How to survive "doing an Edwards".

[Gob]

What next for John Edwards? The disgraced pol's survival guide

What happens now that former presidential candidate John Edwards' case has ended in a mistrial? A look at other disgraced politicians who managed to rebuild.

Edwards was once considered one of America's brightest political stars. He was an anti-poverty crusader with vast personal wealth, boyish good looks and charisma to spare. But his affair with photographer Rielle Hunter - conducted while his wife was dying of cancer, exposed by a supermarket tabloid, and producing a child - has made him a punch line.

It could have made him a felon. Brought up on six counts of illegally using campaign funds to hide the affair, a jury found Edwards innocent in one instance. They were unable to come to an agreement on the other five, and the judge declared a mistrial. Now, the US Department of Justice must decide whether or not to try him again.

But no matter what happens next, Edwards has already been found guilty in the court of public opinion.

"He's seen as manipulative, a schemer, not seen as likeable. He just comes off as slimy," says Ronn Torossian, the chief executive officer of the 5W PR, a crisis communications firm.

But all hope is not lost for Edwards, or for other scoundrel politicians who fall from grace. Here are five strategies adapted from those who have aimed high, crashed low, and gone on to rebuild.

1. John Profumo, former British member of Parliament

The shame: Caught up in one of the first real sex scandals of the modern age, his 1961 dalliance with a model lead to his demise as a politician. Because that model was also seeing a Russian diplomat, it was publicly investigated as a matter of national security. Profumo resigned after admitting he lied to the House of Commons during the investigation.

The strategy: Repent, repent, repent. Profumo devoted the rest of his life to charity work, doing menial tasks at a community centre in London. He became the centre's chief fundraiser and died redeemed.

Edwards' odds: Decent. Edwards was deeply committed to America's poor, and even if he loses his law licence, could devote his energies to on-the-ground work.

2. Richard Nixon, former US President

The shame: President Nixon resigned in the wake of the Watergate Scandal. A lengthy investigation by the Washington Post determined that he and his campaign staff had funded and approved break-ins and illegal surveillance of his political enemies.

The strategy: Remain a player behind the scenes. "Nixon's role in the nation became that of an elder statesman," says Bob Bostock, who worked with President Nixon from 1989 to 1994. "He was always recognised and acknowledged as the pre-eminent foreign policy expert at the time. He continued to weigh in on foreign policy issues," especially to sitting presidents, and he wrote several books on the subject.

Edwards' odds: Not likely. Though he was considered a potential presidential nominee, Edwards doesn't have the gravitas or the political skill that Nixon possessed.

3. Jeremy Thorpe, former British Liberal party leader

The shame: In 1970s, Thorpe was suspected of having a gay lover, then later formally accused of plotting to kill said lover. (That man survived, but his Great Dane was shot in the head.). Thorpe's re-election bid took place a few weeks before the trial began. He lost his seat, but was found not guilty.

The strategy: Disappear for a bit. Thorpe mostly stayed out of the national spotlight for almost two decades. When he did re-emerge - as a visitor to the Liberal Democrats' convention in the 1990s, he received a standing ovation. "It seems that politicians who leave on a less-than-savoury note have a better chance of making a plausible comeback if they wait a few years, lie in the weeds, and do something else," says Geoffrey Skelley, media director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. "Let the public think about other things."

Edwards' odds: A good plan, but may be hard to execute it in the era of tweets and celebrity websites such as TMZ. Considering his scandal was broken by a tabloid mag, expect continuing paparazzi attention.

4. Marion Barry, Washington DC Councilman

The shame: Former civil-rights leader Marion Barry served as Washington DC's mayor for two terms before he was convicted of drug possession. He served six months in jail, but two months after his release, he ran for city council - and won, with the slogan "He May Not Be Perfect, But He's Perfect for DC."

The strategy: Go on the offensive. Though he was caught on camera doing drugs, Barry maintained he was set up, and many residents of DC agreed. "A large portion think he was targeted because he's a well-known black mayor," says Skelley. "The attitude was there are a lot of other people in politics guilty of crimes, and they chose to go after him."

Edwards' odds: Never gonna happen. Edwards is considered a victim of his own hubris and bad judgement, not his politics, and doesn't have a committed base standing by his side.

5. Eliot Spitzer, former New York governor

The shame: Caught in a federal investigation into inter-state prostitution, the once-esteemed governor was exposed as the infamous "Client Nine." He resigned 10 days later.

The strategy: Hit the airwaves. Contrite immediately after being caught, Spitzer refused wear the hair-shirt for long. Instead, he participated in a documentary that painted the investigation as politically motivated, spurred on by Wall Street barons who he said felt threatened by his plans for reform. He rebranded himself a media pundit and started writing for Slate and the New York Times, as well as hosting his own TV show. "It's difficult to reinvent yourself in the same position, but you can create an alternative or second career," says Andrew Taylor, a professor of political science at North Carolina State University.

Edwards odds: Possible. His boyish looks are made for TV. But while Spitzer's scandal was over relatively quickly, Edwards has spent years tarred by his misdeeds. "It's 2012, and we're still talking about allegations from the 2008 election," says Torossian. The public has short memories, but for many, Edwards has already lingered too long.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18095907

[rubato]

Nixon
Edwards and
Barry are all evil scum who have, for the most part, escaped justice for their actions.

Profumo I have no opinion about.

But Spitzer was a real loss. His idiocy cost us someone in government who had made a huge contribution.

yrs,
rubato

[oldr_n_wsr]

I liked Spitzer, especially when compared to his predesessor.

[Gob]

US prosecutors have dropped all charges against ex-Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards after his corruption trial ended last month in a deadlocked jury.

Jurors in North Carolina acquitted the former Democratic party star and two-time presidential hopeful on one count of accepting illegal campaign contributions and deadlocked on five other felony counts. The judge declared a mistrial.

Prosecutors will not seek to retry Edwards on the five unresolved counts, according to a US Justice Department statement issued on Wednesday.


Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer, who oversees the agency's criminal division, said prosecutors knew the case, like all campaign finance cases, would be challenging. But he said it is "our duty to bring hard cases" when warranted.

Edwards was accused of masterminding a scheme to use about $US1 million in secret payments from two wealthy political donors to hide his pregnant mistress as he sought the White House in 2008.

Edwards' lawyers - Abbe Lowell, Allison Van Laningham and Alan Duncan - said in a joint statement they are pleased with the government's decision not to seek a second trial that they believe would have had the same outcome.

"While John has repeatedly admitted to his sins, he has also consistently asserted, as we demonstrated at the trial, that he did not violate any campaign law nor even imagined that any campaign laws could apply," they said.

"We are very glad that, after living under this cloud for over three years, John and his family can have their lives back and enjoy the peace they deserve."

[rubato]

Wicked, yes.

Criminal, no.

There you go.

yrs,
rubato

[dgs49]

Edwards may not be comparable to the others. His legacy is of someone TOTALLY compromised. His legal "successes" are now known to have been built on junk-science, intentionally manipulated to sway gullible juries.

His political success was also based on a phony concern for "the other America."

His philandering was petty and unremarkable, but getting a rich old lady to pay for covering his tracks? Doesn't get much lower than that.

I'm not sure whether he has been disbarred, but in his world there is no doubt that he could still make a comfortable living as a political "consultant."

I certainly don't see him winning any elections in the future.

[Gob]

I bet he won't go short of money following it..

[Lord Jim]

You know, from the weird statement he gave on the court house steps after his trial, one could easily get the impression the he beleives that a political future isn't out of the question...

Talk about a delusional narcissist....

I can't see him practicing law again, (Edwards current net worth is about 45 million dollars...he doesn't need an income; he can live quite well off of investments) but no doubt there will be a book deal....

And a self-serving, self-absorbed tome it is guaranteed to be....

I could easily see him with a gig on MSNBC or Current TV...maybe a radio show with Air America....

[Guinevere]

I just wish he'd go away forever. Ick ick ick. He makes Bill Clinton look sweet, innocent and modest.