Do you think John Edwards was wrong to conitnue his campaign even after finding out his wife has cancer?

Question

Edwards' wife, Elizabeth, was diagnosed with a return - this time eventually terminal - of her breast cancer. Edwards pledges to continue his run.

Do you think it will make the American people look down on him? Or do you support the Edwards' commitment to their campaign?

Answer 1

I think it is not something for us to judge. They seem committed to each other and whatever gets decided seems like they are BOTH supporting the decisions.

I lost my mother. my sister-in-law and a friend to cancer and I can tell you that one of the most important things a person with cancer can do is keep on going in life like just like they were the day before they 'found out'. When you "give up" - you give up and your whole mindset changes and the cancer takes you quicker.

I would think Elizabeth Edwards would like to see her husband 'accomplish' their dream before she dies. THAT sounds like a woman who loves her best friend. If I had the chance to see my husband reach his dream - or even come close before I died - I could die happier than if he had given up out of obligation to me. I'm sure things would change if things suddenly turned drastically worse for Elizabeth Edwards.

I think the decision speaks highly of both their characters that they are continuing on in the campaign. It shows they can stay committed even in crisis. It makes me wonder if he wanted to discontinue but she pushed him to seek his dream. They seem like a "real" loving couple - unlike the Clintons.

It does not matter if John Edwards is unlikely to get the nomination - it's a matter of principle about commitment.

About Elizabeth Edwards' cancer - it was determined that this round IS terminal as explained in her statement at their press conference.

Some types of cancer are not curable - they are just in "recession" if you will - until it returns later in life. Sometimes it's prior to the 5-year magic number - sometimes it's much longer. My sister-in-law had 3 bouts of breast cancer. The first time a lump was removed. The second time the whole breast was removed. The last time it metastasized to her brain too quickly for the Oncologist to catch and it went into an inoperable location within the brain - so it was definitely terminal!!! Ironically, something similar happened to my mother - the cancer was too aggressive, spread too quickly, went to a part of the brain that could not easily be operated on to remove the tumor and the cancer took her life quickly regardless of every treatment possible.

Some cancers are curable. Some are not.

Answer 2

I would like to know if they investigated all options; maybe somewhere like Cancer Treatment Centers of America could prolong her life.

I do not think Elizabeth should subject herself to the grueling schedule and crowds which certainly cannot help her.

I think they both should forget about this election and spend as much quality time as possible with each other and their children. After all, building memories with her children is a lot more worthwhile than running a campaign which is doomed to failure anyway.

If by chance Edwards did win he could not possibly give the attention of the Presidency required.

All in all, it was a careless decision but since he won't win they can make all the foolish choices they choose.

Answer 3

As a cancer survivor but with the knowledge that my cancer too, will one day return. All I can do is tell you what it did to me. It changed my life so drastically that nothing was the same anymore and all I wanted was for things to go back to the way they were before my diagnosis.

I would bet the farm that he talked to his wife at great length about this and he probably wanted to quit the whole campaign. But if she is anything like me, I would venture to guess that she begged him to continue.

Something that people who have never had the disease can not understand is that it effects every aspect of your life. You loose most of your friends and your family has to change the way they do things. Schedules are altered and everything all the sudden revolves around the disease. I had to under go 16 surgeries in a 4 year period back in the late 1980's. I had another procedure and then another operation this past October and all I wanted was to not let it change the way my life is now.

Please do not try to guess what a person who is dealing with this disease should or should not be doing. If you have never had it and never had to deal with it, then you can never understand just how much it can define who you are.

Please leave them and their decisions alone.

Answer 4

How can this be wrong? Edwards and his wife both want to continue with the campaign,it's their decision to make and not ours.

Answer 5

Elizabeth plays a very important part in John's life. The couple had been sweethearts since college days. John has oft portrayed himself as a husband who will never let Elizabeth down, just like he has shown himself never letting dirty corporations taking down the most disavantaged folks in our society. I feel confident that if John has decided to continue his campaigning, he would have had discussions with Elizabeth and has her blessings. We have to see it as their decision to put the importance and the love of of the American People in priority... especially as America is in such a mess today as a result of the Bush Administration and the NeoCons' horrendous years of lies! I salute John and Elizabeth for their admirable courage. They are parents who know that the future of America is not only about them, but about the future of their young children and the future of our American young people. Hey what do the likes of Ann Coulter know? Coulter, especially, is childless and cares less what it ll means for parents who cares about the future of their very young ones. What do those connected with Halliburton and Big Corporations care? They believe more in outsourcing and putting their profits in foreign banks as a safety net and for their personal security... should America drowns!

Answer 6

It wasn't terminal. Don't lie to make your agenda greater an issue. And No. It isn't wrong. She is setting a great example of someone who will have to live with a comparable life to living with diabetes. Isn't great news, but it's not the end of the world. She is proving to be a strong woman. Not a cowardly liar.

Answer 7

It was Elizabeth's decision, not John's, to continue the campaign. If SHE thinks it is important for John to continue, who am I to doubt her?

I'm glad he kept running, and I hope he wins.

Answer 8

No and that's simply because he allowed her to announce and/or decide the future of their campaign after learning of her diagnosis. I think she made a very articulate approach to support his candidacy. If anyone attacks him because his wife has cancer, I think that would be plain dirty politics, super low-blow.

Answer 9

John and Elizabeth talked it over. If she didn't want him to continue he would not be continuing. That was explained weeks ago when they made the decision.

Answer 10

I don't think people should halt their lives because of Cancer. If anything it is time to go after what you really want and go after it with your all. It is worrysome initially but you have to respect such resilience. It was his wife's choice.