Katie Couric did the right thing...bravo!

[BluegrassDem]

If the Edwardses didn't like the line of questioning, then they should not keep going on every talk show and having these big press conferences. All they had to do was keep it secret and no one would've asked a single question. But they chose to put out there that Elizabeth has cancer, but still continue with campaigning. Well by doing so, they open themselves up for critics to attack and they should've expected that. IMO, he should've at least suspended his campaign. I think my mind would not care about anything but being with my wife and family during these hard times if it were me.

[skipos]

1. What if your wife really wanted you to keep doing what you do

(in John Edward's case, keep running for President), would you ignore her wishes?

[trumad]

3. No--he would beat her like most good Right Wingers.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[liberalnurse]

16. Oh Yes!

O8) :smoke:

[L A Woman]

20. You and Mr. Edwards are of equal class n/t

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Blue_Roses]

4. Well, is isn't you

having to make that decision--it's their decision.

Didn't you hear anything they said in that interview? What are they to do--sit around and wait to die?
Every cancer patient interview on GMA said that getting back to work was the most important thing.

The critics are going to be there no matter what they say.

Some people...:eyes:

[AndyA]

5. Katie Couric is a hypocrite.

She didn't leave her job at The Today Show to take care of her husband when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

This is a decision that should be left to the immediate family. It is none of your business, my business, nor is it any of that harpie Katie Couric's business.

John and Elizabeth Edwards were just being honest, letting people know what was going on. In fact, if John hadn't had to cancel an engagement to go back home to be with Elizabeth, it's possible no one would know even now.

The news was out that he rushed back home to be with her, which made it almost mandatory they release the information. If they hadn't, they would have been confronted with months and months of speculation.

No one can say whether what they did was right or wrong. Only John and Elizabeth have that right.

[kaygore]

17. Nor did she slow down her career when her sister was dying of cancer

Katie is for Katie first and the rest of the world be damned. She is such an embarrassment in the Evening News. She needs to be on some perky woman's show for young mother's to watch as they iron the family's clothes and make the family's dinner.

[AndyA]

37. Wouldn't that require some knowledge of ironing and cooking on Katie's part?

She could say, "Here's my cook, LaWanda, whipping up her delicious Bananas Flambe, and while LaWanda is busy in the kitchen, Dorothy is busy washing and ironing over here. What setting do you use to iron silk, Dorothy? I would think it would take really high heat to get out wrinkles..."

:eyes:

Actually, I could see Katie hawking her new line of costume jewelry on some shopping channel, promoting her new "Katie" perfume, etc. :rofl:

[DeepBlueC]

63. I can see it; I can SEE it....

Click. Silence.

[Clark2008]

60. That analogy doesn't work.

I'm sorry, but being a news reader does not rise to the same level as running for president.

That's an assinine comparison.

While it may only be the Edwards' decision - I keep seeing this idiotic comparision between Couric's established career and Edwards plans to run a grueling campaign. He's not president! It's not as though he were already in the position.

Dumb comparison.

[Supersedeas]

67. The message is to those supporters who have ESTABLISHED and committed

financial backing to Edwards and to other supporters who are thinking of doing the same.

He is as Established as Couric in terms of his commitment to his career endeavor. She is just as beholden to corporate advertisers and thus subject to rejection as Edwards is.

To suggest that she is under contract makes her less subject to the type of criticism that Edwards is receiving is completely disingenous. She has had to balance family health issues and career and made her choices. Now, she has framed the issue in such a way to make Edwards look as if power and prestige are more important than his family. Her frame--now Edwards.

Given a look at her career choice--hypocrisy is a fair retort and NOT a dumb comparison.

[Saturday]

6. Couric didn't suspend her life when her DH was diagnosed with cancer.

You can choose what you'd do and the Edwards can chose what they want to do. Katie Couric is in 3rd place in the news slot for a reason. She is not a journalist IMO. That's my opinion and you're free to have yours.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

She's the perky "Gal Friday" of the morning news...

CBS might just as well have hired Willard Scott to their anchor.

Dan Rather
Walter Cronkite
Edward R. Murrow

Katie Couric? That's just sad.

[MaineDem]

7. Are you serious???

Good grief!

[saltpoint]

8. Couric is not a real reporter. She's a gossip columnist in front of a

television camera.

It was a weak interview because Couric doesn't know what she's doing.

Your assertion that the problem is with John and Elizabeth Edwards is way off.

You're building quite a reputation around here bashing Democrats.

[MUAD_DIB]

9. Would you quit your job if your spouse was ill?

What if she asked you not to?


Would you give up looking for work?

[L A Woman]

31. you are comparing running for president to "looking for work?"

This isn't how he is supporting his family. That WOULD be different. It's an ambition - and one that can wait. He's not the Second Coming. There are other Democrats in the running for the nomination.

If Rudy Guiliani's wife was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, are you seriously telling me that you would not criticize him for continuing his personal ambition to be president???

[trumad]

52. Which wife?

[springhill]

55. Did you even listen to Elizabeth Edwards?

Evidently not.

[MUAD_DIB]

56. This is a family matter. Frankly if Edwards wants to run,

and his wife wants him to, then it is pretty much a closed case.

And yes, I am suggesting that regardless of what work it is (in this instance it is the presidency) he has just as much right as anyone else to run.

Chances are that if she becomes very ill that he may drop out.


But to answer your query I wouldn't care about Guiliani. I don't care about him now, but when it comes to family matters it's usually best to be hands off. I was going to ask which wife you were referring to, but it seems that Trumad has beaten me to it.

Most of this horse shit that passes for political discourse is what I find most funny here or on other boards.

[DubiousLee]

10. bluegrass....heh...lets see if you respond or if it was hit and run. eom

[kaygore]

25. Looks like hit and run

[DubiousLee]

28. and you can see by the results the exact reason they do this. eom.

[Bitwit1234]

11. Golly day.. then why didn't Ford and Rockefeller resign

During Ford's administration both Betty Ford and Happy Rockefeller had breast cancer. Neither of them resigned. Rudi had prostate cancer he's running. McCain had skin cancer he's running. So does this mean it is OK for republicans to go on but democrats should be banned. Hmmm

[Norquist Nemesis]

12. "All they had to do was keep it secret"

ummm...NO! It would have come out, and then what? It was a much smarter thing to get it out there themselves.

As to others saying what they would do if it were them...well, to put it bluntly, It's NOT you.

[trumad]

15. Don't feed him

He got his anti Edwards thread locked last night---he's trying it again...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3176692

[Norquist Nemesis]

39. Ah, thanks!

Apparently, sleeping on it didn't do any good. LOL!

:hi:

[lazer47]

13. Where do these FREEPERs come from????

How do they get on DU????

[liberalnurse]

14. Cup-Cake Couric

repeated the same question 5 time by just changing the wording. Her interview style is at junior high school level. Couric used a push-poll style of questioning. Couric is not capable of preforming up to her job classification.

[kaygore]

22. Good nick name--she also has a cake job for which she is ill prepared

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

21. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[saltpoint]

23. Your judgment lacks clarity. And your facts are wrong as well.

John and Elizabeth reached the decision together.

Your premise is toast.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[saltpoint]

40. Wow, are you way off.

Way, way, way off.

Very poor judgment on this.

[L A Woman]

43. then...

why don't you enlighten me as to how?

Look, I am SO right about this that it's embarrassing.

[saltpoint]

44. If you could overcome your personal bitterness, which is

clearly a great obstacle clouding your judgment on Edwards, you might have something interesting to say.

But wow. You've got some distance to travel on that one.

[L A Woman]

47. OK so...

you are stating to me that if Rudy Guiliani's wife was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer (and by the way, women RARELY survive breast cancer twice), that you wouldn't be bothered by him going on national TV an hour later and saying he was continuing his personal ambition of running for president?

Family should come first, whether you are a Democrat or a Republican.

And let's be honest - John Edwards is wasting his time. Anna Nicole Smith has a better chance of becoming the nominee.

[saltpoint]

48. A ringing endorsement for Ms. Smith. You sure know how to pick 'em.

But wait! I think Ms. Smith is dead.

O my god you didn't know!

It's true. Drug overdose. In the Bahamas.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of such sad news.

I bet Katie Couric will have an update on this. Just tune in. You know that Katie -- she's all over an important story.

[trumad]

53. Oh and have you noticed

that you and the numb nuts who started this OP are about the only ones spweing this bullshit.

[edwardsfeingold08]

78. Actually Rush was spewing this same garbage last week.

[MaineDem]

42. Good grief...are you a bitter first wife or something?

Do you know anything about this family?

Your statements are way off the mark.

[BoneDaddy]

58. I agree

this lady is projecting her story all over this one. I love these women who continually make bad choices in their lives then pass judgement on men, act like victims and then still make bad choices. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad.

[havocmom]

49. She also said the next election it too important.

Sounds like BOTH of them are sacrificing for the greater good of the country. Gee, that's a concept the recent crop of GOP puppets, err, politicians, don't grasp at all.

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[springhill]

61. You know what?

That is the kind of post that in my opinion, should get you banned. How nasty and low can you get. There is absolutely nothing in his background or character that would even suggest such a thing, but yet you leap to that conclusion. You must be mixing him up with Newt or Guliani.

[saltpoint]

66. I think you should tell your friend with the 20-year old fantasy that

not all men behave that way.

You might also tell your friend that he or she needs to mind his or her own business.

And if you are listening to that kind of cheap shot and pretending it's factual, or that it applies to all humans with penises, you're dead wrong.

[havocmom]

70. Trying to damage a DEM candidate who has demonstrated 30 years devotion to his wife

with guessing what YOU IMAGINE his intentions are.

Huh? is allowed?

*Tip from a badly bruised first wife: cognitive therapy works wonders. Life IS good and not all men are scum. Do your homework on how you project and then you can change your bitter into love of life.

edit: correct for omitted word

[SteveM]

74. Got a whiff of sexism from ya. Hoooo-EEE! Stinks, too.

[saltpoint]

27. If even one male does sacrifice, though, your "rarely" is misplaced since

you're using it as "always."

"Rarely" doesn't mean "always."

A very poor take on the circumstances with the Edwardses.

edit: spellin'

[springhill]

57. Did you watch the interview?

My distinct impression was that she was the ONE who really wanted things to continue as normal. What in the hell is your problem with her deciding this?

[DuaneBidoux]

65. I don't really have much of an opinion of Edwards (although it will take a lot. before I vote for...

any Republican over him for President). I have heard the stories of several people that he represented and for whom he got justice. In these case anyway if he was chasing an ambulance it was one that deserved to be chased.

[edwardsfeingold08]

76. You seem sexist

Are you saying Elizabeth can't make decisions for herself? She needs her husband to tell her what is best for her and her family? Elizabeth said she wants to campaign. You are either saying she isn't capable of making a proper decision about her health because she is a woman or she is a weak, cowing woman who lies to protect her husband.

It seems like you have other issues. Some would say you can't handle gender roles in our society. Others would say you support another candidate and are just an opportunist who employs the same tactics as Rush Limbaugh.

[IWantAChange]

19. Sorry BluegrassDem - can't agree with your line of reasoning about keeping it 'secret'

just look where all the 'secrets' have gotten us over the last 6 years - the Edwardses doctors gave them a green light at this point in time and they have chosen to pursue something larger than themselves. John Edwards making the statement that he would not want ANYONE to think of voting for him as a result of sympathy could not have been more clear - it's time to erase FEAR and replace it with HOPE.

[stopbush]

26. "ALL" they had to do was keep it secret?

Are you insane?

We knew she had cancer in 06. It was always going to be a question in JE's campaign.

Let's say they tried to keep this non-secret a secret. What happens when an interviewer asks off the cuff, "and, Elizabeth, how is your recovery from cancer going?" Do they lie some more, or do they say, "well, we got some really bad news 3 months ago." The story then becomes why did they keep it a secret for 3 months...the American people need honesty in their president...how hard would it have been for them to tell the truth about something everybody already knew about...is Edwards channeling Hillary?

That assumes that anything a Democratic candidate does in his life will ever be a secret.

[Apollo11]

29. Everyone is over-reacting

I did not see 60 minutes but I did read the transcript.

I cannot understand why people here are so worried about it. Katie Couric was doing her best to put the questions that she thinks viewers would want to ask. The Edwards had all the time they needed to answer in their own words. How can anyone ask more from a prime-time mass-market show on commercial media???

This was an interview about how the Edwards' are dealing with Elizabeth's health issues. John and Elizabeth had the opportunity to state their situation very clearly and explain why they are continuing with his (their) campaign. It was never going to be about poverty or healthcare or the war in Iraq.

Am I the only person around here who knows how the media works?

Am I the only person who remembers Bill and Hill on "60 Minutes" (January 26, 1992)? If DU had been online back then - everyone here would have been whining about why was Steve Kroft asking all these questions about the Clinton's marriage??

If the Edwards were unhappy about doing the interview they would not have done it. I am sure they are mature adults and they knew exactly what to expect.

[saltpoint]

33. Yes, you're the only one who knows how the media works.

Not only on DU, but everywhere on the planet.

You're it. Period. Thank Jesus you're here to guide the rest of us. We wouldn't have an inkling on how things are in the media without your insights and observations.

Beats me how any of us here ever got along this far. I don't even know how to turn my tv set ON.

[DU9598]

30. A fighter

I know Elizabeth and she is a fighter. Fighting to take back our country and make it an example for the world to follow is her goal ... she well may die fighting for her country ... better that than sitting at home moaping about how unfair cancer is.

I caucused for John in 2004 ... I have more respect for him now than I ever have. His humanity is on display. He is growing more as a person every day due to the challenges he has faced. He is not angry or overly emotional. He is showing dignity in the face of adversity.

[ljm2002]

32. Well see the thing is, it *isn't* you...

...and they get to make their own decision on the matter. They have done so, and have explained it very well IMO to the public and to Ms. Katy ("Snivelpuss") Couric.

This is not intended to be snarky, I often need to remind myself that other people have whole different ways of looking at things than I do, and that they may come to different conclusions than I do -- and in decisions like this one, different decisions may both be right because the decision is right for *that* family at *that* time.

Anyway, it is not our decision to make, it is theirs. That we are being encouraged to judge them for it, or being told that some unspecified "others" are or may be judging them for it, is pure bullshit propaganda technique and Couric should stick it where the sun don't shine!

[Cogito ergo doleo]

34. End civility in the media, NOW! Bravo!

We don't need civility anymore - it's a quaint notion and highly overrated. Let's hope we've seen the last of it!

:sarcasm:

[gratuitous]

35. Let's presume your asinine premise

That is, the Edwardses keep Elizabeth's diagnosis a secret. Her cancer has come back, and by all public reports so far, it's with a vengeance, having spread to her rib, her hip and other body parts. But no, it's all on the QT, hush-hush and very confidential.

Suddenly, as Elizabeth (I'm using first names just to distinguish; I'm not pretending to any familiarity) gets sicker, she's no longer on the campaign trail. First, she's just missing a couple of the smaller rallies in Sheboygan or Temeculah. Then, she's having to miss some of the major events, appearances before unions and in big cities. She's always been at John's side before, but now she's not. People begin to ask, predictably, where she is. And the times she is sighted, it's apparent to anyone who's had a friend or relative survive cancer only to have it come back, that something's up. Questions are addressed not just between media gossips, but soon with spokespeople and campaign operatives.

But it's a secret. Nobody knows, and speculation runs riot. People who know are sworn to that asinine secrecy, and adding to the burden of watching Elizabeth die inch by inch is reading in the papers and watching on the TV know-nothing dimwits speculating about the health and well-being of someone you who is near and dear to you. But of course, no one who knows can say anything to the dimwits because it's a secret. And the irresponsible speculation rolls on and on.

Oh yeah, that's far preferable, I guess, to getting the story out there and listening know-nothing idiots bloviating about stuff they don't have any facts on, and who presume to make decisions for others. Go ahead, Bluegrass"Dem"; tell us all about your extensive experience with a spouse dying from cancer and the choices you made during those difficult months.

[Virginian]

38. First of all,

Katie seems to catch hell from both left and right. Both sides think she is shilling for the other.

Second, EE says she is feeling fine. She's a little sore where the broken rib is, but that isn't related to the cancer. If she is feeling OK, why should she and everyone else stay home? JE hasn't left her at home alone, she is on the campaign trail with him, as always. She says she plans to keep on doing what she has been doing as long as she feels strong enough. This is a chronic condition, not an acute condition. Her chemo may make her a little tired, but having young kids makes her more tired.

They are on the talk show circuit to explain this to people before something else gets explained about them instead. Who knows what their opponents might say about this if given the opportunity?! Newt might even say John shouldn't leave Elizabeth alone at home with her cancer. (Get it? Newt -- who divorced his wife with cancer...)
Being visible proves to the American People that she is feeling fine and not home alone.

[caledesi]

41. "secret?" Yeah, the republics know all about secrets.. nt

[havocmom]

45. hmm, after a little search, a question?

Do you bash all DEM candidates or only those without a C starting their last name? Just curious. The mods have slapped you down twice recently about ragging on Edwards, so now you use Katie as your surrogate to rag on Edwards.

Primary Colors :rofl:

[saltpoint]

46. Once bluegrass posts, bluegrass runs away.

Where's Bluegrass?

[havocmom]

50. ::chuckle:: don't know. Donkeys ate him?

;)

[saltpoint]

51. LOL! Either they ate him or they hate him? I'm confused!

[havocmom]

71. Hmm, no posts from OP beating on Hillary for working when Bill was ill

and needing heart bypass...

[saltpoint]

73. The OP appears to have fallen silent on us.

Perhaps he had to zoom out to the mall to buy something.

Perhaps he was late for a dentist appointment and out the door he went.

Perhaps he's in the back yard hosing off the patio.

Perhaps he's in the orchard being devoured by pumas -- a pack of them -- 13 in all -- all snarling and wild and slobbery and rushing at him when he came to pick apples. Mercilessly they tear his flesh! His screams are unheard! No neighbors within miles!

Just scanning the options here. He's left us with no real choice but to speculate.

An idle mind is the devil's playground.

[havocmom]

75. Did you hear: 95% of Rove's emails were sent on servers besides the gov one

:hi:

[saltpoint]

77. He's a sneaky little rascal, that Karl Rove. But hey! Stop distracting us

with comments against the Republicans! We're here to skewer fellow Democrats and intrude on their private family decision-making regarding matters of life-and-death health!

The OP set us on the right path, and we have no choice but to adhere to it and pile on!

[havocmom]

80. oops, sorry. my bad. can't help but notice the mysterious ways of the universe

and the inter-connectedness of all things :evilgrin:

Will try harder to stay on OP's stalking point err, talking point.. (no I was correct the first time) and continue bashing a man who with a 30 year track record of devotion to his lovely, and very patriotic, wife.

[saltpoint]

81. Yes, well stated. If we don't bash people who are devoted to each

other, all we have left are the rePukes, who marry and divorce multiple times, evidently just for sport.

LOL!

Great post, havocmom.

[Cobalt Violet]

59. She didn't do the right thing, she did the right-winger thing.

Like a good little right-winger should.

[saltpoint]

62. On Couric, I keep thinking she will choose another interviewer's

model and style as her own, and then emulate it. I don't have any problem with that. If a kid wanted to play baseball and learn how to pitch, it doesn't do him any harm to watch Greg Maddox on tv.

But Couric never seems to do that. Other journalists in print and electronic media acknowledge this process. It's really how we all learn things.

I wish she would give it a try. Her interviewing right now is very high schoolish, as other DUers have pointed out.

[Old and In the Way]

64. Don't you think you should respond and defend your post?

C'mon, BluegrassDem, give us more pearls of wisdom...

Perhaps Elizabeth would prefer focusing on a noble goal rather than being shut away to think about her illness? Maybe this campaign is actually good for her spirit and will help her to deal with her medical issues.

[doc03]

68. That's the same talking points the RW nut jobs

have been spewing out the last few days.

[saltpoint]

69. BluegrassDem, you are a coward for posting a deliberately

controversial topic and then fleeing out the back door.

Another craven piece of work.

[citizen snips]

72. You still don't get the point.

no one cares about your RW talking points.

[SOS]

79. Katie Couric 2007 = Connie Chung 2001

Bad interviews, little credibility, poor ratings = obscurity.

And lucky you! Able to leave your job to tend to a sick spouse.
Who pays for your health insurance?

[mvd]

82. Locking

This has turned into a massive flame war. Please review the rules on personal attacks and civility.

mvd
DU Moderator