[LibertyRocks]

I was reading about this on another thread, and I actually see things a bit differently than most when reading her statement...

When she says the process became much easier after her diagnosis it could mean a couple things... One, that she gave him her blessing to continue the affair with the exception that he would stay by her side until she recovered, or passed on. Two, that when she was diagnosed he became more committed to the marriage... Honestly, with John’s apparent rendevous at the hotel recently, I’m guessing it was the first option. If she were convinced she were going to die - she may have given him permission to pursue the relationship, knowing he wouldn’t be alone after she was gone...

Now, this doesn’t excuse Edwards’ indiscretion. Nor does it excuse the “society or political wife’s” behavior (acceptance, and forgiveness after it becomes public knowledge). It would seem to me that unlike “regular” people these types of relationships are the same as your average marriage in the 50s when divorce was so looked down upon - so things just went on behind the scenes often with the wife knowing, but never saying anything (”boys will be boys”).

There are a bunch of ways these situations play out - especially as I mentioned if it is a “public” marriage. I’m assuming at this point there was some sort of agreement made between wife and husband regarding this affair - obviously he’s still seeing her (with or without Elizabeth’s knowledge). It’s not like the National Enquirer just “got lucky” finding him in that hotel that night.

Well, I’m just babbling now, but without knowing all the details no-one is really going to be right on the money with all the speculation going on...

[mojo114]

You are talking about the Clinton’s, “public marriage” also, wonder how many other politicians have that way of life. Hmmm

[ricks_place]

I was reading about this on another thread, and I actually see things a bit differently than most when reading her statement...

Perhaps...

The Substitute Wife (1994) (TV)

A dying wife and mother makes plans for her family in this made-for-television drama. Lea Thompson stars as Amy Hightower, a frontier wife and mother of four who is ill and expected to die. In an unusual move to make sure her family is cared for, she finds a prostitute named Pearl (Farrah Fawcett) and teaches her how to be a wife and mother. The movie shows how Pearl slowly transforms, Amy's health fluctuates, and how husband Martin (Peter Weller) deals with the unusual circumstances. Filmed in Texas, this film is at times humorous and emotional, and not typical movie-of-the week fare. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide

[adopt4Christ]

There was always something over the years that bothered me about the way he looked at Elizabeth when they were out in public. It has always bothered me...the way his face and eyes seem to be saying, “I can do so much better than her.”

I know, it’s creepy. But I never bought into his devotion to her, even as she was diagnosed. It seemed so trite — so trivial — so dispassionate. Aside from the politics, and the ambulance-chasing millions, and the vanity — his adoration of her always seemed phony to me....

[Candor7]

Thanks for your lucid post.

I concur with your conclusion that Elizabeth Edwards knowingly allowed the affair to continue in the face of her terminal illness.

It is something that few would have thought of. Often such insight requires a genuine knowledge of human nature and suffering, incraeasingly all to rare these days.

I am amazed at the Roger Altman connection, former Deputy Treasurer with BJ's administration, who now owns National Enquirer Magazine. It puts a possible trail right to Hillary , taking Edwards out of the VP line up, for sending his delegates over to Obama. Hillery needed them desperately.

Yet is their no mercy on the hearts of the Clintons? Again they talk the compassionate talk, but cannot walk it.Shudder to think of the destruction Hillary will wreck on this country should she become president or vice president. She likely did quite a job on the Edwards family and on Hunter, who may eventually commit suicide. Apparently Hunter thinks she will marry Edwards one day, according to the Enquirer article.Here quietude has been bought.Desperate women believe desperate things. Who knows what she will do when she finds that Edwards will marry another from his own class of a$$hats? And the money stops flowing after the election in November?

This tragedy will continue to unfold for many more years.

[Lawgvr1955]

I have no difficulty with the Edwards making some arrangement of this nature as private citizens. But what type of ego must one have to then run for high office at a time when your wife is suffering so?

Her defense of him does nothing to cast him in a better light.

[autumnraine]

Maybe you are right on both counts.

If she chose to allow him to continue his relationship, that is her business I guess. But the lies are what most are upset about. And also, if he wanted to do this, having a mistress and a wife with wife’s permission, why run for President?

[potlatch]

Interesting opinion and NOW that she knows she is dying I could see her doing what you say.

I sometimes wonder how people develop serious illnesses. She learned of his affair in 2006. I think most of us here can comprehend the terrible heartbreak she suffered if she loved him.

Illness of the heart and soul can influence our bodies and cause a gradual downhill dwindling of the desire to live or just a decline of the immune system.

I did not care for her politically but hate what she has had to endure.

There are many who castigate McCain for a similar affair but if they really delve into the whole story they will find that his first wife was in a terrible accident crushing her whole pelvis.

It has been suggested that she was then unable to perform her wifely “duties” thus sending him into a series of affairs. I recall reading that she did not contest the divorce - perhaps for this very reason.

[RedWhiteBlue]

When she says the process became much easier after her diagnosis it could mean a couple things... One, that she gave him her blessing to continue the affair with the exception that he would stay by her side until she recovered, or passed on. Two, that when she was diagnosed he became more committed to the marriage... Honestly, with John’s apparent rendevous at the hotel recently, I’m guessing it was the first option. If she were convinced she were going to die - she may have given him permission to pursue the relationship, knowing he wouldn’t be alone after she was gone...

I interpreted her statement differently. When you're faced something as serious as dying, everything else becomes minor in comparison, and priorities change. And perhaps, on top of her dire health issues, she did not want her children to have to deal with their parents splitting up, too, especially if she thought she was going to die anyway.

[cricket]

Could also mean that ‘honest John - not’ may have found it easier to reconcile; knowing ‘time’ here; was bracketed. Sounds brutal; but who knows. . .prefer to ‘walk around’ this speculaton; but Elizabeth did throw it out there.

[panthermom]

And we began a long and painful process in 2006, a process oddly made somewhat easier with my diagnosis in March of 2007.

John's statement was that he began the affair in 2006 while his wife's cancer was in remission. Her statement says her forgiveness was easier after her diagnosis. Did she have cancer before 2007? I was under the impression they just found out about the cancer while campaigning in 2007.