<p>How refreshing to hear him be humble and admit that he handled things incorrectly. So often people make up excuses or justify their behavior, but he seems to have actually learned something out of this mess.</p>
<p>Yeah, he learned how to read a carefully prepared statement written by a well-paid handler. So impressive.</p>
<p>Not at all a fan of Edwards, but I also found it surprising–even shocking-- to hear him say “. . .I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong, and there is no one else responsible for my sins.” Wow. Did he say “my SINS?”<br>
Actually brought a tear to my eye. I always think of his poor wife. . .</p>
<p>(OTOH, maybe he’s trying to gain sympathy for the next trial.)</p>
<p>I didn’t buy his apology for a minute, so I guess I am still angry that he couldn’t keep his Johnson in the barn while his wife was trying to fight cancer.</p>
<p>Not to mention lying lying lying about it, and using almost-campaign contributions to keep his mistress in ritzy accommodations.</p>
<p>The guy’s a sleaze ball. Nothing he says will in any way redeem him in MY eyes at least. But I also don’t think we should be spending any more taxpayer money on this loser.</p>
<p>I hadn’t heard the outcome - just watched his speech. I may be an awful, cynical person, but my take is that it was all about him, and I think he sees it as the first step in his redemption and return to public life. He makes me sick. From everything I’ve read, the charges against him were a real stretch, and I didn’t want him to be found guilty or to go to jail. His children need him. For three of them, he is the only remaining parent. But I was hoping never to have to see his face or hear his voice again. I find him repulsive.</p>
<p>Well, even Eliot Spitzer is back on TV.</p>
<p>Ick.</p>
<p>The guy’s a jerk. </p>
<p>This has been amply proven.</p>
<p>I hope the government doesn’t waste any money trying him again, though. His career and reputation are already suitably ruined. Further legal proceedings wouldn’t accomplish anything useful.</p>
<p>Besides, all this seems to be hard on Cate, who appears to be a perfectly reasonable person who might like to left alone for a while.</p>
<p>NYMom–no, you’re not cynical. Edwards is a narcissist. It IS all about HIM. Which is how he got himself into this mess.</p>
<p>I was not a fan of Edwards before this mess came out, and I sure don’t think more highly of him on account of it. However, </p>
<p>-- Enough already. This is not an appropriate campaign financing prosecution.</p>
<p>-- From my vicarious, anecdotal experience, the club of people who have extramarital affairs while their spouses are dying of a terminal illness – it’s a pretty big club. And I don’t think all the members are awful people. Some are weak, confused people going through an horrific experience that distorts minds and souls. I don’t condone what they did, but I don’t feel like sitting in judgment much, either. I’m glad I haven’t had to face that situation, and hope I never do.</p>
<p>(Newt Gingrich, though, is an awful person.)</p>
<p>One begins to think that all male politicians do this. </p>
<p>Many do, that’s for sure.</p>
<p>Confession and contrition = To garner sympathy
Calling it “sin” = To make a clear distinction his misdeeds are not crimes</p>
<p>All of it in an effort to dissuade prosecutors from re-filing charges</p>
<p>There are a lot of males that do this, not just politicians. It’s just that we know about the politicians and other public figures.</p>
<p>BTW, some females do, too.</p>
<p>Of course lots of people cheat, lie, betray, belittle and delude themselves.
But this guy took people’s hard-earned money (and I’m not talking about Bunny Mellon) to continue a political campaign that he himself was destroying from within. That, and the fact that he puts himself out there, in the public eye, makes him fair game for criticism, derision and judgment.</p>
<p>I agree, Marian, about Cate. I give her a lot of credit for sitting through that trial to support her father. The poor woman lost her brother and her mother. I hope that she will have some peace now to start her life with her new husband.</p>
<p>Very good points, katliamom. I don’t know how he can delude himself that he can re-enter politics. He was going nowhere as a presidential candidate even before the scandal broke.</p>
<p>I’m not a fan of Edwards but I don’t think that he should go to jail for 30 years (actually at all) for this. Prosecution seems a little overkill - perhaps several of the jurors felt the same way.</p>
<p>BC, I agree that a criminal conviction was over the top (and, I guess, so did the jury), but I think we all agree he is scum.</p>
<p>I agree, he’s not a criminal, he is scum. </p>
<p>Please, I just never want to see that face or hear that voice again. Let him retire to obscurity with his family.</p>
<p>Some of us could clearly see all along what a lying sack Edwards is. Makes my blood run cold that so many were so willing to support him to the presidency just 'cause he’s so pretty.</p>
<p>But it would seem to me that he is guilty of fine-able offenses and the prosecution chosen was more than a bit much. Hopefully he will now crawl under a rock and stay there.</p>