Oprah will confront Elizabeth Edwards today about her husband's decision

[ecstatic]

(and hers of course) to stay in the Presidential race.

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200704/20070406/slide_20070406_284_101.jhtml

In the midst of his presidential campaign, John Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, made an announcement that has America asking, What would you do if your spouse was diagnosed with cancer?

On March 22, 2007, the couple broke the news that Elizabeth's cancer had returned after a chest X-ray for a broken rib revealed a cancerous tumor on one of her ribs. Elizabeth's breast cancer has metastasized and spread to her bones.

...

In the weeks following the announcement, there has been a firestorm of public opinion. "I think that he should be there to support her and not out on the campaign trail," one woman says. "My mother had breast cancer," another woman says. "I know from my own mother's experience that you don't let cancer stop you. You don't let anything stop you."

[Aviation Pro]

1. Hopefully, Mrs. Edwards will ask Ooompah.....

...why she gave Bush a pass during his visit to her "show" during the 2000 election.

[EstimatedProphet]

3. I would like to see that.

And maybe an explanation as to why she let him kiss her.

[MyDogSpot]

10. ditto. bring it on

[DRoseDARs]

9. Uh, probably because it wasn't obvious to anyone yet that he was to become the Worst President Ever.

Hindsight is 20/20; cut Oprah a little slack here. :shrug:

[Virginia Dare]

14. I'll cut Oprah some slack...

but I was pretty confident that he was going to be a disaster, even back in 2000, maybe I was just paying more attention than she was.

[DRoseDARs]

19. Prior to 9/11, his administration looked pretty lame and was shaping up to be a one-termer...

The "New Pearl Harbor" saved his presidency. No one could have known it'd get THIS bad, I don't care HOW close anyone was watching his political career prior to 2000. But good on you for paying attention since the beginning. If only more people had, we might've avoided all this.

[Virginia Dare]

24. You're right, it's far worse than anybody predicted...

it's worse than I could have ever imagined. I still wouldn't have let him kiss me though.

[mitchtv]

44. How about her "interview" with the Gropenator?

I'd say she has a pattern like Leno

[walldude]

22. Actually it was obvious to many people

all you had to do was read Molly Ivins she screamed to the high heavens about how Bush was going to do to America what he did to Texas. And she was right.

[sarge43]

48. Even a superficial read of his bio showed he was a life long loser

Poppy et al had continually covered and cleaned up after.

[EstimatedProphet]

49. OK, but it was obvious to a lot of people that he would be really bad

There's a lot of people that saw it early on. We may not have known he would turn into King George II, but we did know he would fail pretty miserably. Just sayin'

[ellacott]

15. "Oprah" gave Gore a pass also n/t

[Aviation Pro]

45. President Gore received no pass....

...and 500,000 voters were cheated out of a say in the election.

[mitchtv]

46. And Gray Davis received no time

Oprah stinks

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Confronts? Is she going to be that antagonistic?

I would think it would lose her(Oprah) a lot of good will.

[Sapphire Blue]

43. *** See post 28; the OP chose to use the word "confront", rather than "interview".

[anitar1]

4. I am sure that Oprah will have all the right advice for

Elizabeth. she seems to have answers for everyone these days.But I hope Oprah just listens. Sarcasm

[Lex]

5. "confront" her?

:wtf:

[Snotcicles]

51. Like she stole a car or something, sheeesh. nt

[PATRICK]

6. I hope this starts to end

the distraction. I think ordinary people ARE continuing to get infected with the meme that the cancer hurts the campaign, one way or another.

[ecstatic]

7. Yes, this could turn out to be a good thing

Because, frankly, a lot of people want to know how this works and if it isn't explained clearly then it could hurt Edward's chances.

[MyDogSpot]

12. I'm still perplexed as to why it's an issue

that Elizabeth would rather carry on with her life as usual.

[ecstatic]

17. Thanks to movies, we've become an overly idealist/romantic society nt

[Justyce]

29. and why it's any of our business how she decides to

handle it... I'm sure if Laura was diagnosed & bush decided not to step down from his "presidency", the media and the repubs would think they were brave & determined, etc....

[PATRICK]

56. because the GOP cynically

pushed this button very hard to veer people's FEELINGS as well as thoughts. Spun sympathy in unconscious service to GOP wishes.

[MyDogSpot]

8. Why is a confrontation necessary?

So many people are suffering from cancer. Elizabeth made a brave decision to carry on with her life. There is no need to confront her.

Why not confront members of the Bush administration, Oprah?

[Howardx]

11. more viewers and higher ratings

why else?

[qanda]

41. I think "confront" was the OP's choice of words

And not Oprah's.

[Sapphire Blue]

42. *** It's an INTERVIEW. The OP chose to call it a "confrontation". See post 28. ***

[cooolandrew]

13. Not a wise move on Oprah's part. I hope Barack distances himself from this particular epidsode.

[Wickerman]

21. color me confused

How does Barack have anything to do with this issue?

Personally, I hope Kevin Bacon distances himself from this particular epidsode. :shrug:

[Rosemary2205]

16. Spoken like a true Oprah hater.

Personally, I can't stand her either, but why don't we wait and see if Oprah is confrontational against the Edwards BEFORE we start condemning her about it.

Geesh.

[ellacott]

20. I have been surprised by many DUers the last couple of days

The hate towards this woman is amazing.

[truebrit71]

32. Oompah Winfrey is a self-important, self-promoting over-paid...

...waste of air...

Her support of voodoo psychology and other such rubbish adds nothing to the human condition and her "power" over people is proof positive that lemmings can operate a tv set...

[durtee librul]

53. And let's not ever forgive her for bringing us the great

Dr Phil.

[truebrit71]

55. My point exactly...

That alone should insure her an especially warm place in the afterlife... ;-)

[Madspirit]

18. "Confront"

Was the OP's choice of words, People. Oprah never said that.
Jeez....

...and Ms. Edwards CHOSE to speak to Oprah. As far as I know Oprah has never put a gun to anyone's head. I guess Ms. Edwards THINKS it's a good forum to address Folks from.
Jeez...again.
Lee

[ecstatic]

27. I don't see the word "confront" as always having negative connotations

To me it just means to face someone/something uncomfortable head on without beating around the bush. :shrug:

[Lex]

33. confront: "to face in hostility or defiance; oppose"

nt

[Madspirit]

37. I don't know...

It kind of has aggressive connotations. I didn't say anything bad about you, just btw...<g> I was just pointing out that it was your choice of words because a lot of people did seem to latch onto that part of your post.
Lee

[Sapphire Blue]

23. The word "confront" was not used in the link you provided; why did you use it?

[Sapphire Blue]

26. ^^^^^^^^^^^^ A reply to the above post would be nice.

[ecstatic]

28. well

Maybe my use of the word was too liberal but I didn't see it as a diss on Oprah or Elizabeth. I used the word because it will be an uncomfortable topic, at least I assume it will be. I could be wrong though.

[Sapphire Blue]

30. Your use of the word was misleading. Perhaps you should consider editing your subject line.

[Lex]

34. She doesn't understand what the word means apparently.

Or claims it has no negative connotations.

[Sapphire Blue]

40. Neither is she responding to the many posters who've negatively interpreted her usage of it. Hmmm.

[ellacott]

31. It was misleading and inflammatory

Why would you think this topic would be uncomfortable for Elizabeth? For some people talking about it can be therapeutic.

Not only did you choose an inflammatory word but you don't give Elizabeth any credit or consideration that just maybe she's a pretty strong woman.

[Zuiderelle]

36. I agree, I highly doubt that Oprah intends to CONFRONT her.

The Oprah hate here from some is stifling.

[ellacott]

38. Yes, truly stifling

I shaking my head at some of the posters on this board.

[stanwyck]

25. I hope Oprah brings up what Newt did when his wife

(the first) had cancer. He served her with divorce papers.
Yes, Mr. "Family Values" literally went to the hospital with the divorce papers for her to sign while she was receiving radiation treatments. The family church helped Newt's wife and his two daughters pay bills since Newt fell behind in child support and had to be hauled into court twice for non-payment.
But, that's OK. Cause Jerry Falwell says Newt is sorry now.
And people judge the Edwards?
The mind boggles.

[EFerrari]

35. Oprah who?

[qanda]

39. Oprah had Elizabeth on before

I don't think she will be anything but sympathetic and caring in interviewing her. I don't know why people on DU have to make Oprah out to be a monster.

[qanda]

47. I'm watching the program now

This isn't confrontational AT ALL. This is actually a beautiful segment. Oprah gave her all the time in the world to answer her critics and she did it masterfully. I hope everyone is able to watch this.

[ellacott]

50. Thank you for the information

I'm at work so I was unable to see it. I hope someone puts it on youtube.

When Elizabeth was on Oprah when her book came out it was a wonderful program. Oprah has featured many amazing people on her show and has been able to be nonconfrontational. I had no doubts that she would give Elizabeth the same respect.

[Zomby Woof]

52. Hasn't Couric done enough damage?

Now Oprah? I am confident Elizabeth will handle herself with the same dignity, grace, and humor she has handled all media talking heads to this point. :thumbsup:

[Sapphire Blue]

54. Hasn't the OP's misleading choice of words ("confront") done enough damage? See post 28.

[RB TexLa]

57. "her's" I didn't realize she was in the race and able to make a decision about it

[eyesroll]

58. Well, normal people in normal marriages include one another in major life decisions.

I realize you've said before that's not how you and your wife work, but 99% of the rest of married and otherwise life-partnered people take their spouses'/partners' health and opinions into consideration when deciding whether to do something that would greatly interfere with their day-to-day lives.

I know I'd be steamed if my life partner decided to run for president without including me in the decision, as a presidential run drags the whole family into it, whether the family wants to be in it or not.

That and there has been much speculation that if Elizabeth had wanted her husband to drop out of the race and take care of her (or, at the very least, not subject her to all of the scrutiny that a candidate's wife gets even under the best of circumstances), he would have. So, yes, in that way, it's her decision just as much as it is his.