Honestly, I'm not sure what your tone is here. Is this an admirable trait after the fact? Or overall?
I believe Mo Dowd and Gail Collins had this exactly right today. I watched that interview I went from laughing out loud to close to wretching.
The bottom was that, "she was in remission," bit. You have got to be kidding me.
I don't really care about John Edwards, although I obviously read that little bit of the transcript. In general, I think what he says here is a common thing...even if him saying it is self-serving. Which, if thats the case, makes it ten times more interesting to me. Humans are generally quite flawed...all of us. Even when we fully recognize and dislike some of our personality traits--for many of us they're simply part and parcel of who we are. Especially when we become old fuddy duddy's.
But back to John Edwards, I don't think its any of our business what he was doing sexually with anyone. And if I condemn him now, I'm also choosing to write off what his wife Elizabeth said in her statement. Throughout his political career I've recognized his contradictions: the anti-poverty zeal juxtaposed with the mighty mansion; the compassion for others versus his obvious vanity. It's always been an interesting thing to ponder...well before the fact that he had an affair at the same time he loves his wife.
I know a lot of people with these sorts of contradictions come to think of it.
Seriously? A man, who claimed as a vision, and I'll quote, "....to live in a moral, honest, just America." And had people put their faith...and money...to bring that vision to reality.
That is not our business?!
If we in fact are not going to have a different standard for people who ask for votes and money than the schmuck on the street, why don't we just give up on all this now.
Do you have the same standard of "contradictions," for pol's we disagree with politically, if this is the new standard. I doubt that will happen.
BTW 2, I found her parsing just as empty and narcissistic as his. Even more so in some ways.
I wouldn't call it a standard, to recognize contradictions. And yes, you'll find that for the most part I don't think someone's sexual behavior is my business regardless of what party they belong to. Sexuality is an intensely personal thing, and I don't think people have the right to peel away someone else's approach to it. It should remain a private matter. If that person's spouse comes forward and alleges abuse, or if abuse is readily apparent, then it becomes a different story. We could have a conversation about whether or not straying from monogamy constitutes abuse, but that becomes a highly philosophical conversation with no cut and dried answer.
As to Edwards' contradictions, I was plenty critical of his mansion last year.
Gene, you seem to imply that I've been a big John Edwards' fan. Why would you think that since I've never said anything here to indicate that?
But since you're implying it, let me consider Edwards' issues for a second...
O.K...
Yeah, it's characteristic of me to be on board with someone who champions poverty reduction as the number one problem to tackle in America.
I don't want to come off as smug but I've never been a fan of John Edwards. It seemed very clear to me after the 2004 election that he decided that the poverty issue was his meal ticket to the white house and went whole hog on it, campaigning in Iowa for almost the entire 4 years leading up to this year's primary. Prior to that (and throughout the 2004 primaries and general election) he was a pro-war moderate-to-conservative Democrat.
While its true that he could never have been elected to the Senate in North Carolina with his "two Americas" war on poverty platform, it never struck me as an honest conversion and he never struck me as anything more than an opportunist.
Also, isn't John Edwards way too hot to be having an affair with the woman in question? I mean, I'm a straight guy and all but I kind of want to kiss him on the mouth.
I think she's pretty hot, Dan. From the pictures anyway. Edwards though? I've never liked that haircut.
Last word (from me) here. No offense, but you danced right around my point.
First, there was no implying any love from you to Edwards at all.
Second, hanging your argument on who's business sex/sex partners are is...and abuse...is profoundly not the point here.
You seemed to hang your premise on the fact that he recognizes "why" people in power do the things they do. As if speaking to something so obvious and well worn is some sort of higher thinking/awareness to be congratulated.
His ludicrous "confession" struck me as a colossal manipulation. And he got damned lucky who he was interviewed by...which was no accident.
Maybe it's just me...or maybe it's generational...but the rules are different for people who have asked for trust and money. That's the standard I'm talking about. If there is no standard then what's the point of pol's asking us to consider them as something more than "regular?"
That's all I'm saying. Look, I'm not looking for word for word perfection in a personal crisis situation. I just wish he had waited a day or so and thought it through.
This is the kind of "well, they all do it," thing we've settled into in the culture. I do not accept that. I have known a ton of elected folk after 30 some years being around them, and it just isn't true.
Can you honestly imagine Jimmy Carter knocking about with interns or staff? I realize these are cynical times, and I'm right there, but it can be taken too far.
BTW, she may be semi-hot, but that Edwards paid this numbskull 15 grand to make those insipid "videos" is beyond a joke.
Well, the point wasn't really about Edwards. I just think the content of that part of the statement was right on. It's very true, not just about politicians but for people in general when they become closer to, or the center of, power. If you look, that is what I said in my post.
I didn't watch Edwards. Like I said, I don't really care. I'd rather pay attention to whats happening with Russia and Georgia.
As to whether or not personal sexual fidelity on the part of politicians should be a matter of national focus, we'll have to disagree about that. But if its a problem that deserves public scrutiny, I think it should be a conversation about broader dysfunction we have in our society regarding marriage, commitment, and--for sure--sexuality.
Does John Edwards respect his wife?
That to me is true humility.
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