Just a simple request. Elizabeth Edwards requested that attacks on John be ceased

and he be remembered for the good he did, if only for the sake of his children. She and John were reunited for their trip to Japan and he was at her side in the final days.Friends have said she grew to see again the man she had married. Can we just for today , in tribute to a very great lady, pay tribute by honoring those wishes?

edit: I am not saying she is unworthy of people's admiration, I really just don't know much about her. I am not trying to insult someone who had recently passed away.

Maybe you could find out.

She was a DUer, for one.

There is much, much more to learn.

A start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Edwards

which makes people love her. Have you read her books? If so, what did you think of them?

but she was nonetheless honorable, kind, gentle and hard as steel, as needed. She was an exemplary human and the fact that she asks us to lay off of her husband shows that in the end, she was able to forgive him for the damn near unforgivable. We, who were not directly affected by his behavior, ought to do as she requests.

She was the best part of that partnership.

I was wondering about the emotional reactions to my question. Now I know.

respect. We've had some hospital scares but fewer deaths it seems, since 2004. Not none, just fewer.

Yes, we cared greatly for her, hence the vitriol toward her husband. But if she wants us to leave him alone, I, for one, will. I see no reason not to honor her request. He isn't in politics anymore, anyway.

I'm a DUer...If some of us respectfully stay silent, what does that mean?

a brilliant, authentic, passionate, giving, strong, progressive woman. She always fought the good fight and never, ever gave up. And that's just scratching the surface of what made her great.

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I specifically stated I just did not know much about her.

Fortunately, poor reading comprehension has its own punishment in this case.

to have used derogatory remarks in defense of others questioning her.

I read well, I assure you.

She got us through the election, for starters.

I know I wouldn't have been able to get through the debacle that was the 2004 reselection of the shrub without both of the Edwards. Whatever one might say about him and out of deference to her, I won't, she was salt of the earth, good.

You sure didn't try very hard. This is one of the most insensitive posts I've ever read here, and that is saying something.

Why even bother coming?

Rest in peace Elizabeth. I am sure John will be lost without you.

:kick:

Thanks for relaying the information.

To a great lady and progressive.

to make peace. The peace she made with John and the peace she gave her children.

The irony of it all is that she left this earth in the most peaceful season of the year.

:cry:

Honour the lady by honouring her graciousness and her wishes.

heard the outrage when Gingrich asked his bed-ridden hospitalized
wife with Cancer for a divorce.

Even we play the double standard.

John Edwards is no longer in Politics. Tell the Media
to move on and stop hurting the Edwards children.

and it, as much as anything, is why he is out of office.

The media had an awkward situation. It is impossible to tell EE's story without mentioning JRE. Not mentioning that the last several years were rocky would be impossible - what happened happened and it is part of her story. That said, many went into far greater detail than needed.

hospital, where his wife was recovering from cancer related surgery, and handed her divorce papers. John cheated, yes.. but he would have never left her. Newt Gingrich is far more evil than John Edwards.

end his political career. In fact, it's never even brought up when he appears on the talking head shows to discuss his plans to run for President in 2012

That was one - though the fact that shutting down the government backfired was another.

As to a Presidential run - if he is perceived to have a serious chance, you better believe it will be discussed.

Not to mention, don't you remember how weak the defense that " X was worse" is? I know it never worked with my parents - and it never worked for my kids. The fact is that BOTH of them behaved very badly.

Where do you get that I even compared them? I didn't - I said there was disgust - and there was.

The evil is the cheating... not necessarily the leaving.

Sorry... not following your logic.

I made a cheating spouse LEAVE - I don't "do" sloppy seconds.

they obviously initiated a reconciliation in her last months and that is all. She had a much bigger heart than I would have, I think. And that, among thousands of other things, is what made her an extraordinary human being.

and it won't amount to a hill o' beans. The only thing that matters is if they made their peace which they more than likely did. Nothing said by any holier than thou gossipers will ever change that.

I agree with your sentiment though if that counts for anything. I just understand people who live in glass houses cannot help but throw rocks. Human nature n all that.

But I never indulged in attacks on John Edwards in the first place. I've always felt terribly sad for the whole family, and that includes him.

When was that? What was the purpose? Elizabeth died with incredible dignity. It would be incredibly offensive to do less than she requests. I am sure John is grieving. Despite all that transpired one doesn't lose all feelings for someone they had loved and lived with so long.

Thank you.

:yourock:

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And I agree with the OP.

R.I.P. Elizabeth :cry:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Great post. :thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

Why would you even do this? It's like the kid that farts in the middle of the school play on purpose just because he thinks it's funny. It's not, it's just mean and stupid.

I have no problem with it if it just for today, but as you said upthread, there have been no JRE attacks anywhere on DU anywhere.

Thank you - I deleted my earlier statement, because even though it was not an attack, it was not in the spirit of the thread.

If we can't do this, we aren't the people we think we are.

Thank you Saracat.

Unless the people who scorn him have NEVER, EVER done ANYTHING at all wrong in their lives....

Of course since pretty much everybody in the world, with maybe the exception of Jesus Christ himself, has lied to someone, or cheated on someone, or has betrayed or shat upon somebody else, I don't understand where the hate is coming from.

He cheated on his wife. Big whoop.

trying to start a fight is not in the spirit of the thread.

your fate, to be cheated on. Add "while seriously ill." Then let's hear your "big whoop."

AND, BTW, by so doing he ruined AMERICA'S chance at having him be a champion for the poor and working class.

Just go back to whence you came.

Good Lord - that's the ULTIMATE form of betrayal, trust and love.

Big whoop? Glad I didn't marry you.

He continued his campaign while he was philandering. If he had won the nomination and then it had been discovered, it would have made the Clinton impeachment look like a day in the park. But he is no longer in politics so yeah, I think it's more than reasonable to let it go. Let him and the children grieve in peace.

RIP Elizabeth. You were a fine example.

Seriously...you remind me of the people who were asking that nothing bad be written about Reagan during his funeral; that didn't work out so well, eh?

Most others said they will honor Elizabeth's request. Just sayin'.

just sayin.

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:applause:

For this one, it is SOP.

Good to see you.... :hi:

But that's far from a lifetime moratorium.

That's like throwing raw meat to wild animals.

a good person. something i am trying to learn in my life - to think of people for the good they do or try to do

for Elizabeth Edwards, having to face cancer and then infidelity all in the public eye. She was the embodiment of grace, humility and compassion.

Now if Pickles had died, I'd be in rare form.

but for me... there was nothing to attack John over. It was their life and his decision. Our culture of moralism is part of the problem.

On and Elizabeth.. rest in peace...

To John... my sympathies, as well as the rest of the family.

It is your time to grieve.

Oh and Elizabeth thank you for what you did.

It was HIS life and HER life and he HURT her. Geez.

Their ideas, and their words, spoke to me, and they still do.

Who speaks for the poor? Thank you Elizabeth and thank you John.

John Edwards. He's pretty much off most people's radar to the point I would almost say he's been ostracized

by our country and the political community.

John Kerry sent a beautiful statement out on Elizabeth Kerry offering his condolences to her children.

The absences of any mention of John was loud and clear.

If John Edwards utters one cross word about Elizabeth, the gloves come off.

I supported him during his campaigns, then turned 180 against him, but I shall honor this lady's dying request. If she can be that forgiving, why can't we.

I can only imagine her children growing up knowing that someone, somewhere thinks his actions are "OK."

Like Tiger Woods.

Like JFK.

I don't want women to be the second class to their powerful spouse. The spouse should be the No. 1, especially if children are involved... because they learn from their parents. And cheating is lying and hurtful and is never right.

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He was a huge advocate for the poor - worked with a poverty center. He sued powerful corporations and won. He was one candidate who I always felt would NEVER sell out and be a corporatist. He was of course pro-labor (remember the "son of a millworker" speech he so often gave) and was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth; just the opposite.

He was also very smart. I interviewed him once. I asked him if American needed a consumer bill of rights. Without missing a beat, he replied, "Yes" and then went on to warn that something must be done about predatory mortgage lending. This was long before the mortgage scandals broke.

i for one was deeply saddened when news of his infidelity broke; I felt we'd lost one of the best candidates we ever had who would be a true advocate for the poor and downtrodden.

I don't think he'll ever run for public office again (nor should he) but I do agree that the scandal should be laid to rest so that his children can live in peace. Give the man a chance to atone for his wrongs and be the father that Elizabeth would want him to be.

His political career is finished anyway. The best thing would be to forget him completely, and allow him to slide into anonymity.

How quickly a day can go.

And I'm sure that will be apparent soon enough.

So screw him.

When he disappeared, he really disappeared. I forgot he even existed until he turned up at her memorial service (without participating). I remember when he was around (something about "two Americas"?), but now he is gone, with barely a trace left. At least for me.

Give up your hero worship...or lose the last of your credibility, as you suggested Bill Clinton was doing.

I've found the response here at DU about Elizabeth's passing to be very restrained, thoughtful, and dignified. We don't need you to preach to us about how to feel.