Edwards' follies are likely to hurt Democratic chances in November and further derail media attention from issues that really matter.
Tonight on ABC Nightline, John Edwards will admit his affair but will deny the alleged love child, putting even more of a twist on the brewing media tsunami. As I predicted last week, this story promises to dominate the news agenda for August, leading up to and through the Democratic convention. Unfortunately, denying the link to the child will only drive the story and make it bigger.
If there is any silver lining, it's that Edwards chose a Friday to make the announcement--as well as the opening day of the Olympics--a calculated gamble to try to bury it on the media agenda. As an ABC source tells the Wpost: "Edwards is smart. He's doing this on another network when everyone's going to be watching the Opening Ceremonies" on NBC.
Politics
Comments
Is there some reason you needed to include a picture of Edwards with Obama? You couldn't find any pictures with just Edwards in them?
Posted by: df | August 8, 2008 4:51 PM
Why do you choose to illustrate this post with a picture of Edwards and Obama, of all people? What does this have to do with the presidential candidate?
Posted by: Jerry Kosicki | August 8, 2008 5:18 PM
Of course if he'd been really smart he wouldn't have had an affair in the first place....
Posted by: MikeB | August 8, 2008 5:27 PM
wow wow---Bill Clinton Revisited--let us get a character test before we put the boys in DC
Posted by: Zach Mani | August 8, 2008 6:04 PM
Amazing how an extramarital affair will doom you, but unconstitutional deeds and/or letting these criminals ride are excused.
Same as Rome.
Posted by: Bubba Sixpack | August 8, 2008 6:40 PM
Actually, what would be really smart, would be, when asked if you had had an affair, you said, "Yes."
The affair is personal; thelie is public.
Posted by: Patrick | August 8, 2008 6:48 PM
He put Obama there to show how it's going to be framed - by people who think it shouldn't matter, apparently.
Posted by: The Ridger | August 8, 2008 6:50 PM
Amazing how an extramarital affair will doom you, but unconstitutional deeds and/or letting these criminals ride are excused.
And if you really want to be a successful politician, disregard domestic and international law, lock up and torture your enemies, start wars on false pretenses, and break the country economically.
Who needs affairs?
Edwards isn't running anyway, so who freeking cares if he went on some dates? Non-issue, anyone?
Hey stoopid newsmedia - it's about the economy, and it's about restoring America. Those are the issues. I am not fooled, and I will not read or watch anymore crap about old trysts or other soap-opera fare.
Posted by: yogi-one | August 9, 2008 1:00 PM