Can anyone imagine that John Edwards

[dsc]

will be on Meet The Press in 2020 talking about a Presidential run? Now, I am not saying I want Edwards to run in 2020 or any other time for that matter. But I would really love to hear just what the difference is between him and Gingrich. Both had affairs and left their spouses for the other women. Both of the women involved had cancer. Only one moralized about Clinton's unfitness for public office (and it wasn't Edwards). One one voted for an amendment banning marriage between same sex couples (and it wasn't Edwards). The notion that Newt is taken at all seriously in politics while Edwards, and for that matter Spitzer, are not, is mysterious.

[virgogal]

Edwards' denial of the child he fathered is what did it for me.

[RB TexLa]

6. How is that your concern? Or business?

[virgogal]

8. It's my OPINION in answer to the OP--no more,no less.

[Rage for Order]

10. It goes to character and integrity

If a person does not have those two qualities then I don't want them making decisions that affect me and 300 million other Americans

[RB TexLa]

15. LOL. I should have known our little ethics choir would show up.

[Rage for Order]

16. Yeah, who needs ethical politicians. They're lame

:eyes:

[RB TexLa]

39. Ethics typically get in the way of getting things done efficiently

But, who cares about the real world, right?

[whopis01]

40. They sure do get in the way of speediness - but they certainly help you get things done right.

But, who cares about anyone else in the real world, right?

[Raine]

30. No "ethics" that pretty much equals a repuke politcian.

If I won't accept no morals or no ethics from a repuke I sure the hell won't tolerate the lack of it in a Democrat! :mad: Just go ahead and belittle anyone who has standards for politics but not having them is what consitutes a repuke. x(

[WinkyDink]

11. This is an opinion board, maybe? DUH?

[malaise]

23. Denying your own child tells me more than I want to know

about any man's character. That was despicable.

[Hannah Bell]

1. +100.

[cali]

2. I don't think Gingrich is taken seriously at all

and though there are parallels, you forget that Edwards fathered a child and denied it as long as he could.

[dsc]

4. so the fact that Gingrich broke GA law

is what makes his conduct better. (sodomy was against the law in GA and there was no heterosexual exception). I do admit Edwards was and is a sleaze and the kid made it worse.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

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

[aikoaiko]

17. "any sexual act involving the sex organs of one person and the mouth or anus of another"

We know the Newt did this? :shrug:

Please do not post pictures if you have them.

[dsc]

29. there were audio tapes where they discussed this

he liked getting blow jobs.

[Sal Minella]

3. "Mysterious" isn't quite the right word, but it may take me some time

to think of a better word.

Yes, the comparison is illuminating, isn't it.

[eleny]

5. And at least Spitzer was contrite and admitted to being a first class schmuck

He didn't make up an elaborate and preposterous excuse.

[BlueIris]

7. Edwards will be president at some point.

Because he'll never stop running.

[Snoutport]

9. like ron paul?

[woo me with science]

12. I think when a baby and young kids are involved,

it can be a little harder for people to forgive...

[dkf]

14. Maybe if he isn't indicted for campaign finance Fraud.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/us/01edwards.html?_r=1

[dsc]

18. you mean something like this

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/012297.htm

The House voted overwhelmingly yesterday to reprimand House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and order him to pay an unprecedented $300,000 penalty, the first time in the House's 208-year history it has disciplined a speaker for ethical wrongdoing.

The ethics case and its resolution leave Gingrich with little leeway for future personal controversies, House Republicans said. Exactly one month before yesterday's vote, Gingrich admitted that he brought discredit to the House and broke its rules by failing to ensure that financing for two projects would not violate federal tax law and by giving the House ethics committee false information.

"Newt has done some things that have embarrassed House Republicans and embarrassed the House," said Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.). "If see more of that, they will question our judgment."

House Democrats are likely to continue to press other ethics charges against Gingrich and the Internal Revenue Service is looking into matters related to the case that came to an end yesterday.

[dkf]

25. Depends if it is a misdemeanor or a felony.

[dsc]

26. I don't expect an indictment

I think it would have happened already if it were going to happen.

[dkf]

35. It was percolating in March. You could be right though. Who knows.

[tnlefty]

19. Not mysterious just more of It's Okay When a Repub Does It

The fact that the media plays along and overlooks Gingrich's past and allows his pompous ass on teevee is appalling to me.

[turntxblue]

20. Because Elizabeth Edwards was well respected,

well known, loved, and very popular among JE's supporters, it would be extremely difficult for him to ever overcome the scandal. I think there are many who held Elizabeth in higher regard than her husband. When people feel they know the person who was wronged, they take it much more personally,imo.

[tularetom]

21. Newt is an object of ridicule to most Americans, it's the liberal media that takes him seriously

TV pundits love the douchebag, but anybody who listens to him can tell within the first 2 or 3 sentences that he has his head up his ass.

I'm not sure why they continue to try to push the narrative that this fat POS is a serious presidential candidate, but it ain't working.

Neither Edwards nor Spitzer was forced from office because of their hanky panky. Edwards resigned a senate seat to stage a losing run for national office while Spitzer simply resigned. Gingrich hung around on the fringes for a number of years until he hoped the stench of his earlier activities had slipped the public's memory. I doubt that Edwards will ever be back, he'll be lucky to stay out of jail, but Spitzer is sort of toughing it out, keeping his name in the public eye. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a run for public office in his future.

[napi21]

22. I think the only ones taking NG seriously are the news guys &

the talking heads. NG hasn't been taken seriously by the majority of voters for a very, very long time.

[Cleita]

24. Good assessment. Thanks.

Newt is a hypocrite of the vilest variety.

[Raine]

27. Edwards has a daughter with the other woman that he denied

that is cowardly and repulsive. :puke:

[Left coast liberal]

28. Yeah, liberals can be tough judges.

That being said, I am still very pissed off at John Edwards where as Newt is a horror show.

No comparison.

[The Backlash Cometh]

31. I want my money back.

[slipslidingaway]

32. I hope not and it has Nothing to do with his affair ...

a few examples.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3716361&mesg_id=3716361

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=64449&mesg_id=64597

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3448146&mesg_id=3448146

[NotThisTime]

33. No, absolutely freaking NO, NO.

[unblock]

34. the mystery is why most people can't see past the window dressing to the real power in politics

most "scandals" are what the powers that be decide to make of it. fdr's being wheelchair-bound and jfk's adultery were not made into issues because the people who really wielded power didn't want to make a scandal of it, didn't want to being down those presidents.

clinton's affair WAS a scandal because the powers that be decided to make one out of it, even though it was nothing compared to what jfk did. blame it on changing times if you like, but the real issue is that if the powers that be want someone taken down, they will find a scandal if they believe it can serve to help their cause, or they will cover it up or ignore it if it serves their purpose to leave it be.

it is a sign of the times and a sign of where the true power lies that an adminstration that explicitly used torture is not considered a scandalous administration (nevermind outright criminal).

and to your point, it is a sign of where power lies these days that one bad day can ruin the career of a democrat, but a republican can be hugely sucessful without ever having a good one.

[KamaAina]

36. And, for that matter, Clinton

Bill, not Hillary. :-)

[Maru Kitteh]

37. Edwards most certainly did moralize about Clinton's affair.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

38. The Parallels Between Gingrich And Edwards Occurred To Me As Well

Honestly, I fail to see the difference between the two. Both cheated on their wives while their wives were battling terminal cancer. The only difference, as far as I can tell, is that John Edwards' political career is over (he couldn't make a successful run for anything now), whereas the Party of "Family Values" has fully embraced Newt Gingrich. Oh yeah, and all that stuff about how one kind of keeps to himself and seems ashamed of what he did while the other is completely unapologetic and comes off all "holier than thou."

[bvar22]

41. I welcome anyone to the National Stage...

...that would bring The Class War (Two Americas), and the Plight of The Poor into the national dialog.