What is it with the pattern of Elizabeth Edwards dissing Hillary?

[Herman Munster]

Is John Edwards not man enough to take on Hillary himself? He has to get his wife to post the obnoxious remarks?

The salon.com bashing was a bit mush. I've never seen any of the other candidates spouses doing this.

This is also not the first time she has done this.

She said Hillary was living an unhappy life and that she was more joyful in a really obnoxious comment last Fall.

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Do you have links?

Or are you just starting rumors?

[Herman Munster]

2. I assume DU'ers know how to search and google

but here ya go

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/07/17/elizabeth_edwards/index2.html

Last Fall

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/21/nyregion/21edwards.html?ex=1184817600&en=e64baa019a8698b7&ei=5070

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. Thanks for the links, and you are full of shit.

The Salon interview was not a hit piece, and the other bit, where she said she thought her choices made her a more joyful person, seems to me to be a fairly accurate observation - after all, was she publicly humiliated by her husband's shenanigans? She accurately assessed that what happened with Bill, while it was still their private business, had to have had a serious negative affect on their family. Do you deny that?

If anyone is doing any bashing here, it's you bashing Edwards.

[saracat]

24. Thank you.Right on point.It just amazes me what some will say about our own.

I really applaud John and Elizabeth for having the courage to run again.People are so sickening ly vicious and none are worse than the Dems about their own.When will we stop doing the GOP's job for them?

[spooky3]

55. so why did you not find this apology about the "joyful" remark?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2573227

As for the more recent remarks, EE is simply pointing out that she thinks JRE's record is better than HC's. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, and I don't consider it "dissing." I consider it "campaigning."

[journalist3072]

5. Go to Salon.com

Salon.com has an interview with Elizabeth Edwards. That's what the OP is referring to.

[journalist3072]

3. Totally agree with you. Elizabeth Edwards needs to shut her mouth about Hillary

Wasn't it last year or year before last when she said she thought she was a happier person that Hillary; that the choices she made in her life made her happier than Hillary.

[saracat]

12. I disagree.She said nothing bad about Hillary. She said John is a better

advocate than Hillary for women and that is true.That is why the women's groups are supporting John.I have got to say , Elizabeth might be speaking for me.That is my concern about Hillary.I am just not comfortable with her positions on women's issues. I have a feeling she would "triangulate" or soften her stance to get votes.

[journalist3072]

21. Well, that is your opinion and you're entitled to it. But that doesn't necessarily mean that

what Elizabeth Edwards said about her husband being a better advocate for women, is true. That's her OPINION, and just because she believes that, doesn't make it so.

I haven't decided who to support yet, but in all fairness to Hillary, I think we ought to look at the facts here. And the facts indicate she has been a very strong advocate for women.

- Flashback to 1995, when she went to Beijing, stared down the Chinese right in their own backyard, and said "women's rights are human rights."

- Let's not forget how she put a hold on George W. Bush's nominee to head the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), until the FDA made a decision on Plan B. You might recall that Sen. Clinton had been asking the FDA to finally make a decision on Plan B, as they had promised. Well, Sen. Clinton put a hold on Bush's nominee for the FDA, until the FDA made a decision. Once they did, she released the hold.

- She strongly supports Roe v. Wade

And there are so many more issues.

So I think before Elizabeth Edwards makes such a statement, she better come with the FACTS to back up her opinion.

[sarahlane]

25. Really?

Have you researched Edwards stance on women's issues? Out of all the candidates he has the best record on a woman's right to choose. He supports a federal freedom of choice act that would protect choice no matter who gets elected to SCOTUS. While representing red NC, he voted against a ban on partial birth abortion five times, he voted to allow military women overseas to have abortions, he also voted to allow women to have abortions on military bases. He also introduced the Women in Trauma Act, which was a great bill. In all honesty, all the Dems have a good record on women's rights, it's just that Edwards has a really wonderful record. It's no wonder Kate Michelman endorsed him.

[Inspired]

29. Thank you! n/t

[blm]

60. Let's go to Alito filibuster that she and Schumer undermined behind the scenes

and wouldn't support Kerry and Kennedy who were taking a beating in the media or speak publicly for it until the last minute.

Shameful. Yet she found a camera to do THIS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk1k0nUWEQg

[wyldwolf]

4. Maybe she has a thing for Bill?

[Inspired]

30. HA...have you seen John Edwards?

Elizabeth isn't lacking for a good man. I doubt if Bill Clinton would interest her much. His track record with the 'ladies' isn't so good.

[wyldwolf]

33. yeah.. now that you mention it...

maybe JOHN has a thing for Bill.

[Inspired]

35. Who is really on the side of women?

Elizabeth spoke her mind. She has every right to do so. So this is what happens when a woman speaks her mind? You make stupid remarks - that everyone knows isn't true - about her husband? Unbelievable.

[geek tragedy]

40. Oh no you didn't . . . eom

[wyldwolf]

41. I couldn't resist.

[RaleighNCDUer]

42. Thank you, Ms Coulter. nt

[wyldwolf]

44. You're welcome, Mr. La Rouche

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

47. Taking a page from Annthrax Coulter's book, are we?

[wyldwolf]

49. LOL! Yeah.. just to piss you off ( and who said "progressives" have no sense of humor!)

[saracat]

51. Another low remark! Can't people support their own without tearing someone else down?

[wyldwolf]

52. why not wag your finger at the low remark that inspired it?

[saracat]

53. Because the remark wasn't low.EE didn;t say anything bad.

[geek tragedy]

6. Because John is afraid to tangle with Hillary

directly. Just like he didn't want to get near a gay pride march.

Edwards is cratering. He'll be in third place in Iowa polling by September.

[Inspired]

37. Hmmm.....

he is doing well in my neck of the woods....which just happens to be located in Iowa.

[maximusveritas]

7. Interesting

I hadn't heard her comments about being more joyful than Hillary before. It looks like she did apologize, but only after claiming she was misquoted (the magazine denied it and provided the transcripts to prove it). I've never understood why Edwards supporters idolize her.

[Herman Munster]

9. it really looks like a coordinated

good cop, bad cop routine. And maybe they think sympahty because of her cancer will make her get away with it. Who can attack a sick woman? You know.

[maximusveritas]

10. Yeah, I hate to say it because

that's the same thing Coulter was saying. But it's getting harder to deny.

[saracat]

14. Wow.That is low. I don't have cancer and I agree 100% with Elizabeth

and many women I know feel the same.

[emilyg]

26. I had cancer - and I don't agree with Elizabeth.

[journalist3072]

23. Precisely

I remember I think it was Randi Rhodes who even took the Edwards to task for how they played on Elizabeth's cancer. I think it was Randi (or someone else on AAR) who said how people had sent in messages to the Edwards after the announcement of Elizabeht's cancer recurrence. Some people just sent them notes to say keep your head up, we're praying for you, etc. And they ended up sending fundraising letters to those folks. TACKY!

[tammywammy]

54. They sent fundraising letters to the well wishers?

That's pretty outrageous.

[Inspired]

32. This is a horrible thing to say. Shame on you.

Seriously. Shame on you.

[saracat]

15. Even those who are NOT Edwards supporters adore her and for just cause

She is a compassionate courageous human being who is totally genuine. She doesn't have to test poll before she speaks.Her illness has given her the freedom to speak truth to power.I think she always spoke up but now she has even more of a reason. God Bless Elizabeth.Many of us wish she was running for President.I could vote for that woman with no reservations.

[Inspired]

31. Because she's smart and because she is brave.

Don't go there with Elizabeth Edwards. She is extraordinary.

[polichick]

8. Eliz. and John seem as much a team as Hill and Bill

And as calculating.

[Alamom]

11. Hillary's work on Womens Rights is extraordinary. Not much to argue on that issue. nt

edsp

[saracat]

13. Yeah.There is.

[Cameron27]

17. How does her record stack up against Edwards'

record on woman's rights?

[journalist3072]

22. That's exactly right!

I've cited some examples elswhere in this thread, such as when Hillary stared down the Chinese in their own backyard and said "women's rights are human rights, once and for all."

[RaleighNCDUer]

34. I suspect she correctly assessed that she would not lose any

Chinese communist votes by saying that.

[journalist3072]

45. She went over there in 1995 AS AN UNELECTED OFFICIAL

So obviously she wasn't concerned about votes, here, there or anywhere.

The "women's rights are human rights, once and for all" is one of her most famous quotes. It was about her staring down the Chinese government and letting them know that no longer would the international community look at women's rights as separate from human rights.

She went there and spoke truth to power. And it was a powerful moment. Seems to me some people here on DU can't see past their partisan lenses and look at a person's actual record of accomplishment.

[Connie_Corleone]

16. I'm waiting for Elizabeth to post a comment on DailyKos saying she was misquoted.

That's what she did the last 2 times regarding Hillary and her neighbor.

To be honest, I don't know what Edwards has done for women that Hillary hasn't done most of her public life.

Hillary beats out Edwards on this one. I have no idea what Elizabeth was talking about.

[Adelante]

18. Absolutely

EE is off the wall on this one.

[JANdad]

20. Oh Herman...

Calling John's manhood into question now???? Gee...what RW slimeball has done that recently???? HMMMM???? Coulter possibly...

Come on Herman...getr something better to attack with already!

[LittleClarkie]

27. Did you want her to go around in an apron and heels and a pearl necklace instead?

She's outspoken. Whatchagonna do.

[Inspired]

28. I agree with Elizabeth Edwards 100%.

She is right about her husband. His proposals benefit women much more than what I've heard from Hillary.

I won't vote for a woman simply because of her gender.

Too bad Elizabeth isn't running.

[BluegrassDem]

36. Elizabeth has diarrhea of the mouth

She is very mouthy and seems to offer her opinion to reporters on just about everything, which is not what a spouse of a presidential candidate should be doing. She's always blurting out something, then 'regretting' it later. It's obvious though that she is either jealous or envious of Hillary, and I'm not even a Hillary fan. I will take up for Hillary on this one. She really doesn't deserve this broadside treatment from Elizabeth.

[JANdad]

38. Ignore is my freind

eom

[LittleClarkie]

39. We'll get her a Chanel suit and a pillbox hat

Is that what you're looking for in a presidential wife?

In my opinion, Elizabeth is the best part of John's candidacy, and I wish it were her on top of the ticket instead of him.

[saracat]

48. Elizabeth has the right to voice any opinion that she wants..I see

nothing that she "REGRETS" She has said nothing "bad" about Hillary.Sheesh.When did Elizabeth lose her right to speak out? Are you saying she should prefer Hillary to her own husband?

[noamnety]

50. Ain't nothing worse than a woman with opinions.

:eyes:

[Cha]

58. Puir wee hillary..do

ya think she'll recover?

[madmom]

43. funny people loved this in Theresa H Kerry but hate it in Elizabeth Edwards ...go figure

[AtomicKitten]

46. It's called politics.

not to be taken too seriously

[spooky3]

56. If you think spouses should not express their views, then they should

not be part of the campaign at all. If you disagree with the views, that's what you should criticize, not the process of expressing views by one woman.

It seems sexist to try to shut up one spouse and not another.

What does JRE's being "man enough" have to do with anything?

H. Clinton's spouse is also helping campaign, as he should.

[ronnykmarshall]

57. I don't agree with you there, Hermy Baby.

[robcon]

59. It's not that Edwards is not "man enough" to take on Hillary.

I suspect it's not an accident. The Edwards campaign has decided, apparently, that Elizabeth will take on Hillary directly.

[Cameron27]

61. That's exactly right, it's a strategy

just like the Coulter phone call on Hardball, and if she goes too far, John can always say he doesn't necessarily agree with her.

[robcon]

62. In other words, Elizabeth is a surrogate for the campaign.

That's an old strategy - it reduces the need for the candidate to make personal attacks or to make responses to opponents' personal attacks. That is to avoid being unpresidential.