NYT: Elizabeth Edwards Apologizes to Clinton

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Elizabeth Edwards, wife of White House hopeful John Edwards, apologized to Sen. Hillary Clinton after saying her choices in life have made her happier than the senator, a Clinton aide said Friday.

Clinton adviser Howard Wolfson said Elizabeth Edwards called the New York Democrat on Friday night just after she finished a debate in Rochester, N.Y., against Republican challenger John Spencer.

(snip)

Before the apology, she released a statement Friday evening disputing reports about the event.

''Unfortunately, large portions of the material released by (Ladies' Home Journal) as quoted statements by me were erroneous and nearly all the statements, either because of significant omissions, or editing, or error, give a misimpression about what I said,'' Edwards said. ''This is particularly true with respect to my comments about Sen. Clinton, who holds a serious and demanding public office while I am largely home, joyfully I must admit, with two lovely children.''

Edwards also said she has ''great respect'' for the senator.

Asked for specific examples of errors, a spokeswoman for Edwards' One America Committee said the magazine's transcript combined answers to two questions into one quote. Also, her comments about being joyous referred to previous experiences and were not meant to be a contemporary comparison, said the spokeswoman, Kim Rubey.

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Edwards-Clinton.html

[rodeodance]

1. I am glad she did. (silly comment to make)

[BootinUp]

2. Elizabeth just wanted some attention.

:hi:

[Haole Girl]

13. You are now on my ignore list.

Bye-bye! :hi:

[Erika]

3. Elizabeth had a child die and looked forward to more children

As a woman, I know what she was saying. She needed a career change and she did it. Because she experienced the lowness of the valleys she sought the height of the mountains to bring her family peace.

She in no way was critical of Clinton.

[1932]

4. Who's surprised that the media misquoted her?

Earlier today I was reading the NYT story on Chavez saying that he wished he could have met Chomsky before he died -- which includes a correction on their web site that he was actually referring to John K. Galbraith who is, in fact, dead.

The Times made a huge deal about Chavez not knowing Chomsky was alive. But they're not making a big deal about their own paper not knowing how to report the truth.

[Pirate Smile]

5. Good for her.

[babylonsister]

6. If she hadn't misquoted, she wouldn't have apologized. Makes me wonder. nt

[Orangepeel]

7. I don't think that's true

I don't know whether she was misquoted, thoughtlessly said something she didn't mean, or was in a bad, snarky mood. Any explanation could be true and I don't think that the apology is evidence of which is really true. Nice people often apologize for stuff that isn't really their fault, like if they accidently step on someone's foot or if their cat tears up a neighbor's yard. They don't say "well, I didn't MEAN to step on your foot!" or "let the cat apologize for itself!"

[babylonsister]

8. OK, thoughtless. But to say her life is more joyful is kind of

ridiculous. How does/did/will she ever know? It was thoughtless.

[Erika]

9. I think Elizabeth recognized how heavy Hillary's life was

and it was a remark of kindness and thoughfulness. Neither of these women are petty.

[babylonsister]

15. What does 'pretty' have to do with it? They are both such vibrant

women. Who is joyful or not is something they might figure out individually. I don't think Mrs. Edwards needed to address it at all.

[Erika]

18. That is your opinion

and I respect it. However, a person knowing the depths of losing a child might see sunrises far more vividly and express more joy than those who have not lost a child. Just my opinion.

[aquart]

25. I don't think my mother ever felt that way.

Or ever found a single plus in losing her child.

[Shakespeare]

24. I think both women are beautiful.

If somebody asked me, as an outside observer, to describe the two women based solely on the public face put forward, "joy" is not a word I'd use to describe Hillary (whom I happen to REALLY like and respect, incidentally). She is driven and intense, but doesn't emote publicly in a way that makes me think "joy." Perhaps that's where Elizabeth was coming from. Elizabeth, on the other hand--and maybe this is a southern thing; I don't know--strikes me as equally intelligent, but much more relaxed and, yeah, joyful and vivacious. There's not a thing in the world with either of those descriptions--just two very wonderful women with very different personalities.

[1932]

10. She "expressed her regret for misunderstanding"

Later, Rubey said Edwards called Clinton ''to explain that her words had been taken out of context and to express her regret for the misunderstanding.''

If it wasn't true, she's obviously doing the right thing by calling Clinton to explain the situation.

[Erika]

12. Elizabeth is a classy lady who has overcome much

She knows pain and wouldn't inflict it on others.

[babylonsister]

16. She's a great woman who has overcome lots in her life.

I do think she sounds catty at times, from Hil to the Kerrys recently. Her husband is probably running for 'something', but I don't get the innuendo she's been doing other than the husband-running-for-prez thing.
Why mention anyone and/or their foibles as perceived by her? Mrs. Edwards trying to relay to me she's just a regular gal is like dimson saying he's a cowboy.
And as a survivor of breast cancer, I cannot just love her for her sacrifice. And I know about her son, and I admire her, but I wish Dems would stop attacking Dems!

[Erika]

19. She didn't attack Hillary

She even called to apologize to Mrs. Clinton for any who saw it differently.

Yes, Dems need to stop attacking each other.

[babylonsister]

21. Well, the OP kind of said

this was an apology. :D
And Dems need to unite. I don't want to see them distancing themselves from each other, at least
not now. I'd also like to know everyone's priorities. But I suspect that won't ever happen.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Haole Girl]

11. I've had my words twisted and taken completely out of context

by the media. Until it happens to you it's difficult to believe...but it happens. It really does. I know Elizabeth Edwards well enough to know she wouldn't judge a woman for her choices in life and would never put someone down who is as accomplished as Hillary Clinton.

Don't let this petty b.s., which just so happens to coincide with mid-term elections, get you down Elizabeth!! They are just jealous of both you and Hilary!

[Erika]

14. Agreed 1000% n/t

[gully]

29. Shit, I've had my words taken out of context by family.

nt

[Gman]

17. Elizabeth Edwards joined DU in 2004

I don't think she's posted much recently.

[Shakespeare]

20. I can't imagine why not, given some of the comments around here.

She has never done ANYTHING to warrant the kind of nasty, vicious comments people fling from the anonymity of their computer screens. I respect her a great deal, and admire her for the strength she's shown even after so much tragedy (losing her son, surviving breast cancer).

She is a person of grace and generosity, and it turns my stomach to see the bullshit some people post here.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

26. Some of you guys slay me.

Some of you might remember 2004. November.

John and John had just lost. A lot of us had invested our very souls in that campaign and the hopes that it embodied.

But we lost. This place could have been appropriately placed on suicide watch. In toto. Every man, woman, child, dog and gerbil. Not to mention Grovelbot. He was drunk, laying in a puddle of his own lubricating oil. Ugly.

We were disconsolate. We wanted someone, anyone to say something to us, for us, about us. Something to help with the very real pain that would not quit.

Finally someone did. Someone came and shared her incredible grace at this time, and boy, did it help.

That someone was Elizabeth Edwards. She came back again too. A number of times.

Some of you guys should back off. You sound like a bunch of nasty old biddies.

The lady is all class. She could give lessons in class to the majority of the political class in the US.

[Catherine Vincent]

27. I am sure it was no big deal to Senator Clinton

Mrs. Edwards appears to be a very nice lady and it was apparently taken out of context.

Could this be the conservative media stirring up shit?

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Moderator]

32. Locking

This thread has become a flamefest.