Elizabeth and John

Posted on March 23, 2007
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I’ve been a fan of Elizabeth Edwards since the first time I saw her, conducting a town hall meeting on her own, during John’s run for the Vice Presidency. She had such a command of the facts and the issues and delivered her answers with ease and with heart. Just imagine the contrast of Elizabeth, the spouse of the candidate for Vice President, with George W. Bush, the candidate of the other party for President — and the sitting president. There would be no contest for intelligence, good humor, command of both language and the issues, and grace.

Yesterday we learned that Elizabeth’s cancer has returned. Even my Fox news-watching coworker was saddened, knowing the difficulties she and John and their children face, even with the best of outcomes. Who can know what this means for Elizabeth and her family? I don’t expect the Edwards’s to share their private conversations with physicians, and don’t expect the doctors to truly know. By appearances, Elizabeth is full of life. That’s more than can be said of many of the shoppers you’ll see at the local mall.

I was actually surprised when John said he would continue to run for president. Then I questioned why I should be surprised. On a personal level, who would want a spouse to cancel such a grand plan as running for president because of their own illness? What could better generate hope than someone whose values you believe in, seeking to turn out the current corruption and to heal the nation’s wounds?

Still, I wonder about this rarefied air any viable candidate must be breathing. Add to that Elizabeth and John’s situation of hanging between public hope and private fears — and the reverse — these two will find themselves navigating situations and feelings unprecedented in size, public nature, and complexity.

I’m glad that John and Elizabeth have decided to continue their campaign. I had not yet chosen my favorite Democrat — and still haven’t. I have a great top three. I wish the Edwards family the very best. I would be so pleased to have in the White House another strong, brilliant First Lady.