Uncomfortable Situation, Uncomfortable Words From Edwards

Give me a break. The man and his wife have been lovingly married for thirty years. They face an audience of millions on national TV to announce what is, despite their incredibly moving courage, a dreadfully grim prognosis - and we jump on him because he made a nervous, throwaway bad joke?

While it was admittedly regrettable, what are we supposed to take away from continued consideration of it - that he doesn't really love her? That he isn't deathly afraid of the future without her? That he doesn't ache over the fact that she's received such tragic news?

The consultant from the rival campaign got it right: it was stupid but understandable. Doesn't today's sad announcment provide many more captivating angles on which to hang a few hundred words this afternoon?

If this is all you've got, fine - it just seems like a reach.

This comment is in the lamentable tradition of Southern humor where wives and mothers are idealized--immediately recognizable to any Southerner to be so far removed from the realm of possibility as to be worthy of a snicker. I've winced when I've heard my father say similar things about a wife he worships--my 86-year-old mother.

My god. The fact that you would see this as a topic to be written about shows the paucity of your own character. The Edwardses held an amazingly dignified and brave news conference, and you come away with this pseudo-analytical dribble? Have you lost all perspective and decency? Millions of people whose loved ones are battling cancer, or have died from it, understand completely what they are going through. The insensitivity and inhumanity that your "sleuthing" shows is appalling, and reflects badly on journalism. Shame on you and The Washington Post.

Mary Ann (how do you spell "lightweight") back at it again.

My reaction was--yep, that's exactly the kind of "keep my humor even in the bleakest moments" thing I or my friends would say in such an awful situation. He hasn't been totally sanded smooth by the "wincing" journalists, whom I guarantee you make much more cynical and dark jokes ALL THE TIME when they're not on camera. I'm really tired of all this meta-jouranlism, where the press's reaction is the story.

Anyone care to wager how long it will take Coulter to make some vile comment?

I doubt journalists even wince with sincere reactions at this sort of thing. More likely that they wince imagining the reactions imaginary readers will have. Which makes it meta-meta-journalism. And then they complain about scripted and bland candidates!

I feel like I'm reading the New York Post instead of the Washington Post. It's incredible to me that after watching the same press conference, this is what you would choose to write about. With so many interesting and powerful aspects of the story, and with three well-spoken people discussing the situation, why on earth would you devote an entire post to one very human and inconsequential moment? This is not the right time, the right place, or the right spirit. Your post comes off as pure sensationalism. i expect much, much more from the Washington Post.

No, it's just too easy!

I truly feel sorry for the Edwards family but I can't help but asking why he felt the need to let the country hold its breath for this press conference to announce his wife's illness. she is not running for president. he is. the campaign will continue regardless of her illness, so I have to wonder about his motivation for holding this press conference. um, perhaps because the whole country was listening....

I was stunned to see this trite analysis of a tragic, and very public development in the Edwards campaign. This slip of the tongue is such a trivial matter that it is laughable. Why not just do a total fluff piece on "Mrs. Edwards, sporting a lovely two toned blue on blue theme, looked radiant in the early spring sunshine"? Even pointing out that Mrs. Edwards cracked her rib while moving furniture in her "multi-million-dollar mansion" seemed a bit snide under the circumstances. I agree that Coulter is probably sharpening her poison pen over this, but I expected better from the Washington Post.

I'd bet that he wasn't the one to make the joke first. Several years ago, my wife got popped in the eye by our puppy who was jumping at her while she was on the floor, and got a nice shiner out of it. You wouldn't believe how many neighbors teased me about doing it. It actually made ME uncomfortable, but I can imagine how sometime the need to cut the tension overrides our good sense. It could be someone had said it to him (also meaning to be funny) and that's why it was mentally close at hand. In any case, I'd wince too at it, but I wince more at the emotional impact of hearing about her relapse. I still won't vote for the guy, but I feel bad for this family.

Oh my goodness, Edwards just lost my vote with that "I beat her" comment!

This is the kind of stuff I need to know before electing our next president, thank you washingtonpost.com for bringing it to my attention.

I'm surprised you didn't critique her outfit as you did Valerie Plame's.

Leave it to the media to parse every sentence, evaluate it, determine it proper or not, and then get a few quotes to support their evaluation.

I wonder if Ms. Akers has ever gotten the diagnosis of incurable cancer.

What exceptional strength the Edwards have.

Sophie's mom said: I truly feel sorry for the Edwards family but I can't help but asking why he felt the need to let the country hold its breath for this press conference to announce his wife's illness.

This question was answered in the press conference. They chose a press conference over some other format because they wanted to demonstrate that Elizabeth is feeling well and energetic. That may change in the months ahead but, if she hadn't appeared, it seems likely that an announcement of recurrence would have led to much more dire assessments.

The "liberal" media is making me ill with their trite "news" in a time of true national and international crises. I AM SICK OF IT. Wake up or shut up. We're not buying it anymore.

Why did the Washington Post start this blog? First we had last week's crucial insights into Valerie Plame's outfit, and now this...

Let's hope that this is the last hurrah for the Sleuth!

Wow. This is what America is coming to. Lightweight fluff, shallow. Where is the depth. I started to major in journalism in college in the late 70's and switched to Finance. So glad I did. The once serious profession is now a big Joke. Writers and on Air personalities the like. It use to be that the print media was the one last dignified medium. Not anymore.

It truly shows your perspective when this is what you focus on after the news conference. The WP like so many other newspapers and channels are nothing but tabloid papers.

My heart and prayers go out to the Edwards family, after enduring the loss of their oldest child I cannot imagine dealing with this. My husband has a terminal brain tumor and was given six months to a year, well it's been two years and counting, no treatment only antiseziure medication. So, you simply have to keep going. Hopefully, she can use the treatment to give her a better quality of life then my husband has. Anyway you cut it, life hurts. Good luck to them. Sue F

I've clicked on your blog link twice now. First Valerie Plame clothes critique and now this. I'll have to pay better attention - I hope I never again click on anything you've written.

You write that until the comment in question, Edwards "had so far scored close to a perfect 10 for his humanizing, down-to-earth performance throughout the news conference."

To me, portraying Edwards' public announcement of his wife's incurable cancer as a "performance" which could be "scored" is pretty damn repulsive.
Judging from the above comments, I'm not the only one who feels this way.

The Post can do much better.

The blog's garbage.

The fact that you had to pick apart the Edwards' press conference to find something to criticize doesn't surprise me one bit. This is the sort of vicious nonsense one has come to expect of you and your irrelevent "blog". I'm sure one of your fellow pseudo-journalists will devote an entire column to this in the coming days since this is how the Wapo operates. You couldn't even follow Kurtz's example and wait for a rightwing blogger smear Edwards with that quote before you ran with it. You're creating new wingnut swiftboating narratives all on your own. I suppose we should congratulate you for your initiative.

Folks, this is a blog. a gossip blog. read the columnists for your heavy news, and please don't waste our time having to read your whining posts about how you care about real issues. Though I realize now all these comments come out when something critical is said about a Democrat. I didn't see the vitriol reaction on the Hatch post.
Keep up the entertainment, MaryAnn! I read and enjoy.

A very sad post on a sad day. They show incredible courage and this is the best you can do?

I can't believe the Post would be associated with this kind of tripe, let alone link to it right underneath a major news article. But I'm not surprised somebody had to jump in with a knee-jerk "Y'all only do this when a Democrat is criticized, not a Republican." Well, yes, it makes sense, doesn't it? Democrats tend to defend Democrats, Republicans tend to defend Republicans. Only in this case, the critics are not just Democrats but also people whose lives have been touched by cancer, or people who have plain common decency and are upset that a major news site would promote sniping about such a grave press conference.

I share the outrage of the majority of previous comments.

It was heartbreaking to learn of the return of the cancer and know the future that this family is facing.

We do not need another shallow person in a high profile position attempt to bring pseudo-issues to the fore.

This is a nation with real challenges and the need for true dialogue on solutions.

Enough of the media trying to seem important by stoking up superficial discussions when there are true human experiences and tragedies surrounding us.

I believe the citizens of our nation have a much higher sense of propriety than the media-it is unfortunate that the media, with their pomposity and self importance are oblivious to the cues that the American society is presenting relative to decency and respect.

John Edwards, who has lost a son, is dealing with the fact that his wife's cancer is incurable. Yeah, the man made a lame joke to break the tension and probably made the lame joke to keep from sobbing in a press conference.
The only person making inappropriate remarks is the media person even commenting on the situation.
We're talking about cancer. Back off, media and lame reporter.

Johnny Edwards' "slip of the tongue" as so many above have writen? Nonsense! He is simply a shallow, self indulgent, attenton grabber. It's ALL ABOUT ME,mentality. Certainly not presidential and far from leadership quality.

Nice "sleuthing!" Not.

Yeah, it's time to start a campaign to toss Mary Ann Akers off of the Washington Post. It's simply stunning that she chose to focus on one unfortunate remark during what otherwise was an emotional, heart-felt and deeply personal press conference. This is the same writer of course who focused on the Armani clothes that Valerie Plame was wearing during her recent Congressional testimony, so I guess that we should not be surprised by Ms. Akers' continuing amateurism. I just wonder when the Washington Post will wake up and decide to can her.

Re the sleuth:Shallow! Disgusting! Juvenile! Bad Taste! UGH!

Your writing here is disgusting and heartless, Ms. Akers. You should be ashamed.

Gee, am I the only one that sees the Edwards press conference as a means to increase name recognition, gain sympathy and votes with little, if any expense for his campaign collers. The media hype leading up to the actual event was intense. The situation is extremely sad, but hey, let's milk it for all it is worth.

It is truly amazing how all the big hearts bleed. The same hearts full of venom and intolerance for anyone who dares to disagree.

The answer here is to get Akers fired? Is this a boycott in the making? If you don't like what you read, turn the page and don't waste your time commenting. If she has no readership, she will go away.

Big surprise here--I happen to think that Edwards played the pity card. It is wonderful free publicity. He's not going to win the nomination, so it is a waste of time. Why doesn't he stay home and not beat his wife and support her through one of the hardest things she'll ever face (other than his campaign). I completely agree with "r man."

I completely agree with so many of the comments above. That analysis is pathetic. Get better or get out. This is embarassing the Post.

Wife-beating is not a laughing matter, regardless of the situation. Edwards is running for President. People need to know he takes women's rights seriously. Although an awkward attempt at levity was perhaps understandable in the context, there is a serious issue here, worthy of our attention.

Oh. My. God.

Sometimes I think you people read the Sleuth only to beat up on Mary Ann.

The post was fine. It was a nice aside on a painful day. Get a flicking life you loser, flamer commenters.

Mary Ann, ignore the haters. You've got real fans out here who love your blog. The mouth-breathers and rubes will lose their energy soon.

I laughed out loud when I read Edwards' comment in subtitle form while watching the news at the gym. Of course I recognized that it was a joke and I completely appreciated the black humour, but what was funnier was thinking about how the majority of the American public who were watching the news coverage in the middle of the day would react.

As a co-worker pointed out, if someone in Edwards' position is at risk of making slip-of-the-tongue jokes in tense situations, imagine the havoc he could wreak in important talks with members of the international political community... "Hey Kim Jong, nice glasses. How do y'all see out of them Coke bottles?"

I was in a roomful of Edwards supporters after one of the '04 debates, and Elizabeth came in to answer questions while we were waiting for John. I was blown away by her intelligence and by her willingness to give straight answers to tough questions.

I don't think Edwards is by any means to be counted out of this race. Obama is SO inexperienced, and Hillary is disliked by so many people on the left and the right (and, unlike both Edwards and Obama, I don't think she's got a tendency to grow on people).

Poor taste here in this comment.

Oh, I get it. This is a gossip column. Do we really need another?

The Washington Post needs a transplant. Why do we hear about Valerie Plame's clothes. Why do we get a trite article about the Edwards? The story is incredibly poignant, and to pick out one minor statement which was not relevant to the overall theme is pathetic. C'mon Post, shape up.

Why is no one asking the questiong "Why is Edwards still in the race?" This has been a topic of discussion around the dinner table with my family. What motivates a man to strive for political office in the face of such personal tragedy?

This motovation is scary. I was leaning to Edwards, but his concern about keeping his schedule to raise money, after this was announced has completely killed him as a possibility for me. If he shows that he cares so little for his wife, how much will he care for the rest of us.

If all you want in life is to be President, then you don't deserve to be President!

Mary Ann Akers should be fired and take her unattractive picture off, I can't stand to look at her. What a dumb,cruel, insensitive person she is not to be able to understand what John Edwards was going through. Why don't all of you busy, body n'er do wells go talk to Ann Coulter or Katie Couric?? If John and Elizabeth both want him to run for Pres. then it is their choice and no one else's. I never knew there were so many cruel people in this country. I guess none of you have ever been face with any tragedies in your useless little lives. Just wait and see how you react. John and Elizabeth are my heroes and you bet he is my man.

Hey "Muffy,"

Who put John and Elizabeth on a stage? Who profits the most from pulling at your heartstrings? Who needed something to make a little noise to gain the Democratic nomination? Is John Edwards your man simply because he has a sick wife? Does he deserve to be President because of a family tragedy? My father died last year from a horrible lung disease. What do I get? What am I entitled to?

Before you start calling everyone "cruel," you should understand the difference between tastless behaviour and calling people on tasteless behaviour.

My wife and I support John and Elizabeth Edwards in their decision to continue the campaign.

Cancer is a very personal and secret world for the person diagnosed with the disease.

Cancer has a way of trying to steal your hopes and dreams so the desire to remain independent and normalize your life as much as possible is a way of fighting back.

My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of November 2007, one week later her mother was diagnosed with the same disease. Shortly before my wifes mastectomy in January 2007 business partner decided to end their partnership. One week before my wifes chemotherapy in March 2007 I was terminated from my management position at a fortune 500 company,mostly due to my wifes cancer. We also found out that based upon the upcoming therapy chances were not good that we would ever have children.

Now due to my wifes poor health, loss of her business and my job loss, we also face a very uncertain future. Unless I'm able to obtain a job very soon we may also lose our belongings and home.

You see cancer paves the way for losses, some of which you never get back. So for the Edwards family to continue building on their hard work and dreams is really an affirmation of hope.

As the rest of the world watches this drama unfold I only hope that my family and the Edwards can take back what Cancer has attempted to take away, our hope for a better future.

Tom Goodro
San Antonio, Texas

Yes, the Edwards family faces a health (even life) crisis). And yes, John Edwards is at the same time running for president. They can face a health crisis and try to help this equally sick country at the same time, and I would prefer that the Washington Post not critizie them for that. Dick Cheney is vice-president with a pacemaker, doesn't stop him from asking for support in 2004. I'm tired of beltway hypocrites - stay away from the sycophant podgass, y'all.