Elizabeth Edwards "cried and screamed'' after her husband John confessed to an affair, she says in a new book. "I went to the bathroom and threw up.''
The New York Daily News got hold of an early copy of the book, Resilience, due in book stores on May 12. In a story today, the paper reports that John Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina, told his wife about the affair right before announcing that he would run for president again in 2008.
"He should not have run,'' his wife says in the book, though she certainly threw herself into his campaign for the Democratic nomination.
His political career ended when the National Enquirer ran photos of him running away from tabloid photographers in a hotel in Los Angeles, where he was meeting his mistress, Rielle Hunter, and her newborn daughter.
In the TV interview in which he admitted the affair, Edwards stressed that his cancer-stricken wife had been in remission at the time he strayed. But that only cemented the public's view of him as a self-deluding narcissist -- or as the Daily News put it, a "campaign cad.''
In Resilience, Edwards refrains from naming Hunter, but describes her as a groupie whose life is "pathetic.'' According to the book, Hunter came on to the candidate at a campaign event in New York, telling him, "You're so hot.'' It's hard to imagine why he would have repeated such a lame opening line to his wife – especially since even when her husband told her about the relationship, "he left most of the truth out,'' she writes.
Though it's not clear whether the couple still share their 15,000-square-foot home in North Carolina – she's been seen sans wedding ring, and has referred to her husband as "my children's father'' – the book jacket says they do, noting that she lives with her children and husband -- in that order.
The Daily News report describes the new memoir as "laced with a powerful dose of forgiveness,'' and highlights this quote from it: "I lie in bed, circles under my eyes, my sparse hair sticking in too many directions, and he looks at me as if I am the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. It matters.''
After all she's been through – the death of her 16-year-old first-born son, her cancer, and now her husband's very public betrayal, writing this book was doubtless therapeutic – and why should the National Enquirer get the last word on the story of her life?
Yet after all the public has been through with John and Elizabeth Edwards – namely, believing her buffed-up, wildly inaccurate view of him – her credibility as a narrator is in serious question. Of course I'll read the book, and hope for her sake that it sells a million copies. But will I believe it? Only as a reflection of what she believes to be true.
Melinda Henneberger is the editor-in-chief of PoliticsDaily.com. She spent 10 years as a reporter for the New York Times, in the paper’s Washington and Rome bureaus... more
Elizabeth Edwards has class. Period. Ms. Hunter could take MORE than a FEW lessons.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (6)
wl944s
6:53PM Apr 30th 2009
Elizabeth is as slimey as her dirtbag husband. Anything to make a buck. Writes a book, but still stays with him? Boo hoo. Not to mention exploiting their dead son for political contributions. Pure scum
RATE THIS COMMENT: (2)
eil054
8:15PM Apr 30th 2009
She is classy and quite strong, I had a groupie following my husband and quite frankly they are pathetic people.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (7)
ricktrimper2
8:47PM Apr 30th 2009
in remission or not. he has an ego that would/did distroy his family and he doesn't care. only thing mr.edwards cares about is himself period. ANY man with "perfect" hair has ego problems, life is very short and eternity is; well eternity, enjoy hell johnny...
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Jean Cilione
9:41PM Apr 30th 2009
I second both of your comments. Ms Hunter's writing if a bit shabby. Elizabeth Edwards waited until the time was right to tell a story that many are interested in. She did not draw attention to herself during the campaign and has been very discrete. Why would she stay wit him? Well for one thing the woman is quite sick, and she has young children. Let him take care of them all. I do hope that she throws it in his face often, but probably does not because she is a lady.
As for those of you who just had to move into other aspects of the past campaigns and elections, i guess you have difficulty focusing. That's not what the article was about.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (4)
Julie Holcomb
10:31PM Apr 30th 2009
I thought John was a Christain man. He stated that he never wanted this to become public. Does he not know the bible says that what is in the dark will be brought to light? Also, you should be transparent.Elizabeth seems to be an amazing women , full of strength and forgiveness.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (5)
cuven316
10:34PM Apr 30th 2009
please put your partisanship aside......she knew of the affair the moment that no good empty suite of a politician announce his candidacy...the edwards will do an say anything for political gain.....an now she writes a stupid book, an to boot, expose her dead son in order to make mula......please....they truly deserve each other..
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michaelpaslaski
11:12PM Apr 30th 2009
Dump that RAT before he can hurt you and your children again. Send a message to your girls that they never have to take that scummy behavior.
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captzeppelin
11:19PM Apr 30th 2009
Politicians are born B.S.`rs.......who cares what those millionaires are going thru.....the whole country is bankrupt.....not the Edwards.
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Kevin
11:52PM Apr 30th 2009
How do you have class for making politics personal and for tolerating your husband's affair. He confessed then kept having the affair. Elizabeth Edwards is a horrible, bitter woman. I pray that she can change the direction of her life that spews hate.
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GILBERT
1:37PM May 1st 2009
HOW MANY OF US MEN SHOULD BE PUT ON THE HEAPING PILE OF HOT COALS FOR ADULTERY OR A REASONABLE EXAMPLE OF ADULTERY SUCH AS PORNOGRAPHY BLATANT FLIRTING OR ANY OTHER FORM OF SEXUAL IMPROPRIETIES..?? HMMM??? ALL THESE OPINIONS I SEE HERE HAVE THE APPEARANCE OF STONES BEING CAST IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.. THE TRUTH IS THAT GOD AND LIFE AND ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES WILL HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR MISDEEDS..AND THE COST IS TREMENDOUSLY HIGH.. THE NAME CALLING HERE HAS NO POWER WHATSOEVER..
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-2)
kcam57
5:28PM Apr 30th 2009
Actually, John Edwards makes me throw up, too...
RATE THIS COMMENT: (6)
Cube
9:10PM Apr 30th 2009
Would everyone please be serious? The "cancer in remission" defense is an age old exception to fidelity. It's not funny. It's the law.
You makes yourself throwup. Because of the things that is in your closet.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-10)
Bernita
5:32PM Apr 30th 2009
John Edwards was a man I respected and voted for in recent years. I have no respect for him now and I hope he never lives a single day of happiness.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (6)
bnlgeekychic
8:11PM Apr 30th 2009
A bit harsh, no? People make mistakes but god forbid anyone know of forgiveness. It's called forgive but don't forget. Simple as that. Shame that most of those who bash John and Elizabeth Edwards are so called christians.
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Dr. Matt
10:14PM Apr 30th 2009
I WONDER IF YOU FEEL THE SAME ABOUT BILL CLINTON? THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT BOTH CLINTON AND EDWARDS AS WELL AS MOST POLITICIANS ARE EGO-MANIACS. THEY TRULY BELIEVE THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW AND ENTITLED TO ALL THEY DESIRE, NO MATTER WHO THEY HURT OR HOW MANY CAMPAIGN PROMISES THEY BREAK. JOHN EDWARDS HAS EXPLOITED HIS DEAD SON, BETRAYED HIS WIFE, LIED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND BROKE THE LAW WHEN HE BRIBED HIS MISTRESS WITH CAMPAIGN MONEY....SICKENING.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (6)
jake867
11:45PM Apr 30th 2009
The reality is that we have all done things we regret. Some have done things worse than Mr. Edwards. The question I have is who are you, me, or anybody to judge. I believe that the attitude we should have is that we make some terrible mistakes in life--many of which are not open to public ridicule. As for me, I try to hold to the view: "But for the grace of God go I." Who am I to judge?
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Judge Davis
5:40PM Apr 30th 2009
What ever happened to Rielle Hunter? He could have gotten a skank like her anywhere. I feel sorry for his p;oor wife. I pray that she has the resilience to bounce back...BIG TIME.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (7)
W. B. Wilhite
5:41PM Apr 30th 2009
I was ready to vote for Edwards. But the way he behaved... ugh! Instead, I closed my eyes and voted for McCain. ANYONE other than OBAMA.