March 25, 2007
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Sympathy Vote
John Edwards told voters in a “60 Minutes” interview to not vote for him out of sympathy for his wife’s struggle with cancer.
In the interview he said, “Do not vote for us because you feel some sympathy or compassion for us. That would be an enormous mistake. The vote for the presidency is far too important for any of those things to influence it.” Here is the link: Link
Do you think voters are more likely to vote for John Edwards because his wife is fighting cancer?
Comments (107)
yes actually
I was talking about this and no matter how disturbing it might be (or uncomfortable) I think people will lean more towards him now unconsciously
no.
if anything, i think it’s exactly why people wouldn’t vote for him. they’d be too worried he’d be “too focused” on his wife & not national security.
or i might be wrong
Cancer survivors might be.
I wouldn’t vote for someone out of sympathy. I agree with Edwards, the presidency is too important to base a vote on sympathy.
I think they will, even if only indirectly. He is getting a LOT of free press out of this… Morbid I know, but we aren’t really talking about a normal profession…
no, it’d be his chic hairstyle.
Yes it would help, but he is about as bad a candidate as there is right now. A total hypocrite on almost all areas.
I don’t want the man in charge to be going through that Hell. It’d distract him. Make him emotional.
It’s a small deterrent.
i worry that yes possibly they are.
people vote based on all kinds of nonrelevant things.
I heard someone here in Texas at the governor’s voting period last year say, in line to vote, “I would vote for Kinky [Friedman], but he just looks so dang weird. Maybe if he dressed more normally. That’s why [Rick] Perry has my vote.” And I literally asked her “WTF?”
Yeah.
the christians will. they’re easily swayed (think back to bush….remember now?)
HAH to be honest, i dont think we’re compassionate enough to let that effect the vote.
yet, it could be just like anyone voting for hilary because she’s a woman, which, come on, will happen.
well, i wouldn’t..
I fucking hope not. You never know though… people are pretty ridiculously dumb these days.
Well, probably not solely because his wife has cancer, but it definitely gives Edwards the opportunity to do a few things that might boost his ratings which many candidates might not have a chance to do. He may use it as a way to show voters how compassionate and caring he is, for example. Obama and Hillary don’t have that sort of “look-how-nice-i-am” sort of thing on their side.
It didn’t help me out.
i dont think we’re compassionate enough to let that effect the vote.
Posted 3/25/2007 8:16 PM by xMedicated_Genius
So compassion equals being completely irrational?
No, I dont think the Christians will either. The christians are the ones that are usually hardcore about whatever party they think is right. The only people who MAY do the voting that way would be those who are just starting to vote and dont really know who represents what, and knowing that his wife has cancer… will feel sorry for him and vote that way.
Lesson to learn here: Know who you are going to vote for and what they represent. Rah!
At my elementary school, we had a thing where the teachers would vote on the 6th grade boy and the 6th grade girl who demonstrated positive qualities, and each teacher who voted for the winning students would have comments about the students read out loud. When I was in 6th grade, a girl in my school who was battling cancer won. One of the teachers said, “You didn’t win this award because we feel sorry for you because you are sick. You won because we like you as a person.” That’s what this reminds me of. I don’t think she would have won if she hadn’t had cancer because she just would have been one of those faces at my school, but since she did have cancer, she had the opportunity to show that she had many positive qualities about her. I’m starting to tear up thinking about her. She died that summer.
In response to your question, it didn’t even occur to me that pity votes happen in presidential elections.
It wouldn’t make a difference to me. But for some people yes it probably will. Personal issues, however, shouldn’t make any difference in electing someone.
Only losers get cancer. Sheesh.
If nothing else I think it will boost his name recognition, and it may also cause at least subconcious favoritism in more emotionally-charged individuals. Whether the latter would make any difference in an election is suspect however.
LOL what a sad fool. no one’s gonna vote him anyway, cancer or not.
“people are pretty ridiculously dumb these days.”
Looks around . . . thinks about it . . . remembers moma’s words . . . Says nothing
I think having Mrs. Edwards’s news is a double-edged sword. On one hand, you have the potential to gain a sympathetic crowd. On the other hand, there is also a population out there who thinks that her health will put the presidency on the back burner. It’s really hard to tell right now, so only time will tell how this will affect the Edwards campaign.
people are more likely to vote for him, for making that statment… it shows he understands the weight and seriousness of the presidential position… it wont be a sympathy vote, but it will be a positive influence on his campaign…
no, i wouldn’t.
Nope. I agree with his idea to stay in the race, but I don’t think that will ultimately influence the vote.
yeah
I think people would be more likely to vote for him just for saying that.
We shouldn’t.
yes though like he said, they shouldn’t be influenced by it.
Nah..
Honestly, I don’t really think Americans are that nice.
like in american idol people who have had diseases or who were abused as children get more votes. same with all those immitation american idols where you vote for people. it’s just what happens.
i don’t think it was stupid of him to come out and say that people shouldn’t vote for him because of that, though. i think it was good for him to say it.
No… it would probably deter the vote. Cause distractions from his presidency.
I don’t want the man in charge to be going through that Hell. It’d distract him. Make him emotional.
It’s a small deterrent.
Posted 3/25/2007 8:14 PM by Ewidge
I agree….cancer and its treatment is Hell, and it will change both of them. They need to be focusing on that, and on their kids, not on the Presidency. Her cancer is only treatable, not curable.
i wouldnt
Goodness… I hope not.
I do think that the people who don’t look into what these candidates represent and stand for would give Edwards a pity vote.
No, but I’m sure all the free publicity is helpin.
yeah, I think they will. and I did vote for kinky.
I think he WON’T get votes because of that.
I meant compassionate as in showing compassion not being irrational. i think that’s about as direct a meaning i would suppose you get from that.
Many people vote for the wrong reasons all the time.
I wouldn’t vote for John Edwards regardless of his wife’s health.
no, i think it might actually hurt him in the long run.
i hope not. it wasn’t something i’d been considering, at least
I wouldn’t think so; just hope there are no poltical ads against him about that everything he touches turns to cancer.
I would think they would be less likely. I want to be careful and sensitive about how I say this but her illness could prove to be very distracting to him if he were elected. With everything that’s going on in our country, we need a leader who is going to be able to put his all into getting this country back on it’s feet. Having a president whose (who’s?) wife is dealing with serious health issues might sacrifice some of the attention and focus we need our leader to have. In other circumstances, I would say, yeah, sure, vote for him. But for now, I would have to say that maybe he should wait another four years.
Oh, and I honestly wish he would drop out of the race and concentrate on his wife’s health. Running for president has got to be taking him away from her in her time of need. It just seems very selfish that he would continue this when this could very well be her last years. All of the stress cannot be healthy for someone in her condition.
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the christians will. they’re easily swayed (think back to bush….remember now?)]
rofl
Don’t worry is what I say to Mr Edwards.
I think it will gain some sympathy.
~IM_R
i wouldn’t, but i’m sure there are some out there who would.
no, probably not. i think people know better than to do that
Isn’t sympathy the only real reason anybody ever voted for him?
no. But this does show his wife is hands down his greatest asset…
“people are pretty ridiculously dumb these days.”
Looks around . . . thinks about it . . . remembers moma’s words . . . Says nothing
Posted 3/25/2007 8:30 PM by trunthepaige
Yeah….
I don’t think so.
Definitely. Seeing his vulnerability helps the populace to identify with him. Furthermore, it serves to illustrate his dedication to this country. He knows that. Anyone who saw the interview knows that. While he’s right that it would be an enormous mistake to let that influence one’s vote, I think he’ll glad accept any support he receives because of it.
He’d be a much better Vice President but I like him either way. He’s a nice person in real life. Whether it influences people to vote for him or not my only wish is that she lives a long life for her children and husband.
I wasn’t aware sympathy existed in the political realm.
Some will. I’m not. The Christians won’t vote him as above stated. They are still waiting to see if Fred Thompson (sp?) will enter the race. Or, maybe some other worthy person who can meet the criteria.
If the American public is dumb enough to re-elect Bush, they’re capable of any lunacy.
This is how disgusting Democrats are.
Edwards let his wife get cancer so he could try to get the sympathy vote.
Disgusting. Democrats need the death penalty, really they do.
So idiotic, not supporting troops, not protecting children, and letting wives get cancer.
Sick.
yup
Many people will vote the way TBN and their preachers tell them to.
Many people will vote sympathy.
Many people won’t bother.
Some will listen to the issues and vote based on that.
so, the presidency is more important to him than his wife’s struggle with cancer???
That is a scary thought: sympathy vote sways presidency. Unfortunately, people have voted for far less.
As long as they’re in favor of Hispanics, raise the minimum wage, give universal health care and send every corrupt repuke or demo to hell I would vote… for sure…
I hope not. The two don’t correlate. Everyone has struggles in life and they battle adversity…it doesn’t mean we make them president.
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I don’t think so, but that statement makes me respect him a lot more.
No. In fact, I think most voters think he should not run and instead they both should be away from politics and be with their children at this time instead of on the campaign trail. He hasn’t got a snowball’s chance in hell anyway to win. He is a joke. It shows bad judgment on his part to continue with his campaign.
I sure hope not. Everyone has their hardships! Not to sound callous, but Edwards’ wife isn’t the only person who has cancer or is struggling with a problem. We’ve all been through hard times. Pity gets nothing done. Pity will not elect a good president.
yes
if anything, i’d believe that some would vote for another. i personally think that his current situation does not warrant a good situation to enter the presidency in.
I don’t think so. If anything, having a wife with cancer will take away votes. Running the entire country AND dealing with a possibly dying spouse is not a task I’d like to deal with.
I think he’s a good man though, screw Ann Coulter for calling him a faggot.
Is there any other reason to vote for him?
I would say less likely. The Presidency should not be hindered by someone whose family is being rocked by such a difficult situation. There is already enough that a president must deal with and family drama will only weaken him.
That should have no bearing on whether you vote for him or not. But that’s my opinion. Looking at the maniac we have now for president, the American people have shown what bad judgement they have.
I wasn’t planning on voting for him anyways. He’s going to have to do a lot more than just get a sick wife if he wants my vote.
Some will… people who have no real backbone or opinions can be easily convinced.
My mother has gone through exactly what Elizabeth Edwards has and worse, but that won’t make me vote for him. I know it’s going to be hard for him and this is really an issue that all the money and power in the world can’t solve, but he’s right… you can’t vote for someone to lead our country out of sympathy.
This is how disgusting Democrats are.
Edwards let his wife get cancer so he could try to get the sympathy vote.
Disgusting. Democrats need the death penalty, really they do.
So idiotic, not supporting troops, not protecting children, and letting wives get cancer.
Sick.
Posted 3/25/2007 10:26 PM by Benjimon76
Eh, they are idiots on all sides, I guess.
maybe for a small minority… But really, I think most people will vote for their choice of candidates for other reasons….
That is good he said that because I was feeling so sorry for him, that he was going to get my vote.
Not any longer though.
No, more likely because he has a good haircut. (see: Kennedy, Clinton, etc.)
I think that it’s interesting that he said that. Maybe it was a ploy to get people to think about voting for him because his wife has cancer. Great manipulative technique.
“The christians are the ones that are usually hardcore about whatever party they think is right.” -sweetsummerchaos
Jews and Blacks vote more predictably than Christians.
It makes me sad that someone would give their vote to someone because of sympathy. And I think it will happen, but not enough to make a difference.
He’s stupid for even running. This is a time when she needs his full attention. What an idiot. I can tell where HIS priorities are, and I certainly wouldn’t vote for someone like that. He doesn’t have a chance in hell anyways.
I was thinking just the opposite. I think people will be less inclined to vote for him; as his wife’s cancer will be a distraction from running the country.
He should drop out of the campaign and spend more time with his family now.
Yep.
of course!!!
So will. We call these people Idiots!
Someone facing cancer will be more sympathetic to the situation.
In the right circumstances, people can make a shift focus to Health Care, and the Nations Health. Albeit Other things may be important.
This may give him free publicity. But take this into account.
If he were accused of not looking at the nations health problems, he would therefore be forced to look at them at this point.
So for certain groups it is not a sympathy vote, but a very well can be a calculated one.
Maybe with some of the breast cancer awareness supporters, but nah, not really.
Out of pity, yes…they’ll regret it.
I’m all about rooting for the underdog…but when it comes to electing the leaders of our country I for one would rather have the most qualified candidate in office, not the one who you feel most sorry for.
That said: it’s far too much work to figure out who’s the “most-qualified” so I usually just vote for whoever is cuter.
But not really. I’m kidding. I don’t vote based on who is better looking…
I don’t vote at all actually. Voting is lame.
Still kidding.
Seriously though…when is Obama going to throw his hat in the race. He’s, like, uber-dreamy. I’ve got a full sized poster of him taped over my bed.
No. Seriously.
I think it was dumb of him to say that. It’s like reverse psychology. Now the ppl are going to think he was so genuine and sincere that they must vote for such a compassionate man.
Drakonskyr should be shot for that comment about only losers getting cancer. It’s like an assumption that everyone with cancer smoked themselves to death. Not everyone who ends up with cancer did something to their bodies to induce the disease. ASS.
For swing voters, yes maybe!
some will.
I respect him more as a person. But I’d hate to see him have additional pressure on his marriage if he were in office, so if anything that would influence me not to vote for him.
Depends on how he spins it.
no
No but I believe it will garner him more noteriety which may move swing voters to adopt his ideals and thus voting for him.