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John Edwards indicted by grand jury

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Deuce

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John Edwards charged in felony indictment - Politics - More politics - msnbc.com

RALEIGH, N.C. — A federal grand jury has indicted two-time presidential candidate John Edwards, the culmination of a two-year federal investigation into money used to cover up an extramarital affair during the 2008 presidential election.

Edwards' attorney Greg Craig was traveling to meet with prosecutors in North Carolina earlier in the day.

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Federal officials have approved criminal charges, deciding that the hundreds of thousands of dollars two Edwards donors gave to help keep his mistress in hiding were contributions that should have been reported publicly by his campaign fund because they aided his bid for the Democratic White House nomination. Edwards' lawyers have argued that the funds were gifts from friends intended to keep the affair a secret from his wife, Elizabeth, who died of cancer in December.
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Well, we all saw that coming. Of course, the asshole wont see a day in prison I bet. House arrest, probation, etc. Yay for the two-tiered legal system! /cynic
 
I still just feel really, really bad for his kids. They lose their mom and they find out that their dad is a douche...that's gotta be hard.
 
I'd like to see them throw the book at the worthless piece of garbage. Anyone who would cheat on a sick spouse needs to suffer for it and I mean real jail not some slap on the wrist like pulling his License to Practice law. He's never going to work again anyway since he made millions in law suits against Doctors for BS reasons.
 
If found guilty, I hope they push this to the full extent of the law. In my personal view, the man is a complete slimeball for what he did to his wife, so I would not be shocked if he committed other questionable acts. I feel for his children.
 
Councilman said:
I'd like to see them throw the book at the worthless piece of garbage. Anyone who would cheat on a sick spouse needs to suffer for it and I mean real jail not some slap on the wrist like pulling his License to Practice law. He's never going to work again anyway since he made millions in law suits against Doctors for BS reasons.
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Or they can run for president. Aint our sytem grand?
Newt Gingrich 2012 | Winning the Future Together
 
Councilman said:
I'd like to see them throw the book at the worthless piece of garbage. Anyone who would cheat on a sick spouse needs to suffer for it and I mean real jail not some slap on the wrist like pulling his License to Practice law. He's never going to work again anyway since he made millions in law suits against Doctors for BS reasons.
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i agree....let's hang newt.
 
Man wants to run for President but can't keep his pants up. Don't men ever think with their mind before thinking with their dick?
 
StillBallin75 said:
Man wants to run for President but can't keep his pants up. Don't men ever think with their mind before thinking with their dick?
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Hmmmmm. I was always under the impression that men's brains were in their dicks. :2razz:
 
Middleground said:
Hmmmmm. I was always under the impression that men's brains were in their dicks. :2razz:
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Image of the typical male brain. I'd say mine fits this model pretty well.

male_brain.gif
 
1. I really couldn't care at all about the man's personal life.
2. Don't spend other people's money to finance your personal life.

He should pay for his financial abuses, but adultery is NOT (and should not be) a crime in this country. Nor is lying about adultery. Though lying about spending money to help lie about adultery on your W-2 is. @_@
 
I will completely admit I have not done much reading on this whole topic. All I really knew is that there was a whole scandal with John Edwards cheating and then I heard much later she had died due to cancer. What I do not understand is why this matters legally? It was VERY wrong of him to cheat but why should we waste money and time on investigating how he cheated. People's personal live's aren't any of our business. As long as one can separate personal life from professional I do not see any reason why this should even make headlines!

Note: Be nice to me, I'm young and just trying to learn why it matters. :D
 
lovetosing4678 said:
I will completely admit I have not done much reading on this whole topic. All I really knew is that there was a whole scandal with John Edwards cheating and then I heard much later she had died due to cancer. What I do not understand is why this matters legally? It was VERY wrong of him to cheat but why should we waste money and time on investigating how he cheated. People's personal live's aren't any of our business. As long as one can separate personal life from professional I do not see any reason why this should even make headlines!

Note: Be nice to me, I'm young and just trying to learn why it matters. :D
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The legal issue here is the disclosure of campaign funds. He used campaign donor money to cover up his personal mistakes and didn't disclose that. It's a felony, rules are rules.
 
StillBallin75 said:
The legal issue here is the disclosure of campaign funds. He used campaign donor money to cover up his personal mistakes and didn't disclose that. It's a felony, rules are rules.
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That makes sense to me but anytime anyone is found cheating the country is up in arms like he did something wrong to us. I barely remember the Clinton thing. I was middle school at the time I think. Did he do something politically or financially wrong? I remember people saying we should impeach him. For cheating? Again, I admit to not knowing everything but thats all I heard people saying at that age.
 
lovetosing4678 said:
That makes sense to me but anytime anyone is found cheating the country is up in arms like he did something wrong to us. I barely remember the Clinton thing. I was middle school at the time I think. Did he do something politically or financially wrong? I remember people saying we should impeach him. For cheating? Again, I admit to not knowing everything but thats all I heard people saying at that age.
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People went on a morality crusade with Clinton. He was questioned under oath regarding his affairs and lied, which is perjury. The impeachment was related to the perjury and the other findings of Ken Starr's report, but not the cheating on its own.
 
lovetosing4678 said:
That makes sense to me but anytime anyone is found cheating the country is up in arms like he did something wrong to us. I barely remember the Clinton thing. I was middle school at the time I think. Did he do something politically or financially wrong? I remember people saying we should impeach him. For cheating? Again, I admit to not knowing everything but thats all I heard people saying at that age.
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Well, I was only about 8 yrs old myself during the Clinton thing. But here's what I do know:

The impeachment itself wasn't about Clinton's infidelity. It was for charges of perjury and obstruction of justice (basically being accused of lying to a grand jury).

And the reason people tend to get up in arms about politicians doing these things is that people generally expect their leaders to behave like saints and to be role models, when in reality they are flawed human being just like the rest of us.
 
lovetosing4678 said:
That makes sense to me but anytime anyone is found cheating the country is up in arms like he did something wrong to us. I barely remember the Clinton thing. I was middle school at the time I think. Did he do something politically or financially wrong? I remember people saying we should impeach him. For cheating? Again, I admit to not knowing everything but thats all I heard people saying at that age.
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Financially wrong? that is wajy the charges are about. As dar as I know only AZ jas a law against being a low life and committing adultery.

Had you ever been cheated on by a long time spouse you trusted with your life you might understand why some of us feel so strongly about cheating scum bags.
 
tessaesque said:
People went on a morality crusade with Clinton. He was questioned under oath regarding his affairs and lied, which is perjury. The impeachment was related to the perjury and the other findings of Ken Starr's report, but not the cheating on its own.
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Why was he even questioned about his affair in the first place. It is not our business. You can be a perfectly capable leader, teacher, etc even if you are a drug addicted prostitute on the side as long as you keep the two separate. He was wrong to lie about it but its just human to try and cover what you are ashamed of.
 
Councilman said:
Financially wrong? that is wajy the charges are about. As dar as I know only AZ jas a law against being a low life and committing adultery.

Had you ever been cheated on by a long time spouse you trusted with your life you might understand why some of us feel so strongly about cheating scum bags.
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I have been cheated on by a long time partner who I loved and trusted with my life and it sucked. But I don't want to send him to court or ruin his life/career for it.

Also, try spell a little better that was somewhat difficult to read.
 
lovetosing4678 said:
Why was he even questioned about his affair in the first place. It is not our business. You can be a perfectly capable leader, teacher, etc even if you are a drug addicted prostitute on the side as long as you keep the two separate. He was wrong to lie about it but its just human to try and cover what you are ashamed of.
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I dunno the exact details, unfortunately. I was only about 10 or so when the whole thing went down. I just remember my uncle making us watch CNN every day during the impeachment hearings.
 
Just so there is no misunderstanding, the indictment has nothing to do with adultery. It is about campaign finance fraud.
 
lovetosing4678 said:
Why was he even questioned about his affair in the first place.
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Because a couple of the women that were involved brought lawsuits against him for sexual harassment.

It is not our business.
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Some people agree with this, some might not. It's not completely unreasonable to want to hold our public officials to a high moral standard. If you aren't willing to be honest and loyal in your personal life, then what guarantees do I have that you won't treat the country and its people the same way?

You can be a perfectly capable leader, teacher, etc even if you are a drug addicted prostitute on the side as long as you keep the two separate.
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Lol, I'm sure this is a bit of a hyperbole because with drugs you can't keep anything separate, even with something as simple as weed. But I understand what you are trying to say.

He was wrong to lie about it but its just human to try and cover what you are ashamed of.
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Agreed.
 
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lovetosing4678 said:
I have been cheated on by a long time partner who I loved and trusted with my life and it sucked. But I don't want to send him to court or ruin his life/career for it.

Also, try spell a little better that was somewhat difficult to read.
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Yes, people cheat. But it's hugely different for elected officials, especially powerful Washington officials. It should be a high priority among voters to elect people of the utmost character in this regard.

Here's why.

Let's say President X has a thing for young interns. Lots of them. And let's say he's a bit kinky at that, and his re-election campaign is around the corner. Now let's say China knows about it and has proof, and it has means to get that information into the media. China needs some key information in the development of their nuclear tracking systems......

You see, integrity means everything when you have that kind of consequential power. It matters TREMENDOUSLY, even moreso than anything else. Those skeletons in the closet had better be out there already, or you could be compromised.

And believe it or not, lots of people have character. Lots of people stay true to their commitments and vows. Not most, but certainly there are people who adhere to their word.

We've just got to make sure not to give the keys to the wrong people.
 
Erod said:
We've just got to make sure not to give the keys to the wrong people.
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We've been giving the keys to the wrong people for a looooooong time.
 
What would have happened if Bush lied to a grand jury. You think people would be all, "oh well, he's not perfect"?
 
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