussing health issues. Let's try to get to a higher plane, please.

I'm a physician. Stage 4 breast cancer has a median survival time of 24 months. Yes that is years...but not many.

I feel incredibly sorry for Elizabeth Edwards. To see her trotted out in front of the public, smiling, expressing incredible optimism is so sad on so many levels.

If she truly believes that she has a treatable condition such as diabetes; she is being grossly mislead.

If she is putting on a brave face for her husband; I wish she would please stop. It broke my heart yesterday when she mentioned her concern for everyone but herself.

I'm very concerned that John Edwards said that the campaign would continue as if nothing had changed but he would stop if Elizabeth needed him; Hello...she needs you now and will even more for the rest of her unfortunately shortened life.

Let's remember...she discovered this lump while campaigning in 2004 but didn't do anything about it until after the election so as not to disrupt things. If only she had been disruptive, she might not be facing such a grim prognosis.

It's about time John put his wife, small children and older child in front of his personal aspirations.

I guess this is what I get for defending Paulo. I never seriously advocated anyone being banned from The Swamp. My question was why should the referee be annointing some posts and backhanding others, when his job essentially calls for stopping the indencent posts and unfair attacks and generally not taking a side? I think Mark Silva's response was honest and thoughtful and it directly addressed my point. But I can see how Paulo didn't get that.

I know when to leave well enough alone, John E., you're the one who doesn't. You started this mess by trying to imply that Edwards cares more about everyday people simply because of this situation.

I agree, Bill r., we are no different in that manipulation and that is truly sad.

Are you kidding me? What did the Supreme Court have to do with Bush receiving more electoral votes and nearly 3 million more popular votes than Kerry?

"...and it took the Supreme Court to steal the election away from Kerry in '04"

Besides the unwarranted hatefulness, there is also a bit of unwarranted niceness. I'm sure no one wishes for the Edwards' to suffer, but when they made the choice to continue a campaign for presidency, they also made the choice to put themselves in a position of bi-partisan politics. The cancer itself shouldn't be the target, but it doesn't seem to me that anyone is politically targeting the medical situation. There is no reason to pretend that the Edwards' are should suddenly be immune to political ridicule. They are smart enough to know that the only way to keep the situation away from politics would have been to stay out of politics completely.

I truly feel that Elizabeth is being used as a pawn; that is beyond sad.

I just spoke with a colleague whose entire practice is centered around breast cancer. She confirmed what I wrote previously; average survival is 2 years. She's had a very few patients who have made it to 5 years. Diabetes this is NOT.

John Edwards made his fortune as a plantiff's attourney suing doctors: Ironic? Sometimes Karma sucks.

And why was he the one to make the announcement about her health??

As I read the Edwards, this presidential campaign is their mutual dream. A vision they eventually aspired to following the death of their son Wade. Elizabeth said that they chose to leave a better legacy for their deceased son than two broken parents. Few of us can understand what they went through and their dedication to this cause. For Elizabeth, her breast cancer diagnoses are not the worst days in her life.

I believe they are fighting for life and for something bigger than themselves in choosing to continue this campaign. Time will tell how Elizabeth responds to her treatments, but she may respond well and have many years ahead. Treatments for breast cancer are changing constantly and rapidly. She will not be undergoing the type of devastating treatments that her initial breast cancer required. Furthermore, she does not have either bone or lung cancer. There is a breast cancer recurrence in her bones, and a suspicious area (possibly breast cancer) in her lungs which may be nothing serious or untreatable.

The Edwards can afford people to help them physically care for their children, and I don’t see any reason why they will spend less personal time with them than if Elizabeth hadn’t gotten this recurrence. I don’t see any reason why Elizabeth can’t leave the campaign trail whenever she needs a break.

I am a 3 year breast cancer survivor and I could imagine myself choosing the same path as Elizabeth if I had a recurrence: spending my days in a blaze of glory fighting the good fight, or sitting around the family pool? The meaningful life is more satisfying to some than a life of pleasure. What a model to leave your children as to how to live. What a model to leave to us.

My wife of 27 years died on February 26, 2006 as a result of recurrence of breast cancer. From diagnosis to death was 19 months. Elizabeth Edwards deserves all the comfort and support she can possibly be given. She's also a person, not just a patient. She has the right to do what she wants. I'm sure she knows all about her condition. I'm also sure she knows what she wants to do. That being said, if she chooses to continue supporting John in his campaign, let the woman do what she wants with the time that she has. Its her life and she has the right to live it as she sees fit. I wish both of them happiness and joy in each other. For what its worth, they're in my prayers.

It is sad and it is serious. When the doctor told my fahter his cancer was incurable; he said, "Does that mean I'm going to die?" He was so afraid after having been misdiagnosed for over five and one half years. He gave up.

The medical filed calls it the practice of medicine. They practice. Every case is different.

How many miracles are there with cancer?

For me, if I was told I had cancer; unless it was way early I'd tell teh doc; thank you and goodbye and good luck.

We put a wing on the local hospital with the charges for my father and all it did was make them money. He died with pneumonia, bald, thin. It was a horrific experience.

Twenty yers later I am still affected.

It is the Edward's business and they are brave and have live their life in the public's eye. Maybe this will save people's lives...the awareness.

I'm just saying prayers for us all.

Lauri brings up a good point. My cousin is a resident at the Cleveland Clinic and he told me that there are several physicians (non-emergency) who simply refuse to treat people that they know are trial lawyers. I find this reprehensible, but I certainly see their point that they have a right to refuse service for fear of losing their medical license for something that might be trivial.

Someone always has to pull that Shakespeare quote into the discussion whenever lawyers are involved. Sure, "Let's kill all the lawyers" is an amusing quote. Except it's one of Shakespeare's strongest statements in SUPPORT of lawyers, based on the context.
The famous "kill the lawyers" line is spoken by Dick the Butcher in Henry VI, Part II. Dick is a follower of an anarchist seeking to overthrow the government, and he knows full well that getting rid of lawyers is the best way to tyranny in government.
Getting rid of lawyers, Shakespeare knew, was the shortest route to tyranny and chaos.

I agree that Elizabeth has the right to live as she wants. However, this involves not just her and John. She has two young (6&8) children and an older daughter. Her lifetime is limited. Optomism and faith are wonderful and helpful but the reality is that a person in her situation has a very small chance of surviving more than 3 years. Yes, miracles happen. I hope that one happens for her. But, miracles can not be depended upon; she owes herself and her children as much time and love as she has left. It is very noble (but I feel shortsighted) to put her husband's campaign first. The country can survive without John Edwards as president. How will her family do without her?

Beatrice is right, the lawyers, in Shakespeare's Henry VI plays, were also the clergy. So getting rid of them would have also helped the rebellion by removing the at the time thorny influence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, a not too popular lawyer/politician.

While Jack Cade was running a rebellion, I don't think he's necessarily an anarchist, though. Jack's claim to the throne through his mother, who was a Mortimer, is tenuous at best, but so is the claim of the ruling house of Lancaster that ran the nobility. Remember that Henry IV essentially took the throne from Richard II because Richard overstepped his bounds as King and took (perish the thought) Henry Bolingbroke's noble property.

Cade's claim is as strong as the Lancastrian claim and who's to say medieval England wouldn't've benefitted from having a common person on the throne after 30 years of war and division under the watch of the nobility?

To roman,

No, you are the clueless one. For every high profile finding of medical malpractice there are dozens and dozens which are found in favor of the doctor. They win but it still costs millions and millions to fight these frivolous lawsuits. Many more are settled to simply avoid litigatoion even though the doctor was not at fault. Find out some facts before you come on here nd make accusations towards another that should really be directed towards yourself. Facts for you:

1. In our country we have three to 5 times the medical expenditures per person than the countries of Europe. All of which have higher average life expectancies than we do.

2. In the USA, the average medical expenditure per person is higher in cities with lower doctor patient ratios than it is in rural areas with fewer dostors per patient. However, the life expectancy is lower in those areas with more doctors.

3. Medical malpractice claims tend to have very localized peaks and valleys. The lower the ratio of lawyer per capita the more lawsuits are filed. Are we to assume that some areas just have more incompetent doctors? or is it more likely that the more lawyers the more likely they are to need malpractice suits to make a living?

4. Laywers become judges and often judges step off the bench to get back into the more lucrative practice of malpractice law. In areas with high numbers of malpractice claims this rotation is almost a revolving door. This incestuous practice means that the judge is not a disintrested arbiter of the law and leaves the doctors, insurance firms and ultimately all of us to fatten the lawyers purse since quite often they get the bulk of the settlement. In the case of class-action lawsuits the lawyers make percentiles in the thousands more than the plaintiffs in the case. The whole system is designed to drain money from our pockets to buy the lawyers next Bimmer.

5. All the money spent fighting frivolous lawsuits would buy insurance for hundreds of thousands of uninsured citizens.

I am aghast at some of the judgement expressed here about the Edwards' decision to remain in the campaign. Both my parents died of cancer. When you are first told the disease has come back, significantly increasing your chance of dying, you are astonished. You may not feel 100 percent, but you feel far removed from dying. And so you continue doing what you've been doing - go to your job, take care of your kids, pursue your interests, until the disease makes it all but impossible.

Treatments have changed since my parents died of cancer. I truly hope that Elizabeth Edwards has a form of cancer that is treatable, chronic and long-term - not terminal.

The people who are so hateful in their opinions about this have never walked in the Edwards' shoes. Maintaining a degree of normalcy after such a diagnosis is ALL a patient wants to do.

John and Elizabeth Edwards are an example of how to live life to the fullest. I commend them for their grace, courage and strength.

Read the article and then tell me, are you pulling for the big corp?

The biggest case of his legal career was a 1997 product liability lawsuit against Sta-Rite, the manufacturer of a defective pool drain cover. The case involved a Raleigh, North Carolina girl, Valerie Lakey, who was disemboweled by the suction power of the pool drain pump when she sat on an open pool drain whose protective cover other children at the pool had removed, after the swim club had failed to install the cover properly. Despite 12 prior suits with similar claims, Sta-Rite continued to make and sell drain covers lacking warnings. In his closing arguments, Edwards spoke to the jury for an hour and a half without referring to notes. It was an emotional appeal that made reference to his son, Wade, who had been killed shortly before testimony began in the trial. Mark Dayton, editor of North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, would later call it "the most impressive legal performance I have ever seen."[8] The jury awarded the Lakeys $25 million, the largest personal injury award in North Carolina history. The company settled for the $25 million while the jury was deliberating punitive damages, rather than risk appeal. For their part in this case, Edwards and law partner David Kirby earned the Association of Trial Lawyers of America's national award for public service.[6]

I have to say after reading all the comments above, that Elizabeth and John Edwards at least got everyone's attention on the seriousness of early cancer detection and followups. That being said I think Elizabeth is doing exactly what she wants to do. If she could be the one running for president she would. I think it is her more than John who wants the presidency. I think that she believes that she and John will make a big difference in people's lives. Elizabeth has talked to people all around the US and she knows what having decent health care would mean for this country. And lawyers are not all bad. If you are being sued you sure would run fast to one.

Always, there is this argument of frivolous lawsuits. I don't think anyone in America would object to the elimination of a lawsuit lacking merit...but it begs the question...Who decides what is frivolous and what isn't? And this won't be an easy question to answer because there are an awful lot of things we do in the 21st century that we don't think are frivolous but our great grandparents would consider otherwise.

I agree, if my generation is guilty of anything, we are guilty of a pettiness that all too frequently supercedes sensibility. And there really are far too many lawsuits that have no business being court business...but you have to be careful. Whenever you wage a crusade to swing things a different direction, you have to be sure not to tread on the rights of someone with sincere issues and a legitimate case.

How can a nation of such great wealth not provide health care for its middle and lower classes at an affordable cost? It seems to me that if healthcare is made affordable by reducing losses incurred by having to treat the uninsured, then surely the trickle-down effect of this is to put more money in the pocket of the ordinary Joe, and isn't that how you grow an economy?

You can cite frivolous lawsuits, you can cite the high cost of treating the uninsured, but you cannot argue against the morality of the necessity to do the right thing. It's an embarassment we are willing to spend so much money on a war while thousands die daily from lack of proper medical care. Period.

It comes a time in ones life when immature, cruel and selfish comments about someone you do/don’t know should stop. Try being kind and thoughtful for a change, you might feel better about yourself.

This challenge the Edwards are going through, it appears they are trying to do with dignity and grace. Learn from it folks.

Lauri posted:

"I just spoke with a colleague whose entire practice is centered around breast cancer. She confirmed what I wrote previously; average survival is 2 years. She's had a very few patients who have made it to 5 years. Diabetes this is NOT."

Lauri, does this statistic apply to breast cancer patients with metastatic disease in general, with bone mets specifically, or with met to other, more vital organs? My understanding is that bone mets are much more treatable over a longer period of time, but I don't have the facts. Since you seem to have the facts, can you educate us on this?

Chris – Accusations? I stated facts. Here’s some more:

Health insurance companies spend millions to find ways not to pay legitimate claims so as to increase their bottom line. Check-out the fine print of any health insurance brochure. All that legalese keeps their lawyers busy & well paid.

Drug companies do what they can to get patients hooked on drugs. Many of these patients would be better off changing their lifestyle like with better diet & exercise. What do you think the drug companies are interested in?

Plenty of surgeries are unnecessary in this country & that’s the fault of hospitals trying to profit. My kidney stone two different doctors tried to convince me had to be surgically removed? I passed on my own a few days later.

Companies spend who knows how much on lobbyists to get laws in their favor to eliminate or remove liability from products they manufacture they know are dangerous & this is industry-wide.

The singular problem with the cost of health care is corporate greed. Universal health care, not that it’s perfect, has worked in every country where it exists – even Cuba.

10’s of millions of US citizens have no health insurance. You say I don’t know what I’m talking about, but you also suggest tort reform will insure a couple hundred thousand. Great solution.

Unrestrained capitalism in health care has been a disaster in this country. Only the rich can afford the best health care in this country. Laws of economics & capitalism will insure this formula forever.

Everyone else has to worry about their last sneeze.

To Snow & Edwards, all the best.

I have metastic breast cancer in my bones. I have had it for over 7 years and am doing just fine. The statistics for metastatic breast cancer do no reflect the huge advances made in the last few years. Far more women are surviving; and I plan on being around at least a few more years.

Stage 4 encompasses many types of people and metatasis only to the bone, is very survivable. This is a good opportunity for people to be educated about cancer treatments and take away the fear and stigma. The massisve fund raising and awareness of breast cancer in the last 20 years have made very significant advances. Yet, 40,000 American women will die this year, so much remains to be done to find a cure.
Mrs. Edwards is going to be a powerful and inspirational leader,similar to Lance Armstrong in demonstrating how many cancer survivors continue to live a wonderful happy life.

Kristy,

The statistic I refer to applies to recurrent tumor in bone. Tumor recurrent in the same breast has a slightly better prognosis, as does tumor recurrent in local lymph nodes. Tumor recurrent in organs such as lung or liver has a worse prognosis (about 1 year on average). These are just averages. A few people do live several years longer than average but the 5 year survival is 20% for bone metastasis and 13% for organ metastasis. These statistics are NOT similar to diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic treatable condition. I'm really sad that John Edwards compared the two.

As a cancer survivor, I can both sympathize and understand where Elizabeth Edwards is coming from. She wants to live her life as fully and as long as possible. Dropping out now would signal defeat, and she doesn't want to give up. When you have cancer, you need most of all some semblance of normalcy, and have people treat you as a full person, not as a disease. Sure, she may be painting a rosier picture than the usual odds would predict. But that's better than the opposite, and I'm sure she will get the best of care, and not endanger her health with the campaign. Who knows, it may even lengthen her life. Cheers to you Elizabeth, and to the doomsayers and small-minded folk, open your mind and realize not everything a politician or their wife does is about politics.

To follow up on Glinda's comments:

First, I also have cancer with bone mets, and my doctor has also used the diabetes analogy with me. I should stress that he's referring to the way in which we are *managing* the condition, *not* the statistics -- incurable but highly treatable, with patients living with it for years if not decades. It didn't sound to me like John Edwards was referring to the statistics, either, but I could be wrong.

Second, not only are many published statistics out of date and not reflective of recent or current advances, but they also tend to apply to the entire population of patients, including (most unfortunately) those who do not take a proactive approach to addressing the disease. I am not trying to predict Elizabeth Edwards' prognosis, but I'm assuming that her approach to treatment will be well-informed and aggressive (which does not necessarily mean debilitating; there are many new therapies that are relatively benign in terms of side effects). Coincidentally, I am also being treated at UNC, which I know does have a very good breast cancer treatment program. I assume that Elizabeth is consulting with experts at other medical institutions as well.

Again, I have no idea how this will go for Elizabeth Edwards. But then again, no one does.

After having read her book, I would agree with Ellie that it's quite possible that campaigning will give Elizabeth more energy than she'd get by sitting at home. She clearly is someone who is lifted up by the company and support of others. Finally, I would say to anyone who believes that this decision is irresponsible of the Edwards', with any luck you will be able to send your own clear message by casting a vote early next year. It's not like anyone is being forced to support the campaign, and now we all have more information to work with.

I'll take the heat.

I think that Edwards is very concerend and saddened by his wife's struggle and I have sympathy for thier family. Cancer has and is affecting my family and friends as I am typing this.

I do however, believe this was a politcally calculated announcement and delivery, and it's "pollyannish" to think otherwise in this political climate.

Yeah Mark, I know its "breathtaking,", but I'm not merely "suggesting" it, I'm outright saying it.

Flame away.

The word is "pollyannaish".

Sorry folks, only those people who have or had cancer are qualified to speak on that subject. :)Those of you who are critical (particularly the doctors) have no idea what people go through when they are diagnosed with cancer. Needless to say, I had cancer and I totally support the Edwards. They took the positive approach to tell the public. Do you want John and Elizabeth to come on TV and tell us: we are quitting and are waiting for Elizabeth to die! They are the most decent people we could hope for in the White House.

This is for those misinformed and misguided posters above who love the "frivolous lawsuit" meme.

I work in a law firm specializing in medical malpractice. We take phone calls and internet requests every single day from people who call because they want to sue somebody for all sorts of reasons. The frivolous calls don't go anywhere. Only the ones that seem to have real merit are even investigated. Of those maybe 80% are later dropped.

Why is that? Well, medical malpractice lawyers work on a contingency basis which means that unless a case is settled or won at trial they get absolutely zip, nada, nuffink for their efforts. It takes an average of $50,000 to bring a case to trial - those are expenses that must be paid by the lawyer. Law firms would go broke fast if they took "frivolous" cases.

Now, if you really believe that there is no medical malpractice happening in our hospitals and doctors' offices, then you're welcome to your delusion, I suppose. If ever you or one of your loved ones is ever the victim, though, I'm sure you will be calling on the phone asking to speak to a lawyer somewhere who will look into your case. Know that this will be the ONLY way you will get any justice. The ONLY way.

JD, Paulo, jeff,

Based on your one sided thoughs that everything and everyone are wrong with the exception of the bush and buddy folks, your misplaced and crude feelings about Edwards and his wife are not surprising. Do you and folks like you ever discover you can be wrong or that your insensitive reactions to others are sometimes over the line.

John and Elizabeth Edwards are two extremely courageous individuals. Can you imagine at a time as sensitive as this and yet they had the fortitude to say it is not about them but it is about our country. Anyone who would criticize them or how they chose to make their announcement is and always will be a part of the biggest problem facing American today. This mean spirited hate talk began at the end of the Reagan era when Bush Sr. orchestrated his campaign to the tune of Lee Atwater. As a young adult at the time everything that was purported out of their mouths was contrary to how I had been raised in a Christian home. I found no humor or identity in the hate talk that came from that campaign and took hold of the right wing and exploded into using words to kill instead of bullets. Shame on Karl Rove and those (and I mean ANYONE) who supported the Bush administration from its inception of Atwater and Rove.

Do you know what the name of the song is that Elizabeth Edward's mentioned in the press conference yesterday? I thought She siad it was called "I will" but I have no idea who sings it. I believe she said her daughter sings it with her.

My heart goes out to them.

Best wishes for Elizabeth Edwards, John and their family come from Vancouver, Canada.
Keep fighting Elizabeth!
What a gracious and wonderful couple and I wish both of them well also in the campaign for The White House.
You both are an Inspiration!

I was diagnosed with colon cancer on March 9, 2007. I am 41 years old, and like the Edwardses, my husband and i have two small children, ages 8 and 6. Mrs. Edwards' courage and determination has given me the strength that I will be successful in my battle for cancer. I hope I can fight this disease with as much dignity and courage as Mrs. Edwards. She will never know how much faith she has given me. A true inspiration.

Myra

Ken,

Misplaced and crude?

John Edwards has you right where he wants you.

His entire career is based on sympathy. Why change now?

....and I don't know where I've ever said that Bush is always right and everyone else is wrong.
The left is over the top most of the time and I have no problem pointing it out.

Have you read John E, Tony, Raving Loon? ...and you point out Paulo and I as crude?

They bring left wing spin to a new level.

Just read the thier lame counterpoints to Cheney's myths of war Swamp post as an example.

The left wing in this country is pathetic and I have no problem pointing it out on a daily basis.

That is no way means Bush is right in all that he does.

...also....thanks X. Pollyannaish. I'll make the change.

First off, I have a life threatening illness. I live with my own limitations and fears everyday. I don't have breast cancer but I can empathize with the fears people go through.

I however missed the parade, fanfare and the media putting me on a sympathy pedestal. I have decided to keep on doing what I do, with limitations. Very few of my friends even know that I am ticking away and that is the way I want it. I don't need anyones sympathy or special treatment. I made a life decision in my case, I spend as much time with my wife and children as I can. I decided what was important to me, and my family was #1.

I truely question the Edwards motives. I remember the unethical dig that Sir Edwards took on Cheney in the debate about his lesbian daughter. It is hard to muster sympathy for him in anyway after that. Mrs Edwards, be a mother and spend your time left with your children, it is much more rewarding then power.

Jim, I wish you well with your illness and hope you have more good days that bad.
I have to disagree with the Edwards cheapshot allegation, though. I don't know why the Cheneys think their family is completely off limits when everyone else's is open to inspection. If you are running for office, it is apparent that everything a candidate has ever thought, felt or done in his or her life must be scrutinized, debated and dissected. It doesn't even have to be true. It's not fair but that's the way it is.