2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
DISTURBING AND SHOCKING, Feb 25 2010
The Edwards affair (quite literally "affair") has been dissed, discussed, and dissected on almost every media outlet imaginable. However, you haven't really heard the up close and personal story until you hear it from Andrew Young, Edwards's longtime aide, or as some scribes have described him "toady."
After hearing Edwards speak and easily defeating an early opponent Young went to work in the then senator's office where in his words he volunteered to do everything. It seems, he would have pressed trousers if the opportunity had arisen.. He describes himself as butler, shopper, driver, and always available for the entire Edwards family. No task was too menial for Young when he believed Edwards would some day sit in the White House, where Young would also have a place of prominence.
Unfortunately, there are no good guys in this story - not even Young who, after all, did make choices. He certainly did not have to confess to being the father of Rielle Hunter's illegitimate child. (Now, of course, that's all behind us as Edwards has recently admitted parentage.) However, the path from then to now is filled with appalling details, all of which Young seems eager to share.
Elizabeth Edwards, self-canonized in her memoir "Resilience" is described as a dictatorial biddy who ordered people around, dropped nasty phone messages for staff members she considered to be errant, and was not prone to saying "thank you." Rielle Hunter, a videographer" is pictured as an opportunist, a sexually free gal, who enjoyed the luxuries given during her pregnancy (including a lavish home in Santa Barbara).
If Edwards was even half as Young reports, he is a liar, a cheat, self-centered, and, thank goodness for us, no longer in the political arena.
Young spares his audience few details, including conversations with Hunter during which he claims to have acted as a sounding board, listening to explicit descriptions of sexual encounters. THE POLITICIAN is a disturbing story, and at times will be shocking to many.
With over 30 years experience in radio and television broadcasting as well as in audiobook narration, Kevin Foley gives telling voice to the rise and fall of John Edwards.
- Gail Cooke
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fascinating look at the real truth behind the spin, April 16 2010
Although I am Canadian, I've always watched the US presidential race with great interest. I remember thinking, like many did, that John Edwards was the kind of Democratic leader that would have brought great change to the US.
I found this book highly interesting; a quick read, fast-paced and unflinchingly honest. The writer, Andrew Young, was John Edwards' most trusted advisor and friend for about a decade, and it was really eye opening for me to see how the inside track of politics really worked in the Edwards camp. Young was not only a key player in raising millions of dollars for Edwards' campaign, but he was also responsible for every detail at the Edwards home including shopping for their kids, fixing things in their house, and doing their grocery shopping.
This story is a real potboiler. The efforts and sheer amount of money that was spent by MANY to hide Edwards' affair with Rielle Hunter was shocking. I felt for Andrew Young and his family, who went the extra mile and then a few thousand more, to make Edwards happy, and then they got left hanging when Edwards failed to follow through with his promises.
One surprise in reading this book was the "real" Elizabeth Edwards - definitely not the woman of respect and integrity she presents herself as. In fact, she was really cruel to Young and his wife Cheri, who, as far as Elizabeth knew, was an innocent woman. My opinion of her was changed drastically after reading this account. It looks as if all the players in this story - John, Elizabeth AND Rielle - were all out for number one and ran roughshod over everyone if it meant getting what they wanted.
I enjoyed this story very much and recommend the book!
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