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Michelle Obama. How About Inviting Elizabeth Edwards to the White House.
All kinds of silly things get on the news. Firemen rescue a dog from an ice pond. This celebrity or that celebrity is pregnant ,or is breaking up a three-month marriage. Some off-balanced woman creates a paparazzi frenzy by having six babies. Entertainment Tonight and CNN run a shows about how many diapers they will need a day.
Where is Elizabeth Edwards in all this? A woman fighting for her life and her family. A woman still trying to bring us health care. She has become a non-person. Why? Because her husband cheated on her. You know that's it. Wounded and kicked and then the curb because of it. A healthy Hillary Clinton became a saint when her husband shamed her. But a seriously ill Elizabeth Edwards became a non-person. How does this make you feel? What does this say about how women are treated in this country. The husband cheats. Must have been her fault. She's sick. Maybe that's her fault too. Just pile on.
Her memoir called Resilience will be published in May. She wrote a piece in Newsweek in July about Tony Snow's death. That's all the news we get about Elizabeth Edwards. Not enough by a long shot.
Americans can't seem to find their own souls and hearts without seeing it on television. I'm ashamed in all this. We all should be. What does this poor women have to do to get respect? You know the answer. And then all the writers and pundits and politicians will get weepy.
Michelle Obama. Show the nation now that we care. Give Elizabeth a call. Invite her to the White House. Sure, she'll get on Oprah. But your call, on behalf of a nation, will take away our shame.
Where is Elizabeth Edwards in all this? A woman fighting for her life and her family. A woman still trying to bring us health care. She has become a non-person. Why? Because her husband cheated on her. You know that's it. Wounded and kicked and then the curb because of it. A healthy Hillary Clinton became a saint when her husband shamed her. But a seriously ill Elizabeth Edwards became a non-person. How does this make you feel? What does this say about how women are treated in this country. The husband cheats. Must have been her fault. She's sick. Maybe that's her fault too. Just pile on.
Her memoir called Resilience will be published in May. She wrote a piece in Newsweek in July about Tony Snow's death. That's all the news we get about Elizabeth Edwards. Not enough by a long shot.
Americans can't seem to find their own souls and hearts without seeing it on television. I'm ashamed in all this. We all should be. What does this poor women have to do to get respect? You know the answer. And then all the writers and pundits and politicians will get weepy.
Michelle Obama. Show the nation now that we care. Give Elizabeth a call. Invite her to the White House. Sure, she'll get on Oprah. But your call, on behalf of a nation, will take away our shame.
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I have great compassion for Mrs. Edwards and agree that she has been forgotten rather quickly since her husband's indiscretion. I think that it's an interesting idea to suggestion a Whiten House visit but I think that it's unlikely. I might guess that things said during the campaign would be too difficult to overcome. I also support your point about people being influenced too much by what's on television, especially cable. That's why it continues to be important to challenge ourselves and each other intellectually. When we're not asking the uncomfortable questions it's a sure sign that we're not living up to our responsibilities in a democracy.
March 25, 2009 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it is a terrific idea and I hope it happens. Before Edwards failed the bimbo test, and before B Obama gained traction, I was an Edwards supporter. Mrs. Edwards always did seem, and continues to seem, to be a very classy person.
March 25, 2009 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
As an Edwards supporter since 2003, we need to resurrect the Edwards. Nobody's perfect I've heard said. There are lots of not perfect people. But spokespeople for the people are rare. The Edwards' had their own deal going. Not for me to judge. But their voices were the clearest I've heard in my many years for rewarding work over wealth. Only powerful voices that got that if you solve poverty, you solve everything.
Have you heard the word "poverty" since the Edwards left the scene?
March 25, 2009 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
good idea but no chance in this millenium
March 25, 2009 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
This may be simply a perspective thing. I live in NC and I can't say Mrs. Edwards has been forgotten as much as she has chosen to take herself out of the spotlight. She surfaces from time to time, has a book coming out shortly and I believe is still undergoing cancer treatments, but we pretty much respect her privacy.
March 25, 2009 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
You certainly are in a position to know more than I, so thank you. It seemed to me that when she continued her efforts in January and later, the press wasn't too interested. I posted on that:
http://motherearthhealth.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-happened-to-elizabeth-edwards.html
A link on the post goes to an updated list of her activities, and, indeed, in the last month it seems she has stayed out of the public's gaze.
Thanks again.
March 25, 2009 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're welcome. She was always a feisty woman and I have a great deal of respect for her. Not so much her husband, never did. I wasn't impressed with him as a senator or a lawyer. He managed to win big cases but rather sleazy about it IMO. Rumors of infidelity surfaced around here long before it hit the national stage. In spite of that, Mrs. Edwards always held her head high.
March 25, 2009 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another thing to remember are health issues. If it's true she's still undergoing treatment, that can leave you extremely weak and vulnerable. She refuses to give in to the disease though, in spite of her prognosis.
I guess what I'm really saying. Although it would be great if she could be out there more, including a visit to the White House, it may not be in her best interest. I'm sure she wants to spend as much time with her children as she can. If a White House visit is meant to be, it will happen.
March 25, 2009 7:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here Here!! That's a great idea, or what about the President invite her to speak on Universal Healthcare some time. She's a great advocate and an example of a person with decent healthcare which is something all Americans should have access to.
March 25, 2009 6:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Very good points. What another fine woman. Mrs. Edwards should be invited and then given a chance--if she likes the idea--to work on a health care panel or serve in some similar post.
March 25, 2009 7:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wonderful idea. Elizabeth Edwards is a great advocate of universal health care.
March 26, 2009 8:29 AM | Reply | Permalink