Tuesday, August 12, 2008

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!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are right on the mark with your comments on Edwards' hypocrisy. I actually was an Edwards supporter. Boy, was I fooled!

On to the subject of "investigative" reporting, which does not exist any longer! So, bloggers have to do it along with the National Enquirer.

I've put together the following...on a topic that is ignored by the media...

More info on “progressive advocacy groups”…this is a detailed piece with lots of background info…

Part II:NM AG, “Gutsy Gary” King, Fighting for Transparency re: Non-Profits Like the League of Young Voters and ACORN
http://tinyurl.com/6h73u7
http://insightanalytical.wordpress.com

It’s getting interesting here in NM….I touch on Bill Richardson’s possible influence to block AG Gary King’s efforts to have the status of these groups changed to PACs so they will have to reveal all their donors. They claim to be not in the business of not “influencing” and just being advocates…but their actions in NM has King “not buying.”

He’s bucking a lot of big powers and reportedly is angered by any thought that he might be intimidated by the Democratic Party’s left wing….

Mary Ellen said...

Hi Amy-

I actually wrote a post about this but at the last minute decided not to publish it because I was so short on time and knew that responding to any comments wasn't possible. But one of the quotes from Edwards that made me so angry at him after he revealed his adulterous affair was this:

“I think this President has shown a remarkable disrespect for his office, for the moral dimensions of leadership, for his friends, for his wife, for his precious daughter. It is breathtaking to me the level to which that disrespect has risen.” - John Edwards, quoted by the Raleigh News & Observer in 1999, and passing judgment on Bill Clinton

I have to wonder if he was thinking of how much he was disrespecting his precious kids when he was having his affair? Where were his "moral dimensions" as a leader at the time? I just want to say to him, "It's the hypocrisy, stupid!"

I also don't think he was being perfectly honest in that interview. He admitted that it wasn't until after his little 2:00 am meeting with his past girlfriend that he called his wife to tell her he went to see her. Of course, he knew that it was going to be all over the papers the next day because the Enquirer reporters chased him down and started asking him questions when he was on his way to his car.

I don't care about what goes on in his personal life, but when he judges others as harshly as he did, and then go on to act in the same way and give the public the idea that he is holier than thou...he shouldn't be rewarded for "confessing". The man deserves no respect and his career in politics should end, IMO.

I'm not surprised by the media holding onto this information, though. They wanted to take Hillary down and they used Edwards to do it. Our news media has taken on the role of king maker and have abused their privilege of being called "journalists".

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

Hey, grl -

I have seen a few things abt ACORN recently, but I do not think they are being pursued like they SHOULD be - apparently, as I understand it, they have engaged in voter fraud.

NICE post! I really hope that gets some play, grl - and GOOD fo ryour AG for pursuing this no matter what (and Richardson - blech.)

It is amazing, isn't it, how little the journalists actually do these days? It got noticeably worse since Bush got in, but now, they are just regurgitators, not jounralists...

And I had liked him, too, especially his concern for the poor. Huh - were thosejust "words"???

Thanks for your comments!

Mary Ellen -

Thank you for that quote - that is EXACTLY the kind of arrogant, patronizing, hypocritical crap abt which I was writing. YUCK!

You know, what he did to Elizabeth and those young kids was despicable. But taking this woman on his ANNOUNCEMENT tour?? Are you freakin' KIDDING me? What a complete and utter tool.

I would love to see your piece - are you still going to post it? I think there is lots more to say abt this - again, not because he had an affair - people are eople, after all - but because he was so damn sanctimonious abt it all.

And he helped to tear down Hillary, and you KNOW where that puts him in my book. Grrrrr.

And yes - the media did want to take down Hillary. So far, they have been successful, but the way Obama is going, there is still hope. Right??

Mary Ellen said...

Amy- There's always hope! ;-)