John Edwards' highly scripted 'Nightline' interview

After an afternoon of minor media frenzy, the John Edwards interview on Friday's "Nightline" seemed strangely anticlimactic. Of course, it followed not only the opening of the controversially situated Summer Olympics in Beijing but also Russia's invasion of Georgia. If the latter could not have been foreseen by Edwards, the former certainly was.

He had spent the last week strenuously denying charges made by the National Enquirer that he cheated on Elizabeth, his cancer-stricken wife of 30 years. But as it turns out, he did have an affair, with Rielle Hunter, who had filmed Web content for his campaign in 2006, and possibly bore his child. And since mainstream media were beginning to get involved, ABC's Bob Woodruff was invited to the Edwards home for a chat to air on Friday.  A chat that could only appear on "Nightline." Which airs at 11:35. On the day of the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

Not that the interview was about control or anything. Edwards just wanted to come clean, in a highly scripted sort of way. But the talking points -- yes, he did have the affair but it was while Elizabeth was in remission; no, he did not father Hunter's baby; yes, he and Elizabeth remain committed to each other; no, he did not know of any payments to Hunter -- were less telling than the subtext. Which seems to be that discovering that he is not a perfect person has made John Edwards a better, more self-aware man. Thanks for asking.

The word "affair" and any of its synonyms were, for example, consistently avoided. Looking calm, boyish and oddly upbeat, Edwards seemed taken aback when Woodruff jumped right in with questions rather than friendly greetings, going out of his way to thank Woodruff for coming down to talk with him before he answered those questions. Then he carefully explained, as you might to a child, that in 2006, he had made a big mistake. That he had told Elizabeth about the mistake, had asked forgiveness from her and God, and that he took full responsibility for his mistake. When asked how long the affair lasted and when it ended, he declined to answer, explaining that he had made all the details known to his family but beyond that it wasn't anyone's business.

Of the two, Woodruff was so obviously more upset by the situation that it became, at times, just plain weird. "Were you in love with her?" he asked, his voice shaking, and I thought the man would burst into tears. Not Edwards, but Woodruff. Edwards simply shook his head in disbelief, reiterating that he has been in love with only one woman for more than 31 years and that it remains "a deep and abiding love."
Determined to find something approaching emotion in his subject, Woodruff pressed on, asking point-blank: "How could you have done this?" which Edwards used as an opportunity to "explain," with a brief tour through his own life story.

"I went from being a senator, a young senator, to being considered for vice president, running for president, being a vice presidential candidate and becoming a national public figure," he said. "All of which fed a self-focus, an egotism, a narcissism that leads you to believe that you can do whatever you want. You're invincible. And there will be no consequences."

It was an answer he had clearly prepared for; much of the wording was used in a statement made earlier in the day. It also bore a rather unnerving resemblance to the little speech given by the Republican presidential candidate (played so wonderfully by Larry Hagman) in "Primary Colors." That candidate blamed cocaine rather than narcissism but the power-run-amok theme was the same.

Edwards admitted to meeting Hunter last month at the Beverly Hilton hotel, where he was sighted by National Enquirer reporters, but denied that he had fathered her child. He had agreed to meet her and a male friend for the sole purpose of convincing her to keep the affair quiet. "I didn't want the public to know what I had done," he said in what was perhaps the most courageous moment of the interview -- affairs are bad for politicians, but cover-ups are worse.

But then he got a little slippery when asked about the photo the Enquirer had printed, which they claim is Edwards holding Hunter's baby daughter. The picture is blurry and Edwards says he has no idea who it is. Fair enough, but when Woodruff asked him if he remembered holding Hunter's baby, his answer was just plain squirrelly.

"You asked me about that photograph. I don't know anything about that photograph," he said, as if taking his cues from the Watergate hearings. "I don't know who that baby is.... I was not at this meeting holding a child for my photograph to be taken, I can tell you that."

If nothing else, Edwards made it clear to Woodruff, and to us, that he is not looking for sympathy, which is good because he won't be getting any. Any points he might have been awarded for not hauling Elizabeth along to look stoic beside an American flag were deducted by his self-congratulatory explanation of same. "Elizabeth is not here because she did nothing wrong," he said when asked, but could he leave it at that? No, he could not. "I have to be the man, to take responsibility."

Neatly deflecting questions about the impact this will have on his political career by musing that he was not certain he had a political future anyway -- "service" is what he sees as his long-term goal -- he all but laughed when Woodruff, still trying to bring things down a bit, asked if he had ever thought "it would end this way." "I don't think anything has ended," he said. "My Lord and my wife have forgiven me, I'm moving on."

Which I suppose one could see as a certain grace under pressure, or maybe it's just that pesky old narcissism that makes you believe you can do whatever you want. Like give one short scripted interview to "Nightline" and make it all go away.

-- Mary McNamara

Photo: AP / ABC

Comments

[Kelly]

Well done, Mary. Not only won't he be getting any sympathy, but I suspect the Enquirer has more photos which will show him to be as classic a liar as the guy who jabbed his finger at the camera and insisted, "I did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."

[chris epting]

Oh--so now it's okay to write about Edwards? Gimme a break--and of course....

"Keep on Rocking!"

[john mcintire]

Thank God Gomer didn't get the nomination and hand this country Bush III on a silver platter.
More at www.MacYapper.blogspot.com

[teresa]

YES! Mary McNamara gets it right.
Finally, someone gets it right. The man is oddly unbalanced. Kerry said as much in his regrets for ever choosing Edwards as a running mate.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1626498,00.html

Finally, someone gets it! Thanx Mary!

[Rhonda]

Bob Woodruff is much too nice of a guy to go toe-to-toe with a trial attorney. They should have had Mickey Sherman or Vincent Bugliosi or - I don't know - Larry H. Parker question him. See how well he parries the questions then.

[Mary]

Why does the media get to decide who can run for president and who can't? Who gave them, the self-righteous, egotistical, bought and well paid for, lot of them the right to tell us what to think, and be so sanctimonious about it? It seems to me their narcissism has run amok and it is costing the United States and the World an awful price. John Edwards would make a fine president and do the world a lot of good, but the media has seen to it that won't be happening any time soon. Who pays their salaries and tells them who to go after?? At least we know that John Edwards is true to his image, he really must care about helping the poor and stopping the war and giving us decent health care and saving our environment or they wouldn't go after him so relentlessly.

[TJ]

She is not as pretty as he is but she is a lot smarter.

I want to know if the "salary" for producing videos never used and the monies used for "hush monies" in the form of multimillion dollar homes for his campaign CFO and for her and the $15,000 a month he claims he knows nothing about any of these monies......has come from campaign donations of millions of people.

I am finished, for sure, contributing to ANY political candidate. This year, obscene amounts of monies have been raised to promote the egos and self inflated "specialness" of these candidates and they really do not need our hard earned monies anymore.

The MSM, press, TV, cables, have all become a major Public Relations firm. They choose the candidate of choice, package them, spin them, protect them, and we do not have to pay for even more.

Politics 2008 is the most disgusting season I have ever been witness to in over 40 years. We need to stop these campaign contributions because no one is so "special" that millions of dollars are sent to them from people who are hard put paying for gasoline to go to work if they have a job, or paying their utility bills, or their health care costs, groceries. We pay for abysmmal failures and phoneys, every single one of them.

Democracy should not be dependent upon who has the most money and can buy the best PR.

[wingman]

If all the men, and all the women, who have had affairs or wished there was something about them that was attractive enough to result in an affair, would remove their voices from this issue, then the noise surrounding it would be substantially reduced. Let the man and his family heal, and go look in the mirror. If you can't see any faults in your own image, get a new mirror !

wingman

[Leon A Davis]

What's becoming clear is that the mainstream media has known all along that Edwards had fathered a child by Hunter. .Reporters knew this while he was running for president. Hunter was bragging to everybody that she was bonking Edwards. The New York Post's Page Six ran a blind item about this a long time ago. One expects politicians to lie through their teeth. They lie for the same reason bears defecate in the woods: it's a natural act. But when politicians lie and the news media knows they are lying and doesn't hold the lying politicians to account, , then the news media bears the greater responsibility, because they are supposed to be seekers of truth. If you look at every major political scandal you will find that the media knew all about it months, even years before we did. This is one of several reason why the favorability rating of the mainstream media is somewhere at the level of whale dung.

[Kainblade]

Thats it. Now theres no way hes gonna get that jet sky from Obama.
Baaad boy, bad.
On the other side, one would think that a guy that spend 400$ in a hair cut coulnt be straight... life is full of surprises

[tekBuddha]

I find it quite interesting you'd call Edwards' interview highly scripted. Pointing out that he only wished for the interview to be aired by Nightline is also comical as well. Exactly how many similar "candid" interviews have Bush and Cheney done away from the comfort of FOX News?

> Of the two, Woodruff was so obviously more upset by the situation that it became,
> at times, just plain weird. "Were you in love with her?" he asked, his voice shaking,
> and I thought the man would burst into tears. Not Edwards, but Woodruff.

Exactly what sort of expectation do you have of Edwards? The man certainly did lie but I feel he is now trying to make amends for his actions. What more are you expecting? Tears? On one knee, hands folded for the sky to forgive?

> If nothing else, Edwards made it clear to Woodruff, and to us, that he is not looking for
> sympathy, which is good because he won't be getting any. Any points he might have been
> awarded for not hauling Elizabeth along to look stoic beside an American flag were
> deducted by his self-congratulatory explanation of same. "Elizabeth is not here because
> she did nothing wrong," he said when asked, but could he leave it at that? No,
> he could not. "I have to be the man, to take responsibility.

Self-congratulatory? What part of "I did this. It's my fault, not someone else's. I own up to it cause I did it." is self-congratulatory?

I admit there are reasons to be upset with Edwards. In the years after the Lewinsky scandal, every politician ought to understand very clearly business between you and your family is no longer private the moment you begin lying about it rather than telling people it isn't any of their business. Edwards broke the hearts of supporters who believed he would bring a different kind of character to the table. At least the man is trying to own up to his mistakes. With the likes of Craig, Stevens, DeLay, and a others on the long list of deniers, it is refreshing to at see at least one man willing to admit to being a human being and doing wrong.

[Phil]

It's human and forgivable to stray sexually from a marriage. It's natural to deny it as well. People have a right to deny public allegations about any aspect of their personal life that isn't criminal, and it remains legal to step out on one's spouse. Edwards' affair is in no way relevant to his ability to serve as a Supreme Court justice, attorney general or any other public role. Having come slowly to the story, now mainstream media tries to make something of it. No one cares that Edwards had an affair, nor should they. It is irrelevant to the true failings of the public sector and the problems people have to overcome in a faltering economy. I'd be more likely to vote for Edwards now, not less. Happy to see him on the Supreme Court anytime.

[4Heavenssake]

Actually his explanation for why he did what he did is exactly correct. Ask any shrink.

And, if you think only those we've heard of (Edwards this season) in politics and the upper reaches of corporations -- people who've supposedly earned respect and honor, those with whom we've invested our trust, our lives and, in some cases, our cash -- who've had affairs for those reasons, you'd be oh so wrong!

[camel jockey]

It could not have happened to a slimier guy. Hopefully this will bury him, but being a democrat, it will probably only enhance his image.

[zeety]

*yawn*

[karanja]

This is just the apt article for this debacle. I always thought he looked like a slimy bastard, and if indeed he was as smug as you describe, then, when the news breaks that he is indeed the father, he will deserve everything he has coming to him! And to remove Elizabeth from the picture, but then go on to act like some hero patriarch for doing it?! I swear if she cut his cahunas, I would applaud her!

[Kelly]

The majority of the American Public will forgive politicians for almost anything, but cheating on a cancer stricken wife isn’t one of them. John Edwards’ political life is finished.

Slither off into that good night, John.

[BOB SAUERBREY]

Ms. McNamara,

Why is there such a stir over John Edward's affair when the media have ignored John McCain's admitted affair, his dumping his wife (no commitment there), and joining himself to one who might defelect the serious doubts about his ability to lead, not only at his age but with his clearly deteriorating mental powers. Such silly double standards packed in the persiflage of artificial 'journalism' does little to enhance your own or the Time's reputation for truth.

Robert Sauerbrey
1928 Oakridge Dr.
Lawrenceburg IN 47025
812 656-8866

[Patriot]

Gee, kind reminds me of another immoral Demo... Slick Willie maybe? "I did not have sex with that woman"... seems like a Lefty trend... cheat, lie and then come clean when you can no longer hide it and do damage control.

Say what you want about Bush but at least he's been a straight up guy and committed to his wife.

The Demos better quit worrying about hugging trees and generally dumping on America but rather might want to start looking for a candidate that doesn't cheat on their wife or attend churches with racist pastors and so on and so on. One shouldn't throw rocks when they live in a glass house.

[Bill Murphy]

My a narcissistic presidential candidate, how could this be? Well folks, who knows what would lead your average spouse to cheating that is certainly complicated, however when they talk about family and their deep love for each other, and of course god, now that's the pathetic crime in my book. I'm sure he had this speech well polished from speaking to past juries who fell for his self serving righteousness. Except for rare instances the head of government profile is more of one who is narcissistic and perhaps sociopathic. Not as a comparison but what about George Bush? Could you sleep at night, play golf during the war fiasco? Our leaders have to be elected, not conquer the public into submission. You have to be a cagey sociopath to pull this off.