Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards is doing a live press conference right now. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have just announced a return of cancer, this time in the bone. Bone cancer, as John pointed out, is not curable but it is treatable. Had Elizabeth not broken a rib, she would have never had the chest x-ray which revealed a spot. Further tests showed the cancer.
One of the first questions was whether this meant the end of John Edwards’ presidential campaign. Emphatically, he responded with “The campaign goes on.” He mentioned scheduled trips. Elizabeth says that she feels fine at this time, and has had no symptoms of the disease.
Keep the Edwards family in your prayers. I certainly will.
UPDATE: The AP story on the press conference is here.
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VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Elizabeth Edwards rocks.
I am praying for the Edwards family. This his only given me much more respect for both Senator Edwards and his wife.
I appreciate Elizabeth Edwards’ optimism and courage. Several years ago, my mother was diagnosed with cancer that had gone undected for an estimated two years. Fortunately, it was localized and topical on an internal organ, and after several surgeries and treatments, she recovered. From mom, I learned how important it is to keep your optimism–especially in the face of something so physically and emotionally taxing as cancer.
I’m honestly a little disturbed that the Edwards’ campaign made such a huge production about the announcement. I was very reserved about sharing my mother’s cancer with people, and even years later it’s not something I broadcast out to people (except, perhaps, anonymously). Staging a press conference and feeding a misleading tip to the Politico in order to build buzz (for who else could have leaked Elizabeth’s cancer diagnosis but someone close to Edwards?)…it all smacks a little bit like an earned media event as opposed to a personal disclosure.
I hope that Elizabeth is as forunate with her treatments as my mother was with hers, and I wish her and John the best in their personal lifes. Politically, though, I don’t think I’ve ever been less likely to vote for the guy.
I’m not sure that the Edwards’ really had a choice, re: publicity. First, everyone knows that Elizabeth Edwards had cancer. If she started heading off for treatment/talking to friends about it without there being some public disclosure of it, the media would be awash in speculation and wondering out loud whether Edwards could be focused. They laid it out on the table here, and I suspect that that’s that, unless things go poorly for her.
Also, don’t blame Politico’s sad little operation on the Edwards campaign. They’re one of the least impressive big business forays into online journalism I’ve seen.
And really, if something like this is what your political judgments turn on, I’d urge you to be a little more thoughtful about your vote.
I don’t think anyone’s ever accused me of not being a thoughtful person before, but at least it’s dated so that I can copy and paste it for posterity.
I could probably limit the scope of my decision on whom I think should be President to campaign promises and detailed white papers about policy initiatives that will never, ever go anywhere in their current interation. Or I could also look for someone whom I trust. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to be edgy about a man running an organization that stages such a well-managed production to announce a spouse’s serious and life-threatening illness–especially if he doesn’t think it should affect his campaign.
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Incidentally, not everyone shares your judgement of the Politico as a publication. I know several folks who don’t consider it a primary news source but still respect it and read it as a trade publication; many of those people work now for John Edwards and are on familiar terms with the writers.
Well good for you, anon. Maybe you do put some thought into your votes. But the post previous to that certain doesn’t lend much support to that theory.
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As to Politico, I’d observe that there are a lot of hill staffers who still have subscriptions to The New Republic. Doesn’t make TNR any less pathetic, you know.