Posted on 07/31/2004 8:41:49 AM PDT by silverleaf
Most of you who are making snide nasty "cutesy" comments about Elizabeth Edwards' weight JUST DON'T GET IT. This is a woman who buried her 16 year old son in 1996. Her adored only son who looked just like his father. A bright happy loving kid. Sixteen years old and ready to take on the world. Who died in a senseless teenage lose-control-of-the car, one vehicle accident on the way to meet the family at the beach for a holiday weekend. Yes, the Edwards family had it all. Nice life, nice family, nice kids. Then, when Wade Edwards died,- they discovered that they lost everything that REALLY mattered in one terrible life-changing second.
Elizabeth Edwards was 48 years old when her son died, her husband 44. Did she give up on life? She wanted to. I know.
But did she? No.
She underwent fertility treatments and she gave birth again at age 49 and she gave birth again at age 51. This was no Hollywood honey raiding a sperm and egg bank to create a designer kid because she spent her fertile years making movies. This was a BRAVE woman who determined to bring children back into what was left of the rest of her life, to give her husband and herself another son.
Slam away fellow compassionate conservatives. Fertility treatments and childbirth at age 49 and 51 wreaks havoc on the post-menopausal body. Not to mention the depression that envelops a Mother, a family, who has to choose a child's burial clothes, casket and headstone.
I look at the glowing Edwards family and I know that they are happy, But I also know that the shadow of a dead 16 year old tousle-haired boy travels just behind John and Elizabeth Edwards- EVERWHERE. I KNOW they felt he was there on that platform with his parents and sister Cate and little miracle sister/brother Emma and Jack when John Edwards accepted the VP nomination.
I suspect when the Edwards' went back to the hotel, alone, and after the kids were put down to sleep, Elizabeth wept.
I would not vote for John Edwards for dog catcher. But neither would I ever make fun of Elizabeth's weight. Because I have been there, where she is, in two dimensions of motherhood, always between the living and the dead, and wearing a mask so no one ever knows. Except mothers like me. We know.
So for those who read this, I ask that you concentrate on the very real political issues that define John Edwards and his suitability (or unsuitability) for political office. And lay off his wife and the "fat jokes". Because such "jokes" do not demean Elizabteh Edwards. They demean the people who make them and who snicker at them.
I am "silverleaf"- a registered Republican who is voting for George W. Bush. And I approved these comments.
I agree. Glad you said it.
A selfish and evil thing to do. Childbirth at that age is dangerous for both mother and child. When the kid is 20 she'll be 70.
Read this quickly - I smell ozone...
Bump
While certainly not a fan of the Edwards', I myself have tuned out of the "caption Elizabeth" graphics here. There was one this morning that I walked away from because there was really nothing to caption other than her weight. Stupid.
Until she says or does something really, really outrageous, there's really nothing to say about her.
If you get flamed for this, I'll take it too. Your point is good.
Do I have your permission to discuss the anatomical features of Hillary Wideass Clinton ?
Agreed. Weight is not an issue here.
If she was found to be guilty of hypocritical positions and behavior (like supporting a "fat tax," for example), that would grounds for justifiable criticism. But to make fun of appearance alone is beneath us.
Thanks to having big malpractice bucks and access to excellent and very expensive OB care. Unfortunately, there's a lot of women out there having a hard time paying for their own normal pregnancies or finding an OB thanks to Elizabeth profitting off junk science presented to a credulous jury. Your essay comes off a lot like one of Johnny's summations--but the point may well be that such emotional appeals could work against us.
While you're doing the big boohoo--John Edwards voted for Partial Birth Abortions. There wasn't a bill restricting any kind of abortion that he didn't fight.
Laughing at Elizabutt's bulk may not work--but if it could work, laugh away.
What about Ted Kennedy, who is overweight and lost a loved one?
On FR or any forum you will have jokes about just about anything and everyone. We are human beings and to get too politically correct makes us into mere automatons, Stepford posters.
Take the jokes for what they are, jokes. BTW, Edwards is suing Wendys because of its fat-filled menus. Exhibit one is....
This needed to be said. I hope it is heeded.
Darn. I thought this was going to be a ZOT! thread.
You're right, though...
That should shorten the list considerably.
Depends on the type of treatment. Did she go in-vitro? If not, then good on her. If so, God forgive her.
Fertility treatments are dangerous as all get out, but there's nothing immoral about them, so long as (1) you don't have test-tube fertilization, (2) you don't flush the "unneeded" kids down the toilet and (3) you don't "selectively reduce" extra kids, particularly if you're trying to avoid buying mayo at Costco on Staten Island.
I'm NOT a fan of Edwards, but God bless Mrs. Edwards. I understand precisely where she's coming from.
I need to be able to make fun of Ole Crusty for my mental health. She has no excuse in the world for those ankles.
Hooray for Mrs. Edwards! Motherhood is good, and one is never too old! A fine zaftig woman, wife and mother she looks to be.
I approve your remarks. Thanks for saying it!
It doesn't matter.
The decision to have a kid at that age is 100% selfish. Like I said, you are practically GUARANTEEING they will be burying you when you should be establishing an adult relationship.
In my book selfish when it means veing responsible for another life is evil.
I am against Elizabeth Edwards.
Brood sow mentality, this while her fellow democRATS adocate killing all unborn children.
If she really loved children, then why could her & the Breck girlie man not adopt one, or several, orphaned children in dire need of love and a home. But no, she opted for a selfish ego trip, why,(?) because they had the loot and they could.
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