McCain's affairs - at what cost?

[TennNC]

Decided we needed a clean thread b/c an interesting discussion started about McCain's affairs in the Edwards thread.

Sen. McCain acknowledged having multiple affairs 30 yrs ago. In fact, one of them was with his current wife, a 25-yr-old (very pretty and very wealthy, btw), while his then-wife was critically injured after a car wreck that occurred while she was waiting for him to be released from being a POW in Vietnam.

So, how much do you think his affairs will impact the presidential race?

[volinbham]

very little impact

[allvol123]

Zero.

[TennNC]

Originally Posted by allvol123

Zero.

really? Zero impact? But don't you think that voters will now see Cindy McCain a bit different knowing that she played a similar role in breaking up McCain's marriage that Rielle Hunter is playing in Edwards' marital problems?

[volinbham]

Originally Posted by TennNC

really? Zero impact? But don't you think that voters will now see Cindy McCain a bit different knowing that she played a similar role in breaking up McCain's marriage that Rielle Hunter is playing in Edwards' marital problems?

You are making several assumptions in this statement.

[allvol123]

Originally Posted by TennNC

really? Zero impact? But don't you think that voters will now see Cindy McCain a bit different knowing that she played a similar role in breaking up McCain's marriage that Rielle Hunter is playing in Edwards' marital problems?

No. People see a marriage that has lasted between MCCain and Cindy. Most people will choose to see personal growth and that the man just ended up with who he fell in love with, if he has been faithful. If Edwards marries that Hunter woman and stays in a life long committed relationship with her, people will be much more forgiving of it decades from now.

[KentheOrange]

How do you know Cindy had an effect on McCain's marriage? That marriage may have only existed on paper when that happened.

[volinbham]

Originally Posted by TennNC

But don't you think that voters will now see Cindy McCain a bit different knowing that she played a similar role in breaking up McCain's marriage that Rielle Hunter is playing in Edwards' marital problems?

Sounds like you are planning a push polling question...

[TennNC]

Originally Posted by allvol123

No. People see a marriage that has lasted between MCCain and Cindy. Most people will choose to see personal growth and that the man just ended up with who he fell in love with, if he has been faithful. If Edwards marries that Hunter woman and stays in a life long committed relationship with her, people will be much more forgiving of it decades from now.

So my point, in the other thread, that Edwards' affair won't ruin his political career were correct given that McCain could cheat on his crippled wife and still become president one day?

[allvol123]

Originally Posted by TennNC

So my point, in the other thread, that Edwards' affair won't ruin his political career were correct given that McCain could cheat on his crippled wife and still become president one day?

It will hurt it, but I agree with you, it is possible for him to come back one day. He knows it too, that is why he fessed up right before the D convention, the powers that be told him to.

[notverycrucial]

Originally Posted by volinbham

Sounds like you are planning a push polling question...

Exactly. And I warned you guys in the other thread to steer clear of this topic. TennNC knows exactly what he is doing.

[TennNC]

Originally Posted by KentheOrange

How do you know Cindy had an effect on McCain's marriage? That marriage may have only existed on paper when that happened.

Maybe his relationship with Cindy was the straw that broke the camel's back. Here's what McCain's first wife said about the divorce:

"The breakup of our marriage was not caused by my accident or Vietnam or any of those things. I don't know that it might not have happened if John had never been gone. I attribute it more to John turning 40 and wanting to be 25 again than I do to anything else."

What if he wants to be 40 again?

[MG1968]

from McCain's wiki article:

In April 1979,[54] McCain met and began a relationship with Cindy Lou Hensley, a teacher from Phoenix, Arizona, the only child of the founder of Hensley & Co.[58] Also in 1979, he pushed to end his marriage with his wife Carol, who accepted his request for a divorce in February 1980; the divorce became effective in April 1980.[18][54] The settlement included two houses, and financial support for her ongoing medical treatments due to the injuries resulting from the 1969 car accident; they would remain on good terms.[58]

and here is the footnote:

"John McCain Report: Arizona, the early years", The Arizona Republic (2007-03-01). Regarding his first marriage, McCain said that he "had not shown the same determination to rebuild (his) personal life" as he had shown in his military career, and that "marriages can be hard to recover after great time and distance have separated a husband and wife. We are different people when we reunite....But my marriage's collapse was attributable to my own selfishness and immaturity more than it was to Vietnam, and I cannot escape blame by pointing a finger at the war. The blame was entirely mine."

I think the whole premise for you starting this thread is silly. There is no comparison between what happened between Carol and John McCain and what's currently happening with John Edwards.

[TennNC]

Originally Posted by volinbham

You are making several assumptions in this statement.

voters will make a lot of assumptions when they hear "McCain's affairs." that's what I'm trying to assess.

[MG1968]

Originally Posted by TennNC

voters will make a lot of assumptions when they hear "McCain's affairs." that's what I'm trying to assess.

you make it sound as though McCain was chasing every skirt in Washington. From what I can tell, his only extramarital activities happened with Cindy, and he married her.