Rehabilitating John Edwards
Can the former presidential candidate revive his political career after confessing to an extramarital affair?
John Edwards is tip-toeing back into the spotlight, said Andrew Malcolm in the Los Angeles Times online. He spent months in seclusion after admitting to an extramarital affair during his run for the Democratic presidential nomination, but an appearance at Indiana University this week is probably the start of a "public relations rehab." Sex scandals have ended plenty of political careers, but maybe these personal betrayals have become routine enough that America will take him back.
"I doubt that rehabilitation is in the cards for Edwards," said Ed Morrissey in Hot Air. "He failed at two attempts to run for president without the Rielle Hunter scandal dogging him." Besides, he's "a raging hypocrite" for running on his wife's illness while cheating on her, and other than a single term in the Senate, his only experience is as an ambulance chaser.
There are two reasons Edwards' comeback won't pan out, said Steve Benen in The Washington Monthly online. First, he doesn't have as much of a political career to fall back on as, say, Bill Clinton, or Gary Hart, or Rudy Giuliani. And, second, "everyone loves Elizabeth Edwards, and Elizabeth Edwards has cancer."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Edwards would indeed be done for, said Robert Stein in the blog Connecting the Dots, via The Moderate Voice, if the "concept of shame" had not already disappeared completely from politics. But if Karl Rove can be instantly reincarnated from "Bush's smear-master" to political pundit, John Edwards can recover from his "weasel-worded admission of adultery."
Democrats might take Edwards back, said Mary Katherine Ham in The Weekly Standard online, it they needed him. After all, they were angry at him for endangering their electoral prospects, not for cheating. But they have no need for a "sullied Southerner" to win the Bubba vote in the Age of Obama.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Major League Baseball is facing an epidemic of pitcher's injuries
Under the Radar Many insiders are blaming the pitch clock for the rise in injuries — but the league is not so sure
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
8 movie musicals that prove the screen can share the stage
The Week Recommends The singing and dancing, bigger than life itself
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
2024 Mother's Day Gift Guide
The Week Recommends A present for every mom
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published