CNN correspondent Alina Cho gushed over Elizabeth Edwards, the cancer-stricken wife of the former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, during a top-of-the-hour breaking news segment about possible new details in the John Edwards affair story on Tuesday’s American Morning: "Now, [John] Edwards, as many people know, has admitted he made a ‘serious error in judgment’ when he had the affair with Hunter, that he told his wife about it long before it became public. Elizabeth Edwards, of course, one of the most beloved women in America, is battling cancer right now."
That superlative might be news to many Americans, since there are plenty of women who could earn that description, ranging from Oprah Winfrey to Laura Bush. When the news initially broke that Mrs. Edwards had cancer, and later that it had reemerged, she might have been the one woman who was receiving the most sympathy in America.
Also, there’s the little-mentioned issue of when Mrs. Edwards learned of her husband’s affair. If she learned about it "long before it become public," as Cho reported," it’s possible that she learned about it before the former North Carolina senator announced his presidential bid. If that’s the case, did Mrs. Edwards also have an "error in judgment" in staying silent about the affair as her husband decided to run for president? Did she complicit in concealing this affair to the media, as they ran flowery tributes such as the one ABC’s Good Morning America did on their wedding anniversary meal at Wendy’s? Did she help keep the Edwards campaign staff out of the loop about the affair?
The transcript of the relevant portion of the segment, which came at the top of the 7 am Eastern hour of Tuesday’s American Morning (special thanks to Dan Gainor of MRC’s Business and Media Institute for the tip):
ALINA CHO: Now, [David] Perel [the editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer] also said when Edwards admitted that he told his wife about a July visit to the Beverly Hilton, the day after it happened -- a visit during which it appears a photo was taken of him holding Hunter's baby, that he only did so because he was confronted by reporters working for the Enquirer. And Perel says that story was up on the Enquirer's website within two hours and that Edwards really had no choice.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post is reporting that when Edwards announced his presidential bid back in December 2006, his wife Elizabeth was not by his side, but Hunter was -- standing off to the side filming him as he announced he was running for president. Now, Edwards, as many people know, has admitted he made a ‘serious error in judgment’ when he had the affair with Hunter, that he told his wife about it long before it became public. Elizabeth Edwards, of course, one of the most beloved women in America, is battling cancer right now. Hunter has since put out a statement saying she will not seek a paternity test to prove whether Edwards is the father of her 5-month-old baby. She says she is not running for public office, Kiran, and wants to maintain her privacy and her daughter's privacy. So, of course, the big questions right now are: who is the father of Hunter's baby? What does the future of Edwards political career? And for now, Kiran, as you well know, those are still open questions.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
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I'm sure Mrs. Edwards is
August 12, 2008 - 11:55 ET by marpelI'm sure Mrs. Edwards is very much beloved by the MSM and the left wing loons, but she's probably merely respected in some conservative circles. It still remains that she is extremely liberal in her beliefs, cancer or no cancer. Nonetheless, this affair he's had only adds insult to injury while she's struggling to fight this cancer. This stress certainly doesn't help her immune system at all, and for that, I feel bad for her.
Beloved?
August 12, 2008 - 12:05 ET by Shooter1002Before she contracted cancer she was just another big mouth left-wing politician's uppity fat-mouth wife who won life's lottery being married to a phony ambulance chasing scum bag lawyer that managed to win outrageous $ judgements!
Sorry about her cancer but I'm a lot more sorry for those brave kids who volunteered for Iraq and had their arms or legs blown off defending her useless socialist ass!
That's as beloved to me as she gets!
LOL Shooter,
August 12, 2008 - 12:26 ET by R D HelmWhy don't you tell us what you really think. :-)
And I totally agree with your sentiments here.
-Dave.
We are not going to save this country by being polite to those who are working tirelessly (and succeeding right handily) at destroying it.
I agree Scooter
August 12, 2008 - 14:00 ET by jakotaI also admire the way you phrased that. No sense pulling any punches, right?
Scooter
August 12, 2008 - 14:34 ET by ricklailDon't hold nothing back. I agree with you totally. I knew her husband was a phony when he ran against Latch Faircloth many years ago. I am just now finding out that she is just as power hungry as he is.
Love had nothing to do with it in the marriages of many liberal politicians. It is power and priviledge.
Be kind to your kids. They'll be choosing your nursing home.
You sir are completely
August 12, 2008 - 14:36 ET by TheConservativeChemistYou sir are completely CORRECT!
I'm sad and sorry she has cancer and wish nothing but the best for her and her children, but she said a LOT of stupid, elitist leftist things over the last several years that I highly doubt she is as "beloved" as the MSM thinks....
What feel about what was
August 12, 2008 - 12:26 ET by ForeverOnTheRightWhat feel about what was said: "Now, [John] Edwards, as many people know, has admitted he made a ‘serious error in judgment’ when he had the affair with Hunter, that he told his wife about it long before it became public. Elizabeth Edwards, of course, one of the most beloved women in America, is battling cancer right now." It's utter tripe. John Edwards, "serious error in judgment" was a series of premeditated "errors." Nobody suddenly finds themselves in the bed of adultery without having put in some thought beforehand. Elizabeth Edwards may be "one of the most beloved women in America" in some circles but not in general. The media can't just declare that she is "one of the most loved" and make it so. It's just as much nonsense as saying Brad Pitt, or whoever, is the sexiest man alive, it's just hype.
Another spineless liberal
August 12, 2008 - 12:34 ET by jdhawkAnother spineless liberal wife whose husband has kicked her in the teeth. And, the heel has the gracelessness to do it while she is fighting off cancer. Yet, like billary, she continues to "stands by her man."
What is with liberal women? Can they all be walked on like some cheap Made in China Big Lots door mat?
By the way, what's to admire, let alone love? She is to be pitied, maybe. Yet, I think that her judgement should be in question for marrying such loser.
"What is with liberal
August 12, 2008 - 13:10 ET by Chris Norman"What is with liberal women?"
Assuming you mean liberal politicians wives, I have come to believe they all sign a contract when they get married, stating that if their hubby is successful, they will stick by him and defend him when he gets caught cheating on them. It's a trade off for the fame, power, and political/ social standing - oh, yeah - and "belovedness".
McNotObama '08
Couple of points...
August 12, 2008 - 12:48 ET by c5then1. The country knows very little about Mrs. Edwards, other than she is the wife of a former Senator and Presidential candidate and that she is batlling breast cancer. Kind of hard to be 'beloved' while being virtually annoymous.
2. The affair either started after his Pres campaign announcement or was still going on during it, so she couldn't have 'been told about it long before'.
3. My guess is that she will soon be known as the former wife of former Senator and former presidential candidate John Edwards
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Lizzy? One of the "most beloved"?
August 12, 2008 - 14:51 ET by goldenthroat"One of the most beloved women in America"? Lizzy Edwards? Pul-leeeeze! This is nothing more than pure MSM subjectivism trying to be shoved down the throats of the American public as truth.
Sympathy for her cancer issue? Yes. Sympathy for her staying married to a left-coast, bleeding-heart, 'do as I say, not as I do' philandering, liberal piece of pond scum? Absolutely not!
If, as she has already stated, she knew about this on-going trist years ago, then why didn't she dump this jackass back then? Because, (drum roll), she was living a pipe dream that she would become first lady, that's why!
Sorry, Lizzy. As Khalil said in the Veggie Tales movie "Jonah" - "Compassion runs very deep in my family - but not that deep!"
"I think we're all bozos on this bus!" - Firesign Theatre
WHATever
August 12, 2008 - 17:01 ET by Calypso JonesTelling a Lie thru the Lamestream media don't make it so.
I feel
August 12, 2008 - 14:00 ET by NorthCoastercompassion for anyone dealing with life threatening illnesses like cancer. I also feel sad for Elizabeth who has a Husband who was running around on her.
Alina, we hardly know Elizabeth. You have to know someone well to say that they are beloved by anyone.
Just more arrogance on the Left.
Uh-oh, I smell a Noble
August 12, 2008 - 14:02 ET by ConservativeRexUh-oh, I smell a Noble Prize for Mrs Edwards in the near future. She's a regular Eleanor Roosevelt, without the pulpit.
Well now ..
August 12, 2008 - 15:01 ET by mytwocentsI must have been absent, asleep at the wheel, or just having a senior moment the day the phone call came in asking "Who in your opinion is one of the most beloved women in America?" How is the world does the MSM expect us to believe that they impirically know this crap?
I'll bet JFK...
August 12, 2008 - 15:34 ET by okiehawk44Is turning over in his grave hearing all this horrible news about John Edwards having the gall to cheat on his wife. Jackie O. went nowhere and neither will Liz.
There's quite a gulf
August 12, 2008 - 18:46 ET by fitzfongThere's quite a gulf between being a woman who people are afraid to criticize and being "one of the most beloved women in America". But CNN has never been accused of understatement.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
fitzfong.blogspot.com
One of the Most Beloved
August 12, 2008 - 18:52 ET by bigtimerOne of the Most Beloved Women in the Country....
...ROFLMAO!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Don McLean
August 12, 2008 - 18:57 ET by Cool ArrowA Don McLean song comes to mind here. Elizabeth might dedicate it to her hubby.
Everybody loves me baby - what's the matter with you?
I ♣ my seal
Cool.... LOL...fit's
August 12, 2008 - 19:03 ET by bigtimerCool....
LOL...fit's perfectly.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Cho
August 12, 2008 - 21:21 ET by Unsane(I now temporarily interrupt my unpacking in my soon-to-be-new apartment to bring you the following...)
I wish I could say I am shocked. But I'm not, especially seeing that Alina Cho is involved in this story. Cho is a complete airheaded idiot. Yes, I cannot forgive her saying "Atlanta Hawks player Sean Elliott made history last night by being the first NBA player to come back from a kidney transplant!"
She then faced the dumbfounded Mark Haines (back when she was on CNBC) who said, "Uh, Sean Elliott plays for the Spurs." She made no effort to correct herself. I can only imagine what the phone lines and e-mails at CNBC were like after that...
The Olympics are now under way in Beijing. May the people of Beijing get thoroughly sick of hearing The Star Spangled Banner. May the Beijing Olympic Committee run out of U.S. flags for the medal ceremonies! USA! USA!! USA!!!
Missing Point...
August 13, 2008 - 08:33 ET by BayshoremanThere is a HUGE missing point here...if this were a criminal case, Elizabeth Edwards would be considered an indicitable co-conspirator. She knew about the affair in 2006 yet allowed the public denials to go unchallenged. So much for her "victimhood".