Does anyone else pick up the "qualifiers and "I'm the victim" phrases? "But" it only took place for a short time. And, "I also have not been engaged in any activity of any description that requested, agreed to or supported payments...". He cleverly does not say he did not KNOW it was being done. And the best...poor John..."You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself. I have been stripped bare and will now work with everything I have to help my family and others who need my help." He's wonderful...he is going to help his family and everyone else who needs his help. Good grief...no end to the ego.

Sent by Joyce | 7:07 PM ET | 08-08-2008

I am surprised, but it's his personal business--his and his family's, in particular, his wife. It is not the public's business.

Why would it affect the Democratic Party? Unless he was a VP possibility and has been ruled out because of it, I can't see why it should affect the party.

Sent by GWood | 7:10 PM ET | 08-08-2008

The guy is despicable! Can't believe he thinks he's exempt because he's he claims he's not the father of a baby. He cheated on his wife...that's dead wrong. Does he honestly think that because he claims he's not the father, that somehow it's not so bad? Good grief!

Sent by Barbara Tapa | 7:38 PM ET | 08-08-2008

Let me start with... they could've picked a better picture.

Second, it most certainly should be public knowledge. He's a politician who centered his career around trust, family values; and that he was an everyday guy that had not been changed by politics, money, or an inflated ego. He has failed his supporters to the third power. Unfortunately... so has Spitzer, Kilpatrick, and Clinton... to name a few.

Sent by alexander | 8:53 PM ET | 08-08-2008

Who among any one of us has the right to judge this man. If he is despicable then all of us are despicable. God said we are all sinners, and fall short of the grace of God. Unless you have lived a perfect life the same as our Lord Jesus Christ, then you have no right to judge Mr. Edwards. Judging someone for their errors, and not pulling the mote out of your own eye is wrong. The Lord said to pray for those in error, and help restore them with love. Yes, Mr. Edwards sin was adultry, but that is between him, his God, wife, and family. So Ms. Barbara, what is in your closet. Are is it that Jesus did not need to die for our sins, because you are perfect. Please pray for Mr. Edwards, his family, and this country. We all need the grace of God.
Thank you,

Sent by Don W. | 9:13 PM ET | 08-08-2008

I'm sorry, Don. We are talking about politics & Washington, not religion & the pulpit. Also, who said any of us were "Christians?" I believe you are in the wrong forum, sir.

Best,

Sent by alexander | 11:53 AM ET | 08-09-2008

Amen, Don W.
Well said.

Sent by S.A. Sykes | 2:39 PM ET | 08-09-2008

I am most sad for his wife and his children especially his daughters. I am very dissappointed that he didn't learn from seeing what has happened to other public officials that tried the same thing. Bad judgement, poor choices, and immediate gratification will always come back to bite you. Wasn't there anyone in his presence who could have told him what he was doing was wrong?

Sent by C. Dabney ross | 5:56 PM ET | 08-09-2008

Life is not about the temptation and opportunities that we face, but rather the choices that we make when we are faced with them. No one is perfect but the one thing that irks even the most tolerant among us all is hypocritical attitudes and/or behavior. One simply can not build a public image on family values while privately behaving in a contrary fashion...Edward's judgement is further put in question with the fact taht he was engaing in this while running for president....echoes fo Gary Hart and 'Monkey Business' come to mind.

Sent by Whole9 | 10:18 AM ET | 08-11-2008

Why didn't you (NPR) have the moral courage to publish this. Why are you even now trying to kill this story? Please respond!

Sent by Moralliberal | 2:49 PM ET | 08-11-2008

Cheated?
The question that was never asked during the Monica Lewinsky/Bill Clinton Charade was: Are Bill & Hilliary still having sex? I posed the question and people (all women of course) said it doesn't matter.

Same question can be asked in this situation. What is cheating anyway?

Unless we know their sexual relationship, agreement, etc., we don't know. It's a KNEE-JERK (and quite frankly adolescent) response to call him 'despicable' without knowing their arrangement.

Maybe....no, more than likely, these middle-aged couples have stopped having sex for whatever reason.

But in the sexually repressed adolescent American psyche and Victorian bankers daughter sentimentally towards sex, the rush to demonize Edwards is typical.

Sent by Jon J | 2:56 AM ET | 08-14-2008