Entering the Fray

OK, I have not written much about the "breaking" news regarding John Edwards. Of course, the only "breaking" part about it was that it had been known for over a year already by the Press, and they SAT on it. Oh, yes - they KNEW about it in 2007, which has been one of the issues: that John Edwards, the sanctimonious one, LIED about the affair when questioned a couple of times. But only the National Enquirer, or ALL places, was willing to expose this man for the hypocrite he is. Now, let me just say, what happens in some one's private life is their OWN business. I always felt that what happened to Bill and Hillary Clinton with Monica Lewinsky was NO ONE'S business but their own. To foist the ridiculous investigation, at the expense of the TAXPAYERS of this country, was reprehensible. It was NONE of our business, and had nothing to do with the case at hand. It was merely an attempt to embarrass a popular president who had restored this country to economic stability. I mean, really, if BUSH was not impeached after his lies that led us into a preemptive, Constitution-violating war, there is no WAY Clinton should have been impeached.

So, why am I bringing up John Edwards then? Well, because of the following conversation he had with Katie Couric (H/T to TalkLeft.com) on the very issue of Infidelity (she asked all of the major Democratic candidates):

Edwards: Of course. I mean, for a lot of Americans, including the family that I grew up with ... it's fundamental to how you judge people and human character: Whether you keep your word, whether you keep what is your ultimate word, which is that you love your spouse, and you'll stay with them.

Couric: Do you think ... what about people who use that as a way to evaluate a candidate? In other words, there have been a number of fine presidents according to some analysts ...

Edwards: Right.

Couric: ... who have certainly not been sort of exhibited the greatest moral character ...

Edwards: Right.

Couric: ... when it comes to infidelity ...

Edwards: Right.

Couric: I guess is what I'm getting at.

Edwards: Yes.

Couric: So how important do you think it is in the grand scheme of things?

Edwards: I think the most important qualities in a president in today's world are trustworthiness, sincerity, honesty, strength of leadership. And certainly that goes to a part of that. It's not the whole thing. But it goes to a part of it.

Couric: So you think it's an appropriate way to judge a candidate?

Edwards: Yeah. But I don't think it's controlling. I mean, I think that, as you point out, there have been American presidents that at least according to the ... stories we've all heard, that were not faithful, that were in fact good presidents. So I don't think it controls the issue. But I think it's certain ... something reasonable for people to consider.

Bear in mind that this conversation happened almost a full YEAR after Edwards took his mistress on his Presidential Announcement Tour (H/T to memeorandum.com). No, I am not kidding. He took his mistress with him. Then had the audacity (ahem) to talk about sincerity and honesty in regard to the issue of INFIDELITY. So, not only did he attack Hillary Clinton for Obama time and time again (see "How John Edwards Helped Destroy Hillary"0, but he was sanctimonious about it. And the whole time, he had cheated on his wife, for whom I had the utmost respect. Just more of the same, I guess - this arrogant man thinking he could do whatever he wanted and not get busted for it. And of course, lying through his teeth every time he was asked about it.

And the media? Well, they failed us again. Miserably. If they had done their jobs, like *GULP* the NATIONAL ENQUIRER, then the whole Primary would have gone very differently indeed. Just sayin'.

And if we actually had an investigative media, we might find out just how it came to be that Edwards endorsed Obama when he did. It does look just a tad suspicious, coming like it did right after Clinton blew Obama out of the water in West Virginia. Sigh. If only we had a decent media, maybe we'd find out the answers to how all of this played out. Me? I'm not holding my breath for THEM to do it. Hopefully, some enterprising group will do the work the media should, and get the answers we seek. It would be nice if they could accomplish that before the end of August, though. Just a thought!