Posted on 03/25/2007 5:51:34 PM PDT by COUNTrecount
(CBS) When John and Elizabeth Edwards announced this past Thursday that her breast cancer had returned and spread to her bones, and that his presidential campaign would continue, they sparked a national discussion about the choices involved.
At this stage Elizabeth's cancer is incurable and treatment doesn't always prolong life. Was it the right decision to stay in the race? Can John Edwards run for president and care for his wife and family, a family that has already suffered the death of a son more than a decade ago? Can John Edwards be president without being distracted by his wife's illness?
Those are some of the questions 60 Minutes correspondent Katie Couric asked the couple this weekend after a campaign event in Las Vegas.
Katie Couric: Elizabeth, first and foremost, how are you feeling?
Elizabeth Edwards: Actually, I feel fine. I mean, except for a cracked rib that is completely unrelated to any of the more serious issues I face, I feel terrific.
Katie Couric: Have you found that people are relating to you a bit differently with this news?
Elizabeth Edwards: Well, I mean, I had somebody... hug me... in the last hour with a tear going down the side of her face. And I'm actually hoping that's one of the things that this discussion will fix. That people will see that – that you're not necessarily dying of cancer but you can also live with cancer and that – and you can live a full life. Concentrate on the things that matter to you.
We're all going to die. And I pretty much know what I'm going to die of now. But I – I do want to live as full and normal a life as I can from this point on.
Katie Couric: Have you received any additional information the last couple of days about where the cancer might have spread other than this area of your ribs?
Elizabeth Edwards: That was... there... we... there are a couple of hot spots, on the bone scan, in my right hip, for example. And one of the questions is whether or not to do radiation to reduce the size of that – of the cancer in that location and for fear that it might weaken my bone and that I might break my hip. But their consensus was that it was too small an area for that to be a risk.
So, you know, we were on a real roller coaster, the two of us, on Wednesday. Katie Couric: Tell me about that roller coaster.
John Edwards: Well, we went to the hospital... and it became pretty clear to me that there were at least two or three suspicious places on the bone scan. Elizabeth looked at it and saw exactly the same thing. Both of us were worried before we even had the doctor interpret the bone scan. And then the doctor came in and confirmed what – what both of us already thought, which is that it looked like metastatic disease. That it looked like it-- it-- the cancer was back.
Katie Couric: Tell me what went through your mind when you looked at that bone scan?
John Edwards: Pain – hurt, I mean, I was – for me, I was very worried about the woman I love more than anything.
I was pacing back and forth in the room where the bone scan was being done trying to look at it from every angle and see if it...
Elizabeth Edwards: Went away somewhere?
John Edwards: Yeah, I wanted it to go away. It didn't go away.
Katie Couric: Were you terrified you might lose your wife?
John Edwards: Of course, absolutely, but I've been worried about that for... for several years now.
Katie Couric: That must have been hard once again to have to face your kids and to talk to Emma Claire and Jack who are 8 and 6. That is tough.
What did you say?
John Edwards: I said, "Well, Mommy's cancer's back."
And they said, "Can she die from this?"
And I said, "Yes, but she could live a very long time."
And then Elizabeth said all of us are going to die eventually. We’re all gonna die from something. And mommy knows now what she’s probably going to die from.
Katie Couric: Can you describe the decision making process for me in terms of what should we do now? Do we stay in? Do we suspend it temporarily? Do I call the whole thing off? Do we call the whole thing off? How did that unfold?
John Edwards: Well, first the decision was made by the two of us, no one else... as it should be. And she said to me, "This is what we believe in. This is what we're spending our lives doing. It's where our heart and soul is. And we can not stop."
The doctor came in. And I said, "I need to know. We have a tough decision to make. We know what we want to do. But I need to know whether Elizabeth can physically do this and I don't mean physically stay at home and watch me do it. I mean, can she physically do it, go out on the campaign trail, do all the work that needs to be done?"
The country's going to want to hear from her, and I knew that. And the doctor said yes she absolutely could physically do it. Elizabeth Edwards: You know, you really have two choices here. I mean, either you push forward with the things that you were doing yesterday or you start dying. That seems to be your only two choices. If I had given up everything that my life was about – first of all, I'd let cancer win before it needed to. You know, maybe eventually it will win. But I'd let it win before I needed to.
And I'd just basically start dying. I don't want to do that. I want to live. And I want to do the work that I want next year to look like last year and... and the year after that and the year after that. And the only way to do that is to say I'm going to keep on with my life.
Katie Couric: At your press conference, you were both extremely confident, very upbeat.
Elizabeth said, “Right now we feel incredibly optimistic. I don’t expect my life to be significantly different.”
And I think some people wondered if you were in denial, if you were being realistic about what you were going to be facing here.
Elizabeth Edwards: I... I... I... I think that it is our intention to deny cancer any control over us.
And though I know there are people who live short lives, I feel optimistic, not because I've got rose-colored glasses on, but because I know that I have only low-volume... a small amount of cancer in my bones.
John Edwards: We don't understate or misunderstand the seriousness of this. I mean, this could kill her, and we know it. And what we won't choose to do is... we choose to live our lives fully, and with strength and optimism. We get to make that choice.
And that's what we choose.
Katie Couric: Your decision to stay in this race has been analyzed, and quite frankly judged by a lot of people. And some say, what you're doing is courageous, others say it's callous. Some say, "Isn't it wonderful they care for something greater than themselves?" And others say, "It's a case of insatiable ambition." You say?
John Edwards: I say all of those judgments and questions are entirely legitimate. I mean, you offer yourself up for service to the country as the President of the United States, you deserve to be evaluated. I am perfectly open to that evaluation. I think that I know, when I'm running for president, I'm running for president because I want to serve this country, and because I want all people in America to have the same kind of chances that I've had.
I've come from nothing to now have everything. And I think everybody in this country, no matter who their family is, or what the color of their skin, ought to get that chance.
But, throughout this process, people will be able to see very clearly into what we do, what we say, how we behave, and they can evaluate for themselves whether they think I'm, in fact, doing this for the right reason.
We know the truth. We know the truth, but I think it's a fair judgment for Americans to make.
Elizabeth Edwards: Cancer took a lot away from us a few years ago. It took a year of my life and a lot of John's. I didn't want it to take this away not just from me but from those people who depend on our having the kind of president he would be.
Katie Couric: Here you're staring at possible death...
Elizabeth Edwards: Aren't we all though.
Katie Couric: And you're thinking, "I don't want to deprive the country of having my husband lead us."
Elizabeth Edwards: That would be my legacy wouldn't it, Katie. That I'd... that I'd... that I'd... that I'd taken out this fine man from the possibility of giving a great service. I mean, I don't want that to be my legacy.
Katie Couric: Politics, as you know, can be a cynical business.
John Edwards: No!
Katie Couric: You didn't know that?
John Edwards: Yeah, I was not aware of that.
Katie Couric: Glad I... (laughter) I’m glad I could teach you something today. Some have suggested that you're capitalizing on this.
John Edwards: Here's what I would say about that.
First of all, there's not a single person in America that should vote for me because Elizabeth has cancer. Not a one. If you're considering doing it, don't do it. Do not vote for us because you feel some sympathy or compassion for us. That would be an enormous mistake. The vote for the presidency is far too important for any of those things to influence it.
But, I think every single candidate for president, Republican and Democratic have lives, personal lives, that indicate something about what kind of human being they are. And I think it is a fair evaluation for America to engage in to look at what kind of human beings each of us are, and what kind of president we'd make.
Katie Couric: Some people watching this would say, "I would put my family first always, and my job second." And you're doing the exact opposite. You're putting your work first, and your family second.
John Edwards: But this is not work. Work is what I did as a lawyer. This is service. This is... this is a country that I love – both of us love, as much as we love our lives.
Katie Couric: I guess some people would say that there's some middle ground. You don't have to necessarily stay at home and feel sorry for yourself, and do nothing. But, if given a finite – a possibly finite period of time on the planet – being on the campaign trail, away from my children, a lot of time, and sort of pursuing this goal, is not, necessarily, what I'd do.
John Edwards: Well, but we all... we are all different, number one. Number two, we all have a finite period time, and the idea that we know what that finite period is, is a fantasy to begin with.
Elizabeth Edwards: We learned that in ’96.
John Edwards: As we learned in 1996, with our son. We don’t know what’s gonna happen. We don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow. We have to live today the best way we know how. And that's exactly what the two of us are doing. I do think, though, that we have to be very sensitive about the tension that exists between our wanting to serve our country, and our children.
Elizabeth Edwards: We have been contemplating all the different ways that we can make certain that they are with us as much as possible. I've often said that the most important thing you can give your children (is) wings. Because, you're not gonna always be able to bring food to the nest. You're... sometimes... they're gonna have to be able to fly by themselves.
Katie Couric: They're 6 and 8. They're still baby birds.
Elizabeth Edwards: They are still baby birds. But...
John Edwards: But they've got to start learning to fly. And they're not ready to fly on their own yet, but they've got to start learning.
Katie Couric: Even those who may be very empathetic to what you all are facing might question your ability to run the country at the same time you're dealing with a major health crisis in your family.
John Edwards: Well, all I can tell you is I know from my own life experience that I can do it. I don't have to guess about that.
Second, people will be able to watch during the course of this campaign. And I ask them to watch.
Katie Couric: Can you understand their concern, though, Senator Edwards, that gosh, at a time when we're living in a world that is so complicated and so dangerous that the president cannot be distracted by, rightly so, caring about his wife's situation?
John Edwards: I care about her situation. I love her. And I'm gonna always care about her situation. But I understand that I have a responsibility to this country. It's why we're doing this.
And that responsibility includes the ability to focus and have clarity when hard judgments have to be made. I am completely convinced that I can do that. And it's for the country to determine whether they agree.
Katie Couric: You said, this weekend, "I am definitely in the race for the duration." If you want to give the honest answer, how can you say that, Senator Edwards, with such certainty? If, God forbid, Elizabeth doesn't respond to whatever treatment is recommended, if her health deteriorates, would you really say that?
John Edwards: We have every reason to be optimistic to be right now. I believe in my heart and soul that Elizabeth is going to do well. I do believe that.
She will be out there campaigning with me, and separately.
And if you ask me today, whether I'm in this campaign for the duration, the answer to that question is, "Yes."
Anyone know what happened to their son?
Car accident, 1996.
They did not make the decision I hope I would make in the same situation. I would choose time with family - esp. those children - while their mom is still fairly able bodied. Running for President is more than a full time job. I hear what they said about John wanting to serve his country, but I think serving his family should be first at this time.
That's another issue altogether. It really doesn't matter...because he doesn't have a chance in hell of even winning the nomination, so all of this is just mental masturbation.
Really? She actually said, "words fail me?"
He should spend 100% of his time caring for his sick wife and his young children.
He's more concerned about getting power than his loved ones.
..I'm off to bed.
More me now.
The Oprah/View crowd must be swooning....
Several years? Maybe referring to the aftermath of the older childs death, but struck me as strange.
I shall refrain from commenting further on their motives or actions. They are facing a tough go.
Couric is typically nauseating, however.
I doubt that. When your husband abandons you when you have terminal cancer, it strikes a negative chord with most women.
So simple even a CBS news reader can do it..
"I hear what they said about John wanting to serve his country, but I think serving his family should be first at this time."
Exactly. While I have no love for this Doofus, and wouldn't vote him in as my local Dog Catcher, if I were to plan a 'political strategy' for myself were I in his shoes, it would be this:
1. Step out of the 2008 race and care for my wife and kids.
2. Adjust to being a widower with the kids coming first above all.
3. After the kids are grown, or he remarries and they again have a stable "Mom" in their life then...
4. Renew my political career.
Good Lord. It's not like the guy "needs" to work. And it's not like the country can't survive without him. A one-term Senator? A failed VP bid? John? No. One. Wants. You. Stay home where you belong.
Do we want a man like this serving as President? One who can't even set priorities for himself, let alone a nation? Yikes!
I don't think this guy sees any further ahead than the current reflection in his compact mirror while he checks his hair. *Rolleyes* Me, me, me, me, ME!
And it's not like the country can't survive without him.
Really, I'd like to let Mr Edwards know that this country does not need him that badly. He really has an ego! The best thing for this country is for families to take care of each other especially in hard times such as when a spouse has an incurable illness or when you have a 6 and 8 year old who really are not able to fully support themselves no matter how much you try to make yourself believe it.
We all care and pray about people who are sick...but we do not obsess with strangers...however the husband in this case is the darling of the left. So we need to be force fed this garbage.
He makes me beyond ill. "Can she campaign?" Oh my GOD.
Poor Elizabeth.
It is quite foolish to believe you can campaign with Stage IV cancer (and that is her stage) and do chemo and radiation. Believe me I know.
WRONG! He's going to be away whether he wins or not...
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