The Politician: An Insider's Account Of John Edwards's Pursuit Of The Presidency And The Scandal That Brought Him Down (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
Let's play "Guess the biggest schmuck!"Is it John Edwards, who likely was some sort of schmuck even before the period of this book, presumably starting when he married Elizabeth Edwards for "marrying up" reasons as well as love and romance? (That's a guess on my part, but I'll stand by it.)Is it Elizabeth Edwards, who inexcusably becomes ever more paranoiac (cancer is no excuse) and ever more living on that ancient river, De Nial, all holding on to her future political dreams, in a far sadder "Stand By Your Man" than Hillary Clinton, from a woman smarter than Hillary and, seemingly, more insightful?Is it Rielle Hunter, a person even more narcissistic to the verge of sociopathy than John Edwards, with that persona marinating in a deep, steaming pile of New Age manure, which I'm not sure even she fully believed?Is it Andrew Young, who at any time could have pulled the plug on this, who at any time could have faced his own naivete about believing John Edwards could beat both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama even if his secret never slipped, which Young knew was guaranteed to slip, given the nature of Rielle Hunter?Is it Young's wife, Cheri, who though not cheated on like Elizabeth Edwards, had plenty of opportunity to draw her own bright lines and didn't?Is it the fair chunk of the American people who believed John Edwards was less phony than either Clinton or Obama, before the baby secret slipped out?Is it the other fair chunk of Americans who commiserated with Elizabeth Edwards through her cancer, and its return, even if, via this book, they had plenty of indications that she wasn't that sympathetic a person?Is it the likes of Bunny Mellon, Mellon oil money heir and secret funder of all Edwards' needs, including excusing his marital infidelities and not being a light for modern feminism?Is it Fred Baron, whose images says "stereotypical trial lawyer" even more than John Edwards?Or is it readers who think this is more than a 3-star book?I think that I would tie the Edwardses for first place, with Hunter very close behind, among the primary characters. But, in a baseball metaphor, I would put Andrew Young at solid AAA level and his wife, even, at AA.Among the bit players, Baron would be an MLB All-Star schmuck. Mellon would, for the feminist-related angle, be a AA player.The John Edwards sympathizers are AAA; the Elizabeth ones are AA.The people who rate this book more than three stars, for anything beyond rubbernecking the scene of multiple accidents, also rate at AAA. Before his rise was even a twinkle in Barak Obama's eye, there was John Edwards. Despite being a multi-millionaire trial lawyer, he campaigned in 2004 and 2008 as a spokesperson for the "common man," trying to speak on their issues. When this was coupled with an eloquant speaking style, he became attractive to a certain part of the Democratic Party in the US.This book was written by one of his operatives in North Carolina (Edwards's home state). It chart's his rise in politics after his decision to run for the senate in the late 1990s, his politics once in office, and the chaos that surrounded parts of his campaign after his wife discovered that he was having an affair and fathered an illegitimate "love child" (something that Mrs Edwards refuses to believe).I found the book infuriating. Anyone who knows American politics knows that Edwards could have been a real contender in both 2004 and 2008. Had he used the good sense he was born with, Edwards would probably be Vice-President now. Throughout the book, you're going to think "Hello, wakey wakey you don't think you'll get away with this do you?" I was an active Edwards supporter in 2004 and 2008 (he seemed the only person likely to help the Democrats win in the South), so felt particularly let down by him when his affair became public. Anyone who lived in America during the Bush presidency and who found Edwards even slightly appealing will find the book as infuriating as I did.That having been said, the book is well written. It rattles along at a fair old rate and is accessible enough for most people to read pretty quickly. You'll probably need an interest in politics to read this book, but if you have that you'll probably enjoy it.
What do You think about The Politician: An Insider's Account Of John Edwards's Pursuit Of The Presidency And The Scandal That Brought Him Down (2010)?
2008 was the very first election I was able to vote in, and, before the scandal broke out, I was beyond excited to vote for John Edwards. He seemed very sincere and authentic, two things you look for first and foremost in a president. This book shows that he is quite the opposite, as was his wife, his baby-mama, and his right hand man, Andrew Young. In my opinion, Young only bit the bullet and became the senator's b*tch because he wanted a big salary, fame, and a position of power he was practically promised by Edwards, once the candidate made it to office. Which, I believe, he would have done without a doubt, had he not had infidelities with his seemingly idiot of a girlfriend, and a baby with her to prove it.
—JCisVIP
I read this right after completing Elizabeth Edward's Resiliance and found the two sides of the story to be quite amusing. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle of both books, but wow, it makes you question what current day politics have come to. The smut in this book seems possibly a bit embellished, but yet still vey believable. Just goes to show there are two sides to all stories so don't believe what you might see on TV or how the media portrays and reports the lives of individuals.
—drnajm
a deeply deceitful subject through the eyes of a deeply flawed narrator. riveting.
—hlmille
Interesting to read. I'm sure there's some truth in there somewhere...
—Clari
