Poor Ben, busted twice with misinformation in less than 3 days.

Tough start for the kids at Politico.

From the bit of the pc I saw, Elizabeth Edwards said she expects to be doing tomorrow and next week and for months to come what she's been doing with the exception of seeing a bit more of her doctor. In her place I think I might tell the Silky Pony to continue with the campaign. For the short term she expects to carry on fairly normally and may not want him focusing exclusively on her and the illness.

How they organize their private life is their business and I don't think I even need to have an opinion about it. I wish her well and hope she beats the odds.

I should and do have an opinion of his politics because he's put himself out there to campaign for the nomination. But that opinion is for another thread. I'll simply wish Elizabeth Edwards the best in this one.

Man, that is a really, really sorry comment. Naked ambition? Maybe his wife really, really wants him to continue running? Maybe it would make her feel better? I'm married and I can tell you that my wife would probably tell me to do the same thing, no matter what. But that doesn't mean I know anything about the Edwards' situation, which is why I won't say anything as blatantly insight-less and mean-spirited as you do.

By the way, here's a better response:

http://ezraklein.typepad.com/blog/2007/03/theres_no_after.html

Xanthippas,

As I posted in a comment to Hot Air:

Women are tougher than men, and as Elizabeth loves him, she wants him to push on with his campaign and their life together as if nothing was wrong. She wants the continuity, and what she thinks is best for him. And who knows? Maybe it is what’s best for him.

But I don’t think it is best for her. Political campaigns are notoriously grueling, as both of them should well know. I do not see how a campign can have any positive effects on her health. John Edwards should know this.

He should put his wife and children ahead of a dark horse campaign. We have so little time on this planet to be with the ones we love, and it appears that he intends to spend the next year (perhaps less) of that time courting everyone but the one he should care about the most.

I don’t know what John Edwards considers “family values,” but they apparently aren’t any kind I would recognize.

Were you ever in this position--and I sincerely hope you never are--I would hope that you'd have to good sense to ignore your wife's noble effort, and put her well-being before your career.

Yank - you do realize this is a death sentence right? Survival of Stage IV beyond five years is less than 20%. They know this and are making a decision to forge ahead. Exactly should John Edwards do? Stay at home and watch his wife die?

Exactly should John Edwards do? Stay at home and watch his wife die?

Don't be obtuse.

John and Elizabeth Edwards have an older daughter Cate in her early 20s that is old enough to have pleasant memories of her mother. They have two children under the age of ten, however, that are unfortunately going to have limited time with her.

The time they are wasting pursuing an almost certainly futile dark horse candidacy would be much better spent, in my opinion as a parent of a child the same age, in building memories for their two young children. Instead, John Edwards will continue tilting windmills. As I've already stated, campaigns are exhausting to those in the best of health; how can a rigorous campaign schedule help her? It could threaten her health, and also cuts into family time and memories that could be made.

It is , in my opinion, reprehensible behavior for a husband and father.

I think you have to look at the time line to death here. Ms. Edwards will not die in the next year. I fact she will likely live for at least 5 years. This will be a very painful existance and she will be extremely sick secondary to chemothearpy. But the fact is that life must go on and despite the terrible illness Edwards has to do what is necessary. Actually, Ms. Edwards was likely told that this day would come considering the circumstances associated with the original discovery of her cancer.
One thing though, these two have made a considerable amount of money screwing hard working physicians and their insurance with fabricated law suits. Think of the physicians lives this creep has ruined with his law suits.

Confederate Yankee
John Edwards is not being reprehensible. Nor is his wife - who has made this decision with him.

Marriage is between two people; not one. They have made this decision together. This is not one side being irresponsible to the other one's wishes. Perhaps you are sincere but you must believe they too are sincere. I have no doubt that they have discussed in depth their goals, their aspirations, their love for each other and the things most important to their lives. But it important to note that many people who have cancer do not just give up living or give up their goals - or the goals of the ones they love. They continue on as best they can.
The Edwards are going through this together. Give them the common decency to continue to campaign together.