I am not going to pass judgment here. It is wrong to cheat on a spouse, of course. But we have no idea what their marriage is like or was like when this happened. I've been cheated on and its horrible. But if his wife wants to forgive him and they want to save their marriage that is up to them. Too bad it all had to be done so publicly.

I thought he seemed pretty douchetastic from the get-go, but this was a disappointing revelation.

It didn't change my opinion of him - I never liked him to begin with. I always thought he was slimy and untrustworthy.

From a personal standpoint, I have a hard time comprehending running around with some other woman while your wife is dying of cancer.

From a political standpoint, I have a hard time comprehending the arrogance of running for President knowing this could come out at any time and lose the election for your party.

Selfish bastard from all viewpoints. Makes me feel very sorry for Elizabeth. She's had to deal with way more than most of us.

jennifer76, the affair happened before his wife was diagnosed with cancer, just to clarify. Not that it makes a difference, of course.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in '04 - two years before the affair. It had supposedly gone away in late '06, but they announced that it had returned in early '07.

So, strike five zillion for Mr. Edwards.

ok so i should clarify...diagnosed for the 2nd time.

I used to really like him, but this has made me lose ALL respect for him.

An affair I see as an issue between the husband and wife. Lying when it was clear that it was becoming public makes me angry because of the impact it has on the children. Leaving your kids open to people whispering behind their backs or having to defend your lies is real cowardice. And I know too many people who were shocked and felt betrayed by their parents when as adults they suddenly encountered a half-sibling no one told them existed. The Edwards children and the child of the affair deserve to know the truth.

It didn't change my opinion of him. I've never thought he was a stand-up guy, so this basically just cemented why I felt that way. I now believe the baby is his, though. I didn't when the tabloids were reporting it, but I didn't believe he was having an affair either. Knowing he's lied about one makes it all the more easy to believe he's lying about the other as well. I also don't believe the affair was only going on while his wife was in remission.

Well, I hope the sex was fantastic, because it just cost him his career.

I have said this before and will say it again....I am never shocked by any man cheating.

I know many "family men" that cheat. They portray the perfect husband and they appear to have storybook families, yet they have women on the side. Alot of the times the wives know and they either won't leave b/c they like their status, can't make it on their own, don't want to be alone, or don't want anyone to know that their ""perfect" family is just a fairy tale.

I was realling pulling for him as president now its like a slap in the face to his wife who stood by him through everything from his career as an attorney to a senator and possibly president how selfish of him especially with a diagnosis so severe, and through the chemo he has the audacity so basically he is a coward in my book, his poor children are of age to understand what happened since they can read all those tabloids

rat bastard

it always makes me sad to see politicians/candidates judged on their personal lives and not on their merits, policies, and ideas. I really don't care what he does on his own time as long as he's running the country smoothly, like bill clinton.

It's so sad because not only did he make it seem like it was acceptable that his wife's cancer was in remission when he cheated, but she had to find out when the media began speculating. And he continued denying the affair. THEN, during his interview, he admitted to seeing the other woman at the Beverly Hilton last month (so, it's not a one-time thing, but almost a two-year thing)!! I seriously doubt it was just a professional meeting. It's so disheartening. I mean, I guess his wife could have filed for divorce, but...She was really vulnerable. Also, how dare he not even slow down his campaign to help his sick wife?? Politics before his wife? GOSH, that's awful!! I would be scared to leave the country in the hands of a man that heartless and slimy.

I agree with Stephley (as usual!) and lms and Pinky Pink. Really disappointing stuff from Edwards. I do wonder if maybe he and Elizabeth had an "understanding" about their marriage (some couples are OK with open relationships) but if not, it's really gross.

I also hate to say it, but I think he's the father of that baby. The mom doesn't want to do a paternity test? How convenient.

With that said, I wish our culture weren't so hung up on sexual dalliances of our politicians. I don't care who they're shtupping as long as the country is being run well.

If they had an understanding, he was pretty stupid to openly say that presidents and the like should be faithful. He thoroughly contributed to the culture being "hung up" on sexual dalliances.

I don't think it's a bad thing to want our president to be faithful to his/her family. It's a huge indicator of how trustworthy they are. I think it's unfortunate that we now live in a culture where it's virtuallimossible to find a trustworthy and faithful politician at all, creating a need to dismiss their sexual dalliances.

That was supposed to say "virtually impossible." Apparently lilsugar went into reloading the page and made my typing hiccup.

He is a COMPLETE PIECE OF sh*t!!!! Let's just chalk up another one for the democrats. I wish men would stop thinking with their penus. I wonder how he would feel if he had testicular cancer. He is a heartless bastard and that is all there is to it. Should we guess what democrat will be next?

You think this a Democrat thing? How about the fact that the Republican nominee for president engaged in the same behavior and admitted to several affairs he had while married to his disabled wife. Just because he wasn't in politics at the time doesn't mean his moral compass is facing North. I find he has a lot of nerve to preach about family values when he has engaged in extramarital affairs, I don't care if he married his mistress. The difference is that Edwards is currently in the public eye and McCain was not. Dirt is dirt it doesn't matter when you do it.

amen to that jessy777!

Jessy777, you do not have your facts correct. You might want to research McCain's history a little more. Also, don't forget about President Clinton. You might as well research his past at the same time.

To the best of my knowledge and the research I have conducted, I do have my facts straight. McCain started his relationship with Cindy in 1979 and wasn't divorced from his first wife until a year later in 1980. He then married Cindy later in 1980. I agree about President Clinton and didn't defend his or Edwards actions. I simply stated that to say this type of behavior is isolated to a party and for the public to criticize Edwards while supporting McCain for president is hypocritical. You are more than welcome to let me know where my facts are incorrect and I will be happy to re-examine them. McCain has admitted and accepted blame for his extramarital affairs. It is wrong all around, no matter who does it.

Hell, I'm a Republican and I don't agree that it's a Democrat thing. We Republicans have our fair share of adulterers.

I also don't think that it's a man thing, either. Women cheat too.

From the first moment I saw them, I have always wondered what on earth kind of charade - or mutual-delusion - this couple was engaging in.

What would make this woman - and/or any of you - think that she, overweight, frumpy and haggard and way older looking than he (long before cancer and treatment), could hold any real allure for this obviously spoiled "cute" man.

Obviously, many of us hold onto the idea that a homely, self-sacrificing Cinderella really can get - and keep - the handsome limelit Prince. Maybe some can; but at what price and for what cost?

Since she looked so plain (to be generous) even before her cancer, one might say that maybe she's all broken down due to her grief over the loss of her child years ago.

But HE certainly isn't, at least not physically, like her.

Aw, c'mon...you know some of you were wondering all the time, what's wrong with this (im)perfect picture???

This is likely not the first time she's had to trade-in her dignity to stay with this pretty man, if not in extra marital affairs, in other ways large and small. The type of man who can have an affair on a wife with terminal cancer is not a stranger to narcissism.

She's not a victim, she has chosen to be with him. This time the price she is paying for her chose has become public.

splendalynn

I think that's a horrible outlook.

jessy777, you are not correct in your comments. McCain was legally separated from his wife. There is a big difference. His ex-wife NEVER accused him of having an affair. They both knew where they stood in their relationship. Again, BIG DIFFERENCE.

Also, I NEVER said it is a Democrat thing. YOU want to assume that to make it an issue. Why so defensive? You also had to bring up McCain? Why? Does that it make it a Republican thing. So what that I asked which Democrat would be next. That doesn't make it a "DEMOCRAT THING".

Greggie, I didn't say it was a man thing. However, I don't believe women have a penus to think with and I did say that.

Then that was my misunderstanding. To ask "which Democrat would be next" did sound like an implication that affairs are more common in a certain political party. McCain was an example that came into my head first that is the only reason I mentioned him. I guess I could have brought up Ken Calvert, Helen Chenoweth, Mark Foley, Gary Studds, John Young or Eliot Spitzer. Politicians of all kinds have affairs or engage in illegal activity which is why I have a hard time with their ability to decide what is right or wrong for the general public.

My comments are not wrong and my timeline is correct according to court documents and McCain's statements. He and Carol were not legally separated until Jan. 1980, months after his relationship with Cindy began. They were divorced in April 1980 and in May he was remarried. They may have been legally separated when he obtained his marriage license but not when the relationship began.

well, we will never know everything - but, still, it is very hard not to be disappointed in him.

oh, and - WOW - splendalynn. way harsh!

Splendalynn...that theory is by far more disgusting than the act of cheating itself. If you think cheating is only "skin-deep" because the person doesn't find their spouse attractive anymore then you're fooling yourself. It's almost always way more complicated than that.

I was very disappointed

Umm...McCain admitted to being married and living with his wife during the first nine months of his relationship with his current/second wife. Plus, adultery goes beyond political alliances. It's just about sex and selfishness, plain and simple, and it applies to both sexes, all parties, and all ages.