John Edwards steps up
This afternoon a jury found former Democrat U.S. senator and presidential candidate John Edwards not guilty on one count of campaign finance fraud and deadlocked on five other counts, forcing the judge to declare a mistrial.
Edwards was accused of illegally using campaign donations to cover up an affair and illegitimate baby.
What gave the case against Edwards legs was that baby, Quinn.
Had Quinn been aborted, as Edwards’ former aide Andrew Young claims Edwards wanted, there likely would have been no case. Abortion covers up a lot of sins.
But thank God Quinn’s mother loved and protected her preborn daughter, and Quinn is here.
Some people don’t think about Quinn as a person, and that she is going to grow up. Although the circumstances of her birth are not her fault, she will someday learn the sordid details and have to work through several serious issues.
That’s why I was so happy Edwards had the foresight to mention Quinn today, with obvious affection, in his statement following the verdict.
While taking responsibility for his moral failures, Edwards recognized it was one of those very moral failures that resulted in Quinn, and he astutely took the opportunity to affirm her. I give him a lot of credit for that.
Edwards’ entire speech is worth watching, but he begins to talk about Quinn at 3:52.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL0pWnGZwGo&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/youtube]
[Photo via the Associated Press]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Well, yes, good for him for stepping up in some small way. Of course, he had to. He couldn’t have sunk much lower.
When I look at him I can only think of the grace and courage of Elizabeth Edwards.
While battling terminal cancer, and at a time when she and her family should have been unified and supportive, she instead endured public humiliation, heartache, a marital seperation, yet through it all she always put her children first. She did not want them to face the loss of another parent.
A truly remarkable woman who deserved so much better.
Glad he mentioned Quinn. He should have stopped talking there.
But no.
I don’t know…came across as a little phony to me…but then, he’s a politician.
Thank-you for this compassionate insight Jill.
You saw something beautiful in what was an ugly affair.
I hope he lives up to his word and re-dedicates his life to his children.
Pamela, I thought it was pretty fake too. The emotional pause…pulease. I just don’t believe a word these liars say.
I don’t pay any attention to the words this man speaks.
I want to see some visable measureable fruit of his ‘repentance’.
Forget about the alleged violation of federal election laws.
How many people do you know who would give their money on your behalf to your pregnant mistriss to conceal your infidelity while your wife was fighting and losing her battle against cancer?
Two people donated a total of around a million dollars to hide John Edwards whoring around.
Now we’re back to the seemingly forgotten lesson that when you subsidize something, you get MORE, not less of it.
Do you think these two benefactors were motivated solely by humanitarian concerns for Edwards or were they expecting some reciprocation down the road.
And why didn’t Edwards pick up the check for his philandering himself.
He ain’t no pauper. He had/has the financial resources to clean up his own spilt milk.
Fruit of repentance: pro bono legal work for people no matter their race, gender, religion, political affiliation.
Stay away from politics until Quinn is out of college.
No more playing hide the weenie with a woman that ain’t your lawfully wedded wife.
This guy still thinks he can be POTUS.
But the bar has been set pretty low by the last two democRATs who occupied the oval office.
But I have never seen a democRAT who could not/would not stoop low enough to under it.
Could Edwards now be considered ‘under qualified enough’ for the ‘leftist limbo’?
Jill – my heart BROKE for the daughter that had come to court with him, the daughter who was standing behind him while he cried about Quinn. I understand that it was important for him to acknowledge Quinn. BUT, he seemed to have forgotten that this daughter, who lost her brother and her mother, was standing right there – the daughter that he betrayed by having an affair while her mother was dying of cancer.
No, I have no respect for John Edwards. I have respect for his children, all four living, but not for him.
This guy is as fake as the day is long. That speech was as political as it gets. 1. Say i made a mistake….. Check 2. Try to save face by talking about how much i love my family…….check. 3. Repare my image by claiming i will spend my remaining days working to help poor kids…… Check. Forget the kids John, help O.J. Find Nicole’s real killer.
This just in: Edwards found not guilty of being a stand up guy.