Did the Elizabeth Edwards Oprah interview fuel great PR for Sarah Palin?

May 7, 7:15 PMPublicity ExaminerCarrol Van Stone

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Elizabeth & John Edwards   AP Photo: Eric Jamison

Elizabeth Edwards in her Oprah interview promoting her new book, Resilience, shared what she called her "new reality" after her husband, John Edwards, told her of his affair. This new reality for Elizabeth Edwards, the mother, lawyer and wife of Presidential candidate is a far cry from the power and image of Governor Sarah Palin.  While Palin is criticized for her policies – her life seems to be much more forward-thinking than what we have learned about Elizabeth Edwards choices.

According to Mildred Antenor, a Professor of Womens Studies at Seton Hall, Edwards has done more to set back the plight of women with her memoirs and Oprah interview than Sarah Palin has done with her policies. "Silence is golden in this situation," says Antenor.  "This book and Oprah appearance give us insight into an unfortunate story line but will do nothing to help women in their movement forward.  How I wish she had kept silent." 

Because Elizabeth Edwards is more than a humiliated wife -- she a duped one when she joined her husband's run for the Democratic nomination for President. Ironically, her husband's career is over but her book may be the exact PR boost for the reenergized Sarah Palin. Below are Mildred Antenor's top five reasons why Elizabeth Edwards book will do more to promote Sarah Palin than restore Edwards dignity.

1. Elizabeth Edwards is now the problem, and not the solution. Her book doesn’t inspire women to reach up -- instead it takes them back. Edwards takes the age-old position of "stand by your man" no matter what he's done.  And, perhaps not surprisingly, in Oprah interview Elizabeth Edwards said that even after John Edwards confessed about the affair to her, she felt that it was her job to protect him. Something is uncomfortably wrong here.

2.  You have to feel for Elizabeth Edwards primarily because of her terminal breast cancer. And I think that on many levels, she has decided to support John Edwards as a survival mechanism while she is battling this horrible disease. Let’s face it, how much more can she take? But at the same time, using her visible platform to internationally tell women around the world that it’s okay to put up with humiliating disrespect, emotional abuse and turmoil from your husband/male partner is repugnant. I’m sure that Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony are turning over in their graves right now.

3. This leads us to the current energy, excitement and top google-search. Governor Sarah Palin. When you compare someone like Elizabeth Edwards and Sarah Palin, the two women are completely 180 degrees apart. No matter what you think of Sarah Palin's policies, her appeal can't be denied. She has never been the woman behind the man.  In Sarah Palin's world, her husband stands behind or beside her no matter what. fans and critics alike are fascinated by her strength, power and role reversal. 

4. What is remarkable here is that critics say Sarah Palin’s policies toward women have consistently been viewed as backwards and shackling women -- while mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, Palin supported an order that Wasilla charge sexual-assault victims for the cost of their rape kits and forensic exams -- yet she lives her life as a strong, independent woman while Elizabeth Edwards, the wife and Rielle Hunter, the mistress, have not. They are independent, educated and progressive women -- but in what direction? While Sarah Palin is taking herself forward -- Mrs. Edwards and the other woman Hunter are giving us a flashback to the pre-suffragette philosophy of putting your life behind and hidden for your man. This is all very strange for 2009.

5. We live in a society that is very hypocritical. We say the politically correct thing in public but, behind closed doors it’s 1900 all over again. How do we get over this problem? The first step is to have straight honest talk about our views about the opposite sex, and stop being so politically correct all the time. Dancing around an issue never helped anyone. We need to recognize what the problems are and through candid discussion in schools and community organizations and explore ways of overcoming them.  This will happen slowly but it’s definitely a first step and sure way to remove those shackles whether created by policy or old-fashioned love.

To contact Mildred Antenor, visit her website.