by Mark Silva
Elizabeth Edwards writes of forgiveness in her forthcoming memoir, Resilience, in which the cancer-battling wife of the former senator from North Carolina and Democratic nominee for vice president addresses the physical pain she suffered as a result of her husband's infidelity with a campaign videographer.
But now the wife of the candidate who had spoken of bridging the "two Americas,'' one for the poor and one for the wealthy, is taking her story to American's biggest daytime TV stage, the Oprah Winfrey Show, where Edwards addresses the question of whether she still is in love with her husband.
"You know, that's a complicated question,'' Edwards replies, in an excerpt provided to the Associated Press by Harpo Productions. Winfrey asks Edwards: "Is it a day by day thing?'' Edwards says: "Neither one of us is out the door, so I guess it's day by day, but maybe it's month by month."
The show airs Thursday. The book is out May 12.
Winfrey traveled to Chapel Hill, N.C., where the Edwards live with their children, Cate, Jack and Emma Claire, and spoke with the former candidate's wife about her husband, his affair and her battle with terminal cancer. Winfrey also spoke with John Edwards for the show.
There was one restriction, however: Winfrey could not mention the name of John Edwards' mistress, videographer Rielle Hunter, by name. according to Harpo.
John Edwards publicly acknowleged the affair in August after the National Enquirer reported he was the father of Hunter's daughter. He has denied paternity.
"I've seen a picture of the baby,'' Elizabeth Edwards tells Winfrey. "I have no idea. It doesn't look like my children but I don't have any idea."
Edwards, who writes of crying, screaming and vomiting when she learned of the affair, tells Winfrey that she had asked her husband for one gift when they were married 31 years ago. "I wanted him to be faithful to me," Edwards says. "It was enormously important to me."
John Edwards also has acknowledged that federal authorities are examining the finances of his political action committee and presidential campaign, focusing on payments that were made to Hunter. He maintains they will find nothing wrong.
Comments
Why does Elizabeth Edwards define herself by her husband?
In her own words she proclaims that even in while loosing her hair "her husband thinks she is the most woman in the world."
That's the same BS John told the other woman.
So maybe Elizabeth should get off her high horse and stop giving the other woman a hard time.
Posted by: kay | May 5, 2009 7:48 AM
gee...what a shock...a lying, hypocritcal, panzy-man of a Democrat. and of course, the stupid wife who sticks by his side.
Anyone surprised?
Posted by: jack ryan | May 5, 2009 7:58 AM
If we could have a nickel for every woman that has cheated on a man, or broken his heart, trashed his life, stolen his money, disrespected him in every way imaginable; Oprah would have new shows from here to the end of time. Of course, only women are viewed as 'victims' of infidelity. Gender equality is a sham. The same old, same old, one way story.
Posted by: therockofages | May 5, 2009 8:17 AM
and of course, the stupid wife who sticks by his side.
Anyone surprised?
Posted by: jack ryan | May 5, 2009 7:58 AM
Yes that sticking by their side certainly upsets the rights. Why can't those democrats just leave their wives on a hospital bed like Newt, or leave their wives after being disabled and disfigured in a car crash like McCain.
The right: Proud of their men who can cheat AND leave.
Posted by: bill r. | May 5, 2009 10:15 AM
Again, fill us readers in-why is this newsworthy?
Posted by: George | May 5, 2009 10:20 AM
She's a marvelous women. The only question I would have is why in the world would you stick by someone that hurt you so much?. Your dealing with life threatening cancer and he's out whoring around. This man is nothing more than an ambulance chaser and a liar, who has proven he isn't trustworthy. Dump him, your better off without him.
Posted by: Paul | May 5, 2009 10:28 AM
Edwards is a scumbag - no doubt - he almost destroyed the legal system in his state while making millions of dollars. His wife should do whatever makes her happiest, we haven't walked in her shoes.
Posted by: nancy | May 5, 2009 11:09 AM
While the hypocritical thumpers on the right smear everyone, let's take a look at what their "good" book says about forgiveness:
Matthew 6:14-16
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
Seems pretty clear what the good book says.....seems pretty clear the hypocricy is thick.
Posted by: bill r. | May 5, 2009 11:23 AM
Come on people...she's selling a book. Does anyone think her emotions are genuine? About as much as Hillary's were or Eliot Spitzer's wife's were.
Guaranteed that John and Liz went over the proper talking points to get on Oprah and are already planning his populist comeback (after that little federal investigation gets resolved).
If her "feelings" were real she wouldn't be going on Oprah and charging you $13.99 to read about them, she'd be dealing with them in private.
Posted by: Jeremy - Chicago | May 5, 2009 11:33 AM
This is so sickening - not only what Edwards did, which is bad enough though hardly anything new, but the simple fact that she would go on Oprah and tell all the people about it.
Why do we need to know anything about it? She went on the WORLD'S silliest, most self-important TV show to talk about it.
For money
sigh
p.s. Bill R - if you can come up with a republican to match ted kennedy, who left a young woman to drown in his car and got a good night's sleep BEFORE reporting the incident, I'd like to know who it is.
This has NOTHING to do with "R" or "D" unless you want it to.
Posted by: Terry | May 5, 2009 11:56 AM
This has NOTHING to do with "R" or "D" unless you want it to.
Posted by: Terry | May 5, 2009 11:56 AM
I imagine that post was for jack ryans benefit to whom I was replying. It all depends on what you consider worse........Republican South Dakota State Representative Ted Klaudt is charged with eight counts of second-degree rape, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of sexual contact with a child younger than 16, two counts of witness tampering and one count of stalking against two foster children in his care
Posted by: bill r. | May 5, 2009 12:20 PM
I was a previous admirer of Elizabeth Edwards but am troubled by the claim that he told her a year before they campaigned together, after she was diagnosed as terminally ill. They acted the happy couple. It tells me two things -1) she wanted to be in the White House as much as him, regardless of the potential cost to her health and the kids, and 2) that they were willing to present a dishonest "front" for their marriage to the American voter because anything else might reveal his sense of morals as false. Now their family has to watch the disintegration of the marriage via repeated press with the book's publication. It's hard for me to be as symathetic as before to the woman who continues as "Mrs. Edwards."
Posted by: Susan/Old Town | May 5, 2009 1:04 PM
what is wrong with you people....nobody is perfect, we can forgive a spouse for cheating...it is their business how they deal with this. What we all could probably agree on is that it canidates who do not have good character quatlites should not be voted in...and also the ones who are already in office, let's vote them out.
Posted by: pam | May 5, 2009 1:29 PM
WHO CARES?!!!
Honestly, WHO CARES?!!!
Posted by: Kevin | May 5, 2009 1:35 PM
The woman is dying of cancer and they have kids. Is she supposed to find a new home, move everything and join the every other weekend merry go round of separated parents? Doesn't she have enough to deal with without the legal proceedings that would cause? Get real folks. And where the heck do any of us get off telling someone else how to live their life? What hapened to the freedom to run your own life?
Posted by: quercus | May 5, 2009 1:42 PM
It's hard for me to be as symathetic as before to the woman who continues as "Mrs. Edwards."
Posted by: Susan/Old Town | May 5, 2009 1:04 PM
While I agree with most of your post wholeheartedly, I still believe what couples do after things like this is not anybodys business but theirs and sitting in judgement on whether they should stay or go is wrong. Also I believe there are others to consider.
Posted by: bill r. | May 5, 2009 2:04 PM
The funny thing is we do not have to have an opinion about how others manage their personal lives - especially in relation to issues such as these. I will judge Elizabeth Edwards once I am married to a career politican, lose a child, become a mother of four, and cope with terminal cancer. Then maybe I can entertain thoughts as to how she should live her life. Should I even enter into the conversation the reality that maybe momentary self-fulfillment isn't the sole purpose of our existence.
Posted by: Rachel Davis | May 5, 2009 2:38 PM
OH.. how sorry... men and women go out on their spouses everyday... these people are worth millions so who really cares about Elizabeth Edwards and her pathetic husband.. my brother has terminal cancer and is penniliess.. so I am sorry if I have no sympathy for millionaires with personal problems... my god... what has this country come to...
Posted by: Tom | May 5, 2009 3:04 PM
walk a mile in her shoes...but the one thing that bothers me though is she decided with him to live a lie all for the reason of being elected to office. What kind of message is that for their children? Win at any cost?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | May 5, 2009 5:38 PM
these blogs are all the same, nothing more than trashy remarks from people who are driven to attack others with venom which only is a sign of the writer's character. How dare people attack this strong woman for making her own choices. No one can adequately judge someone else's relationships, and those that so loudly do judge, usually are the ones in the worse relationships, who have many of their own secrets. Most of these bloggers would probably claim they are religious, like the so called Right, and are nothing but hypocrits. Hasn't anyone heard of the saying: "he who is without sin, should cast the first stone"? Hmmmm.
Posted by: kathleen | May 5, 2009 8:27 PM
It is my understanding that Elizabeth is in Stage 4 of this cancer (terminal)? If so -who cares what she says/ it's her right. I suppose (if terminal) she may feel - what's the sense? She has little children/ WHY, because of her narcissistic/ duplicitous - self centered husband and the cheap TRAMP, who conned him into (her life a failure) her security for life (a baby) - should she exhaust herself in moving or going though a divorce etc. As for Edwards/ the ambulance chaser - making millions off of DECENT doctors/ charging them with malpractice - for babies (unknown causes) born with cerebral palsy --What a dumb a** he is!! He was here in NH - my friend was enthralled with him/ Never trust a man who thinks so highly of his 'hair' / personal appearance (ugh). Look what this fool gave up ! What might he have been appointed to in the Obama administration? Instead he's trapped with this floozy/ instead of joying in his children, their huge estate and his wife. What a pig. He disgusts me.
Most especially his photo ops with the POOR in New Orleans/ with his millions he could (like others) have involved himself in health care (Charity Hospital closed) etc.
He's just typical of all of those good for nothing frat boys in Foggy Bottom- A PHONY. He thought NOTHING of his children let alone his wife.
Posted by: jude | May 8, 2009 10:00 PM